Top 20 Athletics & Sports from New Zealand on Instagram Influencers by Follower Growth

Last updated: March 30, 2026

Total Athletics & Sports Influencers in New Zealand

857

Expected Reach

15.4M

Total Followers

51.5M

Avg Engagement

7.01%

Audience Analysis

Gender Distribution

Female33%
Male67%

Age Distribution

25-3439.9%
18-2426.2%
35-4418.9%
45-546.2%

Top Countries

New Zealand22.8%
United States of America14.8%
United Kingdom7.0%
Australia6.9%
Germany4.6%

Top Languages

en75.8%
es7.4%
de5.2%

Top Cities

Auckland6.6%
Canterbury3.8%
Dunedin1.7%
Rotorua1.3%
Wellington1.1%

Top 20 Creators

RankInfluencerLocationFollowersEngagementMonthly GrowthScore
1
Liam Lawson
@liamlawson30
🇳🇿 Formula One driver for @visacashapprb ✉️ liam@thetalentbakery.com
New Zealand
1.4M
Followers
7.60%
Engagement
+2.2%(+29.6K)
7.5
2
Catherine Bines
@calibersadventures
The adventures of Caliber Bridless, Barefoot, Tackless, Free riding. @maretothethrone CALIBER10
New Zealand
137.8K
Followers
N/A
Engagement
+10.9%(+13.6K)
6.9
3
Glenn Phillips
@glennphillips236
Professional Cricketer. @blackcapsnz | @newbalance | @gujarat_titans | @attitudearchery
New Zealand
684.0K
Followers
11.14%
Engagement
+1.8%(+11.8K)
8.7
4
Dan "Hangman" Hooker
@danhangman
Why so serious?🃏 @1minutescraps 🔥 @thedoctorsocial 🤝
Dunedin, New Zealand
870.3K
Followers
7.99%
Engagement
+1.3%(+10.8K)
7.6
5
Tim Seifert
@timseifert
@powerfarmingnz | @sareensports | @tgisportcricket | @swysh
Auckland, New Zealand
98.3K
Followers
163.61%
Engagement
+8.4%(+7.6K)
8.0
6
Zoe Hobbs | Olympian
@zoe__hobbs
🇳🇿 Olympian Sprinter for @newbalance Australasia / Oceania Record: 100m & 60m enquiries: kelly@cultivategroup.co.nz
New Zealand
177.3K
Followers
9.50%
Engagement
+4.4%(+7.4K)
7.0
7
Portia Woodman-Wickliffe
@porshwoodman
👩‍👩‍👧 @renee_wickliffe 🇳🇿 Toku Reo 🏉 @blackferns @nzsevens 🥇🥇🥈 Olympian All enquiries: kelly@cultivategroup.co.nz
New Zealand
228.1K
Followers
7.68%
Engagement
+3.0%(+6.7K)
7.0
8
Ruby Tui
@rubytui
Just trying to do some good in the world. Straight Up.🏉 🌈 ✍🏽 . . 📩dan@wearetenzing.com “Straight Up” & “Little Ruby”📖 available now🌏 ⬇️
Auckland, New Zealand
174.9K
Followers
1.89%
Engagement
+3.5%(+6.0K)
7.0
9
Brendon McCullum
@bazmccullum42
Doubt Kills More Dreams Than Failure Ever Will. 💪🏻 @englandcricket Mens Test Team Head Coach. @insignia_sports
Dunedin, New Zealand
1.2M
Followers
5.49%
Engagement
+0.5%(+5.6K)
4.3
10
Nick Webb
@nick.webby
🇳🇿 Kiwi ▪️Boy Dad 💙 ▪️Previously 🇮🇳 & 🇳🇿 Cricket ◾️Head of Player Performance Support @nzblacksticks This is my journey 📸
Auckland, New Zealand
176.7K
Followers
0.23%
Engagement
+3.1%(+5.4K)
3.8
11
Tania Tare
@taniatare63
Golf Trick Shot Artist Founder of Antisocial Media - the only platform creators need to land brand deals! Link below 🖤🐑 @atr_ 💌
Auckland, New Zealand
352.7K
Followers
N/A
Engagement
+1.3%(+4.7K)
6.4
12
Kyra Aoake
@kyraaoakee
WSWF S3 AG squad💜 Any enquires click the email option below ⬇️
New Zealand
85.4K
Followers
11.02%
Engagement
+5.6%(+4.6K)
8.9
13
Jorja Miller
@jorjamillerrrr
olympic champ bf sevens 💃🏼 @adidas 🏋🏼‍♀️ enquiries: kelly@cultivategroup.co.nz
Canterbury, New Zealand
56.6K
Followers
14.54%
Engagement
+6.9%(+3.6K)
7.0
14
Coby
@coby.brooks
nz @crew24.nz
Auckland, New Zealand
46.6K
Followers
5.08%
Engagement
+6.9%(+3.0K)
8.6
15
WHITE FERNS
@white_ferns
Next Match: 1st T20I 🆚 Zimbabwe 🇿🇼 🗓️ Wednesday, 25 Feb 📍Seddon Park
Auckland, New Zealand
154.5K
Followers
0.00%
Engagement
+1.9%(+2.9K)
6.1
16
Finn Allen
@finnallen32
@newbalance @sareensports @team.pyranha
Auckland, New Zealand
142.5K
Followers
15.09%
Engagement
+2.0%(+2.8K)
9.5
17
Rachel Henley | Online Fitness Coach
@henleyfitness
Professional foul mouth Coaching @henleyfitness_liftingclub Wiggle with my workouts 👇 🟣 BITS APP - 7 day free trial
New Zealand
784.8K
Followers
0.27%
Engagement
+0.3%(+2.8K)
6.2
18
Tahnée Seagrave
@tahneeseagrave
Professional DH racer 👸🏼 I like to go fast…🥇x12 The girl in pink 💘 10% off all Healf products at checkout 👇🏻
New Zealand
526.3K
Followers
4.02%
Engagement
+0.5%(+2.6K)
7.9
19
🌴PANGA BOARDS🌴
@panga_balance_board
Welcome to the world of balance Handmade balance boards | Surf trainers 🏄‍♀️ DM to order 📲 Custom designs available 🎨
New Zealand
61.3K
Followers
2.06%
Engagement
+3.9%(+2.3K)
8.0
20
Coachlife.com
@coachlifetennis
CoachLife.com – The Junior Coaches to the Best Players in the World! 600+ videos • 32 COACHES 🔥 For parents, coaches & players Start your FREE trial 👇
New Zealand
54.1K
Followers
0.03%
Engagement
+4.3%(+2.2K)
6.4

About This Instagram Influencer Ranking

Discover the most influential creators in New Zealand with our comprehensive ranking of the top 20 influencers on Instagram who post Athletics & Sports content. This data‑driven analysis identifies the content creators who are shaping conversations, driving trends, and commanding the highest engagement rates in 2026.

Key Insights & Metrics

  • Combined Reach: 15.4M potential impressions across all ranked influencers
  • Total Audience: 51.5M followers collectively following these creators
  • Average Engagement Rate: 7.01% - significantly above industry average
  • Market Coverage: 857 total influencers analyzed in this category

Audience Demographics & Reach

The influencers in this ranking reach a diverse, global audience with primary concentrations in:

  • Top Markets: New Zealand, United States of America, United Kingdom
  • Gender Distribution: 33% Female, 67% Male
  • Primary Age Group: 25-34 years (39.9% of audience)
  • Languages: English, Spanish, German

Why This Ranking Matters

For brands and marketers, this ranking provides essential intelligence for:

  • Identifying high-performing influencers for partnership opportunities
  • Understanding audience demographics for targeted campaigns
  • Benchmarking engagement rates and growth metrics
  • Discovering emerging talent with strong growth trajectories
  • Analyzing competitive landscape in Athletics & Sports niche

For content creators, these insights help with:

  • Understanding industry benchmarks and performance standards
  • Identifying successful content strategies from top performers
  • Network building and collaboration opportunities
  • Setting realistic growth targets based on peer performance

Methodology & Data Freshness

Our rankings are generated using advanced algorithms that analyze multiple performance indicators:

  • Profile Score: Proprietary metric combining reach, engagement, and growth
  • Engagement Rate: Average interaction rate across recent content
  • Growth Velocity: Month-over-month follower growth and momentum
  • Content Consistency: Posting frequency and audience retention
  • Audience Quality: Authenticity scores and demographic relevance

Data is refreshed weekly to ensure you're always working with the most current information. Last update includes performance data through March 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in New Zealand on Instagram?

Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) is, as of March 2026, the fastest‑growing Athletics & Sports creator in New Zealand on Instagram, with +2.2% monthly growth (+29.6K followers).

How many followers did Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) gain last month?

Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) gained about 29.6K followers last month (+2.2%).

Who grew more: Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) or Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures)?

Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) grew more than Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) (29.6K vs 13.6K).

How is Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) performing right now?

Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) is growing at +10.9% (+13.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 6.9 and average engagement of N/A.

How is Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236) performing right now?

Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236) is growing at +1.8% (+11.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.7 and average engagement of 11.14%.

How is Dan "Hangman" Hooker (@danhangman) performing right now?

Dan "Hangman" Hooker (@danhangman) is growing at +1.3% (+10.8K) per month, with a Profile Score of 7.6 and average engagement of 7.99%.

How is Tim Seifert (@timseifert) performing right now?

Tim Seifert (@timseifert) is growing at +8.4% (+7.6K) per month, with a Profile Score of 8.0 and average engagement of 163.61%.

Who had the higher percentage growth: Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) or Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236)?

Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) leads (10.9% vs Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236) 1.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30)?

Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) gained about 29.6K followers last month (+2.2%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures)?

Catherine Bines (@calibersadventures) gained about 13.6K followers last month (+10.9%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236)?

Glenn Phillips (@glennphillips236) gained about 11.8K followers last month (+1.8%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Dan "Hangman" Hooker (@danhangman)?

Dan "Hangman" Hooker (@danhangman) gained about 10.8K followers last month (+1.3%).

What is the absolute follower gain of Tim Seifert (@timseifert)?

Tim Seifert (@timseifert) gained about 7.6K followers last month (+8.4%).

Is Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) still a relevant creator?

Yes — Liam Lawson (@liamlawson30) has a Profile Score of 7.5, average engagement of 7.60%, and +2.2% (+29.6K) monthly follower growth, indicating high relevance.

What is a good engagement rate for Athletics & Sports in New Zealand?

The average engagement rate for this category is 7.01%. Generally, rates above 8.4% are considered excellent, while rates above 5.6% are good. Engagement rates vary by platform, niche, and follower count - micro-influencers often have higher rates than mega-influencers.

How is the Profile Score calculated?

The Profile Score (0-10 scale) is a composite metric that weighs several factors: 40% engagement quality, 25% audience reach, 20% growth momentum, 10% content consistency, and 5% audience authenticity. A score above 7.0 indicates a high-performing influencer, while scores above 8.5 represent elite-tier creators.

Can I use this data for influencer marketing campaigns?

Yes! This ranking is designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers identify potential partnership opportunities. The data provides a starting point for campaign planning, competitor analysis, and market research. For detailed campaign analytics and contact information, consider upgrading to our professional tools.

What does monthly growth percentage mean?

Monthly growth shows the percentage change in followers over the past 30 days. Positive growth (green) indicates gaining followers, while negative growth (red) means losing followers. The number in parentheses shows the absolute follower change. High growth rates often indicate viral content or successful campaigns.

Why should I track influencers in New Zealand?

Location-specific influencer tracking is crucial for targeted marketing campaigns. Local influencers often have higher engagement rates within their geographic area, understand cultural nuances, and can drive better ROI for region-specific products or services. They're particularly valuable for retail, hospitality, and location-based businesses.

How can I improve my ranking as an influencer?

Focus on these key areas: (1) Increase engagement by creating content that encourages comments and shares, (2) Post consistently to maintain audience interest, (3) Use relevant hashtags to expand reach, (4) Collaborate with other creators in your niche, (5) Respond to comments to build community, and (6) Analyze your best-performing content and create similar pieces.

Note: This ranking represents a snapshot of current instagram influence based on publicly available data. Rankings can fluctuate based on content performance, platform algorithm changes, and audience behavior. Use this data as one of several factors in your decision-making process.