New Zealand’s Ultimate Race Postponed to 2005

Rob / 21.08.2003

New Zealand is an adventure racers dream destination, and the country’s ultimate race covers the full length of both islands in a month long, multi-sport extravaganza. It’s already been done once, in 2001 and was due to happen again later this year, but the organising team have just announced a postponement of two years.

The Wild Places Length of New Zealand Race was originally due to start on November 17th, covering an astonishing 2,957km over 28 days from Bluff to Cape Reinga. It was to be a repeat of the first 2001 race which the likes of Steve Gurney, Keith Murray and Kristina Strode-Penny took part in and was billed as the longest and toughest race ever. Now it’s been put back 2 years and without major financial backing there is even some doubt if it will ever happen again.

To those who’ve been planning it, and planning to race in it, it’s a major disappointment but there was some advance warning. In July the organisers said that the lack of a big sponsor was putting everything in doubt.

``Since the withdrawal of our principal sponsor in late 2002 a search has been on in a tight sponsorship climate for the past eight months,’’ Race Director Greg Carlyon said. ``While there is some interest, there’s been no concrete commitment and if I can’t secure this key support within a month, I will be forced to call a halt to the event for this year.

``That would be disappointing given the commitment of three documentary teams to cover the race, news coverage and a major commitment for international play of footage from the event. The event generated $1.8 million of media coverage for the principal sponsor in 2001, taking their product into the main stream and generating significant competition in the market based on that success.”

At that time he said he was working with Tourism New Zealand and Industry New Zealand to gain the necessary support, adding, \"If anyone wanted to showcase the advantages of New Zealand, there is no clearer picture than the Length of New Zealand race.\" But a month on that support hasn’t been forthcoming and the race is off.

Making the announcement Carlyon said \"This is gut wrenching for our team who have spent 5 years working on this project and I am sure for a large number of the athletes who have committed a year of their lives, substantial funds and time, it will be equally hard\". He added pointedly, “The view of Industry New Zealand, SPARC and Tourism New Zealand is that the event does not warrant funding at this stage but may do so following a review of the way in which these types of events should be assessed. I have my own views on this, having worked on these groups since 1998.”

The statement on the race web site finishes with the words. “Steve Gurney characterized the approach of the race team as applying \"a bit of mongrel\" as one of the main reasons for the success to date. It is going to take something a little more than that for the future of this race to be secured ...“