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

Organisers The Spirit of Coromandel Trust have planted more than 3000 kauri trees so far through the Great Kauri Run, and they don’t plan to stop before reaching their goal of planting 10,000 trees along a 32km trail.

The event comprises of the following distances:
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 which is for families and children. Entry for this can be done on the day of the event. Follow their facebook page or email Keith Stephenson or Andy Reid at arceventsrita@gmail.com

Organisers Keith and Rita Stephenson and Andy Reid are passionate about the environment and for Keith particularly - the kauri forests that were so devastatingly felled in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

He is 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.

On the Kauri Run, a kauri tree is planted for every person that takes part and there are now 2600 trees that have been planted along the 35km trail. “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 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 are a large number of disadvantaged youth who we believe would benefit from attending life skills programmes which 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."

Further information regarding The Spirit of Coromandel Trust is available on the web page www.arceventspirit.co.nz.

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