NZ Silver Fern Rally

09/09/2026

Silver Fern Rally organisers have offered a special package for Australian crews that includes return shipping to the 7-day marathon rally in New Zealand's north island.

Full details: https://rallysportmag.com/silver-fern-rally-launches-package-for-aussies/

08/09/2026

Here is a great opportunity for our Aussie friends to be part of the Ed Mulligan Cup. Come over for the Fern, stay for Rally Otago then head home in time for the Flinders

21/08/2026

NEW FOR 2026: The Silver Fern One Day Rally

One day. 130 km of special stages. Genuine Silver Fern gravel.
We've been listening to our competitors and the wider rally community — and for 2026, we're excited to introduce a brand-new one day Silver Fern Rally experience on Sunday 29 November. Starting and finishing in Otorohanga, this event gives local competitors a chance to experience the Silver Fern without committing to the full seven-day event.

320 km of Rallying — 130 km of Special Stages
The numbers speak for themselves:
Eight Special Stages 130km
Touring 190km
Total Distance 320km
That's an outstanding ratio of competitive kilometres to touring — a full day of proper gravel rallying, on roads that form part of the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally. Same Silver Fern atmosphere, same event infrastructure.

Another Opportunity for North Island Competitors
The idea for the One-Day Rally was prompted in part by the recent cancellation of the Maramarua Rally, originally scheduled for 14 November as the final round of the North Island Rally Series. To be clear: we're not replacing the Maramarua Rally, and we're not trying to recreate the North Island Rally Series round.
What we are doing is giving the competitors who had planned to be at Maramarua — plus everyone else keen for a day on the gravel — another great event to aim for. It's also the perfect low-commitment way for anyone who's always wanted to experience the Silver Fern to get a proper taste of what it's all about.

Smoothline Stage Notes Are Underway
Meanwhile, preparations for the main event are motoring along. Smoothline Stage Notes are out on the roads right now, surveying and building the stage notes for the 2026 Silver Fern Rally. The route is really starting to take shape as we work towards delivering another outstanding Silver Fern experience.
Full Details Coming Soon
We're finalising the details for the One-Day Rally now — entry information, regulations, and the full itinerary will be up on the website shortly. If you were disappointed by the Maramarua cancellation, or you've been looking for an excuse to get out on some great North Island gravel, keep Sunday 29 November free.

SILVER FERN ONE-DAY RALLY
Sunday 29 November 2026 Start & Finish: Otorohanga 130 km Special Stages · 190 km Touring · 320 km Total
One day. Genuine Silver Fern stages. The ultimate gravel experience.
More information coming soon.
We look forward to seeing you on the gravel!

Kind Regards
Peter Martin
Event Director

14/08/2026

ROAD TO THE SILVER FERN Week 2 – The Rally Is Coming Together: 106 Days to Go
The countdown continues, and behind the scenes the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally is really starting to take shape. With just over 100 days until we gather in Rotorua, we're moving from planning into the next phase — putting everything in place for what promises to be another outstanding week of classic rallying across the North Island.
Here's what's been happening:
The Route Is Taking Shape
One of the most important developments this week is the completion of the Motu Road repairs. The road is now repaired and scheduled to reopen to vehicles after 25 August — fantastic news, as Motu Road is a key part of our route and one of those roads that makes the Silver Fern experience so special. Once the road officially reopens, our team will head out to complete a full route check, confirming road conditions, access points, stage layouts and all the details that go into running the rally safely and smoothly. It's another important milestone on the road to Rotorua.
Our Marshal Teams Are Coming Together
We're delighted with the response from local community groups approached to help with marshalling. Schools, service clubs, Rotary groups and other community organisations along the route are stepping up to support the event. For us, this is about far more than finding people to stand at intersections — the Silver Fern Rally travels through some of New Zealand's most wonderful rural communities, and we want the event to create a genuine connection between competitors and the people who live along the route.
Thank you to everyone who has already put their hand up to help. Your support is hugely appreciated.
Officials – Almost There
Our team of officials is also now almost finalised. These are the people who work behind the scenes to ensure the rally is run safely, professionally and fairly — many have been involved with Targa and Silver Fern events for a number of years. We're extremely fortunate to have such an experienced group involved.
Partner Spotlight: MRF Tyres
We're proud to have MRF Tyres involved with the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally. Gravel rallying places enormous demands on tyres, and MRF has a long history of developing products specifically for competition environments. MRF Tyres are supporting the Silver Fern Rally but they are not a control tyre so you can have the choice. We're proud to have them along for the journey.
Still Time to Join Us
For Australian and Kiwi competitors, if you've been thinking about doing the Silver Fern or the Silver Frond, now's the time to enter. The stages are going to impress, the entry list is fantastic, the officials are in place, and the communities along the way are getting ready. Now is the time to get involved.
Behind the Clipboard
A huge part of our job right now is travelling the route and talking to the people who make the event possible — from councils and landowners to schools, community groups and volunteers. There are hundreds of people involved in bringing a rally of this size together. The Silver Fern may be about classic rally cars competing on spectacular gravel roads, but the event only works because of the people behind it. We're incredibly grateful for that support.
The roads are waiting. Are you ready?

Kind Regards
Peter Martin
Event Director
0274-525643

07/08/2026

Let the Journey Begin
Sixteen weeks today, the field rolls into Rotorua for scrutineering and documentation — and from there, seven days and 1,054km of the best gravel New Zealand has to offer. This is issue one of your weekly countdown to the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally. Here's what's happening.

The route is live
We've just updated the website with a full interactive stage map — every leg, from the Rotorua start through Waitomo, the East Coast run to Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, and the Central Plateau finish, including the legendary Motu Road. If you've ever wondered exactly where you'll be pointing the car in November, now's the time to have a look. You'll find the map on our home page - https://silverfernrally.co.nz/. Zoom in on your favourite stages, start planning your service points, and get a proper feel for what seven days on the rally route actually means.

A word to our Kiwi and Aussie crews
Here's the honest, practical bit: if you're shipping a car from the UK or Europe, the container clock has all but run out. Getting a vehicle compliant, shipped, and cleared through customs in time for a late-November start is a tight ask from this side of the world at this point in the calendar.
Our focus is now on local crews. If you're in New Zealand or Australia, you don't have that shipping problem — your car's already on the right side of the world, and there's still time to enter. Entries are open now, and there's plenty of room across our five formats, from Historic through to the 4WD Classes. Three days or seven days, the choice is yours to make.
If you've been on the fence, this is your sign. Enter here - https://wolfsports.co/au/rally/event/new-zealand-silver-fern-rally.

NZ Rural Support Trust
Rural Support Trust is a nationwide network of local trusts offering free, confidential support to farming families and rural communities through drought, floods, financial pressure, and the everyday weight of rural life. The rally's route runs straight through the communities they work in — Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Hawke's Bay, the Central Plateau — so backing them felt like an easy call.
If you'd like to support their work or find out more, you can do so by going to their webpage - https://www.rural-support.org.nz/. Alternatively you can meet the Trust representatives at Documentation.
That's issue one. Next week: an early entry spotlight, and a first look at who's already committed to the 2026 field.

Kind Regards
Peter Martin
0274-525643

07/07/2026

If you’re not already entered and want to join us for the NZ Silver Fern Rally, enter now. It’s already July and November will be here before you know it!

THE ULTIMATE RALLY CHALLENGE 🏁

EX Lancer Motorsport's Tony Differ and co-driver Jayson Stringer are preparing for the biggest test of their rally careers as they take on the legendary 2026 New Zealand Silver Fern Rally.

Read more 👇

11/05/2026

Hello Rally Enthusiasts,

It’s been another busy and productive few weeks as we continue working through the local disruptions following the recent weather events, and we’re pleased to say the road ahead is looking much clearer.

We’re seeing entries arrive regularly from our international competitors, and positive progress continues around the various shipping routes both into and out of New Zealand.

Phil Gibbs has reassured us there are plenty of shipping options available, and with his extensive experience and inside knowledge, competitors can feel confident knowing there’s a solid plan in place for getting vehicles home after the event.

If you’ve been sitting on the fence, now’s the time to jump in and secure your spot — this is shaping up to be another outstanding high-performance event from the Ultimate Rally Group, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.

We’ve also updated the website with our preferred accommodation list, along with itinerary updates reflecting the revised Day 2 route, so be sure to check them out.

Over the coming weeks we’ll be out on the road carrying out resident consultations. Communication may be a little patchy at times, but we’ll continue doing our best to respond as quickly as possible.

Thanks again for all the support and enthusiasm — we can’t wait to welcome everyone for another fantastic event.

Kind Regards
Peter Martin
Event Director

05/12/2025

Hello Rally Enthusiast,
Buckle up — the rally world has been on fire lately!
First off, massive kudos to everyone who battled through the Roger Albert Clark Rally. The weather was fierce, the conditions were brutal, and you pushed through like true champions. That’s the spirit that defines this sport!
And to all the crews launching into the Classic East African Safari today — go smash it! We're behind you all the way and can’t wait to welcome many of you to New Zealand next year for the 2026 NZ Silver Fern Rally. Trust us… you don’t want to miss what’s coming.
🚀 The New NZ Silver Fern Rally Website Is LIVE! www.silverfernrally.co.nz
We’re pumped to announce our brand-new website — your new hub for all things Silver Fern Rally! Jump in, explore, and feel the buzz building for 2026. If you spot anything that’s not quite firing on all cylinders, give us a shout — we want everything running at full throttle.
🗺️ Route Update: Fresh Roads, Fresh Challenges
Our team has completed the full route reconnaissance, and thanks to earlier flooding on the East Coast, we’ve reshaped parts of the course. The result? New challenges, new terrain, and an even more thrilling rally experience for 2026. Get ready — this route is going to deliver.
🔥 Online Registration: Countdown Is On
We’re in the final stages of building our brand-new online registration system. Expected to go live before December 20th, it’s your gateway to securing a spot in one of the most exciting classic rallies on the planet.
Watch out for our next newsletter — all the details are coming soon.

Peter Martin
Event Director