Tauranga businesses are being encouraged to start designing, decorating and even engineering their entries for one of the city’s most unusual corporate competitions.

The corporate race that is part of the Great Tauranga Duck Race is returning to The Strand on Tauranga Waterfront on Sunday, April 19, with organisers Tauranga Te Papa Rotary Club having two separate categories this year – motorised ducks and unpowered ducks.

Rotarian Alan Hitchcock said the corporate event had become a highlight of the annual fundraiser with businesses keen for bragging rights.

Best dressed

“Ducks can be all dressed up and branding in company colours or logos, with trophies for first, second and third,” Hitchcock said. “There is also the Best Dressed Duck Award.”

Page McCrae Team with their 2025 winning duck which was motorised. Photo/Supplied

Businesses can enter large corporate ducks for $230 including GST and decorate them in their company branding before sending them down the harbour course.

The corporate ducks must be delivered to the eastern end of The Strand waterfront, near the McLeod Cranes by 10am on the day.

The unpowered and motorised races will take place at 10.30am and 10.45am ahead of the main 5000 duck race at 11am. The finish line for both events is by the tidal steps opposite the Hairy Maclary statues.

Last year about 60 creatively decorated corporate ducks took part, with entries ranging from simple themed designs to fully engineered creations.

Grange Spa Canine Resort won second and third place in 2025. Photo / Supplied

Judged by event sponsor Rodney Fong of Ray White Tauranga, the Best Dressed Duck award in 2025 went to Plumberman, while the race itself saw Page Macrae Engineering take the win.

Their duck, expertly engineered and motorised, crossed the finish line first, with Grange Road Spa Canine Resort Judea and Grange Road Spa Canine Resort Mount Maunganui claiming second and third respectively.

“Swanny from Page McCrae’s design team said it was a great team building exercise and fun for the company, as well as giving us their support,” Rotarian Simon Ellis said on the day.

“They were however a bit concerned they may run the battery flat before reaching the finishing line.

“The motorisation was all legit, and maybe some others will look towards some motorisation this year.”

The Classic Flyers duck has competed in a past Great Tauranga Duck Race. Photo / Supplied

Ellis said the effort companies put into their designs last year had become a major part of the spectacle.

Impressive ‘pimping’

“The amount of work that goes into detailing and ‘pimping’ the ducks is impressive. It’s a great team-building exercise and a lot of fun for businesses.”

Last year’s Great Tauranga Duck Race raised more than $37,000 for participating schools, the Life Education Trust and Rotary’s community projects.

Businesses interested in entering a corporate duck can register online or contact organisers by email at: duckrace@xtra.co.nz for more information.