Taranaki's Don Trigger takes out two medals at his 17th NZ Masters Games

Masters Games snooker pairs Don Trigger (right) and John Rehman. Photo / Supplied

The biennial New Zealand Masters Games in Whanganui have become somewhat of a tradition for one Taranaki man.

New Plymouth's Don Trigger spent Waitangi weekend in Whanganui marking his 17th Games - one of the only competitors to have attended every event in the city.

Trigger took home two medals from this year's events, adding to the collection he began at the first Masters Games in 1989.

The 72-year-old said he first attended the Games to give himself a challenge.

"It was just another challenge. I was a very keen indoor bowler at that stage so I entered into the bowls side of things," Trigger said.

Trigger continued entering the indoor bowls competition until 2011 when he tried his hand at snooker, a game he played in his youth.

"I decided to go into the snooker as well. I dropped the bowls and continued with the snooker.

"It's something I played as a teenager. I first started snooker at about 13 when my brother Graham was a member of the volunteer fire brigade in Inglewood. Most of the fire brigades had a snooker table, so at a young age I got reasonably good at it."

The retired man now has a total of 19 Masters Games medals.

Over the weekend he won a bronze in the over-65 snooker singles and a silver in the over-65 snooker pairs alongside partner John Rehman.

"Of course I'm a bit older than that. I'm coming up 73," he said.

"It's a great sport, and there were some very good participants in the snooker too."

Trigger said he kept coming back because the event was always a highlight of his year.

"Just going back and seeing the same people each time. We're all a couple of years older at this stage of life. It's good fun.

"I'd certainly encourage anyone to go. It's a great time, it really is."