If you haven't been on a rally before here are a few tips to help you out.

• Special Stage - The rally consists of 18 Special Stages.  Competitors start each stage one after the other, at 1 or 2 minute intervals.  Stages vary in length with the Waitomo stage the longest at 43.88km and the Mystery Creek Super Special Stage the shortest at 3.14km.  Each stage is electronically timed down to 1/10th of a second. 
• Super Special Stage- A Super Special Stage is a shorter stage, specifically designed to provide excellent spectator viewing.  The Super Special Stage for the Rally New Zealand is held at Mystery Creek Events Centre.  If you aren't sure about going out in to the rural stages you can see the cars up close here.
• Reconnaissance or Recce - Before the event the competitors are allowed to drive over the stages they will be competing in twice (Pass 1 and Pass 2).  Recce is strictly controlled over the two preceeding days of the rally. 
• Service Park - The area where competitors service their rally cars.  During the event, competitors are only allowed to service their rally cars at certain times and for a certain period.
• Zero Car - Before each stage starts, the Zero Car team pass through the stage in their Subarus to make sure that their are no safety implications, and that all officials are in place and on standby.  There are 3 Zero Cars - 0, 00 and 000 as well as a police car that goes through stages.  Zero cars are easily identified by their Zero Car livery, flashing lights and sirens. 
• Shakedown - Shakedown  is where the competitors have the opportunity to test their rally car, at rally speeds. Shakedown is run like a normal stage (I.e. it is timed, and all Marshals and normal safety precautions are taken).
•  Livery - the stickers that competitors have on their rally cars
• Scrutineering - Rally cars have to adhere to a strict set of technical specifications. Competitors must take their rally cars to be scrutineered or checked that they adhere to the rules both before and after the event.
• Ceremonial Start - The Ceremonial Start represents the official beginning of the rally.  Competitors arrive at the Ceremonial Start  in their rally car, in full livery and overalls, and at the directed moment drive the car over the start ramp.  Often once the car is on the start ramp the MC will have a brief chat with the driver and/or co-driver. The Ceremonial Start will be held in Hood Street Hamilton City.  The cars will be starting in reverse order.
• Ceremonial Finish - The Ceremonial Finish is the official finish of the rally.  Once the competitors have finished the last SuperSpecial Stage, they proceed to the Ceremonial Finish.  The Ceremonial Finish will be held at Mystery Creek Events Centre.
• Secretariat - The administration centre for competitors.