The show is on!
It was bringing in a new Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show board, more in tune with the CAPA general committee, that has ensured that Christchurch will have a show this year, says CAPA general committee president Bryce Murray.
It is the first time since 2010 that the Canterbury show has been granted Royal Show status under the auspices of the Royal Agricultural Sociaty of New Zealand.
Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president, Brent Chamberlain says there is a lot of prestige for exhibitors in winning at a Royal Show and it helps cement its place as the country's premier A&P Show.
With entries now closed for many key classes, Chamberlain says they have 380 dairy cattle entries - a "huge" increase, 267 beef cattle entries, which is also well up on previous years, and over 700 sheep entries, also an increase.
"Our livestock entries are very pleasing and I think that's a direct result of being a Royal Show," he told Rural News.
The resurgence follows a rocky 2024 when the then Canterbury A&P board cited financial pressures in a shock announcement that there would be no public show that year. Pressure from the general committee and an offer from Event Hire to be involved saw the board largely replaced and a reduced show take place.
Chamberlain said that the committee and the new board have worked well together and a clear direction for the future is in place".
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"We're already looking at starting to plan for next year's show before we even get this one done. We're well organised and harmonious."
A major change to the timetable is also now locked in.
Traditionally running on the Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Canterbury's iconic Cup and Show Week, this year the entire event will run Thursday, Friday and Saturday. It's a move aimed at giving the general public an extra non-working day to visit in addition to the Friday "Show Day" which is Canterbury's statutory anniversary holiday.
The change to the public show dates was implemented last year but many of the livestock judging and other competition classes still ran to the old timetable, with most of the exhibited livestock packed up and gone by Saturday.
With both sides now co-ordinated, Chamberlain expects a good turnout.
The livestock will still be there for the public to see on the Saturday, he says.
