No public at show

• Published date: 18 April 2024
• Publication title: Otago Daily Times (New Zealand)

In a statement yesterday, Canterbury A&P Association board chairman Stewart Mitchell said it was a ‘‘very disappointing’’ decision but, after several challenging years, it gave an opportunity to completely rethink the show’s strategic direction. Livestock judging and competitions would still be held

More than 100,000 people usually attend the three-day event in November. Prior to the announcement, The Press had been reporting on the future of the show being unclear, amid the departure of a number of staff — including general manager Tracy Ahern this month — and financial uncertainty.

The most recent annual report, for the year ending March 31, 2023, showed income of $3.02million was the highest in the show’s then 159-year history. A $81,075 deficit was down from a $686,148 deficit the previous year.

In that report, then-president Chris Harris said the well-documented struggles with the financial fallout from Covid-19 were ‘‘a distant memory’’. That was down to the ‘‘utterly extraordinary planning’’ by the show’s revitalised management, the prudent oversight of the CAPA board and the work of committees and volunteers.

This week, Mr Mitchell said the association’s ongoing...