Wednesday, 18 March 2020 10:07

Mackenzie Highland A&P Show cancelled

Written by  Jessica Wilson
This year's Mackenzie Highland A&P Show has been cancelled. This year's Mackenzie Highland A&P Show has been cancelled.

New Zealand’s largest one-day show has been cancelled due to Covid-19.

Last year, the Mackenzie Highland A&P Show saw between 12,000 to 15,000 people.

The decision to cancel the event on Easter Monday in Fairlie was made in response to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s request for all gatherings of over 500 attendees to be cancelled or postponed to reduce the spread of Covid-19. 

“In light of the health risk to the Mackenzie District at this time, we see this as the most socially responsible path to take,” said president Bryan McNab.

“The committee recognises the devastating impact this decision will have for many in the community with planning and organisation for this year’s show being so close to being completed and certainly regret having had to take this action so close to our show day.

“As this is a committee that doesn’t usually give in at the first hurdle, we are now investigating the possibility of running a community event later in the year.”

This is the fifth time in the show’s 122 years that it hasn’t been held. Previous cancellations were twice due to war and twice due to a pandemic. 

“With an association with the Show Committee that goes back to the late 70s, having to convey this decision is certainly the low point for me,” said McNab.

More like this

M.I.A.

OPINION: The previous government spent too much during the Covid-19 pandemic, despite warnings from officials, according to a briefing released by the Treasury.

Gaslight much?

OPINION: Labour leader Chris 'Chippy' Hipkins is carrying on the world-class gaslighting of the nation that he and his cohorts started after their disastrous Covid response; now trying to undermine the Covid inquiry to protect his own backside.

Sorry, not sorry

OPINION: Did former PM Jacinda Ardern get fawning reviews for her book?

Featured

Meet the Need: Helping Kiwis put food on the table

Meet the Need, a farmer-led charity, says food insecurity in New Zealand is dire, with one in four children now living in a household experiencing food insecurity, according to Ministry of Health data.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Red faced

OPINION: The Greens have taken the high moral ground on the Palestine issue and been leading political agitators in related…

Cold comfort

One of the most galling aspects of the tariffs whacked on our farm exports to the US is the fact…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter