Ara Harakeke parkrun

02/09/2026

01/09/2026

We are seeking a couple of volly coordinators to join two of our teams.
This role creates the shout out on Facebook, seeking park runners to fill the required Roles each week
and updating the volunteer roster.

We are also after a pre-event volunteer.
This role collects the gear after Park Run for the week prior to their team being rostered on.
You take the gear home, sort the tokens, dry out the vests if needed and then bring it all back for the next two weeks.
You would arrive about 7.20 -7:30 to set everything set up:
Putting out the big cones and putting the rope up and then collect it all at the end to take and return the following week.

Both of these roles are on for two weeks with about a 8-10 week break in between.
Lots of training given.

Drop a comment below if keen or email [email protected] for more info, and Lisa will get back to you.
You can also have a chat to the run director for the week as well.

30/08/2026

Thanks to Neon for our park run report:
Farewelling Winter With Big Smiles at Ara Harakeke Parkrun

The dreaded cold and windy Northerlies gave was overnight for a much calmer parkrunday at Ara Harakeke. The rain positively stayed away while the fingers of sunrays reached down and welcomed the congregation of 103, a 35% increase from previous parkrunday.

The lovely cool weather was a huge relief to our lovely team of 13 volunteers, viz. James Bond, Lisa McGrath, Melissa Rowan, Colin Boyd, Anudchana Desai, Maureen O'Neill, Supieb Jakram, Sarah Fountain, Ryan Farrell, Grant Taylor, Graeme Fountain, Julia Greaney and N U Tang, who kept the mission ready for another quality delivery.

9 first timers, viz. Nicki Rees-Thomas, James Reed-Thomas, Liz Ireland, Hayley Kelleher, Mel Bailey, Cam Taylor, Ron De Bock, Nicki Pilgrim and Vivien Webster-Jones, were welcomed by Sarah Fountain.
We were delighted to share the parkrunday with visitors from Hamilton and Masterton. Then our Run Director, Bond, 007 - James Bond, gave everyone a detailed plan for ex*****on. With a clear and unruffled countdown, the congregation surged forward and the clock started ticking.

The track along the Taupo Swamp was dry, never slippery and excepting some undulations, everyone made it back across the finish time to be timed, tagged and scanned.

Charlie Hobbs JM15-17 led the pack and whooshed across the finish line first with a quick 18m05s while being chased by Alaister Willis who came second and just 61s behind.

Frankie Hartley JW11-14 was first women and third finisher overall with an impressive new PB time of 19m22s.

Tim Costley, our local MP, dropped in for a quick run and few chats with our parkrunners. Isn' that nice?

9 aced new PBs, viz. Frankie Hartley, Andrew Hewit, Osc Smith, Alex Johnson, Marion Harvey, Harvey Williams, Hartmann Greyling, Davina Rowan and Julia Greaney.

Everyone achieved a milestone for increasing the parkrun count by 1. Congratulations to all, including our volunteers, for making our 007 proud with a mission very well accomplished.

The winter has been officially resoundingly farewelled and those horrid cold, wet, gale-force winds and horizontal rain (but not at Ara Harakeke) can now be safely tucked away and forgotten. We can now look forward to the dawning of a new Spring when we meet on our next parkrunday. You can rest assured that we WILL do our best by arranging the best weather and conditions for running/walking for you all.

Come and join us at Ara Harakeke parkunday!

Send a message to learn more

25/08/2026

Check out this weeks run report by Neon.

https://www.parkrun.co.nz/araharakeke/news/2026/08/25/run-report-for-22-aug-2026/

Send a message to learn more

25/08/2026

All roles filled for this Saturday - thank you

Just one role to fill this week!
Who is keen to be our barcode scanner???
Let us know in the comments

22/08/2026

Some more great snaps from yesterdays Parkrun taken by Martin O’Sullivan - thanks

22/08/2026

Some great pics from yesterdays Parkrun taken by Martin O’Sullivan- thanks

22/08/2026

Our Run Director for Event #198, James Bond, has achieved a huge milestone of 400 parkruns on 15 August. With purpose in every step, our Bond has also clinched 91 volunteer credits. What a Legend! Warmest congratulations from us all.

22/08/2026

Starting out in 2013, Jocelyn Syme commenced her parkrun journey. With every stride forward, she had clinched a most impressive milestone of 500 parkruns on 8 August. Folks, that's 2,500kms under your feet. Legendary effort befitting a member of the Parkrun Club 500. What an absolute legend.

20/08/2026

The roster is full for this weekend- thank you.
But we have some gaps below - please let us know in the comments if you can help in any of the empty slots coming up.