Hilux New Zealand Rural Games

A great family weekend of 'sports that built the nation', the Hilux New Zealand Rural Games take place in Palmerston North.

Top athletes from throughout New Zealand and Australia compete for the prestigious Hilux New Zealand Rural Games titles. From sheep shearing & speed fencing to speed tree climbing and other traditional sports like Gumboot Throwing and Cowpat Tossing.

We’ll also be hosting the ANZAXE Wood Chopping Championship, Harness Racing Gearing Up Championship and the NZ Rural Highland Games ‘Heavies’ Trans-Tasman Competition that has been so popular at the first two events.

Have a Go events give you the opportunity to try out something new - from cowpat tossing, olive stone spitting and wine barrel racing through to speed milking, gumboot throwing, egg catch and throw and Russian egg roulette.

Kids ‘n Country features a host of fun events over both days to keep under-12s active and entertained - plus tree climbing, digger driving and riding a cart drawn by a miniature horse.