Massey Wellington misses the mark with sports leagues

Many students believe the sporting opportunities available at Massey University in Wellington are inadequate. 

Unlike Canterbury, Otago, Auckland and even Victoria, Massey University in Wellington offers few if not any sporting teams for students to join. With a handful of social netball and futsal teams being all that is on offer, students are left dissatisfied in their university experience. 

Massey Journalism student Hannah McCullum said she didn’t know what she was doing wrong when trying to find a football team before starting at the Wellington campus.

“I had heard about teams existing, so I searched for one at Massey in Wellington and thought I had found it, only to then realise it was the Massey campus in Palmerston North. So it was disappointing when I realised there was no teams at all and basically no other options. Studying in England, sports were huge within universities.” 

MAWSA president Jacob Paterson believes it is down to the student population. 

“At Massey we don't really have enough students for big internal competitive sports leagues. We have a couple of social sports leagues for netball and futsal, but that's about it,” he said.

“Cleaning out the MAWSA clubs closet I found a bunch of old netball and football uniforms, as well as an old mascot costume, so we must've had a bit of a sports culture in the past. Or at least a couple of teams.”

Recent communications graduate Benji Clark disagrees and believes it comes down to Massey’s little effort in creating a feeling of belonging.

“What a load of rubbish! There are plenty of students that I know and knew that wanted to be part of a sports team. I personally just think it’s another example of how little Massey cares about its campus culture,” he said.

“Coming from a high school where there was a strong sense of comradery, I really missed feeling like you were part of something. Representing your school or institution is a great feeling.”

Graduate Megan Thomas said having more sport teams would help new students settle in.

“Being thrown into a sports team or club is a quick way to make friends and start to meet people within your uni. The social teams that are available don’t really cut it because they are usually made up with those who are in the Cube, so if you are outside that or an older student then it will just make you feel like even more of an outsider. 

Otago University student Angus Tylee said sport and clubs were a huge part of the experience. “Oh the rugby was massive, and not even just for the players. Having those sports really gets everyone involved and there were times where you would have hundreds of students coming and supporting the games.”

Jacob Paterson acknowledges there is great opportunity for clubs and sport to grow within the University. 

“There is totally room for more university sports here. I'd love to see a Wellington-wide sports league here or more social leagues at Massey. Just get stuck in with the social teams we have, fill those up and then next year there will be more.”