TVNZ backs Rural Sports

Rural sports are set to reach a national audience like never before. Next year, TVNZ 1 will air the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games 2026 highlights programme and stream a further nine programmes on TVNZ+.

The Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, New Zealand’s largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts, is held in Palmerston North every March and is a three-day extravaganza featuring rural sports and ‘have a go’ activities for all the family.

Melodie Robinson, TVNZ’s Head of Sports, Events, & Partnerships, said rural sports have been a part of New Zealand’s landscape since the 1850s.

“We are proud to be able to support the sports that have been the backbone of generations of rural New Zealanders in shearing sheds, paddocks, racetracks and at A&P Shows across the motu.”

NZ Rural Games Founder Steve Hollander said New Zealand has some of the greatest rural sports athletes in the world.

“It’s fantastic that TVNZ is throwing their weight behind the athletes and helping to grow the rural sports audience,” said Steve. “This is one of the greatest investments in rural sports in more than a generation, and TVNZ should be congratulated for supporting sports that helped build our nation.”

TVNZ 1 will broadcast the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games 2026 programme, with nine additional rural sports programmes streaming on TVNZ+:

  • NZ STIHL TIMBERSPORTS® Men’s Championships. The programme will also feature the New Zealand Women’s and Rookies Championships
  • NZ Fencing Competitions presents the Future Post NZ Speed Fencing Championship in association with Stockade.
  • The Tony Chapman NZ Speed Shearing Championship
  • The Sir Eion Edgar Southern Hemisphere Highlander Championship with TransAg and New Holland
  • The Sam Strahan Memorial NZ Sheep Dog Trials with PTS Logistics
  • Ford New Zealand Rural Sports Awards
  • NZ Speed Tree Climbing Pairs Championship with Guardian Trees and Husqvarna
  • NZ Gumboot Throwing Championship with Skellerup, NZ Coal Shovelling Championship with Bathurst Resources and McIntosh Farm Machinery and the Steve Hollander Egg Throwing Championship
  • Agri Futures Clash of the Colleges and Rural Games Have a Go events
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TVNZ backs Rural Sports
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.