Aria Sports Day Waitangi Day 2026
Food trucks ran dry, plums stood in for eggs, shearers from overseas took on the locals and a dog called Trev competed in the sheep trials as Āria’s much‑loved sports day delivered another crowd‑pleasing classic. Senior writer Mary Anne Gill was there.
The Āria Sports organising committee, from left: Blair ‘Munta’ and Anna Nelson, Kirsty McCormick and Peter Foss. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
They don’t keep attendance figures at the Āria Sports Day – one of the many generous sponsors ensures it is free to get into the event.
But Blair “Munta” Nelson, who chairs the St Helen’s Domain Board, has his own way of measuring success. He estimates the 2026 event on Waitangi Day attracted more than 700 adults, plus however many children they brought with them.
“Two of the food trucks ran out of food halfway through lunch,” he said.
If it had not been for a timely call to the Piopio Lions Club, the van the club bought in 2019 might have run out too.
The sports day is now an international event, with shearing competitors from the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia vying with King Country locals – at least when it came to the food.
Piopio Lions Club only has 24 members so it was a big commitment to be at the annual Āria Sports Day on Waitangi Day. From left, Sharon Todd, Steve Cooper, Gavin Todd, Val Perry, Ken Perry and Moetu Cooper. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Nelson and the rest of the organising committee – wife Anne, Kirsty McCormick and Peter Foss – have spent weeks preparing for the event first held in 1904 for the area’s farming families.
Those original settlers, brought in under the Improved Farm Settlement Act and allocated 30 blocks of around 81 hectares each, looked at the undulating land and knew they had their work cut out for them.
An annual sports day provided a chance to let their hair down, and every year since – except during the world wars and one year of Covid – that is exactly what they have done.
Foss says the reason the event has maintained its popularity and is now arguably the longest‑running rural sports day in the country, is its ability to adapt.
Charlotte Downey, 9, of Te Kūiti upset her tired mount Storm who shows his displeasure with a flick of his tail. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The colour race, now into its second year, was a huge success with organisers thinking ahead by adding a water slide afterwards to ensure the colour was washed out. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Take the children’s colour run, introduced two years ago. It prompted the domain board to install outdoor showers heated by a gas cylinder so youngsters could be cleaned off before heading home.
Children’s running races were a throwback to past generations, but the sack race had to be paused. In years gone by, they used potato sacks, but the plastic versions created too much noise.
“It’s putting off the horses,” an eventing official said of the proximity to two challenging jumps.
Even the traditional egg and spoon race had to change – plums were used instead.
Shearing has always been a mainstay and the attraction of seeing some of New Zealand and the United Kingdom’s top shearers in action drew in the crowds for the New Zealand vs Wales first test match.
Wales might have its own principality, but King Country royalty was present. Former world champion shearer Sir David Fagan and his son Jack were in attendance.
Wool handling judges relax on the bales before the shearing finals at the Āria Sports Day. From left Rochelle Ashford (Marton), Pirihira Hamiora (Te Kūiti), Linda Tarrant (Ōwhango), Kylie Leineweber (Te Kūiti), Bo Pakau-Clark (Masterton), Holly Tarrant (Napier) and Tara Marshall (Te Kūiti). Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Having the Fagans involved was enough to ensure a narrow New Zealand win but, given Wales’ recent rugby struggles, there might well be suggestions in the valleys that shearing should become the national sport.
Sheep trials – strangely reminiscent of the era when A Dog’s Show, with its quirky Flowers on the Wall theme song, dominated Sunday night television between 1977 and 1992 – were held in the lower part of the domain.
Piopio Collie Club legend Graeme Brier was there again with trusty Trev, whose mesmerising stare had sheep meekly filing into the pen.
Family time at the horses, from left: Lynda Ward (Ōtorohanga), Georgia, 12, Ada, 3, Charlie, 9 with mum Alisha Gubbins (Te Awamutu) while patient pony Milly, 22, is festooned in prize winning sashes. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Equestrian events included hack and hunter classes, round‑the‑ring showjumping and a first‑start ring.
Long‑time judges Kevin and Janice Guthridge, who have moved from Āria to nearby Mapiu, returned to preside over the children’s events. Young riders also enjoyed bending and barrel racing.
Pony Milly, now 22, carried her third Gubbins child into competition and was adorned with prize winning sashes.
Three-year-old Ada Gibbins from Te Awamutu is the latest to ride what grandmother Lynda Ward of Ōtorohanga describes as a “bomb proof” pony.
Pointing the way is Te Kūiti dog trialler Chris Hoare as he and Trick shepherd the sheep into the pen at the Āria Sports Day sheep trials.
Georgia, 12, who attends Te Awamutu Intermediate, was the first, followed by Charlie, 9, a student at Te Awamutu Primary.
All three are members of the Ōtorohanga Pony Club.
Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow and fiancée Michelle Erikson were there. They sponsored one of the shearing events through their transport company OTL Group Ltd and used the event as an opportunity to promote their upcoming Truck and Ute Show at the Island Reserve.
There was no sign of Waitomo mayor John Robertson who lives in nearby Piopio, but Dow was quick to note why.
“It’s been a bloody busy few weeks since the election.”
And busier times are ahead, he told The News, referring to the local government shake‑up that could see Dow and Robertson part of a mayoral group taking over governance of the Waikato Regional Council.
Ōtorohanga mayor Rodney Dow with fiancée Michelle Erikson were one of many shearing sponsors in attendance. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
But this was not the time or place for politics.
As it has been for more than a century, Āria Sports Day was about neighbours, noise, dust, sheep, horses and letting off steam – just as those first farming families intended.
Results:
Horse & pony section major winners: Champion Hack on flat: Hayley Petersen, Reserve Champion hack: Carol Forsyth, Champion Hack Hunter: Alice Crofskey, Reserve Champion: Emilia Howes, Champion pony on flat: Belle Stanley, Reserve Champoin pony: Lily- Rose Morehu, Champion Pony Hunter: Lily- Rose Morehu, Reserve Champion: Talia McFarlane.
Dog trials: Open: T Addenbrooke (GI Joe) 90, A Lamb (Zeva) 89, C Baker (Nia) 87.5.
Intermediate: C Hoare (Meg) 75.
Maiden: A Lamb (Zeva) 89.
Leading the way in the sack race at Āria Sports day on Waitangi Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Helping hand: After the colour run, the water slide into a water filled hole at the bottom allowed kids to clean up at the Āria Sports Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
The colour race, now into its second year, was a huge success with organisers thinking ahead by adding a water slide afterwards to ensure the colour was washed out. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Lily Rose Morehu of Te Kūiti on Kiwi is safely over this jump during the Āria Sports Day on her way to first place. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Sophie Downey, 13 of Te Kūiti on Punga clears this jump during her second-placed finish at the Āria Sports Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Job well done. These King Country legends reflect on another successful Āria Sports Day, from left: Blair ‘Munta’ Nelson, Peter Foss, Peter McCormick and Chris Hoare. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
They’re off in one of the children’s races at Āria Sports day on Waitangi Day. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
