No 2024 A&P Show, leadership questioned
The 2024 New Zealand Agricultural Show – an annual fixture on the Christchurch event calendar – has been cancelled and more changes may be on the horizon.
Stewart Mitchell, chair of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association board, can’t guarantee the job security of the few staff members he has left, and even his ongoing leadership is in question.
Only a World War and Covid-19 has been able to cancel the Show in its 161 years, but Mitchell told The Press it would be irresponsible to run a Show in 2024 with their financial difficulties.
Livestock judging and competitions will still be held, but the commercial vendors and entertainment which tempts tens of thousands of people to buy tickets every year have been canned.
Nick Walls, a general committee member and the association’s former director of audit and risk, supports the board’s decision. “Whilst people will be disappointed ... it shows a lot of courage by the association to make that pretty big call,” he said. “The risk was that the association might never exist again, because it could become insolvent.”
For years, Mitchell has publicly said the business model of the association – a three day Show to offset 12 months of costs - is not ideal. Yesterday, he said the association saw a financial loss in 2023, but had funding “for the foreseeable future” and to plan for a 2025 show. He did not say where the money is coming from, but it is likely connected to the secret $4 million investment fund – paid for by ratepayers – which The Press revealed earlier this month.
When asked if the association planned on keeping its current workers, Mitchell said staffing was down to a minimum and new budgets were yet to be drawn up.
Bryce Murray, association President, told RNZ yesterday he didn’t think the association could justify a fully paid board (directors are paid $6000 a year), and there may be changes to who is in charge. He did not respond to The Press yesterday, but said last week some members would like Sir David Carter to eventually become the new head of the board.
Sources say Carter has been a favourite to take over for some time, as some members become increasingly unhappy with decisions being made by the board at large.
Mitchell acknowledged not everyone was happy, but said the board has the full confidence of “a number of senior members”. Walls said he was one of them.
However, Mitchell said he hasn’t decided if he will stay on the board for the 2025 Show.
Carter was approached for comment, but has previously said he is unable to speak about the situation.
The decision to cancel the 2024 Show was in spite of the efforts of some members, who The Press understands presented a business case to the board this week. The plan was rejected.
Mitchell told stakeholders on Tuesday the board decided to cancel the show because of a review into the association’s latest financial position and projections.
When asked what external advice was sought, Mitchell said the board’s own modelling was comprehensive and accurate.
The Press has for a number of weeks been reporting on the future of the show being unclear, amid the departure of over seven employees – including its general manager – and financial uncertainty which left the association unable to pay contractors.
Show vendors were advised by email on Tuesday evening that they could either receive a full refund for payments made to operate stall sites this year, or payments could be carried over to the 2025 Show with a 10% discount. In a statement to stakeholders, Murray said he knew the decision was frustrating but promised the 2025 Show will be stronger and better than ever.
Mayor Phil Mauger said the news was very disappointing, but the association was facing financial difficulties not unlike many other organisations and businesses across Aotearoa. He said details about the commercial agreement between the Christchurch City Council and association (regarding a lease on 141 Wigram Rd) will be released in the next few days.
The Press has seen documents sent to association members, which says the deal includes council pumping $4m into an investment fund for the association and forgiving a $1m loan.