To our members,
Thank you all for your patience as we have worked through options and due diligence to get to a preferred site for the proposed Greenfield racing and training facility.
The specific site is being publicly announced today as Pencarrow Road, Tamahere (between Hamilton and Cambridge). The size of this site is 150ha and has frontage to the Waikato Expressway, is bounded by the Te Awa River Ride cycleway on two sides and part of Duncan Road on the other.
See map below.
To view a PDF version of the map, click here.
The Greenfields site is 24km from the existing Te Rapa Racecourse, 7kms from the Cambridge Jockey Club and 28km from the Waipa Racing Club. The site is 11km from the Hamilton International Airport.
While the site is located and contained within the Waikato District Council boundary, there is proximity to both Hamilton and Waipa District Council interests so all three will be included in our conversations.
New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) says…
Matt Ballesty, Chief Executive of NZTR, said that the Greenfields Project is about redefining what a modern racing and training precinct can be in New Zealand. It’s not just a local project; it has benefits for the broader New Zealand thoroughbred racing industry.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to design a venue that works for today’s participants and future-proofs the industry.
"The site offers a future racing and training precinct with a broad range of amenities - not just a racetrack. Multiple club members, local residents and the wider community will benefit from an enhanced, shared asset," said Ballesty.
NZTR and WTR both remain fully committed to progressing this significant infrastructure project. We agree that this project will strengthen economic activity, support jobs, and deepen community connections in the region.
Community views
In addition to our commitment to keeping the wider WTR membership informed and across key stages of this project, WTR is also committed to ensuring stakeholders and the wider community understand and ultimately support this Greenfields project.
To this end, the Board and Project Control Group have so far covered meetings with local MPs, Waikato Tainui, the Mayors and CEs of relevant councils, and the Tamahere Community Committee. These will be ongoing.
An embargoed media briefing was also provided to local journalist Mary Anne Gill late last week. This story will appear in the Waikato Business News later today.
Also, last week we began visiting neighbouring properties to ensure they would be advised before reading about it in the local paper. A leaflet will also be delivered pre-Christmas to properties the immediate neighbourhood.
An open day for the community will be held on 31 January in partnership with the Tamahere Community Committee to share more information and any further details we have. Members will also be invited to attend this open day.
WTR has proposed establishing a Community Liaison Group to advise on aspects of the development project should it proceed to next stage.
What next?
Thank you again for your patience as we have worked through the challenging and complex process to get to a preferred Greenfield site option.
The final scope and timing will be shaped through further discussion and genuine stakeholder engagement, as outlined. Site investigations are underway for things such as traffic, access, ecology, geology, water and drainage. These are ongoing and will be used to inform the consent approach that is needed.
The commercial details of the land purchase are confidential and the WTR Board is addressing the land purchase as part of the overall funding of the project. All project cost and funding details will be further developed during 2026.
The final agreement requires the endorsement of WTR Members. To this end, a meeting of members will be convened, likely in the first quarter of 2026.
Regards,
Bruce Harvey
Chairman
Waikato Thoroughbred Racing
(on behalf of the Board)