increase font size
A clown entertains the crowd at the Wanaka A&P show.
The Wanaka A&P Show has been nominated as a finalist in the annual New Zealand Association of Event Professionals Event Awards.
The popular show, which attracts 35,000 people over two days every March, has been nominated in the Best Established Community Event category.
Other finalists for this category are Balloons over Waikato, Meridian Gardens Magic and Ports of Auckland Round the Bays. The judging panel includes Tourism NZ chief executive Kevin Bowler, Creative New Zealand's Stephen Wainwright, award-winning journalist Amanda Millar, Brown Bread director Jo Blair and event consultant Chris Simpson.
Entries for this category must demonstrate an event's content innovation, how it achieved target audience and community outcomes, how the community was engaged in the event, media support and the use of good management practices.
Wanaka A&P Show is the epitome of a community event, coordinator Jane Stalker says.
"It is run by locals for locals – and each year we give generous donations to worthy organisations in recognition for the community's support of the Show. Last year we gave away $80,000 to community groups following the 2014 Show," she says.
"We meet the community's needs by providing an event of major economic significance for Wanaka, showcasing the very best of rural life and agricultural excellence, providing quality grounds for our competitors and seeking out the very best entertainment to appeal to our target audiences."
The not-for-profit Upper Clutha A&P Society owns the Wanaka A&P Show. Society president Robbie Gibson says the nomination is testament to the hard work of the organisers, the volunteers involved and the support of the local community.
"Each year we strive to put on the best event possible, and we are honoured to be nominated as finalists," says Gibson.
"The Wanaka A&P Show is an iconic community event for Wanaka and the Southern Lakes that has grown into an event of national significance."
The 2015 show brought almost $10.9 million worth of direct economic benefits to the area this year, according to a recent independent study.
The NZAEP Event Awards take place in Wellington on July 22.
North Canterbury pig farmer Steve Sterne has been honoured with NZ Pork's Outstanding Contribution Award, recognising his 27 years of dedication to excellence in the sector.
OPINION: It seems every bugger in this country can get an award these days.
Waikato's top share farmers of the year, Logan and Sian Dawson, are chuffed to see their kids so proud of their achievement.
This year's Kate Sheppard Memorial Award recipient will support research to ultimately help New Zealand farmers choose forages for best production and drought resistance.
Irish agritech company MagGrow has won the International Innovation Award at the 2020 Fieldays Innovations Competition.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sirma Karapeeva has resigned from the role.
The winners of the 2026 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at Copthorne Solway Park in Masterton on Thursday evening.
Environment Southland is welcoming this week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the release of Blaptea elguetai, a leaf‑feeding beetle that will help control the highly invasive Chilean flame creeper.
This March, the potato industry is proudly celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March alongside the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the vital role women play across every part of the sector — from paddocks and packhouses to research, leadership, and innovation.
Fruit trader Seeka posted a record profit and returns to shareholders in 2025.
Recent weather events in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and Canterbury have been declared a medium-scale adverse event.
OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons rural Manawatu families are the latest to suffer under what he calls the…
OPINION: If old Winston Peters thinks building trade relations with new nations, such as India, isn't a necessary investment in…
