Some of you are wondering what I'm up to - I'm training for this. Training involves rifle shooting and rock climbing!!! A bit terrifying for a 43 year old previously unadventurous type!

The year is 2015 and the country has just gone into it’s 2nd year of occupation by a hostile foreign power. The spectacular new oil discoveries of 2012, just as prices hit US$1,000 a barrel, rendered New Zealand too vulnerable in a world greedy for energy.

This hostile foreign power has an iron grip on the country and all contacts with the outside world have been completely stopped. Shipping and air travel had been suspended and telephone, radio, TV and internet access are all impossible with the high tech frequency blocks imposed throughout the land. From the perspective of the outside world it was as if NZ had ceased to exist as a country overnight.

The rest of the country’s economy was allowed to fall into disrepair. The resulting social decline, looting and criminal activity has quickly undermined the whole fabric of society and the only remnants of organisation are in the occupiers protection of the production and distribution of the “black gold”, it’s high frequency “blocking stations” and it’s policing of the coastline, ports, airspace and airports.

There is just a small glimmer of hope. An emerging resistance movement has gradually grown in strength with a steady recruitment from what remained of the armed services, police, fire brigades and the adventure racing community.

Around 250 of these clandestine groups are in hiding around the country. They are only able to communicate with one another via the use of old valve radios and morse code.

A tiny crack has appeared in the defenses of the occupying force which has given the resistance movement a small window of opportunity. A new technology has been developed in Britain that would render the occupiers blocking device ineffective. If this technology can be secured and implemented than the rest of the world will see the plight that has befallen the country and come to its rescue.

On the morning of the next March 14th a small submersible vessel will position itself, for a short period of time, at a secret location just off of the Coromandel coastline. They will provide a blocking deactivating device to each group than can rendezvous with them. Each device has its own activation code. Groups will then be dropped into the depths of enemy territory with the mission of finding the location of the North Island “Blocking Station’ known to be situated on a high spot in the Coromandel ranges. This station is heavily guarded.

At least one device needs to be placed within 20 metres of the station for it to be effective. The group must then return to a pre- determined base and provide the device code that will enable it to be activated.

There is less than a 1 in 100 chance of success and for that reason we are aiming to gather as many small groups that are courageous enough to try, as possible. You will have to run a gauntlet of enemy fire, there is a strong probability of ambush and due to the highly classified nature of this operation there will be times when you are blindfolded. Some of you may not return from this mission, but you can be assured that you will remembered for your bravery. If one ore more of the groups can get through unscathed it could save the country.

If you enter the next ARC Adventure Race, “Operation Night Hawk”, you will not only have the experience of a lifetime you will also have the chance to save your country.
The event has a special services category for teams from the Army, the SAS, the Air Force, the Navy, the Territorial’s, the Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance. As well as the ARC 24 and 12 hour races with teams of 2 or 4, there will be a special 8 Hour ARC non- kayaking race for teams

of 2, 3 or 4.

If you look carefully there are ropes for abseiling on this otherwise beautiful waterfall!