News

A refreshed Country Championship and Country Cups programme has been finalised for the 2026/27 season.

Following ongoing surveillance and consultation with industry partners and veterinary experts, HRNZ has updated the Directive to reflect the current status of the Strangles outbreak while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect the health of our horses and the continuity of…

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has released its 2026/27 Group and Feature Racing Calendar, which has been developed following a comprehensive review of the national feature racing programme.

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) has released for consultation a draft of its 2027– 2029 Statement of Intent, setting out proposed changes to its plans for the next three years.

HRNZ has issued this Directive to reduce the risk of Strangles spreading within the harness racing industry while aiming to allow racing and trialling to continue with minimal disruptions.

This Directive relates to all standardbred breeding, training, trialling and racing activities. This Directive replaces all directives relating to Strangles Disease Management issued by HRNZ previously.

Trainers and horse owners are urged to stay alert following the recent detection of Strangles cases in the Waikato Region.

Harness Racing NZ has appointed Anna Flynn as Interim Commercial Director to lead the organisation. Anna will join the team on 1 July.

Harness Racing New Zealand (HRNZ) welcomes comments by Racing Minister Winston Peters encouraging the industry to work together to secure the long-term future of racing in New Zealand.