What is the rule and why?
School Sport NZ is an organisation formed by schools and run largely by former school administrators. They have the monopoly over the whole student sport environment, sanctioning virtually all student sport in NZ - from the local sports leagues right through to championship events. The rules state homeschooled students can participate but not compete in regional and national championship events and homeschool students may not form a team to enter into the local sports leagues.
The rule to exclude homeschooled students begins at secondary level. Primary-age sport is governed by clubs and ALL students are welcome in ALL sporting events. Schools usually welcome having homeschooled students to build team numbers.
Did the kids know they couldn't get a medal?
At the 2024 North Island Secondary Schools MTB championships Amelia knew she could not receive a medal but George did not. Neither child expected to be singled out with their own separate awards ceremony and certificate prior to the official awards ceremony.
Although they now know the rules, both choose to participate because they love their sport and they love the social and festival atmosphere of these large sporting events. Some homeschooled students choose not to participate due to the unfairness of the ruling and due to the discomfort of being singled out in an awards ceremony should they podium.
What happens to the medals?
The medals are awarded to the next fastest competitor.
Why do homeschooled students want to compete in events for schools?
School Sport rules create a monopoly over nearly all sporting opportunities for students - there are limited other avenues for homeschooled students to compete with other students of the same age outside of SSNZ sports leagues and regional and national championships.
School Sport NZ claims to govern school sport—but in practice, it governs student sport.
Isn't this in breach of the Human Rights Act?
The Human Rights Act protects against discrimination from a number of prohibited reasons such as gender, religion and race. Discriminating against how people receive their education is not a prohibited reason.
It is still discrimination. It's just not "illegal" discrimination.
Why do School Sport NZ say they don't want to include Homeschooled students?
There are two main reasons supporters of homeschooled student exclusion believe:
1. Homeschooled students can train all day and therefore have an advantage
2. Homeschooled students might form a "super team"
There was an article in The NZ Herald 10 years ago raising the issue of inequality in school sport. It's worth a read if you believe that homeschooled students really could have an advantage over school students. The article addresses the amount of money schools spend on their elite sports facilities and programmes, scholarships to lure top sportspeople and the questionable decision to allow "year 14" students (now disallowed).
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/different-class-inside-the-wonderful-and-sometimes-troubling-world-of-school-sport/HZFKM3CPQU2HMAXHM5CK5VTL7E/
Why don't they just go to Te Kura (The Correspondence School)
Homeschooled students are different to students of Te Kura. Te Kura is a school where students complete work set by teachers from home. The fee to attend Te Kura for a secondary aged school student is $7,203. Te Kura is only funded for students who are unable to attend regular school.
Te Kura has a pathway for elite athletes and sportspeople to attend free of cost so that regular schooling does not interfere with their training schedules. These students are able to participate fully in all School Sport NZ sanctioned events - unlike homeschooled students.
Can't they just play club sport?
Sure! They could sign up to a social or premier team in a club. But these teams are largely for school leavers and adults - not for kids are coming straight from primary school. If we are really serious about keeping kids in sport - they should get to play with kids their own age.
Do homeschoolers contribute to the organisation of School Sport NZ events?
School Sport NZ is simply a sanctioning body who set rules and organise the student sport calendar. The actual events are contracted out and organised and run largely by sports clubs or host organisations. Usually the schools are not involved in organising the events. Homeschooled students pay the same entry fee as all other participants and homeschooled parents contribute to the running of events through volunteering and marshalling as requested by the event host.
Do Cycling NZ support homeschoolers?
The events are run by Cycling NZ Schools which are sanctioned by School Sport NZ. Last year, Cycling NZ told us they expected change for their events this year (2025). However, change did not happen and Cycling NZ has continued to run their events by the existing rules. Cycling NZ have told us they are "advocates for change". We are as yet to hear if they will show support for Amelia and George as they begin their ride from the velodrome.
Why don't they change the name from School Sport NZ to Student Sport NZ to easily include ALL students?
We have requested this but they do not want to.
Whose idea was the ride?
Amelia's family were making plans to travel to parliament to support the petition as it was handed to the sponsor MP at Youth Parliament. Amelia had just assumed all plans involved her riding her bike.
When she suggested the idea to George he was very keen to get on board choosing to join her on the ride rather than to compete in the North Island Schools Road Cycling Champs.
Are the parents making them do it?
The parents are currently training to be able to keep up with them. Amelia's Dad just entered his first 50km MTB race and Amelia's Mum is currently having MTB lessons. George's parents are already sporty! Both families will be having to take time away from work and will still need to juggle caring for younger siblings to make the ride happen.
Will they ride alone?
No. They are too young to ride alone on unfamiliar trails and roads in winter conditions. They will always have an adult escorting them but only George and Amelia will complete the full ride.
Why are they homeschooled?
Both families choose to homeschool because they enjoy the flexibility that home education provides. Neither family chooses to homeschool for political or religious ideologies. Neither family chooses to homeschool so their kids have more time in the day to "train".
How can I support them?
Sign the petition!
Share the petition!
Follow the ride!
School Sport NZ is an organisation formed by schools and run largely by former school administrators. They have the monopoly over the whole student sport environment, sanctioning virtually all student sport in NZ - from the local sports leagues right through to championship events. The rules state homeschooled students can participate but not compete in regional and national championship events and homeschool students may not form a team to enter into the local sports leagues.
The rule to exclude homeschooled students begins at secondary level. Primary-age sport is governed by clubs and ALL students are welcome in ALL sporting events. Schools usually welcome having homeschooled students to build team numbers.
Did the kids know they couldn't get a medal?
At the 2024 North Island Secondary Schools MTB championships Amelia knew she could not receive a medal but George did not. Neither child expected to be singled out with their own separate awards ceremony and certificate prior to the official awards ceremony.
Although they now know the rules, both choose to participate because they love their sport and they love the social and festival atmosphere of these large sporting events. Some homeschooled students choose not to participate due to the unfairness of the ruling and due to the discomfort of being singled out in an awards ceremony should they podium.
What happens to the medals?
The medals are awarded to the next fastest competitor.
Why do homeschooled students want to compete in events for schools?
School Sport rules create a monopoly over nearly all sporting opportunities for students - there are limited other avenues for homeschooled students to compete with other students of the same age outside of SSNZ sports leagues and regional and national championships.
School Sport NZ claims to govern school sport—but in practice, it governs student sport.
Isn't this in breach of the Human Rights Act?
The Human Rights Act protects against discrimination from a number of prohibited reasons such as gender, religion and race. Discriminating against how people receive their education is not a prohibited reason.
It is still discrimination. It's just not "illegal" discrimination.
Why do School Sport NZ say they don't want to include Homeschooled students?
There are two main reasons supporters of homeschooled student exclusion believe:
1. Homeschooled students can train all day and therefore have an advantage
2. Homeschooled students might form a "super team"
There was an article in The NZ Herald 10 years ago raising the issue of inequality in school sport. It's worth a read if you believe that homeschooled students really could have an advantage over school students. The article addresses the amount of money schools spend on their elite sports facilities and programmes, scholarships to lure top sportspeople and the questionable decision to allow "year 14" students (now disallowed).
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/football/different-class-inside-the-wonderful-and-sometimes-troubling-world-of-school-sport/HZFKM3CPQU2HMAXHM5CK5VTL7E/
Why don't they just go to Te Kura (The Correspondence School)
Homeschooled students are different to students of Te Kura. Te Kura is a school where students complete work set by teachers from home. The fee to attend Te Kura for a secondary aged school student is $7,203. Te Kura is only funded for students who are unable to attend regular school.
Te Kura has a pathway for elite athletes and sportspeople to attend free of cost so that regular schooling does not interfere with their training schedules. These students are able to participate fully in all School Sport NZ sanctioned events - unlike homeschooled students.
Can't they just play club sport?
Sure! They could sign up to a social or premier team in a club. But these teams are largely for school leavers and adults - not for kids are coming straight from primary school. If we are really serious about keeping kids in sport - they should get to play with kids their own age.
Do homeschoolers contribute to the organisation of School Sport NZ events?
School Sport NZ is simply a sanctioning body who set rules and organise the student sport calendar. The actual events are contracted out and organised and run largely by sports clubs or host organisations. Usually the schools are not involved in organising the events. Homeschooled students pay the same entry fee as all other participants and homeschooled parents contribute to the running of events through volunteering and marshalling as requested by the event host.
Do Cycling NZ support homeschoolers?
The events are run by Cycling NZ Schools which are sanctioned by School Sport NZ. Last year, Cycling NZ told us they expected change for their events this year (2025). However, change did not happen and Cycling NZ has continued to run their events by the existing rules. Cycling NZ have told us they are "advocates for change". We are as yet to hear if they will show support for Amelia and George as they begin their ride from the velodrome.
Why don't they change the name from School Sport NZ to Student Sport NZ to easily include ALL students?
We have requested this but they do not want to.
Whose idea was the ride?
Amelia's family were making plans to travel to parliament to support the petition as it was handed to the sponsor MP at Youth Parliament. Amelia had just assumed all plans involved her riding her bike.
When she suggested the idea to George he was very keen to get on board choosing to join her on the ride rather than to compete in the North Island Schools Road Cycling Champs.
Are the parents making them do it?
The parents are currently training to be able to keep up with them. Amelia's Dad just entered his first 50km MTB race and Amelia's Mum is currently having MTB lessons. George's parents are already sporty! Both families will be having to take time away from work and will still need to juggle caring for younger siblings to make the ride happen.
Will they ride alone?
No. They are too young to ride alone on unfamiliar trails and roads in winter conditions. They will always have an adult escorting them but only George and Amelia will complete the full ride.
Why are they homeschooled?
Both families choose to homeschool because they enjoy the flexibility that home education provides. Neither family chooses to homeschool for political or religious ideologies. Neither family chooses to homeschool so their kids have more time in the day to "train".
How can I support them?
Sign the petition!
Share the petition!
Follow the ride!