Rural Industry Leaders Event Raises $400,000
New Zealand’s rural sector has once again demonstrated its generosity, with the second Rural Industry Leaders Dinner, Debate and Auction raising an impressive $400,000 for the Rural Support Trust.
The four-day event starts next week with 1330 sites and over 1100 exhibitors.
New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Richard Lindroos told Rural News that the sold-out sites and strong farm returns signify the strong agribusiness sector in the country.
"This has happened for the first time in recent history and at times like these, we've got to leverage that.
"To have every exhibitor site sold underscores that the industry sees Fieldays not only as an essential agricultural event but signals strong confidence from the agricultural sector."
Strong Farm Returns Driving Agribusiness Momentum
Lindroos says the Fieldays allows the agribusiness sector to have a platform.
"We have global geopolitical tensions, and the world is changing, but agribusiness will be funding our country's future."
Lindroos says the site is ready to welcome visitors from Wednesday, June 10.
Good weather helped the 'packing in' of the site.
Lindroos adds that Fieldays isn't just an event, it's a national strategic asset that brings together the best of NZ's primary industries in one place.
"If you want to see what drives New Zealand, Fieldays is where it happens."
Record International Delegations Attending Fieldays
The 2026 Fieldays will also attract a record international delegation.
Europe, Latin America, the United Kingdom, India, China, and other key markets will be present.
"Fieldays is where connections turn into real outcomes," says Lindroos.
"We're seeing increasing engagement across international trade, as well as the government-to-government diplomatic relationships, reinforcing the event's role as a key meeting point for global agriculture."
This year's strong global presence is reflected in significant year-on-year growth.
Fieldays will host 73 international exhibitors, up from 66 last year, representing a diverse mix of markets including Australia, Belgium, China, Germany, Greece, Ireland, India, the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Sweden, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Interest in building global partnerships continues to climb, with 254 exhibitors opting in to connect with international opportunities during the event.
Rising International Interest Ahead Of Event
Lindroos thanked New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), and the Waikato Chamber of Commerce for their contributions.
He says this highlights the growing appetite among New Zealand businesses to expand beyond markets and leverage Fieldays as a launchpad for export success.
"Further reinforcing this international momentum, 1102 visa support letters have been processed to date, up from 1054 last year," says Lindroos.
"Embassy and trade delegation registrations are strong, and are still being finalised, with numbers expected to grow further in the lead-up to the event."
Among the booked delegations are attendees from Brazil and Chile, as a direct result of Fieldays' recent visit to those countries.
