The spotlight was on west Auckland's farming community this weekend as the Kumeu Show returned for the 100th time.
The family event was a welcome distraction for a community still reeling from recent flooding.
Crowds gathered in their thousands on Sunday to marvel at some of the best in the west at the Kumeu Show. There was a parade of tractors, culture was on full display, and there was no shortage of smiles on the teacup ride and slippery slide.
It was a fun day out for children and their parents to celebrate the show's centennial year.
"I'd like for their children to remember it and then come back in 100 years when we're here again, to be bringing their kids, their grandchildren, and so we're still around for another 100 years," said Jane Sparnon, Kumeu A & H Society president.
The Kumeu Show has been running since the 1920s, and this year it's a welcome distraction for a community that's been through so much.
The Saving Hope Foundation has been helping to re-home pets affected by the floods - and their own rescue centre was inundated by flooding.
"This is Sundae. She was surrendered to the rescue when she was 10 days old on the very first day of the floods," said Charlotte Whiter, Saving Hope Foundation volunteer.
They set up at the Kumeu Show hoping to find a forever home for some adorable pups. Sadly, they said adoptions have slowed since the floods.
Local equipment hire is now a hot commodity.
"Pumps and generators have been in high demand, and yeah, you just try and do what you can to help the local community and people that have been in less fortunate positions," said Reece Young, NJC Equipment Hire general manager.
Farmer Paul Tyacke from Taupaki said several of his farms were flooded.
"We plan for floods every winter. We get half a dozen in the winter and we can work around those. We plan for droughts in the summer, but this year, it was the complete opposite. It's been a struggle to make hay all summer, because it's raining every other day."
He said events like the Kumeu Show provide an opportunity for locals to check in on each other.
"That's one good thing about the Kumeu Show, I've been coming here since 1987 - it's a day off," Tyacke said.
It's a sentiment shared by the local MP, National's Chris Penk.
"People are enjoying a weekend in the sun, but actually, the reality is they've had a really tough summer, between the extreme weather events and the cost of living and other issues making it really tough," he said.
Because there's nothing like a bit of pageantry, animal therapy, and good food to brighten a community's spirits.
