New faces and challenges for association
With Covid-19 effectively cancelling the annual meeting of the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA), this year’s event was conducted by teleconferencing.
Sales manager Cheryl Riddell says there will be about 600 exhibitors at the site – covering a wide range of goods and services for all those in the rural community. The event, which attracts close to 30,000 people from around the central North Island, features a range of events, cutting edge machinery and equipment and some of the latest developments in rural technology.
Riddell says the event is a great place for rural people to meet and network.
“You will find that someone is talking about getting a new tractor and they’ll talk to their neighbour and see if they have bought one and then compare notes,” she told Rural News. “On the day, they will get advice from their friends about a purchase – so there is lot of networking taking place.”
The events include the CD Double Power Fencing competition, which is run on the Friday and National Excavator Operator Competition, which is run over three days. Exhibitors include Chelsea Marriner dog show, FMX motocross, InspireNet, a Cuisine Pavilion and Brew Union, G&J Hunger contracting, Federated Farmers, Overseer Ltd, Agrihealth, Pak A Bach, Expandavan, KP Marine, Surefire, Pioneer Cabins, The Feeder Leader, Urban Frame, Farmshedlabs, Batch 10 , Vizlink, Zeddy, Massey and Horizons Regional Council.
Riddell – who’s been involved in the event virtually since its inception – says it has come a long way and kept pace with the interests and needs of the rural community. She says in terms of visitors, the majority come from the lower half of the North Island.
“Definitely Whanganaui, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Taranaki, but we also finding more support now coming in from Upper Hutt and Kapiti.”
Riddell says the infrastructure at the Manfield site has improved with more tar sealed roads that make for better exhibitor sites. She says Manfield continues to improve its infrastructure, which is good news for everyone.
Riddell believes many locals like the idea of a local event because they can talk to people, they know.
“They don’t want to go to Mystery Creek and talk to someone from Invercargill who they will never see again,” she claims. “I think that’s where CD has been good for the people in this region because they can get to talk with those they deal with throughout the year.”
