Maintaining urban rural link

The Hawke's Bay Show was a fortnight ago, but it was really only yesterday that president Peter Tod was able to get back to things on his farm near Otane and says with no disrespect for those at the show headquarters: "I think I've had enough of the office."
But he'll be back, the debriefs have already begun and the focus is on how to make it bigger and better next year.
On Monday, those involved in the sheep and wool sector were acutely aware that apart from the black and coloured variety, there was no sheep section and the covered sheep pens, more than 100 metres long - which have in the past held up to 1200 sheep - were empty.
The gulf tended to separate much of the show from the Great Raihania Shears in the pavilion at the northeastern end, an event Mr Tod regards now as the "great secret" of the show.
Consequently, the A&P has received the first tips on how the 4800sqm might be used in the future, whether at the show or throughout the rest of the year. This week, there was also the first review of the trade areas and observations, which noted that while some sites were empty as exhibitors ponder their options, others reported their most successful shows in terms of sales.
For Mr Tod, it might have been like running a farm where the animals were replaced by people, for it was three days of watching the weather.
Nothing could be debriefed or done about that, but there was a general breeze of satisfaction in the attendances, particularly on People's Day, where climate indifference had threatened the organisation at its most important time. "A bit of cold weather always turns a few people away," he said. "But after almost 150 years, it remains an iconic Hawke's Bay event and a lot of people can't stay away.
"It is a matter of remaining open-minded about what the general public want to see, while maintaining that strong rural-urban link."
People are not short of suggestions - the cost of getting in crops up from time to time - and many are able to be considered, with the focus on something for everybody. "One guy came up to me and said he'd never come to the show, but 'if there was something about motorbikes I'd be first past the gate'," Mr Tod said.
Memories of world speedway champion Ronnie Moore and assorted daredevils on the Wall of Death flooded back, but he hasn't ridden since 1975.
Regardless of the challenges, Mr Tod and numerous others show no sign of giving up.
"I don't think the recession has helped us, because it is tough out there," he said. "The man on the street is struggling a bit.
"But we think we put on a fantastic day and where else do you get all the events of the show in together?"
Mr Tod started in the sheep pens more than 30 years ago and says: "I don't do Rotary, I don't do Lions. This is my community service."