Thursday, 13 June 2013 09:01

Good crowd to Fieldays first day

Written by Pamela Tipa

font size decrease font size increase font size
Print
Email

A total 26,648 people came through the gate for the first day yesterday of the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays at Mystery Creek.

This figure was typical for the first day of the event, says event manager Vanessa Richmond.

"We're very pleased to be bringing everybody an extra special event this year with several new or reformatted areas," she says.

"There has been a huge interest in our Innovations with its new format competition which has attracted amazing entrants. We're eagerly looking forward to our brand new event 'Innovation Den – pitch for investment' this afternoon."

Powered by SODA inc, the Dragon's Den style event will be held at 2.30pm today and will see 12 finalists pitch their inventions to a panel of investors and business leaders.

Another busy area on day one was Kiwi's Best Kitchen which was extremely popular with visitors enjoying the new layout and demos from chefs including Josh Emett, and the eight Rural Bachelors competing at this year's Fieldays.

This year's Premier Feature 'Getting Down to Business in the Global Economy', set the tone for a range of exhibits and seminars based on the challenges of meeting global demands and growing New Zealand's economy. Premier Feature sponsor, Ministry for Primary Industries, has a strong alignment with this year's theme and their staff are busy at Fieldays, presenting seminars and talking to visitors at their stand.

The 45th annual Fieldays was officially opened by Minister of Primary Industries, Nathan Guy, who had earlier held a Meet the Minister session in the Fieldays seminars.

Powered by the University of Waikato, the Fieldays seminars continue today and Friday and featuring a robust schedule of informative agricultural based sessions.

New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays is on now until Saturday at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. Fieldays is supported by strategic partners - ANZ and the University of Waikato. Tickets can be bought online or at the gate, visit www.fieldays.co.nz for more details.

Published in Rural Life

More like this

Fieldays hold out the begging bowl

OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.

Fieldays calls for strategic investment in its future

A function at Parliament on 7th October brought together central government decision-makers, MPs, industry stakeholders and commercial partners to highlight the need for strategic investment in the future of Fieldays and its home, the Mystery Creek Events Centre campus.

Fieldays to rebuild Mystery Creek services building

The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.

University of Waikato research reveals 2050 drought threats

New research could help farmers prepare for a future where summer rainfall is increasingly unpredictable and where drought risk is rising, no matter what.

Urgent action needed to restore Waikato lakes' health

Waikato is home to a diverse range of lakes, and experts say they urgently need better management and restoration.

Featured

AgriSIMA 2026 Paris machinery show cancelled

With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.

MIA showcases refreshed Taste Pure Nature brand with Shanghai pop-up experience

The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.

Cricket memorabilia up for auction for youth mental health

Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.

NZ tractor sales show signs of recovery – TAMA

As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.

Dairy farmers urged to participate in 2026 Levy vote

DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.

B+LNZ calls for director nominations for 2026 annual meeting

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.