Special feature: Fieldays 2025: A snapshot of New Zealand’s Premier Agricultural Event
Every June, the rural sector’s heartbeat moves to Mystery Creek in Hamilton, where Fieldays brings together town and country to celebrate the strength, innovation and future of New Zealand’s primary industries. Fieldays 2025 is once again shaping up to be the happy place where thousands connect, discover, and be inspired by the very best our sector has to offer.
One of the draw cards of Fieldays are the feature hubs, designed to educate, engage and spark ideas across all ages and interests.
The Fieldays Drone Zone is set to be a highlight, showcasing how rapidly drones are transforming farm management. Visitors can immerse themselves in the latest technology, career advice, and real-world demonstrations. With support from the Agricultural Drone Association, the Zone will be a place where innovation quite literally takes flight.
Craig Simpson, President of the Agricultural Drone Association, says, “The ADA will play a crucial role in advocating for New Zealand’s agricultural drone operators, and enhancing skills and knowledge within the industry.”
Whether you are a seasoned professional or simply curious, the Drone Zone promises a hands-on experience with the future of agriculture.
For students, job seekers and anyone considering a future in the primary sector, the Fieldays Careers and Education Hub is a must-visit. Fieldays has long provided a valuable learning experience outside the classroom, helping students discover pathways in agriculture, forestry, science, technology and sustainability. Teachers are encouraged to plan school trips to the event, with discounted tickets available for groups.
Since partnering with the Ministry for Primary Industries in 2022 and 2023, Fieldays has strengthened its role as a launch pad for youth entering the food and fibre sector. The Hub will again host daily engagement sessions, connecting visitors directly with education providers and sector groups.
The Fieldays Careers and Education Trail will also be active through the Fieldays App, making it easy to meet exhibitors who can help open doors to a rewarding career.
As Fieldays notes, “With such a key sector contributing to the New Zealand economy and the wellbeing of our rural communities, it’s important we have the necessary workforce to meet the demand.”
Amplifying farmers’ voices is another important theme at Fieldays this year, with the Rural Advocacy Hub returning after its successful inaugural run in 2024. Located in the Gallagher Building, this hub brings together organisations including Federated Farmers, Young Farmers, Rural Women, Groundswell, Future Farmers NZ and others.
It is a true coming together of groups who champion farmers’ interests under one roof, offering a central platform for discussions, announcements and initiatives that matter to the rural community. Fieldays provides the space for these conversations to happen, ensuring farmers are heard and supported.
Innovation has always been at the heart of Fieldays, and nowhere is this more evident than at the Fieldays Innovation Hub. Positioned at the intersection of D Street and M Road, the Hub is where visitors can meet the minds behind the latest ideas shaping the future of farming. From dairy and meat to horticulture, forestry, seafood and agri tech, the breadth of ingenuity on show is staggering.
The Fieldays Innovation Awards deliver a global platform for problem-solvers to showcase their products and solutions, with award categories spanning Prototype, Early-Stage, and Growth & Scale. There is also recognition for young entrepreneurs through the Young Innovator of the Year Award. With a total prize package valued at over $75,000, the awards not only celebrate creativity but also provide valuable support to accelerate the journey ofnew ideas into the market.
The People’s Choice Award allows the public to get involved too, with voters going into the draw to win prizes, adding a community spirit to the celebration of innovation.
This year, Fieldays is also introducing a new feature, the Sector Spotlight.
The focus for2025 is wool, celebrating one of New Zealand’s most historic and versatile natural resources. Fieldays Sector Spotlight – It’s Wool invites visitors to rediscover the beauty and utility of wool through a dynamic display of products and innovations.
Exhibitors including Wool Impact, Wools of New Zealand, Wise Wool, Wronz and Floc will be there to demonstrate how wool is being transformed into everything from flooring and furniture fill to filters and personal care products.
With global interest in renewable, natural materials growing, the timing could not be better for wool to reclaim its place at the forefront of sustainable living. New Zealand produces around 100,000 tonnes of strong wool each year, prized globally for its bright colour and low contamination, the result of generations of careful breeding.
While merino wool is famed for its fine, next-to-skin qualities, stronger wools from other breeds shine in home interiors, particularly in carpets. Currently only around 15 percent of New Zealand’s strong wool is used domestically, with the remainder exported, but exciting new brands and innovations are helping to build local demand. Wool’s inherent properties such as thermal comfort, moisture management, air filtration, fire resistance and odour absorption mean it is finding new applications across industries.
From acoustic panels to yoga mats and filtration systems, wool’s possibilities are vast, and Fieldays Sector Spotlight is the perfect platform to share these stories.
Fieldays 2025 is once again promising an experience that captures the energy, ambition and pride of New Zealand’s primary sector.
Whether you are visiting to see the latest technology, planning your career path, advocating for farmers, or rediscovering the magic of wool, Fieldays is a place where connections are made, ideas are shared, and the future of farming is celebrated. There is no better snapshot of where agriculture in New Zealand is today and where it is heading tomorrow than at Mystery Creek this June.