About 50,000 Cantabrians have marked the region's anniversary day by going to the 151st Canterbury A&P Show in Christchurch.
The show is billed as the largest of its kind in the country, attracting close to 6000 livestock entries and 750 trade exhibitions.
A&P Association president Mark Fleming says within the rural sector, the red meat industry in particular is growing in confidence.
He says record numbers of trade exhibitors shows spending confidence is back.
"There's a lot of business that's done between farmers and the trades-based people, and also the city people that are here as well, they pick up ideas for Christmas presents, gifts, all that sort of thing," he says.
Mr Fleming says while final numbers are yet to be tallied, ticket sales by Wednesday were already up 4% on last year.