11 June 2025

Official Flags Raised Marking the Opening of Fieldays 2025
 

The 57th Fieldays is well underway at Mystery Creek Events Centre with boots on the ground and deals on the table.

Under a cloud of traditional Waikato fog, visitors streamed through the gates at 8am following the official opening ceremony.

The occasion was marked with a pōwhiri, the raising of flags and singer Maliana Brown delivering the national anthem. The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by the New Zealand National Fieldays Society Chair, Jenni Vernon, Agriculture and Trade Minister Hon Todd McClay, and Ngāti Hauā’s Lance Rāpana.

Along with thanking sponsors and exhibitors, Vernon acknowledged the 150 volunteers.

"There is another very important group I wish to thank, and that is our volunteers who freely give their time to quietly support the Society, ensuring the successful event it is today", said Vernon.

“Fieldays is a place where all our visitors can experience the latest agricultural technology, innovation, networking, and insightful discussions while celebrating the authentic rural sector,” she added.

Among the guests were Ngāti Hauā representatives, as well as Hon Mark Patterson, Minister for Rural Communities.

International representation is also strong, with embassy delegations from Ireland, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Japan, and the European Union.

“This global engagement highlights Fieldays’ growing significance as a platform for international trade, innovation, and knowledge exchange,” said New Zealand National Fieldays Society Chief Executive Richard Lindroos.

The German Pavilion looks superb, it is really exciting to see 11 leading agri-businesses from across Germany all under one roof here in New Zealand,” said Lindroos.

Lindroos added that he was pleased to hear Fieldays was top of mind for government, with Prime Minister Hon Christopher Luxton recently speaking about the future of the event, highlighting the importance of diplomacy and trade agendas to meet the challenges of the next five, ten, and twenty-five years.

“Agri-business is on a high, and so is Fieldays. We are looking forward to working on the back of the hard work our predecessors and developing this event for the future", said Lindroos.

Luxton was on site following the opening, where he addressed the room of 140 leaders at the Fieldays Primary Leaders Luncheon with McClay announcing a new Grass-Fed certification scheme to help the red meat and dairy producers go head-to-head with competitors in premium international markets.

“International consumers are increasingly willing to pay more for high-quality grass-fed food—and New Zealand intends to lead that space, not follow it,” McClay said.

“This new standard puts a clear, trusted stamp on what our farmers have always done best—producing high-quality, safe pasture-raised meat and dairy.”

The voluntary scheme has been developed in partnership with the Primary Sector and the Ministry for Primary Industries.

With over 1,200 exhibitors, hundreds of events scheduled, and the weather forecast remaining optimistic, Lindroos is excited about delivering his first event.

“Fieldays is a flagship event, and the most significant event on New Zealand’s business calendar. The Society is deeply committed to growing this event—not just in size, but in impact”.

New features at this year’s event include Fieldays Tent Talks in association with the University of Waikato, Fieldays Drone Zone, and the Fieldays Sector Spotlight-It's Wool.

Amongst the announcements, Fieldays Major Sponsor JAC, unveiled its new plug-in hybrid T9 Ute — the Hunter PHEV. They are keen to hear what Kiwis think and put the PHEV to the test on and off NZ roads before launching officially in the market. Visitors can check out their site and test drive their range on the on-site test track.

For the first time, supermarket brand Four Square is at Fieldays with a pop-up convenience store, offering snacks, coffee and hot food. Run by Alex Saunders from Four Square Heaphy Terrace in Hamilton, Saunders said that Four Square was in a lot of rural towns and they looked forward to being able to connect and look after their customers at Fieldays. The pop-up is in the Rural Living area.

New to the event, the Fieldays® Sector Spotlight, in association with the Ministry for Primary Industries, is proving popular with visitors and ministers alike. The site inside the Pavilion features an array of products including acoustic wool panels, carpet, and household furnishings, all made from New Zealand wool.

For visitors looking for entertainment they can head riverside and check out Fieldays Tractor Pull, in association with PTS Logistics. The competition is celebrating its golden anniversary and 50 years of the competition running at Fieldays.

Ahead of Red Bull’s lawnmower racing mayhem — Red Bull Cut It, on Saturday 14 June, visitors can check out the Red Bull zone during the week, spin the wheel, and let fate (and the clippers) decide their new haircut! Free haircuts. No rules. It’s free, it’s fearless, and it’s all on the line!

Fieldays runs until Saturday, and visitors can expect to see a variety of offerings from the latest farm machinery, cutting-edge technology, artisan food, new-to-the-market vehicles, financial and insurance products and services and everything in between.

“Over the next four days, Fieldays will not only showcase the very best of New Zealand’s primary sector, but importantly, its resilience, its ingenuity, and its people,” said Lindroos.

You can stay up to date with any on-the-ground news by checking out the Fieldays Instagram, Facebook and TikTok pages.