Extreme enduro and moto trials rider Jake Whitaker is one of the new additions to the Kaitāia A&P show this year with feats that will amaze the crowd.
Extreme enduro and moto trials rider Jake Whitaker is one of the new additions to the Kaitāia A&P show this year with feats that will amaze the crowd.
After 137 performances, the Kaitāia A&P Show is one of the oldest in the country and this year it’s marking another big date - the 100th year of its grandstand that organisers hope can get an Historic Places listing, given its long service to the community.
Preparations are well advancedfor the 138th iteration of the long-running show on February 28 at the A&P Showgrounds on South Rd, with plenty of rural and farming fun and entertainment on offer for all the family, organiser Denise Finlayson said.
The show is one of the longest-running in the country and has been cancelled only a couple of times due to weather, and twice due to Covid, in its long history. With Kaitāia being a country town, the A&P Show is the chance for people to show what the rural community has to offer, in a fun, family-friendly environment.
Champion horses and other farm animals feature heavily in this month’s 138th Kaitāia A&P Show.
The Kaitāia A&P Show is self-proclaimed as the “top” A&P show in the country. Its inception in 1886 makes it the oldest community-run organisation in the district. Attractions will include equestrian, ponies, animals, fairground attractions - including free rides for children - stalls, food vendors and plenty of family fun.
Finlayson said one of the new attractions for this year will be Kiwi extreme enduro and moto trials rider Jake Whitaker, who will perform intricate and daring tricks that will excite young and old.
She said the showground grandstand was turning 100 this year and the Kaitāia A&P Association is looking at applying to Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga for historic place recognition for the structure.
The kids’ rides are free at the Kaitāia A&P Show at the end of the month.
Finlayson said the old grandstand had served the community well over the past century, and an Historic Places designation would be fitting recognition for it.
Entries to all outdoor show sections close on February 25.
Finlayson said while she would always like to see more entries, people should try to get their entries in as soon as possible to help organisers plan the event programme.
She was hoping for even larger crowds than the normal 5000 to 7000, and that the new attractions would spark more interest among the younger generation.
Northland Regional Council will be at 138th year of Kaitāia A&P Show giving out vital environmental information.
Finlayson said a Top Energy planned maintenance outage in Kaitāia that day was unlikely to affect the show as many people would be working from generators on the showground site.
Top Energy announced a notice of major network maintenance for Kaitāia and surrounding areas on February 28 and March 1, between 6am and 6pm.
“I know [Top Energy] have urged us to save power as much as possible [that day] but with most of the farmers likely to be in town, there’ll be far less demand on those rural areas.”
Finlayson said there will be plenty of food options available for showgoers, with 43 booked so far.
