Pua Taikato has walked away from Fieldays with a prize worth over $60,000 after her Fieldays Smart Band was drawn as the winner of this year’s major giveaway. Taikato has won a JAC T9 Double Cab 4WD ute kitted out with accessories, with a total value of over $49,990, along with $10,000 worth of Stoney Creek gear.

The annual giveaway ran throughout Fieldays, held from 10–13 June at Mystery Creek, giving visitors from across New Zealand the chance to win a prize designed for both work and adventure. A much-anticipated highlight of the event, the giveaway celebrates Fieldays’ role in connecting rural and urban New Zealand.

To enter, visitors simply needed to purchase a Fieldays ticket and register their Fieldays Smart Band at the gate, with additional entries available by visiting the JAC and Stoney Creek sites. From day one, excitement around the competition generated a strong buzz throughout the event, with visitors keen to get their hands on the major prize.

Fieldays General Manager – Commercial and Marketing, Brett Beagley, was tasked with delivering the news to Taikato. The draw was finalised on Friday, which happened to be Taikato’s birthday, creating a fitting coincidence for the eventual winner. The news was confirmed with Taikato the following Monday, extending what had already been a memorable birthday weekend.

Beagley started the conversation casually, asking Taikato if she had attended Fieldays this year. She explained that she had stopped in with her daughter while travelling through the Waikato to Rotorua.

He then followed up with, "Did you enter any competitions with your Fieldays Smart Band?"

Taikato said she hadn't given it much thought but remembered she had dropped her Smart Band into the tray of the JAC T9 ute as she left Fieldays on Thursday afternoon.

When Beagley told her she had won the grand prize, disbelief quickly turned into excitement.

“I still can’t get over it. Out of the thousands of people who registered a Fieldays Smart Band, I never thought mine would be the winning one,” said Taikato.

“We’re so grateful to be able to offer such a significant prize, made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, JAC and Stoney Creek. Hearing the shock in Pua’s voice and knowing this prize will make a real difference for her and her family is incredibly rewarding,” said Beagley.

Andrew Craw, General Manager, JAC NZ, said the partnership with Fieldays continues to be a natural fit.

"Two years in and we're not slowing down. Fieldays is our kind of event - real Kiwis, hard workers, and people who appreciate a good ute. Seeing last year's winner, Kevin, rocking up to Fieldays this year and loving his T9 never gets old. Here's to Pua, our next lucky winner. We can't wait to see what she gets up to in it!"

Brendon Li, Chief Marketing Officer at Stoney Creek, said supporting the Fieldays Gate Prize was an easy decision for the Waikato-based company.

“Fieldays is an iconic event that showcases the best of New Zealand’s rural sector, so we’re proud to be supporting this year’s Gate Prize. Our sole mission at Stoney Creek is to maximise experiences, and we hope this prize helps Pua and her family create new adventures and lasting memories. Whether it’s for work or play, we hope her new Stoney Creek gear gives her the comfort and confidence to get outdoors and make the most of everything New Zealand has to offer,” said Li.

For Taikato, the win was as unexpected as it was exciting.

“I’ve been celebrating since I got the phone call three weeks ago,” says Taikato. “I still can’t believe it. I’m really looking forward to driving my new JAC T9 ute out of the car park – I think that’s when it will really sink in that this is all real. I can’t wait to take my family and friends shopping with my Stoney Creek voucher. It’s just incredible.”

Beyond the excitement of the giveaway, Fieldays continues to play an important role in bringing New Zealand’s rural and urban communities together. For nearly six decades, the event has been a place to connect, do business, discover new ideas and showcase the innovation shaping the future of agriculture and primary industries. With the support of its partners and exhibitors, Fieldays remains committed to strengthening those connections and creating opportunities for the generations to come.