The country’s most prominent dog show has been cancelled just weeks out from competition, and both the organiser and venue remain tight-lipped on the cause.
By Rebecca Hogan of Local Democracy Reporting
The National Dog Show Committee has scrapped this year’s event, which was to commence at Manfeild on September 10, due to members’ concerns with the limestone surface of the indoor stadium.
Manfeild has carried out both surface and air quality testing, but the results were not due back until three days before the event was to begin.
In an email to its members, the committee said this timeline made it impossible to stage the show.
Local Democracy Reporting has asked both the organiser and venue what the issue with the surface was, and whether the safety of dogs and their owners was considered at risk. Neither Dogs New Zealand president Owen Dance nor Manfeild chief executive Paul Cocks would specify the concern.
But Cocks said the Manfeild Board had made the precautionary decision not to use the stadium until the test results have been received. As more information became available the board would review its decision.
Dance said a small number of their members had raised concerns about the quality of the stadium floor, which triggered Manfeild’s testing.
The loss of the national show was a blow for the venue which had been trying to increase use of its facilities. Manfeild had historically been heavily supported by Manawatū District Council, receiving about $400,000 a year in grants.
Manawatū district councillor Andrew Quarrie, who had been critical of Manfeild not delivering on its potential as a regional venue, earlier this year told Manawatū Standard the limestone surface was already a turn-off for car clubs and concert promoters due the amount of dust it caused.
Manawatū district mayor Michael Ford said “whatever the problem is”, he hoped it would be remedied promptly.
“I know it has brought competitors, their families and supporters to our district in previous years and I hope there will be an opportunity to welcome the show and its competitors back to our district in future years.”
The dog show would have attracted about 600 dog owners, and supporters, to Feilding for three days.
One of them, Michael Romanos, told Stuff he had booked four nights of accommodation for the show. The president of the Wellington Welsh Corgi Club said he was disappointed he and his pembroke corgi Maestro would not be competing, though had long had his own reservations about the stadium’s surface.
“The dirt does not do groomed dogs any justice,” he said.
Dance said there were no plans to move the event elsewhere or hold it at a later date, as the next available period wouldn’t be until 2027.
Local Democracy Reporting also sought comment from Manfeild Park Trust chairman Hamish Waugh.
Local Democracy Reporting is local-body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
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