Nga Tawa Diocesan School Equestrian Academy

07/09/2026

Last Sunday, the Equestrian Academy hit the road to Taupō, where a long four days of competition awaited us.

There was some absolutely fierce competition out there, along with windy days and cold mornings. However, in our eyes, NISS is about more than just the competition. To us, it’s about being supportive, building relationships, and having a laugh along the way.

A massive congratulations to Team Hill, who came 3rd in the CTR division, while Team Dalrymple came 2nd in Show Hunter and 1st in Show Jumping. Not only this, but Team Dalrymple also came 2nd overall across the entire competition. Well done, guys🎉🙌

We would like to thank all our girls for always being there for one another during what can be a very stressful time. To all parents who constantly drive our girls around and support them whenever they need it. And, of course, our coaching team, who are always there for our girls no matter the circumstances.

Now, here is a little insight into our NISS journey!🤩

01/09/2026

01/07/2026

As the term comes to a close, we're preparing to say goodbye to four of our wonderful international students who are returning home. We've loved having Anouk, Leni, Lotti, and Hannah on our yard, introducing them to our way of life and watching them grow in confidence and skill sets.

Each of these girls has brought something different to our International Equestrian Program:
- Anouk joined us as an already accomplished rider. In the 12 months she has been here, Anouk has taken up every opportunity offered to her, getting out and competing with "Hobson" and "Fire" and even turning her hand to hunting.
- Leni always brings a smile and fantastic attitude to her time on the yards, even when it’s dark and muddy. She's eager to learn and took away valuable lessons from both "Roo" and "Secret" while here. It was a highlight to get Leni out to her first competitions.
- Lotti has a passion for Dressage, Jumping and working with young horses. We were so pleased when Lotti agreed to work with "Sass" while here in New Zealand. Your typical NZ thoroughbred, "Sass" isn’t an easy ride however Lotti has done a fantastic job developing her over the last 2 terms.
- Hannah and “Johnny” have been a fantastic pair to watch working together over the past 2 terms – "Johnny" really makes Hannah work for it, but they have both come along in leaps and bounds, having competed in Hannah’s first competitions and even attended a hunt! Hannah had a goal to learn to jump while here in New Zealand and we’re so pleased to have been able to make that happen for her.

These girls have made the most of their time with us, and we're so proud to have been part of their equestrian journeys, offering them experiences they couldn't get at home. We'll miss them, but we're excited to see what the future holds for each of them. 🐴💕

11/06/2026

Due to Horse of the Year not going ahead this year, our Equestrian Academy decided to bring HOY to school and run a full week of equestrian events instead! The week consisted of dressage, non-competitive show jumping, games, barrel racing, competitive show jumping, cross-country, and tip and out. It was filled with so much joy and laughter, and at times, competition as well! The girls absolutely loved it, and we hope to see more events like this in the future🌟

On behalf of our academy, we would like to thank all the sponsors, supporters, helpers, and organisers for making this event such a success and enjoyable for all involved🦄🦄

26/05/2026

24/04/2026

11/03/2026

Photos of this year’s prize winners from our Nga Tawa Equestrian Inter-Schools Competition 2026🌟

01/09/2025

Check out our Girls at NISS