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Story: King Country places

Shearing capital of the world

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Shearing capital of the world

Te Kūiti bills itself as the shearing capital of the world. Visitors to the town are greeted by a large sign proclaiming this status and by a 7-metre statue of a shearer at work. Three time capsules are sealed within the statue and will be opened in 2024, 2054 and 2084.

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How to cite this page

Kerryn Pollock, King Country places – Te Kūiti, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/34652/shearing-capital-of-the-world (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 6 December 2011, updated 1 March 2015.