You spoke and Tri NZ listened, streamlining last summer’s Tri NZ Suzuki Series. The results were spectacular with a 20 percent growth in entries across the board; four events even saw participation climb more than 50 percent. What’s next? More age group goodness with the 2025-26 Tri NZ Suzuki Series schedule unveiled today. Mark your diaries and get training!
Why it Matters
There is a date, race and pace for everyone in the Tri NZ Suzuki Series with nine national championships to be decided at seven stops across six months of action-packed, age group action. Whether you’re chasing national glory, selection to one or both of the World Triathlon Championships, a PB or simply your first finishers medal, the Tri NZ Suzuki Series (and associated events) has something for everyone.
What’s Different from Last Season?
When Tri NZ streamlined its national championship offering last year, a key remit was to rotate events where possible between the North and South Island annually to better support its clubs and present athletes with a more equitable opportunity to race. This coming season that means the Sprint and NZ Schools Duathlon shifts from South Auckland to Southland, the *Long Distance Triathlon from the Mt Festival of Multisport in January to Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wanaka in February, and the Bay Radiology NZ Schools Triathlon from Wanaka to Mt Maunganui.
World Triathlon Championships – Be Your Extraordinary!
The Tri NZ Suzuki Series is your pathway to representing Team NZL on the world stage. Save for the NZ Schools (Duathlon & Triathlon) Championships, each national championship serves as a qualifier for either the 2026 World Triathlon Multisport Championships in Abu Dhabi or the World Triathlon Age Group Championships in Pontevedra. The latter is tagged to the season finale of the blue-ribbon World Triathlon Championship Series (WTCS) so qualify for Pontevedra in 2026 and you’ll also be able to cheer on NZ’s finest elite triathletes against the world’s best in Spain. Still not convinced? Be sure to tune into Swim Bike Run’s coverage from the 2025 equivalents in Pontevedra (Multisport from this June 21-29) and the Wollongong (Age Group Championships/October 15-19) and tell us then you don’t have a serious case of Silver Fern FOMO!
Duathlon Date Change
A clash of dates at Teretonga Park Raceway in Invercargill has seen the Sprint and NZ Schools Duathlon, originally scheduled for late September, shifted to September 7.
* Is it Mid or Long?
For reference, the Tri NZ Suzuki Series Mid Distance Triathlon is the qualifier for what World Triathlon terms as its “Long Distance” Championship, next year in Abu Dhabi. The Long Distance triathlon at this coming June’s World Triathlon Multisport Championships is listed as 3km swim, 121km bike and 30.2km run and will be of a similar distance in 2026. The Tri NZ Suzuki Series qualifier for the 2026 worlds in Abu Dhabi is incorporated into the Gallagher Insurance Challenge Wanaka Half (1.9km swim, 90km bike, 21.2km run).
What World Triathlon Events Where?
The Tri NZ Suzuki Series to World Triathlon eco-system of events breaks down like this:
2026 World Triathlon Multisport Champs (Abu Dhabi)
Aquathlon (Standard), Cross Triathlon (Standard), Duathlon (Sprint & Standard), Mixed Relay, Paratriathlon, Triathlon (Long Distance), Cross Duathlon (Standard, Aquabike (Long Distance)
2026 World Triathlon Age Group Champs (Pontevedra)
Triathlon (Sprint & Standard), Mixed Relay, Aquabike (Standard)
World Triathlon has indicated both 2026 championships will be held between September and November next year.
Sign up & Drive Away
We couldn’t do the Tri NZ Suzuki Series without the ongoing and ever awesome support of the title sponsor. And once again, the 2025-26 series offers everyone who enters a race and stays for the prize giving the chance to drive away in a brand new Suzuki. Next season’s prize is a Suzuki Swift GLS Manual valued at $25,990 + on road costs. It comes with 12 months registration, a tank of gas to get you going plus the winner can elect to pay the difference in retail price to upgrade to another Suzuki model if they prefer.
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