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Organisers of the historic Paparoa A&P Show are hoping they get some sunshine for their 148th annual event, which will be held at the Paparoa Showgrounds on State Highway 12 on Saturday, February 1, from 9am.
In 2023 it was an overcast outing with intermittent rain, while last year there were some seriously heavy downpours, which saw some of the stallholders pack up and go home.
Show secretary and indoor organiser Melinda Birt says the weather didn’t come to the party last year and is hoping for better conditions this year.
“It’s going to be third time lucky. It makes a difference that we’ve had a nice start to the summer,” she says.
One of the longest-running agricultural and pastoral shows in the country, there’s going to be everything you’d expect, from equestrian and Western riding with team roping to sheep shearing, wood chopping and livestock competitions.
The fire service will hold demonstrations and there will be more trade stalls than you can shake a stick or throw a gumboot at.
Judges will have their work cut out for them at the indoor exhibition with seemingly endless tables and displays.
“Where do we start?” Melinda asks. “We’ve got fruit and veg, jams and preserves, baking, croquet, arts and crafts, dahlias, photography, and a children’s section. It’s the more the merrier when it comes to entries.”
Melinda says vintage and classic car enthusiasts are in for a treat with a huge heritage vehicle display, which is something different and new at the show this year.
Over 50 vehicles are expected to roll up from car clubs and collectors from around the area – anything pre-1980 is invited.
There will be food trucks at Paparoa, plus free kids’ rides with a bouncy castle, a merry-go-round and teacups.
“We’ll have the gumboot throw, and the Kumara 500 wheelbarrow race, which has become quite popular the last couple of years,” she says. It involves pushing a wheelbarrow full of kumara around the whole show site, with $500 in prizes.
All the schedule needs now is a bit of sunshine.
Gate opens 9am.
Entry fees – Family $25, adults $10, children $5 per child for the first two children, all others are free; under 5s free. North Kaipara Agricultural Association (NKAA) members free.
