It was more organised chaos than ducks in a row.

About 40 Queenstown businesses got in behind this year’s highly-competitive Rotary Queenstown Duck Race, an annual staple for more than 20 years.

This year’s event raised money for food rescue charity KiwiHarvest, which had its budget slashed earlier this year by the former government.

Neil Boniface and Fiona van Waveren-Wilshire, of Rotary Queenstown, hold the "best-dressed ducks" in this year’s annual duck race (from left) Odd Saint’s entry, which came third, Pak’n Save’s runner-up and Findex’s champion duck. PHOTOS: TRACEY ROXBURGH

Each business paid $265 to enter their ducks in the corporate race, going all out with decorations hoping to win the "best-dressed duck" award, which ultimately went to Findex.

The ducks were then let off in Horne Creek, at the Village Green, followed closely by over 100 supporters to the finish line at Lake Wakatipu, by the Queenstown Gardens.

Queenstown Ice Arena won the 2023 race by a squeak, with the Novotel duck a close second and Designa Tiles in third, before a public duck race along the same route.

Some of the 40 ducks entered in the Rotary Queenstown corporate duck race make their way down Horne Creek yesterday afternoon.

Event organiser Tim Wilshire said over $8000 was raised during yesterday’s event for the cause.

KiwiHarvest Queenstown branch manager Gary Hough said it was a "great community day" and his charity was incredibly thankful for the support.

tracey.roxburgh@odt.co.nz