Police annual raft race on the Kaituna River reaches 5th Anniversary

On Friday February 24, 200 Police staff from around the North Island will compete for glory in the annual New Zealand Police Assn Raft Race on Rotorua's Kaituna River.

This year will mark the fifth anniversary of this extreme event, which has grown to be one of the largest police sporting events in New Zealand. The 2012 competition will include four different race types; Whitewater Rafting, Whitewater Kayaking, Riversurfing and, new this year, Banshee Bungee Boarding.

Event organiser, Constable Aaron Holloway from Bay of Plenty Police District Headquarters, says 42 teams of four people will compete in the whitewater rafting, with team members coming from as far away as Wellington and Northland.

"The races are being held on a 1.2 kilometre stretch of the Kaituna River, which includes seven sets of Grade Three rapids with names like The Abyss and Boiling Pot.

"If this wasn't enough, competitors will also need to navigate three waterfalls – one of which is the world's highest commercially rafted waterfall just to reach the start line!"

Constable Holloway describes the event as "socially competitive".

"This is a highly contested event which has grown significantly from the nine teams who competed in the inaugural event. The rules state that there is to be no "grabbing" of other rafts – however competitive contact between the rafts is encouraged!

"This is a spectacular part of the country, and we are lucky to have the Kaituna River on our backdoor step. It’s the perfect location for the NZ Police Assn Raft Race."

Constable Holloway says there will be seven whitewater rafting heats and five riversurfing heats held across the day, with the finals expected to take place between 5pm and 6pm.

Teams enter the Kaituna River at Okere Falls, and raft over three waterfalls to reach the official start line below the Tutea Falls. One member from each team stands on a metre high rock, jumping into the river and swimming to the raft to officially start the race.

Constable Holloway says a Department of Conservation walking track adjacent to the Kaituna River provides excellent vantage points for supporters and members of the public.

A spectator raft also accompanies each race, with a small charge for each person on board. All the profits from the spectator raft will be donated to a fund that has been established for the three year old son of a Police staff member from Westport. The three year old boy was born with a number of serious health issues and more than three years on, his family and medical staff are no closer to a diagnosis. His father, Constable John Woodward from Westport, has started a fundraising campaign to raise funds for possible treatment overseas. To help raise awareness, Constable Woodward has embarked on a mission to bike from Westport to New Plymouth, via Nelson, Blenheim, Picton, Wellington, Palmerston Nth, Wanganui. For more information about this go to www.doingit4blaykey.com

For further information about the raft race, check out www.nzpolicerafting.co.nz