🇳🇿 Fancy representing Team NZL on the world stage but confused by the how, where and why of Tri NZ’s qualification process? Which Tri NZ Suzuki Series event corresponds with the World Triathlon Championship of your dreams?
Fret not swim, bike and run (or some combination thereof) legend, we have your back with the handy explainer that follows.
World Triathlon’s Age Group Championships
Let’s start at the beginning, with the very thing you’re aiming for.
Each year, World Triathlon hosts two key age group championships. In 2027 these are the:
• World Triathlon Multisport Championships – Edmonton (Canada)
July 16-25, 2027
• World Triathlon Age Group Championships – Hamburg (Germany)
September 8-12, 2027
Tri NZ’s Qualification Pathway
The Tri NZ Suzuki Series is your gateway to donning the fabled Black Tri Suit in either Edmonton or Hamburg. Or, if you’re an absolute, unadulterated legend, maybe at both.
The Tri NZ Suzuki Series is Tri NZ’s community-focused national championship series, covering considerably more than traditional triathlon.
Don’t fancy the swim? There’s duathlon. Love swimming and running but could happily live without the bike? Aquathlon. Hate running? Aquabike. Prefer trails to tarmac? Give cross triathlon and cross duathlon a whirl.
In short, there’s a race and pace for pretty much every combination of swim, bike, run and dirt you can think of.
Get all the race and entry info here: Tri NZ Suzuki Series – Schedule and Entry Info
The short version
Want Edmonton? Find your event below and enter the corresponding qualifier
Want Hamburg? Same deal.
Want Team NZL? Enter, nominate yourself, race your qualifier, then wait for the email confirmation that you’ve made the grade!
Which Tri NZ Suzuki Series event do I enter?
Now, let’s get to the nitty gritty. Below is the definitive list of events and distances at each World Triathlon championship and, critically, the Tri NZ Suzuki Series qualifier attached to each.
The Qualification Process
Like every national Federation affiliated to World Triathlon, Tri NZ is allocated a maximum number of spots, both male and female, in each age group for each of the two annual World Championships.
The mission, should you choose to accept the lure of the Black Tri Suit, is actually pretty simple:
1. Select and enter your chosen race/s via Triathlon.kiwi
2. Race the appropriate Tri NZ Suzuki Series qualifier
3. Finish as high as possible in your age group
4. Wait for the Age Group Selection Commission to ratify the results
If you’ve met the selection requirements, Mel Saltiel, Tri NZ’s Age Group Manager, will then be in touch with the next steps for securing your Team NZL spot.
What’s with the “SCA application” asterisk?
A couple of the Edmonton events don’t have a Tri NZ Suzuki Series qualifier attached to them. That’s where a Special Circumstances Application (SCA) comes in.
You can submit a free SCA to the Age Group Selection Commission, along with relevant supporting evidence. You’ll find the form under the Age Group section of Triathlon.kiwi, under Policies and Forms or or email mel.saltiel@triathlon.kiwi for more information.
What if I can’t race my qualifier?
A ‘Special Circumstances Application’ will be considered for any age grouper that is unable to race or finish a Tri NZ Suzuki Series qualifier due to extenuating circumstances, or if your result was affected by extenuating circumstances.
Extenuating circumstances SCA’s incur a non-refundable fee of NZ$105 and do not guarantee Team NZL selection.
What does the Team NZL dream cost?
Ah yes. The important question.
How much is this little international adventure actually going to cost? The whole kit and kaboodle?
Fair question.
Tri NZ has the current information on team costs, commitments, accommodation and the various bits and pieces you’ll need to sort out.
Jump on these links:
• Team cost and commitments
• Representing Team NZL FAQs
Edmonton
• Selection Policy
• House of Travel ‘Team NZL Accommodation’ Expression of Interest
• World Triathlon page
Hamburg
• Hamburg Selection Policy
• House of Travel ‘Team NZL Accommodation’ Expression of Interest
• World Triathlon page
Win a Suzuki Swift!
If you’re still not sure the Tri NZ Suzuki Series is for you, maybe the ONE IN 10 chance to win a brand-new Suzuki Swift might sway you.
All you have to do is enter one of the seven Tri NZ Suzuki Series events (some have able bodied and para Suzuki Prize Draw entries up for grabs), race your race and then turn up for the prize giving immediately afterwards and hope your name is drawn at random.
At the conclusion of the 2026-27 Tri NZ Suzuki Series, the lucky draw winners at each event (10 people from the seven events) will go into a final draw with the winner driving away in a swish new Swift from our friends at Suzuki New Zealand.
Good luck!
Find out more about the Suzuki Prize Draw here.
