Show History

The Easter Show had its beginnings 169 years ago, beginning as a purely agricultural event to help the fledgling colony develop a sound farming economy.

History of the Auckland Agricultural and Pastoral Association

The full history of the Association has been researched and a book was written and published in 2011 (see below for details) as a celebration of the 100 years our show has spent at the Auckland Showgrounds, Epsom.

However, the Show’s history and heritage goes back much further to 1843 when only three years after the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi the first Auckland Agricultural Show was held in two locations, Fort Street, Auckland, with seed & home industry entries and the Auckland Domain with livestock entries much in the same way as would have occurred back in the “home” country.

In those early years the Show was held at the Auckland Domain, Mechanics Bay, Newmarket, Otahuhu and East Tamaki. In 1871, it moved to the Albert Barracks, where it first saw the large crowds, with 3,000 people reported as attending 1872. In 1874 the Show moved to Ellerslie next to the Ellerslie Racecourse for the first time. A return trip by rail from the city, and admission was two and three pence.

By the turn of the century, the Show was attracting entries from as far away as Whangarei, and the range of exhibits was growing and in 1902 Holstein-Friesian cattle made their first appearance. The show continued and was also held at Potters Paddock (Alexandra Park) before becoming resident at the Auckland Showgrounds.

In 1910, the Auckland Showgrounds were established on Greenlane West Road. The show was held on land held in perpetuity from Cornwall Park Trust. A copy of the original lease indicates Sir John Logan Campbell had a hand in allowing the Association to establish itself at Epsom in 1911 on part of Cornwall Park. Between 1940 and 1945 the showgrounds became a military base.

In 1953 the Auckland Manufacturer’s Association started a Show at Easter time to promote New Zealand Manufactured goods and we joined them at this Show with competition for the “manufactured” agricultural items such as bacon, butter, cheese and wine. The Easter Show motto was “What New Zealand makes and grows, makes New Zealand grow”. 

In 1972 when the Shows Board Act was introduced, joining the Auckland A&P Association and the Auckland Manufacturers Association we began only hosting a Show at Easter.

The Show has changed over the years from the few sheep and seeds of 1843 to thousands of entries in some sections such as Wine, Equestrian, Livestock and Art and monitoring the changing fads in the Agricultural and Horticultural scene. In fact, the Auckland Show is clearly the ‘Shop Window” of the changing fashions of the Country life, agriculture and enterprise.

We have seen the Clydesdales come and go as well as goats, emus and ostriches, chopping, cake decoration, children’s art, dog obedience, traction engines, stationary engines and so on. More recent innovations have been new sections for Alpacas, Donkeys and Olive Oil competitions.

The Auckland A&P Association (though it has had other names) is one of the three oldest organisations in Auckland. Some of our leaders are well known in New Zealand history and include:

• Sir George Grey, Superintendent of Auckland, Governor and Premier. 
• Bill Massey, Prime Minister.
• Sir John Logan Campbell, Mayor of Auckland.
• Alfred Buckland, Stock Agent Founder.
• Morton Rennie, Royal Show President.

The Auckland A&P Association is governed by a Council comprising of 34 Councilors elected from the membership. Each Councilor serves for a two-year term and can be re-elected. There is a President elected from the councilors who serves for a two or three year term and two vice-presidents as well as a Treasurer. These four officers and the Immediate Past President form the Executive.

For every President and Vice-President there are a host of Section leaders and show workers as well as co-opted workers who help to make the organisation run smoothly. 

All play an important part in the success of each Show. The Council appoints a Secretary who as well as keeping minutes plays a pivotal role in managing the show classes and schedules as well as the actual show itself. The Coca-Cola Easter Show used to run for up to 14 days but now has settled at a five-day show. The Auckland A&P Association is responsible for the competition sections of the Coca-Cola Easter Show.

In 1972 an Act of Parliament was passed known as the Auckland Agricultural, Pastoral and Industrial Shows Board Act. The purpose of the Act was to set in concrete the arrangement already existing between the Auckland A&P Association and the Auckland Manufacturers Association. This Act formed a Board with nine members each from the A&P and AMA and this Board runs the Auckland Showgrounds and the Coca-Cola Easter Show. 

Today, ASB Showgrounds is New Zealand’s premier exhibition centre, hosting more than 140 shows and exhibitions. A partnership with ASB and cornerstone funding from Auckland City Council have been the driving forces behind the Showgrounds’ recent redevelopment.  The redevelopment sees the ASB Showgrounds transformed into a multi-dimensional facility with double the exhibition space and greatly improved functionality and flexibility, capable of attracting some of the world’s largest leading shows, events and exhibitions.

A BOOK ON OUR HISTORY HAS BEEN PUBLISHED!

If you are interested in learning more about our history and seeing a written and pictorial account of our past, then Agricultural Heritage is what you're looking for. It is available at good booksellers. Details are as follows:

AGRICULTURAL HERITAGE

Auckland Agricultural & Pastoral Association Inc, 1843–2010

Hugh Stringleman; edited by Graeme Hunt

ISBN: 978-1-877514-17-3

260 x 210 mm portrait, jacketed hardback, 324 pp (includes 12 pp colour section)

Releasing 21 April 2011

Price: $60

No organisation has enjoyed a longer role in the European history of Auckland than the Auckland Agricultural & Pastoral Association Inc. Formed in 1843, the association has been at the forefront of scientific farming, reflected in its annual show, now part of the enduring Coca-Cola Easter Show.

Agricultural Heritage relates the evolution of the ‘A&P’ in an easily readable history that also tells of the association’s first hundred years at the ASB Showgrounds in Epsom. It provides the first comprehensive account of the importance of agriculture to the development of the Auckland region and its contribution to the nation – illustrated with numerous photos and historical documents.