Tough meets tough - Isuzu Utes New Zealand join as Whaka 100 presenting partner for 2021

An event as tough as this one needs an equally tough partner. The Whaka 100 is stoked to welcome Isuzu Utes New Zealand to the MTB endurance event’s family of partners.

Joining as presenting partner for 2021, Isuzu Utes New Zealand will move up to becoming full naming rights partner in 2022 the largest mass-participant MTB event in the Southern Hemisphere.

​Race Director and co-owner at Whaka 100, Tim Farmer, was thrilled about the new relationship, “We’ve been working closely with the Isuzu Rotorua dealership for a number of years, and it’s fantastic we’ve been able to grow that relationship to a national level.”

“Isuzu Utes New Zealand are a perfect fit with the event, which is one of the toughest mountain bike events out there, so we we’re looking for a partner with the same mentality.”

The Whaka 100 team use Isuzu D-Max utes to help them course mark the hundreds of kilometres of trail throughout Rotorua’s Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest, as well as support their role as trail adoptees and maintainers throughout the year.

“A lot of our trail and event work involves navigating forestry roads. Having a suitable vehicle means we can do our job efficiently and safely,” Tim adds.

Isuzu Utes New Zealand General Manager, Sam Waller says, “Kiwis love their outdoor adventure activities, and as a locally owned and operated company, we do too. Our brand and products are designed for the outdoors, they’re built tough and for multi-purpose use.

The Whaka 100 epitomises what the Isuzu Utes brand represents. We’re looking forward to helping enhance the event experience that riders, spectators and our customers have with this event over the next two years.

The team at Isuzu are bringing the love to mountain bikers too. Offering a full Whaka 100 experience including event entry, travel, accommodation, tickets to local attractions and the use of an Isuzu vehicle for Labour Weekend. For existing owners, they’re providing VIP upgrades on event day.

The Whaka 100 has gone from strength to strength, despite what lockdowns have thrown at it. “This is our eighth year of record number of entries. About one in every 1,700 kiwis are taking part, which is a cool stat,” says Tim. 

Part of that success has been the expanding of events to encourage new riders. “At one end, our new 160km ‘Miler’ event is pushing elite athletes, and at the other end, our Kids, Women’s and 25km events are drawing in those discovering mountain biking. Despite the ever present worry of COVID restrictions, it's an exciting time to be a rider.”

ENDS

For more information on the Whaka 100, please visit whaka100.co.nz. To talk with any of the event team, riders or for more information please contact Marketing Manager, Mike Cockin, at [email protected] or 020 4130 7479.

About the Whaka 100

The Whaka 100 is the Southern Hemisphere’s largest and toughest mass-participation mountain biking event, held in Rotorua, New Zealand. Attracting everyone from international athletes and Olympians to weekend warriors and beginners, the Whaka 100 has a selection of challenging distances and courses that make the most of Rotorua’s world-famous Whakarewarewa Redwood Forest trail network. This year’s event is being held on 22-24 October 2022.

www.whaka100.co.nz

About Nduro Events

The team at Nduro Events are a lively and innovative full service event management company devoted to helping make your event an unmissable experience. Owned by Rotorua locals, Tim and Belinda Farmer since 2014, the team runs and supports big name events across the North Island. Events include the Whaka 100, Highlander Geyser to Lake and Winter Forest Festival. The Nduro goal is to make a meaningful and positive impact not only for participants, but partners and the wider social and economic benefit for Rotorua.

About Isuzu Utes New Zealand

Isuzu Utes New Zealand is proud to be 100% kiwi owned. With an NZ based national operations and support team and over 40 authorised Isuzu Utes dealerships across New Zealand, we pride ourselves on providing the highest level of service and support throughout the entire country.

The tough Isuzu D-Max and Isuzu MU-X draw on over 50 years of truck-making excellence. With over 27 million diesel engines built, Isuzu sets the standard when it comes to strength, technology and performance. The Isuzu range consists of the reliable 7-seater MU-X SUV and impressive all-new D-Max ute which comes in Double, Space or Single cab options. 

https://www.isuzuutes.co.nz/whaka-100