A resurgence in entries across most classes of the Royal New Zealand Show which starts in Hastings on Wednesday is a sign the turnstiles will return to the days of attendance figures topping 30,000 people, says new show boss Sally Jackson.
The growth is led by a 20 per cent increase in horse and pony entries, to more than 3000, many of which will be targeting points for Horse of the Year Show events in March, she said the Hawke's Bay A&P Society's general manager yesterday at Showgrounds Hawke's Bay Tomoana, venue for both of the major events.
There are expected to be over 1000 entries in other animal and other classes, including the cattle section which goes ahead by special arrangement amid the M.bovis scare.
The increase is timely with Royal Agricultural Society president Geoff Smith due to make an announcement on Wednesday on the future rights to the staging of the Royal Show — now in its fourth consecutive year based with the Hawke's Bay Show.
At the Poverty Bay A&P Show in Gisborne Smith confirmed on Saturday the RAS, the umbrella of 97 A&P shows throughout the country, has made a decision on what has been a troublesome issue over the last decade, since the end of a an annual rotation of the title among five shows, including Hawke's Bay.