A & P Association - Nelson

In 1895 while opening the show, Prime Minister Richard John Seddon commented

“ it is necessary to take advantage of every improvement possible so that we may keep up to date – we must keep pace with the times – those who conduct the Nelson A & P deserve every credit and sympathy, for their work is in the interest of every man, woman and child in the district.”

This statement still rings true today, the present committee work hard to keep this wonderful park and event alive for the whole community. They are an unassuming group of very proud people with a very proud heritage

There are many facilities at the Park including Hall, Bars, Meeting Rooms, Stables, Pens and lots of lovely open park area.

These facilities are for hire to the general public which helps sustain the operation of the park throughout the year but the major income is derived from the annual A & P Show. The Show is held the third weekend of November annually and attracts about 18 – 20 thousand people. In recent years the trade section of the show has increased to reflect that the show is no longer considered purely a rural domain. The Nelson A & P Show, as well as being about Agricultural and Pastoral, is the largest trade display annually in the top of the South Island, boasting over 200 trade sites.

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The Nelson A & P Association was founded in 1893. Its core objectives at that time were to promote and encourage agricultural and pastoral activities.

Over one hundred and ten years later the Nelson Association is still proudly carrying out these objectives. The A & P Association owns approximately 40 hectares of land situated in Lower Queen Street in Richmond within the Tasman District of the Nelson Region. The Park is bounded by Queen Street on the south, the Estuary on the north, a number of private properties on the eastern boundary and on the western boundary the land is owned by the Nelson Harness Racing Club. While the Park is predominately owned and run by The Nelson A & P Association, both The Association and The Harness Racing Club utilise each others facilities for the seamless formation of one large park.

The committee meets once a month on the third Monday and our AGM is the First Monday in April each Year. Any person standing for the committee must be a financial member and all new members are welcome.

Subscription is $35.00 per annum and is due by the 1st April annually. Being a member gives you two adults and two childrens tickets to the show a year and heavily discounted entry fees to show classes.

The Nelson A & P Association is run by a committee of elected members all of whom give their time freely and generously. Some of the committee members are third generation, with their fathers and grandfathers being active committee members before them.

The Association employs one par- time manager to oversee the daily operations of the park and the organisation of the annual show, and one part time caretaker who sees to all the grounds and maintenance. Much work is also carried out by active committee members throughout the year but especially at show time.