Attendees of the 20th Anniversary celebration event 2026 marked a significant milestone for Wayne & Kathy Newdick and their King Country Fencing Competition. In 2006, they set about starting a fencing competition after some prodding from a group of fencing friends. They were committed and passionate about creating a competition that encouraged and developed young fencers’ skills, and, 20 years later, it sits firmly amongst competitors as one of their favourite competitions on

In the demanding world of competitive fencing, Marton’s Tim Stafford has engineered a season for the ages. At 49, Stafford’s recent selection as a finalist for the prestigious PTS Logistics New Zealand Rural Sportsman of the Year award is a testament not to a fading legacy, but to a reign redefined. His 2025 campaign stands as a masterclass in sustained excellence, a phenomenal comeback that saw him reclaim the sport’s summit a full decade after first conquering it. Stafford’

When plans for the Levin bypass on State Highway 1 were presented to the local community prior to its construction, fencing contractor Dale Poulton saw an opportunity that couldn’t be missed. “I knew it was coming up because they’d been talking about doing the bypass for a long time, so they had some meetings in town organised by the Horowhenua Company,” he tells WIRED Magazine. The Horowhenua Company Limited is the region’s independent economic agency dedicated to driving im