August 6, 2025 • 8 mins
Triathlon New Zealand's claimed hosting rights for pinnacle events in Tauranga over the next three years.
These events are a World Triathlon Cup in 2026, a World Triathlon Championship Series race in 2027, and the World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final in 2028.
Tri NZ CEO Pete De Wet spoke with D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss the path to getting selected as the hosts, the challenges when hosting an event of this magnitude and the effect hosting the World Championships will have on the sport in New Zealand.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And it's a warm welcome to Pete de Wet here
is the Try New Zealand Chief executive. Also sits on
the board of World to Try. You'll be beaming from
air to air right now, Pete. What an announcement today
around the toe hunger and the future of triathlon here
and l It's been huge.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, it's a massive announcement and something we've been really
kind of really keen to get out there. We've had
to keep it under apps for a fairly long time,
but yeah, we finally got to the day where we
could tell everyone about it and yeah, completely fizziting the
at the response we've had, and yeah, just really pleased
that we've got there in the end.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Look, it's a triple threat, isn't it. It's not just
about one. You're looking at three big events over the
three years. So can you just take us through each
of the years twenty six, seven and eight.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, sure, So twenty six will be a World Try
one Cup, so that's a tier below the World Triathlon
Series and we've hosted that quite often in New Zealand,
we had one in Napier earlier this year, and and yes,
so that's a that's an entry level one for us
to start to build capacity as we build towards twenty
(01:24):
seven and twenty eight seven.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Sorry, so it's like a dry run. It's it's basically
you need to see everything earth and todung and that's
pretty much how it's going to run for the Big
Dance correctly correct.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
And then twenty seven is a fairly significant step up
from twenty six. A Series event is quite different from
a World Triathlon event, so that'll start to look and
feel quite different. But again it's it's it's on a
lesser scale to the Grand Final. The Grand Final in
twenty eight is the Big Dance, and that's when the
whole world world will descend onto tron to come and
(01:57):
participate in the Grand Final. So that's across the lead athletes,
paratriathlon under twenty threes, juniors and then a massive big
age group contingents, probably four to four half thousand age
groupers from around the world coming to race in the
age group World Champs.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Where does it normally get held? Not normally, I mean
it's not on a regular basis, But what are some
of the cities that have actually held this huge dance, as.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
You said, London, Paris, La Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Queenstown. Yeah,
but some big cities.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I was actually there in Queenstown all those years ago.
What do you learn from an event like that. I'm
presuming you've looked back at that and tried to gather
more intel around what the best way is forward for POLA.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, you do. I think the sports is quite different
from from what it was back then, even even twenty
twelve when we held it last in Auckland. You know,
the sports moved on a fair bits and you know,
the it's far more professional. The commercial aspects of round
it a far greater television and broadcaster is obviously on
(03:10):
the next level. So you know, we certainly would take
lessons from twenty twelve, and a number of the team
that will be working on the delivery of the twenty
twenty eight event. We're involved in some way in the
twenty twelve events, so really good to have those people
on the team who've kind of done this before and
have a base level of experience. But it has moved
(03:32):
on a fair bit and will be quite different.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
When it comes to planning this. What are the I
won't say roadblocks, I'll say hurdles between now and the
first event, the second and the third event over that
three years. What rises in front of you, What do
you have to address peak.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I think the key thing is obviously telling people from
outside New Zealand that they should get down here, so
less important for twenty six the World Cup, but certainly
becomes more important than twenty seven and twenty eight. So
ensuring that we we put a robust plan in place
to engage with national federations from around the world and
(04:12):
sell the story as to why they should come down
and participate in New Zealand. Because a large component of
the event budget is covered through age, group is coming
to race, so we want to ensure that we get
as many people into the country to race, but from
any can. We also want people to come in and
spend more time in New Zealand. So come and spend
a week racing in Totron, but then stick around for
(04:32):
a week or two and have your December holidays too.
So yeah, I think it's the biggest hurdle is going
to be ensuring that we've engaged sufficiently with our national
federations from around the world and got them excited about
heading to arturo.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Pick the week joins us is the head to try.
In z government have come to the party what two
point six five million dollars, so they want to climb
on the back of this and write it as well
important for the whole nation. As you just touched on there.
Two point sixty five millions a decent wedge of money.
But how much does that help with you getting this up?
What's an event like this going to cost you guys?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Oh, it's a big number, and like I say, it'll
build year on years, So I'd say we're probably in
the region of about seven million for all three events,
but the bulk of that will be towards the back
end for twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
When it comes to international athletes, we're getting the absolute
creamy of the crop. This is the best of the best,
and they'll be competing right the way throughout the year.
And how does that actually work throughout twenty twenty eight
before the big event?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, it's twenty eight will be an interesting year because
you've got this a little event called the Olympics, So
a lot of the athletes will will will spend a
large portion of the front end of that season sharpening
and getting themselves readily to participate in the Olympic Games
in la But generally what then happens is they take
(05:57):
a couple of weeks off after the Olympics and then
really gear up towards the end of the season. And
it's a unique opportunity for athletes to to almost set
the record straight in some instances. And then we saw
that with Hayden Entramalinos last year where he completely smashed
the field, won by over a minute, and and and
(06:19):
Alex he finished third after having Alex pip him in
Paris and then in the Super Try as well. So yeah,
like it's it's a twenty eight will be an interesting year.
It's it's a busy year for for our elite athletes
across the world, and but it's a great opportunity for
them to all come down and experience New Zealand And
and kind of put a full stop under the year.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
When it comes to peaking and being at your best
when you need to be. That would also is that
going to be a problem that the time between the
Olympic Games and these World Champs.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
No, I won't be these are these guys are supreme athletes.
They're the conditioned to be able to to peak and
and and and taper off when they need to. So
I don't foresee any major issues at all. They're they're
highly highly capable and super fit and healthy, and they've
got really smart people working around them and helping them
(07:14):
to figure out how they work their calendar and where
they're peaking and where they're not. So yeah, I can't
foresee that as being a major issue.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And I'm sure that try instead are going to do
their best to capitalize on this news when it comes
to introducing new people to the sport, especially the children,
this is something you really need to activate right.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Thete absolutely, and I think that's probably the biggest opportunity
that lies in front of us, is the ability to
galvanize the community behind these events and create a real
buzz and excitement around the sport. You know, we've seen
some really good gains in the last eighteen months. Participation
numbers are up quite significantly, so there's a real good
feeling around triathlon at the moment. And that's why the
(07:56):
timing of this is perfect. It gives us a great
runway through to twenty eight to continue to build on
the momentum. But for me, the real test will be
what does the legacy look like beyond this? Well, you know,
what is the state of triathlon in New Zealand beyond
twenty twenty eight and have we been able to capitalize
to the extent that we want to.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Duncy Waldegrave
from News Talk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
And it's a warm welcome to Pete de Wet here
is the Try New Zealand Chief executive. Also sits on
the board of World to Try. You'll be beaming from
air to air right now, Pete. What an announcement today
around the toe hunger and the future of triathlon here
and l It's been huge.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, it's a massive announcement and something we've been really
kind of really keen to get out there. We've had
to keep it under apps for a fairly long time,
but yeah, we finally got to the day where we
could tell everyone about it and yeah, completely fizziting the
at the response we've had, and yeah, just really pleased
that we've got there in the end.
Speaker 2 (00:51):
Look, it's a triple threat, isn't it. It's not just
about one. You're looking at three big events over the
three years. So can you just take us through each
of the years twenty six, seven and eight.
Speaker 3 (01:04):
Yeah, sure, So twenty six will be a World Try
one Cup, so that's a tier below the World Triathlon
Series and we've hosted that quite often in New Zealand,
we had one in Napier earlier this year, and and yes,
so that's a that's an entry level one for us
to start to build capacity as we build towards twenty
(01:24):
seven and twenty eight seven.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Sorry, so it's like a dry run. It's it's basically
you need to see everything earth and todung and that's
pretty much how it's going to run for the Big
Dance correctly correct.
Speaker 3 (01:34):
And then twenty seven is a fairly significant step up
from twenty six. A Series event is quite different from
a World Triathlon event, so that'll start to look and
feel quite different. But again it's it's it's on a
lesser scale to the Grand Final. The Grand Final in
twenty eight is the Big Dance, and that's when the
whole world world will descend onto tron to come and
(01:57):
participate in the Grand Final. So that's across the lead athletes,
paratriathlon under twenty threes, juniors and then a massive big
age group contingents, probably four to four half thousand age
groupers from around the world coming to race in the
age group World Champs.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Where does it normally get held? Not normally, I mean
it's not on a regular basis, But what are some
of the cities that have actually held this huge dance, as.
Speaker 3 (02:19):
You said, London, Paris, La Shanghai, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Queenstown. Yeah,
but some big cities.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
I was actually there in Queenstown all those years ago.
What do you learn from an event like that. I'm
presuming you've looked back at that and tried to gather
more intel around what the best way is forward for POLA.
Speaker 3 (02:50):
Yeah, you do. I think the sports is quite different
from from what it was back then, even even twenty
twelve when we held it last in Auckland. You know,
the sports moved on a fair bits and you know,
the it's far more professional. The commercial aspects of round
it a far greater television and broadcaster is obviously on
(03:10):
the next level. So you know, we certainly would take
lessons from twenty twelve, and a number of the team
that will be working on the delivery of the twenty
twenty eight event. We're involved in some way in the
twenty twelve events, so really good to have those people
on the team who've kind of done this before and
have a base level of experience. But it has moved
(03:32):
on a fair bit and will be quite different.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
When it comes to planning this. What are the I
won't say roadblocks, I'll say hurdles between now and the
first event, the second and the third event over that
three years. What rises in front of you, What do
you have to address peak.
Speaker 3 (03:50):
I think the key thing is obviously telling people from
outside New Zealand that they should get down here, so
less important for twenty six the World Cup, but certainly
becomes more important than twenty seven and twenty eight. So
ensuring that we we put a robust plan in place
to engage with national federations from around the world and
(04:12):
sell the story as to why they should come down
and participate in New Zealand. Because a large component of
the event budget is covered through age, group is coming
to race, so we want to ensure that we get
as many people into the country to race, but from
any can. We also want people to come in and
spend more time in New Zealand. So come and spend
a week racing in Totron, but then stick around for
(04:32):
a week or two and have your December holidays too.
So yeah, I think it's the biggest hurdle is going
to be ensuring that we've engaged sufficiently with our national
federations from around the world and got them excited about
heading to arturo.
Speaker 2 (04:47):
Pick the week joins us is the head to try.
In z government have come to the party what two
point six five million dollars, so they want to climb
on the back of this and write it as well
important for the whole nation. As you just touched on there.
Two point sixty five millions a decent wedge of money.
But how much does that help with you getting this up?
What's an event like this going to cost you guys?
Speaker 3 (05:10):
Oh, it's a big number, and like I say, it'll
build year on years, So I'd say we're probably in
the region of about seven million for all three events,
but the bulk of that will be towards the back
end for twenty eight.
Speaker 2 (05:23):
When it comes to international athletes, we're getting the absolute
creamy of the crop. This is the best of the best,
and they'll be competing right the way throughout the year.
And how does that actually work throughout twenty twenty eight
before the big event?
Speaker 3 (05:37):
Yeah, it's twenty eight will be an interesting year because
you've got this a little event called the Olympics, So
a lot of the athletes will will will spend a
large portion of the front end of that season sharpening
and getting themselves readily to participate in the Olympic Games
in la But generally what then happens is they take
(05:57):
a couple of weeks off after the Olympics and then
really gear up towards the end of the season. And
it's a unique opportunity for athletes to to almost set
the record straight in some instances. And then we saw
that with Hayden Entramalinos last year where he completely smashed
the field, won by over a minute, and and and
(06:19):
Alex he finished third after having Alex pip him in
Paris and then in the Super Try as well. So yeah,
like it's it's a twenty eight will be an interesting year.
It's it's a busy year for for our elite athletes
across the world, and but it's a great opportunity for
them to all come down and experience New Zealand And
and kind of put a full stop under the year.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
When it comes to peaking and being at your best
when you need to be. That would also is that
going to be a problem that the time between the
Olympic Games and these World Champs.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
No, I won't be these are these guys are supreme athletes.
They're the conditioned to be able to to peak and
and and and taper off when they need to. So
I don't foresee any major issues at all. They're they're
highly highly capable and super fit and healthy, and they've
got really smart people working around them and helping them
(07:14):
to figure out how they work their calendar and where
they're peaking and where they're not. So yeah, I can't
foresee that as being a major issue.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
And I'm sure that try instead are going to do
their best to capitalize on this news when it comes
to introducing new people to the sport, especially the children,
this is something you really need to activate right.
Speaker 3 (07:34):
Thete absolutely, and I think that's probably the biggest opportunity
that lies in front of us, is the ability to
galvanize the community behind these events and create a real
buzz and excitement around the sport. You know, we've seen
some really good gains in the last eighteen months. Participation
numbers are up quite significantly, so there's a real good
feeling around triathlon at the moment. And that's why the
(07:56):
timing of this is perfect. It gives us a great
runway through to twenty eight to continue to build on
the momentum. But for me, the real test will be
what does the legacy look like beyond this? Well, you know,
what is the state of triathlon in New Zealand beyond
twenty twenty eight and have we been able to capitalize
to the extent that we want to.
Speaker 1 (08:13):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to news talks
there'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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