The official name of the event is the New Zealand Secondary School Championships, but it is widely known as the Maadi Cup, named in honour of New Zealand soldiers who returned from World War II. The Maadi Cup has become the premier trophy for school rowing in New Zealand, awarded to the winning Boys Under-18 Eight. Consequently, "Maadi Cup" has become synonymous with the National School Rowing Championships. 

This event is the largest high school sporting competition in the Southern Hemisphere, attracting over 2,100 athletes from 120 schools across New Zealand. The championships alternate annually between Lake Karapiro in Cambridge and Lake Ruataniwha in Twizel.  2026 Maadi Cup will be in Twizel.