You might come for the Jack Russell race, but you’ll stay for the people, the place, and the unique connection between celebrating what the land provides and protecting that same environment for years to come.
World famous in New Zealand, the Wānaka A&P Show is coming to town once again this 7-8 March 2025. Led by the community, the show has become something of an icon in the region over the last 87 years, celebrating our rural roots through art, music, food, and of course, livestock. But more than that, the A&P Show shines for its commitment to reducing its impact, highlighting future landcare practices, and providing opportunities for show go-ers to give back to people and place.
“The Wānaka A&P Show is all about bringing the community together while doing our bit for the environment,” says Jane Stalker, General Manager of the Wānaka A&P Show. “We’re always looking for ways to reduce waste, support local sustainability efforts, and make small changes that add up. From working with local groups to rethinking how we do things, we want to make it easy for everyone to do their part while enjoying the show.”
So, consider this your guide to doing just that: being a sustainable Wānaka A&P Show go-er while also making the most of your days.
First things first: getting to the show. Whether by foot, bike, bus or car, there are plenty of options for getting to the gates.
Bike
Biking is a great way to reduce carbon emissions, stretch the legs, and avoid traffic at the same time. There will be bike parking available at Lakeside Gate and Pembroke Gates, just be sure to bring a bike lock to avoid your ride going for a stroll.
Park and Ride
If you’re coming from further afield, the Park and Ride might be your best option. There’s no parking directly at the event, but you can drop your car and bus in from two nearby locations, with buses on a 15-minute loop all day. The last buses leave the show at 5:30pm on both Friday and Saturday, so give yourself plenty of time to get there or be prepared for an exceptional daily step count.
Walk
If you’ve got accommodation in Wānaka sorted, why not skip the admin and walk right in? With incredible views every which way you point your head, it makes for a beautiful start and end to your day. And if it means getting to indulge in one more wine tasting, so be it. For the most scenic route, follow your nose down to the lake, then head lookers-left along the beautiful lakeside walking track towards the Wānaka tree. Stop when you hit the small tent city and the 40,000 people having an outrageously good time.
If you’ve ever been to a festival or show of this size, you’ll know that food waste and litter is no small issue. But it’s an issue that the Wānaka A&P Show is passionate about. This year, they’ve teamed up with Wastebusters and Cardrona Alpine Resort to launch their ‘Show to Snow’ initiative. The name of the game is, instead of ending up in landfill, all organic materials will be collected and transported by Wastebusters to Cardrona, where it will be composted as part of the resort’s ‘Plant a Seed’ initiative. That includes food waste from trade exhibitors and attendees, as well as livestock waste.
“It’s incredibly important to Cardrona and Treble Cone that we look after these beautiful maunga,” says Laura Hedley, General Manager of Cardrona and Treble Cone. “Being part of this community initiative is a great opportunity to highlight how we all have a part to play in sustainability and conservation – every small decision helps shape the future of these beautiful places we get to enjoy.”
The A&P Show is also encouraging good waste management practices throughout the grounds, with improved signage, education, and waste wardens. In partnership with Wastebusters, they’ve also created a helpful guide for food vendors, all about sustainable packaging and waste disposal. They’re encouraging vendors to reduce their packaging, use fully recyclable materials, sort their waste carefully, and encourage people to use their reusable utensils where possible.
And from there, it’s over to you. That’s right: it’s a tag-team approach, and it’s just as important for show go-ers to play their part in keeping the grounds tidy, recycling properly, and making sure all waste ends up in the right bins. Here’s how.
Bin it right
The Wānaka A&P Show and Wastebusters have teamed up to make binning your waste even easier, introducing coloured lids and refreshed signage that match your home recycling bins. You know the drill – that means red for general waste, yellow for plastics and cans.
If you’re unsure, Wastebusters staff will also be on hand to help you find the right bin and divert as much waste from landfills as possible. In fact, they’ve been providing expert advice and real recycling services to the Wānaka A&P Show for over a decade, hand sorting all materials at their local zero-waste hub to ensure they can be made back into new products. Not all heroes wear capes.
Bring your own
Alternatively, one up the binning system and bring your own reusable vessels. Whether a keep cup, reusable drink bottle, or your designated hiking bowl and spork, bring your own tools in and take them right back out with you. There’ll be plenty of water refill stations available too, so keep those reusable water bottles and cups filled. It can get pretty hot at the grounds, so make sure you’re staying hydrated (and slapping on your sunscreen) throughout the day.
Oh, and did we mention discounted coffees for keep cup-ers? Need we say more?
Pack a picnic
Good news, picnic lovers. This year, the Wānaka A&P Show has an all-new picnic zone where picnickers of all shapes and sizes can come together to enjoy their low-waste lunches and gossip about everyone not on the picnic train. Just kidding, mostly. But it is a great way to reduce waste, skip the food lines, and avoid four kids all hoofing it for different food vendors. Work smarter, not harder.
From clothes to wine to full-on tractors, there is an enormous selection of stalls and vendors that will make not coming home with a few extra toys very difficult. Our suggestion? Pack a reusable tote – it might not fit a tractor, but you’ll be thankful to have it after a lap through the grounds. And if you forget it, no matter. Just duck into the Love Wānaka stall to grab one of their custom artist totes, with extra brownie points for supporting local environmental efforts.
Here are a few local, sustainable stalls to watch out for:
Wastebusters
Visit the team at the McDougall Street food court waste sorting tent to hear about the ‘Show to Snow’ initiative.
Cardrona
They’ll tell you all about their Plant a Seed initiative.
Agri Exchange
Where future thinkers connect, especially those in rural development focusing on sustainability and leadership. Think WAI Wānaka, Future Farmers, Shared Science, and Rewiring Aotearoa, to name-drop a few.
The Clip
100% natural, New Zealand-made wool coats.
Untouched World
A sustainable lifestyle brand living in harmony with nature.
Davaar & Co
Beautiful knitwear that uses sheep wool grown on Davaar Station.
Ministry for Primary Industries
Devold
Superior merino wool clothing designed for adventure.
Hemp Central
An industrial hemp processing company from Central Otago.
Wilson & Dorset
For premium sheepskin products.
If you’ve been inspired by all the good things the land has provided, why not give a little something back? Drop by Love Wānaka’s stall to check out their sustainable goodies, grab that tote or tee, find more information on what they’re doing to protect our rohe / region, and maybe learn how to help or make a donation to support local environmental efforts yourself.
The tent is located next to the kid’s carnival and picnic zone – and conveniently, right by the main bike parking entry, too. They’ll have free treasure maps for the kids, and there’ll also be the opportunity to win epic prizes from their partners for everyone who donates on the day. Think iconic prints from New Zealand Photography Workshops, vouchers to your favourite local coffee shops and breweries, or your very own Premium Show Day Experience for 2026.
There’s so much to enjoy at the Wānaka A&P Show. Whether it’s your first time or you’re a well-seasoned show go-er, there’s something special about coming together with the community to celebrate our people and place – and each year gives you another opportunity to double down on your sustainable habits. However you get involved, let’s make this one of the best years yet.
