The times may be a-changin' but the Wairoa A&P Show is retaining its own distinct rural appeal as it strives to remain viable and true to its own people in the modern battle for the entertainment dollar.
Society president Dave Martin says the show -- billed as a three-day event starting today and ending on Saturday but extended by extra horse and pony events to Sunday -- relies on the rural town and countryside that has kept it going for more than 115 years.
Thus it caters to the needs of locals plus any visitors seeking to uncover the area's rustic secrets while some bigger shows have had to go big on trade exhibits, commercial sites and extra entertainment.
"We try to provide what the people of Wairoa want at their show," Mr Martin said. "We've got beautiful grounds that suit a summer show."
Coming at a particularly busy time for the A and P show movement -- with shows also being held tomorrow at Kaikohe in the Far North, Takaka at the top of the South Island and Winton, in Southland -- the Wairoa show has attracted especially good entries for its horse and pony events, which draw the biggest numbers of visitors to the town for the week.
