Hunterville was established in 1884. The village takes its name from George Hunter who walked from Wellington and placed a peg on the site. The village has a population of 440 according to the 2006 Census and services the numerous farms in the district many of which are still in the hands of the original settlers’ families. There are a number of shops in the village as well as two pubs, a café and the Hunterville & Districts Settlers Museum which is open on Friday afternoons or by arrangement and is well worth a visit.

The Hunterville Huntaway Festival is held annually and this year it has been held on Saturday  1 November.

The Festival commences at midday with a dog barking competition followed by the Children’s Shemozzle and Interschool Challege which is run in the town using some of the main race obstacles.  This event is open to primary school children 9 years and over.

The feature race, the Shepherd’s Shemozzle, now entering its 11th year is run mid afternoon.  This gruelling 3 kilometre event is centred around the Shepherds and their Huntaway dogs competing over an endurance and obstacle course.  Previous years ahve seen competitors swallowing raw eggs, munching on dry weetbix washed down with a can of warm beer, huhu bugs with cold cooking oil or a sheep’s eye and cream!  What delicacy will be available this year?

The route and finer details of the Shepherd’s Shemozzle are not revealed to contestants until the Shepherd’s meeting minutes before the race.  Last year the course underwent a major change with the race starting in town.  Who knows where it will start and finish this year? - the only thing that organisers can guarantee is that the Shepherd’s Shemozzle will be just that “A Shemozzle”.

A reasonably new addition to the annual event is the Shearing Competition.  Five local Shearing Contractors compete with three shearers per team - not your normal speed shear.  Time is taken over three sheep being shorn with the shearers working in a tag team.  Each team will have two preliminary rounds then the best two teams will compete in a final ‘Shear Off’ to find the winning team who will take home the title of ‘The Shearing Contractors Challenge’.

Throughout the day various forms of country entertainment, together with children’s activities and numerous quality stalls will be available.

The Hunterville Huntaway Festival is a fun day and one not to be missed!