Prize bulls the size of tractors, candy floss and hot dogs, sheep shearing, wood chopping, ferris wheels and beautiful jumping horses have been the stuff of A&P shows in New Zealand for more than 15 decades. Next weekend Whanganui will celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first show held in
Whanganui celebrates 150 years of agricultural and pastoral shows
The crowd enjoyed the horse parade at the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral show in 1910. Photo / Tahui1-016436
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A&P shows hold happy memories for thousands of New Zealanders who attended the shows in more than 100 locations around the country.
Family memories
Lynne Holmes, who grew up as Lynne Currie in the Whanganui suburb of Aramoho, recalls the show as an eagerly anticipated outing each year.
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Holmes, who now lives in Wagga Wagga in New South Wales, was captured by a roving photographer with her mother and four sisters when they attended the Wanganui A&P Show in the 1960s.
"Looking back, I know it was hard for mum dragging five girls around town shopping or attending special events like the A&P show," she said.
"With a big family and only one income in the 1960s this was a real treat and we were allowed one ride or one sideshow game each. I was too afraid of the ferris wheel so I opted for the ball in the clown mouths.
''I remember enjoying visiting the animals the most - especially the pigs and piglets. And the hot dogs on sticks were the greatest treat of all."
Horse power
Equestrian events have been a mainstay of the Whanganui shows since jumping competitions were introduced in the 1890s. By the 1950s, dressage and jumping competitions were organised under the rules of the FEI (Federation Equestrienne Internationale).
Koria Davidson (nee Teki) was a Whanganui showjumping champion in the 1950s and 60s and performed at "night jumps" on her thoroughbred bay horse Patohe to help raise funds for the Whanganui War Memorial Centre built in 1960.
"Unfortunately I don't have any surviving photos from the Wanganui A&P shows," she said.
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"I do have one of my sister Pauline and me double banking on our chestnut mare Blaze at the Palmerston North A&P Show in 1958."
The earlier shows featured horse parades where draught horses, especially Clydesdales, were shown by proud owners.
A 1910 photograph, possibly taken by Frank Denton or another photographer from Tesla Studios, shows a crowd watching the horse parade at the Wanganui A&P Show.
Tough times
Over the decades, participation in the equestrian events in Whanganui waned to the point they became non-existent in the 2000s.
And it was not only the horses that were a no-show - competitions for the best pigs, sheep and cattle had not been part of the show for more than 20 years and the home industries section had also dropped out.
Wood chopping, lamb and calf competitions, and a few trade stalls had continued, along with the amusement rides and sideshows, but the A&P show had become unprofitable.
The entire show went into recess in 2017 when a number of long-serving committee members stepped down and replacements could not be found.
By the following year, a dedicated group of enthusiasts had banded together with a shared determination to revive the show, with equestrian events as the primary focus.
The revival
Current Wanganui A&P Show organiser Debbie Hirini said the success of the 2018 show had provided a strong foundation that has resulted in the show growing in popularity despite Covid-19 restrictions.
"We put our heads together to bring back an even bigger event," she said.
"The first year we were blown away at how big we actually were. We all worked very hard for months to get it up and running and we were extremely pleased with the outcome."
In 2021, the show went ahead despite the need for public exclusion.
Half of the show took place at Wanganui Racecourse and the other half was held at Macnab Domain in Kaiwhaiki Rd, with numbers limited to 100 at each venue. By the time competitors and organisers were accounted for, there was no room to have members of the public attend.
"Last year was a major challenge with the Covid restrictions and we weren't sure if we would be able to run at all," Hirini said.
"But again we put our heads together and came up with a plan to split it up over two venues, allowing us to still go ahead."
Hirini said the team of organisers had grown and so had the number of sponsors.
"We now have an excellent crew who put in time for months leading up to the show.
"We get judges from all over the North Island coming to Whanganui for the weekend and we aim to attract competitors from all over as well.
"This year marks 150 years since the show started and, although these days we are purely equestrian, we have planned a great programme with extra awards and fun entertainment."
The 2022 show is on November 12-13. The Saturday night entertainment includes children's games and a pet parade, a speed class competition and a dinner.
There will also be a fundraising sausage sizzle on Friday afternoon with proceeds going to support Whanganui Riding for the Disabled.
"We have awesome sponsors including some that have supported us for a few years and we will be inviting them to join us at the show," Hirini said.
"Here's to an amazing show this year to mark the milestone successfully."
Waverley A&P Association will celebrate its 100th milestone this year and the show is on Tuesday, November 15.
The show offers equestrian events, dog trials and agricultural club events for children as well as trade exhibits, food, drink and other stalls. Organisers say it will be a fun day out for all of the family.
