Lively old school show

One of the features of the Wairoa A and P Show, which starts tonight, is the rodeo tomorrow night and on Saturday.

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.

The society extended its horse and pony accommodation over the last year but finds itself still needing stabling at Te Kupenga Racecourse, where the Wairoa Races, the next biggest annual event in the area, will be held on February 25 and 28.

More than 300 horses and ponies will be at the Wairoa show for the dozens of equestrian events.

A special feature of the show is the Friday night programme, including the rodeo starting at 5pm tomorrow, and a speed shear starting at 7pm.

They serve as entrees to Saturday's New Zealand Rodeo Cowboys circuit rodeo and the Wairoa shearing championships, which form part of a unique showgrounds corner also featuring the show's sheepdog trials.

A farm fencing competition fills another agri-sports space, while the popular Rural Ironman for the first time includes a junior category.

The wool fleece competition remains a significant part of the show, despite having disappeared from some shows, while the home industries classes, which once reflected the knitting and cooking homestead lifestyles of the farm, are being extended to include new categories, including a children's Lego competition, scarecrow competition and men's kitchen baking.

TV personality Te Radar will perform a wide range of duties, including judging a busker competition for local musicians.