Kennett Bros
Kennett Bros is the business name used by New Zealand brothers Paul, Simon and Jonathan Kennett for their cycling publishing, event, trail-development and cycling-promotion activities.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Kennett Bros is the business name associated with brothers Paul Kennett, Simon Kennett and Jonathan Kennett, a New Zealand cycling-focused enterprise known particularly for mountain-bike events, cycle-route development and specialist publishing. The brothers became deeply involved in New Zealand mountain biking during the sport’s formative period in the country, combining participation and advocacy with event organisation, environmental work and the creation of practical cycling literature. Their activities began in competitive and community mountain biking. In 1986, Paul Kennett organised the first national mountain-bike race in New Zealand, the Karapoti Classic. The Kennett Bros continued running the event for many years before selling it in 2002. In 1997, they co-organised a Wellington round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup, helping connect New Zealand’s developing mountain-bike scene with international competition. They later assisted with the organisation of the 2006 Rotorua UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships. The brothers also played a substantial role in building cycling infrastructure. Beginning in 1998, they worked on the development of Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park, a Wellington City Council-owned facility that subsequently received national recreation and conservation recognition. From 2001 to 2006, they coordinated a revegetation project at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, during which approximately 40,000 trees were planted. Between 2010 and 2014, they worked as project managers on the New Zealand Cycle Trail, contributing to the development and promotion of a national network of cycle routes. Publishing became another major part of the business. Paul Kennett edited and operated Mountain Bike New Zealand Magazine from 1988 to 1990, and in 1995 launched Mountain Bike New Zealand Web as an online resource for New Zealand mountain bikers. In 1991, the brothers produced the first edition of Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides. The guide became a best-selling reference work and was revised repeatedly over the following decades, with editions issued in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2019. The brothers announced that the 2019 edition would be the tenth and final edition in that series. Their publishing catalogue expanded beyond mountain-bike route guides. RIDE: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand, published in 2004, documented the country’s cycling history. From 2005 to 2019, the Kennett publishing operation issued a series of books about influential New Zealand cyclists, including biographies of Phil O’Shea, Harry Watson, Bill Pratney, Warwick Dalton, Tino Tabak, Louise Sutherland and the Swart brothers. Other titles covered road cycling, cycle trails, beginner cycling, bikepacking and long-distance routes such as Tour Aotearoa and Kopiko Aotearoa. Kennett Bros therefore occupies a distinctive position between specialist publisher, cycling consultancy, event organiser and outdoor-recreation advocate. Its work has helped document New Zealand cycling history while also supporting participation through route guides, trail projects, races and national cycling initiatives. The brothers were inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2018 in recognition of their contribution to mountain biking.
History
Kennett Bros is the shared business name of New Zealand brothers Paul Kennett, Simon Kennett and Jonathan Kennett. Their work developed alongside the growth of mountain biking in New Zealand and has combined sport, publishing, environmental restoration, trail construction and cycle-tourism development. Paul Kennett’s organisation of the Karapoti Classic in 1986 marked an early milestone. The race is described as New Zealand’s first national mountain-bike race, and the brothers continued to run it annually until transferring ownership in 2002. Their event work expanded internationally in 1997, when they co-organised a Wellington round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup. They also helped organise the 2006 Rotorua UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships. The brothers’ contribution was not limited to competition. In 1998, they began work on Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park, a Wellington City Council-owned facility. The park later gained a national recreation award in 2002 and a national conservation award in 2003. From 2001 to 2006, the Kennett Bros coordinated revegetation at Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush, with roughly 40,000 trees planted over five years. Their involvement in public cycling infrastructure continued when they worked as project managers on the New Zealand Cycle Trail between 2010 and 2014. Publishing became a central and enduring part of the business. Paul operated Mountain Bike New Zealand Magazine from 1988 to 1990, followed by Mountain Bike New Zealand Web, launched in 1995. The brothers’ first major guidebook was Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides, published in 1991. It became a best seller and was updated repeatedly in 1993, 1996, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017 and 2019. The tenth edition, released in 2019, was announced as the final edition of the series. The catalogue broadened in 2004 with RIDE: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand, a national cycling history. From 2005 through 2019, the Kennett publishing operation produced a New Zealand Cycling Legends series covering notable riders and cycling figures. The list included Phil O’Shea, Harry Watson, Bill Pratney, Warwick Dalton, Tino Tabak, Louise Sutherland, the so-called Muddy Olympians and the Swart brothers. Additional guidebooks addressed road rides, cycle trails, beginner road and track cycling, short rides, bikepacking and long-distance bikepacking routes. Among the later route publications were Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails, the Tour Aotearoa Official Guide, Tour Aotearoa: NZ’s 3000 km Bikepacking Odyssey, Kopiko Aotearoa guides for both directions, and Bikepacking Aotearoa. These works positioned Kennett Bros as a specialist publisher serving both local riders and visitors seeking structured cycling routes across New Zealand. The brothers were inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame in 2018. Their overall significance lies in the combination of practical publishing and direct participation in the creation of New Zealand’s cycling culture and infrastructure. The available reference material does not establish a precise founding date, corporate structure, current headquarters or individual executive titles.
- 2019
Final Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides edition announced
[1]The tenth edition was announced as the last in the Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides series.
- 2018
Mountain Bike Hall of Fame induction
[1]Paul, Simon and Jonathan Kennett were inducted into the Mountain Bike Hall of Fame.
- 2010
New Zealand Cycle Trail project work begins
[1]The Kennett Bros began a project-management role on the New Zealand Cycle Trail, continuing through 2014.
- 2006
Rotorua world championships support
[1]The brothers helped organise the UCI Mountain Bike and Trials World Championships in Rotorua.
- 2005
New Zealand Cycling Legends series begins
[1]The first volume in the series of books about influential New Zealand cyclists was published.
- 2004
RIDE published
[1]RIDE: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand extended the business into national cycling history.
- 2002
Karapoti Classic sold
[1]After operating the event for many years, the Kennett Bros sold the Karapoti Classic.
- 2001
Ōtari-Wilton’s Bush revegetation project begins
[1]The brothers began coordinating a five-year forest-revegetation project that planted approximately 40,000 trees.
- 1998
Makara Peak development begins
[1]The Kennett Bros began building Makara Peak Mountain Bike Park.
- 1997
Wellington UCI World Cup round
[1]The brothers co-organised a Wellington round of the UCI Mountain Bike World Cup.
Products and positioning
A specialist New Zealand cycling brand combining practical route publishing, cycling history, mountain-bike event expertise, trail development and outdoor-recreation advocacy.
Mountain-bike guidebook · 1991
Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike Rides
A national guide to mountain-bike routes in New Zealand. First published in 1991, it became a best seller and was revised at regular intervals through a tenth and final edition in 2019.
Cycling history · 2004
RIDE: The Story of Cycling in New Zealand
A historical account of cycling in New Zealand, published in 2004 and reflecting the Kennett Bros’ broader interest in documenting the country’s cycling culture.
Cyclist biography series · 2005
New Zealand Cycling Legends
A multi-volume series about influential New Zealand cyclists. Published between 2005 and 2019, the series covered figures including Phil O’Shea, Harry Watson, Bill Pratney, Warwick Dalton, Tino Tabak, Louise Sutherland and the Swart brothers.
Cycle-trail guidebook · 2012
Classic New Zealand Cycle Trails
A guidebook series focused on New Zealand cycle trails, with editions published from 2012 through 2021.
Bikepacking route guide · 2016
Tour Aotearoa Official Guide
The official guide to Tour Aotearoa, a roughly 3,000-kilometre New Zealand bikepacking route. The guide was issued in multiple editions between 2016 and 2021.
Bikepacking book · 2016
Tour Aotearoa: NZ’s 3000 km Bikepacking Odyssey
A route-focused publication by Jonathan Kennett documenting the Tour Aotearoa long-distance bikepacking journey across New Zealand.
Bikepacking guidebook · 2020
Bikepacking Aotearoa
A practical publication about bikepacking in New Zealand, with editions recorded in 2020 and 2021.
Bikepacking route guide · 2020
Kopiko Aotearoa Official Guide
A two-direction guide to the Kopiko Aotearoa route, published in separate west-to-east and east-to-west editions.
Cycling magazine · 1988
Mountain Bike New Zealand Magazine
A national mountain-bike magazine operated by Paul Kennett from 1988 to 1990.
Brand decisions
2019
Final edition of Classic New Zealand Mountain Bike RidesGeneration changeBackground
The route guide had been revised repeatedly since its first edition in 1991.
Action taken
The Kennett Bros announced that the tenth edition, issued in 2019, would be the final edition in the series.
Aftermath
The long-running mountain-bike guide series concluded with the tenth edition; no reason for the decision is stated in the reference material.
2002
Sale of the Karapoti ClassicOtherBackground
The Kennett Bros had organised and operated the Karapoti Classic annually since its establishment in 1986.
Action taken
They sold the event in 2002.
Aftermath
The sale ended the brothers’ direct operation of the event, although the available reference does not identify the purchaser or transaction terms.
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