Huntly & District Kennel Association Inc

03/06/2025

🛍️ Planning meals for our show weekend? Let’s talk food!

Otorohanga has heaps of options for dining in or grabbing something tasty to-go — and best of all, almost everything is within 800m of The Island Reserve! You’ll be spoilt for choice during show weekend! 😋

Here’s what’s nearby:
• 🥪 Subway
• 🍔 McDonald’s
• 🍗 Hot Roast Meals
• 🍻 The Otorohanga Club (meals for members & guests)
• 🌶️ The Tandoor Tavern
• 🍕 The Orchard Thieves (Pizza)
• 🍜 Jasmine’s Thai Restaurant
• 🐉 Flying Horse Chinese Takeaway
• 🍷 The Thirsty Weta Bar & Eatery
• 🍔 Dew Drop Inn Burger Bar
• 🥙 Turko Kebab
• 🍕 Pizza Zone

Prefer to cook your own meals?
🛒 Woolworths is just 200m from the showgrounds gate!

And don’t worry about breakfast or lunch at the show…
We’ll have awesome food carts onsite during the day offering:
• ☕ Fresh coffee
• 🍟 Hot food
• 🍦 Ice cream treats
• 🥤 Cold drinks

Support local and enjoy all the tasty options Otorohanga has to offer! 💚

16/05/2025

Meet the Judge: Anne-Marie Hearn (VIC 🇦🇺)

We’re thrilled to welcome Anne-Marie Hearn to Huntly 2025! With decades of experience, she and her husband Leigh have bred over 55+ Champions under the world-renowned Pendoric Irish Setters prefix

Anne-Marie has judged across Australia, New Zealand, USA, Japan, and Indonesia, and is passionate about travelling the world to watch top dogs in action — from Crufts to Westminster!

Over the weekend she’ll be judging:
🐾 Non-Sporting Group
🏅Waikato Gundog Club

We’re honoured to have her join us in Otorohanga this spring! 💫

15/05/2025

Meet the Judge: Claire Parker O’Sullivan (NSW🇦🇺)

We’re excited to welcome the fabulous Claire Parker O’Sullivan to our judging panel for September 2025!✨

Claire brings a lifelong love of dogs and hands-on experience with Setters, PBGVs, Griffons, Pugs, and Affenpinschers — just to name a few!

Over the weekend, Claire will be judging:
🐾 Toys
🐾 Hounds
🏅Waikato Gundog Club

With her strong roots in top-quality breeding and a passion for the ring, we know she’ll bring a keen eye and great energy to Otorohanga!

09/05/2025

Meet the Judge: Robert Lucas (NSW 🇦🇺)
We’re delighted to welcome Robert Lucas to New Zealand for our September 2025 shows!

Robert brings decades of experience in the ring — as both an exhibitor and an international All Breeds judge with an impressive background in Dalmatians, Beagles, and more!

Over the weekend, Robert will be judging:
🐾 Terriers
🐾 Hounds
🐾 Non-Sporting
🏆 Best in Show

His passion for dogs spans the globe ✈️ — from Australia to the USA, Thailand to South Africa — and we’re thrilled to have him joining us in Otorohanga!

08/05/2025

Meet the Judge: Audrey Hauptfleisch (South Africa 🇿🇦)

We’re thrilled to welcome Audrey Hauptfleisch to New Zealand for our September 2025 shows!

Audrey brings a wealth of international experience and a deep passion for dogs.
Over the course of the weekend, she will be judging:
🐾 Toys
🐾 Utility
🏅 Waikato & Districts Collie Club
🏅 The Hound Club of Auckland

We’re excited to have her expertise in the ring and look forward to seeing her in action!

Stay tuned for more judge introductions and updates as we count down to a fantastic weekend in Otorohanga!

05/05/2025

Wondering where Otorohanga is?
Nestled in the south-western corner of the Waikato, Otorohanga is the perfect destination for a dog show weekend — offering small-town charm, great local amenities, and a relaxed country atmosphere!

Here’s why we’re excited to bring our 2025 shows to Otorohanga:
• 🌿 The Island Reserve offers flat, spacious grounds with easy access — perfect for showing and camping
• 🐾 Scenic walking track on the stop banks beside the river — great for stretching legs (yours and the dogs!)
• 🛒 Supermarket, takeaways, fuel and shops just minutes from the grounds
• 🤝 Friendly locals and a relaxed vibe in a central North Island location

🛣️ Travelling in? Here are approximate driving times to Otorohanga:
• Auckland: 179km – 2hr 15min
• Tauranga: 134km – 1hr 51min
• Napier: 283km – 3hr 47min
• New Plymouth: 182km – 2hr 32min
• Palmerston North: 345km – 4hr 15min

Whether you’re camping onsite or staying locally, we know you’ll love what Otorohanga has to offer.
Mark your calendars — we can’t wait to welcome you in September!

04/05/2025

🤔 Where to Stay – Huntly 2025 Accommodation Info

Planning your weekend at our exciting new venue, The Island Reserve, Otorohanga?
Here’s everything you need to know about staying close to the action!

Camping at the grounds? Absolutely!
• Spacious, flat areas perfect for vehicles, caravans & tents
• No power on-site, but there’s plenty of room and easy access

Prefer not to camp?
Our hard-working secretary has tracked down two great options in town:

1. Otorohanga Kiwi Holiday Park
• Tel: 021 873 981
• https://www.kiwiholidaypark.co.nz

2. Otorohanga & Waitomo Motels
• Tel: 07 873 8289
• https://www.waitomomotels.co.nz

Important info for exhibitors:
• Both providers have kindly agreed to waive pet fees for our exhibitors
• This applies to dogs that remain outside the rooms and sleep in vehicles
• Bookings must be made directly by phone – let them know you’re attending our show
• Please do not book via third-party travel websites

We’re looking forward to a fabulous weekend – and we can’t wait to see you all there!

Friendly, comfortable, spacious and affordable accommodation in a picturesque rural setting in Otorohanga. Swimming pool, spa pool, guest laundry and more.

04/05/2025

Huntly & Districts Kennel Association
In conjunction with Waikato Gundog Club, Waikato & District Collie Club and The Hound Club of Auckland
SAVE THE DATE: 6th & 7th September 2025

We’re on the move… and we’re bringing the excitement with us!!

NEW VENUE
The Island Reserve, Orahiri Terrace, Otorohanga

https://maps.app.goo.gl/c68aVSgURSFMbzkBA?g_st=com.google.maps.preview.copy

New town • New grounds • New vibes!!

What’s on offer:
✨ Spacious grounds with plenty of room for camping & parking
✨ Easy access from State Highway 3
✨ Supermarket & takeaways just a 5-minute stroll away
✨ Off-site accommodation options available (stay tuned for details!)
✨ A fresh location full of local charm and amenities

Meet our incredible judging panel:

🇿🇦 Audrey Hauptfleisch (South Africa)
• Toys, Utility, Waikato & District Collie Club
& The Hound Club

🇦🇺 Robert Lucas (NSW)
• Terriers, Hounds, Non-Sporting & Best in Show

🇦🇺 Robyn Nicholson (QLD)
• Terriers, Gundogs, Working & Best in Show

🇿🇦 Carine Buitendach (South Africa)
• Gundogs, Working & Utility

🇦🇺 Anne Marie Hearn (VIC)
• Non-Sporting & Waikato Gundog

🇦🇺 Claire Parker-O’Sullivan (NSW)
• Toys, Hounds & Waikato Gundog

🇳🇿 Scott Sandford (Waikato, NZ)
• Stakes Classes: Baby Puppy, Puppy, Veteran, NZ Bred & Imported

Full schedule and judge bios coming soon — stay tuned!!
Let’s make Huntly 2025 a weekend to remember!

Tag your show crew and get planning!
We can’t wait to see you all ringside! 🤩

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

12/06/2024

It’s that time of year to introduce our 2024 judging panel. For our shows now being held 05/06 of October at or usual grounds of Cambridge agility grounds at McKinnon Park.

JUDGES HIGHLIGHT.

George Koutsantonis
Judging:
05/10 : Waikato Gundog
06/10 : Huntly & District KA, Terriers & Hounds

My wife and I have been involved in showing Gundogs since the 1980’s showing variously English setters, American Cocker Spaniels, and most prolifically German Shorthaired Pointers under the Dürer’s prefix, importing a German bred stud dog in partnership with other valued breeders of GSPs, also continually updating our bloodline by using notable imports. Our GSPs have won multiple specialty BIS, BIS and we have campaigned numerous Grand and Supreme champions over our 36 years in the breed.
Most recently we have imported two Sealyham Terriers, bred a litter looking to help preserve this once popular breed, the first of which is now a Supreme champion.
I hold licenses to judge terriers, gundogs, hounds and utility dogs, currently aspiring in Non-sporting and Working dogs. I have had judging appointments in multiple states of Australia

29/05/2024

It’s that time of year to introduce our 2024 judging panel. For our shows now being held 05/06 of October at or usual grounds of Cambridge agility grounds at McKinnon Park.

JUDGES HIGHLIGHT.

Heather Morrison

I have been actively involved in the dog world for over 48 years.

I was brought up with Toy and Miniature Poodles, then developed my own love for the Golden Retriever breed; more recently I had the pleasure of having French Bulldogs through my elder son's adoption of a quality Frenchie.

I have bred over 50 Champions with not only Aust Champs but NZ Champs as well as Grand and Supreme Champions and have owned another 10 dogs which gained their titles.

My dogs have won at BEST IN SHOW at Breed Specialties, Gundog Specialties and in the All Breeds ring. My Goldens include in their wins Best in Show at a GR National, Contest of Champions winner, Winner of the Amish Challenge and I own both of the biggest winning Goldens of all time ever in Tasmania.

I commenced judging in early 2000 and became All Breeds in 2012. I have judged all over Australia, in both Islands of New Zealand, in Japan, India, Ireland, Thailand and Italy; with an appointments in South Africa and Estonia in 2017. I enjoy judging all the Groups but especially love the Gundog Group.

27/04/2024

It’s that time of year to introduce our 2024 judging panel. For our shows now being held 05/06 of October at or usual grounds of Cambridge agility grounds at McKinnon Park.

JUDGES SPOTLIGHT:

Ms Anne-Marie Curran

Kennel Name/s: CHAKRATA
Profession: Retired Human Resources Manager

Well known as a successful breeder and exhibitor of Basset Hounds since 1975 and Pointers since 1986, Whippets have now been resident at Chakrata since 1996 and I am delighted with the success I have enjoyed with them.
i am licensed for five groups as a Conformation judge, those being Toys, Terriers, Gundogs, Hounds and Working Dogs. My judging experience has included Specialties in many breeds and the opportunity to judge abroad.

Judging Qualifications and Experiences
Judging Qualification/s: Gundogs, Hounds, Terriers, Toys, Working

Breed Specialisation: Basset Hound, Pointer, Whippet

Speciality Show judged for: Australian Terrier, Basset Hound, Dachshund , Fox Terrier, Whippet, Hounds, Sighthounds / FCI gr. 10, Tenterfield Terrier, Collie Specialty, Weimaraner, Rhodesian Ridgebacks

Licensed by: Australian National Kennel Council

Countries judged in: Australia, New Zealand, Sweden, France, South Africa
Judging Since: 1984

Memberships
National Whippet Breed Council of Australia - President
Whippet/Greyhound Club Of SA - President
Dogs SA
Hound Club of SA

Seminars and Presentations
Presentations
Whippet Lecture to NSW Hound Trainee Judges
Basset Hound Lecture to NSW & SA Hound trainee Judges
Pointer Lecture to SA Gundog trainee Judges