Stratford Park Equestrian Complex

Stratford A&P Association – Developments
Construction is now underway on the new equestrian centre at Stratford Park, marking a major milestone in the Stratford A&P Association’s long term vision to expand recreation and sport opportunities for the community.
For the past seven years, the Association has been developing Stratford Park across its 80 hectare site, working with a wide range of groups to create a shared hub for events, sport, and community activity. Support from the Stratford District Council has been instrumental, including assistance in securing a loan to purchase additional land to ensure all user groups have room to grow.
The equestrian centre on Flint Road officially broke ground on 14 May, and with several weeks of fine weather, contractors have already made strong progress on the arena substructure. The Stratford Park Equestrian Complex group, will initially utilise existing infrastructure to support the new all weather arena, while continuing discussions on further developing the event area to meet the full potential of providing facilities for all horse users.
Speedway has operated from the A&P showground’s for 65 years, and the Association looks forward to continuing this long standing relationship, together we will continue to build a solid foundation for generations to come.
Infrastructure upgrades across the wider showground’s are also advancing. A new venue for Taranaki Shears was completed in time for the Royal A&P Show held in Stratford in November 2025. A replacement toilet block is currently being installed in the event area, following the demolition of the previous block last year after it reached the end of its usable life.
The Association has built strong relationships with many groups who use the showground’s as their home base. While the Taranaki Motorsport Facility Trust has recently chosen to withdraw from the Stratford Park project, the Association acknowledges the progress made together and wishes the Trust well for the future.
“Over the past seven years, significant progress has been made in confirming entity structures and undertaking major works to improve facilities,” said Stratford A&P President Paul Vanner. “The project was set up to create a sustainable future for the A&P and the wider community, and we look forward to further developments. We are proud and positive that the showground’s will continue to be a place for community groups and users to have fun, socialise and compete.”
A&P Executive

Please see the link for an update from the Stratford Park Motorsport Complex

Important Update - Stratford Park An update regarding changes in the Stratford Park Steering Committee

Awesome to be able to offer this programme at the existing grounds, thanks for sharing Taranaki Diocesan School!

https://www.facebook.com/share/1AzVEw5Xaz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Press release: Equestrian Development Breaks Ground in Stratford

The Stratford Park Equestrian Complex Charitable Trust is proud to mark a significant milestone this week, with a formal groundbreaking ceremony signalling the official start of construction on Stratford’s new equestrian facility.

This moment follows the Trust securing more than $500,000 in identified funding to support the development, including a major grant of $170,000 from the Taranaki Electricity Trust, formally approved on 20 March 2026. This investment represents a strong vote of confidence in the project and its long-term value to the Taranaki region.

The start of works marks a major turning point for the local equestrian community, transitioning the project from years of planning into delivery. Once complete, the facility will provide a safe, functional, all-weather environment designed to meet the needs of riders, educators and the wider community for generations to come.

Over the past year, the Trust has carefully re-scoped the project to ensure it is both financially sustainable and practical to deliver. This has included relocating the development within land secured by the Stratford A&P Association, allowing interim use of existing infrastructure while new facilities are progressively built.

This strategic approach has reduced costs, lowered risk and enabled a staged build, giving the project a clear and confident pathway forward while maintaining a focus on delivering a high-quality community asset with lasting impact.

Stage one of the development will centre on the construction of a large all-weather arena. This will enable riding, training and events to take place year-round, addressing longstanding challenges caused by shared use of space with Speedway and A&P events. The new facility will provide greater certainty, accessibility and flexibility for users across the region.

Importantly, the development is about more than equestrian sport. It also has a strong emphasis on education and community wellbeing. The Trust has already delivered successful Equine Assisted Learning programmes, demonstrating the positive impact of working with horses on confidence, communication and mental health. The new facility will allow these programmes to expand and reach even more people across Taranaki.

“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has backed this project,” Trust Co Chair Emily Perrin said. “Breaking ground this week is a huge milestone and reflects the strength of support for creating a facility that will benefit the entire region for years to come.”

The Trust also acknowledges the ongoing support of the TOI Foundation, NZCT, and everyone else who has contributed, either financially or in other ways, to make this project possible.
As construction gets underway, the Trust welcomes continued community interest and involvement.

For more information or to get involved, please contact: [email protected]

Photo Credit: C Blake Photography

👋 We’ve been a bit quiet… but there’s good reason!

If you’ve read our latest Stratford Park newsletter (https://www.stratfordpark.co.nz/stratford-park/end-of-year-update-dec-2025/ ), you’ll know we’re very close to starting groundworks after some careful replanning to make sure the Equestrian Complex is achievable and sustainable long-term. Things are moving, and we’re excited about what’s ahead.

In the meantime, we’ve teamed up with the Taranaki Chamber of Commerce on a fun and easy fundraiser using the brand-new Taranaki Monopoly board 🎲

For every game purchased for 2026, Stratford Park Equestrian Complex receives a $10 donation — just make sure you use our unique code at checkout.

💚 It’s a great gift, supports local, and helps us keep momentum going.

How to support us:
• Visit taranakimonopoly.co.nz/pages/fundraising
• Add the game to your cart
• Use our code at checkout: SPE
• We receive a $10 donation per game

Thanks so much for backing the project — every bit helps, and we can’t wait to share the next update 🐎✨