Over 3,000 hopeful bath ducks will be racing down Huatoki Stream at 11am, Saturday 22nd February – Amerciarna weekend – but will YOURS be the winner?
Trophies include Most Original Route, Last Across the Line, Best Swimmer and, of course the top prize of $250 for SPEEDIEST SWIMMER
The hopeful ducks will be cheered on their journey from the back deck of Waimanako, 33 Devon Street West, splashing in at 11am. Their mission: To race as fast as their wings can take them to the Puke Ariki Landing, amidst all the sights and sounds of Americarna. They will be encouraged on their journey by inflatable corporate ‘ducks’ sponsored by businesses and organisations; proudly decorated with logos and costumes!
It’s all to support Taranaki Retreat, Waimanako and Community Mental Health / Suicide Prevention for our people – and is a thrilling partnership between Taranaki Retreat and Team Americarna.
You don’t need to be there on the day; you don’t even need to be in the country – you’ll be able to watch the live-stream of the event and cheer on your ducks, wherever you are in the world.
Click an image below to SPONSOR YOUR HOPEFUL DUCKS!
What you need to know:
Q: How do I buy a duck?
A: Head to Waimanako (33 Devon Street West, in the Downtown Arcade), or click one of the links to the right!
Q: How many is the maximum I can sponsor?
A: 1,000 ducks is the max (why not sponsor one for everyone on your team?)
Q: What’s the cause?
A: Funding locally delivered therapeutic support for people going through tough times.
Q: What is Waimanako/Taranaki Retreat?
A: A Community Support Service, providing a Space to Gather and a Space to Breathe for our people; a lifeline in tough times. You can learn more about us right here – on our website!
Q: How can my business/organisation get involved?
A: Sponsor a corporate inflatable for $150. You get to decorate/dress your swimmer; give it all the encouragement it needs, before the event!
Q: Can I watch the ducks hit the water?
A: Absolutely! Head to Waimanako before 11am on Saturday 22nd February 2025, and follow their commentated progress along the Huatoki Stream to their destination: Puke Ariki Landing; or watch our livestream.
Q: Wait, does that mean the ducks will be swimming into the sea??!
A: Nope; a huge net across the stream at the finish-line, along with our team in kayaks, will keep every single duck safe and ready for the next time they race.
Q: So what does happen to the ducks after the race?
A: They get a nice, long rest at Waimanako, before we re-count them and set them up for their next race. The same occurs for our Corporate Ducks. We as an organisation majorly value sustainability; by using the same swathe of ducks / corporate ducks each year, we can ensure that our racers enjoy a long life and thorough use – rather than buying up new ducks every year and potentially letting them go to waste. It also guarantees that we can maintain the number of ducks we require for racing – duck retailers generally don’t expect such large orders, after all.
Q: This sounds awesome. How can I/we help?
A: We would love YOUR help getting this event out there. It’s going to be Quackers. We need you to:
- Tell EVERYONE about it – make sure we meet our target of 3,000+ DUCKS
- Sponsor a family of ducks and give it to someone you love as a gift (remember – they might win $250!!)
- Put up a poster in your workplace / community noticeboard / local shop, etc.
- Sponsor a duck for everyone in your workplace
- Sponsor a corporate duck and get involved from your business/ zumba group/ sports team / church / craft group
- Send this link to everyone on your Facebook/Instagram
- Come along on the day and see the spectacle first-hand, and check out the Americarna BUZZ
We ask that you please read through the following guidelines, prior to entering – and contact us if you have any questions. Thank you.
Guidelines:
- All proceeds from the sale of ducks and this fundraiser go to Taranaki Retreat Trust for use towards the operational costs of the activities of the Taranaki Retreat Trust in the prevention of suicide in our community.
- Sponsoring a duck(s) permits its entry into the race, alongside the possibility of winning prizes as advertised. It does not entitle the sponsor to keep the duck after the race’s conclusion.
- All prizes must be claimed within 3 months of notifying the winner.
- The Judges’ decision is final.
- No refunds are provided if the event is cancelled due to weather or other circumstances outside the organisers control. In the event of poor weather, a modified version of the race will be conducted indoors!
- By entering, sponsors and winners consent to use of information (name and photos) in promotional material following the event.
