Agrodome gets facelift at 40

One of Rotorua's best-known tourist attractions celebrated its 40th birthday with the opening of a new building.

Two generations of the Harford and Bowen families were present for the opening of a new entrance and reception area at the Agrodome yesterday.

The attraction launched on September 6, 1971, under the partnership of Godfrey Bowen and George Harford.

Last night, their sons Paul Bowen and Warren Harford celebrated the anniversary by welcoming the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce to the opening of the new reception building.

Mr Bowen told how his father returned from a six-month shearing tour.

"He was told about this guy George Harford who was talking about a new sheep show. It went world class within a year."

Mr Bowen credited that success to the promotional efforts of George Harford that made the Agrodome the "must-do" tourist attraction it remains today. He also attributed the attraction's longevity to the quality and passion of its staff.

"You can have champion sheep and lovely alpacas in the paddock, but you also have to have staff who can talk to tourists 365 days a year and share their passion."

Mr Harford described the successful family partnership that had continued on into his generation and now into a third generation.

"Our fathers were business partners for many years, but we have actually outdone them. We have been business partners since 1983."

He said the pair were able to make decisions quickly, "over a bottle of shiraz" in the "shed on the hill" that is their office, to adapt to industry changes and weather the difficult periods.

"And we have come through a few major downturns in the last 40 years. But in the last three years, we have seen record turnover, despite the economic situation, and we are very proud of that."

However, that process is now changing as the families begin their partnership with South Island iwi group Ngai Tahu Tourism.

Mr Harford said the partnership had been a hard decision, made on the day it snowed in central Rotorua last month.

"We had never seen snow at the Agrodome in 40 years and I couldn't help but think George and Godfrey were looking down on us, although I'm not sure quite what that meant!"