New faces behind Wānaka A&P Show
The Wānaka A&P Show has a president again, along with three new board members.
One of the New Zealand's largest agricultural and pastoral events, the show attracts more than 40,000 people to the Showgrounds overlooking Lake Wānaka each year, bringing $28 million worth of direct economic benefit to the community.
Ahead of its 2024 edition, the show's governing body, the Upper Clutha A&P Society has reintroduced the president role, appointing Martin Paterson, and voted in new board members Keith Cooper, Craig Smith and Prue Kane.
Paterson has been involved with the Wānaka A&P Show for the past 10 years, specifically within the Wool Section, which he became the chief steward of seven years ago.
He says he hopes to maintain the existing high standards. "I see the success of the president role as working in collaboration with – and complementary to – the Show team and the board," he says.
The next Wānaka A&P show will take on 8-9 March, 2024.
It features such as equestrian and livestock events, home industry displays, wool classing, wood chopping, shearing and 500-plus trade stalls from around the country.
Special guests demonstrate their skills in the Life & Style Space as part of the show’s two-day entertainment lineup, and novelty activities include the famous Jack Russell Race and old-fashioned sheaf tossing.
Cooper, Smith and Kane will join Paterson and the existing board members, Dell Taylor and Mike Scurr.
Wānaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker says the board and management teams will prepare a robust five-year strategy and business plan in the coming months.
"The 2024 Show will allow us to lay the groundwork for encouraging new partnerships and long-term alliances in line with our Strategic Plan," she says. "The strategic direction will be enhanced by the addition of three new staff members specialising in trade, sponsorship and online communications.
"We are excited to have three remarkable women join the team – Maria Ottley (trade and sponsorship manager), Anne McLeod (financial manager) and Penny Bell (digital communications and event coordinator). They each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles, and it is exciting having such a wide range of skills within the team."
Tickets for the 2024 show will be available online from February 1, 2024.
