Veteran champion shearer David Fagan has made it through to the final of the New Zealand Open championship in Te Kuiti – his last event after retiring from 33 seasons in open-class shearing.

Fagan, 53, winner of the title 16 times, plus once when it was earlier held as the King Country Shears, qualified in fifth place in a top six headed by Hastings pair Dion King and Rowland Smith.

The others are David Buick, of Pongaroa, and two long-time fellow Te Kuiti competitors, nephew James Fagan and Dean Bal.

David Fagan also shears tonight in the New Zealand Shears Circuit final.

He will bow-out after 33 seasons of open-class shearing which has gained him six hundred and forty wins worldwide.

The winner's of tonight's two finals will make up the New Zealand team for a UK tour in June.

Fagan still hasn't announced whether he'll accept a place on the team.