Hātea Run

The Spooky Chase 2025
2025-06-18 17:30 - 19:00 (Pacific/Auckland) | Abbey Caves Rd mountain bike car park, 45 Abbey Caves Road, Whareora, Northland, 0175, New Zealand
Spooky Chase 2025 is a handicap event and the first of our winter night trail series, held on the longest night of the year. The slowest runners start first with the fastest chasing them down.
Where?
We will meet at the Abbey Caves road mountain bike car park.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pmThe event starts at 6.00pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – FreeOthers – $5 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The Spooky Chase Course

All results will be published on our blog

2025 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 5
2025-02-26 17:30 - 19:00 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112
When & Where?
Registration and setup starts from 5.30pm at the Tikipunga Football Club carpark, at the end of Reed Street. Race starts at 6pm sharp!
How Much
Hatea Members race for FREE. Non-Members must make a Gold Coin Donation.
The Course

Est. Moving Time
Distance
Elevation Gain

00:32:43
4.81
17.56

hours
km
meters

Points
This is a timed event and points will be awarded in each division throughout the series as such:

1st Place = 20 Points
2nd Place = 15 Points
3rd Place = 12 Points
4th Place = 10 Points
5th Place = 8 Points
6th Place = 6 Points
7th Place = 4 Points
8th Place & onwards = 2 Points

Bonus Points
To reward effort, bonus points will be awarded if you can run faster than your previous time:

1 consecutively faster run gets you 5 bonus points
2 consecutive faster runs gets you 10 bonus points
3 consecutive faster runs gets you 15 bonus points
4 consecutive faster runs gets you 20 bonus points

So, this new points system means you could play the strategic game at the beginning of the series. If you are slower on any run your time resets and you will only get 5 points if you beat this time on your next run. If you are then faster on the next run you will get 10 points. Just don’t sand bag too much, otherwise you will miss out on the primary finishing position points.
Even MORE Bonus Points
To reward those who are able to get along to most of the events, we have some additional bonus points to give out.

4 Grand Prix Runs = 15 Points
5 Grand Prix Runs = 20 Points

Divisions
Womens 0-49, Womens 50+, Mens 0-49, Mens 50+
Results
This event’s results will be published via a Blog post once complete.

2025 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 4
2025-02-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2025 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 3
2025-02-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2025 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 2
2025-02-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2025 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 1
2025-01-29 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

Hatea Run Summer Solstice 2024 - Backyard Enduro
2024-12-15 05:00 - 22:00 | Tikipunga Sports Park, 48 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
🌞 Ready to run from sunrise to sunset? Join us for the Summer Solstice Backyard Enduro, where it’s all about how many laps you can clock in a day. This isn’t your average race—it’s an endurance adventure with a twist!
How the Hatea Summer Solstice Run Works?

Pick Your Poison: Choose between a 6.7k loop or a slightly cruisier 5k loop.
Lap It Up: 15 laps max, starting at 6am and wrapping up with the final lap at 9pm.
Self-Manage: You’re the boss! Set your pace, take your breaks, and see how far you can go.

Event Details

Tents Up at 5am: Bring your gazebo, your chilly bin, and your mates for a day of running and chilling.
Free for Hatea Run Members: Not a member? No worries! A $10 donation gets you in on the action.
Open to Everyone: Whether you’re chasing PBs or just keen to vibe, this is your race.

Got questions? Hit up Dennis at 027 518 2241.
See you there for a solstice to remember! 🏃‍♂️🌅

The Spooky Chase 2024
2024-06-19 17:30 - 19:00 | Abbey Caves Rd mountain bike car park, 45 Abbey Caves Road, Whareora, Northland, 0175, New Zealand
Spooky Chase 2024 is a handicap event and the first of our winter night trail series. The slowest runners start first with the fastest chasing them down.
Where?

We will meet at the Abbey Caves road mountain bike car park.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm, give yourself plenty of time to register and get your start time.
The event starts at 5.55pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free
Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The Spooky Chase 2024 Course

All results will be published on our blog
Feature image by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

Penultimate Sunday Run – Parua Bay Old Coach Road – April 2024
2024-04-21 08:00 - 17:00 | Parua Bay Old Coach Road
The Parua Bay Old Coach Road is our alternate location for April’s last Sunday run. We are running a mostly single trail loop, with sections of gravel road especially for the longer distance options. Everyone who has done this loop has said it’s excellent but can be technical depending on the conditions.
RULE #1: You will be running through a live farm, make sure everyone closes all gates. Don’t let Hatea down by leaving a gate open please.
RULE #2: We are fairly remote, in an unfamiliar location, please make sure you take packs, with some nutrition, water and basic safety gear (safety blanket) and a rain jacket weather depending. Be safe… there’s limited cell coverage. However, there is an access road from the top along the ridgeline which you will run along.
RULE #3: The course could be quite muddy and slippery, please wear trail shoes. If you don’t, that’s your choice, you were warned.
When & Where?
We have 3 different start locations for this one, since all options include the loop and to spread out the parking availability each distance gradually starts further along the road.
9.5km The Loop
Parking is at a premium for this loop, so if you can, please car pool. The owners of the property have requested that we do NOT park in the layby next to their gate. But instead park in the layby before that one.
This is a photo of the 2 laybys, with my back to the first gate you will need to close as you pass through. I’m looking towards the direction you will arrive from in this photo. People use the space marked with the red X to turn around.

Click the image below to get directions, do this before you head out, since there is no cell coverage once you get further along the road. But, the roads are well sign posted, you turn off Whangarei Heads road, onto Taraunui road and you stay on that one through various junctions. Eventually Taraunui road will end and you will have the choice of turning right for Telfer Road or Waiparera Road… you need to turn left down Waiparera. Park in the layby with the red soil/gravel.

It’s best you follow this course counter clockwise and for those of you with maps on your watch, please load it up before you head out. There’s next to no cell coverage, so having the map on your watch as a fall back is a good thing. Click on the image below to check out the course profile and statistics.

For those who want to run further can extend the run by doing it twice, once CCW, then back CW so you get to see everyone again :-).
Post Run Coffee
We will be going to Smith & Local Parua Bay at the Parua Bay shops this time. Coffee is great and the food decadent.
See you all there!!

2024 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 5
2024-02-28 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2024 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 4
2024-02-21 17:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2024 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 3
2024-02-14 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2024 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 2
2024-02-07 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2024 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 1
2024-01-31 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

Athletics Northland Road Race Championships 2023
2023-08-19 13:30 - 15:30 | Whangārei Skate Park, Parahaki, Whangārei, Northland, 0112, New Zealand
The Athletics Northland Road Race Championships are back for 2023, repeating the successful new format from 2022.
Athletics Northland Road Race Championship Details
Everyone welcome, so come and test yourselves against the best runners in Northland over the following distances:

2.5km for Under 14 Boys & Girls
5km for under 16 Juniors
7.5km for under 20 Men, Masters Women, Masters Men 60+
10 km for Senior Men, Masters Men, Senior Women

Registration starts at 1.30pm, race starts at 2pm sharp.
Location & Course
All races will start and finish next to the skate board park in Riverside Drive with a 9am start for all events.
There will be a 2.5 km measured distance with runners completing either 1, 2, 3 or 4 laps for their chosen distance.

Results
Each event will be timed with results announced on the day.
All runners registered on the day are entered in the Athletics Northland Championships.
Entry
This event is organised by Hātea Run for Athletics Northland, so it’s free to club members. All others, a koha donation.

The 2023 Downhill Flying Kilometer
2023-07-12 17:30 - 19:00 | Jack Street, 63 Jack Street, Whangarei, Northland, 0112, New Zealand
For the 5th race of the Hātea Run 2023 Night Series, we start at the top of the shared path on Jack Street. It’s a full bore blast on a slight decline, along a concrete surface for a single kilometer. As the final race in the Night Series, it’s the time to lay it all out and blow your lungs out on the finish line! Don’t miss out on the free PIZZA at Frings after the event.
Where?

We will meet at the entrance to the shared path on Jack Street.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm The event starts at 6.00pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The 2023 Downhill Flying Kilometer Course

All results will be published on our blog
Feature image by lucas Favre on Unsplash

Athletics Northland Cross Country Championship 2023
2023-07-08 13:00 - 17:00 | Barge Park, 474 Maunu Road, Maunu, Whangārei, Northland, 0179, New Zealand
The Athletics Northland Cross Country Championship is an event jointly organised by Hātea Run & Athletics Whangārei, to be held at Barge Park. This event is for everyone, no matter your age, speed or experience.
Northland Cross Country Championship Distances & Course
The course is a marked and measured 2km loop. As such we will be allowing for people to run 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10k distances.
Categories

Under 12s – 1 lap
13-18 – 2 laps
19-25 – 3 laps
Open men – 5 laps
Open women – 4 laps
Masters women (30+) – 3 laps
Masters men (30+) – 4 laps
Walkers – 1 or 2 laps (Entrants MUST walk, if they are seen running they will be put in the running results)

The race starts at 2pm sharp, so make sure you turn up with plenty of time to get registered and pay any entry fees. Last minute entries on the day have to be in by 1.15pm and race briefing is at 1.45pm. All distances start at the same time, so it’s a mass start. You are responsible for keeping track of how many laps you have run.
At the finish you will be given a place token, which you will need to give to the person correlating the results before leaving the finishing chute. Speak clearly when providing them with your name and chosen distance, since they may not know who you are.
The official distances to be acknowledged as the fastest Northland runner, are 8km for women and 10km for men. Women are welcome to run 10km if they wish. The winners of each distance will be acknowledged at during tea after 3pm.
Entry Fee
Entry is free for Hātea Run & Athletics Whangārei members and $7 per person for everyone else. Please can club members run in their club shirts on the day.
Tea & Biscuits will be provided to entrants by the clubs at Tiffanys cafe from 3pm.
Whangārei Cross Country Venue

2023 Tikipunga Sports Park Night Race
2023-07-05 17:30 - 19:00 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112
The penultimate race in the Hātea Run 2023 Night Series takes place on the same course as the 2023 Hatea Grand Prix. It’s another out and back course, starting from the Tikipunga Football Club, winding through the sports park to the Hatea river, then onto Vinegar Hill Road for the turn around.
Where?

Drive down Reed Street, to the Rugby & Football Club car park.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm The event starts at 6.00pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The 2023 Tikipunga Sports Park Night Race Course

Est. Moving Time
Distance
Elevation Gain

00:32:43
4.81
17.56

hours
km
meters

All results will be published on our blog

2023 Whangārei Aquatic Center to Whareora Return
2023-06-28 17:30 - 19:00 | Whangārei Aquatic Center, Ewing Road, Riverside, Whangarei, Northland, 0112, New Zealand
The 3rd race in the Hātea Run 2023 Night Series heads to the edge of the Town Basin. The 2023 Whangārei Aquatic Center to Whareora Return course starts around the back to the Aquatic Center, then heads down the end of Ewing Road, before shooting up the steps to Vale Road. The course runs alongside the Hātea river all the way to Whareora Road, before returning the way you came.
Where?

You can use the Aquatic Center parking, then follow the path around the side, to the rear of the facility, where the race will start.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm The event starts at 6.00pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The Waimahanga Out and Back 2023 Course

All results will be published on our blog

Waimahanga Out and Back 2023
2023-06-21 17:30 - 19:00 | Waimahanga Track, Waimahanga Road, Onerahi, Whangarei, Northland, 0110, New Zealand
For the 2nd race in the Hātea Run 2023 Night Series, we start an out and back 5km from the end of Waimahanga Road. The course undulates slightly along a gravel path between the Onerahi peninsula and our harbours’ mangroves. This course has historically formed the backbone of our Grand Prix series in the summer months, until 2022 that is… but we return to this classic during our tour of Whangārei’s trails for the Night Series.
Where?

We will meet at the entrance to Boswell’s Track at the end of Waimahanga Road.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm The event starts at 6.00pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The Waimahanga Out and Back 2023 Course

All results will be published on our blog

The Spooky Chase 2023
2023-06-14 17:30 - 19:00 | Abbey Caves Rd mountain bike car park, 45 Abbey Caves Road, Whareora, Northland, 0175, New Zealand
Spooky Chase 2023 is a handicap event and the first of our winter night trail series. The slowest runners start first with the fastest chasing them down.
Where?

We will meet at the Abbey Caves road mountain bike car park.
What Time?
Registrations from 5.30pm
The event starts at 5.55pm
Entry Fee
Hatea Members – Free
Others – $2 Koha
Health & Safety

Bring a headlamp/Torch. No Light no Run.
Wear an item of Hi-Viz.
Conditions may be slippery, you must wear appropriate footwear.

The Spooky Chase Course

All results will be published on our blog
Feature image by Neven Krcmarek on Unsplash

Last Sunday Run - Cartwright Money Factory Loop - May 2023
2023-05-28 07:30 - 21:30 | Cartwright Money Factory Loop, Onerahi, Whangarei
Our May 2023 Last Sunday of the month run will be taking place around the Cartwright / Money Factory loop in Onerahi. We last ran this together as a club in last May as it happens… which is an interesting coincidence and not by design. Both courses meet at their respective locations at 7.20am, leaving at 7.30am
When & Where?
We have 2 different start locations for this one.
10.5km The Loop
Starting & finishing from the Onerahi Rugby Club car park, which will be around 10km with options to extend on additional single trail or down the Waimahanga track. Leaving at 7.30am this course loops anti-clockwise, finishing with a cruisy jog along Riverside Drive and up Onerahi hill.

16.5km The Loop
Starting & finishing from the Te Matau A Pohe bridge car park the course will be around 17km. Leaving at 7.30am, this course turns left onto Awaroa River Road, making it a clockwise loop so everyone give high-five as the two crews pass each other through the forestry.

Post Run Coffee
We will be heading to Serenity Cafe for coffee and post run refuelling.
Have fun, take fluids and take care. See you all there!

Last Sunday Run - Parua Bay Old Coach Road - April 2023
2023-04-30 07:30 - 17:00 | Parua Bay Old Coach Road
The Parua Bay Old Coach Road is our alternate location for April’s last Sunday run. We are running a mostly single trail loop, with sections of gravel road especially for the longer distance options. Everyone who has done this loop has said it’s excellent but can be technical depending on the conditions.
RULE #1: You will be running through a live farm, make sure everyone closes all gates. Don’t let Hatea down by leaving a gate open please.
RULE #2: We are fairly remote, in an unfamiliar location, please make sure you take packs, with some nutrition, water and basic safety gear (safety blanket) and a rain jacket weather depending. Be safe… there’s limited cell coverage. However, there is an access road from the top along the ridgeline which you will run along.
RULE #3: The course could be quite muddy and slippery, please wear trail shoes. If you don’t, that’s your choice, you were warned.
When & Where?
We have 3 different start locations for this one, since all options include the loop and to spread out the parking availability each distance gradually starts further along the road.
9.5km The Loop
Parking is at a premium for this loop, so if you can, please car pool. The owners of the property have requested that we do NOT park in the layby next to their gate. But instead park in the layby before that one.
This is a photo of the 2 laybys, with my back to the first gate you will need to close as you pass through. I’m looking towards the direction you will arrive from in this photo. People use the space marked with the red X to turn around.

Click the image below to get directions, do this before you head out, since there is no cell coverage once you get further along the road. But, the roads are well sign posted, you turn off Whangarei Heads road, onto Taraunui road and you stay on that one through various junctions. Eventually Taraunui road will end and you will have the choice of turning right for Telfer Road or Waiparera Road… you need to turn left down Waiparera. Park in the layby with the red soil/gravel.

It’s best you follow this course counter clockwise and for those of you with maps on your watch, please load it up before you head out. There’s next to no cell coverage, so having the map on your watch as a fall back is a good thing. Click on the image below to check out the course profile and statistics.

17km The Loop plus gravel road
For this option, you just park sooner / earlier and run to the location where the 9.5km runners start. There is some space to park on the side of the road just after the bridge and before the various junctions. Click on the image below to get directions to this location from where ever you are.

From this start point, the gravel roads start straight away and you are soon running through the bush. Again this loop is setup to go counter clockwise. Click on the map below to check out the Strava route.

22km The Loop plus gravel road plus tar seal
The longest option I’m going to upload to this post starts from a layby just after the first bridge you drive over heading along Taraunui Road. It’s likely farmers are coming and going through this layby, so please park considerately. Click on the image below to get the GPS waypoint for directions.

This route starts and ends on tar seal. So you will get a nice variety of surfaces on this baby with some nice vert and runnable hills in parts. Counter clockwise is recommended, but if you want to hike up some grunty vert then run down some easier declines, then you can tackle the loop clockwise instead. Click on the map below to check it out on Strava.

Post Run Coffee
We will be going to Smith & Local Parua Bay at the Parua Bay shops this time. Coffee is great and the food decadent. For those who just want to run further… park at the shops and do the loop for a 27km run, the last hill coming back up Taraunui Road is a true delight.
See you all there!!

2023 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 5
2023-02-22 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2023 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 4
2023-02-15 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2023 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 3
2023-02-08 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2023 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 2
2023-02-01 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

2023 Hatea Grand Prix - Race 1
2023-01-25 17:30 - 18:30 | Tikipunga Football Club, 10 Reed Street, Tikipunga, Whangārei, Northland, 0112

Athletics Northland Road Race Championships 2022
2022-11-27 09:00 - 10:30 | Whangārei Skate Park, Parahaki, Whangārei, Northland, 0112, New Zealand
The Northland Road Race Championships are back and better than before!
Athletics Northland Road Race Championship Details
Everyone welcome, so come and test yourselves against the best runners in Northland over the following distances:

2.5km for Under 14 Boys & Girls
5km for under 16 Juniors
7.5km for under 20 Men, Masters Women, Masters Men 60+
10 km for Senior Men, Masters Men, Senior Women

Location & Course
All races will start and finish next to the skate board park in Riverside Drive with a 9am start for all events. There will be a 2.5 km measured distance with runners completing either 1, 2, 3 or 4 laps for their chosen distance.
Results
Each event will be timed with results announced on the day. All runners registered on the day are entered in the Athletics Northland Championships.
Entry
This event is organised by Hātea Run for Athletics Northland, so it’s free to club members. All others, a koha donation.

Last Sunday Run - Whananaki Walkway Return - October 2022
2022-10-30 08:00 - 11:00 | Sandy Bay, 1315 Matapouri Road, Northland, 0173, New Zealand
As an alternate location for our Sunday run at the end of October, we are running an out and back course from Sandy Bay towards Whananaki along the Whananaki Walkway.
When & Where?
Meet at 7.45am for an 8am start from the Sandy Bay car park. It’s a 40-45 minute drive from Whangārei town center, so please plan accordingly.

Whananaki Walkway Course
Since it’s an out and back course, you can run as far or as little as you want. We will likely head out and form groups based on our pace.
Distance: 19km
Elevation Gain: ~450m

Post Run Coffee
Salt Air Cafe in Ngunguru.
