Fieldays hold out the begging bowl
OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.
The iconic services building at National Fieldays' Mystery Creek site will be demolished to make way for a "contemporary replacement that better serves the needs of both the community and event organisers," says board chair Jenni Vernon.
She says structural assessments confirmed that the hub/services building is beyond practical repair.
While the board has committed significant funding to support this, the planning is already underway to secure additional funding for replacement, she says.
"For some, this may feel like the end of an era and [we've] reassured them that any parts of the building with particular significance can be salvaged and repurposed elsewhere on the property as appropriate," she says.
The new building is part of a new plan to set up Mystery Creek for future growth and resilience.
"This new 'master plan' will reflect our commitment to progress and sustainability," says Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos.
Three New Zealand agritech companies are set to join forces to help unlock the full potential of technology.
As the sector heads into the traditional peak period for injuries and fatalities, farmers are being urged to "take a moment".
Federated Farmers says almost 2000 farmers have signed a petition launched this month to urge the Government to step in and provide certainty while the badly broken resource consent system is fixed.
Zespri’s counter-seasonal Zespri Global Supply (ZGS) programme is underway with approximately 33 million trays, or 118,800 tonnes, expected this year from orchards throughout France, Italy, Greece, Korea, and Japan.
Animal owners can help protect life-saving antibiotics from resistant bacteria by keeping their animals healthy, says the New Zealand Veterinary Association.
According to analysis by the Meat Industry Association (MIA), New Zealand red meat exports reached $827 million in October, a 27% increase on the same period last year.