Lake Hayes A&P Show
Traditionally held on the second Saturday of January every year and always the weekend after Glenorchy Races, the Lake Hayes Show is a fun day out for all families, competitors and trade exhibitors. There are horses, show jumping, dog trials, sheep shearing, trade sites, petting zoos, children’s entertainment and much, much more.
The Grand Parade is the highlight of day, where the morning’s prize winners, trade and machinery are on display, lead by the traditional pipe band. The Show is then officially opened during the Grand Parade by our president and special guest of the Show.
We have arguably the most picturesque Showgrounds in the country and being held during the summer holidays means that every local, visitor and tourist alike can come and enjoy the Lake Hayes Show.
The Lake County A&P Society
Agricultural and Pastoral Associations were born in New Zealand to promote farming and excellence in stock, and the Lake County A&P Society celebrated its 100th Show in 2015. The Show has been run every year since 1904 with only the exception of some of the war years.
Nowadays this district has moved from an area thriving on gold recovery and agriculture to a district driven by development and tourism. Many farms have been subdivided into lifestyle blocks as the population in the Wakatipu grows. Barren landscapes have been divided up and vineyards now grace our valleys. Much of the traditional high country has been retired back to the Crown to allow for reserves and public access, gone are many of the Merino sheep that roamed the hills, only to be replaced by people.
However there are still a few working stations and farms that have not fallen to development within the Wakatipu basin and it is with the enthusiasm and passion of some of these farmers and run holders that the Lake Hayes Show exists today. Time has changed the overall perspective but it is still the community’s A&P Show, and that is what has inspired our new 21st century events.
The Lake Hayes Show is not big by other New Zealand standards, but it is a fun day out for the family, exhibitors and competitors. We are restricted to a certain extent by the area of the Show Grounds and the terrain but we do have one of the best outlooks of any other Show Ground in the country.
The Showgrounds at Lake Hayes
We are very grateful and acknowledge the historic gifting of the land to the Lake County A&P Society around 1910 by the owners of Bendemeer Station.
In 1973 the Society negotiated a transfer of the ownership of the showgrounds and building to the Department of Lands & Survey and the showground became a recreation reserve, to be administered by the Lake County Council. The spirit of the agreement was to provide a facility for the agricultural community of the district to meet and hold events, and our Society has made several financial contributions since this time towards the upgrade of these beautiful grounds.