Forklift operators are in training as the township of Palmerston North prepares to defend New Zealand's National Forklift Driving Championship title for a second time.

The past two national winners have hailed from Palmerston North.

Competitors will contest the regional championships from August 26 to August 28. The winner of the Palmerston North contest, considered the toughest of the five regional finals, will represent the region and compete for a NZ7500 (USD4410) prize at the national titles in Auckland this year, the Evening Standard newspaper reported.

Chief judge Maurice Flood said the competition had been popular since it began in 1992, and he believed it had helped decrease NZ forklift fatalities from six a year in 1992 to two last year.