The total bale was worth about $9000.
The bale was offered by Barrie and Yvonne Payne, from Visulea, near Timaru, and the price was probably the highest paid at auction for ''a year or two'', New Zealand Merino Company commercial manager Keith Ovens said.
Mr and Mrs Payne were recently named runners-up in the World Wool Record Challenge Cup, a competition hosted by Italian luxury clothing company Loro Piana, with their 11-micron bale.
It was good to see a return of some premiums for superfine growers and there was a distinct increase in 14 to 15-micron wool, Mr Ovens said.
It was the biggest offering of the year to date, with more than 2600 bales. He described it as a very solid sale, with some types increasing by 30c-50c for sounder, better-length wool.
Underlying demand was coming in for the 16.5 to 17.8-micron range, where there appeared to be renewed interest.
While there was still a long way to go to say it had recovered, ''every step in the right direction'' was positive.
A range of prices.-Superfine hoggets: The Bend (Ranfurly), two bales 14.4 micron, 69% yield, 1832 greasy, 2655 clean, two bales 14.8 micron, 71.2% yield, 1643 greasy, 2308 clean, three bales 15.3 micron, 73.4% yield, 1471 greasy, 2004 clean; Geordie Hill (Tarras), three bales 14.5 micron, 69.8% yield, 1832 greasy, 2625 clean, two bales 15.1 micron, 67% yield, 1410 greasy, 2104 clean; Earnscleugh (Alexandra), three bales 14.7 micron, 71.1% yield, 1699 greasy, 2390 clean, five bales 15.8 micron, 70.6% yield, 1310 greasy, 1856 clean; Bendigo (Cromwell), three bales 15.3 micron, 70.9% yield, 1420 greasy, 2003 clean; Merino Ridges (Oturehua), five bales 15.7 micron, 71.5% yield, 1325 greasy, 1853 clean, eight bales 15.8 micron, 71.7% yield, 1325 greasy, 1848 clean; Stonehenge (Ranfurly), 13 bales 16 micron, 70.5% yield, 1300 greasy, 1844 clean.
Superfine adults: Matarae (Outram), two bales 15.8 micron, 77% yield, 1500 greasy, 1948 clean; Craighurst (Ranfurly), two bales 15.9 micron, 79.1% yield, 1440 greasy, 1820 clean, three bales 16 micron, 79.8% yield, 1430 greasy, 1792 clean.
Extra-fine, fine and medium adults: Hummock (Waikouaiti), two bales 16.3 micron, 76% yield, 1288 greasy, 1695 clean; Hawksburn (Cromwell), six bales 16.4 micron, 72.2% yield, 1196 greasy, 1657 clean, eight bales 17.2 micron, 73.8% yield, 1155 greasy, 1565 clean, two bales 18.3 micron, 75.2% yield, 1144 greasy, 1521 clean; Dalrachney (Omarama), seven bales 16.5 micron, 72.3% yield, 1164 greasy, 1610 clean; Ben Dhu (Omarama), four bales 17 micron, 72.4% yield, 1133 greasy, 1565 clean; M/2 Hearts Matangi (Alexandra), eight bales 17.1 micron, 76.7% yield, 1199 greasy, 1563 clean, two bales 17.8 micron, 75.3% yield, 1186 greasy, 1575 clean; Blackstone Hill (Omakau), 14 bales 17.6 micron, 73.2% yield, 1166 greasy, 1593 clean.
Extra-fine, fine and medium hoggets: Waitangi (Kurow), two bales 16.1 micron, 73.9% yield, 1300 greasy, 1759 clean; Merino Ridges (Ida Valley), four bales 16.4 micron, 73.8% yield, 1221 greasy, 1654 clean, two bales 16.5 micron, 73% yield, 1166 greasy, 1597 clean; Waikerikeri (Alexandra), four bales 16.6 micron, 70.5% yield, 1087 greasy, 1542 clean; Te Aka (Kurow), seven bales 16.7 micron, 71.2% yield, 1087 greasy, 1527 clean; Lindis Peaks (Tarras), seven bales 16.7 micron, 67.9% yield, 1032 greasy, 1520 clean.
