The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Covid 19 Delta outbreak: Mt Benger A and P Show cancelled

By Shannon Thomson
Otago Daily Times·
13 Dec, 2021 08:00 PM3 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Society secretary Dinah Wales. Photo / Supplied

Society secretary Dinah Wales. Photo / Supplied

A&P shows are the latest events to feel the pain of life under Covid-19.

The Mt Benger A&P Show in Roxburgh is the most recent in a string of A&P show cancellations caused by uncertainty surrounding the virus.

The society's committee decided last Tuesday to cancel the annual show, which had been scheduled for February.

Society secretary Dinah Wales said the committee's decision to cancel was unanimous.

"We decided it was not in the interests of our community to be running an event like it," Wales said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The only other time the show had been cancelled was during World War 2, she said.

Instead, the committee would focus on maintenance and development of the racecourse venue the event was held at in preparation for the show's return in 2023.

In Queenstown, the Lake Hayes A&P Show is no longer proceeding in January.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

On its website, the Lake Country A&P Society committee stated: "Given the challenges associated with operating events over the summer due to Covid-19, coupled with the uncertain timing of the move to the new traffic-light system, it was decided that proceeding with the event is sadly not possible."

Further south in Invercargill, the Southland A&P Show held at Donovan Park has also been cancelled.

Southland A&P Association president Paula Bell said the executive committee and volunteers were "devastated" by having to cancel but it was in people's best interests.

In the past, almost 10,000 people have attended the show.

Discover more

New Zealand

Ashburton A and P Show goes ahead without crowds

08 Nov 09:30 PM

'Just not feasible': Gore A and P Show cancelled

23 Nov 08:00 PM

South Otago A and P show goes on despite drizzle, Covid

28 Nov 09:15 PM
New Zealand

Govt support wanted for smaller A and P shows

30 Nov 09:00 PM

"It brings the country to town - it's an incredible event," Bell said.

There had not been enough directives on how events such as A&P shows could proceed in the current Covid climate, which influenced the decision the cancel, she said.

"We have got to look after our community."

However, it is not all bad news.

Wanaka A&P Show organisers have confirmed their show will return on March 11-12 for those who are double vaccinated and hold a vaccine pass.

The Wanaka show is the second-largest in the South Island and in previous years has drawn crowds of 40,000 over the two days.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

In Omakau, the Central Otago A&P Association is forging ahead with plans for its 125th-anniversary show, to be held in February.

Event manager Jennifer Huddleston said the decision to continue was not made lightly but the event's significant anniversary, as well as it being a royal show, were taken into account.

"Because it's the 125th show, we have to keep trudging on, hoping we won't get a red light - it's a difficult one," she said.

"It's about honouring what's gone before us and celebrating the past 125 years."

Vaccine passes would be necessary to attend, and the area's high vaccination rates had also been a consideration, Huddleston said.

The committee had sought feedback from members of the community, many of whom wanted the event to proceed, she said.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"We're doing it for the community and it's something to look forward to with everything being cancelled."

Save

    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

'Huge shock': Community mourns beloved postie killed on final delivery

07 Jul 05:59 AM
The Country

'Amazing achievements': Hawke's Bay Export Awards finalists announced

07 Jul 04:25 AM
The Country

Seabed mining project sparks alarm over impact on South Taranaki fisheries

07 Jul 03:57 AM

From early mornings to easy living

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

'Huge shock': Community mourns beloved postie killed on final delivery

'Huge shock': Community mourns beloved postie killed on final delivery

07 Jul 05:59 AM

David Bullock, 78, was killed on his last delivery before retiring.

'Amazing achievements': Hawke's Bay Export Awards finalists announced

'Amazing achievements': Hawke's Bay Export Awards finalists announced

07 Jul 04:25 AM
Seabed mining project sparks alarm over impact on South Taranaki fisheries

Seabed mining project sparks alarm over impact on South Taranaki fisheries

07 Jul 03:57 AM
'Dearly loved' 21yo killed in Stewart Island hunting incident

'Dearly loved' 21yo killed in Stewart Island hunting incident

07 Jul 01:41 AM
Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP