Steve Hollander is the founder of the NZ Rural Games Trust and a key figure in promoting New Zealand’s rural sports and community. In 2013, his pioneering vision led to the creation of the Trust, which successfully launched flagship events including the NZ Rural Games, the Rural Sports Awards, Agri Futures, and Clash of The Colleges.
His entrepreneurial drive extends beyond events. He is also involved with Future Post, an innovative company that recycles plastic waste into durable fence posts. A Christchurch-born sports enthusiast with a degree in Physical Education from the University of Otago, Steve has played multiple sports at a premier club level and still enjoys cricket and a hit of golf on a Wednesday afternoon. His favourite rural sport is wood chopping.
After extensive international travel, he returned to New Zealand, where his experience in the travel industry evolved into a specialisation in event travel management for major sporting events. Along with his wife Karen, he is passionate about harness racing and has been breeding, owning and amateur driving horses for many years out of their lifestyle property north of Auckland.
James effortlessly transitions between the vibrant networking scene of Palmerston North’s cafes and the serene environment of his farm. His passion for the Rural Games is evident through his role as a trustee, advocating for the concept of uniting country and city and fostering a sense of community togetherness.
When he’s not busy tending to his farm, James enjoys spending quality time with his family, indulging in his love for sports, immersing himself in reading, staying abreast of business and governance matters, actively engaging in environmental work on his farm and savouring a good cup of coffee.
James’s vast farming background, wide-ranging experiences, and authentic dedication to community involvement makes him a valuable asset, contributing a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project or event he takes on.
Daniel is a communications and events professional dedicated to promoting New Zealand’s rural sector. For the past seven years, he has been instrumental in managing marketing, communications, and sponsorship for prominent national events, including the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games and the Ford NZ Rural Sports Awards.
As the General Manager of Agri Futures, he oversees its flagship “Clash of the Colleges” events held nationwide – inspiring the next generation into the food & fibre sector. His expertise extends to previous work promoting major agricultural showcases like the South Island Farmer of the Year and South Island Agricultural Field Days.
Daniel’s commitment to community was nationally recognised in 2012 when he won the PRINZ Supreme Award for his public relations work with the Student Volunteer Army following the Christchurch earthquakes. He applies this same strategic and community-focused approach to his current role.
His favourite rural sport is Coal Shovelling as he grew up on the West Coast of the South Island where coal is king! His forebears have mined coal for a few hundred years! Daniel lives on a smallholding north of Whanganui, where he enjoys the rural lifestyle that underpins the events and communities he supports.
After extensive international travel, he returned to New Zealand, where his experience in the travel industry evolved into a specialisation in event travel management for major sporting events. Along with his wife Karen, he is passionate about harness racing and has been breeding, owning and amateur driving horses for many years out of their lifestyle property north of Auckland.
Ali Wieringa is a respected sports administrator, coach, and athlete with a deep commitment to athletic development from grassroots to the international level. She has been a foundational member of the NZ Rural Games (NZRG) team since its inaugural event in Queenstown.
Her career is distinguished by high-performance coaching roles, during which she has guided teams including NZA, the Magic, Northern Force, and various provincial and age-group sides. Her experience is comprehensive, encompassing governance and mentorship roles such as serving as the National Performance Director of Welsh Netball, a Netball NZ selector, a mentor for the Tania Dalton Foundation, and a judge for the Bay of Plenty Sports Awards.
Beyond netball, Ali is the Relationship Manager at the Aquatic Survival Skills Trust in the Bay of Plenty, the Co-Director of Kerali Golf – Golf Events Company, and a Board member of the Adastra Foundation.
Born and raised on the family farm in Walton, Ali’s favourite rural sport is Timbersports – however she’s not fussed on the Hotsaw! A former top-level netball athlete, her extensive coaching and administrative career fuels her passion for helping others achieve their potential in sport and life.
Ralph is a dedicated rural sports liaison and logistics specialist, bringing over three decades of on-the-ground experience as a fencing contractor from Wainui on the Hibiscus Coast, where he has lived his entire life. His deep, practical knowledge of rural life and infrastructure is the foundation of his role.
His involvement with the NZ Rural Games began when his friend, founder Steve Hollander “twisted his arm,” leading to a successful partnership where Ralph has contributed significantly to event logistics and problem-solving for numerous programmes. He acts as a vital bridge between the organisation and the rural sports community.
A passionate advocate for the athleticism of rural trades, his favourite rural sport is fencing, noting that “people don’t realise how fit these fencers are.” He has been watching fencing competitions for years and also holds a great appreciation for the sport of shearing. His role seamlessly combines his professional expertise with his genuine enthusiasm for celebrating rural skills as sport.
Kain’s relationship with the Trust is already well-established, having led the Agri Futures Secondary School Teacher’s Advisory group, providing critical insight from the education sector.
Karen was born and raised in Hawke’s Bay before relocating to Auckland in the early 1980s. She built a successful career in the travel industry, specialising in commercial and incentive group travel, coordinating and escorting groups to destinations all around the world. Her role required meticulous planning, strong relationships, and a calm approach to managing complex logistics—skills that continue to serve her well today.
A lifelong passion for horses has seen Karen involved in equestrian sport across many disciplines. She later expanded her expertise into training harness racehorses, gaining her amateur driver’s licence and competing at a high level. Her dedication and talent were rewarded when she won the New Zealand Championship and went on to represent New Zealand at the World Championships in Austria—an achievement she remains extremely proud of.
In her role as Administration Manager, Karen is very much the engine room behind the scenes. She works closely with sponsors and competitors, manages travel arrangements, oversees accounting, and ensures all operational details are handled efficiently so events and activities run seamlessly.
Outside of work, Karen is a keen golfer and an enthusiastic sports follower with a broad range of interests. From the fast-paced world of Formula 1 to traditional rural pursuits, her sporting passions are diverse. Her favourite rural sports include speed fencing and the Highland Games, reflecting her appreciation for both athleticism and heritage-based competition.
Kelsen Butler’s professional career has been in sports marketing, media, and event management.
After five years as TVNZ’s Sports Marketing Manager, Kelsen co-founded Sports Inc. in 2002 with the late Phillip Leishman.
Sports Inc. has travelled the globe, filming content for many of the world’s leading media providers. The company has also filmed live events and produced a range of documentary programmes and short-form content.
In recent years, Kelsen and his team have travelled to The Masters at Augusta National to produce ‘behind the scenes’ content with golfer Ryan Fox, produced the film Dare to Be Different, which celebrates the golfing journey of Michael Campbell, and created the live television events National Tribute – Sir Buck Shelford and National Tribute – Sir John Kirwan. The Sports Inc. team has proudly been with the Ford Ranger Rural Games since its inception, producing the highlights show for broadcast television.
As the self-proclaimed “token Auckland city-slicker”; on the trust board, Richard takes great pride in bringing a unique perspective. Additionally, as an avid golfer grappling with the intricacies of the sport, he finds the recent inclusion of the Rural Golf charity event to be an irresistible drawcard.
With his extensive legal expertise, unwavering support, and genuine commitment to bridging the gap between urban and rural communities, Richard is an indispensable asset to the Rural Games, inspiring confidence and driving its continued success.
Craig’s journey to becoming a driving force behind New Zealand’s iconic rural events began on UK farms. This hands-on background fuels his deep understanding of the rural community. After moving to New Zealand in 2009 and cutting his teeth on major festivals, he settled in Queenstown and founded Summit Events.
Since the very first NZ Rural Games, Summit Events has been the engine room for its world-class delivery. Craig and his team work on the event year-round, managing everything from technical operations and volunteers to signage and waste management. This dedicated, full-service approach, along with their strong, trusted relationships with suppliers, ensures the event runs seamlessly.
Beyond the Rural Games, Craig co-owns New Zealand’s largest off-road mountain bike event, the Motatapu, and leads Summit Events in delivering major contracts for the Queenstown Lakes District Council, including the renowned Queenstown Christmas Show and New Year’s celebrations. His passion is creating exceptional experiences that celebrate community and place.
Despite his extensive experience in the corporate and governmental sectors, Athol managed to retain his connection to farming. Memories of fencing, shearing, and haymaking stayed with him, enabling him to engage in conversations, up to a point, within the farming community.
The opportunity to help the New Zealand Rural Games Trust with governance and the Trust’s financials came about when the Rural Games were being planned. Initially, the Games were held in Queenstown, and Athol stayed with the Board when the Games moved to Palmerston North – “I’ve loved every minute of it,” he said.
Kris is an experienced events professional with nearly three decades of delivering top-tier experiences at New Zealand’s leading sporting and corporate occasions.
Since 1996, she has led event operations, starting her career with the Warriors. She then progressed to other high-profile assignments, including Super Rugby, the America’s Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and the Rugby World Cup on home soil. Her expertise covers every aspect of event delivery. This includes meticulous logistics coordination, stakeholder management, and operational execution.
Kris’s attention to detail and commitment to excellence ensure memorable experiences for participants and guests alike. Her favourite rural sports event is watching the Highland Heavies athletes showcasing remarkable power and versatility across multiple disciplines.
Her practice covers conference management, incentive programs, and bespoke special events. She has a proven track record with complex, multi-faceted events. She brings strategic planning, operational precision, and creative problem-solving to each engagement.
Kris’ deep understanding of event infrastructure, vendor coordination, and guest experience management, combined with her extensive network across New Zealand’s sporting and corporate sectors- makes her a trusted partner for organisations seeking flawless event delivery.