Category: Titirangi Mt Everest Challenge

2021 Titirangi Mt. Everest Closing

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

Sunday evening marked the end of the Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge for 2021. 

Due to Alert Level Two guidelines, there was no major closing ceremony this year, however, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti were on the maunga on Sunday evening handing out certificates and spot prizes, and the event was officially closed off with karakia from Morehu Pewhairangi and his whānau. 

Over the seven weeks of the challenge, 1,600 participants took part, made up of 163 teams. Altogether participants climbed the maunga over 17,000 times. 

Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti Events Advisor Debbie Hutchings said “The TMEC has been going for 9 years and each year we see people achieve more than they initially set out to do and in process create new friendships with other participants, share their journey and more importantly improve their overall health and wellbeing. We encourage people to keep going and work towards their goal. Titirangi or wherever the maunga is located, will always be there for people to climb.” 

Participant Daryl Gowers had his own personal journey with the challenge. He had a friend pass away from cancer a few weeks prior to the start of the challenge and made a commitment to him that he would complete the 68 climbs. Over the 7 weeks he accumulated an incredible 471 climbs. Gowers said ”This achievement was not only in memory of my friend who had passed away but for the many families that lose loved ones to cancer here in Tairāwhiti. I like to see all the smiling faces and bring more enjoyment while on the maunga by giving away lollies for a bit of fun.” Daryl works as a volunteer for the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society raising much needed funds for the services they provide.  

With support from Ngati Oneone, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, the East Coast Cancer Society, the Gisborne District Council and ProTraffic, as well as local champions such as Huringa Pai, the event was able to raise awareness and funds for the East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer. 

2021 Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge Commences

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

Dust off your walking shoes, and grab your whānau and friends, it’s time to climb the maunga! 

The Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge, brainchild of Sean & Fiona Shivnan enters its ninth year and continues to be an iconic event in Tairāwhiti. 

The award-winning event is a seven-week challenge where people of all ages walk, run or cycle up Titirangi (sometimes referred to as Kaiti Hill) 68 times, which is equivalent to the height of Mount Everest. If you can’t make it to Titirangi you can convert your climbs from other maunga, and in recent years this has seen the establishment of separate community groups that have climbed alternative peaks such as Titirangi in Uawa, D9 in Tikitiki, and Manutahi in Ruatoria to name a few. 

Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti Event Lead Debbie Hutchings said “The event is accessible to our whole community and can extend beyond the boundaries of Titirangi by incorporating any maunga where climbs can be converted.  Participation can happen anywhere across New Zealand/Aotearoa or worldwide.  For those feeling the pressures of lockdowns and closed borders this event can offer a sense of belonging and connectedness to Tairāwhiti.  The event is free and open to all ages.”  

The challenge aims to create awareness for bowel cancer. Donations received will support patients and whānau in Tairāwhiti who have been affected by a bowel cancer diagnosis through the Gisborne East Coast Cancer Society.  

The event is able to go ahead under Alert Level 2 with public health measures in place. Guidelines state under Level 2 face masks are not mandatory while exercising, 2m social distancing must be adhered to, good hygiene must be practiced, and a QR code will be available at the base and summit for contact tracing. “We appreciate it will take extra effort to ensure good spacing between participants, so we ask our community to be patient and make space when letting people pass in narrower areas, and to be considerate of one another and people’s bubbles,” said Debbie Hutchings. 

This year will also see the community benefit from the significant environmental restoration work that has taken place on Titirangi through Gisborne District Council,  Ngāti Oneone and Whaia Titirangi, as well as improvements made such as the permanent one-way system for vehicles, the designated path for walkers, and the introduction of seats and water fountain. 

Registrations for the event opened Monday 27 September with the event kicking off Monday 4 October and ending on Sunday 21 November. Participants can register for the free event and download a climb conversion chart here.

Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge 2021

Posted on by Tracey Harkess
The 2021 Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge is nearly here!

Registrations are opening Monday 27th September and we’re excited to get the event underway. The challenge will start Monday 4th October and finish on Sunday 21st November.

Track yours and your team’s progress on the live, online leaderboard. You can track your height, gain badges (when you reach other noteworthy peaks) and encourage your friends, whānau, and colleagues by following their progress also!

Make sure you keep checking in to see our opening celebration details.

A special thanks to Sean Shivnan Pharmacy for their support so our people can enjoy the physical benefits and social interactions of being a part of this event.

Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge 2020 Closing Ceremony

Posted on by Tracey Harkess

On Sunday 15 November, Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti hosted the closing ceremony for the Titirangi Mt. Everest Challenge 2020.  

Participants met by Te Poho-o-Rawiri marae for a final group walk to the summit to celebrate everyone’s individual and team achievements. It was a beautiful evening with live music, spot prizes and participants sharing their stories of what the journey meant to them, complimented with a sunset. 

2083 registered participants with 199 teams took part in the challenge this year and collectively climbed Titirangi 20502 times. 

The challenge is to climb Titirangi 68 times in 7 weeks which is the equivalent to climbing Mt. Everest. The challenge means more than just the number of climbs, it’s a chance for everyone to get outside, get active, socialise and achieve their own personal goals. Whether its 1 climb or 200, it’s helped someone get one step closer to their goal. 

Sport Gisborne Tairāwhiti Events Advisor Debbie Hutchings said ‘to see such a large number of our community being active is the real success of this event.  By reducing barriers such as cost, set times and access, people of all ages, stages, ethnicity and fitness levels are participating.  What they may set out to do at the beginning for many turns into something they never thought they could or would do.  The people they meet, the friendships made and the excitement of reaching or surpassing their own goals is so rewarding.’ 

The annual event helps to raise money for the East Coast Cancer Society to support locals living with bowel cancer.  

With the help of sponsors, Sean and Fiona Shivnan, the East Coast Cancer Society, PAK’nSAVE, the Gisborne District Council and ProTraffic, as well as local champions such as Huringa Pai, the event was able to raise awareness and funds for a worthy cause. 

Join us for the 2020 challenge opening

Posted on by Tyler K

To kick off the 2020 challenge, we’ll be holding a group hikoi up the maunga, in time to catch sun rise and officially open the seven week event with a karakia.
To join in, meet at Poho o Rawiri Marae before 6:30AM ?
There will be coffee and event T-shirts for sale at the summit – please bring a keep-cup to reduce waste, and cash if you want to purchase a shirt.

View the Facebook event for more info