• ASICS New Zealand confirmed as Exclusive Footwear & Apparel Partner through 2028
• 2026 World Cup Tauranga to incorporate mass participation favourite Tinman Triathlon
• Elite athletes, age groupers, staff, volunteers & officials to benefit from ASICS agreement
Three years. Three world-class events. One global stage for Tauranga
Triathlon New Zealand is proud to announce ASICS New Zealand as the Exclusive Footwear & Apparel Partner of Tauranga’s three-year run of World Triathlon events, a landmark window that will see the city welcome the world’s best triathletes through to 2028.
The partnership covers:
- 2026 World Triathlon Cup Tauranga
- 2027 World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) Tauranga
- 2028 World Triathlon Championship Series Grand Final Tauranga
Together, the events form a World Triathlon Triple Crown for Tauranga, cementing the city’s place on the global triathlon calendar.
A key milestone of the announcement is confirmation that 2026 World Triathlon Cup Taurangawill be held on Sunday, 22 November 2026, with a race-day format designed to deliver a major boost for age group athletes.
The day will incorporate Tri Tauranga’s iconic mass participation Tinman Triathlon, which will again double as the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Standard Distance Championships. That will allow age group competitors to race for PBs, national titles and world champs selection before watching some of the world’s best triathletes compete, likely including New Zealand talisman Hayden Wilde.
Triathlon New Zealand CEO Pete De Wet said locking in both ASICS partnership and a 2026 date was a significant moment for the sport.
“We’re on the cusp of a game changing three years for the sport of triathlon in New Zealand and having a prestigious global brand like ASICS at our side all the way to 2028 only underscores that,” De Wet said.
“To also have a date locked in that will activate our age group community, the beating heart of our sport, is a vital part of our over-arching strategy to ensure a legacy for the sport long beyond the 2028 Grand Final. Tinman is one of New Zealand’s most popular mass participation events and will only add to the 2026 World Triathlon Cup Tauranga experience. We can’t wait.”
ASICS become the first major commercial partner confirmed across the three-event Tauranga hosting agreement, joining the New Zealand Government, through the Major Events Fund, and Tauranga City Council as key event delivery partners.
The ASICS partnership will deliver tangible benefits across the entire event ecosystem. Elite and age group competitors will receive an ASICS goodie bag, while event staff, volunteers and officials will be kitted out in ASICS apparel, ensuring a consistent, high-quality look and feel across all three events.
ASICS New Zealand Marketing Manager Matt Wallace said the partnership reflects the Japanese brand’s commitment to supporting athletes at every level of the sport.
“We’re extremely proud to deepen our support of Triathlon New Zealand in alignment with ASICS overall partnership with World Triathlon,” Wallace said.
“The Triple Crown of World Triathlon events in Tauranga tick all the boxes for us with representation from the sports Olympic Games stars and the world’s most committed age groupers, one of our most loyal customer bases.
“We’re delighted ASICS will be an integral part of the events and an enduring reminder of what we’re confident will be an epic three years for the sport in NZ and for the beautiful Bay of Plenty region.”
While the 2026 event date is now confirmed, dates for the 2027 WTCS Tauranga and 2028 WTCS Grand Final Tauranga have not been confirmed.
Course information for the 2026 World Triathlon Cup will be released soon.
ENDS
About ASICS
ASICS (founded 1949, rebranded 1977) is a premier Japanese athletic brand committed to fostering “A Sound Mind in a Sound Body”. Known for high-performance footwear featuring GEL™ technology, ASICS NZ focuses on blending innovation, sustainability, and superior comfort for runners, walkers, and triathletes of all abilities.
