1961 First Golden Shears competition

The Golden Shears have become an icon of the shearing and wool-handling industry in New Zealand. They were first held at the Masterton War Memorial Stadium in 1961, with nearly 300 shearers from New Zealand and Australia, including the legendary Godfrey Bowen, taking part. Godfrey’s brother Ivan Bowen was the first Golden Shears champion.

In 1958 members of the Wairarapa Young Farmers’ Club had the idea of holdng a shearing competition at the annual Agricultural and Pastoral Show. Shearers came from all over the country to compete. The competition was such a success that the organisers decided to take it to another level.

The Wairarapa branch of Federated Farmers was approached to help run this competition. A bigger venue, the Masterton War Memorial Stadium, was secured and the name Golden Shears was agreed upon. Through the 1960s and 70s it became a hugely popular event, with fierce rivalry between some of the great shearers of the land.

By the late 1970s shearing had entered the world of professionalism. With more competitions and more prize money and sponsorship involved, many shearers adopted the attitudes and training regimes of professional athletes. The competition has come a long way from its humble origins, but the Golden Shears remains the ultimate prize for shearers in this country.