Thank you to everyone who attended the Special General Meeting (SGM) on 22 October 2026.
It was great to see so many engaged members in the room. We appreciated the feedback, questions and honest discussion. Member feedback is important, and it helps us continue to improve the Society.
The purpose of the meeting was to consider and vote on a proposed update to the Society’s Constitution. The main objective of the proposed changes was to modernise the Constitution and, importantly, introduce online voting for Board elections. This would allow all eligible members to have a say in the Society’s governance, rather than limiting voting to those able to attend the AGM in person.
The result
The motion to adopt the proposed Constitution did not achieve the required two-thirds majority, falling short by just one vote.
This means the Society will retain its existing 2024 Constitution and the procedures contained in that document for electing Board members which are strictly in person at the AGM itself.
We respect the decision made by members and thank everyone who took the time to attend and have their say.
What we heard and what happens next
A number of constructive suggestions came out of the SGM. We have listened to the feedback and are already taking steps to address some of the concerns raised.
1. Communication with members
It was suggested that some members may not have received notice of the SGM. To improve communication going forward, we will:
Ask members to check and update their contact details to ensure our records are accurate.
Provide members with the opportunity to indicate how they would prefer to receive Society communications.
Advertise future meetings through multiple channels, including email, the Wānaka Sun, The Messenger, our website and social media.
2. Getting to know Board candidates
Members expressed a desire to have more information about candidates before voting.
In response, we have:
Increased the word limit for candidate profiles to 500 words, giving candidates more opportunity to introduce themselves and explain what they can bring to the Board.
Organise an informal Meet the Candidates evening on Tuesday 24 November
We encourage members to come along, meet the candidates and find out more about those standing for election.
3. Life Membership nominations
There was some confusion around the process for nominating Life Members.
While the current Constitution does not specifically outline a nomination process, we heard the feedback and welcome members putting forward nominations for consideration.
If you would like to nominate someone for Life Membership, please email your nomination, including a seconder and a brief background, to info@wanakaap.co.nz by 18 November 2026.
4. Constitution review
We also heard a strong desire from members to have more input into future changes to the Constitution.
To provide an opportunity for this, a Constitution Subcommittee will be established to review the document and consider potential amendments.
Members interested in being involved are invited to register their interest by emailing gm@wanakaap.co.nz.
Further details on the nomination and selection process for the subcommittee will be shared shortly.
AGM and Board Elections – Important Information
Following the SGM decision to retain the 2024 Constitution, this year’s AGM and Board election process will operate under the rules contained in that document.
This means there are some important differences members need to be aware of:
Voting is in person only. There is no provision for online or postal voting.
No proxy voting. Members must attend the AGM themselves to cast their vote in the Board elections and on any resolution proposed to the meeting.
No General Business from the floor. Any matter members wish to raise for discussion must be submitted to the Board as a formal resolution at least seven days before the AGM.
Following the conclusion of the AGM, there will be a 30-minute session for general discussion.
If you would like to have a say in who represents you on the Board, please make sure you attend the AGM. We would love to see a full room.
AGM and Election Timeline
In accordance with the Society’s constitution, two Board members – Keith Cooper and Prue Kane – retire by rotation at the forthcoming AGM. Both have indicated their intention to stand for re-election.
Note: The Show President is elected by committee members and this process will run in conjunction with the Board Elections.
We invite nominations for these two Board positions. Only members can nominate or be nominated.
- 5 November: Board nominations open
- 19 November: Nominations close at 5pm
- 20 November: AGM agenda and papers circulated to members
- 23 November: Final day for submitting resolutions
- 24 November: Informal Meet the Candidates evening
- 30 November: AGM – 5.00pm, Upper Clutha Rugby Club
The AGM will be held on Monday 30 November at 5.00pm at the Upper Clutha Rugby Club.
The meeting is for members only and will be followed by drinks and nibbles.
Please put the date in your diary now.
The formal Notice of Meeting, including details on Board nominations and submitting resolutions, will be circulated separately.
The AGM will also be advertised through the Wānaka Sun, The Messenger, our website, email and social media.
Where the Society Stands
A key responsibility of the Board is to ensure the Society remains financially sustainable and accountable to its members, while continuing to deliver benefits to our rural and wider community.
The Society is currently in a very strong position, with some impressive results:
- Community investment: 50% of investment earnings are allocated to supporting and upskilling local individuals and groups for the benefit of our rural communities. $75,000 was reinvested into the community through grants, projects and community groups in the 25/26 year.
- Strong trade exhibitor demand: More than 200 trade exhibitors currently on our waitlist.
- Growing competitions: 356 individual livestock and fleece competitors at the 2026 Show.
- Record attendance: Visitor numbers continue to grow, with a record 44,000 visitors attending the 2026 Show.
- Economic contribution: An independent economic impact assessment confirmed the 2026 Show contributed $19.6 million to the local economy.
This strength allows us to keep investing in the Show and additional events, supporting our community and planning for the future. It is something we are proud of and want to protect.
Everything we do is guided by the Society’s Strategic Plan, which can be viewed here.
The plan has three key priorities, and here are some of the things we have been working on.
Protect Our Place
- Secured the Showgrounds through to 2036, with resource consent and a licence to occupy in place.
- Continuing to reduce waste year on year, despite growing visitor numbers, with further work planned around our carbon footprint.
- Maintaining support from QLDC and other funders, particularly for our sustainability initiatives.
Connect Rural and Urban
- Introduced two new free community events: Hillend Station On-Farm Visit and Wānaka Country Day.
- Continued Agri Exchange sessions at the Show, creating opportunities to connect rural and urban communities and share knowledge.
Define Our Future
- Achieved record ticket sales and strong demand for exhibitor sites at the 2026 Show.
- Welcomed new volunteers into meaningful and rewarding roles.
- Continued investing in our people, infrastructure and systems to support the future growth of the Show.
Looking Ahead
There is plenty to look forward to!
Wānaka Country Day is on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Wānaka Showgrounds. Planning is well underway, and we look forward to welcoming the community for another great day.
We are also busy preparing for a very special milestone, our 90th Wānaka A&P Show, on Friday 12 and Saturday 13 March 2027.
We are proud of what the Society has achieved and excited about what lies ahead. Our focus remains on protecting the heritage of the Show, strengthening our community connections and ensuring the Society is in a strong position for future generations.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement.
Your Society – Here to Help
For all A&P Show-related matters, our management team is here to help.
Competitions: Rachelle – entries@wanakaap.co.nz
Trade Exhibitors: Amy – trade@wanakaap.co.nz
Volunteers: Tash – volunteer@wanakaap.co.nz
Events: Maria – eventmanager@wanakaap.co.nz
For questions relating to the A&P Society, Constitution or upcoming AGM:
Chair: Keith – chair@wanakaap.co.nz
General Manager: Jane – gm@wanakaap.co.nz