The inaugural NZ Rural Games was expected to attract top competitors from throughout Australasia including national and world champions, founder and trustee Steve Hollander said.
The two-day celebration of all things country would take place on Queenstown’s Recreation Ground over Waitangi weekend, Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 February.
Organisers were working with Sport NZ and rural sports associations around the country to develop exciting new formats for competitive wood chopping, sheep shearing, sheep dog trials, Young Farmers events, speed fencing, coal shovelling, speed gold panning and other less well-known sports.
The event would also feature Highland Games and a full festival programme including live music and entertainment, fun audience participation events like cow pat throwing and cherry stone spitting, kids activities and speciality food and market stalls.
“My background is in farming and rural sports,” Hollander said.
During the 2011 Rugby World Cup, I helped showcase these as part of the REAL NZ Festival.
“It was a huge hit with domestic and overseas fans and gave me the idea to create an annual event.
“NZ was built on farming and the economy still relies on primary industries and the people who work in them.
“The games are a wonderful opportunity to celebrate this essential part of our national character.
“We want to help continue the legacy of traditional sports for future generations, bringing them to the attention of the wider population and ensuring the country’s rural spirit is celebrated for many years to come.”
Hollander’s company, Cutting Edge Sport (CES) is managing the event on behalf of the NZ Rural Sports Trust.
The non-profit trust’s board includes former All Blacks captain and World Cup winning coach Sir Brian Lochore and Taranaki rural spokeswoman Barbara Kuriger as chairwomoan.
