Just days after setting yet another record, Kiwi athletic sensation Sam Ruthe can add a new title to his list, with his running spikes topping Trade Me's 2025 most viewed list.
Just days after setting yet another record, Kiwi athletic sensation Sam Ruthe can add a new title to his list, with his running spikes topping Trade Me's 2025 most viewed list.
Worn track shoes from Bay of Plenty teen running sensation Sam Ruthe topped the list of Trade Me’s most-viewed auctions of 2025.
Trade Me spokesperson Tiana Barns said: “We’ve seen everything from one-of-a-kind sporting memorabilia to opportunities like meeting a rhino calf.
“It just goes to show what an interesting,diverse range of things people are looking at.”
Taking the top spot with more than 41,400 views was the running spikes used by Ruthe when he became the youngest person to run a four-minute mile in March.
The 16-year-old Tauranga Boys’ College student also shattered the longstanding New Zealand secondary schools 1500m record on Saturday.
“This listing from the Bay of Plenty captured the attention of sports fans across the motu, celebrating the rising star in athletics,” Barns said.
“It also fetched a top price of almost $11,500, making it the most expensive item in our top 10, with the proceeds going straight to Sam’s high-performance coach, Craig Kirkwood, and his youth development group.”
Coming in second was a charity listing for a Queenstown escape which raised money for St John.
The package included four nights’ accommodation, flight vouchers, new winter jackets, and several Queenstown experiences, including a scenic helicopter tour.
A hit of nostalgia secured third place: two full, unopened, 30-year-old Coca-Cola cans gained 15,356 views and sold for $230.
“These limited-edition cans from Auckland definitely gave a few Kiwis a blast from the past,” Barns said.
Classic confectionery also made the top list.
Two full and unopened Coca-Cola cans garnered more than 15,000 views and a final price tag of $115 a can.
After the news that RJ’s Jaffas would be discontinued, a listing for a bag of the orange chocolate balls fetched almost 15,000 views.
“We constantly see Kiwis trying to make a quick buck when their favourite food gets discontinued. While the seller was hoping to fetch $100 for the 150g bag, it unfortunately didn’t get any bites.”
Significant sporting memorabilia, including Steven Adams’ worn Houston Rockets Jersey - sold for $6160 - also secured a spot on the list.
“Steven has made it big in the NBA in America and is adored by basketball fans everywhere, so it was no surprise that his authentic, game-worn singlet was highly sought after,” Barns said.
Another popular auction was the opportunity to own a piece of New Zealand cricketing history.
The set of three cricket bats, signed by the White Ferns and Black Caps, fetched $4210 after 11,676 views.
Charity auctions continued to feature strongly, with a unique opportunity to meet a rhino calf at Auckland Zoo selling for $1730, and an exclusive star-studded dinner with actors Ben Barrington and Will Hall raising $2510.
Coming in at ninth place was a truly unique man cave item: a bar made from a Harley Davidson Kenworth Truck, which sold for $5571.
The final listing was for the Western Springs Speedway Safety Fence and Race Control Lights, designed by Bill Buckley, which clocked 10,915 views but did not sell.
“Whether it’s a piece of history, an act of charity, or something that just makes you laugh, these most-viewed listings are a great snapshot of what we have been talking about this year.”
