Fence power ‘grunt’, remote water control on display at Gallagher site
Permanent electric fence power and wireless water level monitoring will be prominent on the Gallagher site at the Northland Field Days.
A guide to what's on at the 2015 Northland Field Days.
Thursday to Saturday (Feb 26-28)
Clay shooting
Experience the thrill and excitement of shooting clay birds without any risk. Show off your sharpshooting skills.
Sheep dog trials
Watch the top sheepdog trialists from Northland face off for best in the region. Since competitions began in 2008 the field days have attracted Northland’s top dogs and shepherds.
Trials - Thursday-Friday; finals – Saturday; ‘human sheepdog’ competition - Saturday lunchtime.
Big fun events
If your kids want even more excitement, head down to the Big Fun activity zone, filled with such frolics as water walkers and a blow-up playground. The rides aren’t costly and the kids will be entertained for hours. (You may even want a go yourself.)
Clydesdale rides
Tour the show in style aboard a wagon pulled by three Clydesdale horses. The horses are world-famous, appearing on television in Hercules and in the movie The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Owner Dan Dufty is an experienced horseman happy to share all he knows about this amazing breed.
The rides are free. The route starts opposite the field days HQ on the corner of RD1 road and Farmlands Road.
Tractor pull
Watch the best-of-the-best tractor drivers in Northland battle it out over three days of intense competition. Events include the business house event and the three-legged race.
Win your weight in meat
At the Trutest site get yourself weighed and enter a draw to win your weight in meat.
Saturday (Feb 28)
Quad skills, time trial
Competitors take turns driving a quad and trailer around an obstacle course in the fastest time. Anyone, from town, country or city, can compete (age 16 and older).
Logger sports competition
Logging workers from Northland and further afield have entered this contest for 20 years. It’s a hugely popular spectator event. Starts on Saturday at 9am and goes all day.
• Free parking is available close to the grounds and regular public transport runs to and from the site.
The National Wild Goat Hunting Competition has removed 33,418 wild goats over the past three years.
New Zealand needs a new healthcare model to address rising rates of obesity in rural communities, with the current system leaving many patients unable to access effective treatment or long-term support, warn GPs.
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
Third-generation Ashburton dairy farmers TJ and Mark Stewart are no strangers to adapting and evolving.
When American retail giant Cosco came to audit Open Country Dairy’s new butter plant at the Waharoa site and give the green light to supply their American stores, they allowed themselves a week for the exercise.
Fonterra chair Peter McBride says the divestment of Mainland Group is their last significant asset sale and signals the end of structural changes.