TriStars Junior Triathlon Returns to Ngātea with Strong Community Support
The Hauraki Plains Community Hub successfully delivered its second annual TriStars Junior Triathlon on Sunday 15th March at the Ngātea Swimming Pool and Hugh Hayward Domain.
TriStars is one of the Hub’s key community initiatives, developed to bring people together and create opportunities for tamariki to get active in a supportive and inclusive environment. The event is designed as a fun, confidence-building experience for children aged 5–13, with a focus on participation rather than competition.
This year’s event saw 150 participants, up from 100 in its first year (2025), and we were prepared for up to 200 entries. The day also created opportunities for local rangatahi and volunteers to get involved, contributing to the strong community atmosphere.
Hauraki Plains Community Hub Chairperson Alex Quinn said one of the most rewarding aspects of the day was seeing the growth in confidence among the young athletes.
“It was awesome to see the young athletes grow in confidence and challenge themselves. I have received so many reports from parents on the positive results it has made to their children.”
Feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting both the atmosphere and organisation of the event. Comments included “Such an amazing event for our community,” “A fab morning with loads of laughs and smiling faces,” and “Very well organised and a fun day out.” Organisers also heard directly from participants that this year’s event felt even better than the first.
The success of the day was made possible through the collective effort of the Hauraki Plains Community Hub committee, volunteers, marshals, lifeguards, parents, and a wide range of local supporters. These included Richardson’s Real Estate, Thrifters, Hauraki District Council, Fonterra, KD’s Beans and Cream, Tucker Productions, the Lions Club, and college student volunteers.
We were also thankful to have favourable weather, with a mild and sunny day helping create ideal conditions for participants, who embraced the event with enthusiasm and energy.
The Hub will continue to build on the success of TriStars, refining and improving the event in future years while maintaining its strong focus on confidence, participation, and community connection.
While the original vision was for the event to eventually be led by a local club aligned with swimming, cycling, or athletics, TriStars remains a valued initiative of the Hub. At this stage, the Hub intends to continue delivering the event and is working toward bringing it back again in 2027.
