Challenges for new A&P boss

New Hawke's Bay A&P Society president Richard Chambers (centre), with new vice-president Peter Penman (left) and new treasurer Regan Roach (right). Photo/Warren Buckland

New Hawke's Bay A&P Society president Richard Chambers may find some challenges in trying to remain a "private man" as he leads the organisation through possibly three of the most important years in its history of more than 150 years.

The first couple of months are expected to see the release of a report on the feasibility of the society and Hawke's Bay Racing coming together on the one showgrounds, an issue likely to push him to the front in a way quite different from the eras of grandfather Jack Chambers, who was president in 1962-1964, and cousin Neil Chambers, a president in 2002-2005 who remains active in society affairs.

Farming is in the genes, dating back at least to 1852 when John Chambers first began farming Hawke's Bay, and it might be that Richard Chambers is much more comfortable with the traditional role as the society prepares to stage the Royal Show in 2016 and 2017, closer to its rural roots.

Richard Chambers grew up on Mokopeka, and in recent years moved to a Waimarama Rd property where blocks are now being marketed in a subdivision which features views across the Tukituki River to Te Mata Peak and in the distant North, the Bluff Hill of Napier.

"I am a private man," he says, but conceding some things will change, he adds: "It's all for a good cause."

The thing is that running events on an expanse such as the 42ha the society owns on the northern outskirts of Hastings is much more about strategy plans than ever before, and the dual showgrounds-racecourse concept is definitely part of the "big picture" the society has to consider.

"It does make sense," he says, "but it is a case of whether in practical terms we can make it work."

The feeling amongst the parties is that if horse racing is to be relocated to the showgrounds, then it has to be a racecourse that is world-class, and certainly nothing less than the current racecourse, and if it happens, more land is needed - a "bigger footprint." It's important to keep the "momentum" going, he says. It is at least the second time there has been serious consideration of the possibility.

Whatever, it has to work for all the stakeholders, including the society's own show, the country's biggest equestrian event (the Horse of the Year Show), the country's longest-running Farmers Market, and more-recent arrivals such as the National Horticultural Field Day and the Edible Garden Show, as well as indoor events such as the Hawke's Bay Farmer of the Year Awards, and the Wine Awards.

As events they all enhance the society's credibility, and help "insure" it against the risks of bad weather on the all-important public holiday of the show in October, he says.

Joining him at the top table is a new vice-president, Taradale businessman Peter Penman, possibly the first non-farmer in the presidential arena.

Mr Penman's chemical trading business put him in contact with many of those in the rural sector and it was about seven years ago he joined the society's long list of volunteers, graduating to the executive in a sign of the evolving nature of the organisation's business.