Latest news with #TriathlonNewZealand
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
World Triathlon Tour returning to NZ
After a 16-year absence, the World Triathlon Tour will be returning to New Zealand. Tauranga is set to host the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Series Final as part of a three-year partnership deal confirmed today. The government is investing $2.65 million from the major events fund to support Triathlon New Zealand in staging the events. Sport reporter Dana Johannsen spoke to Lisa Owen.
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- Sport
- NZ Herald
Tauranga athletes excited as city scores World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final
Matthews said the final was a big event to come to Tauranga, and he looked forward to competing. The 15-year-old will be eligible to compete when he is 16. Guitry, who has already competed in the series in Spain last year, and will compete in Wollongong, Australia, in October, said he was excited to compete locally. Triathlon Tauranga athletes Ashton Guitry, 17, and Ryder Matthews, 15. Photo / Ayla Yeoman 'It's going to be great. We don't have to travel. We can stick with our build-up here.' The 17-year-old said these races were massive, with a lot of athletes competing. 'It's tough,' he said, adding that these bigger events brought athletes of different ages and with different abilities. Two of New Zealand's elite triathletes from Tauranga, Brea Roderick and Finley Oliver, also at today's event, said they were excited enough to have the event in New Zealand, let alone at home. Two of New Zealand's elite triathletes from Tauranga, Brea Roderick and Finley Oliver during the Q&A session. Inset: Hayden Wilde. Main photo / Ayla Yeoman Oliver, the current New Zealand Under-20 triathlon champion, said it was 'super motivating'. 'It's given me the extra drive to keep cracking on and really working hard towards it.' Roderick said this was a great boost for aspiring young triathletes. 'If I was a junior and I heard this was coming up, I'd be getting ready and working towards it.' Oliver said he liked to think a home race would give him an advantage after living and training in Tauranga for seven years. Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale told attendees at the announcement the partnership would be a great opportunity to showcase the city and its capability to host major sporting events on a global stage. 'I'm very confident in the team that we have will deliver a great occasion and more.' Triathlon New Zealand chief executive and World Triathlon executive board director, Pete de Wet and Tauranga Mayor Mahé Drysdale. Photo / Ayla Yeoman Drysdale said he was excited for the city to host more sporting events after the success of the Chiefs rugby game, Zespri Aims Games and the upcoming summer cricket season. 'We're very excited to have this come to Tauranga.' Triathlon New Zealand chief executive and World Triathlon executive board director, Pete de Wet, said it was a massive opportunity to support the growth of the sport in New Zealand. 'We've had some real momentum over the last 18 months, so these events just give us a further platform to engage our community and get them excited about the sport. 'We started a conversation with Tauranga some time ago and they just seemed really engaged and interested in participating and being a part of the event, so we knew very early on that we had an engaged and trusted partner who was keen to get on board with us, so it seemed like a natural fit.' Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the event would be a 'fantastic injection for Tauranga'. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston at the announcement that Tauranga would host the World Triathlon Championship Final in 2028. Photo / Ayla Yeoman 'It really profiles Tauranga in terms of the world triathlon circuit, and it brings lots of visitors and more people staying in our accommodation, eating in our restaurants and cafes and flowing into our retail areas. It's a real economic boost.' Upston said the three-year partnership established Tauranga as the home of triathlon over a period of years. The first two smaller events in 2026 and 2027 would give local hosts and businesses a chance to work out any logistical issues before the finals in 2028. She said putting Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty on a global stage through broadcast coverage would encourage people to book flights and travel to the region. 'We've got a growing reputation for hosting events like this incredibly well. I think it's really exciting times for New Zealand and [we] will no doubt be pitching for more world events to host here on our shores.' Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston and Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford. Photo / Ayla Yeoman Bay of Plenty MP Tom Rutherford said he was a massive sporting nut and remembered doing the Weet-Bix triathlons 'back in the day'. His mum was a triathlete, and Rutherford would watch and support as she competed in the Ironman and other events. 'I'm so stoked and I'm so grateful that it is coming to Tauranga because it's going to have such massive impacts for us. 'I'm definitely going to be down there cheering it on.' He said it was also a great opportunity for local athletes like Hayden Wilde to compete in front of family and friends in their own country. Hayden Wilde spoke remotely as he recovered from a serious bike crash that had kept him away from racing for the past few months. Photo / Ayla Yeoman Wilde is a two-time Olympic medallist - winning bronze in Tokyo and silver in Paris - who grew up in Taupō and Whakatāne before moving to Tauranga in 2016. Attending the announcement via video link, he said it would be a privilege and honour to host the event in his hometown. The 27-year-old said the event would likely be his last short-course race. 'To have the opportunity to race at home in front of friends and family for the grand final in 2028 is super exciting for me and could be a really cool way to have a bit of a send-off in my short course career.'
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
World Triathlon's biggest event to return to NZ
Hayden Wilde is looking forward to competing on his home turf. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Tauranga will host the biggest event in the world of triathlon, with Triathlon New Zealand awarded the 2028 World Triathlon Championships. The city will host the championships as part of a three-year partnership with World Triathlon, which will also see a World Triathlon Cup in Tauranga in 2026, and the World Triathlon Championship Series race in 2027. The partnership will culminate with the 2028 World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final. Alongside the grand final, Tauranga will host the Age Group World Championships, Paratriathlon World Championships, and World Triathlon Congress in November 2028. New Zealand triathlete Hayden Wilde, who grew up in the Bay of Plenty, is excited the event is coming back to Aotearoa: "Being in the place I train and being very close to my home town." Wilde, an Olympic bronze and silver medallist, said 2028 would be a huge year for him. "The LA Olympics and potentially my last Olympics but also probably my last short-course race before I look to go full distance in the ironman so to have the opportunity to race at home. Race in front of friends and family for the grand final in 2028 is super exciting for me and and could be a really cool way to have a bit of a send off in my short-course career," Wilde said. At an event launch in Tauranga on Wednesday morning, Triathlon New Zealand chief executive Pete de Wet described it as a momentous day for the sport in Aotearoa. "After an absence of 16 years, the World Triathlon Championship Series final will be returning to our shores in 2028, and we couldn't be prouder. Triathlon has such a rich heritage in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we are excited to be adding to that history over the next three years," de Wet said. "Our age group athletes are loved around the world for their unique Kiwiana approach, and I am so pleased for all those that are dedicated to attending world championship events around the world, that they will finally have the chance to do this at home, in Tauranga, in 2028." De Wet, who is also a World Triathlon Executive board director, said it would be a rare opportunity for New Zealand's top triathletes. "And for our elite athletes, who campaign for so much of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, the chance to race at home, in front of their family, friends and fellow New Zealanders will be truly special." Tauranga will welcome the international triathlon community as part of a three-year partnership. Photo: Simon Dawson Photography Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said the events would be a major boost to the economy and provide global exposure for the region and country. The events are expected to attract thousands of athletes, supporters, and spectators over the three-year cycle, with 4500 total athletes expected for World Triathlon Championship Finals 2028 alone. The three-year partnership will generate 6000 international visitors, 100,000 international visitor nights and $25 million in tourism visitor spend. Tauranga mayor and Olympic gold medallist Mahé Drysdale is thrilled with the news. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Tauranga ayor Mahé Drysdale, a two-time Olympic champion in rowing, was also at this morning's announcement. Drysdale said securing the World Triathlon events was a landmark achievement for Tauranga, and reflected the city's aspiration to be a premier destination for major international events. "Tauranga already boasts a proud triathlon heritage, with annual events such as the Mount Festival of Multisport, the Tinman Triathlon, and the Surfbreaker Triathlon, delivering strong community engagement and economic benefits. Hosting three of the sport's most prestigious international events will build on that momentum and elevate our city to the world stage," Drysdale said. "These events are about more than sport - they're an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy. From inspiring the next generation of athletes to boosting tourism, showcasing our manaakitanga, and creating enduring economic and social benefits, the impact will be felt well beyond the finish line." World Triathlon president Antonio Arimany is excited at the prospect of triathlon's biggest event returning to a country with a rich heritage in the sport. New Zealand previously hosted the pinnacle event in Queenstown in 2003 and Auckland in 2012. Event partners include the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Tauranga City Council, and World Triathlon.
