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EXCAVATOR OPERATOR COMPETITIONS 2026-2027

Excavator Operator Competitions 2026-2027

Mates and Motors 2026: Unmissable Fun & Fundraising in Taupō!

Mates and Motors 2026: Unmissable Fun & Fundraising in Taupō!


$50.00 Members
$50.00 Consultants
$50.00 Standard Price

Event Detail

Early Bird Offer Extended to 1 August —Don’t Miss Out!

🐯 Early Bird Entry: $50 + GST per vehicle (car, bike, truck, whatever you drive!)
Lock in your spot for less if you register before 1 August 2026.
After that, standard entry is $100 + GST per vehicle.
Your registration gets you in for the full weekend of fun—show day, cruises, dinners, spot prizes, laughs and more! 

When booking: Enter only one person's name per vehicle. 

Registrations include:
- Access to Mates in Motors all weekend for your group
One vehicle entry to Mates in Motors
Entry to Tongariro Domain
Donation to Mates in Construction

Accommodation discounts for Civil Contractors NZ members still apply—watch out for your exclusive code for Lakeland Resort Taupō in your confirmation email.


Weekend Highlights

Friday 30th October – Welcome Cruise & Social Vibes

Hit the road to Taupō however suits you—convoy with your mates or make it a solo adventure. Check in, relax, grab dinner, then kick things off with our legendary evening cruise! Join convoys from around the region for an epic parade of cars, bikes, and trucks. Make new friends, reunite with old ones, and swap stories as the engines roar through town!

Saturday 31st October – Show, Shine & Unforgettable Experiences

  • 7:00am–8:30am – Kickstart with a brekkie feast at Lakeland Resort (for Friday arrivals)
  • 8:45am – Gather the crew and roll out to Tongariro Domain
  • 9:00am–2:00pm – Show & Shine at Tongariro Domain
    Show off your pride and joy, cast your vote for People’s Choice, and maybe hop into something unique for a waterfront cruise (with a donation—every dollar helps Mates in Construction!)
  • 2:00pm-4:30pm – Group cruise & late lunch (venue TBC)
    Cruise through Taupō ’s best backroads and refuel with some grub and good company
  • 4:30pm onwards – Free time
    Explore Taupō, take in the lake views, snap photos, or grab a yarn with fellow enthusiasts
  • 6:00pm – Legendary Dinner and Prizegiving at Finns Bistro and Beer Garden
    Feast, laugh and cheer as prizes are handed out, spot prizes drawn, and auction items raise the tempo—all for a great cause!

Sunday 1st November – Farewell Cruise

One last cruise, plenty of smiles, and a big group send-off. Leave Taupō with your heart full, your tank empty, and your calendar already marked for next year!


You Can Help Make it EVEN Bigger!

Are you keen to sponsor, donate spot prizes, or contribute an auction item? Getting involved has never been more rewarding—support a brilliant cause, promote your business, and be part of a legendary event!

Bring your mates, bring your motors, and support Mates in Construction—Taupō is waiting!

Seriously: this is the event you’ll be talking about all year. Don’t miss it!


Sponsors

Humes Pipeline Systems

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UDC Finance

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Principal Business Partner
Core Associates
Major Associates
Marley NZ Ltd
n3
RB Recruitment
ENZED
Reliance Reinforcing Limited
Terra Cat
Solo
UDC Finance
MATES In Construction
The Drug Detection Agency
Greenlight Insurance Brokers
ERoad Ltd
Connexis
Franklin Smith Group
Porter Group Limited
TDX Ltd
Holcim New Zealand Ltd
TR Group
Remarkable People Ltd
TotalEnergies NZ Ltd
Mico New Zealand Ltd
Aggregates & Quarry Association
SAMI Bitumen Technologies Pty Ltd
RobLawMax Recruitment
Northpine Ltd
Advice Financial
AEL
Enviro NZ Services Ltd
Terra Infrastructure Pty Ltd
MIMICO NZ Ltd
Liebherr New Zealand
Nulca NZ
AECOM New Zealand Limited
SG Fleet
Prime Fluid Management
AB Equipment Ltd
Geofabrics New Zealand Ltd
MBP (NZ) Ltd
H.J. Asmuss & Co. Ltd
Youngman Richardson
Rimkus
Teletrac Navman
Norwood
Wirtgen NZ Ltd
Global Survey - Auckland
Turners Group Ltd: Head Office/Auckland
Fluiconnecto Ryco New Zealand Ltd
Infrastructure New Zealand
BNZ Partners
Habit Health EAP
Infrastructure Sustainability Council
New Zealand Transport Agency
Winstone Aggregates
First Gas
Central Group
Hynds Pipe Systems
Doug the Digger
Impac Services Limited
CivilShare
Firth Certified Concrete
Commercial Hire NZ Ltd
Trade Me Jobs
Hydraulink Fluid Connecters Ltd
Commercial Vehicle Holdings
Over and Out Communications
Plan A
OneStaff Limited
Portacom New Zealand Limited
Humes Pipeline Systems
beforeUdig
Brandt Tractor Limited
Komatsu New Zealand Ltd
Coninnova Limited
Absolute Immigration NZ
Bridon Cookes
Site App Pro
Geosynthetic Partners International Ltd
AON New Zealand
Aptella
GHD Limited
Kobelco New Zealand
AWF
Manage Company
Iplex Pipelines NZ
SITECH NZ
Westpac NZ Ltd

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