Resources

Welcome

….to the second update for One New Zealand GODZONE, Chapter 12.

This will be a relatively brief Newsletter with most key information already outlined on the website and in Newsletter 1. By now, you and your team should be purring along like a freshly serviced motor vehicle. Training should be fun and functional. Preparation should involve ironing out any uncertainties about what kit to use for the myriad of scenarios you are bound to face during the event. With the days gradually lengthening and the weather warming up, the odd mission into the outdoors can focus on working well as a team and trying to do things with the minimal amount of fuss and expenditure of energy. You should enter the Spring period full of beans, radiating a sense of wellness and be capable of annoying everyone around you with your relentless positivity and can do attitude. In three months time you will be experiencing a wonderful adventure through some spectacular landscapes. There is a lot to look forward to.

One New Zealand – A Message from our key partner

The team at One New Zealand hope you’re training is going well! The countdown is now well & truly on and we can’t wait to see you all on the start line! If you’re venturing far & wide to get in those much needed miles for training and want to ensure you’re safe when doing so, make sure to use One NZ Satellite TXT to stay connected. This enables customers with an eligible One NZ phone & plan who are out of traditional cell-tower coverage to TXT from anywhere in New Zealand, with a line of sight to the sky.*

General Housekeeping

If you have been to a previous Chapter of One New Zealand GODZONE you will know that we like to things to run smoothly. Check out the general housekeeping items below for your attention. We encourage all teams (and in particular, team captains and/or administrators) to ‘action’ any items that require some form of input, in a timely fashion – it will help ensure that you have the best possible event experience.

Team Finder

A reminder to all teams administrators and/or captains that you can Sign Up your team to the Team Finder page, if you are looking to fill a position in your team. You can also look for replacements at the Team Finder Search page. Injuries, substitutions and last minute replacements are commonplace in expedition events and this feature may help you link up with that person you’ve been waiting for all your life (or, at least since you realised that your navigator was utterly out of their depth).

Support Crew Finder

The facility to find support crew and register an interest in becoming a support crew member has now been added to the website. This can be found (and filtered as required) on the Team & Support Crew Finder tab of the main website. If you know someone keen to assist a team, please get them to sign up. You may be thinking of racing GZ one day or know someone who wants to; what better way to learn than sneaking yourself in to a supporting role of a competent team of experienced racers?

Medical Forms Reminder

All competitors are required to fill out an online medical form prior to the event start. We need this information well in advance of that date so that safety crews and race medics have a chance to review the information and are aware of any specific details pertaining to individual athletes. All information collected remains confidential. Please follow the link to the online form and complete it as soon as you can https://godzoneadventure.com/medical-form

PLB Number Reminder

All teams should know that a PLB or emergency beacon is a mandatory requirement for this Chapter of GZ. It will be carried in addition to the YB GPS Tracker that the Organisers provide. The use of either of these devices will be outlined at the pre-race briefing and gear check. All teams must provide their Team Personal Locator Beacon Hex ID or UIN number (15 characters – numbers and letters) on their Team Information page.

Macpac Race Apparel

Welcome to Marlborough

Marlborough Tips for Travel

Kia ora Team Captains,
We’re excited to welcome you to sunny Marlborough for GODZONE 2025! Our local travel experts at the Picton and Blenheim iSite centres are here to help with your transport, accommodation, and pre/post-event plans—so you can stay focused on the adventure ahead. Download our one-pager below for key contacts and accommodation tips.
Ngā mihi – Destination Marlborough

To help you plan your trip and post-event activities, please find this handy Marlborough NZ guide.

ANOTHER VAGUE COURSE UPDATE

Newsletter 1 provided a decent outline of what to expect at Chapter 12. In summary: the GZ Pure course will be around 650km in length. The GZ Pursuit course comes in slightly shorter at 530km. Both courses follow broadly the same route with some subtle differences. The expected winning times are somewhere between 4 and 5 days for both courses. Obviously you can treat these figures with a pinch of salt as they are subject to change, the vagaries of the weather and river flows, etc. But, it serves as a guide. Unless you are short-coursed, there will be 8 transitions, of which, one will be remote or ‘unsupported’ (meaning you will NOT have access to your support crew and will rely on your duffle bag instead).

We don’t like to give too much away. Part of the enjoyment of this kind of expedition racing is waiting to the last moment to discover where the course is actually going. There are some longer segments of advice in Newsletter 1, however, we would happily give out the following general pieces of advice (which could easily be applied to every Chapter of GODZONE):

• Navigation (and more specifically not making navigation mistakes) will have the most important influence on how well you finish (or indeed finish at all). Navigating at night is much harder than during the day. Make sure you practice this kind of thing beforehand
• Trekking distances are quite long at Chapter 12 and time on your feet will make up a good part of your time during the race. Get your feet robust enough to go the distance and make sure you’re aware of how to mitigate issues early rather than being good at fixing problems that have become uncomfortable, verging on painful
• Take your water training seriously. Remember that we provide water safety in specific locations but the vast majority of water sections are unmanned and for most stages it is your team’s responsibility to make good decisions, avoid hazards, observe rapids before you run them and be we aware of other water users and craft that may be a lot bigger than your packraft (and moving a lot faster)
• On that note, you will be paddling in some areas which other watercraft use frequently. Be safe. Be visible. Be respectful. Remember that you are quite small on the water and don’t travel very fast. Stay out of the way of other boats and ensure that you are following the race rules in regards to lighting and glow stick use as set out in the race rules (more specific information will be provided to teams in the Race Handbook given out at Registration)

MANDATORY GEAR UPDATE

At this time there are no MAJOR changes to the Mandatory Gear List. However, there are a couple of small changes that we bring to your attention; one of which pertains to the MGL and another that relates to the Duffle Bag requirement outlined in Newsletter 1. Specifically:

• You need to bring a Headtorch that has either a IP67 or IP68 waterproof rating (or better). There are a significant number of water sections on the race and who knows, we might make you swim to D’Urville Island just for a hoot. There is a realistic chance of your headtorch getting very wet so please factor this into your gear choices
• The Duffle Bags for remote TA – Gear bags can be between 110L – 90L. Check out the Macpac Exhibition Duffle Bag for a great example of a suitable 90L bag. Please note that your duffle bag will not be required to carry a huge amount of equipment so stressing over finding a bag of 110L is not worth it if you already have a good 90L option

MACPAC PRO DEALS FOR CHAPTER 12 COMPETITORS

Macpac is proud to be the Exclusive Apparel and Pack Supplier of One NZ GODZONE—New Zealand’s ultimate adventure race. As a competitor, top-tier gear designed to go the distance is crucial. Whether you’re deep in training or just getting started, our exclusive Macpac Pro Deal has you covered with real good prices on all your GODZONE essentials. Check your inbox for an email from GODZONE on how to redeem your ProDeal in-store. This is your chance to gear up like a pro. Explore the range, lock in your training kit, and get ready to take on GODZONE with confidence.

Check out the Macpac GODZONE page for mandatory gear suggestions plus much more to help you prepare for the journey ahead. And while race day is still a ways off, we’re already thinking ahead so expect some epic product surprises in your Macpac swag bag available on registration day.

PURE ADVENTURE SPONSORED PURSUIT TEAMS

You will have seen the announcement that PURE ADVENTURE Charitable Trust has kicked off a new initiative aimed at creating a clear pathway for aspiring adventure racers, especially younger athletes to make the leap up to multi-day expedition racing and access One NZ GODZONE. Through strategic partnerships with local community-based adventure races such as True West, the Spring Challenge and Kaikoura Adventure Race, a select number of teams have been nominated for a sponsored entry into the Pursuit category at Chapter 12. “This is more than just a sponsorship,” says Trustee Rob Nichol. “It’s a collaborative effort to grow adventure racing in New Zealand from the ground up – supporting people, building teams, and giving back to the community.”

Selected teams will represent their local adventure racing communities at One NZ GODZONE Chapter 12, carrying with them the events name and collective spirit of support and growth that defines the sport. Watch our social platforms for upcoming team announcements as we welcome these teams to the greater GZ family of competitors. Core goals include:

• Strengthen connections across the national AR community
• Provide and encourage mentorship and guidance for emerging athlete
• Promote youth involvement and development pathways
• Broaden the sport’s reach across ages, skill levels, and regions

MEET SOME OF OUR KEY PARTNERS

SIXT NZ x GODZONE: Powering Adventure

SIXT New Zealand, part of the Giltrap Group, is proud to be the official rental vehicle and strategic partner of GODZONE – New Zealand’s premier expedition race. From rugged VW Amaroks to luxury european vehicles, SIXT’s premium fleet supports athletes, crew, and fans across wild terrain and urban hubs. This partnership merges endurance with innovation, delivering mobility that’s as bold as the race itself.

As a proud supporter of GODZONE, Sixt is offering an exclusive 10% discount on vehicle bookings. Whether you’re chasing rugged terrain or scenic escapes, hit the road with confidence and style. Book now and redefine the way you explore. Discover adventure redefined at https://www.sixt.nz/campaign/godzone

NZCT – A NEW STRATEGIC PARTNER

PURE ADVENTURE Charitable Trust is pleased to welcome NZCT as a new strategic partner to One NZ GODZONE. “As one of New Zealand’s most recognised funding foundations, NZCT is supporting our grant application for funding that goes towards the delivery of Chapter 12,” says Trustee Rob Nichol. “This recognises the positive work being done to connect New Zealanders to the great outdoors through competition, leadership and team dynamics. The Pure Adventure Charitable Trust has a broad mandate to serve a large number of people, with One NZ GODZONE the cornerstone platform to demonstrate this.”

New Zealand Community Trust (NZCT) is one of the largest gaming societies in New Zealand. In 23/24, NZCT awarded over $40 million in grants for a wide range of community services, including sports, rescue services, youth development, the Arts, and cultural activities. More details on NZCT are available here at https://www.nzct.org.nz/

MOUNTAIN ADVENTURE – SUPPLIER PARTNER

Mountain Adventure are excited to be partnering with One NZ GODZONE Chapter 12 and supporting athletes with access to wilderness proven products from La Sportiva, Fenix Lighting and Nemo Equipment. With numerous GODZONE Chapters previously under their belts these products are lightweight, durable, proven and engineered for success, just like your team. La Sportiva, Fenix Lighting and Nemo Equipment products can be found at all good specialist outdoor retailers throughout NZ.

Final Thoughts

Past experience has shown us that it is about this time that one or two teams will have the odd ‘wobble’. The captain will circulate this Newsletter and ask how team training and preparation are going for everyone. Most will be ticking along just great and will have shared some awesome experiences with their GZ comrades. But, there will be the person who will admit training is not quite going as expected, that work, family or other commitments are looking quite onerous going forward. The fact is most people find it difficult to fit in full time jobs, family, training and at the same time remain vaguely sociable. You are not alone. It is often the case that the best and/or most prolific adventure racers are the ones with the most jam-packed lives and the barriers to taking part are often based on perception rather than reality.

Team captains are advised to keep in touch with team members and ensure that they are motivated and reassured. If a team mate is worried about their ability to compete then perhaps it’s best not to open up the dialogue with a blow by blow account of how the other 3 team members just spent the last week packrafting out to the Chatham Islands, doing shuttle runs on the knee deep sand dunes in the evenings just to use up some surplus energy. Do your best to reassure those with doubts and remember that this is a team event. People who begin expedition events at less than 100% fitness often start slowly and finish strongly – that’s the perfect way to conquer GZ. As an alternative, if you are a GZ Pure team who is unsure about the magnitude of what lies ahead, why not consider moving to the GZ Pursuit course? This will be just as epic, provide an incredible adventure, is a race in it’s own right but will be slightly shorter and realistically more achievable (though the finish percentage statistics say otherwise – there is no easy way to complete this event).

We often receive calls from individuals (who range from beginner to highly experienced) that are sitting on the sidelines waiting for a spot to appear in a team. If your team suddenly finds itself a person down then do not stress. A willing body will be there ready to take their place if you advertise the fact via our usual social media channels.

It is worth noting that there is nothing wrong with being daunted about what lies ahead. GZ is the most challenging (but ultimately the most rewarding) endurance event in New Zealand and those who enter with delusions about how tough it is are in for a rude awakening. That said, it is this challenge that elevates you above the norm and your friends, fans and family will rightly elevate you to hero-status for simply having the courage to stand on the start line. You can do it.

Enjoy your training, prepare well as a team and if there is anything we can help you with in the interim, don’t hesitate to get in touch.