Nominations are sought for the 2025 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards

Rural Sports Award Recipients

Nominations are now open for the Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards!

Convenor of Judges, Paul Allison MNZM said the 2024 awards were his first and he was incredibly impressed by the calibre of nominees and professionalism of the awards.

“The awards play a vital role in recognising and celebrating the incredible achievements of rural sportspeople. They not only shine a spotlight on those who excel in their fields but also acknowledge the significant contributions of those working behind the scenes who ensure the success of rural sports.”

Nominations are open to rural sports organisations or clubs involved in wood-chopping, shearing, horse-riding, tree-climbing, shooting, rodeo, harness racing, highland heavies, gumboot throwing, ploughing and fencing. The award categories are:

    • The PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year Award
    • The RX Plastics New Zealand Rural Sportswoman of the Year Award
    • The Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year Award
    • Permobil Rural Sportsperson with a Disability
    • The TAB Outstanding Contribution to New Zealand Rural Sports Award
    • The Courtesy Ford Lifetime Legacy Award
    • The Sir Brian Lochore Memorial Award for Outstanding Sportsperson from a Rural Background – finalists and the winner are announced on the night of the awards.
    • The Ford Supreme New Zealand Rural Sportsperson Award – judges select one overall winner to go home with the Supreme Award.

    Paul Allison is urging sports administrators and Regional Sports Organisations to submit nominations for the NZ Rural Sports Awards. Nominations close on 24 January 2025, and finalists for the Men’s, Women’s and Youth categories will be announced in February 2024. While winners of other awards will be announced on the night of the awards.

    Save the date

    The Awards will be presented at a gala function at Awapuni Racecourse on Friday, 7March 2025, during the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games Weekend in Palmerston North.

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    Nominations are sought for the 2025 Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
    Steve Hollander

    Steve Hollander

    Founder

    Steve Hollander is the founder of the NZ Rural Games Trust and a key figure in promoting New Zealand’s rural sports and community. In 2013, his pioneering vision led to the creation of the Trust, which successfully launched flagship events including the NZ Rural Games, the Rural Sports Awards, Agri Futures, and Clash of The Colleges.

    His entrepreneurial drive extends beyond events. He is also involved with Future Post, an innovative company that recycles plastic waste into durable fence posts. A Christchurch-born sports enthusiast with a degree in Physical Education from the University of Otago, Steve has played multiple sports at a premier club level and still enjoys cricket and a hit of golf on a Wednesday afternoon.  His favourite rural sport is wood chopping.  

    After extensive international travel, he returned to New Zealand, where his experience in the travel industry evolved into a specialisation in event travel management for major sporting events. Along with his wife Karen, he is passionate about harness racing and has been breeding, owning and amateur driving horses for many years out of their lifestyle property north of Auckland.