In assessing the men's field for this year's event, Brown said: "There is plenty of great home-grown talent, so it will be a tough race. I think the favourite will be Braden Currie who won last month's Taupo Ironman 70.3 against a good field, and also Graham O'Grady and Mark Bowstead."
For Brown, the passion for the sport of triathlon still burns at 43 years of age. When asked if he is looking forward to the Port of Tauranga Half, he answered: "I love racing there. It's always a great build-up for me towards the Ironman New Zealand in March. It shows what my current form is like and what I need to do in the next eight weeks before Ironman."
"I wish I had a few more weeks up my sleeve this year, after having a late season break in November and a calf injury, but I'll try to make the most of my preparation."
The Port of Tauranga Half women's race will also be interesting with the field featuring three former runners-up, and last year's third-place getter.
The favourite will be the 2014 runner-up and the rising star of women's long distance triathlon in New Zealand, Amelia Rose Watkinson. Her competition is expected to come from 2013 race runner-up Candice Hammond, 2011 runner-up Anna Cleaver and last year's third-place getter Julia Grant.
The Port of Tauranga Half is scheduled to start at 6:15am on Saturday.