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Featured Image Credit: Canadian Premier League
Picture this: It’s May 2006. You’re watching rugby on the TV. Not just any game, the Super Rugby Final, Crusaders versus Hurricanes. Both teams have been indeniably on-form, and are both leaps and bounds ahead of any other team. This is the most anticipated rugby game of 2006. But when you flick on the television you can barely see anything. Half the field is coated in a thick haze, the commentators sound clueless, and any time the ball is kicked, nobody, not even the players, know where it’s gone. It’s the Final In The Fog.
Canada might not have their “Fog Final,” but they do have their −1 °C “icicle kick” scored in the 2025 CPL final. A final that will go down cult history as it was played in a snowstorm.
Canada’s penultimate football/soccer competition might not initially be on your radar as a newcomer to the country, especially as a Kiwi. After all, there’s ice hockey, Canadian football, lacrosse, baseball and so many other sports that aren’t popular back home to enjoy. This was certainly my attitude when I recieved free tickets to my first game on James Street in Hamilton, Ontario. After attending several games now, I can share with you that this is in fact a competition worth watching, and will give those missing their A League fix a great opportunity to watch football at a better price than Major League Soccer or the International game.
While football might not be on every New Zealanders radar. Admittedly, it’s been almost three years since I’ve supported my local team, the Wellington Phoenix, back when Eden Park and Auckland were considered a second home base, it’s currently incredibly topical, particularly for those of us in North America.
New Zealand football touched down in Toronto in June last year for the Canadian Shield Tournament, bringing countries together from four different continents, the All Whites found themseves underdogs against African and European heavy hitters Côte d’Ivoire and Ukraine. In a shock turn of events, the Kiwis toppled the at the time reigning African champions, finishing the tournament in second place after a narrow loss to Ukraine. It was a phenominal spectacle
Combined with the impending World Cup which will see the All Whites play two of their pool matches in Vancouver, Canada, against Belgium and Egypt, and further matches south of the border such as their pool match against Iran and warm-up against the formiddable English, the number of North American has dominated the mind of New Zealand sports fans living in this part of the world all year.
While the All Blacks taking on the Springboks in Baltimore, Maryland will be a battle for the ages, Sail GP coming to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the Sevens getting tournaments in Vancouver, BC and New York (Actually, New Jersey!) are all incredibly exciting, this year is certainly the year of football, soccer, whatever you’d like to call it. But with the first matches not until June, where can you get your fix in the meantime? The answer is the CPL.
The Canadian Premier League (CPL) is the second flight of Canadian football, and the largest competition solely played in Canada. It sits behind only Canada’s three Major League Soccer (MLS) teams based in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver. Major League Soccer is likely more well-known to those from outside of Canada, and has fielded some exciting results in recent history, such as Toronto FC’s record-setting championship season in 2017, and just as of last year, the Vancouver Whitecaps made the final.
While the MLS is an exciting competition, the CPL is a suprising dark horse that can often be seen as a feeder for these three clubs, but in reality, is so much more. The CPL consists of eight clubs spread all accross Canada, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Most kiwis are lucky to be concentrated in British Columbia and Ontario, the only provinces with multiple teams. BC field teams in Vancouver, and Victoria on Vancouver Island, meanwhile there is a team to watch in Ontario if you live in or nearby Hamilton, Ottawa, or last but certainly not least, Toronto.
So what makes this league worth a watch? Aside from the typically far cheaper tickets (Although certain teams with strong followings such as the Halifax Wanderers and Forge FC are slightly more expensive), it’s often just great football to watch, and there will be a team that you can get behind with a style that resonates with you. The previously mentioned Forge FC of Hamilton, alongside Calgary’s Cavalry and Ottawa’s Atlético are certainly reminiscent in terms of their organisation to that of your favourite Auckland FC and Wellington Phoenix. These clubs were the top three performers in 2025 by a country mile. If you’re more into scrappy, shin bruising, Fielding High School Second XI type of football, then one of the ragtag groups from Inter Toronto FC or Pacific FC might be your team to get behind.
This is however, the biggest drawback to the competition at present. In seven seasons thus far, the Hamilton’s Forge FC has dominated with four championships and three regular season wins. Who’s right behind them? Cavalry and Atlético. It’s a story we’ve heard before in football competitions around the world, such as the Scottish Premiership giving us what feels like half a century of Glaswegian dominance, with Celtic and Rangers passing titles to eachother like it’s a tennis match. With only in 2026, Edinburgh’s Hearts are looking like the first team in decades to challenge that duopoly. The difference between the Canadians and the Scots? There is distinct heritage, investment and cult followings behind each and every one of them. It’s not to say that football clubs in the home islands don’t run into financial trouble, or even go into slumps that their supporters rue the day they reminisce, but more often than not, they bounce back.
Just like many other fledling North American sports leagues in the last decade, the Canadian Premier League, founded in 2019, has already seen several clubs change hands, fold and be reborn, or just cease to exist permanently. Out of all the clubs present in the 2026 season I can safely say only half are likley to be secure in their future as a football franchise in Canada, even last year, due to low attendance and interest, Winnipeg concluded the season for the last time, denying the league an opportunity to have a record eight teams with the introduction of Montreal’s FC Supra du Québec. It’s worth noting that fan speculation on the internet rarely had Winnipeg in mind for a potential team to fold in 2025, with the West Coast teams in particular possibly on the chopping block in the future, if you ask a typical Instagram or Reddit commenter.
In amongst all these trials and tribulations though, you get some brilliant football, and for the first time ever, the Canadian Premier League rocked global headlines with their final last year.
The 2025 season finished in what some might call a typical fashion for the league. Hamilton’s Forge FC won the regular season title, sitting in a comfortable first, and comfortable favourites. Then the unexpected happened, Ottawa, then Calgary, both travelled to the Hammer and won difficult away games to knock out the title favourites and set the stage for the Ottawa to host the CPL final for the second time in their clubs short history.
Atlético Ottawa, founded by Atlético Madrid in 2020, had the homefield advantage, and the advantage of being able to draw players from Madrid’s network of clubs they own around the world, Auckland FC getting a leg up thanks to Bournemouth, if you will. The Team also featured 29 year old New Zealander Monty Patterson, who after a couple seasons with amateaur and semi-professional teams back home, found himself in Ottawa for the 2025 season.
Cavalry FC, one of the founding clubs of the CPL, also looked on-form and had won the previous year in another upset win over the Forge FC. While certainly not favourites in the matchup, with a previous win and two regular season titles under their belt, the Cavalry had the accolades to suggest there would certainly be fight in them. Invercargill born midfielder Jay Herdman is the closest a New Zealander got to Cavalry’s finals squad, unfortunately placed on loan to Vancouver FC toward the end of the season.
Thirteen thousand fans entered Ottawa’s TD Place, just narrowly falling short of the finals attendance record the city had previously set a few years prior, warm jackets, toques and gloves covering the jerseys of supporters. It’s worth noting that many of these fans would have been learning that they even had a CPL team for the first time! Probably a better watch than Ottawa’s capitulation to Toronto in the Stanely Cup playoffs that year.
Prepare for some deja vu, and some brain freeze. Snowy conditions meant that there was a potential need to postpone the game, but as with a certain final in 2006, two decades on, they decided to press on. Even as the teams exited the tunnels, the football field was covered in a white blanket of snow.
The game kicked off with some real tenacity from both sides, but whether it was the subzero temperatures, the snow on the field, the stop-start nature of the game as they cleared the field, or the crowd presence, the errors kept building up. It’s hard to say who was in control. Ottawa looked particularly strong on the attack, with Mexican-born David Rodríguez shooting on target and exploiting Cavalry FC’s errors, but David, alongside the rest of Ottawa’s attack, couldn’t connect the ball in the net, the snow clearly adding drag to their boots and the ball, sending it in all sorts of directions.
What Cavalry FC lacked in star power and an ability to capitalise on errors, they made up for with a burning desire to maintain possession at all costs, sacraficing field position to hold on to the ball occasionally. Their greed did in fact, eventually work in their favour. Cavalry’s Fraser Aird struck a penalty in the box which was by no means glamorous, but might go down in history as one of the worst keeper efforts by Ottawa’s captain and keeper, Nathan Ingham. The ball thumped and barged along the snow at a snails pace, like an Antarctic icebreaker, or one of those underarm bowls you do for your youngest nephew in backyard cricket, yet Cavalry FC now held the advantage.
After Cavalry celebrations finished up, in amongst a hail of snowballs from the upset crowd, play was resumed and a fire was lit in both teams. Ottawa’s David Rodríguez, several attempts later, finally had fortune favour him in the antithesis to Aird’s penalty, sent an extrodinary bicycle kick into Cavalry’s net off a disorganised corner that was so magnificent, it has rightfully earned it’s title of the “icicle kick” around the world and is possibly the greatest goal ever scored in the Canadian Premier League.
While filed with elation, the snow kept Ottawa or Calgary from capitalising on thier respective goals. The Snow maintained it’s authority on the field for the remainder of the half, and well into the second half. Toward the end of the second, patches of green could finally be seen, and the pace properly picked up, not before the game could go into extra time.
This is when we could finally see the talents of the attack on full display, as the first one-hundred-and-fifty minutes of this three hour battle had been dominated by stalward defensive efforts from both sides, Ottawa’s Roni Mbomio, Noah Abatneh and Loïc Cloutier certainly standout players. But all glory to the plucky Mexican, on loan from another “Atlético” with the last laugh, chipping another beautifully controlled strike, with the only other in the game being his previous goal, straight over the keeper to seal the game for the home side. Ottawa were 2025 CPL champions.
This game alone, makes this league worth watching. The weather a metaphor for the play that for five minutes might look like you’re watching Liverpool take on Chelsea, then the next twenty make you think the Chatham Islands might field a better team. It’s scrappy, it’s hard work, and my goodness it’s a beautiful game.
So, while we wait for the All Whites to arrive on Turtle Island, get out their and go support your local CPL team! You never know, you might get to see some absurdity from David Rodríguez if you’re lucky!
Current Clubs
Atlético Ottawa – Ottawa, Ontario
Cavalry FC – Calgary, Alberta
Forge FC – Hamilton, Ontario
Halifax Wanderers FC – Halifax, Nova Scotia
Inter Toronto FC – Toronto, Ontario
Pacific FC – Victoria, British Columbia
FC Supra du Québec – Montreal, Quebec
Vancouver FC – Vancouver, British Columbia
2025 CPL Finals Highlights
Article by Joseph Simpson, 12th April 2026
Want to know more? Reach out to Joseph via our Facebook and Instagram channels.
Exciting news for Kiwis in Toronto!
Rhys Darby is coming to town for a one-off show on April 15 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.
Kia Ora Canada will be giving away 2 tickets at our monthly pub night on April 8th at Hemingway's —don’t miss your chance to win!
Hot off a series of sell-out shows in New Zealand, Australia, the UK and Ireland, North America can now enjoy the Kiwi icon’s sensational return to standup after an almost decade-long break!
In a world full of AI and Robot tech can a simple dad with slightly tight jeans stay relevant? Ancient Astronaut Theorists say yes! Rhys hopes to prove that right now a touch of very human silliness is more important than ever!? Perhaps his unique human skills once thought of as absurd, might just be useful after all!
You can find tickets and view the full tour schedule here.
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.
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.
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…