National records in two iconic rural sports were broken at the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games today. Olympic decathlete Brent Newdick and teammate Luke Wainui (both Auckland) became the new national record holders in the NZ Egg Throwing and Catching […]

New Zealand rural sportsmen dominated their Australian counterparts in all three trans-Tasman events at the 2016 Hilux New Zealand Rural Games in Queenstown today. Day one of the second annual Games featured the ANZAXE Trans-Tasman Wood Chopping Championship in association […]

Talented young athletes from five rural sports have been recognised in a new scholarship scheme established by the trust behind the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games that take place in Queenstown this Waitangi weekend (6-7 February). The scheme recognises each […]

The unique sight of hundreds of merino sheep herding through downtown Queenstown is returning with the second annual ‘Running of the Wools’ next Waitangi weekend during the 2016 Hilux New Zealand Rural Games. Organisers have announced a new sheep friendly […]

Neil Graham, co-founder of Mainfreight and first patron of the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games, passed away last week aged 71 after a long battle with his health. Known fondly as ‘Grumpy’, Neil had been a personal friend of Games […]

Organisers of the first ever Hilux New Zealand Rural Games confirmed it will become an annual event after attracting more than 7,500 spectators to Queenstown over the Waitangi holiday weekend. An estimated crowd of 5,000 people lined the downtown streets […]

The weather cleared and the sun shone as the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games began in Queenstown. Big crowds enjoyed national championships for sheep dog trials and coal shovelling, the South Island Gumboot Throwing Championship, the ANZAXE Trans Tasman Wood […]

Twenty students from a South Auckland primary school are heading to Queenstown this weekend to try their hand at gumboot throwing and experience the spectacle of a merino sheep run in the resort town. Jetstar is flying the group of […]

Trans-Tasman rivalries will be on display this weekend as top ‘heavies’ battle to prove who is the strongest during a special Highland Games tournament at the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games in Queenstown. The inaugural NZ Rural Highland Games Heavies […]

The outdoor Queenstown Summer Concert this Waitangi weekend will feature Kiwi music legend James Reid of the Feelers as well as New Zealand country pop star Jody Direen and a special appearance from music and comedy duo, the Topp Twins. […]