Kia ora, and welcome to WOMENZSPORTS!
You may be wondering who the heck is behind WOMENZSPORTS, so we thought it would be nice to introduce ourselves - check out this Insta post to learn a bit about us and what we’re aiming to do! -Dani & Mel
(We also had a little chat with Cassie Roma on her podcast, Kindness Warriors!)
Still have questions about WOMENZSPORTS? Scroll down to read our FAQ.
Looking for more ways to join the action? Here’s what’s happening:
We launched Instagram on November 21, 2023! (Instagram is the best place to follow us!)
We will roll out content on our other socials soon (TikTok, Facebook, Twitter/X, Threads, YouTube, Linkedin), so follow along!
We want to hear from you! Have an idea you want to share? Want to partner with us? We’re all ears - give us a shout!
Why subscribe?
WOMENZSPORTS is the ultimate hype champion for NZ womxn's sports (and makes it so much easier to be a fan!).
Soon, we’ll start sending emails jam-packed with awesome content, so subscribe now to be on the waiting list!
Frequently Asked Questions
If the info below doesn’t answer your question, send us a message and we’ll get back to you!
So, what is WOMENZSPORTS?
WOMENZSPORTS is the ultimate hype champion for NZ women’s sports (and makes it so much easier to be a fan!). We are on a mission to eliminate the hurdles we’ve experienced while being fans of women’s sports…things like: having to dig to find information about events or schedules or results, not knowing what teams/athletes to follow or how various leagues are structured, having to figure out how/where to watch women’s sports (if it is broadcast at all!), not being able to find team merch, missing out on epic women’s sports content because it wasn’t available anywhere, etc.
We’re rolling out new content for you every day, and we’ve got heaps more rad ideas in the works, so stay tuned!
Isn’t New Zealand too small for something like this?
In Aotearoa New Zealand, 1.5 million people follow women’s sports (and this stat is a bit old, so it’s likely even higher!). 62% of women’s sports viewers have increased their intake of women’s sports in the past 5 years, and are seeking more content to consume.
NZ media coverage dedicated to women’s sports has increased from 15% in 2018 to 25% in 2023, making NZ a global leader. Women’s sports are growing rapidly and exponentially: awareness, coverage, viewership, participation, and investment. But, historically, companies have focused on monetising the watching of men’s sports, and have not developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for the women’s sports audience.
Even with New Zealand’s increased coverage of women’s sports, the balance is nowhere near equal. When women’s sports are covered, it is often relegated to its own section below-the-fold, and the quantity and quality of the content is subpar. Finding information about women’s sports is a frustrating and onerous task. Because the default has long been men’s sports, there is a massive barrier-to-entry for fans of women’s sports. Searching for “New Zealand national rugby team” surfaces the All Blacks, not the Black Ferns. And the visual medium of social media often highlights the imbalance of coverage. SportNZ’s 2022 report suggested building strategies that align with women’s sport, rather than just extending men’s sports strategy, which we think is spot on.
Why now?
Aotearoa New Zealand is leading the way globally in terms of gender equity in sport and recreation. Following the massive success of women’s sports events held in New Zealand (the 2022 Cricket World Cup, the 2022 Rugby World Cup, and the 2023 Football World Cup) and in the leadup to the 2024 Olympics, NOW is the time to invest in the increased excitement in women’s sports.
Why you? Are you athletes?
We are not athletes (though Dani plays a bit of social tennis, and Mel played football/soccer in high school), but we are fans. We’ve seen the meteoric rise of women’s sports globally, and we’ve felt the frustration of seeing epic women athletes struggle to get coverage and funding. So, if we think we can help, that’s what we want to do!
How are you going to do this?
We’ve got a few guiding principles:
Start with Community
Community will be the foundation and the guiding star for WOMENZSPORTS. Aotearoa New Zealand’s sports culture is deeply ingrained in the country’s identity, and there are opportunities to celebrate and support women athletes at every level of play and across every sport.
Focus on Representation
In NZ, the biggest barrier to watching women’s sports is not knowing enough about events, teams, or athletes. By championing NZ women and underrepresented communities through product, programming, and partnerships, WOMENZSPORTS will provide a sport-agnostic hub for viewers of women’s sports to expand their engagement.
Curate a Welcoming Atmosphere
WOMENZSPORTS will provide a home for viewers of women’s sports to experience camaraderie and excitement. From the moment you engage with us, we want you to feel welcome, seen, and intentionally included. WOMENZSPORTS is diverse from its core: LGBTQ+, disabled, 1st-generation immigrant, womxn-owned. We purposefully challenge the status quo.
At the end of the day, our goal is to create an Aotearoa New Zealand where it is easy to be a fan of women’s sports.
