Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Organisers behind the annual running of the sheep in Te Kuiti say the event was a success, despite the chaos caused when hundreds of the animals took detours around the town.

Altogether, 1,477 Romney ewes were sent off on the one-kilometre dash, but many did not make it to the finish line.

Spokesperson John Fagan says the event attracted about 10,000 people - the biggest ever crowd.

Mr Fagan says the big crowd narrowed the street and spooked the sheep.

He says volunteers, including shepherds and their sheep dogs, took about an hour to round up the ewes.

He says organisers will make sure the crowd is kept well back from the sheep run next year.