Crankworx up against Cricket World Cup and Military Tattoo for major award

Crankworx Rotorua with the Cricket World Cup and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as finalists in the 2016 New Zealand Event Awards' Best Hosted Major Event category.

Crankworx Rotorua has been named alongside the ICC Cricket World Cup and the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo as finalists for a major award.

The mountain bike festival's inaugural event in 2015 is a finalist in the Best Hosted Major Event category in the 2016 New Zealand Event Awards.

Crankworx Rotorua event director Tak Mutu said to be named alongside two massive international events was both "cool and daunting".

"We're over the moon. It's humbling to be there with the Cricket World Cup which was one of the biggest events in the world at the time," said Mr Mutu.

New Zealand Event Award judges said Crankworx was delivered to a remarkably high standard with a high level of community and commercial involvement.

"The organisation demonstrated a fantastic 'can do' attitude and culture. The event was truly global built from ground zero with serious backing and sponsorship", the judges said.

Chairman of the Crankworx Rotorua Board Dave Donaldson said he was very proud of the team from Multiday Adventures and associated contractors in being named as a finalist.

Mr Donaldson said the success of Crankworx Rotorua 2015 and the Enduro World Series event was also an outstanding example of collaboration by the other shareholders Skyline Rotorua and Rotorua Lakes Council.

"I was also extremely proud of the way our team gelled with the international team from Crankworx Whistler a relationship that was further enhanced in 2016" he said.

The winners of the New Zealand Association of Event Professionals annual awards will be named at a gala dinner at the Auckland Museum on August 4.

The Volvo Ocean Race Auckland Stopover won the best major event hosted event last year.