Manfeild Park is to host a Royal Show; the premier celebration of the best that heartland New Zealand can offer the world.

The Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand's confirmation that Manawatu's fast-growing multi-events venue will host the Royal NZ Show in 2013 and again in 2014 has delighted the consortium that drove the region's bid.

Securing the showcase of equestrian, agricultural and horticultural excellence for the Manawatu is a major coup, set to deliver a massive fillip to the region's economy, consortium Chairman Murray Meads said.

"A Royal Show is THE show," he said.

"It is where the very best that country New Zealand has to offer is on display and judged and is an event of significant magnitude, in terms of crowd size, financial impact and competitor involvement."

Manawatu's success ties in with a restructure for the show, which has resulted in North Island and South Island events annually, starting from next year.

The region's bid was a combined effort involving Manfeild Park Trust, the Manawatu Agricultural and Pastoral Association which runs the immensely successful NZ Dairy Event and Spring Show, the Feilding Industrial Agricultural and Pastoral Association, which runs the Showjumping World Cup Series qualifying round and several show events at the Park, and the Park-based PBBnz, which runs the hugely-successful annual New Zealand Beef Expo at Manfeild Stadium.

Mr Meads said this was a culmination of four diverse organisations getting together and saying "wouldn't it be great to host 'a Royal Show' in the mighty Manawatu again?"

"We felt that we had all the key ingredients - a background of successful agricultural exhibition, event management and exciting venue capabilities. Clearly the Royal Agricultural Society agrees that we have what it takes."

Mr Meads, PBBnz General Manager, said this was another great opportunity for Manawatu to be a national focal point.

The numbers associated with Show Week in Canterbury give an indication of how important this event was.

"The show proper covers three days in Christchurch and during that time they cater for more than 100,000 attendees, close to 7000 livestock and around 600 trade exhibitors.

"There's no reason to think that the Manawatu Royal Show will be any less significant.

"Our expectation is that it will be comfortably bigger than Manfeild Park's current largest event, the Central Districts' Field Days, which this year drew in 35,000 people."

That is why planning for the 2013 show was already well under way.

"It needs to be. There is a lot to do. We've already put in a lot of hard yards to get this far.

"The process for application began more than a year ago and we have been meeting with the Society regularly for some months.

"Actually, we were meeting in Christchurch when the devastating earthquake struck in February, so you could say we've been through a lot to get this."

The consortium's bid document included effusive letters of support from the Mayor of Palmerston North, Jono Naylor, and the Mayor of Manawatu District, Ian McKelvie. These were a powerful reminder that the whole region was united behind the bid.

The Royal Manawatu Show will be a November or December event, tying into one or the other of the annual A and P shows that are staged at Manfeild.

The North Island show is an equal to the traditional South Island event that Canterbury will continue to host.

Interest in securing the North Island rights has been high. While there are nearly 100 A and P Societies in New Zealand eligible to bid for the honour, only about half a dozen are big enough to host it. Waikato hosts this year and next.

Then it is Manfeild Park's turn.

Heather Verry, Manfeild Park CEO said "Our venue fits the bill perfectly. We are used to staging large events, whether that's in motorsport with the New Zealand Grand Prix, or community events like our annual fireworks' night."

"We have the space, we have the facilities -our new Manfeild Stadium, in particular, was seen as a major asset for the events associated with show week.

"This is going to be a stunning event. The Show is all about tradition and family fun with numerous competitions, the side-show carnival and the grand parade. It's a Kiwi tradition that we're proud to be part of."

Hosting rights for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 shows will be determined in 2014.

Manawatu A and P hosted the very first New Zealand Royal Show in Palmerston North in 1924. The last Royal Show in the Manawatu was in Palmerston North in 2002.

Sourced from: http://www.voxy.co.nz/lifestyle/royal-show-manfeild-park/5/93812