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.
New Zealand’s largest agriculture event has been postponed.
Last night, New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Peter Nation sent an email to exhibitors and stakeholders advising that National Fieldays, scheduled for 10-13 June 2020 at Mystery Creek Events Centre in Hamilton, will be postponed.
The decision follows Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement last night that gatherings of more than 500 people must be cancelled.
Schools and universities are exempt from the ban.
Only eight patients have tested positive for Covid-19 in New Zealand and no deaths have occurred.
The decision to postpone the event will impact the economy further: National Fieldays has contributed over $18.5 billion to New Zealand’s economy over its 51 years.
With the current situation in the European farm machinery market being described as difficult at best, it’s perhaps no surprise that the upcoming AgriSIMA 2026 agricultural machinery exhibition, scheduled for February 2026 at Paris-Nord Villepinte, has been cancelled.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) has launched the first in-market activation of the refreshed Taste Pure Nature country-of-origin brand with an exclusive pop-up restaurant experience in Shanghai.
Jayna Wadsworth, daughter of the late New Zealand wicketkeeper Ken Wadsworth, has launched an auction of cricket memorabilia to raise funds for I Am Hope's youth mental health work.
As we move into the 2025/26 growing season, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that the third quarter results for the year to date is showing that the stagnated tractor market of the last 18 months is showing signs of recovery.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is urging dairy farmers to participate in the 2026 Levy vote, to be held early next year.
Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) is calling for nominations for director roles in the Eastern North Island and Southern South Island electoral districts.

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