Spain might have the Running of the Bulls, but New Zealand has the Running of the Wools.
One thousand sheep were let loose in a Manawatu town ahead of this weekend's Rural Games.
Residents and visitors lined the route for the stampede, which celebrates Manawatu's farming heritage and highlights the importance of merino to New Zealand's rural economy.
The sea of white fluff meant the potential for chaos was high.
"Everyone's wondering, are they gonna run off? Are they gonna go somewhere else?" said Manawatu District Mayor Helen Worboys.
"It was pretty cool," said an onlooker from Pennsylvania. "We don't have that many sheep where I'm from. That was definitely the most sheep I've seen in one place."
The Running of the Wools is the curtainraiser for this weekend's rural games in Palmerston North, where sports like rugby and cricket take a backseat to gumboot throwing, speed milking and cowpat tossing.
Games founder Steve Hollander says the decision to place the rural games in a city was deliberate.
"The city slickers don't see this sort of thing. It's nice to see this come to their town, their city."
Even the local politicians will be getting involved, with Palmerston North Mayor Gary Smith challenging Ms Worboys to an egg throwing match.
"She can do the catching," joked Mr Smith.
The games will bear witness to a record attempt from an Olympian, with Dame Valerie Adams swapping the shotput for the gumboot as she tries to beat the world record distance in gumboot throwing.
One thousand sheep means there's one stinky downside, with spectators thankful Newshub's cameras couldn't capture smell.
As for the fate of the 1000 sheep, they'll go back to Potaka Station, unaware of their local celebrity.
Newshub.
