Waikato Ultimate, the regional body for Ultimate Frisbee, designed Wheako Frisbee to introduce tamariki and rangatahi across the Waikato to an emerging fun and inclusive sport. 

Supported through Sport NZ Tū Manawa Active Aotearoa funding, the programme focused on Year 7 & 8 students, aiming to grow participation, promote teamwork, and embed Spirit of the Game values unique to Ultimate Frisbee, that also addressed school challenges. 

The goal was simple: give every student the chance to “give it a go”, equip schools with frisbees and resources to keep the momentum alive, and empower young people to stay active with friends and whaanau - whether at school, competitively, in the park, or at the beach.

Sport Waikato staff supported the team to ensure alignment to school curriculum, advice and access to funding via Sport New Zealand’s Tū Manawa fund, delivered in the Waikato region by Sport Waikato. Waikato Ultimate was successful in their application and the funding was then used to deliver the training sessions into schools in 2025. 

Following the success of the Wheako programme, the Intermediate Schools Ultimate Frisbee Tournament was launched.

15 of the 18 teams in the first year (2024) of the Tournament were from schools who engaged with the in school programme, which continued through to August 2025.

The second year of the tournament (2025) showed strong and positive growth, with two well-attended events delivering high-energy competition and great feedback from players and staff.

This progress is encouraging, and we are now seeing players who started at Intermediate level coming through into secondary school teams, with growing Year 9 interest helping drive the formation of new secondary school teams and strengthening the long-term pathway for the sport.

Teachers observed increased teamwork and communication among students, where the requirement to self-referee games reinforced positive behaviours and reduced negative sideline behaviour.

"Frisbees were being used at breaktimes by many of the kids who got hooked by the session. It was awesome to see!"

"I liked learning different ways of throwing the frisbee. I didn’t know it was a sport. I’m very keen to play regularly."

The success of Wheako Frisbee demonstrates the appetite for new, inclusive, and low-barrier sports in Waikato schools. 

Waikato Ultimate is committed to building on these results, exploring opportunities for inter-school competitions, holiday programmes, and further embedding frisbee culture across the region.

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