Katoa Po weekend 9/10 March 2024
The 44th 2024 Katoa Po weekend at Taupo with the Club relay and explorer will continue with the tradition of challenge appropriate to all levels of skills and fitness. The Katoa Po night relay, Explorer and Sunday morning rogaine will have a wide variety of terrain with typical Taupo farmland as well as a variety of forest.
We will also have a park/town urban event using Maprun on parkland alongside the lake and an urban area, which is interspersed with a number of wide gullies that can be done on Saturday afternoon.
A permanent Park rogaine course on Spa Park using Maprun is also available by requesting a map from info@taupoorientering.nz
The Program ensures a full weekend of orienteering that should satisfy the most ardent orienteer.
The venue and camping area for the night relay is close to the town - less than a 10 minute drive.
The Programme
Saturday 9th March
- Park/town line event, start/map handout 2:30pm - 3:30pm
- at dusk start of 44th Katoa Po Night Relay
- 8:30pm start of 4th Katoa Po Explorer Night Rogaine
Sunday 10th March
- 9.00am start of Katoa Po Explorer Daylight Rogaine
- 9.30am start of 90 minute Sunday Rogaine
See applicable event pages for further details
About the events
Katoa Po is a Maori translation for “all night” and the event is the annual interclub night relay hosted by the Taupo Orienteering Club. The first relay was held at the end of January 1981 but nowadays is usually in March when dusk is earlier but the weather still generally good. Teams are made up of seven members, of mixed ages and abilities who contest for the Owl trophy or five members who compete in the first five legs for the Po Kerukeru trophy. The legs are designed so that all ages, levels of fitness and abilities are catered for. The Rules and details of how Club teams are put together will be advised in a future Bulletin.
The Katoa Po Explorer is a teams event that has been designed for adventure racers of all ages wanting to practise their night navigation and teamwork. This event will comprise a three hour rogaine on Saturday night and a 90 minute rogaine on Sunday morning for teams of two to five. The course has been designed by experienced adventure racers, but will be set for a range of abilities, from beginners to expert. Secondary School teams have found this event to be an excellent navigation team exercise.
The Park/Town event will have short, middle and long line courses which will use the Maprun app on your phones. Maps will be available on Saturday afternoon 2.30pm to 3.30pm at the Park/town event centre at 3 Mile Bay.
The planners and controllers are very experienced in these events so you can be sure of great courses.
We hope to have each Club appoint a liaison person to gather together and arrange the Club teams for the night relay.
Entries will be via the EnterO website
Campsite and event centre area
Pine forest
Manuka forest
Event Location
