Event info

Entry fees

Coromandel Kids Run Free! 

Thanks to our partner Aon Insurance Brokers, all Coromandel school children get to run free.  If you are at a Coromandel school and want to take part in any distance, register your name with your PE teacher and we will send a free entry code to each school in February.

Schedule

FRIDAY
4:00pm – 9:30pm – Register and pick up race numbers from a Registration Venue in Whitianga to be advised.

SATURDAY
6:00am -6:30am – Final chance to register or pick up race numbers for the Marathon or Cooks Beach 1/2 at  Buffalo Beach
6:30am – Ferries will transport athletes across the river from Whitianga to the Marathon and Cooks Beach Half Marathon start line.
7:00am – Marathon and Cooks Beach Half Marathon Start – Runners and Walkers
8:30am – Final chance to register or pick up race numbers for Whitianga 1/2 Marathon at Buffalo Bch
8.40am – Whitianga Half Marathon Start – Runners and Walkers – Buffalo Beach Reserve
9:20am – Final Chance to register or pick up race numbers for the 10km race at Buffalo Beach
9.15am – 10km Start – Runners and Walkers – Buffalo Beach Reserve
10.00am – Final chance to register and pick up race numbers for the 5km race at Buffalo Beach
10:15am – 5km Run/Walk Start – Buffalo Beach Reserve
3:00pm – Prizegiving at Buffalo Beach reserve

Times are subject to change. Please check information closer to the event.

Categories

Age categories
Taken in years of age on the day of the event

5-9 years
10-14
15-19
20-29
30-39
40-49
50-59
60-69
70 plus

Registration

You can have someone else register on your behalf and pick up your race pack (race number bib and transponder).  The Registration venue will be announced early in February.

Late entries will be accepted in person at registration.  You can pay by eftpos or cash.

Aid stations

TOILETS: There will be toilets at the event base as well as at 5km intervals throughout the course.

AID STATIONS

The following table shows the location and menu of the aid stations throughout the course.  In general there is an aid station every 7km on the Marathon and Half Marathon courses.

For environmental reasons, there will be no cups provided by the event so you will either need to refill your hydration pack or bring your own cup to use at Water and Aid stations.

Compulsory gear

There is no compulsory gear for this event.

However we strongly recommend that if the day is cold or raining that everyone wears or takes a thermal top layer (polypropylene or Merino), decent rain jacket or both. This is especially important for those people who may be on the course for more than one hour.

Covid – 19 Policy

COVID -19 POLICY

Traffic light system:
• The event will go ahead under levels Green and Orange, but will be cancelled if Whitianga is at a Red level.

Vaccination Certificates:
• The Government has introduced My Vaccine Pass vaccination certificates.
• All participants, staff and volunteers (over the age of 12 years) attending the Aon Whitianga Marathon will be required to provide their My Vaccine Pass as evidence that they have been fully vaccinated. Proof of identification may also be required in the form of a driver licence. A Vaccine Pass is also required at for those attending one of our key locations such as Event Registration and our Event Village (start/finish line at Buffalo Beach).
• Face coverings are recommended when in crowded locations.
• All those attending key locations (registration, start, finish, prizegiving etc) must scan QR tracer codes, or other record keeping must be used).

Cut off times

Cut offs apply to the Full and Half Marathon events only.

There is a cut off at the 21km point of the marathon of 4 hours and a final cut off of 8 hours after the race start.

Half marathon participants have 6 hours to complete the course.

Drop bags

Marathon runners and walkers can take a drop bag over on the ferry to the start line at Cooks Beach, leave the drop bag with the event staff and they will return it to the finish line. Please ensure that your bag is closed and clearly named with your full name.

Food and beverage

There will be a range of food and beverages at the start / finish line at Buffalo Beach reserve available for purchase.

Massage

Get your legs back in action after your run or walk on the 22nd. We will have sports massages available at Event HQ from 10am to 3pm. Pay cash on the day $15 for 10 minutes. You’ll be as good as new ????

Merchandise

We have some sweet looking casual and technical shirts and caps for sale. Click on the SHOP page to view.

Parking

Please park at Buffalo Beach Reserve, Buffalo Bay, Whitianga. Marathon runners should either park at the finish line at Buffalo Beach reserve or get dropped off at the Ferry on the Whitianga side.

All events start and finish at the Buffalo Beach reserve except for the full Marathon and Cooks Beach Half Marathon that starts at Ferry Landing (across the river on a Ferry) which is 1.3km from Buffalo Beach.

Pets

Pets are allowed at the event base, but must be strictly kept on a lead at all times.

NO Pets are allowed on course.

Prams and buggies

Prams are allowed on the 5km course only. All prams must start at the end of the fields. Please be very considerate of all other runners and walkers who may wish to pass you.

Qualification / preparation / minimum age

In order to compete in the marathon, you must be 18 years or older on the day of the event.

In order to compete in the half marathon, you must be 15 years or older on the day of the event.

In order to compete in the 10km you must be 10 years or older on the day of the event.

In order to compete in the 5km, if you are under the age of 9 years old on the day of the event, you must be accompanied by an adult.

It is vital that you prepare well for this race. Preparation needs to include the physical training required to be fit enough to complete the distance you have chosen. Distance running does place stress on the body so if you have any doubts, you should consult your health professional.
And don’t forget to bring your ‘can do attitude’ – that will get you a long way!

Prizes and medals

Spot prizes will be given out at prizegiving to a total value of $2,000.

There will be 2 major spot prizes awarded at prizegiving with a value of $500 each.

All category winnersincluding the winning male and female in the Marathon, Half Marathons and 10km for both Runners and Walkers will receive a stunning natural trophy made of recycled rimu with a lovely paua inlay to commemorate their win 

New for 2022 – all participants will receive a finishers medal with the exception of the 5km fun run.  This medal will be made of recycled rimu with a stunning natural paua insert.

Prizegiving

There will be a short, sharp and fun prizegiving held at the end of the event.
Trophies will be awarded to the winning male and female in the Marathon, Half Marathons and 10km for both Runners and Walkers.

We will also acknowledge on the stage the top 3 males and females in the Marathon, Half Marathon and 10km.

Age group winners will be recognised in the online results, but not at prizegiving.

Supporters

We encourage supporters for the entrants. Supporters must act in a safe manner at all times and cannot follow their runner in a vehicle.

The three best locations to view your runner or walker are 1. Buffalo Beach Start/Finish, 2. Lovers Rock Aid Station on Robinson Road and 3.  The Waterways Aid Station on Reweti Road by the Mobil service station.

Refunds, transfers, category changes

  0There are 2 scenarios in which refunds will take place.
1. Is if we have to cancel the entire event – knows as Force Majeure.
2. You wish to withdraw your entry from the event.

Element Events Limited – Terms and Conditions of Sale
Element Events Limited (Organiser) organises and provides events to participants throughout New Zealand, including providing tickets for entry into those events. By purchasing a ticket for an event organised and provided by the Organiser, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Please read them carefully.  The Organiser will not be liable for any failure or delay in providing the event for which you have purchased a ticket if:

a. The failure or delay arises directly or indirectly from an event or circumstance unforeseeable or reasonably beyond the Organiser’s control and not arising from the insolvency, or an intentional act or omission, of the Organiser (force majeure event). A force majeure event includes but is not limited to the following:
1. act of God;
2. earthquake, flood, fire, storm and adverse weather conditions or natural events for which provision could not reasonably have been made;
3. interruption or failure of any utility services;
4. unpredictable delays which could not reasonably be prevented in delivery of materials, equipment or services;
5. sabotage, riot, civil disturbance, explosion, terrorist acts, epidemic, pandemic, national emergency, or act of war;
6. governmental restraint, sanction, expropriation, prohibition, intervention, direction or embargo;
7. strike, lockout, work stoppage or other labour hindrance; and
b. the Organiser complies with clause (c) below.
c. If the Organiser wishes to rely on clause (a) it will:
1. give you written notice as soon as possible after becoming aware of a force majeure event or likelihood of a force majeure event;
2. in that notice, provide details of the nature, expected duration and effect of the force majeure event; and
3. keep you informed of any material changes in the nature of the cause and of the cessation of the force majeure event.
d. Due to the committed costs of organising events, if a force majeure event occurs, the Organiser may, in its sole discretion:
1. provide a partial refund for ticket(s) purchased; or
2. decline to provide any refund.

IF A FORCE MAJEURE OCCURS, THE FOLLOWING REFUND POLICY APPLIES:

Event cancellation date             – Refund to be provided

Note that these refund figures are minimum and the organisers will strive to be as fair and reasonable as possible with refunds if a Force Majeure takes place.

IF YOU WISH TO WITHDRAW FROM THE EVENT:

The following refund policy applies:

Please email info@whitiangamarathon.co.nz to apply for a refund.

TRANSFER
There are no transfer of entries available.

CATEGORY CHANGES
You may change categories up until the event day with no fees charged. Do this by clicking on your entry link from your email confirmation. Please note that you may not receive a personalised race bib if you change your category within 2 weeks of event date.

Reserve course/schedule

The event may be run on an alternative course if the planned courses are not able to be used on race day. The event schedule may also be modified. Please monitor the website home page, Facebook page and your emails for any possible course/schedule updates.

Toilets

There will be toilets at the event base as well as at 5km intervals throughout the course.