One of New Zealand’s brightest broadcasting talents, Andrew Gourdie, is set to join The NZB Kiwi ranks as Head of Communications and Content for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race.
Commencing his position on 1 August 2024, Gourdie will play a vital role in driving all content and promotional activity for The NZB Kiwi until the race’s inaugural running on Champions Day - 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie Racecourse.
Gourdie’s major responsibilities include leading The NZB Kiwi digital content strategy, front-of-camera talent for subsequent promotional interviews and videos, as well as generating cut-through for mainstream engagement.
The previous Television Sports Reporter of the Year looks forward to bringing a fresh take on NZB Kiwi-related content as New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing (NZTR) looks to extend the race’s profile beyond the domestic racing industry.
"I'm really excited to be part of the team that's helping to bring the NZB Kiwi to life," Gourdie said.
"It's an incredibly exciting time for racing in New Zealand. This event is a major addition to the annual sporting calendar in our country and an innovation that will be a game-changer for an industry I care deeply about.
"My previous roles have given me the chance to tell some amazing stories, and I'm really looking forward to sharing the journey of the people and the world-class New Zealand Thoroughbred talent that will be involved in this race over the coming months.
"I'd especially like to thank outgoing NZTR Chairman Cameron George for this opportunity, and I can't wait to begin the build-up towards what will be a massive day for Kiwi sport,” he said.
With over two decades of broadcasting experience, Gourdie has covered some of New Zealand's finest sporting achievements and memorable moments, including the All Whites’ unbeaten run at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, the All Blacks’ 2011 Rugby World Cup victory, the Black Caps’ historic 2015 Cricket World Cup campaign as well as two consecutive Rugby World Cup campaigns in 2019 and 2023.
Outgoing NZTR Chair Cameron George is thrilled to have Gourdie join The NZB Kiwi team.
“To have an award-winning communications professional with over 20 years of experience reporting and presenting sport in mainstream media is a huge win for NZTR,” he said.
“Andrew has a proven track record of developing and implementing strategies to engage with and grow mass audience numbers towards Kiwi sports.
“We are confident he will be a great fit in our team and help elevate The NZB Kiwi to a level New Zealand racing has never seen before,” George said.
There is plenty to look forward to following Gourdie’s appointment, with the country’s inaugural Thoroughbred slot race headlining a major revamp of the New Zealand summer racing calendar next year.
The NZB Kiwi will become one of the major highlights of a newly established ‘Champions Day’ that will feature more than $9 million in total prizemoney in year one, climbing to $10 million in year two. Held on the second Saturday of March at Ellerslie Racecourse, Champions Day will also include the Trackside New Zealand Derby and three other iconic Group 1 races, positioning the meeting as a pinnacle event on New Zealand’s racing calendar.
Champions Day forms part of the new summer Thoroughbred racing calendar that will boast a series of truly world-class races and meetings, offering more than $23.8 million in stakes across 51 black-type races from January to early April. View more about the revamped summer calendar details here.
Last week, NZTR also announced a raft of NZB Kiwi-related initiatives that included the public auction of NZTR’s year-one Slot for The NZB Kiwi. This auction will take place at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2024 Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds, held next November at the Karaka Sales Centre. View the full announcement here.