The Great NZ Muster

Thousands of visitors flock to the small rural town every year to witness the mayhem of the woolly charge down the main street.

Are we in Pamplona, Spain, for the world famous annual running of the bulls? No. We’ll be in Te Kuiti, New Zealand, at 2pm on April 10 for the world famous Scanda “Running of the Sheep”. Brainchild of former King Country farmer and “muster-mind” John Fagan, it’s the only event of its kind in the world.

Counting sheep

Te Kuiti’s cure for insomnia is the star attraction of Waitomo District’s Great NZ Muster. There’s even a prize for guessing the correct number of sheep on the run. Local intelligence puts it round the 2,000 mark, give or take. It’s not as easy as it sounds - the mob travels at a fair clip and even the “old hands” say it’s hard to tell whether they’re coming or going.

The Great NZ Muster kicks off at 10am, a traditional kiwi country fair with sideshows, fairground rides, food (of both the homemade and fast varieties), local arts and crafts and up to 100 stalls and exhibits from Taranaki to Coromandel.

Kiwi heartland stuff at its best, bringing rural and town folk together. Entertainment runs from rock and rollers and kapahaka groups performing on stage, to fun fair rides and amusements.

Shearing Champs

The Great NZ Muster coincides with the final day of the New Zealand Shearing Championships which showcases the cream of the country’s sheep shearers and wool handlers in hard out competition.

The Te Kuiti Cultural and Arts Centre is converted into a shearing shed for the event.

Mark your calendar to be in Te Kuiti on April 10, 2010.

Ewe should be there.

For more information contact:
Debie Glover at Waitomo District Council 07 878 0800 or email debieg@waitomo.govt.nz.

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