The Edge told a 43-year-old he was too old to go with them to the races.

The Edge radio station says it was a mistake to stop a 43-year-old from using tickets won through their station because they thought he was too old.

Pete McCormick's 17-year-old niece won tickets to the Harness Jewels races in Cambridge but couldn't go because it was R18. She then asked The Edge Waikato if she could re-gift the tickets, and screenshots show the station said that would be fine.

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At least it was fine until The Edge Waikato learned she was giving the tickets to her 43-year-old uncle, instead of her 20-year-old sister.

The Edge Waikato Facebook page then responded saying McCormick could not go because, at 43, he was too old.

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"Sorry hun, we'll need to redraw your ticket as this prize needs to be awarded to a listener who is within The Edge demographic (our winners can't be over 34yrs)," the station said.

It had earlier allowed her to give the tickets to her 20-year-old sister, who couldn't make it.

After Stuff asked if this sort of policy was widespread, station management contacted McCormick to say he would be given the tickets.

A spokeswoman for MediaWorks, which owned the station, quickly issued an apology and said a staffer had made a mistake, however staff at The Edge office in Hamilton declined to comment when called.

"The Edge unreservedly apologises for any upset caused. This was an error made by an Edge Waikato staff member which will not happen again," a statement said.

"The Edge has no policy around age restrictions on prizes except when there are minimum legal age requirements."

McCormick said earlier he was speaking out against "ageism" reluctantly, but thought The Edge's actions had been "gobsmacking".

"It's pretty simple, really, this sort of ageism just shouldn't be happening."

By the time The Edge Waikato staffer originally said they wouldn't give him the tickets, McCormick had already booked accommodation. The races were to go ahead on Saturday.

"If this is not age discrimination, then what is," he asked after the prize was retracted.

"The only issue that seemed to arise was when they found out I wasn't a 20-year-old woman.

"I can not see why they would do this, there was no age limit on the competition," he said.

The Human Rights Commission was approached for comment.