Summer in our area means A&P Show season – and the first cab off the rank is the much-loved 122nd Helensville Show on 28th February 2026.
Visitors can enjoy a full day of livestock and equestrian competitions, including dairy and beef cattle, registered and flock sheep, dairy goats, and of course the ever-popular pet lambs, calves, and goats. The equestrian programme features 14 rings of competition, showcasing everything from donkeys and minis to Clydesdales and top-level sport horses.
The pavilion offers an impressive range of indoor competitions and two stages of entertainment, complemented by more than 120 trade stalls. Bring the kids along to watch demonstrations of dog trials, shearing, blacksmithing, farriery, and woodchopping.
Crowd favourites return again this year, including the Junior Farmer competition, the Pet Dog Show, and the famous Terrier Race.
The 2026 theme is The Horse, with all-day demonstrations of disciplines such as Western Performance Riding, Kidz Kartz, Mounted Games, Barrel Racing, Heavy Horse and Kaimanawa activities – plus a Donkey Lunch (don’t worry, we’re pretty sure that doesn’t involve eating grass alongside the donkeys!).
Head to the Helensville Show website to grab your tickets today.
Calling All Tourism Operators
North West Country is excited to launch a comprehensive work programme focused on growing destination tourism in our region — and we want to hear from you.
Following our public meeting in December, we will be hosting a full-day workshop in March 2026 at the luxurious Woodvale Lodge. This workshop will bring together local tourism operators to develop a Destination Management Plan for North West Country.
With support from Destination Auckland, we are proud to be the first business association to lead the development of a plan dedicated to our area. This is a major step toward putting North West Country on the map and driving future investment into our region.
If you’re a tourism operator and would like to be involved, please contact our General Manager, Danielle Hancock, at manager@northwestcountry.co.nz to register your interest.
