A massive crowd descended on the Tauranga waterfront on Sunday, April 19, to enjoy the ninth running of the Great Tauranga Duck Race.
Organised by the Tauranga Te Papa Rotary Club, both young and old were out enjoying the warm sunny conditions on the harbour, event organiser and Rotarian Alan Hitchcock said.
“The annual event again proved its worth by raising close to $37,000 for local schools and Rotary projects,” Hitchcock said.
Corporate ducks waiting to race at the Tauranga waterfront. Photo / Supplied
He said the duck race has become a highlight on Tauranga’s calendar.
“With the Rotary club taking care of logistics, local schools and PTAs were able to focus on selling raffle tickets – and keep 100% of the proceeds.”
The ducklings were numbered, and a raffle ticket sold for each one.
Hitchcock said this year the Life Education Trust, with Harold the Giraffe making an appearance, provided “a good old Kiwi sausage sizzle” as a fundraiser.
“C4 Coffee Cart was selling coffee to calm organisers and parents’ nerves, and The Breeze Radio Station had a ‘Duck Colouring’ available to keep kids happy.”
Laminated Beams competed in the corporate duck race with their ‘Duckamaran’. Photo/ Supplied.
Hitchcock said the event kicked off at The Strand waterfront, where ducks were released into an outgoing tide.
“They were guided toward the finish line near the iconic Hairy Maclary statues, providing spectators with a perfect view,” Hitchcock said.
This year there were two corporate duck races, one motorised and the other non-powered.
“At 10.30am, only one creatively built and decorated duck from Trimax Mowing Systems took centre stage, racing around a course delighting the crowd with its speedy and cheeky manoeuvres and of course taking first place.”
The Trimax Mowing Systems duck won first place in the motorised corporate duck race. Photo / Supplied
Following the motorised corporate race, more than 60 ducks competed in the non-powered corporate race.
The Big Save Furniture Duck claimed first prize, Palmers Garden Centre Bethlehem took second place and DAS Co came a close third.
The non-powered corporate duck race was won by the purple Big Save Furniture duck, with Palmers Garden Centre second (middle duck) and DAS Co third (blue duck). Photo/ Supplied.
“The amount of work that went in to detailing and dressing the ducks was impressive,” Hitchcock said.
Judged by event sponsor Rodney Fong, of Ray White Tauranga, the best dressed duck award went to QUBE Logistics which Hitchcock said planned to enter its duck in the motorised race next year.
QUBE Logistics won the best dressed duck competition. Photo / Supplied.
At 11am, it was time for the main event: the duckling race.
“5000 numbered yellow ducks were dropped into the harbour from a McLeod crane, cheered on by the crowd,” Hitchcock said.
“Lanes were installed for the first time to keep the ducks off the seawall which assisted in guiding their way to the finish line in a slow but steady stream.”
The raffle tied to each duck offered serious prizes. First place went to L Standen, Duck 4172 with $1000; second place to Ollie Rooney, Duck 2915 with $500; and A Reilly, Duck 3616, won the third prize of $250.
“Winners have already been contacted,” Hitchcock said.
A large crowd watched from the Tauranga waterfront as 5000 numbered yellow ducks competed in the Great Tauranga Duck Race on Sunday. Photo / Supplied
In addition, there were spot prizes from Burnsco, Palmers Bethlehem, Classic Flyers, Fully Promoted and Ray White drawn on the day.
“With strong support from sponsors, schools, and the community, the Rotary club is already setting its sights on 2027,” Hitchcock said.
“The great feedback from the corporate/business sector is that they will be back for 2027.”