North King Country Motorcycle Club’s re-affiliation with Motorcycling New Zealand, paves the way for the future of the club.
“Having met with the North King Country team on two occasions recently, it has been rewarding to see those discussions lead to their decision to re-affiliate with Motorcycling New Zealand,” MNZ GMO Vicky Hicks said. “The club has recognised the value of being connected to the national body and the opportunities, support and resources that come with being part of MNZ. We are delighted to welcome North King Country back under the MNZ umbrella and look forward to working alongside the club to continue growing and strengthening the sport in the region.”
Odin Wellington in the 12-14 Years 125cc at the 2026 New Zealand Junior Motocross Championships held at the Brookhaven Motocross Training Facility in Leeston, Canterbury. Photo: MNZ/Derek Morrison
North King Country Motorcycle Club’s new president Kelli Wellington said going back to MNZ just made sense.
Originally from Matamata, Wellington, 45, has been NKCMCC’s treasurer for two years, and has been on the committee for about five years. A hairdresser by trade, she fell into motocross when they bought her son a CRF50 when he was four.
“Then came ‘take him to motocross, he goes alright’ when Odin was 6,” Wellington explains. “And from there it’s taken over our life. Odin became sponsored by Yamaha NZ and Bike Torque when he was eight after winning NKCMCC Waikato Champs as a mini, and from there I started working at Bike Torque and have been the Manager of Bike Torque Otorohanga for 6 years now.”
Wellington’s family became involved in various MNZ clubs, she ran the minis track at Cambridge, and has been on the committee of South Waikato Motorcycle Club (SWMCC). Her eldest daughter Skyler works at Te Awamutu Honda, became an MNZ steward and is currently still involved with SWMCC.
“We love giving back to a sport that gives so much joy to our family,” adds Wellington.
Kelli Wellington’s daughter Skyler Heathcote is South Waikato Motorcycle Club’s secretary, continuing the family tradition of driving motocross forward in New Zealand. Photo: MNZ/Derek Morrison
Wellington said the biggest drive behind going back MNZ was that they had members on their committee who are on other MNZ committees in New Zealand and had seen all the things that could go pear-shaped in the blink of an eye.
“As a club we need to make sure we are running events to the best of our knowledge, keeping our riders as safe as we can,” she explains. “MNZ holds the clubs accountable and to a high standard with their rules and regulations.”
“It’s about moving forward, rather than backwards,” she continues. “And to rebuild relationships with our national body. We have always held great events, but this means better access to official training, more structured events, and high safety guidelines for everyone.”
Wellington had seen first-hand what happens when things go wrong – Odin has lost friends to the sport.
“Our motocross community is small and the people we hang out with every weekend become family,” she offers. “The loss our community has suffered over the past few years is heart breaking, so MNZ was a no brainer for me.”
“I remember when I was a mini parent starting out on the Cambridge Motorcycle Club committee and Loren telling me, ‘you will never know what MNZ means till you have a serious death or incident’, and I have never forgotten that.”
From left: MNZ President Mac McLeod, MX125 champion Phoenix Van Dusschoten, MX1 champion Maximus Purvis, MX2 champion Hayden Draper and MXW champion Karaitiana Horne at the 2026 Yamaha New Zealand Motocross Championships season prizegiving. Photo: MNZ/Derek Morrison
Motorcycling New Zealand’s President Mac McLeod said he was looking forward to having the Northern King Country team back involved.
“It is important on two levels. At a family level – our motorcycle family supports each other through thick and thin, so the more of us to do that, the better,” McLeod offers. “At an operational level it is important from a public liability sense as our MNZ insurance, operating procedures and policies help protect clubs, their members, and riders.”
McLeod, now 60, raced motocross from the age of 10 right through until 2017 – and most of all loved his Yamaha YZ450. He said MNZ-affiliation could help a club achieve its goals.
“Using the family analogy, we can support them through the family of officials, mentoring from other clubs, staff support for compliance, funding and resource advice,” he explains. “We are building capability and capacity in officials and other volunteer roles, building professionally run events (sponsorship and promoters), increasing the profile of our clubs, riders and members, through work in the communications space, too.”
Wellington said the re-joining process was easy. “Vicky and her team have been absolutely amazing,” she shares. “The support we have had from our neighbour MNZ-affiliated clubs runs deep – you can’t explain the motocross community unless you’re in it.”
She said the club found its dealings with MNZ to be positive and productive. “We have been welcomed like old friends,” Wellington smiles. “It’s about keeping the wheels spinning, and forming relationships, and making our sport that we all love the best that it can be.”
Wellington’s vision for NKCMCC was to keep it running to the high standard that it always had. “Our founders set the bar high and we continue to do so,” she adds. “Looking at our humble track I think we have some of the best facilities in New Zealand, right in the heart of the King Country. This in turn is good for our riders, our bike shop and it also gives back to our community, and brings money into our local area and shops.”
Wellington said the NKCMCC committee was amazing and everyone brought something different to the table.
“Our vision is always the same,” she adds. “Safety in a dangerous sport has always been paramount and what our club has always focused everything around.”
Personally she said she would love to run a “Junior Nationals” event while her son is still a Junior at his home track, “that would be the ultimate for me”.
Born in Lower Hutt and now living on a lifestyle block in rural Upper Hutt, McLeod said his vision for MNZ-affiliated clubs was simple: “I want to see our clubs financially sustainable, growing and with a great base of future riders and leaders coming through,” he smiles. “And then regular spectators as community support. The collective is family, and families that play together, stay together.”
About North King Country MCC
North King Country Motorcycle Club (NKCMCC) was founded in 1953 by Otorohanga local Frank Mackie. The club has long been a grassroots organisation built by and for the community. What began as a humble group of enthusiasts has grown into a respected club with a proud 70-year legacy.
