A&P show among southern finalists for national events awards

SOUTHERN events are set to be recognised at a national award ceremony.

Wanaka’s A&P Show is nominated for three of the country’s top national event awards.

The New Zealand Events Association has announced the finalists for this year’s New Zealand Event Awards and the Wanaka A&P show has made the finals in best lifestyle event, best community or notforprofit event and best event marketing for the 2021 show.

Show event manager Jane Stalker said she was delighted to be recognised, especially in such a very challenging year for all events.

This year’s Wanaka A&P Show, held on March 13 and 14, attracted 45,000 people and independent research found it contributed $28.6 million worth of direct economic benefits to the area.

Other Wanaka events up for awards are Wheels at Wanaka (best community or notforprofit event) and Ripe, the Wanaka Wine & Food Festival, run by Otago Event Planning (best lifestyle event).

Both the Wanaka A&P Show and Challenge Wanaka are finalists in the best use of technology category.

Further south, the Gore District Council’s Enchanted Parks Quest is one of five finalists in the local government event category.

The quest was part of Parks Week and aimed to attract people outdoors and into the district’s parks and reserves.

Council communications manager Sonia Gerken said being selected as a finalist was an incredible effort, given the council’s small event team compared with the other finalists in this category.

‘‘The fact we’ve made the top five is testament to the hard work and collaboration among our staff and with community partners.’’

Mrs Gerken believed the innovative approach to the event was key to its success.

The association said it received a record 108 entries from around the country.

The awards ceremony will take place at the Toitoi Hawke’s Bay Arts & Events Centre, in Hastings, on September 30.