Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries:
All sports throughout New Zealand are taking a hit right now as the cost of living runs rampant and unchecked in New Zealand, pinching the families who value the experience of play. It certainly affects surfing – I mean, a trip to Kaikoura from Dunedin is now in the $1000s. That takes its toll, and no sport is immune.
So, I was curious to learn that almost 230 junior motocross riders had made the trip to Christchurch for the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships. Some classes had to qualify for their spot on the 40-gate start. When I raced through the late '80s and early '90s, that was commonplace. If you weren't fast enough, you got relegated to a support class.
The green shoots of promise in motocross in New Zealand come in several different forms. Take Dean Baird, for example. He has two sons who race, Jesse and Ryder, and over the past 10 years has developed Brookhaven Training Facility at Leeston, near Christchurch. Four months ago he got stuck in and redesigned the whole track to senior-level motocross spec in time for the Junior Nats. I hate to think of the cost of that – mostly done by volunteers, friends and family, but the number would be extraordinary. He shrugs it off as passion, but what he has created will shape the next crop of riders coming out of New Zealand and following in the footsteps of riders like Cole Davies.
The Junior Nats is a big occasion – race teams arrive with vans loaded with factory-spec bikes, pro mechanics and chefs. They pit right next to mums and dads chasing the same goal. And anything is possible. Even if the battle is for 25th place, there is something special about that arm wrestle on a track that is carved into rut lines, rhythm sections, and rollers that could swallow a bike whole.
A lot of racing comes down to heart – who wants it more. That gets tested over three days of racing. Take Hannah Perris from Whangarei as an example. She injured her right ankle in Moto 2 of the premier women's class. She had looked likely to be a contender for the title at the time, but the pain was intense, and while she couldn't walk on it, she continued to race on a track that was rough, slippery, and technical all at once. After the last race, she went straight to the hospital for an X-Ray, which revealed a broken ankle. That's unbelievably tough.
New Zealand has a real talent at creating world-class riders. We have numerous world champions, Otago's own Courtney Duncan has four! Cole Davies is right now winning the East Coast Supercross Championship – a fortress of US riders that has been rarely breached by a foreigner. That alone is an incredible sporting moment for New Zealand.
I met several riders and their families chasing the USA motocross pathway. Taupo's Connor Feather and Cambridge's Nico Verhoeven each won a title at the weekend, and, with US plans for 2026, are destined for greatness. Remember those names.
If this past weekend was anything to go by, then motocross looks to have a bright future.
See you at the beach, Derek
PS Less than a month to go until my next Indonesian surf and jungle adventure. I still have spots available on my recce trip to visit the orangutans and elephants of Northern Sumatra. Full details here. This is a great way to dip your toe into Indonesian adventure travel without compromising on quality accommodation and food.
Box of Light is made possible thanks to these visionaries: