Fieldays 2026 Returns to Mystery Creek This June
Tickets have officially gone on sale for Fieldays 2026, marking less than 50 days until the event.
Out of more than 80,000 entries, Daniel Neil from Piopio has been announced as the lucky winner of the Isuzu D-MAX LX Double Cab 4WD Ute in this year’s Fieldays Ute giveaway.
The prize package, valued at over $63,990, includes on-road costs, 12 months of registration, a full tank of fuel, and a comprehensive 3-year/100,000km warranty.
Daniel’s initial reaction to winning the ute was one of disbelief, thinking it was a joke when he received the call from New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive, Peter Nation.
“When I told my wife Gina, she thought I was having her on! The kids were excited but not sure whether to believe it or not,” Daniel shared.
Daniel and Gina milk 430 Friesian cross cows on a leased 240ha dairy farm, with an additional 120ha leased for dairy support and beef.
“The Isuzu will definitely be put through its paces with farm life. There’s always something to tow or pick up and plenty of hills on the farm to climb. Whether it’s kids or animals, there’s always something to run around after. I’m also looking forward to trying out its towing capabilities with the caravan.”
Daniel, who was raised on a farm in Taranaki, has been a regular at Fieldays for over a decade. He came to the 2024 event for the day with his brother and two local farming mates.
“I go to Fieldays for a day off the farm,” Daniel said. “It’s interesting to see what innovation, technology, and equipment is out there and what could work for us in our farming operation. It’s also a chance to catch up with our rural providers, like the bank.”
Ross Sommerville, general manager of Isuzu Utes New Zealand, expressed his support for Daniel’s win. “The D-MAX is built tough and has the specs to handle farm life with ease. Whether taking care of day-today tasks or the gruntier jobs, it’s up to the challenge.”
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.
Westgold butter has been named New Zealand's tastiest in a blind tasting conducted by Consumer New Zealand.

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