Massey University Blues Sports Awards are part of a longstanding tradition of recognising sporting excellence in New Zealand universities.
The Blues are open to all sports people at Massey, including those studying by distance, who have achieved outstanding results in both their sport and academic studies.
Criteria for the awards
To be considered for a Blue, athletes must meet the sport and academic criteria. Sport criteria are set by the National Sports Organisations (NSO) independently of Massey. These criteria are reviewed each year.
Sport criteria
Qualifying period: 1 August 2023 to 31 July 2024.
Sport criteria you must meet to be considered for a Massey Blues Award are:
- excellence of play and sportsmanship
- exceptional merit or honour in the particular sport concerned (should be displayed at regional, national or international events during the stated qualifying period). The standard is set by the relevant National Sports Organisation for each sport.
Academic criteria
Qualifying period: June (of the previous year) to July of the current year. This period covers Semester 2, Summer School and Semester 1.
You must be enrolled at Massey and have gained a successful pass in a minimum of 45 credits over the qualifying period or be completing your qualification.
Award categories
In addition to the individual Massey Blues awards, Massey also recognises other high-level sporting achievers through the following sports awards.
Sporting Excellence Award
This award recognises Massey students who have performed exceptionally, however, they are not eligible for a University Blue as individual athletes. Eligible applicants include coaches and officials who meet the same academic and sporting criteria for a Blue when applied to their circumstances (for example an official who has represented NZ umpiring internationally).
Campus Sportsman & Sportswoman of the Year Awards
These awards go to the Blues recipients who, in the selection panel's opinion, have performed the most outstandingly at their sport while also meeting the academic criteria.
All Blues recipients studying internally on the Auckland, Palmerston North or Wellington Campuses are eligible for selection.
Distance Sportsman & Sportswoman of the Year Award
These awards go to the Blues recipients who, in the selection panel's opinion, have performed the most outstandingly at their sport while also meeting the academic criteria.
All Blues recipients studying via distance are eligible for selection.
Supreme Award
This award is presented to the student-athlete who, in the selection panel's opinion, has performed most outstandingly in their sport and met the academic criteria during the relevant year. Only the four winners of the Distance and Campus Sportsman and Sportswoman of the Year will be considered for the Supreme Award.
Application and nomination process
Applications and nominations for the awards typically open in June each year and close in late July. You can apply yourself or nominate someone through an online form. We strongly encourage athletes to put themselves forward for the awards.
Judging the awards
The Blues are awarded by a selection committee of between seven and 10 Massey staff members, representing the diversity of the University and the student body. Members of the committee show a passion for sport and understand what sporting excellence is.
Awards celebration
We celebrate award recipients at an annual function. We know that huge commitment and discipline are needed to become a Blues recipient. You have successfully juggled the often-weighty workloads of university study with heavy training and performance schedules.
Find out more
Visit the Massey Blues website for more information about criteria, nominations and awards celebrations.
For questions about the Blues award, email the High Performance Coordinators on hpc@massey.ac.nz.