The Bay of Islands P & I Association Showgrounds are at 205 Showgrounds Road, Waimate North, midway between Kerikeri and Kaikohe, behind the Waimate North Mission House. The grounds are the home of the Bay of Islands Pastoral & Industrial Show and are available for hire through the association.
The show began as an agricultural demonstration at Waimate North in 1842, making it New Zealand's oldest agricultural show. In its early years it moved between towns in the district before settling on a permanent site. Following amalgamation with other shows in 1888, the first recorded president was Mr M. Clarke and the initial land purchase for the current site was made. The first Show Hall was a nikau and pole structure; a replacement hall was built in 1891 using voluntary labour at a cost of eight pounds, one shilling and sevenpence. The show has been held at the Waimate North showgrounds since the 1880s, and celebrated its 175th show in recent years. Waimate North itself is regarded as the birthplace of systematic agricultural farming in New Zealand.
Both the grounds and the hall are available for hire. The association takes bookings for community, equestrian, sporting and school events, and the grounds are also used for weddings. Bookings are handled by the association's secretary/treasurer, and every hire application is considered by the committee before approval.
The association applies clear conditions of hire. No open flame, candles, heat sources, matches, vapes or smoking are permitted inside the hall, though battery-operated candles are allowed. Cooking spits must be set up outside the hall and kitchen, and hangi pits cannot be dug on the grounds. The hall is not hired out for parties, 16th or 21st birthdays, school balls or raves.
This is a community and rural events venue rather than a commercial conference facility. Within that scope it has real utility for the meetings and events market: the hall suits meetings, training days, AGMs, workshops and seated functions for up to 110, while the grounds provide substantial open space for field days, agricultural and equestrian events, outdoor expos, marquee events and large outdoor gatherings.
For organisers running primary-sector conferences, rural field days or equestrian competitions in the Bay of Islands, the showgrounds offer scale and a genuine agricultural setting close to Kerikeri accommodation. The committee approval process and the restrictions on catering methods mean lead time and early confirmation of requirements are important. Browse more Northland venues.
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