Te Puna Speed Shear fundraiser on a mission to pay for Milo's training

Local favourite Craig Morton in a previous Te Puna Speed Shear event.

An adorable assistance dog may be going to a well known sheep shearing family with the help of this year's Te Puna Speed Shear event.

The 18th year of the sheep shearing event will be a fundraiser with profits going to Te Kuiti shearer Digger Balme's family, for an assistance dog for their autistic son.

Assistance Dogs New Zealand staff custom train puppies who are destined to be placed with people with disabilities. But it's not cheap, dogs cost around $20,000.

Organisers Maree and Craig Morton from Aongatete have been running the event for the past seven years. They wanted to help after meeting Digger's son. Puppy Milo is in training and it is hoped he'll be perfect for the family, depending on how training goes.

"Normally it's just an event to bring the country to the city, to let people know what it's all about. Some people go their whole lives without a seeing a sheep being shorn," Maree says.

"This is the first time it has been a fundraiser, we just wanted to help."

About 35 shearers from around the country, and some from overseas, come to participate in the speed shear in divisions open, senior and veterans.

A prize of $2000 is up for grabs in the open section.

Local favourites include Gary Sobye and Craig and Simon Rose. The top time of all was 15.93 seconds set by Jimmy Samuels last year.

Shearing Sport NZ judges look for no cuts, ridges, no cruelty, no tugging and no plucking.
"They're looking for the cleanest shear," Maree says.

Ray White Te Puna Speed Shear at Top Shot Bar in Te Puna on January 13 from 5.30pm. Gold coin donation to raise money for Assistance Dog NZ.