29/10/2025 - Following the recent postponement of the SBS Bank Tour of Southland due to the State of Emergency in the region, Cycling Southland has confirmed that the 69th edition of the event has been rescheduled to run from 18–24 January 2026.

The Tour of Southland committee has worked tirelessly over the past 24 hours to bring together all the elements to allow the race to be rescheduled.

A number of factors were taken into account; including accommodation availability, the international cycling calendar, other major Southland events, and traffic management planning, all of which needed to align to make the event viable.

Cycling Southland President Julian Ineson said the organisation was acutely aware of the importance of providing clarity to teams and stakeholders as early as possible.

“Teams, sponsors, and volunteers all rely on certainty to plan their involvement, and we wanted to ensure that any decision was made with both care and urgency. The Tour is an integral part of the Southland sporting calendar, and we’re committed to delivering another outstanding event in 2026.”

Tour Director Waine Harding said he was pleased that an alternative solution had been found to allow the Tour to proceed.

“The Tour of Southland holds a special place in New Zealand cycling, and it was important to explore every possible option to keep the event on the calendar. I’m delighted we’ve been able to find a pathway forward that supports riders, teams, and the wider Southland community.”

The rescheduled event will also create a unique milestone for the region, with the SBS Bank Tour of Southland set to be held twice in 2026, once in January for the rescheduled 69th edition, and again in its traditional November slot to celebrate the 70th anniversary of this prestigious race.

Cycling Southland also acknowledges the continued support of SBS Bank,whose partnership has been instrumental in the ongoing success and growth of this much-loved event.

SBS Bank chief executive Mark McLean said it was great to have the Tour re-scheduled so quickly, and to be able to give some certainty to everyone involved.

“We appreciate the extensive efforts of the Tour committee over the past few days as they worked through the various implications and logistics.

We also acknowledge that many households in the region are still impacted by the recent weather event, and encourage any impacted SBS Members to reach out for support from the bank.”

Cycling Southland thanked the many riders, sponsors, community funders, supporters, and volunteers who continue to stand behind the event, Ineson said.

“The organisation looks forward to welcoming everyone back to Southland in 2026 for what promises to be two memorable chapters in the Tour’s proud history.”

The exciting week of racing will begin with the New Zealand Criterium Championships on Saturday, 17th January, around the streets of Invercargill, providing an opportunity for the community to come together and begin the year with a positive event following the challenges recently faced across the region.