Royal Show still a showcase for Hawke's Bay

Hawke's Bay A&P Society past president Hamilton Logan has plenty of good memories of the show, seen here with a 1984-1985 Colin Wilkinson cartoon of himself. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN.

Having served the society behind the 2017 Royal A&P Show for more than a third of its 150 years, it's fair to say Hamilton Logan has near unrivalled knowledge of how it has changed over the years, and how it can continue to promote Hawke's Bay.

"I've been going to the shows for possibly about 88 years. I've got strong views about its development over that time, whether they be positive moves or [not]", he said.

Mr Logan has missed only a handful of Hawke's Bay Shows since his first as a preschooler about 1929, and none since he became head of the Sheep Section in 1960.

He stepped up to become Hawke's Bay A&P Society president in 1980, and he was made a life member after completing the term in 1983.

Although he has witnessed major changes to the show - its attractions and attendees - the opportunity it provided to showcase the region remained the same.

As the show was established to give farmers commercial opportunities, it had lost its relevance in this way, he said, with farmers now purchasing stock differently, or attracted to bigger events.

The show had "lost a lot of its commercial punch", Mr Logan said, like the loss of the Presidents Lunch, which would draw together farmers, farm leaders, heads of agricultural firms, and board members.

"It used to be a huge commercial, agricultural meeting place.

"All of those people came to the show and promoted with their particular industry and that doesn't happen now because there's only one firm, all the rest have gone," he said.

Livestock numbers at the show had also steadily reduced, partly due to the advent of performance breeding by stud masters.

Another big shift was that countries which traded with New Zealand no longer sent their representatives - this "brought another dimension" to the show as locals used to rub shoulders with international visitors, who were encouraged to visit "some of the things that were making Hawke's Bay tick".

But other changes have opened up new paths for the show - which had always been "very much a day out with the family", when the majority of people would bring their own picnic lunches.

"There [weren't] many thermos around in those days, so we went to the hot water boilers scattered around the showground to draw boiling water to make the tea.

"That in itself was quite an institution, when you were waiting in the queue to fill your teapot you'd talk to strangers, which was all part of the entertainment."

Bringing food to the show would be a rarity now - instead, numerous stalls selling cuisine is one of its main drawcards.

The change in purpose for the show means the team running it have to find the right "mix" of events to attract both rural, and urban visitors.

"If you don't get that mix really right, well they won't come and then you've missed an opportunity."

While its commercial element may have changed, it was still a forum to promote the region.

"I think that's where the emphasis must go now, in promoting Hawke's Bay in a very similar way that Art Deco weekend in Napier is another thing that promotes the aesthetic side of Hawke's Bay.

"In that respect there's no question that having a show is still possibly the principle way of promoting Hawke's Bay and stimulating opportunities and trade."

He encouraged the public to attend next weekend's show, where he said there would be something for everyone.

"It's the biggest event for Hawke's Bay. It's put on for them, we put the show on for Hawke's Bay."

The team behind the show had taken public feedback on board from last year's event.

"They've done a huge amount of change with this show. They've reached out to give something to everybody.

"I do think what they've put on this year will be different, it should be quite exciting."