“If it sits still long enough, we’ll auction it!”

It may be a case of buyer or vendor beware at Dannevirke’s smallholders auction, but it’s all in good fun for this annual community event.

One which brings people from all over the region and beyond to see what’s on offer.

Held at the A & P Showgrounds, the smallholders auction has been running for over a decade, but since PGG Wrightson Real Estate became more involved in recent years, the focus has been on maintaining the event’s community purpose.

Giving people the opportunity to buy and sell second-hand goods, it also supports three important local causes. Half the commission from auction sales is donated to the Dannevirke Lions, and the other half to the Dannevirke A & P Society. And entry to the event is by gold coin donation, with proceeds going to the rescue helicopter - an essential service for the regional community.

Pictured: Dannevirke Real Estate Branch Manager, Bec Adie.

With all the advertising provided by PGG Wrightson, staff across the business also contribute their time to help run things smoothly on the day, including the local livestock team who provide experienced auctioneers to run the sales. In particular, the Dannevirke Real Estate branch led by Branch Manager Bec Adie, plays a key role in helping deliver the event.

“In the lead up, we’re taking care of the administration and coordination, and on the day our team pitches in where needed - helping assign lot numbers, running items to the auctioneers, and handling payments,” says Bec.

“We’ve got three of us in the office and a great admin support in Pam Henricksen who knows the event inside out.”

But if you’re in the market for a herd of cattle, you’ll be out of luck, as this is not a large-scale farm auction. Instead, it’s a more down-to-earth event where smaller blocks, lifestyle owners, and residents from across the region can bring in a wide range of items.

“It’s not about big equipment or livestock in large numbers,” says Bec. “This is more of a general rural auction - chickens, roosters, trailers, second-hand gear. It’s a good way for people to clear things out and maybe pick up something useful at a reasonable price. 

Over the years, Pam says the auction has featured everything from baths and household knick knacks, to plants, poultry, tools, toilets, doors and farm implements and equipment.

“We’ve probably had it all. If it sits still long enough, we’ll auction it!”

With turnover averaging around $25,000, plenty of vendors are able to make a quick buck or two from selling their wares, but one of the key features of the auction are the funds that go back into the local community. While figures from this year’s event are still being processed, in 2024, around $600 was raised for the rescue helicopter through entry donations, and approximately $1,500 - $2,000 each went to the Lions and A & P Society through the commission split. 

“My own family is involved in emergency services, so I understand how important it is to support these causes,” says Bec. “It’s great to not only be involved from a PGG Wrightson perspective, but to also see the overall benefit for the community.” 

For PGG Wrightson, the event is also a practical example of collaboration between business units. Real estate and livestock teams don’t always work side-by-side, so this kind of event creates space for connection across different parts of the business.

“It’s a good crossover,” says Bec. “We’re in a small town, and we don’t always get to work directly with the livestock team. So this is a chance to do that, and it works well.”

And Bjorn Andersen, Area Livestock Manager for Dannevirke and Pahiatua, agrees.

“The smallholders auction gives the community a way to sell a wide variety of items in one place. Bec and her team contribute a lot of time to the running of this event and without their support and hard work, events such as this wouldn’t happen.”

Planning for the auction typically begins in late spring, with monthly meetings held in the lead-up to the event. While it does take time and coordination, the organisers are keen to keep it going.

“We all love it, those of us here at PGG, the Dannevirke community, and those who come from further afield - places like Masterton, Hawkes Bay etc - to grab a bargain,” says Bec.

“For sellers, it’s a really convenient way of getting ‘rid’ of things easily while making a bit of cash. As the saying goes ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.”

In regional towns like Dannevirke, events like the smallholders auction serve a practical purpose while also helping strengthen community ties and delivering value - both for the organisations it supports, and the people who show up year after year.