His father Desi sheared 2.25 million sheep over 50 years and son Kopere Downs reached his first million last week on a farm near Taihape.
It's no big deal for a shearer to get that far but there was a small celebration anyway, he said.
"We don't drink at work but we cracked up a beer each and they all raised their bottle to me. Some friends gave me a little present but other than that it's just another day."
Mr Downs has been working for Hourigan Shearing Services for the last 15 years. He started shearing as a job 20 years ago, despite his father's wishes.
"I pretty much grew up in the sheds. But the shearing life is a hard life. Dad thought I was smart enough to do something else, but in the end I couldn't handle working inside," he said.