February 4, 2025 • 7 mins
Excitement is brewing from former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw over the return of one of the country's top multisport events.
The eight-day Godzone trek is back after a two-year hiatus, revived under the Pure Adventure Charitable Trust, led by McCaw.
He admits there's a love-hate relationship with the event, having competed four times.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk z'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
God's Zone is returning. God's Oone is one of the
most iconic adventure races there is, held over seven eight
days across some of the wildest terrain that New Zealand
can offer. It's not a race for the faint hearted.
It is a team based race and a man that's
behind the return of God's Own and indeed someone who's
(00:34):
competed in it four times himself, his former All Black
skipper Richie mccare. Richie, things are very very well for you.
Things are fantastic. God Zone is back and absolute icon
of a race, something I'll never touch, but you quite like,
don't you sucker for punishment?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
So first up, tell us about why god Zones had
that hiatus and why it's back now.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Well, the first thing was when it did obviously come
to a start. You know, my personal point view, it's
kind of love. Hey, there's some times when you're doing
the race you go why, But but it's an iconic event,
it's a world class event, and the guys that run it,
you know, they run a pretty good, pretty good event,
and you know, I was lucky enough to have a
crack at them. But when it started it was sort
(01:20):
of like, oh yeah, the disappointment. So a few of
us got together and thought, you know, is a way
of giving it a new less of life, you know,
under a different structure and but you know, still having
the elements of what the competitors see the same as
what it was, you know, been a tough race that
caters for the very best and also you know people
(01:43):
that are just getting into it, you know, you can
really challenge themselves. And so we've got to the point
where we think we can we can do it, and
we've got you know, the support of some key people
and key well like have one New Zealand on board
as a naming right sponsored doc have said that they're
going to be supportive of all those sort of things.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
We think we can put together a good race.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So it collapsed because it wasn't a financial is sue?
Why did it actually stop being run?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Rich? I think it's various reasons.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I think that there's you know, running these events aren't easy.
You know, there's a lot of things you've got to
get right, and uh, you know, and the margins are
pretty tight. You know as a competitor, but you know
you've got to line everything up and you any need
to you know, not get the access you want, to
get the course you want, you know, and there's always uh,
(02:33):
you know, by large I've got that each time, but
you know, just to certainly around those things, you know, COVID,
all those sort of challenges. I think it just just
got to the point where it was just came. So hopefully,
you know, with a few of us that you put
together the trust I guess oversee it and then get
the right people in the spots with energy and excitement
(02:55):
and passion for it, you know, give a new lease
of life. We can get it up and running again.
So yeah, that's that was the main reason. And you know,
the guys that ran before have passed on all their
knowledge to us, the good and the bad things to
watch for and not watch for, which has been awesome.
So you're hopefully where you can get it into the
(03:16):
spot we want.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
You've been involved in four so I'm presuming you're tied
in to do it again. You've got a rough idea
where you're going this time around, because some of the
places in New Zealand that you try and check off.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
It's quite stunning.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They are, they are, We've got we've got an announcement
of where we are potentially where it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So I'm not going to jump the gun on that.
But come on, Richie co mate. Well we'll find out
in do course, but it will be back.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
You're right, because you could name a whole lot of
places around that would you could just go, well, you
could do an amazing course here. Whether I'm racing or not,
or whether I'm going to be helping helping the race run.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
We'll wait and see, but you never know.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
I don't know any details of what the course might be,
so it is potential to still race.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I suppose original mccaud joins us and Richie plainly having
you on, considering your history in rugby, to be nuts
of me not to chuck a couple of super questions
there you like for a start, how's retirement? Plainly you're
still busy and you don't miss it? You ever miss
chugging around the place. When I go back and help
the crusaders.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
I miss I missed watching you know he sit down
on a Friday Saturday night and send the boys run
out in the field.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You go. That was that was pretty fun while I
did it.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
But I saw a couple of the lads down here
in Wanaka just after the new year and they heading
back to pre season.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Training, and it was about that point and I was
I'm quite.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Pleased not to be doing that, still keeping third and
doing all those sort of things. But I still love
watching watching the game and following obviously the Crusaders and then.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Later in the year the Abs how they're going.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So always a challenge this time yere to see where
everyone's going to be at and that's one moving for
good competition.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Last year Blues managed to actually win it and it
looks like it's really coming together. I thought the quality
of the rugby last year was outstanding. Of course, it
all funnels into Razor Robertson and what he's doing. He's
got quite a job. Are you know him pretty well?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You think he's up for that.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Yeah, well, I think last year, you know, you'd say
everyone's probably had a good learning you know, it wasn't
you know, it was a pretty good year by and large,
but you'd probably say there was a lot of things
that you'd learned from that, and you know, with your bit,
with your matter what you've done beforehand, the fact you
get in there, the international levels different and I'm sure
you know, another year on they'll even better prepared.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And know what they're in for.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
So but you look across the talent we've got across these,
all the super teams and what funnels into the All Blacks,
it was still in pretty good shape like that, and you.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Know, there's no reason why we can't.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
You know, the expectation of going and keeping a performance
at the top level and most teams off or all
teams off.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
There's no reason why we can't, I don't think.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And one last thing, A Save has been named as
the captain of Minor Pussy Thiker. There's been a big move,
hasn't it across to that team. I think ultimately really
good for the competition, good for Pussyfeker and watching Ardie
run this ship. I think there'd be a lot of
eyeballs on that franchise this year.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Wow. Yeah, it's a pretty smart move from some one.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
So a good getting caught like that, because you're right, yeah,
it's put some real yeah people wanting to see how
it goes. So yeah, and I think from what I
can hear that the support of the team yahe.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
The base is only growing and.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
They've got some people, pretty smart people you know, overseeing it.
So yeah, it'd be interesting to see how they progress
this year.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
To have a got like Ardie, as you keptain, there's
a big statement for them.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It is and plainly the big Adventure race and One
New Zealand God Zone. You've got to give them the
sponsors love because obviously their contribution has been huge. People
want to find out more about that. I think they
can go to godzomadventure dot com. Without that, I believe
that is the website unless you can tell me anything different.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No, No, I'm pretty sure that's that's that's where you're
going to find out. There's going to be obviously we've
announced its back and over the next not too long
we'll be saying where and when and when the entries open.
So keep keep your eyes peeled. Yes, it's going to
be exciting. But just just in what you say about
having One New Zealand as a title sponsor, you know,
but after you know, not being going for a couple
(07:25):
years heavy support is really encouraging and really grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
And on that, Richie McCaul, thanks so much for joining
us here on news Talk ZB of Cracking twenty twenty five.
You stay fit and you stay supporting those Red and Blacks.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I'll do that, good Man. Thanks does he.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave
from News Talk z'd be.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
God's Zone is returning. God's Oone is one of the
most iconic adventure races there is, held over seven eight
days across some of the wildest terrain that New Zealand
can offer. It's not a race for the faint hearted.
It is a team based race and a man that's
behind the return of God's Own and indeed someone who's
(00:34):
competed in it four times himself, his former All Black
skipper Richie mccare. Richie, things are very very well for you.
Things are fantastic. God Zone is back and absolute icon
of a race, something I'll never touch, but you quite like,
don't you sucker for punishment?
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Mate?
Speaker 2 (00:54):
So first up, tell us about why god Zones had
that hiatus and why it's back now.
Speaker 4 (00:59):
Well, the first thing was when it did obviously come
to a start. You know, my personal point view, it's
kind of love. Hey, there's some times when you're doing
the race you go why, But but it's an iconic event,
it's a world class event, and the guys that run it,
you know, they run a pretty good, pretty good event,
and you know, I was lucky enough to have a
crack at them. But when it started it was sort
(01:20):
of like, oh yeah, the disappointment. So a few of
us got together and thought, you know, is a way
of giving it a new less of life, you know,
under a different structure and but you know, still having
the elements of what the competitors see the same as
what it was, you know, been a tough race that
caters for the very best and also you know people
(01:43):
that are just getting into it, you know, you can
really challenge themselves. And so we've got to the point
where we think we can we can do it, and
we've got you know, the support of some key people
and key well like have one New Zealand on board
as a naming right sponsored doc have said that they're
going to be supportive of all those sort of things.
Speaker 3 (02:00):
We think we can put together a good race.
Speaker 2 (02:03):
So it collapsed because it wasn't a financial is sue?
Why did it actually stop being run?
Speaker 3 (02:08):
Rich? I think it's various reasons.
Speaker 4 (02:11):
I think that there's you know, running these events aren't easy.
You know, there's a lot of things you've got to
get right, and uh, you know, and the margins are
pretty tight. You know as a competitor, but you know
you've got to line everything up and you any need
to you know, not get the access you want, to
get the course you want, you know, and there's always uh,
(02:33):
you know, by large I've got that each time, but
you know, just to certainly around those things, you know, COVID,
all those sort of challenges. I think it just just
got to the point where it was just came. So hopefully,
you know, with a few of us that you put
together the trust I guess oversee it and then get
the right people in the spots with energy and excitement
(02:55):
and passion for it, you know, give a new lease
of life. We can get it up and running again.
So yeah, that's that was the main reason. And you know,
the guys that ran before have passed on all their
knowledge to us, the good and the bad things to
watch for and not watch for, which has been awesome.
So you're hopefully where you can get it into the
(03:16):
spot we want.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
You've been involved in four so I'm presuming you're tied
in to do it again. You've got a rough idea
where you're going this time around, because some of the
places in New Zealand that you try and check off.
Speaker 3 (03:26):
It's quite stunning.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
They are, they are, We've got we've got an announcement
of where we are potentially where it's going to be.
Speaker 3 (03:32):
So I'm not going to jump the gun on that.
But come on, Richie co mate. Well we'll find out
in do course, but it will be back.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
You're right, because you could name a whole lot of
places around that would you could just go, well, you
could do an amazing course here. Whether I'm racing or not,
or whether I'm going to be helping helping the race run.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
We'll wait and see, but you never know.
Speaker 4 (03:54):
I don't know any details of what the course might be,
so it is potential to still race.
Speaker 2 (03:58):
I suppose original mccaud joins us and Richie plainly having
you on, considering your history in rugby, to be nuts
of me not to chuck a couple of super questions
there you like for a start, how's retirement? Plainly you're
still busy and you don't miss it? You ever miss
chugging around the place. When I go back and help
the crusaders.
Speaker 4 (04:18):
I miss I missed watching you know he sit down
on a Friday Saturday night and send the boys run
out in the field.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You go. That was that was pretty fun while I
did it.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
But I saw a couple of the lads down here
in Wanaka just after the new year and they heading
back to pre season.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Training, and it was about that point and I was
I'm quite.
Speaker 4 (04:36):
Pleased not to be doing that, still keeping third and
doing all those sort of things. But I still love
watching watching the game and following obviously the Crusaders and then.
Speaker 3 (04:45):
Later in the year the Abs how they're going.
Speaker 4 (04:47):
So always a challenge this time yere to see where
everyone's going to be at and that's one moving for
good competition.
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Last year Blues managed to actually win it and it
looks like it's really coming together. I thought the quality
of the rugby last year was outstanding. Of course, it
all funnels into Razor Robertson and what he's doing. He's
got quite a job. Are you know him pretty well?
Speaker 3 (05:08):
You think he's up for that.
Speaker 4 (05:09):
Yeah, well, I think last year, you know, you'd say
everyone's probably had a good learning you know, it wasn't
you know, it was a pretty good year by and large,
but you'd probably say there was a lot of things
that you'd learned from that, and you know, with your bit,
with your matter what you've done beforehand, the fact you
get in there, the international levels different and I'm sure
you know, another year on they'll even better prepared.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
And know what they're in for.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
So but you look across the talent we've got across these,
all the super teams and what funnels into the All Blacks,
it was still in pretty good shape like that, and you.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Know, there's no reason why we can't.
Speaker 4 (05:44):
You know, the expectation of going and keeping a performance
at the top level and most teams off or all
teams off.
Speaker 3 (05:53):
There's no reason why we can't, I don't think.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And one last thing, A Save has been named as
the captain of Minor Pussy Thiker. There's been a big move,
hasn't it across to that team. I think ultimately really
good for the competition, good for Pussyfeker and watching Ardie
run this ship. I think there'd be a lot of
eyeballs on that franchise this year.
Speaker 3 (06:12):
Wow. Yeah, it's a pretty smart move from some one.
Speaker 4 (06:16):
So a good getting caught like that, because you're right, yeah,
it's put some real yeah people wanting to see how
it goes. So yeah, and I think from what I
can hear that the support of the team yahe.
Speaker 3 (06:28):
The base is only growing and.
Speaker 4 (06:30):
They've got some people, pretty smart people you know, overseeing it.
So yeah, it'd be interesting to see how they progress
this year.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
To have a got like Ardie, as you keptain, there's
a big statement for them.
Speaker 2 (06:42):
It is and plainly the big Adventure race and One
New Zealand God Zone. You've got to give them the
sponsors love because obviously their contribution has been huge. People
want to find out more about that. I think they
can go to godzomadventure dot com. Without that, I believe
that is the website unless you can tell me anything different.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
No, No, I'm pretty sure that's that's that's where you're
going to find out. There's going to be obviously we've
announced its back and over the next not too long
we'll be saying where and when and when the entries open.
So keep keep your eyes peeled. Yes, it's going to
be exciting. But just just in what you say about
having One New Zealand as a title sponsor, you know,
but after you know, not being going for a couple
(07:25):
years heavy support is really encouraging and really grateful for that.
Speaker 2 (07:30):
And on that, Richie McCaul, thanks so much for joining
us here on news Talk ZB of Cracking twenty twenty five.
You stay fit and you stay supporting those Red and Blacks.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
I'll do that, good Man. Thanks does he.
Speaker 1 (07:43):
For more from sports Talk, listen live to News Talks
it'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio
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