He believed the show's enduring popularity had a lot to do with its strong family ties. His own children, for example, were the fifth generation in their family to compete in the show.
The 120-plus trade sites, offering everything from pickles to upmarket cars, were booked out weeks before the gates opened. The equestrian ring's 237 events saw a record number of entries, while the small animals tent was as crowded as ever.
Mr Moor said the show had been held in Waimate North every spring since 1842, when it started as a way for people to show their animals and produce. It has been on the current site since 1888; the show hall has changed little since it was built in 1891 by volunteer labour at a cost of just over £8.
This year's Kids Can Cook competition was a clean sweep for Opua School, which nailed all four places in the final. Eleven-year-old Holly Mather won the title for the second year running with a special fried rice, while Jamie Struthers, 13, was runner-up for his crepes with blueberry sauce, bananas and mint.
This year's talent quest saw young performers competing in dance and music, doubling as the semi-final for the Be Free concert in Kerikeri in February. The music section was won by duo Lydia and Tabitha, with second place going to 13-year-old Guy Yarrall of Paihia and third to Copper Seven, a hard-rocking trio made up of Kerikeri teens Nathan George, George Anson and Ewan Gordon.
