This year's 52nd event this month introduced live streaming, adding some 7500 viewers to its audience.
Organising committee chairman Warren White said that was ''amazing''.
The technology was also used to decide the winner in the Friday night speed shear, after judges couldn't tell with the naked eye.
While some organisations struggled to find helpers, if anything needed to be done for the shears there were two volunteers ready to do it, he said.
A highlight of the competition was a transtasman blade shearing test, won by New Zealand's reigning world champions, Geraldine's Allan Oldfield and Fairlie's Tony Dobbs. They beat fellow world championship finalists John Dalla and Ken French.
The home-and-away series continues in Dubbo next month.
Nathan Stratford, from Invercargill, successfully defended the open machine shearing title. His 10th Waimate win puts him just one behind Sir David Fagan.
Stratford was the fourth fastest to shear his 16 sheep, but the quality of his work elevated him to first. Manawatu's Aaron Haynes was second and Invercargill's Leon Samuels third.
Pagan Karauria, of Alexandra, dominated the open woolhandling, showing the skills that won her the New Zealand Merino Shears title at home the previous week. Amy-Lee Ferguson, of Invercargill, was second and Alexandra's Foonie Waihape third.
Brandon Maguire-Ratima, from Winton, won the senior shearing and Mitchell Menzies, from Ranfurly, took the intermediate title.
The senior woolhandling went to Ohai's Sunni Te Whare and the junior to Balclutha's Heaven Little.
