The anticipation for the 2024 Wānaka A&P Show is building and with good reason! The Upper Clutha A&P Society, the governing body behind the renowned event, has recently undergone some exciting changes to its team.

 Left to right: Craig Smith, Penny Bell, Prue Kane, Anne McLeod, Maria Ottley.

The Show’s governing body – the Upper Clutha A&P Society – voted in three new board members and reintroduced the president role at the annual general meeting on October 11.

New Upper Clutha A&P Society president Martin Paterson hopes to maintain the Wānaka A&P Show’s existing high standards.

“I see the success of the president role as working in collaboration with – and complementary to – the Show team and the board,” he says.

Paterson has been involved with the Wānaka A&P Show for the past ten years, specifically within the Wool Section, which he became the chief steward of seven years ago.

The Upper Clutha A&P Society board’s new members – Keith Cooper, Craig Smith and Prue Kane – will join Paterson and the existing board members – Dell Taylor and Mike Scurr – in expanding the range of skills and capabilities within the team.

Formerly the chief executive officer at Silver Fern Farms, Cooper comes from an executive career within the agri-business sector. Smith – currently the director at Devold NZ – has a wealth of board experience, previously as the Campaign for Wool NZ chair and as a global board member for the National Council of NZ Wool Interests, which represents NZ at the International Wool Textile Organisation. Kane brings an extensive board experience, working closely with trustees, advisory groups and steering committees in her current role as programmes manager for Wai Wānaka. 

Wānaka A&P Show event manager Jane Stalker, says the board and management teams will prepare a robust five-year strategy and business plan in the coming months.

“The 2024 Show will allow us to lay the groundwork for encouraging new partnerships and long-term alliances in line with our Strategic Plan,” she says. “The strategic direction will be enhanced by the addition of three new team members specialising in trade, sponsorship and online communications.

“We are excited to have three remarkable women join the team – Maria Ottley (trade and sponsorship manager), Anne McLeod (financial manager) and Penny Bell (digital communications and event coordinator). They each bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to their roles, and it is exciting having such a wide range of skills within the team.”

The Wānaka A&P Show is one of New Zealand’s largest agricultural and pastoral events, attracting more than 40,000 people each year. The two-day event comprises traditional features such as equestrian and livestock events, home industry displays, wool classing, wood chopping, shearing and 500-plus trade stalls from around the country.

You can view all our dedicated Society and Show teams on our website.