The Canterbury A&P show's future looks bright, with a new board and chairperson determined to keep it a calendar staple for years to come.

Newly elected Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) board chairperson Sir David Carter said the committee and board will look to the future to ensure the Show's longevity.

"I'm absolutely confident we will get a credible show operating this year, but the real focus is restoring long-term survivability into the show."

Carter, who was elected to the Board at the Association's annual general meeting earlier this month, is a former Minister of Agriculture and parliamentary speaker.

In 2021, he was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services as a member of parliament and as Speaker of the House of Representatives.

At the Annual General Meeting, Hazlett operations manager Peter Engel and BDO senior manager—audits Ethan Hill were also elected to the Board.

Bryce Murray and Brent Chamberlain will join them from the General Committee.

The previous Board cancelled this year's event for financial reasons before it was taken over by events company Event Hire and rebranded as The Christchurch Show.

"Our event partners Event Hire are underwriting parts of the Christchurch Show, and we can't thank them enough.  They have stepped up and said the Show must go on."

Carter said the Show had been in a vulnerable position since it relocated from Addington to its current site on Curletts Road around 15 years ago.

"More recently, there has been dysfunction between the general committee and the board, and the board has attempted to do what it can to ensure survivability."

The Show would return to being called either The NZ Ag Show or The Canterbury Show in 2025.

"That will be finalized, but this year it is called The Christchurch Show, acknowledging it's effectively a joint venture between Event Hire and the A&P Association."

Carter said he became involved when this year's Show was cancelled.

"I think the show is just too critical, too important to Canterbury for it not to be taking place."

"Historically, it's only been stopped by wars and Covid."

This year's event will retain its rural flavour, with tractor pulling, trade sites, livestock displays, stock judging, entertainment, and competition events.

Carter said it wouldn't be Canterbury Show week without the Show.

"You've got the races at each end of the week, you've got races through the week, and traditionally, you had this three-day show that would tie them all together."

"It's the event that Canterbury is known for."

This year, the Show will run from Thursday to Saturday instead of Wednesday to Friday to ease queues and parking pressure that attendees usually encounter on the Show's last day.

The cost of tickets for this year's Show is $20, half the cost of last year's event.

"There was too much resistance at $40, and it meant a couple with kids were paying $80, and that was too high."

Carter said he was keen to move forward instead of looking back and trying to find where the mistakes were made and whose fault it was.

"Let's regroup, let's focus on the future, and let's work together to get it happening."

Carter is encouraging the community and businesses to get behind the event to ensure its success.

"We're asking the public to purchase early tickets, sponsors to sign up, and our trade exhibitors to get on Board early and book a stand.

"To be a long-term success, the Show needs to return to a strong financial position, but we can't do this alone.  We need a lot of support."

By Claire Inkson