Wood-Mizer Showcases Live Sawmilling at NZ Rural Games

February 3, 2026

Wood-Mizer New Zealand has announced its sponsorship of the New Zealand Rookies Championship, presented by the New Zealand Axemen’s Association, reinforcing its ongoing commitment to rural skills, craftsmanship, and community traditions.

The championship will take place as part of the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games on Friday, 13 March, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The event brings together the country’s top emerging woodchopping athletes, competing for the national rookie title and the opportunity to progress within the sport.

Woodchopping has long been closely linked to forestry and sawmilling, sharing a focus on precision, strength, and respect for timber.

“There’s a strong connection between woodchopping, forestry, and sawmilling – it’s all about skill, respect for timber, and mastering a craft,” says Alexa Vorster, Marketing Manager for Wood-Mizer New Zealand. “Supporting athletes at this grassroots level aligns naturally with what we do and the communities we work alongside.”

The Rookies Championship plays a key role in developing future talent, providing young competitors with a national platform to test their skills and gain exposure within the sport.

Steve Hollander, founder of the Ford Ranger New Zealand Rural Games, says the support of industry partners is vital to the event’s success. “The Rookies Championship is always a highlight of the Games. Having Wood-Mizer involved helps strengthen pathways for these young athletes as they develop and move forward in their careers.”

Alongside the competition, the Wood-Mizer team will be on site showcasing a range of portable and industrial sawmilling equipment, including the LT35 Hydraulic Sawmill. Recently featured on the 2025 season of The Block, the LT35 demonstrated how raw logs can be efficiently turned into usable timber under real-world, high-pressure build conditions. Visitors will be able to view live sawmill demonstrations, learn more about sawmilling opportunities, and speak with the team about equipment and applications for forestry, farming, lifestyle blocks, and small-business use.

Wood-Mizer will be demonstrating its equipment across all three days of the NZ Rural Games, with live demonstrations running from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm on Friday, 13 March 2026; Saturday, 14 March 2026; and Sunday, 15 March 2026.