New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) has unveiled a uniquely crafted trophy, named Te Puhoro, to mark a significant milestone in the journey towards the inaugural running of the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old horse race – the NZB Kiwi.
The governing body has commissioned a piece by renowned carver Deane Moreton of Moko Pounamu in Ōtautahi Christchurch, featuring a special design incorporating Māori imagery.
The trophy will be awarded to the winner of the NZB Kiwi – a race sponsored by Thoroughbred auction house New Zealand Bloodstock, held on 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Designed and crafted by Christchurch-based company Frontal Lobe, the contemporary Te Puhoro features a split Koru pattern symbolising swiftness, speed, and agility. In Māori culture, this design can also represent a storm or something tempestuous, mirroring the fiery temperament of a stallion.
A standout feature of Te Puhoro is the pounamu stone, carved in the silhouette of Aotearoa, New Zealand. The Hāpopo variety of pounamu is found near Big Bay in South Westland and sourced by expert carver Deane Moreton.
Reflecting on Te Puhoro, Moreton said “This has been a rewarding project, allowing us to highlight the unique qualities of the pounamu we selected and showcase it alongside other native materials incorporated in this impressive trophy.”
“The multi-layered effect is striking and represents whakapapa, the Māori word for ancestry and bloodline, which is of immense importance and a source of mana for Māori,” he said.
NZTR Chairman Russell Warwick expressed his excitement about Te Puhoro on behalf of New Zealand’s Thoroughbred racing code.
“This trophy will celebrate the best of our world-class breeding and racing industry, featuring a lineup of premier three-year-olds conceived, born, or sold in New Zealand,” Warwick said.
“It has been an honour to work alongside Deane Moreton, who sourced and carved the magnificent pounamu, and the team at Frontal Lobe, who brought the design to life.
“We also received strong support from acclaimed writer and poet Ben Brown, who guided us through the process, helping us name the special piece, as well as Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei who blessed Te Puhoro in an intimate ceremony for Slot Holders and partners of the NZB Kiwi.”
Warwick also highlighted the significance of Te Puhoro as part of a broader initiative to enhance New Zealand’s Thoroughbred racing scene.
“We are thrilled to unveil this uniquely stunning piece for the sport of Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand. This is just one part of a series of new initiatives aimed at elevating the country’s first-ever Thoroughbred slot race” he added.
NZTR has announced the highly anticipated slot race will take place on Champions Day during the revamped Thoroughbred racing Summer Carnival. The Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, the NZB Kiwi, will be held on 8 March 2025, with New Zealand’s premier three-year-olds competing over 1500m at Ellerslie Racecourse in Auckland.
