2024 Fieldays Sustainability Hub Invitation to Participate

Sustainability Hub hero with Brand

Tēnā koe from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),

We’re pleased to confirm that in conjunction with the National Fieldays Society, we will be hosting the second Fieldays Sustainability Hub at Fieldays from Wednesday 12 June to Saturday 15 June 2024 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton.

The Hub aims to create easy access to information about sustainability and to exhibitors who can support any visitor’s sustainability journey.  See the attached prospectus for further detail.

We invite people and organisations who can help us fulfil these aims to be part of the Fieldays Sustainability Hub.

Click here for the EPA's full Sustainability Hub Exhibitor Prospectus 

We have outlined some options below on how you can be involved:

Sustainability Hub On-Site Exhibitor

The Fieldays Sustainability Hub will be located on the corner of E street and M Road, next to the Village Green opposite the Main Exhibition building.  The site is in the central precinct of Fieldays, near the Innovation Hub, Opportunity Grows Here Careers Hub and Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub. The Hub will have an integrated design and will incorporate Mātauranga Māori as an essential element.

For 2024 we will have a large marquee on this site.  The Hub will have a number of 3mx4m spaces available as ‘sublets’.  You can find out more about subletting at Subletting at Fieldays - Fieldays.

Good news - there has been a Fieldays rule change and now Main Exhibitors may apply to have a second presence as a sublet in the Sustainability Hub. Approval is at the discretion of The Fieldays Society.  Apply at hubs@fieldays.co.nz to have a second presence as a sublet in the Fieldays Sustainability Hub.  

An exhibitor within the site would need to have major sustainability credentials and be able to offer product or information that directly supports visitor sustainability decision making. 

A Fieldays Sustainability Hub exhibitor will be expected to have a focus on at least one of the following topics;

• Sustainable business – informing how a business transitions towards being sustainable, where to start, how to measure progress, what the impact is on consumers
• Sustainable farming practice, research and science – what’s the latest science, and what is next in the research.  What does this look like in practice?
• Preserving or protecting native ecology / habitats – maintaining ecological balance, restoring native habitats, pest destruction.
• Waste and waste management – domestic or industrial, urban or rural.  What is being done and what more needs to happen – what does great look like?
• Water management and waterway health – what does the research tell us, what tools are available, what can we / should we be doing?
• Renewable energy – showcasing what can be done to reduce reliance on carbon fuels and focussing on business cost reduction.

The focus will be on being able to provide informational, interactive or ‘hands-on’ experiences for visitors.

Expert knowledge spots

We would like visitors to be able to find people who can easily communicate the latest science and information about sustainable practices.  If you can’t be a Hub exhibitor, but  have people who want to be part of providing accurate information for those seeking to start or move further along their sustainability journey, this is their chance.  They are welcome to represent your brand. 

We are looking those who are willing to share their sustainability stories or who can explain the science behind great sustainable practices.  We have two options:

Talk to the Expert

 Talk to the expert provides an opportunity for visitors to approach an ‘expert’ on a subject and engage in conversation and ask burning questions.  We trialled this in 2023 and for the most part (with minimal advertising) it worked relatively well for both experts and visitors.  For 2024 we envisage a much wider advertising campaign.

Get the facts

 We are considering having a small theatre-type space allocated for public talks. These talks would be around 15 - 20 minutes long and would concentrate on providing essential information about sustainable practices and products.  This would not be a space for selling a product.  Speakers would concentrate on science, farming practices, or community actions that encourage visitors to consider new approaches.

Fieldays Sustainability Trail

Working with New Zealand National Fieldays Society Inc., we are continuing with the ‘Sustainability Trail” to provide visitors with information about specific sustainability information and options that are available elsewhere at Fieldays.  The Trail will appear as a layer on the Fieldays App map and printed maps, and will focus on:

• Farming practice - promoting the latest research and science about sustainable farming practices.  It will include those who have products that have evidential scientific backing as a more sustainable method of farming.
• Sustainable energy – promoting products and practices that promote sustainable energy options.
• Healthy waterways - promoting products or practices that ensure sustainable use of water, as well as ensuring our waterways are free of residual farm outputs.
•  Sustainable business / sustainable living - promoting products and practices that promote sustainable living options.  This might include waste and waste management, products and practices for domestic or commercial settings, or ideas that encourage visitors to look differently at their current practices in relation to the environment.

‘What’s New’

The Fieldays Sustainability Hub also provides an opportunity to showcase any new products you want to highlight by way of a 15 – 30 second video on a large digital screen at the entrance. There will be a selection process to ensure that the products are (1) new and (2) verifiably able to influence sustainability.

We would like to invite your business/organisation to apply to promote that special new sustainability product on this media.

Fees

There are two fees for Hub exhibitors.

A Hub exhibitor site fee payable to EPA – for 2024 this is set at $5,000 + GST per 3mx4m site

and the Fieldays Sublet Fee payable to Fieldays – for 2024 this is set at $750 + GST

Sponsorship opportunities

There are opportunities for organisations to support the success of the Sustainability Hub through sponsorship.  The more sponsorship we get the more interactive and attractive we can make the Hub.  Sponsorship options would be as a Hub Partner or as a subject matter (eg, water, waste etc) Sponsor.

Please contact Al McCone directly at al.mccone@epa.govt.nz for more information on sponsorship.  

Click here for the EPA's full Sustainability Hub Exhibitor Prospectus 

Expressions of interest

If you’re interested in being part of the Fieldays Sustainability Hub, please express your interest by emailing sustainabilityhub@epa.govt.nz before 20 December 2023.  There are limited exhibitor spaces so early enquiry is better.

General applications for Fieldays exhibitors (including sublets) will open in early December.

We are excited to be leading the Hub and look forward to hearing from you.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Al McCone at sustainabilityhub@epa.govt.nz or on 027 705 8794.

Ngā mihi,

Al McCone
Event lead for Fieldays Sustainability Hub