Tauranga parents have seen a positive increase in their child's self-esteem after they take part in a triathlon event, according to a new survey.

The 2015 survey data was collected by Sanitarium from 2500 parents whose children participated in the 2014/2015 TRYathlon series around New Zealand.

It showed 89 per cent of Tauranga parents who took part in the survey would recommend the Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon events, with 88 per cent believing the event had a positive impact on their child's self-esteem.

This year the triathlon will be taking place in 16 locations around the country with Mount Maunganui's event taking place on January 8 next year. Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon ambassador Valerie Adams is looking forward to seeing the boost of confidence it will give kids.

'Self-esteem for kids, or anyone for that matter, is so important and a great way to build self-esteem is to set goals and go about trying to achieve them. The Weet-Bix TRY is simply the perfect setting for that,” says the two-time Olympic shot put champion.

Valerie, who is currently focusing on the Olympic Games in Rio next year, says the events are 'awesome” because they allow all children a chance to give sport a go at their own pace.

'Kids get to have fun through play and exercise, and it also helps with friendships and meeting new people,” she says. 'It's safe, well organised, and has lots of participants to make it a real deal event..”

The Olympic champion and New Zealand Women's Sevens captain Sarah Goss will be attending the event, which is being held at Pilot Bay in Mount Maunganui.

Sarah says she is looking forward to meeting the kids who have signed up to participate in the event.

'I really love getting to the ones I can each year, getting out and mixing it with the kids. It's great to be part of this no matter where in the country.”

Sarah, who was pictured on the front of the Weet-Bix box as a child participating in a Triathlon event, remembers the excitement of travelling to the events every year to compete.

'I loved doing the Triathlons when I was a kid. It was such a fun thing to do alongside my sister and other kids, and getting the medal at the end was always so exciting,” Sarah who now lives in the Mount says. 'It feels really good to train and complete a task that's not an easy one for anyone, let alone kids, and be rewarded for it.”

St Thomas More Catholic School has had the highest number of participants for the Mount Maunganui Triathlon for the past three years.

The Triathlon entries organiser and coach for the school, Janine Bollee, says there is a real emphasis put on entering the event as part of the school ‘team' and kids enjoy the fact they don't have to be the best athletes to compete and succeed.

Aidan Bollee is set to do his second Triathlon this year but he's got an even bigger goal in mind for the future - to be a triathlete and Ironman like his mum.

The eight-year-old St Thomas More Catholic School pupil is looking forward to getting into the water at Pilot Bay this January so he can emulate his sporty mum, Janine.

'My mum has inspired me because she's an Ironman and I want to be one too when I get older,” says Aidan, who adds that he has seen his mum competing at several events.

Janine has completed one full Ironman, four half Ironman events, as well as numerous triathlons after getting the bug for the multi-discipline sport events five years ago.

'I really enjoy them, and it's great cross-training,” says Janine, who works as a swim teacher and helps her three boys - Mason (10), Aidan and his twin brother Jake - train as well as organising the event entries for their school.

Not surprisingly, Aidan's favourite leg of the Triathlon is the swimming. 'I'm looking forward to doing the event, getting the medal and getting the t-shirt,” he adds.

'When I did the Triathlon last time it made me feel happy and exhausted.”

The Sanitarium Weet-Bix Kids TRYathlon is taking place in Mount Maunganui on 8 January 2016, with events running around New Zealand until 10 April 2016.

The events are open to children aged between 7 and 15 years old, and consist of a swim, followed by a cycle and a run.

Registration is easy - simply visit try.weetbix.co.nz to sign up for the event closest to you.