BECOME A MEMBER
Connecting New Zealand

EXCAVATOR OPERATOR COMPETITIONS 2025-2026

Excavator Operator Competitions 2025-2026

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

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


$100.00 Members
$100.00 Consultants
$100.00 Standard Price

Event Detail

Early Bird Offer—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 April 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

Visit Website
UDC Finance

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

Log in





Forgot password?
Create an Account