1. The Monday Mixed Relay Trap
World Cup Napier has ignited the elite summer Down Under the past two years and Hawke’s Bay will be at it again on March 1-2, this time hosting the Oceania Triathlon Sprint (Ahuriri Beach, Napier) & Mixed Relay (Hastings) Championships.
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed the continental relay is scheduled for a Monday morning. Yup, a Monday. Not Sunday, not even long weekend Monday vibes either. Just a stock-standard, off-the-shelf Monday, only much faster at Mitre 10 Park Hawke’s Bay.
It’s all part of the Napier Triathlon Festival which incorporates the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Sprint Championships on Sunday March 1. So, if you’re coming to race as an age grouper, perhaps with the goal of qualifying for September’s World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Pontevedra, why not take Monday off to watch the Team NZL v Aussie showdown in Hastings. It’s a unique closed-road venue with the swim held in a pool designed for canoe-polo, and much more fun than working.
TFS has also heard a whisper that a chap named Wilde might be in town.
Just saying.
2. NZ Schools Bonus: An Olympic Trial of Sorts
The future of Kiwi triathlon is set to descend on Mt Maunganui for the Bay Radiology NZ Schools Triathlon Championships on March 26-27. The first day is when the individual age group titles are decided but there will be even more of a buzz than usual.
Why?
Because the majority of NZ’s World Triathlon circuit campaigners will be in town for Tri NZ’s annual High Performance Forum and are set to race a full-throttle super sprint around lunchtime on the 26th. It’ll serve as a trial for the critical Mixed Relay World Series events in Europe mid-year (more in No.4 below)…and a chance for the kids to witness their elite heroes racing at close quarters.
It’s a busy time for NZ’s elite with an Oceania Triathlon Conti Cup sprint at Wynyard Quarter scheduled just three days later, March 29, as part of the Auckland Triathlon Festival.
3. Auckland Triathlon Festival
Did we mention top flight triathlon is back in the City of Sails?. Lock in March 29. That date and this link will see you right. It’s going to epic – a 750m swim, 20km bike and 5km run right in downtown Wynyard Quarter. A race for clubbies, newbies, everyone. No, really, you should get on it. Now. Hit the link already, you know you want to!
4. Triple Team Test: Meaningful Mixed Relay
If you caught SBR-Tri.com’s LA ’28 Olympic Games qualification explainer earlier this week, you’ll already have the inside skinny on the importance of the Mixed Relay in the 24-month quest for quota spots. As such, a trio of events in Europe mid-year are dates circled in red ink for Tri NZ’s High Performance team:
• May 31–June 1: WTCS Alghero*
• June 21–22: WTCS Quiberon*
• July 12–13: WTCS Hamburg – World Championships
The races in Italy, France and Germany serve double duty as rounds of World Triathlon’s pre-eminent WTCS, with the relays scheduled for the second day of each. The aforementioned HP super sprint trial in Mt Maunganui (March 26) won’t decide Olympic selection, but it will shape how the first phase of Tri NZ’s qualifying campaign unfolds.
5. Ironman New Zealand: Opening Round of the 2026 IMPS
Anzco Foods Ironman NZ isn’t just a Taupō tradition… it’s the first real data point in the new IM Pro Series season. That matters for our Kiwi pros who will be keen to get a home-made head start in the global season narrative. Mark March 7 in your diary.
6. Tri NZ Suzuki Series: A Race for Everyone
Talking of dates that change lives…have you entered your favourite Tri NZ Suzuki Series event yet? No? Why? Even if you’re not racing for a national podium or a Team NZL tri suit (why wouldn’t ya, see No.7!), Tri NZ’s domestic showcase is the place to smash personal barriers and forge lifelong friendships. Said another way: there’s a race and pace for everyone, regardless of experience or ability. You could even win a swish new Suzuki Swift just by showing up!
• Feb. 14-15: Kinloch Triathlon Festival – Aquathlon (Abu Dhabi), Aquabike (Pontevedra)
• Feb. 21: Challenge Wanaka – Mid Triathlon (Abu Dhabi)
• March 1: Napier Triathlon Festival – Sprint Triathlon (Pontevedra)
• March 26-27: Bay Radiology NZ Schools Triathlon Championship
• April 11: XTERRA Rotorua – Cross Triathlon (Abu Dhabi)
Wondering about the reference to Abu Dhabi and Pontevedra? Read on, Dear Suzuki Series Friend.
7. Fast Holidays: Pontevedra & Abu Dhabi
Very few who wear the black Tri NZ race suit abroad are one and done merchants. And there’s good reasons why Kiwi age groupers keep coming back for more offshore: honest racing at amazing destinations, the magical Team NZL vibe and team manager Mel Saltiel’s world famous care. She’s in the Kiwi suit, if you were wondering.
Bottom line, why would you ever leave home without your bike, wetsuit and trainers? Don’t be that guy/gal. What sort of holiday is that! Interested? The Tri NZ Suzuki Series events above are your pathway to the:
- Sept. 24-28: World Triathlon Age Group Championships Pontevedra
- Nov. 14-23: World Triathlon Multisport Championships Abu Dhabi
Why Pontevedra? It also doubles as the WTCS Finale, the last before World Triathlon’s big rebrand to the T50 era alongside the PTO. So race in Spain and stay on to watch Hayden Wilde and co shoot for global glory. You’ll never feel prouder to be a Kiwi.
And Abu Dhabi? Take it from TFS who called the UAE home in a previous life…the capital is a culturally sensitive, futuristic delight. You won’t find more agreeable or safer training and racing conditions. Well worth a visit.
8. NZ Must-Watch Race: World Triathlon Cup Tauranga
This is the start of something big. World Triathlon Cup Tauranga at back end of 2026. It’s the first leg of a triple treat in the new epicentre of Kiwi swim, bike and run with Tauranga set to host a round of World Triathlon’s showcase WTCS Series in 2027, by then rebranded to T50, and the T50 Grand Final (or whatever it is eventually called) in 2028.
Stay tuned for the late 2026 date confirmation (very) soon.
9. Aussie, Aussie, Aussie: Tasmania & Gold Coast
• Devonport: classic, hilly, honest standard distance racing.
• Gold Coast: super sprint chaos and brilliant, close quarters spectating.
After Napier (No.1 on our list) and before Auckland (No.3), the elite focus will shift across the Tasman Sea to Tasmania for the March 14-15 Oceania Championships. The biggie in Devonport is the elite standard distance championships though NZ looks likely to have a bigger contingent for the continental Junior (U19) champs. TFS will be back across the ditch for Oceania Cup Gold Coast on April 12 – part of the Pho3nix Gold Coast /Luke Harrop Memorial Triathlon Festival – and the April 19-20 Oceania Super Sprint Championships at Runaway Bay.
For those who like their ducks in a row👇
2026 Oceania Triathlon Calendar
March 1-2: Sprint Championships & Mixed Relay (Napier & Hastings)
March 14-15: Standard Distance Championships (Devonport, TAS)
March 21: Development Regional Cup Palau
March 29: Paratriathlon Championships & Conti Cup (Auckland)
April 12: Oceania Cup Gold Coast (QLD)
April 18-19: Super Sprint Championships (Runaway Bay, QLD)
August 29: Development Regional Cup Tahiti*
* Tahiti to host World Triathlon Regional Development Cup from August 30-September 4 as part of the test event for the 2027 Pacific Games
10. The Big Gamble: Has T100 Got It Right?
Big money. Big venues. Big ambition.
But will the reimagined T100 Triathlon World Tour – four separate stops for the men and four for the women ahead of December’s mingled Race to Qatar Final in Doha, land with athletes and fans?
We’ll get an early answer at T100 Triathlon World Tour Gold Coast on March 22-23. This one is for the pro women so watch for Hannah Berry. And look out for a big contigent of Kiwis – men and women – racing the amateur race in pursuit of a world champs spot in Doha.
One concern TFS has re the pros is the fact there were eight stops last year. It’s been halved in 2026 so theoretically there will be less opportunities for those down triathlon’s mid distance pecking order.
11. International Bucket List: Kona Reunited
Talking of brands that quickly figured out splitting the guys and gals didn’t work, we’re already counting down the days to October 10 and the return of the mixed gender Ironman World Championship back in Kona, Hawaii. Where it belongs.
Only 245 sleeps to go (as of this post).
