In a separate eight-competitor showdown Karauria will be trying to win first place at the World Championships, while Henare, from Gisborne, will be trying to win a place for the championships in France to defend the title to win a third individual world title, and defend the title he won in Invercargill in 2017.
In the shadow of Henare throughout her 13-season open-class career, the 30-year-old Karauria yesterday claimed her 20th open title in New Zealand, while Henare has won more than 100 finals.
The runner-up yesterday was Keryn Herbert, from Te Awamutu, another strong Golden Shears prospect, while Henare had to settle for 4th place, pipped for third place by Masterton woolhandler Samantha Gordon, one of eight Gordon family members who will be competing at the Golden Shears.
Former world champion and eight times New Zealand Shears open champion Sheree Alabaster, of Taihape, just missed a place in the final of the event, which attracted 29 of the day's 61 competitors across the three grades.
The championships provided the first senior win for Gisborne competitor Tramon Campbell, while in-form Southland woolhandler Krome Elers, of Mataura, won the junior final.
Results from the Pre-Shears Wairarapa Championships:
Open final: Pagan Karauria (Alexandra) 101.12pts, 1; Keryn Herbert (Te Kuiti) 127.212pts, 2; Samantha Gordon (Masterton) 160.12pts, 3; Joel Henare (Gisborne) 165.2pts, 4.
Senior final: Tramon Campbell (Gisborne) 170.924pts, 1; Lucky Garrett (Eketahuna) 220.34pts, 2; Tameka Hema (Gisborne) 236.37pts, 3; Bubba Girl Hawkins (Martinborough) 252.1pts, 4.
Junior final: Krome Elers (Mataura) 118.66pts, 1; Sunni Te Whare 162pts, 2; Paeone Dean 175.16pts, 3; Lucas Broughton (Whanganui) 227.532pts, 4.
North Island Circuit:
Senior final: Lucky Garrett (Eketahuna) 1; Ngaira Puha (Kimbolton) 2; Azuredee Paku (Masterton) 3; Tramon Campbell (Gisborne) 4.
Junior final: Cortez Ostler (Kimbolton) 1; Lucas Broughton (Whanganui) 2.
