Tarawera event in running for NZ award

The start line of this years event Photo/Ben Fraser

The Tarawera Ultramarathon has been named a finalist in the New Zealand Association of Event Professionals annual awards.

The run, which is held in February and involves runners from around the world taking on distances of 60km, 85km and 100km, is a finalist in the category of Best New Zealand Owned Major Event.

The finalists were chosen from dozens of entries nationwide and included everything from festivals to art shows and expos. The judging panel comprised creativity broker Jo Blair, journalist Amanda Miller, director of a major event consulting firm Chris Simpson, CreativeNZ chief executive Stephen Wainwright and Tourism New Zealand chief executive Kevin Bowler.

Other finalists in the category are Dick Smith NRL Nines, Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, and Tremains Art Deco Weekend in Napier.

Event founder Paul Charteris said it was a "tremendous recognition" of the race by the New Zealand events professional community.

"The other three finalists in our category are all national leaders in their own area - it will be a tough call. I'd hate to be the judge that has to choose between us. "I think the only fair way to settle this would be a shirtless run through the forests in the middle of winter - I think we would at least beat the art deco crowd."

The event awards will be announced on July 22 in Wellington.

Destination Rotorua major events coordinator Jason Cameron said the event had given Rotorua a reputation for offroad running.

"The event has been a game changer in the Rotorua and New Zealand events sector with cutting-edge media production, global connectivity and inspiring a participant culture not experienced before with a New Zealand major event."