#nzruralgames
In 2016, Shelford Wilcox, a 31-year-old from #Gisborne, made history as part of a world-record Three-Stand, 8-Hr Strong Wool Ewe Shearing Record.

After a decade driving trucks, he's back in the game with three Open Speedshear wins.

#Shelfordwilcox will compete at the #Fordranger #nzruralgames
February 13, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Meet 18-year-old Ethan Findlay from #Reefton, and who now lives in #Alexandra.

🏆 2025: Part of the NZ U21 Team that won the Test Relay series.
🏆 2025: Junior Sportsperson of the Year for the Southland Otago Axemen's Club.

NZ Rookies Axe Men Champs #Fordranger #NZruralgames #WoodChopping #Axeman
February 9, 2026 at 4:30 AM
The team from #heartlandcottage will have about 40 different birds, animals and reptiles to display - entry by gold coin donation and all monies go to feeding the animals, managing the farm and working with rangatahi from our neurodiverse community. #nzruralgames #palmy #manawatu #pettingzoo
February 6, 2026 at 4:45 AM
Hemi Braddick was part of a trio that set a new World Three-Stand Record, #shearing 1,745 strong wool ewes in 8 hrs - he shore an incredible 599 ewes!

This year, the 34-year-old from #Eketahuna also won the NZ Crossbred Lamb Champs & will compete at the #nzruralgames
February 3, 2026 at 4:10 AM
After 3 years away from these grounds Luke 'Blue Mountain' Reynolds, is back to compete in the 💪 The Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere #Highland Championship

He's competed in 130+ career contests over a formidable 18-year span

#fordranger #nzruralgames Sunday 15th March in The Square in #palmy
February 1, 2026 at 4:15 AM
The #chainsawsculpture exhibition at the #Fordranger #nzruralgames will be back for three days 13-15th March in #thesquare #palmy - exhibitors booked are from, Palmy, #whanganui #northland and #hawkesbay - they'll have items for sale and happy to chat about their mahi
January 31, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Meet Brett Roberts, from #Mataura:
⚡ 42 Open Speed Shear Wins
🏆 11 Open Show Wins
🥇 Golden Shears Snr. (2014) & Jun. (2010)
🥈 Golden Shears Open Finalist (2025) & NZ Shears Finalist (2021)
💪 Shed tally of 503 in 8 hours

#FordRanger #NZRuralgames #Palmy
January 28, 2026 at 4:15 AM
We're gearing up for Kids 'n Country comes to #Feilding on Saturday 10th of March - This is a chance for children under 10 to get amongst the action before the #Fordranger #nzruralgames. Pedal tractors, gumboot tossing, sack races, petting zoo. FREE ENTRY! Thanks to #manawatudc & #feildingpromotions
January 27, 2026 at 4:55 AM
The team from #tranzag have the kids covered for exploring and having a go at tractor racing. #fordranger #nzruralgames #palmy #freeevent
January 26, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Meet Lachlan Page:
🏆 x2 Maryborough Champion ('24, '25)
🏆 x1 Melbourne International Champion

Thanks to @TransAgCentre2014Ltd and @NewHollandAgricultureNewZealand you can watch him compete in the heart of #Palmy at the #fordranger #nzruralgames - Sunday 15th of March!
January 25, 2026 at 1:45 AM
With 14 years of grit and muscle behind him since he first picked up the handpiece, Lionell Taumata from Mataura has honed his craft🏆:
✅ 501 sheep in 9 hours
✅ 5 Open Speed #shear wins
✅ Personal best speed time of 14.56 seconds
#nzspeedshear #championship #nzruralgames #fordranger #shearing #sheep
January 24, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Please welcome #Southisland contender Jessica McCormick. The 34-year-old lawyer from Canterbury is no stranger to the @skellerup_redband NZ #gumbootthrowing championship, with a solid rugby and AFL background, and this year marking her FOURTH 💪 time competing at the #fordranger #nzruralgames
January 23, 2026 at 4:15 AM
How smooth are your hands? 🤝🥚Egg Throw & Catch is back at the #fordranger #nzruralgames - have a go and if you're good enough you'll go through to the National Finals!

Just remember the golden rule: hard-boiling your egg is a lifetime ban! 😉
January 22, 2026 at 4:35 AM
Want to be at the heart of the action? 🚜 We’re looking for a legendary flock of volunteers to help deliver the #FordRanger #NZRuralGames! Join the Rural Games family for an epic weekend. Sign up here 👇
https://ruralgames.co.nz/volunteers/
January 21, 2026 at 5:55 AM
Get ready to witness some inter island rivalry

Susan Holdt is set to return to the #skellerup NZ #Gumboot Throwing Championship, representing the mighty #SouthIsland.

Her personal best throw is 27.50 metres - can you beat that? #fordranger #nzruralgames #gumbootthrowing
January 21, 2026 at 4:40 AM
Four of New Zealand’s top women sheep dog handlers will take on the men in the Sam Strahan Sheep Dog Trials Challenge, thanks to #NZSheepDogTrialAssociation and #PTSLogistics.

Catch all the high-stakes action on Saturday 14 March at the #FordRanger #NZRuralGames in #Palmy #SheepDogTrials
January 16, 2026 at 4:30 AM
#caninepettherapy do an awesome job in rest homes and hospitals across the region - come along and meet the team at the #fordranger #nzruralgames #palmy #march
January 12, 2026 at 4:35 AM
From #TaranakiKidzKartz these #miniaturepony rides are a huge hit for the little ones - they'll be back at the #fordranger #nzruralgames #palmy
January 10, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Kids 'n Country is for the under 12s - the team from #kellysports and #kellyclub will be on hand with a schedule of events from egg and spoon races, haybale races to gumboot throw, tractor races and more at the #fordranger #nzruralgames 14-15 March in #Palmy #manawatu
January 9, 2026 at 4:20 AM
The awesome team from Heartland Cottage will have about 40 animals, birds and lizards for everyone to view across the #Fordranger #nzruralgames #palmy 14-15 March
January 8, 2026 at 4:25 AM
Thanks to the Rural Fire team from Palmy the slip n slide will be back on the Sunday of the
#fordranger #nzruralgames
January 7, 2026 at 4:30 AM
Meet #BradmanHouston, he's hoping to be named the 2026 Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere Highlander Champion. 💪 From Sydney he came🥉 3rd – Australia’s Strongest Man & 🥈 2nd – Australian Highlander Champs.
Thanks to TransAG and NewHolland - #highlandgames in Palmy #fordranger #nzruralgames
January 6, 2026 at 4:40 AM
#greyhounds make great pets, come along to the #nzruralgames and meet the team from the Great Mates Rehoming Programme - they turn out well-socialised greyhounds ready to be carefully matched to their new owners!
January 4, 2026 at 4:50 AM
The sound of steam and the smell of wood! 🚂

We’re excited to be heading back with the Ford Ranger NZ Rural Games with our incredible fleet from the Feilding Steam Traction Engine Society.

#NZRuralGames #SteamTraction #RuralNZ #HeritageMachinery #LivingHistory #SteamEngine

January 3, 2026 at 4:20 AM
Get ready! The raw power and skill of the Ford #NZruralgames 2026 will hit your screens on TVNZ 1 and TVNZ+ in 2026!

✨ A prime-time highlights programme on TVNZ 1.
✨ Plus, a massive nine additional programmes streaming on TVNZ+.

https://ruralgames.co.nz/tvnz-becomes-home-of-rural-sport/
November 26, 2025 at 4:00 AM