Another show stopper

20 May 2025 • By Supplied

Waipā’s second Home and Leisure Show has created a raft of new projects and pastimes – from getting the house clean to getting on a bike.

Waipa Home and Leisure Show at Don Rowlands Centre. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

The show – the second run by Good Local Media, which publishes the Waikato Business News, Cambridge News, Te Awamutu News and King Country News, attracted a steady stream of people through the doors from Friday to Sunday.

They included Waipā mayor Susan O’Regan and chief executive Steph O’Sullivan, who took particular interest in the display by Rotary’s Urban Miners. The miners minimise waste sent to landfill through recycling. (replace divert electrical component going to landfills.

About 75 exhibitors were at the Don Rowlands Centre at Lake Karāpiro and autumn weather was kind to those who set up shop outside.

Sophie Paterson of Karāpiro with Lucy, 5 who goes to Roto-o-Rangi School, and sister Kate 2 watch from above as Momentum Building’s Anthony Paterson, middle below watches on. Photo: Mary Anne Gill

There was a touch of deja vu on opening morning as the first people through the doors were Marlene Prince and Graeme Hopkins from Highfield Retirement Village in Te Awamutu. They were also at the head of the queue for the opening of the inaugural show 12 months ago.

Other visitors included a group from Cambridge Resthaven and other retirement villages.

Feedback from exhibitors was that visitors were genuinely interested in what was on offer and wanted to discuss their requirements. They reported high quality leads and that visitors came out with specific questions and specific exhibitors they wanted to see.

“Exhibitors signed up for next year before they left the building, already talking about new stands they will build for 2026,” Good Local publisher David Mackenzie said.

The objective for 2026 would be to extend the size of the show so there is more to see.

Numbers were slightly down on 2024, which was a reflection of show numbers across New Zealand to date this year.

Organisers were encouraged by the fact that 95 per cent of visitors people were new to the show and there was strong support from the Te Awamutu, Morrinsville and Ōtorohanga communities.

Waipa Home & Leisure Show exhibitor Katarina Williamson (left) takes a break from her Advanced Trees Nursery stall to sample some maasdam cheese, handed to her by Hayley Meyer at the Meyer Cheese stand late on Friday afternoon. “I love all of these products because I’m European and it’s all the stuff I’m used to,” Katarina said. “I rushed here for the cheese before it shut.” Hayley works in administration and accounts at the Meyer Cheese factory in Koromatua, a family gouda business started in Holland by Ben and Fieke Meyer. It was her first year at the show and she had enjoyed her first day, saying there was a “good selection of exhibitors”. Photo: Steph Bell-Jenkins

16 May 4.30pm

Day one is over

And with that, day one of the Waipa Home & Leisure Show is finished. Thanks to everyone who visited. If you didn’t, doors open at 9.30am tomorrow. See you then.

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Waipā show…mark two

A total of 76 exhibitors will be promoting their products at the second Waipa Home and Leisure Show starting Friday.

Waipa Home & Leisure Show

The event, launched by Good Local Media last year, returns to the Mighty River Domain at Lake Karāpiro for three days – Friday to Sunday.

“There is something for every member of the family no matter your age, your budget or if you just want a great morning or afternoon out at an affordable price with families or friends in a relaxed and friendly environment,” Advertising and Commercial director Janine Davy said.

Exhibitors returning from last year will be joined by a host of first-time exhibitors for Waipa’s second show.

“Huis Joinery, back for another year, decided to extend their stand, so that they could hang a barn door between their kitchen and laundry area. One barn door turned into two when they decided to give one barn door away at the show,” Davy said.

Exhibitors include home, building and renovation specialists. Stands will feature custom kitchens, laundry and joinery, carpeting and flooring, cladding, double glazing, garage solutions, solar panels and lighting, heat pumps and air conditioning, magnetic windows, fly screens, security doors, artificial lawns and turf, and professional painters.

Davy said it was an opportunity to support Waipā businesses “who have pulled out all the stops to impress” and national businesses which have travelled to Waipā so customers do not have to go to the main centres.

Waipa Home & Leisure Show 16-18 May – Click here for Exhibitors List & Map

Waipa Home & Leisure Show 8-page tabloid feature

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Our exhibitors are:

OUTSIDE 1 – Advanced Trees Limited – Large grade specimen trees, landscape hedging, ornamental trees.
OUTSIDE 2 – Brandt Tractor Limited -Lifestyle equipment, Ride-ons, Compact Tractors.
STAND 3 + 4 – Air Conditioning Group – We supply and install heatpumps – best prices guaranteed.
STAND 5 + 6 – St Kilda Café & Bistro – We will be onsite at the show offering barista-made coffee and fresh food.
STAND 7 – The National Party – National Party membership.
STAND 8 – Roger Ramsey Building – Waikato renovation experts. Quality workmanship. No job too big or too small.
STAND 9 – Bamboo Sweets – Handmade premium chocolates including chocolate bars, bonbons and truffles.
STAND 10 + 11 – Outdoor Shade Solutions Ltd – Outdoor blinds, umbrellas, awnings, Shade Sails, Wave Shade, Pergolas.
STAND 13 – Kiwi Az Creationz – Indoor andoutdoor rustic wine barrel furniture.
STAND 14 – Resonate – Hearing health and hearing aid subscription service.
STAND 15 – Sentinel Pest Control – Rodent and insect pest control products.
STAND 16 – Wilsons Cambridge – Carpet, Flooring, Curtains, Blinds, Wallpapers.
STAND 17 + 30 – Mavis & Mick Shoes – Leather boots, shoes from Europe, plus clothing and bags.
STAND 18 – Wash Rite – Exterior house and building washing.
STAND 19 – Treetown Designer Kitchens – Custom kitchens and interior joinery solutions for homes in Cambridge, Hamilton and the greater Waikato.
STAND 20 – Step Flex Orthotics – Step Flex -flexing foot correctors.
STAND 21 – Hallmark Services – Better cleans with the Hallmark Team. Your trusted residential, commercial and carpet cleaners.
STAND 22 – Tiles on Devon – Showcasing a selection of our favourite tiles from our extensive range.
STAND 23 + 24 – Fowler Homes – Your local award-winning builders – let’s talk about your project.
STAND 25 – Totalspan – Totalspan Waikato/King Country have you covered for garages, workshops, storage and more.
STAND 26 – Cambridge Tiles – Tiles for every style and budget, backed by local expert advice.
STAND 27 – Cambridge Solar – Solar panel systems, repair, cleaning, maintenance. General electrical services.
STAND 28 – Phiten Health & Performance – Natural products for improved health, sports performance, injury recovery, pain relief, skincare.
STAND 29 – Lawn Rite – The grass is greener when you mow it. Lawns, hedges & weed control.
STAND 31 – Bellberry Distillery – Gin and Vodka, plus fruit mixes (freeze dry mixes to have with the gin and vodka).
STAND 32 – Good Local Media Ltd – Show organiser – Information Desk located in foyer. Also, publishers of Cambridge News, Te Awamutu News, King Country News, and Waikato Business News.
STAND 33 – G. J. Gardner Homes – Residential construction.
STAND 34 – Double Glazing United – Retrofit double glazing into timber and aluminium joinery.
STAND 35 – Cambridge Real Estate -Residential, lifestyle and rural real estate – find your dream Cambridge property.
STAND 36 + 37 – Latitude Homes King Country & Waikato South – New home builds.
STAND 38 – Meyer Cheese – Locally handmade Gouda style cheeses.
STAND 39 – Bioptron NZ – Bioptron healing medical light therapy device and accessories.
STAND 40 – Seddon Portrait House – Family photographer celebrating your precious memories via wall portraits and albums.
STAND 41 – Alpha First Mortgage Investments – Offering wholesale investors stand-alone loan investment opportunities secured by first mortgages.
STAND 42 – Grinters Funeral Home/Rosetown Funeral Home – Pre-plan your funeral arrangement options with our funeral directors.
STAND 43 – Momentum Building Ltd – Building company specialising in renovations. Selling our building services.
STAND 44 – Daisy Garden Bags & Bins – Green waste collection service. Providing garden bins and bags.
STAND 45 – The Designers Colab – The Designers Colab is a collaborative interior design studio featuring industry leaders with decades of experience in residential design.
STAND 46 – Truestyle Improvements – NZ Swimming Pools – Fibreglass swimming pools, hard landscaping and concrete.
STAND 47 – EziRider – First choice best price fold-up E-bike.
STAND 48 – Straight Paint – Residential and commercial painting.
STAND 49 – Top Class Concrete Treatments Ltd – Turning ugly concrete into lovely concrete.
STAND 50 – NZ Sure Ltd – Life, Trauma, Medical, Income Protection, Mortgage Protection Insurance, Business Insurance.
STAND 51 – Cambridge Resthaven – 100% community owned retirement village, apartments, care centres and companion driving service.
STAND 52 – Scent with Love – Handcrafted home fragrance, including soy wax candles, melts, diffusers, and room sprays.
STAND 53 – Duzz-All Beeswax – Natural beeswax products for leather and timber, Bees Ease for pain relief.
STAND 54 – Carley’s Kitchen – Affordable kitchen merchandise – your cooking and kitchen will be popping!
STAND 55 – Waikato Security Doors – Security Doors, Insect Screens, Magnetic Windows, Pleated and Retractable Screens.
STAND 56 + 57 – Cambridge Beds & Furniture – Offering quality furniture and beds for every home.
STAND 58 – First National Te Awamutu – We are passionate about helping you with your real estate needs.
STAND 59 – Versatile – Garages, farm buildings, sleepouts, cottages and homes.
STAND 60 – Bone & Body Blueprint Ltd – Accurate and scientific results for Bone & Body scanning.
STAND 61 + 62 – Unreal Lawns & Courts – Artificial Turf for Residential, Commercial, and Sport Court.
STAND 63 – Craftwork Garage Doors – New garage doors, including servicing and repairs.
STAND 64 – Yard Matters – Garden, lawn and landscaping services throughout Cambridge, Hamilton, Te Awamutu & beyond.
STAND 65 – Rotary – Urban Miners – Collecting E-waste, recycling, reusing and diverting it from landfill.
STAND 66 + 67 – Huis Joinery – Bespoke joinery – kitchens, laundries, barn doors, customer cabinetry.
STAND 68 – Mons Flavors – Six types of non-spicy spice blends, locally handmade, made in New Zealand.
STAND 69 – Masada Cladding – Premium NZ made weatherboard you never have to paint.

FOOD TRUCKS

STAND 72 – Black & Orange Catering – Low and slow cooked meats and delicious sides.
STAND 73 – Bratwurst Grill Cambridge -Bratwurst and legendary currywurst (sausage in curry ketchup), plus vegetarian options, loaded fries and wedges.
STAND 74 – Sawadee Thai & Asian Catering – Thai cuisine.
STAND 75 – Suzuya Japanese Fried Chicken – Japanese style fried chicken, served with a side salad rice balls (onigiri).