We’re here to help you find an event near you and get you started on the correct difficulty level.

But first, a few things to make clear:

• You don’t need to be a club member to participate, anyone can enter.
• Schools events are typically just for schools, but club events are open for anyone and sometimes have both club and school age grades.
• For school events, students will often simply register with their team manager or teacher-in-charge. In these cases, the entry instructions below are for the manager or TIC, not for the students.

Getting started guide:

1. Check out your local club for news and info about what events or training opportunities are coming up.
2. Check out the calendar on the Events section of this website. All events in New Zealand are listed there.
3. Know which course or age class you should be participating in.
4. Once you have found an event you’d like to attend, find where to enter. There should be an event website with information about the event and directions on how to enter.
5. Check information on the event website, in event bulletins (for major events) and in emails for information like transport instructions, event open and close times, and hazards to be aware of.
6. When you arrive at the event, find registration and tell them that you are new and want help. They will be able to give you all the most up to date information on the event and check that you have entered the most appropriate grade. There might even be coaches available to give you some basic skills and tips.
   
   Key questions to ask at registration:
   • Where is the start? – It might be a short walk away from the event centre, but should be well sign posted.
   • Where can I check the results?
   • What basic navigation skills should I know before starting?
   • Are my shoes and clothing appropriate for this environment?
   • If I have difficulty on my course and wish to return to the event centre, how can I do that safely?
   • Is there a time limit or time of day that you must complete the course by? – If you have not returned to the finish by a certain time, the organisers have to treat you as lost and will send a search party to look for you or perform other missing person protocols.
7. After you have completed your course, you can view the results at the event centre and also online and see how you did compared to others. Results and split times are usually available on Winsplits and courses are often displayed on Livelox or OTrax which also allows you to upload your GPS track and compare routes with others.

If you still can’t find what you are looking for then we might be missing some useful information from our website and we’d love to hear from you. Please contact trainingcoordinator@orienteering.org.nz.