Negotiating social licence to farm at Canterbury agricultural and pastoral shows

Agricultural and pastoral (A&P) shows are often depicted as a meeting point for town and country. The largest of these is the New Zealand Agricultural Show, which is held in the Canterbury region of the South Island. In this research, we approach A&P Shows as places where a social licence to farm is negotiated. We conducted in-depth qualitative research on five A&P shows across the Canterbury region. Our analysis examines how social licence to farm is negotiated through activities and experiences at New Zealand A&P Shows. In doing so we also highlight ongoing changes and relational tensions in these negotiations, and who is included in - and excluded from - them.