Ford New Zealand has partnered with Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ), signing on as the official vehicle provider and supplying a fleet of Ford Ranger Hybrid Stormtraks.
The Rangers will be used for day-to-day duties, along with transporting athletes and equipment to training camps and competitions around the country. Ford says the partnership aligns with its long-standing support of New Zealand sport, spanning grassroots participation through to elite international competition.
By providing the Ranger Hybrid Stormtrak, Ford is aiming to help CRNZ manage its demanding logistics while also reducing its environmental footprint. The plug-in hybrid ute combines low emissions and improved fuel efficiency with strong towing capability and versatility, allowing CRNZ to redirect more resources toward athlete development, high-performance programmes and community engagement initiatives that underpin the growth of canoe racing in New Zealand.
Annaliese Atina, Managing Director of Ford New Zealand, says the partnership is a natural fit.
“At Ford, we have a deep-seated history of backing the people and teams that make New Zealand proud on the world stage.”
CRNZ CEO Graham Oberlin-Brown welcomed the backing, highlighting the importance of dependable transport.
“Having a partner like Ford New Zealand, who understands the importance of performance and reliability, is a game-changer for us. The Ford Ranger Hybrid Stormtrak is the perfect tool for our team, offering the power, space, and clever features like the Ford Ranger Flexible Rack System, we need to support our athletes from the regular High Performance daily training environments, to remote training and competition locations all around the country.”
The partnership comes as CRNZ prepares for a busy calendar of domestic championships and international qualifiers, with Ford’s support strengthening its ability to deliver results on and off the water.