Hawke's Bay shearing Rowland Smith has won his seventh Golden Shears title.
The 60th anniversary of the event was held in Masterton, with more than 500 shearers taking part in a range of categories. over four days.
In the coveted open shearing championship on Saturday night, Smith took out the title again.
He held off a spirited challenge from 10-time finalist Nathan Stratford and first-time finalist and fellow Invercargill shearer Leon Samuels, who were second and third respectively.
Meanwhile the South Island had what organisers said was possibly its biggest night in the history of the event with a near clean-sweep of major titles.
It was highlighted by Canterbury-based Southland shearer Troy Pyper's role in New Zealand's first trans-Tasman test shearing win in three years, central Otago-based Gisborne woolhandler Joel Henare's eighth consecutive Golden Shears Open woolhandling title, and Marlborough gun Angus Moore's second PGG Wrightson National Shearing Circuit final win, eight years after his first.
One of the few northern triumphs was that of Te Kuiti woolhandler Keryn Herbert, who won the North Island Open Woolhandling Circuit final to claim a place in next season's New Zealand trans-Tasman team with Smith, Moore and Henare.
Shearing Sports NZ spokesperson Doug Laing said the event had been tinged with sadness after the death of shearing identity Koro Mullins last year, who played a major role in the events in the past including competition commentaries.
"Everyone has missed Koro through the summer."
Presentations had been made at the event this year, and his whanau had helped take over the roles he previously held, said Laing.
