Local Focus: Central Hawke's Bay is all show

The annual A&P Show has been the cornerstone of rural communities throughout New Zealand - a place for town and country to come together.

But in recent years many shows have been fighting for their survival.

Not so in Central Hawke's Bay where the tradition continues to thrive, as it's done for more than a century.

Competition entries at the Waipukurau showgrounds were up on the weekend because the Wanganui Show, which had been running for 145 years, was cancelled.

Former Central Hawke's Bay Agricultural & Pastoral Society president Dan von Dadelszen said equestrian events were its mainstay.

"There are more and more younger people riding ponies these days so they want to compete, so they come to the shows," he said.

"There is always a good atmosphere here. We try to look after our competitors and the general public and give them the most enjoyable day they can have.

"We have shearing, dog trials, horse events, you have a children's petting zoo, the bull riding on the Saturday night is very popular, there are dog trials, sheep, this year we have a trolley derby and this afternoon there is also a 'top-town' competition between teams of four or five."

The society is working hard to stay relevant for the next 100 years.

"I think it's important that we get some of the younger generation getting involved because if that doesn't happen then we might be in trouble ourselves as a show," Mr von Dadelszen said.

Made with funding from