Coromandel's Great Cranleigh Kauri Run

Every competitor in the Coromandel’s Great Cranleigh Kauri Run on Saturday 5 May will play an active role in re-establishing the healthy kauri forest that once reigned supreme.

Organisers of the event, The Spirit of Coromandel Trust have planted more than 3000 kauri trees so far along the Great Cranleigh Kauri Run route, and they don’t plan to stop before reaching their goal of planting 10,000 trees along a 32km trail running from Coromandel Township to Port Jackson. The event is made up of the following distance events:

The Kauri Ultra - 76km - Port Jackson to Coromandel Township
The Kauri Classic - 32km - Waikawau Bay to Coromandel Township
The Kauri Half-Marathon - 23km - White Star Station, Colville to Coromandel Township
The Kauri Loop - 13km - Coromandel Township
There is also a short 5km walk/run circuit from the town catering for families and children. Entry for this can be done on the day of the event.
Organisers Keith and Rita Stephenson and Andy Reid are passionate about the environment and Keith particularly is keen to reinstate the kauri forests that were felled in the 19th and 20th centuries. Keith is also a trustee of the Coromandel Kauri Dieback Forum, which works to raise awareness of the threat to kauri from dieback disease, caused by the spread of infected soil into the forest. He is also the Coromandel Town co-ordinator for Kauri 2000, which evolved out of a project to mark the new millennium by planting 2000 kauri trees.

On the Kauri Run, a kauri tree is planted for every person that takes part. “Our vision is to plant 10,000 trees over the next ten years and to create an avenue of kauri all the way from Waikawau to Coromandel,” says Keith. The Great Cranleigh Kauri Run starts at Waikawau Beach, before heading along a meandering stream with at least 15 stream crossings into the hills behind Colville, connecting with tracks to Coromandel Town and finishing at the Coromandel Area School – in all, 32km.
These three events come under the Spirit of Coromandel Trust, which was set up in 2000 to encourage people of all ages in to outdoor activities, particularly sport. Profits from the event are raising money for an outdoor activity centre on the Coromandel.

The centre will provide opportunities for people to develop confidence and challenge themselves within a safe environment through adventure-based learning. "There is a large number of disadvantaged youth who we believe would benefit from attending the life skills programme we will have on offer. The Trust will be providing a number of scholarships annually.”

The Trust organises and runs an annual event ‘Keep Coromandel Harbour Clean’ in addition to all the other things that are organised. "We receive donations towards the centre from individuals and businesses, which all helps towards our goal."

There is still time to sign up for your leg of the kauri run - click here.
Further information regarding The Spirit of Coromandel Trust is available on the web page www.arceventspirit.co.nz. Anyone wishing to make a donation can also touch base with Rita on 0272103734 or arceventsrita@gmail.com

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