Official Notices and Circulars

HRNZ Official Notices and Circulars are Adobe 'Acrobat' formatted files (.pdf).

If you do not have an Adobe 'Acrobat' Reader extension for your browser then click here to download a free copy of Acrobat Reader

Official Notice - 21 February 2024
Safety Number for Approved Tracks - Cromwell

Official Notice - 29 November 2023
Minor Infringement Regulations - November 2023

Official Notice - 16 November 2023
Safety Numbers for Approved Tracks

Official Notice - November 2023
Prohibited Substance Regulations TC02

Official Notice - 20 October 2023
2023 HRNZ AGM Rule & Constitution Amendments

Official Notice - 18 October 2023
Safety Numbers for Approved Tracks & Handicapping Junior Driver Events

Official Notice - 16 October 2023
Exemptions 16 October 2023 - 31 July 2024

Official Notice - 4 October 2023

Amendment to Passing Lane, Starting Lane Scratching and Handicapping Principles

Avenger sulky

Official Notice - 14 September 2023
2023 Remits (Governance) (two separate remits relating to governance)

  1.  Club Consultation Model
    (by the Board on behalf of Clubs and Kindred Bodies following consultation)
  2. Proposed Constitution Changes on Consultation, Regional and National Forums and HRNZ Director Selection and Election
    (by the Harness Racing Governance Working Group & NZ Standardbred Breeders Assn Inc)

Official Notice - 13 September 2023
2023 Rule & Constitution Remits

Official Notice - 23 December, 2022
Junior Driver Criteria - 1 January 2023

Official Notice - 1 December
2022 Rule Remits Relegation for Galloping - AGM - 1 December 2022

Official Notice - 23 November
Safety Numbers for Approved Tracks - 23 November 2022

Official Notice - 15 October
2022 Rule Remits and Constitution Changes - AGM - 15 October 2022

Official Notice - 20 September 2022
Horse Care Regulations

Official Notice - 9 September 2022
Sulky Fund Regulation September 2022

Official Notice - August 2022
Handicapping Regulations and Drivers Fees August 2022

Official Notice - 2 August 2022
Amendment to the Rules of Racing - Horse Care Rules

Official Notice - 24 May 2022
Approval of Gear (three Quarter Hopples)

Circular 2205 - 17 June 2022
Circular 2205 - Raceday Planning and Incident Communications
Circular 2205 - Harness Horse Injury or Fatality - Planning & Communications June 2022
Circular 2205 - Horse Ambulance - Suggested Scripts for Announcers - June 2022

Circular 2204 - 17 June 2022
2022 HRNZ Annual Conference AGM - June 2022

Official Notice - 1 May2022
Exemptions 01 May- 31 July 2022

Official Notice - 1 February 2022
Exemptions 01 February - 30 April 2022

Official Notice - 22 December 2021

Amendments to the Rules of Racing - Handicapping & Drivers' Licenses

Official Notice - 21 December 2021

New Starting Regulations from 1 January 2022

Official Notice - 15 December 2021

Amendments to the Rules of Racing - Code of Conduct

Official Notice - 02 December 2021
Safety Number for Approved Tracks Regulation

Official Notice - 11 November 2021
Starting Regulations - Draft for Consultations - November 2021

Official Notice - 01 November 2021
Exemptions - 1 November 2021 to 31 January 2021

Circular 2121 - 20 October 2021
Official Notice of 2021 AGM Rule & Constitution Changes

Official Notice - 04 October 2021
'Missile Xtreme' sulky (no crossbar) and the 'Turbine Xtreme' Wheel

Circular 2117 - 15 September 2021
2021 HRNZ AGM & Rule Remits

Circular 2116 - 13 September 2021
2021 HRNZ Board Election Results & Appointments

Official Notice - 16 August 2021
Non-Winner (MR) Field Selection Regulation Exemptions - 1 August 2021 to 31 October 2021

Official Notice - 05 August 2021
Handicapping Ratings Review

Official Notice - 03 August 2021
Amendments to Harness Racing NZ Regulations - Breeding Regulations

Official Notice - 01 August 2021
Amendments to Harness Racing NZ Regulations - Guiding Principles and Centralised Stakes Amendments

Official Notice - 01 August 2021
Centralised Stakes Payment Regulations

Official Notice - 30 June 2021
Amendments to the Rules of Harness Racing - Commencement of Racing Integrity Board

Official Notice - 11 June 2021
Challenger X Bike Sulkies

Official Notice - June 2021
Amendments to the Rules of Harness Racing - Horses' Birthdate & Stud Book/Breeding

Official Notice - 31 May 2021
Notice of Proposed Amendments to the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing

Notice - 01 May 2021
Draft Code of Conduct and Social Media Policy Regulations

Official Notice - 28 April 2021
Notice of Special General Meeting

Official Notice - April 2021
Approval of Amendments to Safety Numbers for Approved Tracks Regulations

Official Notice - 31 March 2021
LZR VE5 Sulky Wheel

Official Notice - 05 February 2021
Amendment to Rules 226(1)(a) and 403(2)(c)(vi)

Official Notice - 29 January 2021
Exemptions - 01 February to 30 April 2021

Official Notice - December 2020
Official Notice of Amendments to the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing

Official Notice - December 2020
Official Notice of Alterations to the HRNZ Constitution

Official Notice - December 2020
Official Notice under Section 103A to Amend Rules 226(1)(a) and 403(2)(c)(vi)

Official Notice - 01 November 2020
Exemptions - 01 November 2020 to 31 January 2021

Circular No. 2023 - 18 October 2020
2020 Rule Amendments, Constitution Amendments and Resolutions

Official Notice - 07 October 2020
Approved Warrant of Fitness Inspectors

Official Notice - 01 October 2020
Amendments to Rules 806(1), 806(2) and 881(2)

Official Notice - 01 October 2020
Gazelle Sulky - Approval withdrawn

Official Notice - 08 September 2020
Exemptions - 01 August 2020 - 31 October 2020

Official Notice - 25 August 2020
Challenger Turbine X Sulky Wheel

Official Notice - 21 August 2020
Notice of Proposed Amendments to the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing

Official Notice - 21 August 2020
Whip and Rein Regulations

Official Notice - 3 August 2020
Handicapping Ratings Review

Official Notice - 3 August 2020
Ratings Handicapping System

Race Winners' Matrix

Official Notice - 24 July 2020
Workout Regulations / Trial Meeting Regulations

Workouts Regulations

Trials Meeting Regulations

Official Notice - 27 March 2020
UPDATED - HRNZ Order and Direction - COVID-19 Pandemic - Husbandry of Standardbreds

Official Notice - 22 March 2020
UPDATED - HRNZ Order and Direction in response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Official Notice - 20 March 2020
UPDATED - HRNZ Order and Direction in response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Official Notice - 17 March 2020
HRNZ Order and Direction in response to COVID-19 Pandemic

Circular No. 2001 - 22 January 2020
Exemptions - February 2020 - April 2020

Official Notice - 18 December 2019
Challenger X Flo Sulky Wheel

Official Notice - 18 December 2019
Horse Registration and Naming

Official Notice - 22 November 2019
Notifiable Surgeries and Procedures Regulations

Official Notice - 22 November 2019
Monte Racing Regulations

Official Notice - 22 November 2019
Prohibited Substance Regulations - Name Change

Official Notice - 22 November 2019
Junior Drivers Saving Scheme

Official Notice - 18 November 2019
Amendment to New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing

Official Notice - 13 November 2019
Changes to registration and naming Rules and Regulations

Circular No. 1920 - 23 October 2019
Exemptions - November 2019 - January 2020

Official Notice - 11 October 2019
No Discretion Ratings Handicapping System to continue

Official Notice - 27 September 2019
Handicapping Update - No Discretion Trial Extended

Circular No. 1919 - 02 September 2019
2019 Board Election and Appointments

Official Notice - 29 August 2019
Remits & Correspondence Items for 2019 HRNZ Annual Conference

Official Notice - 09 August 2019
Super Spyder Sulky 

Official Notice - 05 August 2019
Rio Cobra Sulky 

Official Notice - 02 August 2019
Handicapping Ratings Review

Circular No. 1913 - 26 July 2019
Exemptions - August - October 2019

Official Notice - 26 June 2019
Amendments to Harness Racing New Zealand Incorporated Constitution - Governance

Official Notice - 26 June 2019
Ratings Handicapping System – ‘No Discretion’ Trial

Official Notice - 17 June 2019
Notice of Amendments to the Rules of Harness Racing

Circular No. 1908 - 23 May 2019
Special General Meeting & Proposed Governance Changes

Official Notice - 22 May 2019
Trial of Enhanced 2YO Concessions

Circular No. 1906 - 09 May 2019
2019 Annual Conference

Official Notice - 23 April 2019
Updated Handicapping Ratings System Guiding Principles

Official Notice - 23 April 2019
Change to Horsemen's Licences Regulations

Circular No. 1905 - 17 April 2019
Notice of Proposed Amendments to the NZ Rules of Harness Racing - Online Applications

Circular No. 1904 - 11 April 2019
Exemptions - May - July 2019

Official Notice - 21 March 2019
Notice of Proposed Amendments to the NZ Rules of Harness Racing

Official Notice - 8 February 2019
Back bars on sulky seat frames & offset sulkies

Circular No. 1902 - 2 February 2019
Racing Safety Fund Release

Circular No. 1901 - 25 January 2019
Exemptions - February - April 2019

Official Notice - 18 December 2018
Approval of Sulkies and Wheels

Official Notice - 29 November 2018
Amendment to the Approved Gear, Shifting Ground and Sulky Specification

Official Notice - 29 November 2018
Monte Racing Regulations

Official Notice - 29 November 2018
Centralised Stakes Payment Scheme & Drivers Fees

Official Notice - 29 November 2018
Sulky Fund Regulation

Official Notice - 19 November 2018
Notification from NZEVA on Altrenogest

Official Notice - 5 November 2018
Additional stipulations regarding administration of Altrenogest

Official Notice - 25 October 2018
Sulky Warrant of Fitness

Circular No. 1815 - 19 October 2018
Exemptions November 2018 - January 2019

Official Notice - 9 October 2018
Notice of Amendments to the New Zealand Rules of Harness Racing

Official Notice - 28 September 2018
Notice to cease using Altrenogest

Official Notice - 27 August 2018
Terraflex Polyurethane Horseshoes

Official Notice - 3 August 2018
Re-Rating of Horses

Official Notice - 2 August 2018
Approval of Straight Line Pastern Boots

Circular No. 1810 - 1 August 2018
Non-Winner_(MR)_Field_Selection_Regulation_Exemptions

Official Notice - 1 August 2018
Safety Number for Approved Tracks Regulation

Official Notice - 26 July 2018
Approval of Sulky Wheels

Official Notice - 26 July 2018
Approval of Sulky Warrant of Fitness Inspectors and Repairers

Official Notice - 25 July 2018
Amendment to Driving Fees Regulation

Official Notice - 25 July 2018
Ratings Handicapping System approved changes

Official Notice - 29 June 2018
Caduceus Club Trust changes to the Caduceus Club Series

Official Notice - 24 May 2018
Change to Junior Driver Regulations

Official Notice - 24 May 2018
Change to Amateur Driver Regulations

Circular No. 1806 - 22 May 2018
2018 HRNZ Board Election

Circular No. 1805 - 21 May 2018
Group Race Submission

Circular No. 1803 - 26 April 2018
2018 HRNZ Annual Conference & Board Elections

Circular No. 1802 - 29 March 2018
Minimum Safety Equipment Requirements for Tower Access

Circular No. 1801 - 15 February 2018
Owners' Minimum Standards

Official Notice - 16 January 2018
Change to Ratings Handicapping System

Official Notice - 24 November 2017
Use of the Whip Regulation

Official Notice - 25 October 2017
Approved Repairer

Official Notice - 25 October 2017
Regulation Change

Circular No. 1716 - 16 October 2017
Exemptions - May - July 2018

Circular No. 1715 - 16 October 2017
Exemptions - February - April 2018

Circular No. 1714 - 19 September 2017
Exemptions - November 2017 - January 2018

Official Notice - 19 September 2017
Regulation Change

Official Notice - 22 August 2017
Regulation Changes

Official Notice - 18 August 2017
Rule Changes

Official Notice - 1 August 2017
Racing Safety Development Fund