The New Zealand Shearing Championships committee has worked alongside the Waitomo District Council (WDC) for more than 30 years to turn Te Kūiti township into the Shearing mecca it is known for. The NZ Shearing Championships, The NZ Shears Running of the Sheep and The Great New Zealand Muster becomes centre stage for the District once again.

The event will fill Te Kūiti’s main streets with musicians, children's activities, arts and crafts stalls, culinary delights and so much more.

The Muster is where the Waitomo District shows visitors just how special it is to be a part of this vibrant rural community.

Here's what you can expect:

BE ENTERTAINED

Entertainment during the day will be provided by the region’s finest talent including musicians, stilt walkers, magicians, balloon animal artists and more!

Children's entertainment is "always popular" says Helen Beever, WDC Manager - Community Services. Children can have a go on the rock-climbing wall, Scooby Doo inflatable activity station and shoot hoops in our Basketball competition. "All of these activities are free, so no one misses out on the fun," adds Helen.

For those looking to squeeze in a bit of shopping, the streets will be lined with arts and crafts stalls and other knick-knacks, so you can pick up a range of items, in a variety of prices to suit all budgets and tastes.

DELICIOUS FOOD

Hungry? There's no need to bring a packed lunch, unless you really want to! Our regular Muster selections are always a hit, and this year will be no exception, there’ll be all the crowd favourites to delight your taste buds with.

BE SUN SMART

As always, we're hoping for great weather. In anticipation of this, please remember to slip, slop and slap, and don’t forget to bring water to keep well hydrated.

RUNNING OF THE SHEEP

The NZ Shearing Championship Committee provides the famous Running of the Sheep, which draws crowds from all over the North Island, this event completes the day at 2pm.

Te Kūiti's main streets will be closed to traffic, so head in early to get a good park. It's going to be a great day out for the entire family, so make sure you come along. There really is something for everyone at The Great New Zealand Muster!