Country on show for sunny day one of Canterbury A&P

The sun is shining down on the thousands of people expected through Christchurch's A&P Showground gates for day one of the Canterbury A&P Show.

The three-day event is the largest agricultural and pastoral event in New Zealand and has run for 163 years, marking a staple of the Canterbury Cup and Show week line-up.

A 25-degree forecast day for Ōtautahi followed a rainy day in the city on Tuesday, though weather did not stop punters and riders during Addington Raceway's Trotting Cup.

About 70,000 people were expected at the showgrounds over the next three days, with 400 trade sites.

Invercargill animal skin tanner Deb Williams said she was glad to see the sun come out after a wet drive up.

"We come to the A&P show here just because it's such a big event for Christchurch," she said.

"We like to support those events that are happening within our communities.

"We get to share knowledge, we get to share products and just build up each other, especially those local people."

Western hat designer Millie Aitken of Gibston near Queenstown had travelled to the show for several years.

"It was a pretty rushed journey. I actually forgot my hat steamer, which is the biggest tool that I need," she said.

"This is a really good show to get a great mix of town and country people. It's always been good to me and I try to get to five big events of the year."

She hoped good sales from the show would allow her to return home with an empty trailer.

Meanwhile, livestock showing was a staple of the agricultural event with more than 5,000 competitions classes in the line-up.

Mindy Morris of Spencerville, north of Christchurch, was volunteering as a ring steward in the sheep pens.

Here in honour of her late sister - a sheep breeder - she said a good spring made for good looking sheep this year.

"My brother and I, Ross, we just volunteer every year. Well, this is my third year," she said.

"I'm looking like I know what I'm doing. I'm a hairdresser usually.

"It's lovely to see the enthusiasm and it's great to have the show back Wednesday, Thursday and Friday again."

Rolleston's Oakley Lodge Farm owner Nicky McArthur had four black and coloured ewes up for judging, and 10 bottle-fed lambs over in the petting zoo.

McArthur said their small farm also had valais sheep.

"So we've only got four ewes being judged and then we've got about 10 lambs in the farm yard."

She said showing sheep helped showcase the breeds.

"We've got really into showing the sheep in the last like four or five years," she said.

"You get a certificate or a ribbon, it's not too much, but it's more just about the breed and it showcases your stock and your stud, because I also have a stud where people bring their ewes for our rams.

"People and everything are really nice and supportive of each other."

Meanwhile, the longevity of the agricultural and pastoral show looked more secure than in previous years post the Covid-19 pandemic.

Ratepayers helped fund a $250,000 grant for the organisers to run two events in September 2024, after funding challenges.

Also in 2024, the Christchurch City Council paid the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association $5 million to secure and regain the association's century-long lease of the showgrounds.

Highlights of Wednesday's show include equestrian judging, dog trials, wood chopping tests and the cowboy challenge.

Further events include woolhandling heats on Thursday, the junior meat and wool cup, the parade of the hounds and more.

Friday's show will host the Corriedale shearing event and New Zealand rock band ZED performing live.

The show will run to Friday.

Check out more photos from the show: