Northern Advocate
  • Northern Advocate home
  • Latest news
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Sport
  • Property
  • Video
  • Death notices
  • Classifieds

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • On The Up
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
  • Sport
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Residential property listings

Locations

  • Far North
  • Kaitaia
  • Kaikohe
  • Bay of Islands
  • Whangārei
  • Kaipara
  • Mangawhai
  • Dargaville

Media

  • Video
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-Editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whangārei
  • Dargaville

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Northern Advocate

Motorsport: Rally of Whangarei ready to go full throttle

By Andrew Johnsen
Northern Advocate·
27 Apr, 2017 07:55 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

The International Rally of Whangarei is gearing up to thrill Northland crowds over the three day event, starting tonight. This photo was taken at the start of the 2016 event. Photo/John Stone

The International Rally of Whangarei is gearing up to thrill Northland crowds over the three day event, starting tonight. This photo was taken at the start of the 2016 event. Photo/John Stone

Northland is gearing up as the International Rally of Whangarei roars into town tonight.

The three-day event starts tomorrow and brings a large multicultural blend and top cars to New Zealand for the opening round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).

Whilst being an event largely for petrolheads, the Rally brings a bump in economic benefits according to Northland Chamber of Commerce CEO Tony Collins.

"In the past the event has been shown to increase activities around Whangarei which has an immediate and direct impact on the economy up here," he said.

"People in town are spending money on a lot of things from fuel to accommodation but there is a slightly more intangible and long-term benefit from the event in that we get a reputation.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"It's an opportunity to expose Whangarei, not only nationally, but to international audiences through the global coverage of the event.

"The exposure helps the future of Whangarei in terms of bringing people in. Those travelling here head home and tell people about the place which could bring people back."

Collins said while he couldn't name the figures, the economical benefits from the event should have increased over time.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"I would imagine it would bring more money each year as living costs and the like have increased over time," he said.

"It does provide the opportunity if done the right way to stimulate the CBD. We need to be really aware to see how we can make sure everyone benefits from it."

The event also is a big milestone for former V8 Supercars stalwart Greg Murphy.

The four-time Bathurst 1000 winner is racing in Whangarei for the first time, competing as part of the Penny Homes Holden Rally Team.

Discover more

International Rally of Whangarei in town

02 May 08:00 PM

Murphy said he was excited by the competition.

"Having both Penny Homes Holden Barinas here this weekend is a big moment for our team and everyone involved should be hugely proud of what has been achieved to make this happen," he said.

"I am just really excited about getting behind the wheel and I think my co-driver Mark Leonard is pretty pumped to get things under way too."

The first test for the drivers tomorrow will be the 1km long Hella Pohe Island Super Special Stage to start at 7pm.

Rally drivers then take in Northland, heading as far north as Paihia before returning to Whangarei. This is run in both the morning and afternoon.

Sunday's remaining stages take the teams south, covering more familiar territory to some.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

They head to Waipu Caves for a stage, followed by the 16.46km Waiotira test and the 15.39km Tangihua stage. The cars return to Whangarei for a brief service break before repeating the loop in the early afternoon.

Save

    Share this article

Latest from Sport

Sport

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

05 Jul 05:39 AM
Northern Advocate

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

27 Jun 07:00 PM
Sport

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Sport

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

Māori All Blacks beaten by Scotland

05 Jul 05:39 AM

Visitors bounce back after a flying start from the hosts in Whangārei.

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

'Incredible': Northland retirees become world champs in new sport

27 Jun 07:00 PM
NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

NZ shearers prepare for Scotland's toughest sheep

25 Jun 10:36 PM
How Paralympic aspirations helped Eligh Fountain overcome mental battles - On The Up

How Paralympic aspirations helped Eligh Fountain overcome mental battles - On The Up

25 Jun 06:00 PM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • The Northern Advocate e-edition
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Subscribe to the Northern Advocate
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The Northern Advocate
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP