Sport Bay of Plenty CEO Wayne Werder says this weekend's Port of Tauranga Half Ironman is a big day on the city's event calendar and is bigger this year than ever before.
'It's been running for 21 years – It's a pretty integral part of the community,” says Wayne.

Duncan Milne wins the 2009 event. Picture supplied by Smileclick.

It's an iconic event says Wayne and has about 1200 competitors this year.
'The event has grown over the last four or five years.”
The Port of Tauranga Half Ironman is a significant event for the Bay of Plenty as it provides exposure for the region through media coverage and brings in millions of dollars into the economy. An analysis conducted several years ago estimated the event to bring in about $4 million dollars into the Tauranga economy says Wayne.