The premier night orienteering competition in New Zealand. 2019 is going to be another classic so bring your tent, your cow bell and your club spirit for this event!

This night relay for 5 and 7 person teams run deep into the night. The relay starts about dusk with a mass start for the white course. It progresses to harder and longer courses. The final two legs are mainly for elite runners.

The Terrain

The event is on the Taupo View map, last used in 2014.

It is a farm map with rolling to steep hills that are incised with complex, intricate gullies and other negative terrain features.

The Programme

• Saturday 9th March 2019 – 39th Katoa Po Relay Starts at dusk
• Sunday 10th March 2019 – Mini Rogaine Start 9.30am

See the links about and the Katoa Po Page for further details.

About Katoa Po

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.

Event Location – Taupo

Taupo View map (northern part of Rangatira E, off Acacia Bay Road).

Both of the events are on the same map. The Event Centre is via the entrance to the LSD Quarry, south side of Holiday Park on Acacia Bay Road, Taupo (about 10 minutes drive from Taupo i-SITE Visitor Information Centre) signposted from top of Acacia Bay Road.

When – 9th March 2019

5:30pm Registration/Campsite opens
6:30pm return Team lists with names in running order
7:00pm Briefing for all competitors
Relay Starts at Dusk

Organizer

Taupo Orienteering Club

How to Enter

Contact your local orienteering club to let them know you want to enter and they will put you in one of their teams.

Camp site:

The event centre and camp site will be located on the central part of the map with great night time views of the town.
The camp site is a paddock adjacent to the event centre and start finish. There will be plenty of camping space for tents and campervans . There will be portaloos on site. There will be room for club tents overlooking the finish. You will need to be self sufficient for camping including water.

First few tents going up at a previous years Katoa Po Camping site