Let the games begin!
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
Held in Dargaville, the three day event is a certain crowd pleaser for all Northland people and many more from the regions south.
Visitors aged over 16 will pay $12 to enter, instead of $15; groups with two adults and up to three children will pay no more than $30.
"This makes access to the event more affordable than most other attractions and events in the country at a time when entry prices are going up rather than down," says Northland field days president Lew Duggan.
Duggan says Northlanders have been firm supporters of the event for 32 years and the committee wanted to reward the many loyal attendees.
"I know people who have been to every show since it began in 1984," says Duggan.
"They have been baked by sun, soaked by rain and buffeted by cyclone-force winds; we need to say 'thank you'."
Exhibitor numbers are almost at capacity, so many visitors will need to attend more than one day.
Around 90% of the sites were booked as early as December, says event organiser Meagan Edmonds. Exhibitors have been pouring in much faster than previous years and offering a wider range of products and services.
"If you had to choose between this and previous events, this would be the year to attend," says Edmonds. "There will be so much to see and do."
