Katoa Po weekend 8/9 March 2025 - Bulletin 1
The 45th Katoa Po promises a full weekend of orienteering and social activities for all in 2025. This year it will be based near Reporoa, at Hoanga (last used for Katoa Po in 2021) and the adjoining Ngahiwi farm that has been newly mapped for this event. This area has a great mix of open paddocks, rolling hills, scattered trees, rocky outcrops and a patch of forest with some very large old native trees, and is suitable for all levels of orienteering ability.
The weekend will start with a short fun warm-up event on Saturday afternoon.
The Katoa Po night relay will start at dusk, and the explorer rogaine shortly after, and run into the night. The night relay format has been revised, with just a single category of five person club teams, and the eligibility criteria for each leg has been loosened, to make for more exciting racing. The explorer rogaine for teams of 2 to 5 will run from 8:30 to 11:30 pm, covering a similar but larger area. A large marquee will provide an all-weather event centre, and an adjacent hill will provide a natural grandstand to view the lights of competitors out on the course. Most people will camp the night in tents and campervans on the paddock alongside.
On Sunday morning a hearty cooked breakfast will be available to purchase from the local school adventure racing team, before a 90 minute rogaine over the same terrain.
Mr Whippy (selling Ice cream and Coffee) will be on site on Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
The Programme
Saturday 8th March
- 4:00pm start of the Gambler a 30 minute warmup event.
- at dusk start of 45th Katoa Po Night Relay
- 8:30pm start of 5th Katoa Po Explorer Night Rogaine
Sunday 9th March
- Cooked breakfast available
- start of Katoa Po Explorer Daylight Rogaine and
90 minute Sunday Rogaine (after allowing sufficient time for breakfast to settle)
Further details will be provided closer to the Katoa Po weekend, but since there have been significant changes to the relay event, some details of the relay are provided below.
About the events
The Saturday afternoon warmup event is designed as a short sharp challenge to warm up the brain and the body for the challenges ahead.
Katoa Po is a Maori translation for “all night” and the weekend is based around 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 now made up of five members of mixed ages and abilities who contest for the Owl trophy. The legs and eligibility age groups are designed so that all ages, levels of fitness and abilities are catered for – from the competitive to those who want to enjoy the camaraderie and atmosphere of a team event at night along with a convivial camping experience. The general overall rules and details of how Club teams are put together are below.
The Katoa Po Explorer is a teams rogaine event that has been designed for rogainers and 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, and the top prize will go to the winning mixed school team.
The Sunday morning rogaine is a 90minute adventure where you might find some of the controls you looked for at night, and a whole lot more. It is run in parallel with the Explorer Sunday rogaine.
The planners and controllers are very experienced in running and competing 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
See applicable event pages for further details
Event Location
- Jay Road is West off SH5 half way between Taupo and Rotorua (approx 40km)
- After 2.8km - turn on to farm road to Event Centre
- Event centre is approximately 1.6km up the farm road
