Fieldays 2025 boosts rural mood with better prices, Govt support
'It's always a great time to catch up with our members and other farmers, but this has definitely stood out as one of the more positive Fieldays I've attended,' national president Wayne Langford said.
'I noticed a real shift
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
2 days ago
- NZ Herald
Waikato tourism sector shows growth and resilience, celebrates events funding
At least 22 events in Waikato have also received Government support as part of the recent round of the Regional Events Promotion Fund. 'Events remain a cornerstone of our visitor strategy, a key reason for manuhiri [visitors] to head to the mighty Waikato,' Greenwell said. After Waikato was initially excluded from the first round of the Regional Events Promotion Fund, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism successfully lobbied to be included in round two. 'For Waipa and Waikato district events to secure over $250,000 in funding was a definite win for the individual events, the district and the wider region.' Among the events receiving funding were Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge, Fieldays, Equifest, Whangamatā Half Marathon, National Waka Ama Sprint Championships 2026 and Motofest. Port Waikato MP Andrew Bayly said he was happy to see Hampton Downs' Motofest receiving funding. Among the events receiving funding from the Regional Events Promotion Fund was Motofest. Photo / Danielle Zollickhofer 'This is a stand-out event on our local calendar that brings motorsport fans to the region, supports local businesses, and showcases what makes north Waikato such a great destination.' Waipā District Mayor Susan O'Regan said the funding was also a 'big win for Waipā' as the district focused on creating vibrant and connected communities. 'These events ... give our community something to celebrate and enjoy together. 'It's not just about continuing our flagship events but also expanding into new ones that strengthen our place on the national events calendar.' Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell. The Regional Events Promotion Fund was a contestable fund over two financial years to support regions in hosting local events attracting domestic tourists. The fund was established using $5 million from the International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy ($2.375m for round one and $2.652m for round two). In total, 284 regional events were supported. Tourism and Hospitality Minister Louise Upston said she was 'thrilled' with the variety of events. Fieldays 2025 held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton is the largest agricultural show in the southern hemisphere. 12 June 2025 New Zealand Herald photograph by Mike Scott 'Investing in these events has a direct impact, with visitors spending money in local cafes, businesses and accommodation providers, driving economic activity in our communities. 'Events are excellent drawcards to get more visitors into our regions, particularly in quieter parts of the year for the tourism and hospitality sector.' Upston said last week the controversial Everyone Must Go campaign had been a success, exceeding its target of bringing 6750 additional Australians to New Zealand over autumn. She said nearly 8000 extra Australian visitors had pumped an estimated $22m into the economy – $5m more than was initially targeted. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism Minister Louise Upston talk to media about the announcement to pump another $13.5 million into international tourism marketing. Photo / Dean Purcell Greenwell said while the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment data was only available up until May this year, there had been a small increase in visitor spending in the Waikato region in May compared with the year before. 'We're encouraged by the success of Tourism New Zealand's Everyone Must Go campaign in the Australian market. 'With Waikato featuring as part of wider regional storytelling, this campaign supports international recovery by reigniting interest in our unique offerings – particularly our natural landscapes, cultural experiences, and growing food and wine scene.' Greenwell said reintroducing international direct flights from Sydney and Coolangatta to Hamilton had also added 'hype'. 'Hotel developments under way and announced couldn't come soon enough. We know these beds will be keenly sought after by groups travelling and events in particular.' The inaugural Jetstar international flights arrives in Hamilton from Sydney. Photo / Stephen Barker, Barker Photography Meanwhile, the results of the impact of the Thermal Explorer Regional Events Fund, which was set up after the Covid-19 pandemic, have been released recently. The final 48 events supported by the fund were completed in April this year. The 'economic impact assessment' revealed the $3.75m fund had generated $220m for communities in the Thermal Explorer regions of Waikato, Rotorua, Taupō and Ruapehu. The events it supported catered for a total audience of 532,468 people, including 249,909 visitors from outside the regions the events were hosted in. 'One of the purposes of the fund was to stimulate domestic visitation so it's a real testament to its success that around half of the people who attended the events it funded came from out of the region,' Greenwell said. Popular funded events included the Middle-earth Half Marathon in Hobbiton, the inaugural ITM Taupō Super400 motorsport event, the New Zealand Blues and BBQ Festival in Rotorua and the Ohakune Blues and Roots Festival. 'Not only has the funding brought some entirely new events to our communities ... but it has also helped build local capability, creating a legacy that will last for decades.' Waikato events supported by the Regional Events Promotion Fund $10,000 to Australasian Open 2026 (disc golf) $10,000 to Campsaver Motorhome Show $30,000 to Equifest $20,000 to Lake Taupo Cycle Challenge $13,550 to Motomania $12,500 to Pillar to Pou $20,000 to Taupo Historic GP $5500 to New Zealand Women's Surfing Festival 2026 $6000 to Whangamatā Half Marathon $5000 to Wings and Wheels $7314 to Karioi Classic 2025 $5350 to Raglan Country & Blues Festival 2025 $50,000 to Fieldays $10,000 to National Waka Ama Sprint Championships 2026 $25,000 to Night of Champions $20,000 to NZ Boat, Fish and Dive Expo $25,000 to NZMCA Motorhome, Caravan & Leisure Show $20,000 to Sika Show $30,000 to Summernats NZ $9,000 to Motofest $25,000 to NextGen Round 1 – Hampton Downs $25,000 to NextGen Round 2 – Hampton Downs The full list of funding recipients of funding from the Regional Events Promotion Fund is available on the MBIE website. – Additional reporting by Tom Raynel and Tom Rose
RNZ News
6 days ago
- RNZ News
Economic optimism among farmers at record high
Farmers' perceptions of current economic conditions have reached an 8-year high. File photo. Photo: 123rf Economic optimism among farmers is at a record high, according to the latest Federated Farmer's Farm Confidence Survey. The July survey found 65 percent of farmers surveyed felt confident about farm profitability - a 12-point boost from January - the highest result recorded in the survey. The six-monthly survey also found farmers' perceptions of current economic conditions had reached an eight-year high, with 33 percent believing economic conditions were good - a significant jump from a record low of - 66 percent a year ago. Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford put the upbeat mood down to strong dairy and meat prices, lower interest rates, and cuts to government regulations. Langford said it was a "good result" all round. "It's a really, really positive result for farmers, but also a really, really positive result for New Zealand. When New Zealand farmers are doing well, New Zealand is doing well." Bouyed by high milk prices, 80 percent of dairy farmers had reported making a profit, with sheep and beef farmers at 44 percent and arable lagging behind, with 11 percent reporting a profit amid lower crop values. Langford said he was aware some arable farmers were struggling. "We will be looking to see what we can do to improve the arable sector. But across the board, a rise in dairy prices, a rise in red meat prices had really helped with the profitability of those businesses." Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi Farms throughout the country were recording profitability, the survey said, with Otago-Southland farms leading the pack at 72 percent, followed by the East Coast of the North Island at 69 percent and Taranaki-Manawatu at 66 percent. The results also showed rural mental health had improved in 2025, moving from a net 52 percent negative in January 2023, to net 26 percent positive in July 2025. The biggest concerns farmers reported in the survey were regulation and compliance costs, followed by climate change policy, the emissions trading scheme, and local government rates. The survey was completed prior to the Tasman floods, and Langford said while farmers in Nelson-Tasman had experienced challenges recently, he remained optimistic there was long-term confidence in the sector. "Farmers will know that they are in it for the long game, and when they are looking at this survey and saying hey do we have confidence in our businesses - in farming in general into the future - no doubt they will be looking at it with confidence to carry on." ANZ agricultural economist Matt Dilly said conditions had improved markedly on a year ago. "Lamb prices are up 50 percent, beef prices are up around 30 percent, and it's easy to forget, with how good thing's have been over the past year, but Fonterra's opening farmgate milk price at this time last year was $8 and now we're looking at $10. "So these are really big increases that farmers are seeing right now." The survey found only 6 percent of farmers expect economic conditions to improve over the next 12 months, a decrease from 23 per cent in January. Dilly said there was more positive momentum for sheep and beef prices to remain high amid a global shortage of red meat causing high demand. "Dairy there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic there, but there's a bit more potential for global production to swing in a direction that starts to impact the price." While global grain prices were low right now, Dilly said there was potential for something to turn the outlook around. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
24-07-2025
- RNZ News
Kiwis 'lucky' to have 'premium' butter as only option, but have to pay market price for it
[s ]Chairperson Karl Dean says Fonterra, wholesalers and supermarkets are doing their best to keep prices down. The price of butter rose nearly 50 percent to the year ended May. Photo: Margaret Jaszowska for Unsplash Federated Farmers' dairy group chair says New Zealanders are lucky to have premium butter, but he hopes prices drop at the checkout as soon as the cost of milk solids do. The price of butter rose nearly 50 percent to the year ended May, Stats NZ data showed . Dairy giant Fonterra's boss Miles Hurrell sympathised with households feeling the pinch but said price increases were a reflection of supply not being able to keep up with demand . Fonterra could not offer cheaper prices to local customers, he said. Federated Farmers Dairy Industry Group chairperson Karl Dean said New Zealanders had to pay the market rate. "We are lucky we get a premium product as our only option... the rest of the world would love to have grass-fed butter all the time," he said. "So it is good that we have that option, but all that we ask is that when the prices come down - which they will, they always do - that flows on through the supply chain." Dean believed Fonterra, wholesalers and supermarkets were doing their best to keep prices down. But they needed to react quickly when contract milk prices changed, he said. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
