Ariel Rally 2026

This year the Ariel Rally was located at Pukeora Estate just out of Waipukurau Hawkes Bay from Friday 10April 2026 until departure on Sunday 12 April.

This was a live-in rally with double beds in every room and linen supplied. Although that the rate at Pukeora is per-person the cost was reasonable.

Friday evening food and the Saturday dinner plus breakfasts were be provided by Pukeora with the AGM held on Saturday before the dinner although continued after dinner as well for a short time. The rally route featured a "long" route, a "Short" route and a "Challenge" route. In addition we were planning to hold a Sunday morning run which to include the Historic OngaOnga village open day ending up at a country pub for lunch. Due to the storm that hit the country that weekend both the long run and the Sunday run were cancelled. Having said that, the weather was actually quite good on Saturday with a few light showers for a little of the early riding but I don’t think anyone stopped to put on wet weather gear. Another headwind for the rally this year was the very high price of petrol thanks to Donald Trumpet but fortunately all but one of the entrants attended the rally. Even so we were challenged for riders with only 16 bikes and 29 people -a state of affairs that led to some considerable discussion at the AGM but no great ideas to reverse the aging trend unfortunately.

The ride itself took us to a tiny power station nestled in some trees on the Maraetotara river behind Te Mata peak. This was built in the 1890’s by John Chambers a farmer interested on electrical engineering at that time and is said to be the oldest operative power station in the world although how anyone would know that for sure we did question.  Regardless of the truth of that assertion, the stop was made pleasant by the lack of rain and the scones with cream and jam together with hot coffee miraculously served up where there was no electricity, despite being an “operative” power station, by our dedicated helpers.

Due to some riders taking an unscheduled detour the long run loop was omitted to allow some time to be recovered so everyone progressed to the top of te Mata peak where again the gods smiled and brought out a little sunshine. Lunch arrangements were partially thwarted by the Havelock North management deciding to close off the very road we had designated to take our riders to an appropriate carpark and everyone ended up spread about the village. No real damage and all progressed from Havelock North for the run back to Pukeora some taking the very truncated “Challenge” route down the appropriately named Burma Rd if you have ever been to Burma that is.

Some photos from the rally

1. Russel Stokes gets a coffee and scone (track a bit steep)    

   
   

   

   Wayne and Garyry taking coffe up to Russell Stokes

2. Roger Wright takes the Most Original out of the hotel!

   

   Rain predicted, Hotel offered the ball room for bike storage!

  3. Plaque at the Power station  

Unfortunately Cyclone Garielle flooded it out. Now fixed but we were unable get inside

4. Peter thomson sorting out the day ahead with Jennifer Thomson and Edith Shrimpton

Opps we had a scone and cofffee waiting for them at the power station but they never turned up

  5. Coffee and scones in the “pavilion” Murray West, Jack Chappell, Elizabeth and Alan     

Fortunately the Mud and debris from Gabrielle had been moreor less cleared away

. 6. Michael Watts finally appeared on his Sq4

Think that is Killer Watts.... !

 7. Peter Alderdice near the power station header race on left 

PeterAlderdice next to the headrace of the power station

8. Stragglers after the evening dinner)

   

   Just a few left after the dinner