nib New Zealand will be the name sponsor of the IronMāori TOA full-distance triathlon event, which will be held on Dec. 3 in Napier.
The 17-hour event is composed of a 3.8-km ocean swim, 180-km cycle, and 42.2-km run.
IronMāori TOA will feature 350 participants, with competitors ranging from 26 to 76 years old. Competitors will be welcomed with a pōwhiri held at Houngarea Marae in Pakipaki, Hastings on Nov. 30 and a prizegiving will be held in the Napier soundshell on Dec. 4, with nib involved in these events.
“We’ve been running IronMāori events for 14 years and we’re thrilled to welcome nib to the whānau for our first ever IronMāori TOA event,” said IronMāori founder and CEO, Heather Te Au-Skipworth. “IronMāori TOA is the next evolution of the IronMāori Kaupapa and we’re excited to evolve with our IronMāori whanau.”
Te Au-Skipworth said that having a health and wellbeing advocate such as nib as a sponsor in the event’s first year is a triumph for the organisers.
“nib and the IronMāori kaupapa values align through the promotion of health, wellbeing and longevity from mokopuna to kaumātua and their focus on whanaungatanga,” said nib NZ CEO Rob Hennin. “The IronMāori TOA event is a huge mental and physical challenge and we’re proud to be able to support our local indigenous and non-indigenous athletes, as we do with many whānau supporting their health and wellbeing needs. We’ll be there with the rest of the Napier community to cheer them on for this exciting inaugural event.”
