News & Updates

Following the decision that the Auckland region will be at an Alert Level 3 and the rest of New Zealand at an Alert 2 – until at least October 4 – the 2021 New Zealand Road Relay Championships will unfortunately not go ahead.

As per our earlier statement with the country at an Alert Level 2 it will also not be possible to organise the event as the New Zealand Road Relay Challenge.

The Takehe to Akaroa event will instead proceed on Saturday October 2 as a local event restricted to participants from Canterbury.

Athletics NZ CEO Pete Pfitzinger said: “We are disappointed for the hundreds of runners across the country who had been looking forward to the New Zealand Road Relay Championships at the Takahe to Akaroa Relay.

“The NZ Road Relay Championship is one of the highlights of the running year and we had hoped that Alert levels would return to level 1 in time. We are pleased that the Takahe to Akaroa Relay will be able to take place with Canterbury-based teams under Alert Level 2.”

Entry fees will be refunded for those participants unable to attend due to Covid-19 Alert Level restrictions. 

The historic Takahe to Akaroa will host the 2022 Athletics New Zealand Road Relay Championships on Saturday October 1.