The NZ Cross Country & Relay Championships will be held in North Hagley Park, Christchurch, with sections of the course crossing the Hagley Golf Course. This event is a championship meeting, not a casual fun run. Senior men and women compete over 10km, while younger age groups run shorter distances. Masters athletes have dedicated races, and the youngest participants compete in 2km non-championship mixed events.
The course features clockwise loops, with a 2km lap and a 1km option indicated on the map. This allows various grades to complete their designated distances within the park. The layout is designed for spectators, keeping the races within view for fans to observe the direct competition throughout the day. The participants span from U10 and U12 runners up to U14, U16, U18, U20, seniors, and masters. The relay championship introduces a team component in addition to the individual cross-country titles.