But the consortium dissolved with the withdrawal of New Zealand Performance Beef Breeders Ltd, which had partnered with the Manawatu-West Coast and Feilding A and P associations and the Manfeild Park Trust to stage the Royal Show. The group's demise means there will be no Royal Show this year and the Hawke's Bay A and P Society has accepted an offer to stage the event, effectively a national championship of agricultural and pastoral prowess, for the next three years.
Mr Grigg, whose own Canterbury Show had relinquished rights mid-contract in 2011, said several shows in the North and South islands had bid for the royal status beyond 2014, and it had come down to a choice between Manawatu and Hawke's Bay. But when the Manawatu situation emerged, an offer was made to the Bay.
Hawke's Bay had been an historical venue for royal shows on a five-show circuit, and the last Royal Show in Hastings in 2003 attracted huge entries and crowds. Royal event status was granted for the sheep and cattle classes at the biggest Hawke's Bay show since then, last year's 150th anniversary show, which was attended by RAS officers as they considered the bids.
"It was a fantastic event and showed the community was right behind its show," Mr Grigg said. "I was amazed."
The same royal event status will be attached to the beef and sheep sections at this year's show, to be held on October 22-24, but at the Royal Show next year all other royal classes are expected, including horses, goats, pigs, and alpaca.
Hawke's Bay A and P president Robert Pattullo and general manager Brent Linn said it's a "fantastic" outcome after the success of the 150th anniversary show.
Mr Pattullo said the society had already spent some months reviewing its show operation with a view to "seeing what a modern show will look like in the future.
Appreciating changes, which have included declines in stock showing, he said: "There is a whole range of ways of trying to appeal to a wide cross-section."