New Zealand Institute of Sport

What New Zealand Institute of Sport does

New Zealand Institute of Sport (NZIS) is a New Zealand Private Training Establishment founded in 1996 that delivers tertiary-level vocational qualifications in the sport, fitness, police and uniformed services, and recreation sectors. It operates under the legal entity New Zealand Management Academies Ltd (NZMA), following its amalgamation with NZMA in January 2020, and is part of UP Education, the largest vocational education group in New Zealand. NZIS holds NZQA External Evaluation and Review (EER) Category 1 status, the highest available tier, awarded in 2022.

NZIS' product portfolio comprises eight NZQF-aligned programmes spanning Levels 2 to 6 — Foundation Skills, Sport Recreation & Exercise (Level 3), Pre-Police & Uniformed Services Training (Level 3), Health & Fitness Personal Trainer (Level 4), Advanced Health & Fitness Coach (Level 5), and Diplomas in Sport, Recreation & Exercise at Levels 5 and 6 — supplemented by STAR and Gateway short courses for secondary school students and a fully online study channel delivered via the UpLearn learning management system. Delivery is blended: in-person practical training at four purpose-built campuses in Auckland (Sylvia Park), Wellington, Christchurch and Hamilton, each with onsite gyms and performance labs, combined with online coursework. Qualifications are internationally recognised through the NZ Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) and the ICREPs portability agreement spanning 30+ countries.

Revenue is generated predominantly through one-time tuition fees for domestic and international students, a recurring Student Services Levy ($200-$400 per Equivalent Full Time Student), and government subsidy programmes including Fees Free (up to NZD $12,000) and Youth Guarantee (free for eligible 16-24 year olds). Domestic course costs range from $3,461 (online Level 4) to $7,992 (Level 6), while the international Diploma Level 6 is priced at NZD $23,100 plus a NZD $2,400 resource and administration fee. Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via website application, campus tours, school partnerships and cross-promotion through the UP Education network. Degree pathway articulation agreements with the University of Waikato (up to 240 credits) and University of Canterbury, alongside Jetts Fitness, Auckland Rugby League, Wellington Cricket Academy, HPSNZ and Wellington Rugby Football Union industry partnerships, underpin work-experience and employment outcomes.

Name

New Zealand Institute of Sport

Legal name

New Zealand Management Academies Ltd

Website

https://nzis.co.nz

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Short description

New Zealand Institute of Sport is a private training establishment delivering NZQF Level 2-6 vocational qualifications in personal training, sport management and police/uniformed services preparation. Operating four campuses and an online channel under NZMA and UP Education, it serves aspiring fitness professionals, school-leavers and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Vocational Education

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Technical and Trade Schools (61151)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Coach Education, Certification & Clinics (HSADAEAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sport-Specific Skills Coaching (e.g., soccer, basketball, tennis) (HSADAEAA), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Vocational education
• Sport and fitness training
• Personal training certification
• Police preparation courses
• Tertiary qualifications

Headquarters

HQ city

Epsom

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Domestic Student Tuition: Tuition fees charged to domestic New Zealand students for various certificate and diploma programs ranging from Level 2 to Level 6. Course costs vary by program level and delivery mode (campus vs online).
2. International Student Tuition: Higher tuition fees charged to international students, with the Diploma in Sport, Recreation & Exercise Level 6 priced at $23,100 plus $2,400 resource and admin fees.
3. Student Services Levy: Mandatory fees funding student support services including careers advice, counselling, advocacy, financial support, and health services. Current rate is $400 per Equivalent Full Time Student.
4. Government Funding Programs: Revenue supported by government-funded programs including Fees Free (covering up to $12,000 for eligible final year students) and Youth Guarantee (free study for 16-24 year olds in select programs).
5. STAR and Gateway Short Courses: Revenue from NCEA-credited short courses, holiday programmes, and block courses offered to school students through STAR and Gateway partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

New Zealand Institute of Sport provides tertiary education programmes (NZQF Levels 2-6) for individuals pursuing careers in the sport, fitness, recreation, and uniformed services sectors. Programmes are delivered through campus-based face-to-face instruction at four New Zealand locations and via an online learning platform, combining practical training in purpose-built gyms and performance labs with classroom theory. Course portfolio spans foundation certificates, personal trainer certifications, diplomas in sport and recreation, and pre-police/uniformed services preparation.

Product overview

The New Zealand Institute of Sport is an educational institution offering a portfolio of vocational courses across sport, fitness, police preparation, and recreation industries. The product portfolio consists of eight distinct educational programmes spanning NZQF Levels 2-6, ranging from foundation skills certificates to advanced diplomas, plus STAR & Gateway short courses and an online learning platform. The offerings are organised into four main categories: Foundation Courses (Levels 2-3) providing entry points into the industry; Personal Training Courses (Levels 4-5) for fitness professional certification; Sports Management and Recreation Courses (Levels 5-6) for sport industry careers; and Police & Uniformed Services Courses (Level 3) for public service careers. Students can study on-campus at Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, or Hamilton locations, or through online/blended delivery. The institution operates under the NZMA family and UP Education group, with qualifications that are internationally recognised through REPs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Foundations Skills (Level 2) Foundation certificate introducing students to the sport, recreation, and fitness industries; covers study skills, work-readiness preparation, self-management training, field trips, cultural learning, and community projects. Offered free of charge under the Youth Guarantee for eligible 16-24 year olds.
• Sport, Recreation & Exercise (Level 3) Certificate providing broad-based knowledge and skills for entering the sport, recreation, and exercise industries. Covers exercise programme development, personal fitness, sport event planning, coaching techniques, and sport nutrition over 18 weeks (NZD $5,180; Youth Guarantee funding available).
• Certificate in Pre-Police and Uniformed Services Training (Level 3) 18-week programme preparing students for recruitment into Police, Defence Force, Corrections, Aviation Security, or Fire and Emergency NZ. Covers fitness preparation, industry preparation, technical skills, and includes First Aid certification through subcontracted providers (NZD $3,728; Youth Guarantee funding available).
• Health & Fitness Personal Trainer (Level 4) Certificate enabling students to become certified personal trainers. Covers client management, anatomy, physiology, special training needs, nutrition, and business preparation. Available full-time (18 weeks) or part-time (36 weeks) on-campus (NZD $4,749), or fully online (NZD $3,461). Includes a free Jetts Fitness membership for the duration of the programme.
• Advanced Health and Fitness Coach (Level 5) Advanced certificate building on Level 4 training with focus on exercise science, nutrition, advanced programme design, and working with clients with special needs. 18-week duration (NZD $4,731; Fees Free eligible). Includes opportunities with Club Med and resort partnerships in the USA.
• Diploma in Sport, Recreation & Exercise (Level 5) Diploma offering blended learning combining online study, practical experience, and face-to-face teaching. Covers exercise prescription, performance analysis, functional anatomy, biomechanics, facility management, coaching, and leadership development (NZD $7,221 plus $400 Student Services Levy).
• Diploma in Sport, Recreation & Exercise (Level 6) Advanced diploma developing leadership skills in human performance over 40 weeks. Covers exercise physiology, coaching and performance analysis, nutrition, strength and conditioning, research practices, athlete preparation, and professional practice with work placement opportunities. Domestic fee NZD $7,992; international fee NZD $23,100 plus $2,400 resource/admin fee. Qualifies graduates for pathway credits at University of Waikato or University of Canterbury.
• STAR & Gateway Courses Short courses and holiday programmes for secondary school students including Police & Defence Prep experiences, Personal Training tasters, Coaching skills courses, and NCEA-credited block courses. Available at Sylvia Park, Wellington, and Christchurch campuses and delivered through partnerships with secondary schools.
• Online Learning Platform (UpLearn) Flexible online study option delivered through the UpLearn platform, allowing students to study from anywhere in New Zealand. Provides access to course materials, flexible learning hours, and tutor support for Personal Training and other programmes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 240 credits towards Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance at University of Waikato
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Jetts FitnesscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership established in 2022 with Jetts Fitness, a chain of health clubs with over 54 clubs nationwide in NZ and 200+ locations across Australia, Thailand, UK and Netherlands. Students completing Certificate in Exercise (Level 4) receive a FREE Jetts Fitness membership for the duration of their programme (4 months for campus, 6 months for online). Monthly induction workshops held at NZIS Auckland campus and Jetts Mt Wellington. The purpose is to provide positive educational experience and interview opportunities for students when job vacancies arise.
• Wellington Cricket AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018Regional sporting body for Cricket catering to athletes in a high-performance environment with expert training. Partnership formed in 2018 to assist those looking to become the next generation of cricket coaches or NZ BLACKCAPS/WHITE FERNS players. Two full scholarships offered each year. Many students developed as coaches through the partnership.
• Auckland Rugby LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ARL is responsible for rugby league in the Auckland region including club and school rugby league. NZIS students have worked with ARL since 2017. Every second term over 10-12 weeks, students gain vital event management skills working on upcoming school tournament events. Students plan and officiate games. ARL recruits Level 3 and 6 students for employment after studies.
• High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment-supported organisation providing a world-leading high performance system for NZ athletes and organisations. NZIS partnered with HPSNZ to form the Athlete Friendly Network supporting aspiring athletes in balancing sporting careers with academic studies. Network committed to students reaching sporting success with plans to support current/retired athletes and identify future high-performance athletes for HPSNZ.
• Wellington Rugby Football Union (WRFU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrong partnership providing range of training programmes including study scholarships to WRFU Academy players and developing pre-elite Academy programme for students. WRFU Academy players develop and grow outside the game with education pathway opening doors for the future. Previous graduates include All Blacks Ma'a Nonu, Rodney and Steven So'oialo, Curtis Ambros, Adam Hill, Belgium Tuatagaloa, Nani Laumape and Sam Dickson.
• City FitnessminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with City Fitness providing students with exclusive industry insights and guaranteed interviews when job opportunities are available. Subject to job opportunities arising.
• University of WaikatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree pathway partnership. Students completing NZ Diploma in Sport, Recreation & Performance (Level 5) and either Sports Management (Level 6) or Human Performance Management (Level 6) can receive up to 240 credits towards the 360 credits required for Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance. University ranked 373 in the world with QS Stars five-star ranking.
• University of CanterburycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree pathway partnership with New Zealand's second oldest university. Available to all Level 5 and 6 Diploma graduates, not just Christchurch students. Students completing Diploma Level 5 and Level 6 can receive credits towards Bachelor of Sport with 6 different majors. Credits calculated case by case depending on major chosen.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Skills Active Aotearoa: New Zealand's industry training organisation for sport, fitness, recreation, and performing arts. Comparable to NZIS in setting standards and delivering qualifications in the same sport/fitness/recreation training space across NZ.
• Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology: NZ tertiary institution (Te Pūkenga subsidiary) offering sport, fitness, and outdoor education programmes at certificate and diploma levels. Competes directly with NZIS for domestic students across the North Island.
• Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT): Auckland-based polytechnic offering sport, fitness, and recreation qualifications. Directly competes with NZIS's Sylvia Park campus for the same South Auckland student demographic seeking vocational sport/fitness credentials.
• Otago Polytechnic: NZ tertiary institution offering sport, exercise, and outdoor recreation programmes at certificate, diploma, and degree levels. A South Island-based peer competing with NZIS's Christchurch campus.
• Whitireia and WelTec: Greater Wellington region polytechnic offering sport, fitness, and health programmes. Directly competes with NZIS's Wellington campus for sport/recreation students in the same metro.

Broad incumbents

• Auckland University of Technology (AUT): NZ's largest sport and exercise science degree provider, offering bachelor's and postgraduate programmes in sport performance, coaching, and health sciences. Overlaps with NZIS's diploma pathways but at degree level.
• Les Mills International: NZ-founded global fitness content and instructor certification company. While primarily a programme provider rather than a credentialing school, it operates in the same fitness instructor education ecosystem and shares customers with NZIS graduates.

Regional players

• Australian Institute of Personal Trainers (AIPT): Australia-focused fitness education provider offering Certificate III and IV in Fitness with blended online delivery. Comparable product/market fit across the Tasman, with overlap in international student recruitment into the Australasian fitness industry.

Emerging players

• Premier Global NASM: International online provider of NASM-aligned personal trainer and nutrition coaching certifications. Represents the global online certification model that competes with NZIS's personal training programmes, particularly for international and distance-learning students.

Others

• University of Waikato: NZ university and degree pathway partner to NZIS, accepting up to 240 credits from NZIS diplomas into its Bachelor of Health, Sport and Human Performance. Functions as a strategic partner but also a competitor for students choosing a degree pathway from the outset.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nzisport

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about New Zealand Institute of Sport