About
The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games is New Zealand’s premier celebration of rural sports.
A great family weekend of traditional sports, entertainment and heaps of opportunities to have a go.
The Square, Palmerston North
14-15 March 2020
Entry is FREE!
'Sports that built the nation - Ngā tākaro whakatipu i tō tātou whenua'
At the heart of the Games are a series of traditional sports attracting top competitors from throughout New Zealand and Australia. You can expect to see several national and world champions battling for the prestigious New Zealand Rural Games titles.
Together with Sport New Zealand and rural sports associations around NZ we’ve developed exciting new formats for sheep shearing, speed fencing, speed tree climbing and other traditional sports. We’ll also be hosting the ANZAXE Wood Chopping Championship, Harness Racing Gearing Up Championship and the Southern Hemisphere Highlander Champion.
Kids ‘n Country features a host of fun events over both days to keep under-12s active and entertained. And there are some great spot prizes.
As well as the competitive element, the Games will feature a fun-packed festival programme with delicious local food offerings and heaps of fun ‘Have a Go’ events like olive stone spitting, gumboot throwing and – of course – cowpat tossing!
The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games is a fantastic family event, so see you in Palmerston North in March!
The Games are managed by the non-profit NZ Rural Games Trust established in 2014 – CC50438 . The Board Chair is Margaret Kouvelis and the Board is made up of Athol Stephens, James Stewart, Richard Lange, Richard Fitzgerald, Steve Hollander and Brendan Bourke.
Discover
Find out more about Palmerston North and Manawatu how to get to the Games.
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A great family weekend of traditional sports, entertainment and heaps of opportunities to have a go.
