Community always comes first at the showgrounds

The Egmont Agricultural and Pastoral Association is responsible for much more than just Taranaki’s top equestrian centre. It is a grassroots association, established over 130 years ago, that is highly valued by the Hawera community. “We are a not for profit organisation, with only two salaried members of staff, so everybody else who is involved with supporting the showgrounds does so voluntarily. We have a really dedicated executive committee of volunteers; most have been associated with running the showgrounds for twenty years, so a lot of local people are involved in bringing this work to life”, shared Janet Morgan, Executive Officer for Egmont A&P Association.

TSB Community Trust has an established relationship with the Egmont A&P Association, going back over twenty years to the initial grant which helped establish the current showgrounds. The Egmont showgrounds hosts an indoor arena, which is mainly used as an equestrian leisure facility, a large grass oval with a 700 seat grandstand, covered stabling for up to 200 horses and another 100 + outdoor yards.

The most recent grant of $67,000 given by TSB Community Trust has been utilised for facilities updates across the indoor arena; such as lighting replacements, and the implementation of updated irrigation and grooming systems, to ensure the surface of the arena is kept up to the required standard for different kinds of indoor events. The showgrounds are often utilised for many large events or competitions, such as; the National Indoor BMX Championships, National Paintball Championships, and National Miniature Horse Association Show, to name a few.

“We have an important Annual Agricultural and Pastoral Show, attracting visitors and exhibitors from all over New Zealand. This is our largest event, taking over the entire showgrounds; the grant is also helping us to setup power outlets for our outdoor sites, to be?er support the trade stands and motorhomes that will be set up”.

“We’ve been lucky enough to receive funding from the TSB Community Trust in the past, and this latest grant will ensure we can keep providing quality facilities for the region. Every weekend there is something happening at the showgrounds that local people can get involved in.” The Egmont A&P Association definitely lives up to its vision and statement of purpose; working in the community, for the community, by the community. We look forward to the coming events hosted at the showgrounds, and seeing the impact of the Association’s work in Hawera and beyond.