Fieldays History

For detailed historical accounts, courtesy of National Fieldays Society members, visit the official 'Fieldays History' website. This valuable website features a narrative of Fieldays purpose and event development from inception in 1968.

Fieldays Facts Fieldays was first conceptualised in 1968 by a group of local Waikato men Fieldays was first held at Te Rapa Racecourse in 1969 with a budget of $10,500 The first Fieldays event attracted an estimated 15,000 people The event was moved to the land known as Mystery Creek in 1971 The Mystery Creek Pavilion and Mystery Creek Events Centre were created in 1995 Today Fieldays attracts visitors from an average of 38 countries The 40th Fieldays in 2008 attracted a record 131,000 people over 4 days

Excerpts from "Having a Fielday - Reminiscences of 25 years at Mystery Creek"

Author: Linda Thompson, 1993

One afternoon in mid-October 1967 under the chairmanship of Tom Hodgson, two city public relations men, the vice-chancellor of the fledgling university on the hill, the local newspaper editor, the family doctor who was mayor of the city, two Federated Farmers men, the head and Public Relations Officer of the city-based Agricultural Research Centre, and a representative from the A and P Show Association got together to talk about a way to bring town and country together for a festival of farming.
The idea had first come up the year before from nuffield Scholar and Waikato farmer John Kneebone who was travelling in Britain. He wrote to Pat Cuming, farming editor of the Waikato Times, with this suggestion:

"Would it not be possible with a little cooperation and coordination to have our famous Ruakura Farmers' Week and our Winter Show coincide so that New Zealand farmers could have their annual outing in Hamilton as they do in London at the Smithfield Show?"

"British farmers make their holiday to come to London to see the machinery, the carcase meat exhibits and to see London itself. I believe the Waikato and Hamilton City in particular could really capitalise on our great assets, especially Ruakura."

"As well as a well earned holiday, New Zealand farmers from near and far could see Ruakura at its best, the Winter Show, the machinery and many of the attractions of the Waikato. A little imagination could make a really big affair of it."

Bigger than even John Kneebone or the group who got together to talk over the idea a year later could have imagined.

Noone could have seen then that the National Agricultural Fieldays event at Mystery Creek would become the largest annual event held in the country, the biggest event of its kind in the southern hemisphere, and one of, if not the largest demonstration of agricultural machinery in the world.

Dr Don Llewellyn - vice-chancellor of the just-established University of Waikato, degrees in chemistry and physics, noted academic - was asked to chair those initial meetings...

The group which met to talk about a farm festival were keen to start pulling town and country together...

Those who came along to the crowded public meeting which followed a few days later at the Waikato Motor Hotel came from all walks of life - farmers, manufacturers, cultural groups staging theatre and music in the city, sports groups, retailers, commerce, industry, government departments, community service organisers, travel and hotel owners, Maori interest and the media...

The group explored all the possibilities...after plenty of talk a steering committee was formed. Dr Llewellyn was elected convenor, despite all his good intentions to bow out as soon as the idea was launched. A committee joined him...
The draft proposal stated: "The main aim of such a festival would be through its distinct agricultural accent, to bring about a greater public awareness of the research, production, machinery and marketing involved in New Zealand's primary industry. It would be vigorously promoted overseas to attract greater overseas interest in our primary product, as well as increase the tourist intake for this country and this region."

It was expected that the festival would have a national flavour and cater for all age groups and different "types" attracted to the area with associated activities in sport, culture, art, entertainment and exhibitions.

The aims were broadly:

1. To increase public awareness of agricultural research, production, machinery and marketing.
2. To weld the city and country together in a major project for the benefit of all in the region.
3. To provide significant exhibitions, events and activities to attract visitors from overseas and other parts of New Zealand to the region.

The name posed a problem. "Farm Festival" was felt to be inappropriate, and perhaps something like the "Waikato Festival" could be considered. The committee finally through up "The Waikato Town and Country Festival" - but even from the very first event they were known as "The New Zealand National Field Days"...

...{the committee} met with the Waikato Racing Club president Togo Johnstone to outline the festival ideas and got a sympathetic hearing. the Racing Club were keen {to host the Field Days} as long as there was no cost to them and the Festival Society would clean up afterwards...

The club had 40 acres of flat ground in the centre of the track but the heavy machinery could use the outside and the committee was even eying up the neighbouring railway land...

By 1971, the Fieldays Society had purchased 160 acres, with a mortgage from ANZ Bank secured on "good names" and copper wire and poles left over from the first Fieldays, which was developed into Mystery Creek Events Centre, as it is today.

For more information about the history of the New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays, contact us here with your specific questions.