Kathmandu has signed on as the official apparel partner for the New Zealand Team for future Olympic and Commonwealth Games. The partnership is set for an initial four-year term, covering athletes’ training and village kits, as well as uniforms for opening, closing, and podium ceremonies.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) CEO, Nicki Nicol, highlighted synergies between the two organisations. She stated: “We’re extremely proud to announce this partnership. Both organisations are deeply committed to performance, quality, innovation, and share deep roots in Aotearoa New Zealand. From this land, we’ve grown, forged new paths, and made an impact on the world stage. This is a partnership that honours New Zealand’s heritage and future potential,” Nicol stated.

Kathmandu CEO, Megan Welch, said: “Our innovative and responsibly-made gear and apparel will empower our country’s elite athletes to excel, perform at their best, and proudly fly the New Zealand flag on the global stage.”

“Our product team has a long history of pushing industry boundaries – particularly when it comes to sustainability and innovation. In the 1990s they were one of the first to develop a fleece made from plastic bottles. Now we’re creating world-leading, high performance garments using fabrics made with recycled car tyres and captured carbon emissions,” Welch said.

The New Zealand Team will debut the Kathmandu-designed kit at the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games in February 2026. Further kits will be unveiled at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (2026), the Olympic Summer Youth Games in Daka (2026), and the Olympic Games in Los Angeles (2028). Kathmandu plans to develop supporters’ gear for New Zealanders to celebrate their athletes.

Kathmandu’s General Manager of Product, Karinda Robinson, said: “In the spirit of partnership, this is a collaborative design process, and we’ve already met with some of the NZOC team. While all Kathmandu gear is made for performance, our goal here is to design kits that act like an extension of the athletes themselves.

“We use some of the most sustainable materials available and we do not compromise on performance. Our product goes through a rigorous testing process from material stage through final concept.”

The New Zealand Team is excited about the partnership, with design details remaining confidential until the official unveiling. “We trust Kathmandu will deliver quality product for the athletes while considering the planet. We cannot wait to see the rings and fern on the new Kathmandu kit. This is a meaningful partnership that we are very proud of,” Nicol said.

“Kathmandu’s commitment to sustainability aligns with the values of the New Zealand Team and the Olympic Charter. New Zealanders care deeply about where their products come from and how they’re made – we now have a leader in sustainable product innovation backing our team.”