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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!


$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

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UDC Finance

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

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