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After departing Aotearoa on an intrepid twenty-hour journey toward Ontario, figuring out public transport at the end of it certainly isn’t an undertaking for everyone. Some of you might be lucky enough to have a ride waiting at Pearson Airport, some might be considering forking over the small fortune for an Uber or taxi, and yes, that small fortune is considerably larger than what you are used to paying out of Auckland or Wellington airport. Or, some more clued on individuals might have purchased a Union-Pearson express ticket before they even landed!
Regardless of what type of traveller you are, and whether you have yet to arrive, are a new addition, or a true Canadian “hoser,” the below guide will make you an expert on public transport in Toronto, the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), Ottawa, and Hamilton.
A PRESTO card is your key to getting around much of Ontario on public transport.
The cards are available for purchase at all Shoppers Drug Marts in the GTA, GO Transit & UP Express stations, and TTC stations. They are only $4 CAD (with a minimum load required), and work immediately after purchase.
PRESTO cards provide discounted fares on almost all services and allow you to conveniently tap on and off where you would usually have to buy an advance ticket for the best rate, such as the GO Trains or the UP Express. There are usually further discounts offered by some municipalities and services for students, children, seniors, Canadian veterans, and more.
Just like your Auckland Transport card, Bee, or Snapper, these are physical cards. However, if you’d prefer not to have a physical card, you can swap your card to be digital, loaded onto your Apple Wallet or other phone wallet service.* **
*You can NOT have both a physical and a digital card, changing to digital deactivates your physical card.
** PRESTO cardholders travelling to Ottawa should NOT change their card to a digital card as OC Transpo does not accept digital PRESTO cards.
PRESTO Cards work on any public transport service in the cities of Toronto, the wider GTA, Hamilton, and Ottawa. The cards also work on GO Transit, which connects Toronto to several smaller Ontario cities. It’s important to note that PRESTO is not provincial-wide (yet, anyway). So those looking to travel to the likes of Kitchener-Waterloo, Sudbury, Kingston, St. Catharines, and so on, will need to conduct further research.
Bonus, PRESTO cardholders also get discounts and perks at some attractions around Ontario. Click this link to see what discounts are currently on offer!
Don’t have a PRESTO yet? Every service mentioned in this guide allows you to tap most credit and debit cards, Wise and Revolut cards. Some international debit cards may not work, but in our experience, cards issued by New Zealand banks work just fine.
In some cases cash and paper or digital tickets can also be purchased, such as the Union-Pearson Express.
Finch, Vaughan, Union. These are names you’ll be hearing several times upon arriving in Toronto. The infamous TTC is known for lengthy construction times, delayed departures and a subway that has surprisingly lost more stops than gained in the last two decades. Yet it is the apparatus that keeps two of the six million strong city moving. The TTC is responsible for Toronto’s subway system, buses, and street cars. Below is a bit of insight on each of them.
The Toronto Subway’s ability to bypass traffic makes it one of the fastest and best methods of transportation in the city. Missed your train? You won’t be waiting much longer than five minutes for the next one. The biggest rapid-transport system in Canada (although Montreal is catching up!), this will be many people’s go-to from the work commute, to shopping, sports games, concerts and connecting transit. TTC subway entrances can be identified by their iconic red and white TTC logo, or by the coloured circles (typically yellow or green signifying the line they are on) with the stop’s name.
While the street cars are certainly better than the novelties in Auckland and Christchurch, they are in our experience, not to be relied on for punctuality, and don’t hold a candle to the tramways of San Francisco, Melbourne or much of Europe. They are a great way to see downtown Toronto and provide a smooth and comfortable journey. For job interviews, stick to the bus.
The buses of the TTC are relatively reliable and connect most of the space left in between the subway and street cars. They are naturally subject to traffic so be sure to plan ahead and give yourself a bit of extra time in case of delays. A note that outside of Toronto proper, local municipalities operate their own buses, not the TTC. They all accept PRESTO, but information as fares and reliability will vary from Burlington to Oshawa.
All TTC transport is tag on when boarding, you do not need to tag off when disembarking.
GO Transit is the best option for mid-ranged travelling around the GTA. If you don’t have a car, it will be the key to getting to Niagara Falls, and surrounding cities. Easily identified by their iconic green branding, they are a popular choice for out of town commuters and visitors alike. They are the Te Huia or Capital Connection equivalents.
GO Trains are what run on Toronto’s heavy rail. The main hub is Union station, which converges with the TTC’s subway. There are seven main lines which operate with varying frequency, usually on the half-hour or the hour, but check ahead and plan your visit in advance to avoid having to wait around unnecessarily. The Lakeshore West line is the train line that takes you to Niagara Falls.
Just like the train, GO Busses connect Toronto to the wider region, but they can travel to neighbouring cities that do not have the same rail infrastructure, and are in some cases, even quicker than the train! Once again, this is subject to the traffic on the day. GO Busses are incredibly useful for those in the outer region of the GTA, as they are the best public transport option for reaching Pearson Airport.
GO Transit offers weekend passes which give unlimited travel on one weekend day (and public holidays) for $10. These must be bought online and are a great way to save some money on your weekend excursions.
GO Transit is one of the only services where you have to tag on, and off.
The Union-Pearson Express is the conduit between Toronto’s busiest train station and her busiest airport. This express connection is incredibly fast and efficient.
As mentioned earlier, the UP express can use a PRESTO card, most debit and credit cards, and tickets can be bought online, or in person. Fill your boots!
The UP Express only goes to-and-from Pearson Airport’s Terminal 1, so for flights arriving and departing from Terminal 3 will need to use the free Toronto Pearson International Airport Terminal Link to head to Terminal 1.
The UP Express is one of the only services where you have to tag on, and off.
VIA is the long-range rail system that services both the whole province, and all of Canada. For those cities in Ontario far away from Toronto such as Windsor, Sudbury, and Ottawa. This is not a tag-on-tag-off service, and tickets must be purchased in advance.
The VIA rail is incredibly efficient, and has a low risk of cancellation, so is one of the safest options for inter-provincial travel, though it is often more expensive than private bus companies.
Booking well in advance is the best way to keep the price as low as possible. There are also discounts for certain groups such as students at certain universities, and CAA members. Those of you under 25, keep an eye on the “Canada Strong Pass” which has been providing periodic VIA rail discounts throughout 2025 and 2026.
In addition to Toronto, PRESTO can also be used for public transport in Hamilton and Ottawa.
Hamilton’s HSR has a very reliable bus service. The city’s significantly smaller population means traffic has minimal impact on the busses. Most routes connect at the Frank A. Cooke terminal near the Hamilton GO station, allowing for easy connection to Toronto.
In 2025, a bus was stolen and the considerate crook still took the time to made all the stops along the route! No matter who’s behind the wheel, you’ll be in safe hands.
In addition to the busses, the Hamilton LRT has been “coming” for over fifteen years, so, expect to see ground broken in 2080 at this stage.
Ottawa’s OC Transpo does do one better than Hamilton, with the O train line connecting the East and West of the city, and the airport, for an affordable price. Heeded North or South? That’s too bad, you’ll have to find another way to get around
The city does have a relatively reliable bus service, especially downtown and around the university, with mixed reviews in the outer parts of the city.
Despite being less than a fifth of the size of Toronto, Ottawa’s public transport is certainly lagging behind other cities in Canda, and is one of the most expensive to use in Ontario. As of writing this, it’s a full dollar more than the HSR and TTC on one-way trips.
Lastly, Toronto Island Ferries, unlike the rest of Toronto’s transport, are run directly by the city. They are the only public transport connection between the island and the mainland.
A round trip will set you back just shy of $10 CAD as of 2026, with a few discounts for seniors and children. This makes it one of the more expensive options on this list, but be wary of water taxis. They do have the advantage of convenience, but will sting you dollars well into the double digits!
Tickets can be purchased online or at the terminal, they run with varying frequency throughout the seasons, usually on the half-hour, forty-five minute, or hour marks.
If you are flying in and out of Toronto’s Billy Bishop Airport (YTZ), do not take the ferry. Instead, there is an underwater pedestrian tunnel you can take for free!
And that’s a guide on Toronto’s public transport, by kiwis, for kiwis. Not comprehensive enough for your liking? Don’t worry, we’ve got you. Below is a link to the landing page of every service mentioned above for you to keep on learning to make you a Toronto public transport maestro.
PRESTO
Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
GO Transit
VIA Rail
UP Express
Hamilton Street Railway (HSR)
OC Transpo
Toronto Island Ferry
Article by Joseph Simpson, 23rd March 2026
Want to know more? Reach out to Joseph via our Facebook and Instagram channels.
Longing for the taste of a proper coffee is something every New Zealander doesn’t even realise they will do battle with when they move overseas. And yet, for those of us already here, we know the challenge all too well. It would appear our Australian cousins run into the same dilemma, and one of these Aussies has done something about it.
Found Coffee was established by Australian Leighton Walters in 2020. Fortunately for us, unlike almost every other business founded moments before Covid-19 rocked the world, Found Coffee is still with us today. Not only did it survive the pandemic, it thrived, with five locations, four of which are in Toronto, and the fifth can be found just over an hours drive away in Guelph. For six years Found Coffee has been treating everyone, including Australians, New Zealanders, to what they miss most, brilliant coffee. Open seven days a week, this might just be the saving grace for newcomers to Canada.
Look, it’s not that Tim Hortons is bad, it’s just certainly different to what the immigrants from Down Under and Down Under’s Down Under are used to. For Canadians, think of the attention to quality and passion for supporting local that is so imperative to pizzerias and pizza culture here. That’s how Aussies and Kiwis treat their coffee. Unfortunately, the trade-off is an abysmally content attitude to chain pizza back home.
Found Coffee is by no means an exclusive experiment for Oceanians, otherwise I imagine they would be out of business very quickly. The Found Coffee team describe themselves as a conduit of the community, something we really felt in their Bellwoods location. But before we can delve into the store, we need to talk about their history with Australia’s answer to the black gold of Marmite, Vegemite!
Since 2020, Toronto has been treated to this vitamin-rich elixr and staple of Australian culture thanks to Found Coffee. Vegemite, along with several other food and drink items from our part of the world, is notoriously hard to get in Ontario, and most of Canada for that matter. There are some shops and importers in amongst the skifield-obsessed expats in British Columbia, but travel any further east than Banff, and you’re going to struggle to find Vegemite anywhere.
The price tag on Found Coffee’s shelves might alarm Aussies and Kiwis, but try and pay for shipping and import duty on it for yourself, and you’ll give up as quickly as you started. This small but significant taste of home has brought many customers back to the store over the years. I won’t lie, I’ve largely grown up on Marmite, but if I don’t find anyone making the jump over the Pacific soon, I might be making the switch.
Back in 2025, in a shock turn of events that would have Cyril Callister rolling in his grave, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) deemed the iconic Australian spread as “non-compliant” with food regulations. This threatened Found Coffee’s recent $8,000 import of Vegemite with destruction. The verdict would have denied Australians and several others accessing one of the few tastes of home they had in this part of the world.
“To put it in context, it would be like Australia banning maple syrup”
– Leighton Walters
Fortunately, this didn’t end in a Boston Tea Party with the Toronto Harbour turning a viscous oil-spill black, but it did catch the attention of the biggest names in two soverign nations. Australia’s Anthony Albanese and Canada’s Mark Carney.
The yellow-labeled yeast spread, so famous, it has it’s own museum in Beaufort, Victoria, had it’s defence escalated to the Australian Prime Minister, who, after brief communication on social media with his Canadian equivalent, and likely much more official discussion from each nations respective trade ministries, an agreement was made and Vegemite was back on the shelves!
We arrived on a busy Saturday morning to Found Coffee’s Bellwoods location, a beautiful suburb befitting this lovely coffee shop. Before even getting through the doors a gumball-turned-dog-treat machine was keenly serving the four legged members of the community. As we got up the steps we realised we certainly weren’t the only people out for a mid-morning Saturday cuppa, who would’ve thought? The kind and professional staff moved through the line quickly and in only a matter of a couple of minutes, we were at the front of the queue.
Found Coffee is special for not only it’s staple beverages and it’s famous Vegemite, but also for a wide range of seasonal drinks to keep every visit unique. We ordered the Banana Bread Latte, Lavendar Sugar latte, and Vanilla Almond Tea Latte. If a flat white is more your speed, they’ve got you covered. The shop offers a range of alternative milks for our dairy-free friends.
After sitting down we got to trying our delicious drinks and soaking up the atmosphere. The shop is well decorated. There are a few hints of yellow hiding in some corners, signalling the presence of our favourite Aussie spread, and it was just full enough to feel lively, but not crowded.
I tried all of the drinks, but speaking on my own order, the Vanilla Almond Tea Latte, I already knew I was going to be a fan of this one. Rooibos is one of my favourite teas, and it pairs so nicely with a sweet flavour like vanilla. Almond milk was a great addition to the already present Almond in the drink. Overall the drink had just enough sweetness and flavour going on to be an exciting, worthwhile seasonal beverage, without the over-the-top sugar mountain that is usually found in North America’s equivalents. Would I have one again? Absolutely.
Found Coffee truly is a taste of home away from home. Yes, even for a Kiwi! It’s no secret that due to our smaller populations, New Zealand and Australian-owned businesses are far and few between outside of our homelands.
An affordable coffee shop with great quality beverages. Whether you’re in the big city, or driving through Guelph, add Found Coffee to your list of places to try next.
Toronto probably won’t ever get a State of Origin game, probably won’t ever see the Bledisloe Cup, and won’t be a surprise entry into the great Pavlova debate, but it’s got Vegemite!
Article by Joseph Simpson, 29th March 2026
Want to know more? Reach out to Joseph via our Facebook and Instagram channels.
March Madness isn’t about snow finally melting—though that’s what some Kiwis living in Canada might think when they first hear the term. It’s about college basketball, brackets, upsets, and a uniquely American sports obsession that has fans across the United States—and Canada—glued to their screens every March.
Kia Ora Canada was on the ground at the Iconic Madison Square Garden on March 14th for the Big East Men’s Basketball Final. The madness began heating up in the lead-up to the NCAA tournament.
For any sports fan visiting New York, Madison Square Garden is often on the bucket list. While tickets for New York Knicks games can be expensive, college basketball offers an accessible way to experience the legendary arena.
For Kiwis living in North America, it can take a little time to understand just how big college sports are here—but quickly, the answer becomes clear: it’s a must-watch spectacle.
The Big East Final featured St. John’s Red Storm, the defending champions, against 2024 and 2023 National Champions UConn Huskies. These teams are fierce rivals, and the intensity showed.
The crowd wasn’t just students—fans of all ages packed the stands. The energy was unlike anything we had experienced at a basketball game. Bands played from the stands, mascots roamed the court, huge flags waved, and chants echoed around the arena.
Even celebrity sightings added to the excitement. Ray Romano, best known to Kiwis from the 90s hit TV show Everybody Loves Raymond, couldn’t contain his enthusiasm when he learned he would be watching the game from a suite as he walked past the media room.
On the court, St. John’s controlled the game despite UConn’s passionate fans. The final score read 72–52 in favor of St. John’s, guided by legendary Hall of Fame coach Rick Pitino.
March Madness is the annual NCAA Division I men’s college basketball tournament featuring 68 teams in a single-elimination format. Its unpredictable nature makes it a cultural phenomenon—not just in the U.S., but also in Canada. Sports bars show the games, fans track every upset, and close finishes keep everyone on edge.
Both St. John’s (ranked 5th) and UConn (ranked 2nd) remain in the NCAA tournament as it moves toward the Sweet 16 stage. St. John’s will face #1 ranked Duke, while UConn takes on #3 ranked Michigan State. Should both teams win, a rematch in the next round is on the cards.
The “bracket” is essentially a prediction of who will win each matchup. Picking the perfect bracket is famously difficult—no one has ever done it successfully. Companies have even offered big prizes for perfect brackets, including a $1 billion promotion in 2014. Statistically, even informed guesses give only a 1 in 120 billion chance of correctly predicting every game. This doesn’t stop anyone trying including former President Barack Obama, who famously shares his picks each year on social media.
Whether you’re a Kiwi newcomer or a longtime North American sports fan, March Madness is a whirlwind of excitement, rivalry, and unforgettable sporting moments. For Kia Ora Canada, witnessing the Big East Final live at Madison Square Garden was the perfect introduction to the madness.
Kia Ora Canada was on the ground as the HSBC SVNS Series made its debut in New York City, marking the first time the event has been hosted in the city after previous stops in Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. Held at Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls (MLS), the tournament delivered a weekend of world-class rugby and atmosphere.
The Black Ferns Sevens continued their dominant, unbeaten run in spectacular fashion, scoring three tries in the final four minutes to edge Australia 22-21 in a thrilling final.
Once again, Jorja Miller, who hails from Timaru, stood out as one of the tournament’s top performers. reinforcing her status as one of New Zealand rugby’s brightest stars. Speaking during the tournament, Miller reflected on the experience of playing in New York:
“I grew up watching New York in movies. To travel here and experience the city is one thing, but to play rugby here is an amazing opportunity.”
Her sentiment was echoed across teams, with players embracing the unique opportunity to compete and play in one the world’s most iconic cities.
It was a more challenging outing for the All Blacks Sevens, who finished sixth after losses to Australia, France, and eventual champions South Africa.
South Africa claimed the men’s title with a tense 10-7 victory over Fiji in the final.
One of the biggest talking points of the tournament came on day one, when the United States Women stunned rivals Canada with a dominant 24-0 win. Adding further misery for Canada in the recent USA V Canada sporting rivalry.
The result ignited a passionate home crowd, who stayed in full voice throughout the weekend. The USA women carried that momentum to finish third overall, while Canada placed seventh.
Across the two-day event, a crowd of 20,527 brought energy and colour, with New Zealand flags scattered throughout the stands and fans in fancy dress evoking memories of the golden era of Sevens in Wellington and Hong Kong.
While still in its early stages in New York, the tournament showed strong potential for growth in the “city that never sleeps,” particularly as the USA builds toward hosting the Rugby World Cup 2031 (Men) and Rugby World Cup 2033 (Women)
The New York stop also confirmed overall League winners, with the Black Ferns Sevens claiming the women’s title and South Africa taking out the men’s competition under the new HSBC SVNS format.
Attention now turns to the restructured World Championship series, with upcoming events in:
Rugby fans in North America won’t have to wait long for more international action. The Black Ferns (XV) will feature in the upcoming Pacific Four Series, facing:
Meanwhile, the All Blacks will return to the United States later this year, taking on the Springboks in Baltimore on September 12th as part of their “Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry” tour.
Kia Ora Canada’s Hayden was given a unique behind-the-scenes look at an NBA game day, experiencing the inner workings of the Brooklyn Nets during their match against the Chicago Bulls.
The opportunity came courtesy of Nets General Manager Sean Marks, a fellow Kiwi, along with the team at Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment.
From the moment doors opened at Barclays Center, it was clear why the Nets are considered a world-class organization. The behind-the-scenes access provided insight into the scale, precision, and coordination required to deliver a top-tier game day experience in one of the most competitive sporting markets in the world.
From operations staff to in-game presentation, every detail was executed at a high level, showcasing the professionalism and energy that define the NBA product.
Adding to the experience, Hayden and three fellow Kia Ora Canada members were able to take in the game from a corporate suite—an unforgettable way to enjoy the action on court while soaking in the atmosphere of a packed Barclays Center.
Experiences like this continue to highlight the global impact of New Zealand talent. Seeing a Kiwi like Sean Marks leading an NBA franchise is a proud reminder of how far New Zealanders are reaching across the international sports landscape.
It was not only a memorable night but also an inspiring look at what’s possible on the world stage.
Kia Ora Canada went international, travelling to London’s iconic Alexandra Palace—fondly known as “Ally Pally”—to witness the 2025/2026 Paddy Power World Darts Championship.
The trip was made extra special by the performance of Kiwi darts player Jonny "JT" Tata. A truck driver from Wainuiomata, Tata created a shock first-round upset, forcing a quick reschedule of his flights back home as he chased history, aiming to become the first Kiwi to reach the third round of the tournament.
Tata came out strong, taking a 2–0 lead in the first-to-three sets format. However, England’s Ryan “The Barber” Meikle staged a thrilling comeback, ultimately winning 3–2 in a match that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.
The crowd roared for Meikle, but Kiwi supporters made their presence felt too, singing Tūtira Mai Ngā Iwi as Tata built his early lead.
Darts at Ally Pally is a spectacle that extends beyond the boards. Fans can enjoy a wide range of food and drinks outside the arena, try their hand at throwing practice darts, and join in the fun with elaborate fancy dress costumes. Children and adults alike were seen dressed as their favourite players, creating a carnival-like atmosphere.
The event also highlighted the global growth of darts, with stars like teenage phenom Luke Littler helping to expand the sport worldwide.
Tuesday, 23 December saw several headline matches:
Most results went largely as expected, though two-time world champion Peter Wright disappointed with an early exit. Former champions Gary Anderson and Michael van Gerwen performed strongly and are set on a collision course for a fourth-round showdown.
The standout of the day was Justin Hood—dubbed “Happy Feet”—who has quickly become a crowd favourite. Hood is confident he can go all the way and claim the £1,000,000 prize. When asked how he’d spend the money, he revealed his dream is to own a Chinese restaurant.
For Kia Ora Canada, the day was a celebration of Kiwi talent on the global stage and a chance to experience one of the world’s most electric darts tournaments up close. Jonny Tata’s performance was a reminder of what’s possible for New Zealand players, and hopefully it will inspire a new generation of Kiwis to shine on the world’s biggest stage soon.
Kia Ora Canada hit the road from Toronto to Chicago for a blockbuster clash between the All Blacks and Ireland, arriving Friday morning to a city awash in Irish green, with only a scattering of black jerseys in sight.
It quickly became clear that New Zealand supporters would be outnumbered, as Chicago filled with local and travelling Irish fans. Even at the All Blacks’ own Adidas fan event-featuring Beauden Barrett, Caleb Clarke, and Cam Roigard-the Q&A session was dominated by Irish voices, drawing laughter from players and fans alike in a lively, good-natured atmosphere.
Later that afternoon, attention shifted to Soldier Field for the All Blacks’ captain’s run. The squad appeared relaxed and upbeat ahead of the much-anticipated “rematch,” eight years on from Ireland’s historic first win over New Zealand at the same venue.
Coach Scott ‘Razor’ Robertson cut a calm figure. In a lighter moment, when asked by Kia Ora Canada about the Toronto Blue Jays and whether they would wrap up the World Series that night, Razor quickly spotted the Kia Ora members Blue Jays hats and engaged in a chat about the team and star slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
By Saturday morning, game day had arrived. While the Blue Jays had fallen short the night before, there was a sense that something special could be brewing in Chicago and hopefully Toronto.
A crowd of 61,841 packed into Soldier Field, with a sea of green dominating the stands. The atmosphere was electric, though briefly stunned early when Tadhg Beirne received a yellow card that was later upgraded to a red-amid confusion due to the lack of a replay on the big screen.
Despite being down a man, Ireland rallied impressively, heading into halftime with a 10-7 lead. With 20 minutes remaining, they still held a 13-7 advantage, and memories of the 2016 upset in Chicago began to resurface for New Zealand fans.
However, the All Blacks found another gear in the final quarter.
Tries from Tamaiti Williams, Wallace Sititi, and Cam Roigard turned the match on its head, with another effort ruled out right on full time.
The late surge secured a hard-fought 26 – 13 victory and provided crucial momentum heading into their next test against Scotland at Murrayfield Stadium, as the All Blacks eye going 2/2 in the quest for a Grand Slam.
Overall, the match reflected two sides still finding rhythm after limited recent play, but delivered a contest for fans.
While the Irish crowd brought the energy, it wasn’t enough to carry their side to another famous win. Ireland will now return to Dublin to face Japan, before tougher tests against the Wallabies and Springboks.
For Kia Ora Canada, it was a memorable weekend on the road-proof once again of rugby’s global reach and the unmatched atmosphere of test match rugby.
P.S. Lets not talk about Blue Jays and game 7…
The All Whites had a memorable tournament delivering a historic victory while hosts Canada ultimately claimed the Canadian Shield in front of passionate home support.
The All Whites were warmly welcomed on arrival by Kia Ora Canada board member Dino Rosta and member Glenn Cruz, with a traditional haka performed for the squad. Head coach Darren Bazeley praised the moment, noting how special it is to see Kiwi support wherever the team travels.
Following the welcome, the squad quickly got to work with a training session-despite some players arriving directly from long-haul flights. With players based all over the world, assembling the squad remains a challenge, but it also reflects the team’s evolution into a fully professional international side.
Ahead of their opening match, Kia Ora Canada connected with supporters group The Flying Kiwis, building excitement for a rare opportunity to see the national team in action on Canadian soil.
The challenge was immediate, facing reigning African champions Côte d’Ivoire, whose fans turned out in force to create a vibrant atmosphere.
It was Elijah Just who delivered the decisive moment, scoring in the 41st minute to give New Zealand the lead. Under sustained pressure, the All Whites held firm to secure a famous victory-arguably their biggest result since the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Earlier in the day, Canada had impressed with a 4-2 win over Ukraine, with “The Voyageurs” bringing strong energy to BMO Field.
Heading into their second match, the All Whites remained in contention to win the tournament-despite not facing Canada due to the competition format.
Another pre-match meetup with The Flying Kiwis and Kia Ora Canada members set the tone before kickoff against Ukraine. After a tightly contested first half ended scoreless, Ukraine struck early in the second.
New Zealand responded quickly, with Marko Stamenić levelling the score shortly after the restart. However, Ukraine regained control, netting a decisive second goal in the 75th minute to seal the win.
The tournament concluded with Côte d’Ivoire beating Canada on penalties 5 – 4, however Canada still finished first to win the tournament and lift the Canadian Shield, capping off a strong showing on home soil.
For the All Whites, a second-place finish represents a highly encouraging outcome, highlighted by a landmark win and strong performances throughout the tournament.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup just a year away, the All Whites’ showing in Toronto offers plenty of optimism. Competitive performances against high-quality opposition-and strong support from Kiwi fans abroad-underline the team’s growing confidence on the international stage.
For Kia Ora Canada, it was another proud moment witnessing New Zealand teams making their mark overseas, backed by a passionate community far from home.
There was hope in the eyes amongst the fans of the All Whites (ranked 86th) for a moment of glory after beating reigning Africa Cup Champions, Ivory Coast (Ranked 41st) one goal to nil.
Just two hours beforehand, Canada had won an upset of their own against competition favourites Ukraine, in a four-two result. There was a chance that the Kiwi Men could win their first international tournament in 26 years, outside of their ever-dominant OFC Nations cup performances.
Two matches would need to fall into place, the Ivory Coast would need to hold off the Canadians, and the New Zealanders needed to pull off an even bigger upset, A victory over Ukraine.
Yesterdays match was the first ever meeting between the two nations in men’s football. In fact, this whole tournament had been firsts, including their game against the Ivory Coast. Perhaps a slight edge for the men wearing the silver fern, given these European and African powerhouses were unlikely to have had diligently reserarched their opposition ranked so far behind.
New Zealand’s veterans goal scorers Chris Wood and Kosta Barborouses found themselves on the bench for the most insurmountable matchup in the Canadian Shield. Young Wellington Phoenix turned Plymouth Argyle & Mansfield Town striker Ben Waine was given the start. Perhaps New Zealand football saw something in the coaching ability of Plymouth’s Wayne Rooney the rest of the UK and all their professional analysts and scouts couldnt see.
Ukraine’s squad reflected confidence with third choice keeper Andriy Lunin in the net, though that might have happened against any side given Anatoliy Trubin’s four goal capitulation against the Canadians just days prior. The Ukrainian attack was a quiet mix of local league players, while on-form striker, Olympiaco’s Roman Yaremchuk also stood ready in reserve.
The player to watch was rising star and captain Illia Zabarnyi of the Premier League’s Bournemouth. The most recent encounter betwen the young defender and New Zealand’s Nottingham Forest Star Chris Wood resulted in a 5-0 capitulation in favour of the Ukrainian.
Perhaps the only thing going strongly in New Zealand’s favour was the previous match record, with huge results against the Pacifc in their OFC world cup qualifiers, and the momentum of their triumph over the Ivory coast, meanwhile, Ukraine had been battered by Belgium in their last match on European soil before limping through their match against Canada.
The GO Trains arrived, street vendors sold flags and hats on the corners of Exhibition Station. Thousands of fans poured into the stadium, perdominantly wearing blue and yellow. The stage was set for a clash to remember.
As the game kicked off, the already strong Ukrainian diaspora in Ontario, further reinforced by a recent influx of refugees, bellowed out chants like a church chior doing a one-off metal concert. A mix of well-rehearsed expatriots, alongside confused Canadian-born Ukrainians, made for a noise that might have sounded melodic had there not been such a large contingent of locals without knowledge of their mother tounge in the crowd.
The first twenty minutes of the game were defined by the defensive work of the All Whites, despite only holding a fraction of the possession, the few moments with the ball saw them roar up the field straight into attacking position, unfortunately unable to link up with Ben Waine’s boot. Sarpreet Singh made a strong argument for a return to Bayern Munich with excellent distributing and was the key link between getting the ball from the New Zealand defence upfield.
While New Zealand spent most of the first half shooting deperately, and often off target, Ukraine’s Yehor Nazaryna and Oleksiy Hutsulyak were considerably more accurate, only narrowly being stopped by the calm and collected Max Crocombe, at Goalkeeper for New Zealand.
The party of New Zealand supporters, numbering about thirty in the 28,000 seater stadium, responded to the Ukrainian onslaught with two impassioned yet also fleeting chants of Tutira Mai throughout the full course of the game. The only thing not suffocating the fans was the fortunate thousands of empty Canadian-red seats dotted throughout the patches of Ukrainians.
Starting the second half the Ukrainians came out firing with another run of accurate shots on goal. At this point, the number of shots had been noticeable swinging in favour of the Eastern Europeans, and their fans were completely behind them.
“Who’s not jumping is Russian” was one of the many chants that would come up, and the confused New Zealanders, alerted by haphazard translation from one of the Kiwi supporters, saught Ukrainian insight on the translation and got a startling explanation.
While the separation of sport and politics is seen as noble and important to many, the New Zealanders were, in fact, not Russians, and that was enough to get them to jump along to the Ukrainian chants. The only red white and blue out in the stands that day was that of the Union Jack and the Southern Cross!
The first goal of the night was scored by Ukraine’s Oleksiy Hutsulyak 54 minutes in, beautifully assited by a monstrous diagonal crossfield kick from captian Illia Zabarnyi to Oleksandr Pikhalyonok, who crossed Hutsalyak straight into the box and the lighting quick, yet simple shot, breezed into the net.
The All Whites had not faught tooth-and-nail only to collapse now, and redemption was quickly achieved through Samoan-Serbian Marko Stamenić, as he used his forehead to nudge in the well executed equaliser for the all whites, a confident Ukraine crowd had a moment to waver.
Unfortunately for the Kiwis, Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko put the game away, with a cross that looked like a textbook copy to their first goal. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. For the last fifteen minutes, New Zealand hunted for the equaliser, and even got a good attempt in, but as the sea of red, white, and the maple leaf filled the empty seats of the stadium, resignation was the only emotion on the faces of New Zealand’s fans, both locals from Kia Ora Canada, and those from the Flying Kiwis that made the intrepid trip to the 6ix.
While tournament glory fell away for the New Zealanders, The Ivory Coast had managed to beat the Canadians on penalty goals. leaving the Kiwis with the consulation of second place. In a tournament where we were ranked over forty places behind the nearest ranked team, it’s not a result to complain about.
Canadian Shield Tournament
New Zealand (1) v Ukraine (2), Toronto, 10th June 5.00pm
Goalscorers: (NZL), (UKR), (UKR)