Could you do Richie’s race? Editor Nina Tucker
Richie McCaw reflects Canterbury’s tenacity with every move he makes.
His strength has become signature and I’m so glad nothing has changed since my days spent watching him on the footy field. Bruised, bloodied, but never giving up.
Now, he’s encouraging the average Joe and Jill to find their inner Richie and take on the challenge of all challenges: an adventure race that covers more than 600km and pushes teams to their limits across rugged terrain, otherwise recognised as GODZONE.
On our cover, you can see Richie racing in GODZONE’s Chapter 12, which was held in Marlborough last year. It was his fourth race before he decided to attack it from another angle and help design the course. For February 2027’s Chapter 13, Richie, drawing from hours spent flying around mountains in the Mackenzie District, crafted a route that traverses, in his words, an alpine environment like no other. If you want to see how your mental and physical toughness matches up to one of the greatest rugby players of all time, read my interview on page 8.
Keeping Richie in good company is Canterbury man Todd Andrews who is preparing to take on a challenge no less impressive – a 2100km run spanning the length of New Zealand.
He wants to inspire people, children especially, to chase crazy dreams, and raise money to help cover the $2,700,000 million that charity Cholmondeley Children’s Centre needs to support local tamariki. Deputy editor Tamara Pitelen discovers his ‘why’ on page 10.
Inside what we’ve dubbed the ‘challenge’ issue, there’s more tasks to tackle (though they’re significantly less likely to raise your heart rate). It might be a self-help read that guides you more confidently through the second half of 2026 (page 33) or making your own rough puff pastry with local chef (and Hillyers royalty) Wendy Morgan’s recipe (page 36). Maybe joining a business networking group will be your June hurdle to jump (page 12), or picking the best curtain pleats for your living room from our options (page 51). I’ll settle for the challenge of what to wear on a rainy day (page 18).
Choose your challenge and enjoy the read.
