Date shift ensures continuity

Fieldays, the Waikato region’s annual agricultural trade show, returns in a temporary new date this year. Due to New Zealand’s continued response to the Covid-19 pandemic, it happens from 30 November to Saturday December 3.

Organisers will monitor the way the event ran in its new time slot, saying holding it at a warmer time of the year could have positive spin-offs.

Feedback from exhibitors and customers was strongly in favour of running the event, creates much needed economic stimulus and reconnection with the rural sector and urbanites alike.

The new timing took account of a range of rural sector seasonal timings, though there was no intent to make the shift permanent.

The later date means the event and its exhibitors could access student labour that is not necessarily available mid-year.

Fieldays is based at a 114-hectare site at Mystery Creek, 10 minutes from Hamilton and is the largest agricultural event in the southern hemisphere and the largest business event in New Zealand.

It draws people from around the globe – both as exhibitors and visitors.

Fieldays 2021 drew 132,776 people, becoming the second biggest in the event’s 53-year history.

In its traditional date the event is effectively New Zealand’s rural auto show, with most major brands taking display sites and offering show discounts to those keen to snap up a new ute or SUV.

Fieldays is run by New Zealand National Fieldays Society, a charitable organisation founded in 1968 for the purpose of advancing the primary industries.