Masterton, New Zealand News

Woolhandling judges Fiona Walker and Janet Smith check fleeces during the Otago shearing and New Zealand woolhandling championships in Balclutha yesterday.

This is the last round of the circuit to select the New Zealand representatives to compete at the world championships in Masterton in March.

He is the brains behind some of the most successful films in history but Hollywood legend James Cameron apparently plans to junk his jet-set lifestyle for life on a farm in South Wairarapa.

An example of one of Germany's deadliest World War 1 fighters, a Fokker D-8 , will be make its first flight at this year's Warbirds Over Wanaka International Airshow.

Wairarapa's balloon festival is to go ahead in March - opening with a tribute flight to the 11 victims of the January 7 ballooning tragedy.

The events are the third and fourth legs of a national team selection series, so two shearers can be selected to represent New Zealand at the World Championships, in Masterton.

The New Zealand Farmers Federation has called for sheep shearing to become an Olympic sport, hailing top wool-clippers as world-class athletes.

In the United States, one of Australia's main beef markets, the drop in meat consumption has been more drastic.