The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games is set to electrify Palmerston North in The Square, March 13-15, 2026, with its most dynamic line-up yet.
From the raw power of the trans-Tasman Highlander clash to a three-generation woodchopping dynasty and a host of Olympic and sporting greats, the free, family-friendly festival will transform the heart of Palmy into a hub of competition, entertainment and markets.
“The Rural Games is where the spirit of the countryside meets the energy of the city,” says Event Founder Steve Hollander. “We’ve got world champions defending their titles, Olympians cheering from the sidelines, and thousands of kids having a go. It’s a weekend that celebrates who we are as New Zealanders.”
Championship Central:
- STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® New Zealand Men’s Championship: The world’s premier wood chopping sports series returns, featuring both the world’s and New Zealand’s best axemen.
- Wood-Mizer New Zealand Rookies Championship supported by STIHL: Rising stars like Jack Matthews and Morgan Bolstad compete for the title.
- Tuatahi Axes New Zealand Axewomen’s Championship supported by STIHL: Elite female choppers, including Alma Wallace and her niece, Ruby Rasmussen, compete.
- Tony Chapman NZ Speed Shearing Championship with Stock Lines & Starrett: Northland’s Toa Henderson recently won the Golden Shears and will be defending his 2025 Speed Shear Title.
- Fencing Competitions NZ presents the Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Championships with Strainrite and Summit Steel & Wire: Tim Garrick aims for a three-peat against previous World Champion Tony Bouskill.
- Sir Eion Edgar Trans Tasman Highlander Championship with TransAg, New Holland & Float Factory: Australia’s Luke Reynolds returns with an Australian team to challenge the Kiwis – featuring Adam Miller, a four-time Rural Games champion.
- Bathurst Resources NZ Coal Shovelling Championship supported by McIntosh Farm Machinery: West Coast and Waikato miners, cross-fit teams, local athletes, police, and fire service compete.
- The NZ Arb Association presents the NZ Speed Tree Climbing Doubles Championship with Husqvarna, TreeHub and Silky Saws. Top men and women from the four New Zealand Tree Climbing regions will compete, including the world’s fastest woman, Steph Dryfhout.
- The NZ Sheep Dog Trial Association presents the Sam Strahan Sheep Dog Trials with PTS Logistics: New Zealand’s top sheep dog trialing couples compete in this gender showdown.
- The Skellerup New Zealand Gumboot Throwing Championships, it’s the North Island versus the South Island, including Stu and 14-year-old Doug McNie from Bulls, Richard and 15-year-old Jess Port from Pohangina Valley in Manawatu. They will be up against the South Islanders, including 16-year-old Liam Fox from Lincoln near Christchurch.
- Steve Hollander Egg Throw & Catch: Local cricket and softball athletes will compete against the general public to see who has the softest hands to catch the egg without an eggtrastophy.
- North Island Secondary School Shearing Championships: Feilding, Palmerston North Boys, Woodford House and will all be competing to take home the trophies.
Special Guests: The event will feature appearances from Olympians Emily Shearman (cycling) and Sarah Walker, ex-BMX champion, now on the IOC, who will participate in athlete meet-and-greets. Former All Black Dane Coles will interact with attendees, and shearing legend Sir David Fagan will engage with fans and competitors. Social media personality and Agri Edutainer Tangaroa Walker from Farm4Life will appear on-site, sharing digital content and festival highlights throughout the weekend.
The Games will also be officially supported by the presence of the Minister of Sport, Hon. Mark Mitchell; the Minister of Agriculture, Hon. Todd McClay; and the Minister of Rural Communities, Hon. Mark Patterson, alongside a dozen other MPs. The team of MCs keeping the energy high includes Stephen McIvor, Rowena Duncum, Erin Speedy, and Craig ‘Wiggy’ Wiggins.
Fun for the Whole Family (and Great Prizes!): Beyond the elite sport, the festival offers a massive “Have a Go” zone. Kids under 12 who complete five or more activities go in the draw to win $1,000 in vouchers, plus hats and t-shirts. Everyone who registers on the Ford Ranger NZ Rural Games App will be in the draw to win a share of $4,000 in vouchers, with spot prizes running all weekend.
Stay Connected: Can’t make it to Palmy? Watch all the action live on the Rural Games Facebook page, website, or YouTube channel.
TV One: Tune into TVNZ 1 on Saturday, March 29th (Easter Saturday) at 4:00 p.m. for a one-hour highlights show hosted by Bonnie Jansen (TVNZ Sports Reporter), Tangaroa Walker (Farm4Life), and the legendary Mark Leishman. The show will repeat on Saturday, April 4th, with nine further TVNZ+ programmes featuring rural sports to follow.