Coast & Country News - June 2026 Fieldays Liftout

2026 Fieldays Lift Out

See the future…

For four days each year a new world comes to life at Mystery Creek, Hamilton. It’s made up of people from New Zealand’s primary industries and global agribusiness for those who live on and work the land. Fieldays 2026 will have more than 1200 exhibitors showcasing their products and services, innovation will be celebrated and community will be brought together. Don’t miss it! Photo / Supplied

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Fieldays spotlights Fieldays is set to return to Mystery Creek Events Centre from June 10-13, bringing together the best of New Zealand’s primary industries and global agribusiness.

New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Richard Lindroos says the event remains one of the country’s “true mega events”, where industry, community and innovation converge to help shape the future of agriculture.

Preparations are well underway, with activity ramping up on site in recent weeks. Upgrades include resealing roads, repairing potholes and constructing the 400sq m Rural Living marquee.

Lindroos says the venue has become “aa hive of activity”, with more than 14,700 contractor inductions expected ahead of opening day.

More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase products and services, with sites nearly sold out. Visitors can expect

of farming

everything from cutting-edge agri-tech and advanced machinery to artisan food, new-to-market vehicles, and a range of financial and insurance solutions.

Something new

A new Fieldays Function Centre on the Village Green will give businesses additional opportunities to host events, while a strong line-up of hubs will highlight innovation, careers and education, forestry, rural health and wellbeing, advocacy, and drone technology.

Key features are also reaching milestones, including the Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub’s 10th anniversary and five years for the Forestry Hub. Popular competitions such as Tractor Pull, fencing and excavator challenges will return, offering crowds a showcase of skill and grassroots entertainment.

Families are again catered for with the Fieldays Family Fun Zone, featuring free hands-on activities including a rock wall,

Preparations are ramping up at Mystery Creek, with the venue taking shape ahead of Fieldays.

Photos / Fieldays

bungy trampoline, inflatables and a golf simulator. Nearby, the Heritage Village offers a step back in time with attractions such as a historic church, the old Kihikihi jail and the National Dairy Museum.

Creative

More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services, with sites nearly sold out.

The Fieldays Creative Space will also return, blending art and rural storytelling inspired by artist David Henshaw, providing a reflective contrast to the event’s technology focus.

Visitors can vote for their favourite Innovation Awards entries on site or through the official app, while the Gate Prize offers ticket holders the chance to win a JAC T9 ute, valued at $49,990,

along with $10,000 worth of Stoney Creek gear.

General admission tickets are priced at $36 for adults and $18 for children, with free entry for those under 5. A family pass is available for $108. Free parking is provided, with limited VIP parking also available.

For 2026, ticket buyers can opt to donate to the Rural Support Trust, with Lindroos saying the partnership helps deliver vital support for farming families and rural communities.

Premium Business Lounge tickets are also on sale, offering an all-inclusive experience with hospitality, parking and dedicated meeting spaces.

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Innovators bring Fieldays 2026 Innovation Awards participants are set to showcase the future of agriculture, with a strong line-up of innovators bringing fresh ideas and practical solutions to Mystery Creek next month.

From June 10 to 13, 58 selected individuals, companies and start-ups will exhibit cutting-edge technologies as part of the awards programme, which this year welcomes Amazon Web Services (AWS) as overall sponsor.

The 2026 cohort reflects the rapid evolution of the sector, with entries spanning artificial intelligence, automation, on-farm safety, monitoring and diagnostics - alongside a host of clever, practical tools designed to improve productivity and efficiency across farms, orchards and rural properties.

Fieldays Innovation Awards programme manager Steve Chappell says while the awards may look diff ffeerent from a decade ago, their core purpose remains unchanged.

“People will notice the awards look different from 10–15 years ago because of the breadth of entries and the evolution of technologies,” Steve says.

“But as we near the 60th year, they still showcase the bold, practical solutions they always have.”

Connections

The programme connects innovators with New Zealand’s wider agri-tech ecosystem, providing access to expert judges, mentors and potential partners who can help refine and scale ideas.

It also offers a direct link to the primary sector, giving participants the opportunity to engage with farmers, test concepts, and receive real-world feedback.

“Fieldays is where start-ups can move from a viable concept to international impact,” Steve says. “It’s great to see entrants progressing through the categories again this year and being inspired by past success stories.”

AWS has expanded its involvement in 2026, highlighting the growing importance of digital technologies in agriculture.

“As overall sponsor, AWS will support innovators at every stage - hellpiing strengthen pathways from concept to commercialisation,” Steve says.

AWS New Zealand country manager Manuel Bohnet says the company is committed to backing local innovation.

“The Fieldays Innovation Awards

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ag solutions

highlight the ingenuity of Kiwi founders, researchers and growers,” Manuel says.

“We’re proud to support solutions that can grow, scale and reach global markets.”

Stages

Entries are divided across three development stages, with 27 in the Prototype category, 18 in Early-Stage, and 13 in Growth and Scale. Five young participants are also competing for the Young Innovator of the Year title.

Steve says one of the standout trends this year is the rise of AI-driven innovation.

“We’ve seen a marked increase in AI-based solutions, which was expected,” he says. “The awards continue to evolve as

a marker for progress in New Zealand.”

Participants are vying for a share of a prize pool worth more than $75,000, aimed at helping bring ideas to market or accelerate growth.

The People’s Choice Award will also return, giving Fieldays visitors the chance to vote for their favourite innovation. The winning entrant will receive $2000, while one voter will win a $500 voucher.

Innovations will be on display throughout the event, including in the dedicated Innovation Hub, with full details available via the official Fieldays app.

The awards ceremony will be streamed live on Fieldays’ Facebook and YouTube channels on June 11 at 5.30pm.

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The Fieldays blind spot Comment from Hunter Wells | National Fieldays began at Te Rapa Racecourse in 1969 – a couple of years before it moved to Mystery Creek. At the same time, Hunter Wells became a newspaper cadet. Couldn’t get an assignment in on time, but then got a job with a daily deadline. Since then, his career has taken him to Ground Zero, France, Guantanamo Bay, Kathmandu, Puerto Rico, Kuala Lumpur and the like. Also Dargaville, Taumarunui and points in between. But never to National Fieldays. Why?

For 50 years, I have lived within a cut lunch and water bottle distance of Mystery Creek.

An hour and a half up the road. But I’ve never felt the urge to attend “Field Days”. It’s just what interests you, I suppose. Or what doesn’t.

And what doesn’t interest is rain, fog, mud, gumboots traffic jams gumboots, jams, tractors and Johnny Hayseeds, if I want to give a provocative, ill-informed and detached impression of “Field Days”. Yep, rather jam my head in a door than get my Florsheims all covered in cow poop at a“Field Days”.

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Rather sit at home with the curtains drawn and watch a back catalogue of EastEnders than go to “Field Days”.

“Park it!” scolded Work Wife. “Don’t knock it if you haven’t tried it. Park your cynicism, park your ignorance. And it’s Fieldays. One word. Run by the NZ National Fieldays Society Inc.” Work Wife Wife, bless her little calloused hands hands, is off a farm, born of the soil. “Proud because soil is alive, and without soil the earth would be a useless rock.”

She’s on her high horse and horses figure at Mystery Creek. “And soil has a microbiome,

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in a long, global career off stuff – jam, whisky, you must find someone doing something vaguely fascinating.” Whisky maybe? Jam nuh!

Despite the name of his radio show, Kelly’s as urban as I am. Wouldn’t know his brassica from his barley, not a moleskins and Swandri kind of guy, but now he’s a great, but non-practising, steward of the land.

“Fieldays is an A&P show on steroids.

So be in the show.”

Work Wife reminds that it’s also a chance for “slickers and unbelievers”, like me, to celebrate the “real drivers” of the New Zealand economy – the primary

Fieldays is held at Mystery Creek in Hamilton each year in June. Photo / Malisha Kumar

a community of microorganisms just like the one in your gut that protects against pathogens.” We’re all sold on soil now.

More than 110,000 people went to Fieldays last year – half the population of Hamilton – four times the capacity of FMG rugby stadium up the road, so a strong fan base of vyella shirts and jodhpur boots.

“No, not just rural people. Haven’t you ever been to an A&P show?” asked Work Wife. Well, yes, I have, in 1960 at Tahuna Park, Dunedin. I was mesmerised by a traction engine – a real live, heaving, huffing, mechanical Jurassic dinosaur, a Clydesdale with obscenely hairy feet, and a mummy pig with mammary lines like gun batteries on a galleon. Also, something called a stationary engine – what’s the point of an engine that doesn’t go anywhere? But he could see the point of candy floss and toffee apples.

“There you go,” Work Wife said.

But you can’t take the town out of a townie – it’s ingrained. And so, I don’t easily get excited at the pulling power of a John Deere, or Huntaways corralling Corriedales, or $292 tall gloss rain boots – those from the manor don’t wear ‘gumboots’ anymore. And the Silver Spades speed fencing competition – that’s more excitement than a human’s allowed.

Every year, my old sparring mate Brian Kelly would take his Country Sport Breakfast radio show, and his gums, to Mystery Creek, chirping over the airwaves in the dark before the turnstiles started clicking. It’s a great gig, he reckoned, great for free pens and lollies. Radio jocks are always up for freebies.

“Open your eyes,” he tells me. “And your mind. Might be hard, but you’d be totally and pleasantly surprised by Fieldays. Over 1100 exhibitors showing

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industries, dairy, meat, forestry and horticulture, the backbone of the $36 billion annual export trade.

“See stuff, learn stuff, experience stuff.

You might enjoy it.”

What does intrigue me is the mysterious name, Mystery Creek. Legend has it that an escaped convict was spotted near the creek, and when a cop gave chase, both disappeared without a trace. Or was it a white horse named ‘Mystery’ that disappeared at the top of the gully during a race? That’s mysterious. And I do like a mystery. Fieldays is growing on me.

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Why the Fieldays

means

Comment from Merle Cave | Growing up on a small New Zealand dairy farm in the 1980s and 1990s was a bit different to today. So was heading to Fieldays. Back then a trip to Mystery Creek and the big city of Hamilton was often the annual off-farm holiday for many rural families. Reporter Merle Cave shares her early memories of the annual trips to Fieldays in her youth and why – as a townie these days – they still hold a special place in her heart.

As early as I can remember, every June we’d leave our little dairy farm in the Far North and drive the four hours-plus to the big smoke of Auckland. The cows were out so we were free!

We’d stay in Auckland’s southern outskirts – but still among bumper-to-

bumper traffic and amid houses leaning over top of one another – in a dinky little motel and have Chinese takeaways for dinner. I always disliked the taste as we seldom had them – there were no takeaway outlets near our farm.

But it was all very exciting because the next morning we were up with a bowl of cornflakes and gone by 5am to bustle on to the motorway and join the snake of

traffic heading towards Hamilton.

Yes, our annual family holiday was going to Fieldays. Excitement would build as we reconnected our sights with Hamilton City after a 12-month hiatus and Dad nervously navigated the traffic to Mystery Creek for us to park up and walk for what felt like forever to get there. This was before today’s handy park ‘n’ ride buses.

Waikato’s winter chills would engulf us – luckily we were donned in skivvies, swannies and gumboots as we felt the temperature change from the winterless Far North.

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For a youngster used to a quiet farm life the thousands of people, pop-up tents, helicopters buzzing overhead, loud speakers blaring, roaring tractor pulls near the front gate and aroma of meat sizzling on barbecues near and far was exhilarating. Today the sights and smells of Fieldays still make me feel like I’m on holiday. But now I don’t tag along behind mum and dad.

I remember every year dad would stop just inside the gate and meet the same guy. Off him he’d buy the same fuel siphoners with a valve inside that made them so much easier to use (than the old suck and spit trick).

Mum and I loved all the sites with animals – from alpacas to goats, to calves

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Merle Cave (nee Foster) leaving full-time farm life behind to start her first day of school, aged 5. Photos / Supplied

of differing beef breeds. Giving them all a big pat I’d gain a sticker of the breed for my enthusiasm. I even remember one year viewing this magnificent great bull on one side of a tent then buying a steak burger of his breed on the other. This and the menagerie of animals have all but gone.

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One farmer’s Walco story mer s family y fun!

In an industry where machinery is often replaced every few years, one New Zealand farmer is proving that quality equipment can stand the test of time.

Playing with all the new technology on show at multiple stands at Fieldays was a real buzz for a rural teenager.

We always visited the Fonterra tent – we were suppliers – for a cup of tea, and some free goodies. And for dad’s annual opportunity to tell them how they should be running things.

We always got our hands on some of those super handy Pel sticks to walk around the Fieldays with, then take home to prod and guide the cows.

Dad’s musts

As I grew older I twisted dad’s arm into letting me head off to the wearable art fashion shows and cooking tents – as he liked to keep things simple.

His musts were a visit to Fonterra, the Stihl tent to talk chainsaws, DeLaval to marvel at the new pulsators or milk pumps – and he couldn’t pass the Honda stand without jumping on the back of one motorbike wondering what life would be like with a brand new four-wheeler… Oh and a stop for a West Coast whitebait fritter.

Fieldays has changed with the times, as has my life. Mum has passed and dad has dementia and vaguely remembers being a farmer. These days I forge

In October 2000 salesman Ron Patterson from Mech Traders delivered a Walco 350 ATV spreader to Bunnythorpe dairy farmer Brian Schnell.

Fairly new to the market back then the Walco spreader quickly stood out for its practical design, robust construction and strong warranty support, offering farmers a machine built for long term farm use.

Today, more than 25 years later, the same spreader is still used on the same farm.

Brian says the machine had been used extensively for spreading urea and fertiliser between bulk spreading and Causmag and seed applications. While he still works on-farm, the operation is run by the next generation.

Brian’s son-in-law Greg Gemmell says the spreader continues to prove its value over time, even as the farm is modernised. For example, 10 years back robotic milking machines are installed to improve efficiency and keep pace with technology, but the Walco spreader stayed put. “He [Brian] would tell anybody that the

Helping dad drive the digger.

my own path around Mystery Creek – and visit new things every year.

The same feel

I enjoy today’s much larger offering of agricultural, horticultural, lifestyle, innovation and technological tents, products, people and ideas on offer. But the sights, sounds and smells – as you walk downhill into Fieldays among the jungle of tents, stands and people – make me think I’m still walking hand-in-hand with mum and dad on a family getaway from the farm to the bright lights of Hamilton and the fog of Mystery Creek.

Merle Cave

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A Walco 350 ATV spreader being delivered to dairy farmer Brian Schnell back in 2000 – today it still works on-farm with original parts. Photo / Supplied

Walco is worth the investment because it’s built tough and lasts for decades,” Greg said.

“It has proven to be a reliable and dependable piece of farm equipment rather than something you replace every few years. Even the parts on our 25-year-old machine are original.

It’s not top heavy, good for hills, and feels very sturdy when towed behind an ATV,” Greg said.

Ron runs his own dealership, Agtec, and still enjoys selling the Walco range to farmers.

“The Walco products go along with the rigors of farm life and inevitably are still going strong when inferior spreaders aren’t.

Quality is remembered long after the price is forgotten.

“Confidence in the Walco

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product is contagious,” he says.

Walco spreaders are sold nationwide via a network of farm machinery dealerships, providing farmers with local sales advice, parts and ongoing support.

Part of what helped Walco build a strong reputation is its focus on practical design and long term durability, Ron said.

“Walco spreaders feature tough UV resistant polyethylene hoppers, extra bearings, stainlesssteel apertures and spinners designed to handle corrosive fertiliser products and year-round outdoor use.”

Farmers attending Fieldays can see the Walco spreader range up-close and speak with local dealers at site C21.

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“Whether it’s a simple product enquiry, pricing, on-ssite consultation, or planning a new feed pad or bunker system, I’m here to help every step of the way.”

Greg says he works closely with farmers to provide tailored advice and practical solutions suited to each operation’s unique requirements.

“From initial planning and design through to supply, delivery, and installation, Bowers Brothers ensures every project is completed with efficiency and professionalism.”

Farmers looking to discuss future projects can arrange an on-farm consultation, visit the Bowers Brothers offices in Morrinsville, or meet Greg in person at Fieldays 2026 at Stand 35.

“Whether upgrading feeding systems, expanding infrastructure, or developing new on-farm solutions, Bowers Brothers Concrete delivers dependable precast and concrete products built to support the future of New Zealand farming,” he says.

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Archishade is proud to be showcasing its award-winning outdoor shade solutions at Fieldays this year, located at Stand RM13.

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“Built for New Zealand conditions, Archishade products are anything but cookie-cutter,” Archishade business manager Shannon Burns says.

“Every project is tailored to suit the site, purpose, and environment – delivering durable, practical, and visually striking shade solutions that stand the test of time.”

Shannon says Fielldays viisiitors wiill have th he opportunity to experience the Archishade

difference firsthand.

“From free CAD modelling and on-site consultation through to local manufacturing and professional installation, the Archishade team manages the entire process from concept to completion.

“For farmers and orchard owners looking to protect and create more functional outdoor spaces, this is your chance to create your home paradise!”

Archishade offers a solution backed by local expertise and proven quality, Shannon says.

“Proudly New Zealand-made, Archishade continues to support local industry while delivering innovative shade systems designed specifically for the demands of rural and urban life.”

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Each Archishade product is tailored to suit the site, purpose, and environment. Photo / Supplied

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Ag and Civil Machinery Direct, a division of Waikato Tractors Ltd established in 2017, has carved out a niche supplying specialised machinery to meet growing demand from contractors tackling increasingly complex work across the country.

The business sources equipment from leading manufacturers in Europe, North America and Canada, giving New Zealand operators access to solutions for roading, forestry, mulching, grading and soil preparation. Its range includes discs, power harrows, scrapers, trailers and high-performance attachments, backed by technical advice and ongoing support.

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A key part of its growth has been its appointment as the North Island dealer for Italian telehandler brand Merlo.

With models ranging from compact to high-capacity and rotating machines, the telehandlers are now widely used across both farming and construction sectors.

Ag and Civil is also the authorised New Zealand dealer for Bunning muck spreaders, alongside partnerships with brands such as Erth Engineering and Moreni, further strengthening its offering for local contractors.

With a growing national footprint, the company is focused on bringing innovative, proven machinery to the market - something it says is increasingly important as operators look to improve efficiency and capability.

Visitors to Fieldays will have the opportunity to learn more about the latest machinery and how it is being used to help Kiwi contractors get more done, with the right machine for every job.

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FIELDAYS®

Page 10

Fieldays hub shows ws Back for a second year at Fieldays is the Drone Zone, showcasing the exciting opportunities drones are opening up for agriculture.

Supported by the Agricultural Drone Association (ADA), the hub features the latest technology, plus advice on drone careers and information on certification and training.

ADA president Craig Simpson says it offers many their first look at how drones are revolutionising farm management practices, including spraying and targeted fertiliser spreading.

“A lot of people don’t know that drones

use on n

are an option,” Craig says. “Seeing one flying, they quickly realise they are big machines that can carry a significant payload and gain a better understanding of how they work.”

He says the use of drones is reshaping how work gets done on New Zealand farms, with significant growth over the last few years. They are not only saving money but also improving safety.

“There are now hundreds of large agricultural drones operating across the country – up from around 20 or 30 three years ago.

“Ag drones have been in the background for a couple of years. But we have recently hit a sweet spot where

The Drone Zone is back for a second year at Fieldays. Photo / NZNFS Inc

th hey are ab ble to carry enough h liquid d and d fly long enough to make them genuinely effective. That’s when the market really took off.”

Craig says drones fill a practical niche between ground-based equipment and helicopters, and their rise is changing how agricultural contractors operate.

“They can open up access to land that might previously have been too steep or too wet for traditional agricultural machinery, or that require immediate attention and more precision.”

“If you’ve got 100 hectares to do, a helicopter is always going to be the best choice.

“And if you’ve got lots of ground, it is

dry, not steep, and d you have got pllenty off room to move vehicles, then a tractor or a truck is going to be better.”

Well-suited

New Zealand’s geography makes drones particularly well-suited, Craig says.

“We farm intensively and make the most out of small holdings. We’ve got a lot of arable land, but not a huge amount of it is flat.

“Even with beef and sheep, we run stock on quite steep country. A drone is a real nice fit.”

Craig says this is opening up new possibilities.

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Can’t Tell a John Deere from a Massey Ferguson?

When you can’t tell whether it’s the John Deere or the old Massey firing up down the road, there’s a fair chance the ears aren’t what they used to be.

Most Kiwi farmers are pretty good at looking after the stock, keeping an eye on the weather, and knowing when a machine doesn’t sound quite right. But hearing? That’s usually somewhere near the bottom of the list, right next to replacing that gate you’ve been meaning to fix for three years.

The thing is, farming’s hard on your ears.

Between tractors, chainsaws, motorbikes, milking sheds, and barking dogs, there’s plenty of noise on the job every day. And hearing loss doesn’t happen overnight either. It creeps up slowly until you’re nodding along to conversations you didn’t actually hear, blaming the wind for missing half the chat, or turning the ute radio up loud enough for the whole district to enjoy.

Nearly one million Kiwis experience hearing loss, and plenty of them are blokes who’ve spent years working outdoors and around machinery.

If the missus reckons you’re going deaf, or you’re constantly saying “eh?” at the yards, it might be worth taking 15 minutes for a free hearing check at your local Triton Hearing clinic.

A farmer from Taumaranui shared: “My wife who always complained about my hearing made me take the test and sure enough it showed problems. I got a phone call referring me over to the Triton Hearing clinic in Taupo and pretty much got it all sorted. And now just waiting on ACC for my hearing aid. I certainly think my wife will be super happy.”

As part of Triton Hearing’s, Better Hearing Guarantee, clients have access to the very latest advancements in hearing technology - ensuring solutions are tailored to individual lifestyles, environments and levels of hearing loss.

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Hearing technology has come a long way from the clunky old whistle-and-feedback jobs people remember. These days they’re smart, discreet and built to handle real-world environments, including windy paddocks, noisy machinery and busy sheds.

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Call 0800 45 45 49 to discuss your hearing with the Triton Hearing experts or book your free hearing check online at tritonhearing.co.nz. *Real-time AI means that the AI DNN (Deep Neutral Network) has been trained on sound samples to separate speech from background noise by processing the audio signal in real-time. This approach is fundamentally different from the use of AI for sound or acoustic scene classification, which is used in current hearing aids in the market. The real-time AI signal processing is performed by the DEEPSONIC™ chip, which is included in the Phonak Audéo Sphere Infinio platform together with the Phonak ERA™ chip.

FIELDAYS®

Page 11

farms flying high Powered by volunteers steep blocks because the only option was spraying with a backpack. A helicopter wasn’t economical.

“Now, a drone contractor can do the job at a reasonable rate.”

“There is a point at which you can’t use a vehicle. In the past you might ring a helicopter provider and be told there is a four-week wait. Meanwhile, the fungus gets a foothold.

“A drone provider might be the same price, but they can be there the next day.

You can deal with the problem faster and ultimately use less chemicals.”

Compliance

Safety is another driver of demand.

“Why drive a quad bike or a vehicle across a steep hillside when you can

instead fly over it with a drone and keep everyone safe?” Craig says.

Given the compliance requirements, most agricultural drone users are not farmers themselves, but agricultural contractors.

“Since an ag drone is over 25kgs, you need a certificate with the Civil Aviation Authority. You’re also required to deal with the Environmental Protection Authority for chemicals, WorkSafe for health and safety, as well as local councils for regulations – that’s a lot for one person in a ute with a drone.”

Craig says that with their speed, precision and ability to tackle challenging terrain, agricultural drones are on their way to becoming a familiar sight on New Zealand farms – not just a novelty attraction at Fieldays.

Steve Edward ds

While Fieldays is synonymous with the atmosphere of crowds and exhibitors, there’s a vital force of volunteers who work behind the scenes with the wider event team to ensure all runs smoothly across the annual four-day event.

Last year, 151 volunteers contributed their time to Fieldays, and the New Zealand National Fieldays Society will have a number of new volunteers signed up to join returnees for this year’s event, to be held on June 10-13 at Mystery Creek.

Like many long-standing events, sustaining this legacy requires ongoing renewal, Fieldays people & culture executive Beth Jobin says, as valued volunteers relocate or step back after years of dedicated service. “Every year, we look for new faces to join us and become part of something truly special.”

Always wondered...

Sheep are often farmed on steep country. Photo / Bevan Conley

Peter Fisher, a retired seed industry specialist, has volunteered for seven years.

He began volunteering in 2018 at the 50th anniversary Fieldays event, helping in the New Zealand International Business Centre, and now supports the mobility parking space. “I’d always enjoyed coming to Fieldays during my working life and wondered what it would be like to volunteer. I had good knowledge in the seed industry and an interest in agriculture and felt I could add value,” Peter says.

“I enjoyed meeting many people from across the world, all coming to Fieldays at the bottom of the world to do business.”

Peter loves meeting and working with a great group of people. “Volunteering is a good social thing to do, enabling you to give back to the community.

You make lifelong friends.” Anita van Beek’s connection with Fieldays began in the early-2000s when she was a carpark attendant with NZ Young Farmers.

It wasn’t until 2014 that she officially signed up to become a volunteer with the Society, volunteering for the full four days.

“Those first few years were full-on, helping in the Site Services team.

“I would start on Gate 2, welcoming exhibitors, then move on to deliveries, then helping with the vintage tractor parades, and then either roaming or areaspecific exhibitor assistant, and of course, afternoon traffic management,” Anita says.

Team unity

Over the past 12 years, she’s filled several roles, last year driving the visitor shuttle.

“I enjoyed chatting with people, asking about their plans for the day or how their day had been so far.”

What Anita loves most about volunteering is the sense of team unity, whether it’s with familiar faces or new ones.

“It’s incredibly satisfying to be part of something so dynamic and to interact with such a wide variety of people, whether that’s team members, exhibitors, or visitors.

“Mostly I love the spirit and atmosphere around the site.”

Keith Flockhart became a volunteer in 2024 and last year won the Society’s ‘Volunteer Rookie of the Year Award’.

After learning that the society relies on volunteers, he joined and has helped with pre-Fieldays signage installation, and woolly nightshade weed control throughout the year. “Volunteers are integral to the society as a charitable organisation, and to Fieldays, supporting all aspects of the event operations and driving its core mission of advancing agriculture in New Zealand,” Beth says.

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FIELDAYS®

The Fieldays Forestry Hub is making a fifth appearance at Mystery Creek this year.

careers, timber tech and talks

Coming under the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) umbrella, the Forestry Hub brings together Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service and organisations from across the forestry supply chain to showcase the important and innovative work being done in the forestry and wood processing sector.

An MPI spokesperson says the hub will demonstrate the benefits of building with timber, highlight the sector’s benefits to New Zealand’s people, products, economy and environment, and tell the story “from seedling to harvest” through interactive displays and activities hosted by representatives from across the supply chain.

It will also host talks, panel discussions and presentations, as well as the 2026 Growing Native Forest Champions awards ceremony – celebrating leadership and innovation within the native forestry sector.

Bringing together forest growers and groups from across the forestry and wood processing sector, the Forestry Hub is a space to tell forestry’s story, MPI says.

The hub will again highlight how trees produce vital fibre for communities, contribute to productive farms and resilient landscapes, and are paving the way to New Zealand’s low-emissions future.

Industry experts

A wide range of people from across the sector will be on hand to answer questions and share insights into forestry

and wood processing in New Zealand, including forest growers, wood processors, farm foresters, scientists and not-forprofit groups.

These include the Bioeconomy Science Institute, Bioenergy Association, Discover Forestry New Zealand, Dragonfly Data Science, Forest Industry Engineering Association, NZ Timber Industry Federation, Tane’s Tree Trust, University of Canterbury School of Forestry and Wingspan Birds of Prey Trust.

Visitors at Fieldays can step into the Hub and follow the forestry story from seedling to harvest, with engaging experiences such as witnessing firsthand surfboards being made from wood.

The Forestry Hub will also showcase nursery technology, innovative engineered timber used in midrise buildings, to pharmaceuticals, bioenergy and more.

Economic income

“At Fieldays, we’re excited to show how planting trees – whether native or commercial – can strengthen farms, landscapes and local economies,” says Anna Gordon, Te Uru Rākau – New Zealand Forest Service forestry engagement and advice director.

“Our forests generate important economic income for the regions, support biodiversity and help in mitigating the effects of climate change.”

She says the multibillion-dollar forestry sector is a major employer in New Zealand, employing more than 35,000 people in both year-round and seasonal jobs.

“People of all ages and abilities can find great careers in this sector – from planting

See us at Fieldays

No more nesting birds

Site

#02

Page 13

Built Tough Steel Body

The Fieldays’ Forestry Hub is back for a fifth year. Photo / Supplied

and managing native forests and looking after the forest environment, to managing people and resources and working with state-of-the-art technology,” Farm Forestry Association (FFA) president Peter Davies-Colley says.

Forestry hub

He says the FFA strongly supports the Fieldays’ Forestry Hub and has been heavily engaged in its design and development.

“The farm forestry section of the hub has experts and practical information available on multiple plantation species, with a focus on redwoods, eucalypts, cypresses, poplar and willow, and radiata pine.”

The Fieldays’ Forestry Hub remains as relevant now as it was in 2022 when it launched, showcasing an important part of the primary industries.

Forestry is a major contributor to New Zealand’s economy. In 2025, the sector earned $6.27 billion in annual export revenue and contributed $3.5 billion to GDP, representing about 1.2% of New Zealand’s total GDP. Forestry and wood products are one of New Zealand’s key primary industries, ranking as the country’s fourth-largest food and fibre export earner.

The Fieldays Forestry Hub can be visited at site G80 during Fieldays, June 10-13.

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Fieldays doubles down on sustainability drive Fieldays is reinforcing its reputation as a leader in sustainable sustainability executive Janine Frohlich-Monk says the event’s scale large-scale events, with a long-standing commitment to provides a unique opportunity to environmental responsibility and industry education.

The event has held international ISO 20121 certification for sustainable event management since 2012, working alongside external reporting company Instep to measure and improve its impact. New Zealand National Fieldays Society community and

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lead by example while showcasing innovation from exhibitors.

“We recognise the unique platform we have to not only lead by example by incorporating sustainable initiatives into our four-day event, but we can also integrate insights and innovations of our exhibitors and their learnings,” she says.

Hubs

Visitors can access practical advice through Fieldays Tent Talks, which offer 20 to 40-minute drop-in sessions covering topics such as sustainability in the food and fibre sector, solar energy, and regenerative farming practices. The Fieldays Rural Advocacy Hub also provides a space for farmers to discuss regulations and share perspectives on key industry issues.

Exhibitors play a central role, with their displays and expertise offering opportunities for conversations that translate into practical, on-farm

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Fieldays visitors are encouraged to catch a free bus or use Park & Ride options.

Hydroflow Distributors Ltd, winners of last year’ss Fieldays Sustainability Awards, in the Large Business category.

solutions. Attendees can also reduce their carbon footprint by using free bus services or Park & Ride options, with organisers expecting increased uptake as fuel costs remain a concern.

“It’s a simple way to reduce traffic congestion, lower emissions, and

make travel to the event smoother for everyone,” Janine says.

Framework

Sustainability is further promoted through the Fieldays Sustainability Awards, supported by a ‘Sustainable Exhibitor Framework’ that guides entrants on best practice. The framework assesses a wide range of factors, including site design, materials, resource use, transport choices, and overall onsite behaviour.

“Sustainability is considered across a range of areas, not just waste,” Janine says.

She says the framework is designed to encourage practical, behaviourbased improvements, with some exhibitors already taking lessons learned at Fieldays back into their wider business operations.

Finalists for the awards will be announced ahead of the event, with winners revealed on Friday, June 12.

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FIELDAYS®

‘Noise,

A popular event at Fieldays’ is moving into its second half-century.

The Fieldays’ Tractor Pull celebrated 50 years of competition at Mystery Creek in 2025.

New Zealand National Fieldays Society venue operations manager Marie Rechner says what began as a modest contest in 1975 with two-wheel drive tractors and manual gearboxes has become one of Fieldays’ most beloved attractions, drawing crowds to catch the competition riverside.

“We fast-forward now to an era where we see four-wheel drive, computerised tractors, and engines up to 260 horsepower.”

Marie, who has helped coordinate the event for the past seven years, says Tractor Pull competitors test their machines and driving ability by pulling a specially weighted sled along a purposebuilt track.

“It’s a contest that goes far beyond tractor strength, demanding precise tractor setup, traction management and driver skills.”

Formats and classes

In the Weight-adjusted category, tractors to weight compete based on their horsepower horsepower-to-weight ratio, while in the Weight Transfer class, entrants are grouped into five weight classes.

The Modified Tractors’ section features modified tractors (either pre-1985 or customised) and any machine that does not fit into other classes. Modifications beyond standard specifications are allowed.

Tractors manufactured before 1985, with standard configuration and manufactured with a factory-fitted, mechanical pull stop, are catered

Page 15

and tension’: A Fieldays’ crowd-pleaser

for in the Pre-85 category. Marie says the competition attracts competitors nationwide.

“The noise, power and tension of each run create an experience that’s easy to watch and exciting for all ages.”

Marie says combined with its long history at Fieldays, Tractor Pull delivers a unique blend of tradition and entertainment.

Spectators can enjoy the action from the popular riverside viewing area, with the Little George PopUp Bar by Hamilton brewers Good George on-site with food options.

Last year, despite rain and a liberal coating of mud, engines roared and contestants put their machines to the test in challenging conditions.

Marie says this year’s event will have a new track surface, of more than 3500 cubic metres of sand.

The 2025 Fieldays’ Tractor Pull was dominated by Waikato contestants.

In the Weight Transfer class, to pull a tractor-mounted sledge down the track, to which weight transfer is gradually added, the winner was contractor Trent Hickford from Gordonton.

The Tractor Pull, one of the most popular events at Fieldays, is back again in 2026. Photo / Supplied

Thomas Fare from Te Awamutu took out the Weigh-Adjusted competition, where two tractors race side by side pulling a concrete block, with its weight adjusted following a measure of horsepower on a dynamometer.

The Modified Tractor competition winner was Wally Sinton (Cambridge), and the Pre-85 Class went to Andrew Reymer (Ohaupo). The Brent Garrett Sportsmanship Award went to Rowland Amber and First Time Entrant Award was Fergus Goodwin.

Family affair

Marie says past winners can enter again, with some returning to claim multiple wins.

The Reymer family from Ohaupo boasts three brothers who’ve been involved since the inaugural competition in 1975.

Stephen, Bill and Andrew Reymer once swept the podium, taking home first, second and third place.

The younger generation of Reymers are involved now, with Stephen’s son Daniel Reymer part of the Fieldays’ Tractor Pull organising team and he’s been part of the competition for more than a decade and he still competes.

Stephen’s other son Mike takes part, and Bill Reymer competed last year.

Entrants hold a full New Zealand driver’s licence.

Marie says the event has health and safety requirements that must be met by all competitors. Each category has its own rules and regulations and, in terms of the tractors entered, they must fully comply with all safety regulations and have an approved safety frame fitted.

This year’s Fieldays’ Tractor Pull competition is from June 10-13, with heats Wednesday to Friday and the grand final on Steve Edwards Saturday 8am-1.30pm.