Half Marathons - A Cost Comparison
by Chris van der Leer on January 29th, 2018
Running is a low cost sport. Decent shoes, perhaps a GPS watch, comfortable threads and time is all you need to partake. Running in New Zealand is great – fresh air, heaps of interesting route and a large community of like-minded individuals who run to run Marathons or Half Marathons around the country. It’s the perfect way to spend your time meaningfully.
If you want validation of your efforts or a goal it’s great to train towards a race. When this goal is achieved and you get the bug you just want to do more – this is where it starts getting a little expensive.
I want to do more Half Marathons and I started reviewing the options. I was surprised to discover the variance in prices between Half Marathon events around the country. I understand that overhead costs vary for each location and event, however charging upwards of $70 per event makes it unaffordable for your average person, particularly if the event has a major sponsor, a crap sample pack and no medal. Travel and accommodation costs should also be factored in, as should the leave days required to travel to a venue to run in a new race.
As an example – in order to compete in the Waiheke Half Marathon I need to take leave days from my job, fly up to Auckland, commute into the CBD, ferry over to Waiheke, pay for accommodation on the island and then pay almost $100 for the privilege of participating. The Waiheke Half Marathon is the 5th most expensive event on the data below.
I am not saying that I will not participate in an event because of its cost. I am, however, unlikely to participate in the Half Marathon event more than once if it is too cost prohibitive. I realise I have a pragmatic approach to this but I want value in exchange for my investment of time, money and effort.
The following list is a random snapshot of the standard entry fees for Half Marathons around the North and South islands of New Zealand. The list is not complete, some items are missing because 2018 registration is not yet open.
If you want validation of your efforts or a goal it’s great to train towards a race. When this goal is achieved and you get the bug you just want to do more – this is where it starts getting a little expensive.
I want to do more Half Marathons and I started reviewing the options. I was surprised to discover the variance in prices between Half Marathon events around the country. I understand that overhead costs vary for each location and event, however charging upwards of $70 per event makes it unaffordable for your average person, particularly if the event has a major sponsor, a crap sample pack and no medal. Travel and accommodation costs should also be factored in, as should the leave days required to travel to a venue to run in a new race.
As an example – in order to compete in the Waiheke Half Marathon I need to take leave days from my job, fly up to Auckland, commute into the CBD, ferry over to Waiheke, pay for accommodation on the island and then pay almost $100 for the privilege of participating. The Waiheke Half Marathon is the 5th most expensive event on the data below.
I am not saying that I will not participate in an event because of its cost. I am, however, unlikely to participate in the Half Marathon event more than once if it is too cost prohibitive. I realise I have a pragmatic approach to this but I want value in exchange for my investment of time, money and effort.
The following list is a random snapshot of the standard entry fees for Half Marathons around the North and South islands of New Zealand. The list is not complete, some items are missing because 2018 registration is not yet open.

I am not drawing any conclusions on this snapshot of random data however it does make for interesting reading. This list is sorted by the half marathon entry fee:
Auckland Marathon
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $129.60
https://aucklandmarathon.co.nz
Queenstown International
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Queenstown, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $124.20
https://queenstown-marathon.co.nz/
Hawkes Bay International Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Hastings, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $106.92
https://hawkesbaymarathon.co.nz
Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Blenheim, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $99.00
http://vineyardhalf.com/
Waiheke Half Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Waiheke, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $98.00
http://www.waihekehalfmarathon.co.nz
Rotorua Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Rotorua, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $94.00
http://www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz/
Buller Gorge Marathon
Saturday, 10 February 2018
Westport, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $80.00
https://www.bullergorgemarathon.co.nz/
Wellington Round the Bays
Sunday, 18 February 2018
Wellington, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $79.00
http://wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/
Christchurch Marathon
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Christchurch, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$75.00
http://www.christchurchmarathon.co.nz/
Run the Vines
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Clyde, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $75.00
https://www.onthepulseevents.com/
Southern Lakes Half Marathon
Saturday, 24 March 2018
Wanaka, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
https://www.highlandevents.co.nz/product-page/mt-outdoors-southern-lakes-half-marathon-10k-run
Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon
Monday, 12 February 2018
Queenstown, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://shotovermoonlight.co.nz
Kerikeri Half Marathon
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Kerikeri, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/kerikeri/half-marathon-event
Devonport Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://devonporthalfmarathon.co.nz/
Christchurch Motorway Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Christchurch, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $69.00
https://motorwayhalf.co.nz
Mount Maunganui Half Marathon
Saturday, 25 August 2018
Tauranga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $68.00
http://www.mountmaunganuihalfmarathon.co.nz
Wellington Marathon
Sunday, 1 July 2018
Wellington, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://www.wellingtonmarathon.co.nz/
Huntly Half Marathon
Sunday, 25 March 2018
Huntly, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://huntlyhalf.co.nz/
Hamilton Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Hamilton, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
Onehunga Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$65.00
http://www.onehungahalf.co.nz/
Aoraki Mt Cook Marathon
Saturday, 6 October 2018
Mt Cook Villiage, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://activeqt.co.nz/event/aoraki-mt-cook-marathon/
Whangarei Half Marathon
Sunday, 23 September 2018
Whangarei, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $62.00
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/whangarei-half/event-information
Platinum Homes Orewa Beach Half Marathon
Saturday, 17 February 2018
Orewa, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://orewahalfmarathon.co.nz/
Coatesville Half Marathon
Sunday, 18 March 2018
Coatesville, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://coatesvillehalfmarathon.co.nz/
Hanmer Four Square Half Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Hanmer, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://www.hanmerevents.co.nz/Races/2015-4squarehalfmarathon-2.html
North Shore Marathon
Sunday, 2 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://www.northshoremarathon.co.nz/
Whitianga Half Marathon
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Whitianga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $55.00
http://www.whitiangahalfmarathon.co.nz/
Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Rotorua, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
https://eventpromotions.co.nz/rotorua-off-road-half-marathon/
Whenuapai Half Marathon
Sunday, 29 April 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
http://www.whenuapaihalf.co.nz/
Kaikoura Whale Run
Saturday, 8 September 2018
Kaikoura, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
https://kaikourawhalerun.co.nz/
Mount Runners Half Marathon
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Tauranga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $45.00
https://mtrunnershalfmarathon.co.nz/
Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon
Saturday, 10 March 2018
Motueka, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00
http://www.nelsonevents.co.nz/content/kaiteriteri-gold-half-marathon-and-10km
Cambridge Half Marathon
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Cambridge, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00
http://www.sporty.co.nz/cahcnz/Half-Marathon10k-5k/Race-Rules-Info
Hatuma Lime Half Marathon
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Waipukurau, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $15.00
http://www.sporty.co.nz/hatumalimehalfmarathon
Thanks for reading.
Auckland Marathon
Sunday, 28 October 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $129.60
https://aucklandmarathon.co.nz
Queenstown International
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Queenstown, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $124.20
https://queenstown-marathon.co.nz/
Hawkes Bay International Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Hastings, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $106.92
https://hawkesbaymarathon.co.nz
Saint Clair Vineyard Half Marathon
Saturday, 12 May 2018
Blenheim, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $99.00
http://vineyardhalf.com/
Waiheke Half Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Waiheke, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $98.00
http://www.waihekehalfmarathon.co.nz
Rotorua Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Rotorua, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $94.00
http://www.rotoruamarathon.co.nz/
Buller Gorge Marathon
Saturday, 10 February 2018
Westport, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $80.00
https://www.bullergorgemarathon.co.nz/
Wellington Round the Bays
Sunday, 18 February 2018
Wellington, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $79.00
http://wellingtonroundthebays.co.nz/
Christchurch Marathon
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Christchurch, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$75.00
http://www.christchurchmarathon.co.nz/
Run the Vines
Saturday, 3 February 2018
Clyde, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $75.00
https://www.onthepulseevents.com/
Southern Lakes Half Marathon
Saturday, 24 March 2018
Wanaka, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
https://www.highlandevents.co.nz/product-page/mt-outdoors-southern-lakes-half-marathon-10k-run
Shotover Moonlight Mountain Marathon
Monday, 12 February 2018
Queenstown, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://shotovermoonlight.co.nz
Kerikeri Half Marathon
Saturday, 17 November 2018
Kerikeri, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/kerikeri/half-marathon-event
Devonport Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $70.00
http://devonporthalfmarathon.co.nz/
Christchurch Motorway Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Christchurch, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $69.00
https://motorwayhalf.co.nz
Mount Maunganui Half Marathon
Saturday, 25 August 2018
Tauranga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $68.00
http://www.mountmaunganuihalfmarathon.co.nz
Wellington Marathon
Sunday, 1 July 2018
Wellington, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://www.wellingtonmarathon.co.nz/
Huntly Half Marathon
Sunday, 25 March 2018
Huntly, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://huntlyhalf.co.nz/
Hamilton Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Hamilton, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
Onehunga Half Marathon
Sunday, 30 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost:$65.00
http://www.onehungahalf.co.nz/
Aoraki Mt Cook Marathon
Saturday, 6 October 2018
Mt Cook Villiage, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $65.00
http://activeqt.co.nz/event/aoraki-mt-cook-marathon/
Whangarei Half Marathon
Sunday, 23 September 2018
Whangarei, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $62.00
http://www.runwalkseries.co.nz/whangarei-half/event-information
Platinum Homes Orewa Beach Half Marathon
Saturday, 17 February 2018
Orewa, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://orewahalfmarathon.co.nz/
Coatesville Half Marathon
Sunday, 18 March 2018
Coatesville, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://coatesvillehalfmarathon.co.nz/
Hanmer Four Square Half Marathon
Saturday, 5 May 2018
Hanmer, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://www.hanmerevents.co.nz/Races/2015-4squarehalfmarathon-2.html
North Shore Marathon
Sunday, 2 September 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $60.00
http://www.northshoremarathon.co.nz/
Whitianga Half Marathon
Saturday, 26 May 2018
Whitianga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $55.00
http://www.whitiangahalfmarathon.co.nz/
Rotorua Off Road Half Marathon
Sunday, 4 March 2018
Rotorua, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
https://eventpromotions.co.nz/rotorua-off-road-half-marathon/
Whenuapai Half Marathon
Sunday, 29 April 2018
Auckland, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
http://www.whenuapaihalf.co.nz/
Kaikoura Whale Run
Saturday, 8 September 2018
Kaikoura, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $50.00
https://kaikourawhalerun.co.nz/
Mount Runners Half Marathon
Sunday, 3 June 2018
Tauranga, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $45.00
https://mtrunnershalfmarathon.co.nz/
Kaiteriteri Gold Half Marathon
Saturday, 10 March 2018
Motueka, South Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00
http://www.nelsonevents.co.nz/content/kaiteriteri-gold-half-marathon-and-10km
Cambridge Half Marathon
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Cambridge, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $40.00
http://www.sporty.co.nz/cahcnz/Half-Marathon10k-5k/Race-Rules-Info
Hatuma Lime Half Marathon
Sunday, 16 September 2018
Waipukurau, North Island
Standard Half Marathon entry cost: $15.00
http://www.sporty.co.nz/hatumalimehalfmarathon
Thanks for reading.
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