Voice of rangatahi 2025
Voice of rangatahi 2025
Key findings
Voice of rangatahi shows how young people (aged 12 to 18) feel about being active in Aotearoa.
These are the key findings from the rangatahi who took part in the 2025 survey.
Who took part
19,822 secondary school students.
From 125 schools and kura across 15 Regional Sports Trust regions.
What we heard
- Most rangatahi are active at school, but participation drops in Years 11 to 13 when PE is no longer compulsory.
- Satisfaction is mixed. 88% are satisfied overall, but only 34% are highly satisfied, and satisfaction drops as rangatahi get older.
- Senior school age is a drop-off point. PE participation drops to 45% in Years 11 to 13, and 22% report doing no school-based physical activity.
- Confidence, encouragement, inclusion and choice drive positive physical activity experiences at school.
- Many rangatahi want to have better places to be active at school. 45% want improved facilities like changing rooms and toilets, while 43% want better playing and training spaces, as well as more choice in activity options.
- The same challenges remain as last year, as seen in our 2024 survey. Participation drops as rangatahi get older, inequities persist and time is still a major barrier to being active.
"Even though we are a small school, lots of sports and opportunities are offered and the teachers are always open to student voice in trying new sports." – Year 12 student.
Overall enjoyment and satisfaction
Rangatahi are more likely to enjoy being active when they:
Feel confident taking part
Feel encouraged by teachers and peers
Feel included and supported
Are interested in what they're learning
Have choice in the activities offered
Rangatahi satisfaction with physical activity experiences at school/kura
Percentage reporting high satisfaction
Year 7–8
Year 9–10
Year 11–13
Overall
Year 7–8
42%
Year 9–10
35%
Year 11–13
31%
During PE
Year 7–8
54%
Year 9–10
44%
Year 11–13
48%
Physical activity during break time
Year 7–8
69%
Year 9–10
45%
Year 11–13
46%
Other organised physical activity
Year 7–8
63%
Year 9–10
55%
Year 11–13
52%
Competitive sport
Year 7–8
66%
Year 9–10
64%
Year 11–13
59%
"It was fun getting to do dance with people at school, we get to connect with the people from younger year groups. We have been working towards lots of competitions, and that has really brought us all a lot closer." – Year 12 student.
"The tutoring my coach or teacher gives me more skills and abilities for when I play on game days." – Year 10 student.
Barriers and inequities
Not all rangatahi have the same experiences at school. Girls, disabled young people, Asian young people and students in higher Equity Index (EQI) schools report lower confidence, lower enjoyment and less encouragement to be active.
- Being too busy is the main reason rangatahi aren’t more active. Overall, 44% say this, rising to 51% in Years 11 to 13. Tiredness, low motivation and low confidence are also common barriers.
- Gender gaps widen for rangatahi. 40% of boys are highly satisfied compared with 29% of girls.
- Participation is lower for disabled rangatahi. 74% of disabled rangatahi are active compared with 87% non-disabled rangatahi, and fewer take part in competitive sport (34% compared with 45%).
"I don't like PE, and I find it really hard to keep up with the stuff. The class we go against is always 10 times better than us and we always lose, and the stuff we do is not even fun." – Year 10 student.
What to focus on for rangatahi
Better quality PE
More engaging activities for rangatahi.
More choice
More activity options and opportunities to have their say.
More inclusive cultures
Supportive school cultures for physical activity.
Improved facilities
Better equipment and uniforms.
"PE is just games. I would like to do more sports. If we do some sports, it's just the same ones repeated. It needs to be more active. PE should be 3x a week." – Year 8 student.
"There is not much to do, like the weights room is too small and doesn't offer the equipment I need and the volleyball gym is always packed." – Year 11 student.
"I don't like people seeing me do things cause I don't want them to judge me." – Year 13 student.
More information
See the Student Voice report 2025, which brings the voice of tamariki and voice of rangatahi surveys together to give a clearer picture of how experiences of physical activity at school and kura change as young people get older.
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