Friday, 18 February 2022 09:55

A step in the right direction

Written by  Sudesh Kissun
Northland Field Days Committee vice chair Basil Cole. Northland Field Days Committee vice chair Basil Cole.

The Government's decision last week to progressively open the country's borders is a step in the right direction, says Northland Field Days Committee vice chair Basil Cole.

He says for his committee to plan for next year's field days with any confidence, the Government needs to do two things: "They need to open the borders and keep them open," he told Rural News. "The second thing is that the Government must stop the vaccine mandate."

With the 2022 field days cancelled, Cole says the committee has two plans going forward - one around having a show in 2023 and the other around not having a show.

The call was made to cancel the show around January 23, when the Government put the country under red alert level as the first Omicron cases surfaced.

Cole believes the early call led to potential exhibitors not incurring heavy losses.

"What happened in 2021 was that we cancelled the show late in the piece and exhibitors had already moved machinery and products from south."

Cole says to stage the field days next year, organisers need to restore confidence among its exhibitors.

"Right now, that confidence is not there."

Cole, a retired dairy farmer, has been involved with the organising committee for many years.

He told Rural News that canceling the event this year has disappointed many people in Northland and the decision was quite hard on everyone.

Cole says organising committee members are volunteers, giving up their time to plan and run the three-day event.

"We do this for the community and our goal is to hold an exciting event every year," he adds. "Sadly, we haven't been able to do it this year and a lot of people have been left disappointed."

More like this

CAT's 100th anniversary

While instantly recognised as the major player in construction equipment, Caterpillar Inc, more commonly known as CAT, has its roots set in the farming regions in the west of the United States.

Featured

Jack Jordan takes Stihl Timbersports gold for NZ

Going one better than a frustratingly close second place finish at last year's event, the country's top axeman, Jack Jordan of Taumaranui, last weekend won the Stihl Timbersports World Championship individual event in.

Canterbury A&P Show expands with new Wool Zone

Canterbury A&P Association (CAPA) show president Brent Chamberlain says a big development for this year is the Wool Zone, first introduced two years ago as a showplace for everything produced from wool, but now greatly enlarged with its own Wool Marquee and more than 30 trade sites.

Expo scales to new heights

Engaging, thought provoking speakers, relevant seminars and relatable topics alongside innovative produces and services are the order of the day at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.

National

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

'Told you so'

OPINION: Your old mate hears some of the farmers involved in the Meat Industry Excellence (MIE) group ten years ago…

BSA BS!

OPINION: The Hound reckons the recent stoush about the old Broadcasting Standards Authority (BSA) expanding its brief – with no…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter