Fieldays® Tent Talks
Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato
Location: Site D79
Join industry experts as they share valuable insights on topics that matter to you.
Your place to learn
The world is changing fast, and the primary industries are evolving with it. We know keeping up with cutting-edge advancements can be a challenge. That’s why we are excited to be launching Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato - to give you the knowledge to stay ahead.
Join us for engaging discussions, expert-led sessions, and real-world solutions—all tailored to help you thrive in an ever-changing environment.
This initiative aims to educate, inspire, and equip those working in, and around the industry with the latest insights, strategies, and practical solutions for achieving these goals. Whether you’re a farmer, grower, entrepreneur, enthusiast or industry professional, Fieldays Tent Talks will help you stay ahead, ensuring you’re making the most of new technologies and trends.
Sessions are free and run throughout the day
Wednesday 11 June, through to Saturday 14 June at Fieldays, sessions run from 20 to 40 minutes—no booking required, simply drop in and learn something new!
View the lineup, find what sparks your interest, and add your must-see talks to your 'planner' on the Fieldays App.
Timetable - Thursday 12 June
More talks will be added as they are confirmed.
| Thursday | Talk name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am to 9:40am | Market Update with Craigs Investment Partners | Join Head of Private Wealth Research, Hamish Don, and Investment Adviser, Mike Johnson, as they share their thoughts on the latest economic and market developments, and what these mean for investors on and off the farm:
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| 10:00am to 10:20am | Tokyo Market Signals: Asia’s Dairy Evolution | Parmindar Singh, Dairy Farmer, Nuffield Scholar and PhD Candidate at the University of Waikato, takes us inside the changing world of dairy consumption in Tokyo—one of the most influential markets in Asia. As consumer preferences evolve, shaped by health, convenience, and global influence, what do these shifts mean for New Zealand’s dairy exporters? And more importantly, how should we respond? In this Tent Talk, Parmindar explores how socio-economic change is reshaping demand in Japan and what this signal for wider markets across Asia and the Middle East. Join us for a sharp, research-informed discussion on how New Zealand can stay competitive, agile, and aligned with the future of global dairy demand |
| 10:30am to 10:50am | KPMG On Farm insights: challenges into opportunities | KPMG’s On Farm Services team share insights from their recent roundtables with farmers and growers across Aotearoa about what's really happening inside the farm gate. From the financial pressures of access and cost of capital, to the challenges of adopting new technologies and navigating complex regulations, the team will explore the actions available to turn these challenges into opportunities. |
| 11:00am to 11:40am | Staying connected: Understanding the 3G Network Shutdown | Join Paul Brislen, NZ Telecommunication Forums CEO, for a practical session on what the upcoming 3G (and 2G) network shutdown means for Kiwi consumers and businesses. Brought to you by One NZ. From the end of 2025, all of New Zealand’s 3G mobile networks will be shutdown. This means any phones, tablets or other connected IoT devices relying on 3G will stop working. Join us to learn: Whether you need guidance on how to audit your business facilities that may be nearing end of life, or you just want to make sure your phone keeps working, we’ll give you the know-how and confidence to handle the 3G shutdown. Bring your questions - our team alongside One NZ are here to help! Visit the team at One NZ (Site: PE50, Pavillion) anytime if you have concerns about your 3G phones or devices. |
| 12:30pm to 12:50pm | The future of agricultural drones | Presented by Craig Simpson from the Agricultural Drone Association There is a future when most farms will have a drone in the shed. How far away is that and what will those drone look like. Right now it is only contractors that are setting themselves up with Agricultural Spray Drones but as they get easier to use and the price continues to fall there is a time when it makes more sense to have your own. |
| 1:00pm to 1:40pm | Sustainable beef: global & local insights | From paddock to patty, and policy to industry progress, get a range of perspectives on the opportunities and challenges for the New Zealand beef sector. Hosted by the NZ Roundtable for Sustainable Beef and McDonald’s, this panel features Hon Andrew Hoggard, Greg Hart (Mangarara Station), Dave Harrison (Beef + Lamb NZ), and Rebecca Honeysett (McDonald’s). A must-attend session for those wanting the latest thinking on what sustainable beef production looks like in New Zealand, and around the world. |
| 2:00pm to 2:20pm | The future of international markets | Hear insights from KPMG's recent roundtables with agribusiness leaders on the future of international markets. In a world of shifting trade dynamics and rising geopolitical uncertainty, this session will explore how New Zealand’s food and fibre sector is responding—through diversification, innovation, and a renewed focus on high-value markets. Hear what leaders are saying about the growing importance of ASEAN, the evolving opportunity in India, and how exporters are adapting their product strategies to meet changing consumer expectations |
| 2:30pm to 2:50pm | Smarter Industrial Heat: Decarbonising Industry | Dr Michael Walmsley, Director of the Ahuora Centre for Smart Energy Systems and Professor of Chemical and Process Engineering at the University of Waikato, tackles a key carbon emissions challenge for New Zealand’s key industries: industrial heat. Processes like drying, evaporation, and chemical conversion—common in dairy, meat, and food processing—account for 8% of our national emissions. This TentTalk explores smart solutions, from process integration to adopting low-emission tech like electro-boilers, biomass, and high-temperature heat pumps. Michael also shares how agri-sector factories can tap into local renewables and energy storage to transition affordably to net-zero. A practical session for those driving sustainability in the primary sector. |
| 3:00pm to 3:40pm | Pairtree: Where Farm Data Flows | This presentation will be presented by Hamish Munro, CEO of Pairtree Intelligence and 5th Generation farmer from Australia. Pairtree is Australia's leading farm data integrator, helping farmers connect the apps and sensors on their farms for reporting, market access and most importantly being more productive and profitable. This presentation will walk through how Pairtree PLUS is the starting point for farmers to connect agtech. The key with Pairtree PLUS is that it focuses on Contextual data about the farm, which then enables better decision support when agtech is connected. Looking at weather, markets and satellite imagery is key for every farm to better understand what risk and opportunities can be identified through connecting the whole picture in one place. |
Timetable - Friday 13 June
More talks will be added as they are confirmed.
| Friday | Talk name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am to 9:40am | Succession for farmers | Join Geraldine Austin and Michelle Anselmi, two specialist trust and succession lawyers from Norris Ward McKinnon, for this highly relevant session. Understand how to plan and structure your farming business effectively. Learn how what you put in place today can protect and provide a future for your business and your family. Geraldine and Michelle have vast knowledge on all aspects of trust law, succession planning, asset and wealth protection, elder law, incapacity, wills and enduring powers of attorney, and retirement villages. |
| 10:00am to 10:20am | Emerging Leader Voices in Agribusiness | Join Ella Beatty from the KPMG Propagate team to hear key takeaways from the latest 2025 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, offering a fresh perspective on the future of the food and fibre sector. For the third year in a row, the Emerging Leader contributors to the Agenda have had a strong focus on the sector’s performance in the people area. Drawing on their own experiences as an emerging leader in the sector, Ella will share the evolving landscape of agribusiness and highlight exciting career pathways for the next generation of changemakers. |
| 10:30am to 10:50am | Transportable homes – Rural builds made easy | Presented by Keith Hay Homes A no-nonsense guide to smarter housing for your rural property or urban section. Built off site, transportable homes offer fast, cost-effective solutions ideal for farm worker accommodation, family homes, granny flats, holiday homes or rental investment. Learn more about how transportable homes can speed up the process (move in within just 3 months), help you attract and retain farm staff, offer solutions for remote locations and show how versatile transportable homes can be. Whether you’re a farmer looking to add or upgrade staff accommodation, after a family home for your lifestyle block, that special holiday home for the beach or turning your spare land into an income, this session will walk you through what’s possible, what’s compliant and how to make it happen quickly with transportable homes. |
| 11:00am to 11:40am | Growth & Scale Fieldays Innovation Award winner with Brendan O’Connell | Join the freshly-crowned Growth & Scale category winner from the Fieldays Innovation Awards in an informal chat hosted by Growth & Scale Award Head Judge and AgriTech NZ CEO Brendan O'Connell. The Growth & Scale category is for Innovators who are making their mark in NZ and globally, and have market entry and commercial success in at least two countries within the last four years. Hear the winner talk about their journey, their innovation, what the win means to them, and where they plan to go from here! |
| 1:00pm to 1:40pm | New granny flat legislation | Thinking of building a granny flat on your property? New legislation coming into effect in 2025 is set to change the game. In this session, Rebecca from Tiny House Mastery breaks down what the new granny flat rules mean for homeowners, developers, and builders. Learn how these changes simplify the process, what compliance looks like, and how to fast-track your plans. Rebecca has supported hundreds of Kiwis to navigate the legal landscape of small, flexible housing. Whether you’re planning to support whānau, create rental income, or downsize, this session will arm you with clarity and next steps. Bring your questions and discover how to make the most of the new legal framework. |
| 2:00pm to 2:20pm | Beyond the lambchop, innovating for value for NZ | Presented by Dr Rob Kelly, Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi New Zealand is missing a significant opportunity to lead in high-value health-focused exports. Our unique farming systems and strong environmental credentials make our agricultural resources highly desirable. Time and again, New Zealand scientists deliver world-class innovations demonstrating how our produce can enhance human health and elevate the value of international consumer products. Yet, our ability to turn these scientific breakthroughs into globally competitive export businesses, especially those that command prices far above traditional red meat commodities, remains limited. This is largely due to structural barriers: dominant red meat companies lack agility in innovation, and the science sector is often disconnected from commercialisation pathways. Explore where and how added value has successfully been created, including the case study of Ovitage® a branded bioactive protein derived from sheepskin, and discover the strategies that can overcome the persistent challenges in commercialising innovations from New Zealand’s primary industries. |
| 2:30pm to 2:50pm | Predator control on farms - smarter not harder | Presented by John Bissell - Backblocks Environmental Management in partnership with the Predator Free New Zealand Trust. With a long history supporting rural communities and environmental projects, John Bissell offers grounded, hands-on insight into tackling invasive species. His session will unpack animal behaviour-based techniques and innovative tools, giving you clear methods to boost success in the bush, back paddock, or beyond. |
Timetable - Saturday 14 June
More talks will be added as they are confirmed.
| Saturday | Talk name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00am to 9:40am | Employment Issues for Farmers | Robert Davies, Partner at Norris Ward McKinnon, will discuss the common employment issues affecting farmers today. His common-sense approach drives practical solutions for a range of situations you may face - including misconduct, performance management, bullying and sexual harassment. Robert also works alongside clients with RMA issues, regulatory and health and safety matters. He often helps rural and agri-business clients navigate all manner of disputes. |
| 10:00am to 10:20am | Emerging Leader Voices in Agribusiness | Join Ella Beatty from the KPMG Propagate team to hear key takeaways from the latest 2025 KPMG Agribusiness Agenda, offering a fresh perspective on the future of the food and fibre sector. For the third year in a row, the Emerging Leader contributors to the Agenda have had a strong focus on the sector’s performance in the people area. Drawing on their own experiences as an emerging leader in the sector, Ella will share the evolving landscape of agribusiness and highlight exciting career pathways for the next generation of changemakers. |
| 11:00am to 11:40am | Tiny house on wheels legislation | Are you dreaming of going tiny on wheels but unsure where you stand legally? In this session, Rebecca from Tiny House Mastery explores the current landscape for tiny houses on wheels (THOW) in New Zealand. With growing demand and shifting council responses, clarity is essential. This talk will cover key differences between consented and non-consented builds, where you can park legally, and how to navigate local council requirements. Rebecca brings deep industry knowledge and has helped hundreds of clients achieve legal tiny living. Whether you’re a DIY builder, tiny home buyer, or landowner wanting to host a THOW, this session offers practical guidance, recent updates, and space for Q&A. Empower your tiny journey! |
| 12:00pm to 12:20pm | Training the Doctors We Need | For too many New Zealanders — especially in rural areas — seeing a doctor means waiting weeks, driving hours, or simply going without. Join Professor Jo Lane, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Health at the University of Waikato, as he outlines plans for a new medical school to help address New Zealand’s chronic shortage of GPs. The new medical school will offer a modern graduate-entry curriculum proven to deliver more doctors in the areas that need them most. Find out how you can support a new approach to training doctors in and for your community. |
| 12:30pm to 12:50pm | All-Natural & Regenerative Growing | From a Taranaki backyard to the EU, UK, and Aotearoa, New Zealand - a husband-and-wife team share lessons from developing next-generation soil and plant food that’s now gone global; including a living soil formula named Germany’s Best Garden Product of 2025. This Tent Talk is about growing more with less — no synthetics, just the power of activating soil and plant biology. Whether you're a home gardener or commercial grower, Herbi.NZ founders Frank and Michelle Lachmann will challenge the way you think about growing — and what’s possible when we work with nature. |
| 2025
Fieldays Tent Talks
Join us for Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato - One NZ Starlink Presentation. Full timetable is available on the Fieldays App.
“ We have a diverse range of sessions planned, there’s something of interest for everyone. „
Karina Missen, Event Producer at Fieldays
FAQs
No booking or registration is required for Fieldays Tent Talks, in association with the University of Waikato. Simply drop by Site D79 during Fieldays—sessions are first come, first served. Attend as many as you like, space permitting!
The Fieldays App makes it easier and faster to plan your trip and to navigate your way around.
Download free from the App Store or Google Play.
To become a Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato speaker, you’ll need to apply. Selection is based on criteria such as the relevance of your content, your business, and other key factors. In most cases, a fee is payable. Contact us for full details on how to apply.
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