The Z Manu World Champs was launched this week at MediaWorks’ Auckland offices, celebrating the championship’s return with sponsors and partners. Registrations open on Tuesday, October 27.
Dedicated to the art of the manu – a V-shaped splash dive beloved by generations of Kiwis and plenty of Australians – the championship has grown steadily since its inception, attracting competitors of all ages and building a following well beyond the water.
Now in its fourth season, the Z Manu World Champs has established its own stars, rivalries and returning champions looking to defend their crowns, alongside a strong family of sponsors and partners.
Founder and event director Scott Rice credits the event’s continued growth in part to its distinctive approach to sponsorship, with brands becoming part of the action rather than simply putting their names to it.
Naming rights partner Z Energy returns alongside Tip Top, Burger King, Genesis, Snickers, Bluebird and Hallensteins, with Mother Energy joining the sponsors for 2027. MediaWorks’ Mai FM and Lumo are media partners, with Water Safety New Zealand continuing as charity partner. These Guys I Know will support storytelling and PR.
A high-stakes competition
“The Manu Champs combines the excitement of a high-stakes professional competition with something generations of New Zealanders already enjoy, understand and can take part in,” says Rice.
“We’re really proud of the growth we’ve achieved year on year and have big ambitions for 2027. Our sponsors play a huge part in helping us bring the event to life in exciting and unexpected ways, and this year will be no exception.”
The integration goes beyond traditional branding. Returning activations include the Z Manu Wildcards, giving 10 people the chance to jump straight into Grand Finals Day through video submissions. Tip Top’s ‘Shoot to scoop’ and Burger King’s ‘Dry thru’ – a human-sized dryer for competitors – also return. Cross-brand collaborations connect sponsors across digital, live experiences and retail.
“It’s not just about putting logos on a pontoon,” Rice adds. “Our sponsors collaborate, amplify each other and become part of the experience. We’ve built a great family of complementary brands who genuinely add to the event.”
Travel the length of NZ
More than 2,000 competitors took part across last season’s events, with thousands more watching and supporting.
At the heart of the action is a 7m x 19m floating pontoon in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour, transforming the waterfront into a stadium of splash for the season-ending Grand Final.
The 2026-27 season will see the competition travel the length of New Zealand, kicking off in Dunedin on December 5 before heading to Hastings and Nelson before the end of the year.
The action resumes in 2027 at Māngere, widely regarded as the spiritual home of manu, before travelling to Tauranga, Whangārei, Wellington, Hamilton, Christchurch, Palmerston North and Auckland.
Australia makes a bigger splash
Australia will also be back in the splash zone in a much bigger way, with the Hallensteins Aussie Manu Champs taking place on the Gold Coast from February 5-7.
Building on last season’s local qualifier, the new event will be an official Australian championship in its own right, spanning two and a half days of competition.
Australian champions will be crowned across the adult and youth manu divisions, with the male and female winners from each division earning a place in the Z Manu World Champs Grand Final in Auckland, including flights and accommodation.
The road to the world titles
Thanks to Auckland Council and the City Centre Targeted Rate, the season will culminate at Karanga Plaza, Viaduct Harbour, on April 3-4, 2027. The country’s top qualifiers will join the Australian champions to compete for world titles.
For many competitors, the championship has also become a whānau affair, with siblings, cousins, parents and children travelling and competing together throughout the season. Alongside the competition, Push Play sessions will again give first-timers, kids and adults the chance to get in the water and give it a go.
For more information, visit the Manu World Champs website.
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