The Great Auckland Duck Race is back and this time with even more duck races, excitement and activities for all the family.
Vector Wero Waterpark in Manukau will be awash with some of the best-dressed ducks that glue-guns and imagination can create on Sunday Nov 12th 9am-midday.
This quackingly fun community event brought to you by the Rotary Clubs of Manurewa-Takanini and Remuera and proudly sponsored by Ray White Manurewa, Takanini, Drury and Remuera, will see ducks racing down the thrilling whitewater rapids in four fast-paced races: Ray White race, School race, Business race and Everybody race.
All schools are being offered a free duck to decorate and race, with ducks available to businesses to dress in their brand colours of whatever they desire for $250. Three Donald Trump ducks raced last year alongside a Hilary Clinton, a biker, a cowboy riding bull and a prisoner so who knows will be there this year! Everyone can buy a $5 ticket to race a little duck in the Everybody race where 5,000 little yellow ducks will be let loose at the same time to create an amazing scene of yellow bobbing tails.
Money raised will support Life Education and Harold the Giraffe’s visits to local schools teaching their preventative health messages to children age 5-13.
Wendy Dunn from Howick Village Business Association shares “We are aware of the importance of community and education. The duck race was a wonderful idea and great opportunity for us to offer support whilst having fun by dressing our duck as Howick’s town crier. It even won us the Best-Dressed Business Duck which we were thrilled about”.
Sarah Nuttall from Life Education Trust Counties Manukau says that they are thrilled to be involved as “It is great to see so many of the children we visit in local schools come along with their families and friends and have fun with support from local businesses who are contributing to the success of their growing community”.
NZ Canoe Slalom aren’t letting the ducks have all the fun so they will be competing against each other between the duck races and also demonstrate their skills on the open water by the many on-land activities which include a photo-booth, bouncy castle, face-painting, duck-shooting gallery, cycle spin art and lots more. The very talented Manukau Youth Orchestra will be entertaining the crowd and may well supply some music to help the ducks swim faster.
All the fabulously decorated ducks can be seen before the day on Facebook at ‘The Great Auckland Duck Race’ where votes will be cast and counted as to which is the best-dressed school and business duck. The winners will be presented on the day with their duck beautifully mounted on a hand-made wooden plinth so it can be displayed for all to see.
First, second and third place winners of all the races will receive fantastic prizes including travel, restaurant, hotel and educational vouchers.
To order a free duck for your school or buy a business duck, please contact Sarah at sarah.nuttall@lifeed.org.nz so your duck can wing its way to you. Further information at www.thegreataucklandduckrace.org.nz
