The Wānaka A&P Show has teamed up with Wānaka Wastebusters and Cardrona Alpine Resort to tackle organic waste.

All organic materials from this year’s show - including food waste from trade exhibitors and attendees, as well as livestock waste - will be collected and transported by Wastebusters to Cardrona, where they’ll be composted as part of the resort’s ‘Plant a Seed’ initiative.  

‘Plant a Seed’ turns composted materials into fertiliser for native plantings across Cardrona and Treble Cone, supporting endemic wildlife and helping restore the natural landscape. 

Cardrona and Treble Cone general manager Laura Hedley said the partnership was “a great opportunity to highlight how we all have a part to play in sustainability and conservation”.

Diverting the show’s organic waste in this way “marks a significant milestone in our sustainability efforts,” Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker said.

The ‘show to snow’ project also “marks a significant milestone in our sustainability efforts, demonstrating our commitment to reducing the show’s environmental impact”, Wānaka A&P Show general manager Jane Stalker said.

Wastebusters has worked with the Wānaka A&P Show for over 10 years, providing recycling services, advice and diversion of horse manure and food waste to private composting. 

“We're really excited to be part of the next phase of their sustainability journey, collecting food waste from show goers and all hospitality providers and to compost it locally on the mountain at Cardrona,” Wānaka Wastebusters’ business development manager Sophie Ward said.

“Our staff will be on hand at the show helping people get their waste into the right bins to help divert as much waste from landfill as we can.”

Jane said the partnership with Wastebusters provides show organisers “with the metrics that will enable us to monitor our waste outputs and incorporate this in our year-on-year planning to ensure continuous improvements”.

The Wānaka A&P Show - one of New Zealand’s biggest agricultural, pastoral and community events - will return to the Wānaka Showgrounds and Pembroke Park on March 7-8.

It will feature traditional drawcards like the equestrian, livestock and home industries events and family-friendly favourites like rides, food trucks and the entertaining Jack Russell race.

PHOTOS: Supplied