Latest news with #NationalFieldays
NZ Autocar
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Reveals and deals at Fieldays this year
The National Fieldays kicked off in Hamilton today, thousands in attendance, many looking for a bargain on something. Billed as the Southern Hemisphere's largest agricultural event, all manner of machinery and farming innovations are on display, the vast majority of which a townie like myself knows absolutely nothing about. Amongst the farm machinery however are a few of the car brands with their latest wares on display. Fieldays is about as close to a car show there is in New Zealand, and this year there were a few new vehicles making their public debut. Among them is the LDV Terron 9, one big double cab ute that is landing at $59,990. Its 2.5-litre turbodiesel makes 163.5kW and 520Nm of torque and the Terron 9 has the usual 3500kg braked towing capacity. It's 5.5m long, and 1997mm wide with a 1100kg payload. 4WD is standard with multi-terrain modes. Along with dual 12.3-inch screens inside, there is wireless CarPlay and Android Auto and a 360 degree camera. Terron 9 is backed by a seven-year/200,000km warranty. There's just one variant at launch, and it will sell alongside the T60, which remains in the range as a (slightly) smaller double cab option for buyers. The Subaru Forester was also on display, the new generation making its debut as well. Leading the line up is a new and improved hybrid version touting Subaru's full time AWD system. The news is that supply will be limited as the Japanese market alone is already holding 15,000 orders for the new model, which is beyond the firm's yearly production capacity. So if you're interested, register your intent now. Find out all the details and pricing here. KGM, formerly known as SsangYong if you haven't been paying attention, pulled the covers off a new hybrid version of the Torres mid-sized SUV. At this stage, the details are scant, other than to say the brand will be testing the model locally and evaluating it for our market. But given the interest and rising demand for hybrid SUVs, you can bet it will be added to the local showroom at some point alongside the petrol and EV versions already on sale. Ford had its Ranger Super Duty on display, a pre-production model fitted with a locally-sourced work body on the rear. No word on pricing yet, but Ford sees opportunities with both the wellside version for those that like to tow and the cab chassis for more specialised work vehicles. Also new is the Transit Courier Trend, a city-friendly small van that is priced at $49,990. It has two rows of seats, the ones in the rear able to fold up out of the way to increase cargo space. It's powered by a 1.0-litre petrol turbo with 92kW and 170Nm and channels that to the front wheels via a seven-speed auto. It has dual sliding side doors and a pair of barn style doors on the rear. It looks to be a versatile machine that some businesses might find to be the right fit. There is also a passenger version called the Tourneo Courier Active at $55,990 with the same powertrain and sliding side doors but the interior is more civilised and there is a rear hatch. BYD had its Shark 6 on display, sporting a range of different canopy options and other accessories, among them one with a flat deck conversion. This is done by BYD NZ, which ensures the accessory power outlets, charge ports and venting fuel filler are all sorted properly. The deck on display wasn't cheap, some $15,990, due to the relocation of those things mentioned and others like the blind spot monitoring and reverse sensors. BYD NZ said that it expects to have a cab chassis Shark 6 available in the near future, costing between $1500 and $2000 less than the current wellside. Further down the line, expect single and extra cab versions of the Shark also. Next door you'll find GWM with its Cannon Alpha PHEV front and centre, another of the hybrid utes on display, with Ford also having its PHEV Ranger on show too. Toyota had a big presence with all manner of Cruisers and Hilux models decked out in accessories, and you get a deal on Triton at the Mitsubishi stand. JAC also has a big presence, with its PHEV ute on display, the Hunter, though that is not yet ready for sale, described as being in its prototype stage. Mahindra had its new XUV 3XO on site, read all about that here, and the massive GMC Yukon Denali was there too, read more about that here. Even Tesla was there, with its pointless Cybertruck, proving the brand must be in bad shape Fieldays is on now until 14 June at Mystery Creek, Hamilton.
RNZ News
10-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Over 100,000 expected at Fieldays 2025
Over 100,000 people from across the country are expected to walk through the gates at the National Fieldays this year. Fieldays chief executive Richard Lindroos spoke to Corin Dann. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
NZ Herald
09-06-2025
- Science
- NZ Herald
Fieldays boost farmer innovation despite science reorganisation: Dr Jacqueline Rowarth
Sheep, also flightless, are decreasing 'thanks' to Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) settings favouring pine trees, but also reflecting changes in markets. The field days, at least in the case of the National Fieldays held at Mystery Creek in June (except during the Covid disruptions), go from strength to strength, despite the fog that is common in June in Waikato. The point about field days, whether national, local or on-farm, is that they allow farmer-to-farmer exchange of information, as well as farmer-to-researcher, rural professionals, policymakers and interested urban-dwellers. They also allow researchers, rural professionals and policymakers to interact with each other – and the people who have left the big cities to embrace whatever the field days have on offer. Field days are, to quote an advertisement for a popular car, a real charcuterie of activity and people. It is the charcuterie that stimulates innovation – new thinking about a problem, challenge or issue. Farmers might be there to gather information and kick a few tyres of potential replacement tractors, but the value of the conversation is often to the person listening. Scientists, researchers and developers frequently get their ideas from farmers, saying that they've met a problem or explaining how they overcame that problem. This stimulates the scientist to think about how the problem might be solved or how the solution might be tested more widely. And then they do the research. At least, that is how it has worked in the past. The reorganisations in the science sector won't stop the ideas, but how the 'action' will follow has yet to be decided. Dr Shane Reti, the Minister for Science, Innovation and Technology (coincidentally a good description of what can be seen at National Fieldays), and also the Minister for Universities, inherited the reorganisation in the Cabinet reshuffle at the beginning of the year. Dr Jacqueline Rowarth says farmer innovation defines New Zealand. Reti is clear that the reorganisation aligns with the Government's priorities of driving economic growth and will allow the new organisations to be 'in a better position to deliver excellent science'. 'It will also make sure they're adopting more collaborative ways of working with universities and seeking partnerships with private sector investors, sooner,' he says. The focus is on generating money and it is hardly surprising that the new Science Advisory Panel, chaired by the Prime Minister's new chief science advisor, Dr John Roche, has members with a track record of investment, as well as engineering and science. Comments have been made about the apparent predominance of dairy, but it is the track record of achievement behind current roles that should be examined. Further, New Zealand should be reassured that people who have an interest in the greatest revenue-earning sector are involved in the future of investment. The big question remains whether the investment will be enough to stimulate what is needed. The budget-shuffling indicated an emphasis on commercially viable science, but the quantum of investment is still below what has been urged repeatedly by the science sector. Reti has said: 'Clear direction for the science, innovation and technology sector will give the public and private sector confidence to forge ahead with critical research that will help grow our economy.' This suggests that co-investment is expected from companies and from the levy bodies that support the different sectors in primary production. This is not a new plan. 'User-pays' dominated the thinking in the creation of the Crown Research Institutes (CRIs) in 1992. This was when most of the government funding became contestable. Unintended consequences included bidding for safe science (outcome known) and reduced collaboration (explained in Dr Doug Edmeades' paper Is the Commercial Model Appropriate for Science?). To encourage collaboration, the National Science Challenges (NSCs, 2014-2024) 'brought together the country's top scientists to work collaboratively across disciplines, institutions and borders to achieve their objectives'. Getting going, however, took longer than anticipated because of the cross-party negotiations that had to occur before the collaboration could start. Reti's statement on collaboration for the new system is important. The lessons from the CRIs and the NSCs are the foundation for a better future and, knowing the focus is the primary sector, the National Fieldays are a great place to start talking with the farmers. Along with clouds, kiwi, sheep and, more recently, cows, it is farmer innovation that defines New Zealand, allowing the country to have a first-world economy on the basis of agricultural exports. That is an extraordinary achievement. Whether the future continues in the same vein will depend upon how the science reorganisation plays out and the talks that are held with the primary sector. Farmers continue to be the key.
Scoop
09-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Federated Farmers Launches KiwiSaver Petition
Press Release – Federated Farmers Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that its time to follow through on their promise. Federated Farmers has launched a nationwide petition calling on the Government to urgently change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. 'Accessing your KiwiSaver to buy your first farm, flock, herd or home has been an incredibly hot topic for farmers,' Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says. 'On the campaign trail of the 2023 election, Todd McClay stood up in front of young farmers in Morrinsville and made a promise that he would make it happen. 'I'm sure he had the best of intentions, but unfortunately farmers have been bitterly disappointed by the lack of action from the Government on the issue to date. 'That's why Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that it's time to follow through on their promise.' The petition's launch has been timed to coincide with the National Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. 'Politicians are always out in force at Fieldays, rubbing shoulders with farmers, and we really wanted to make sure KiwiSaver issues were a topic of conversation,' McIntyre says. 'Allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first herd, home, farm or flock is the number one thing the Government could do to help our next generation of farmers. 'It would shave years of hard work and saving off their progression through the industry, and really turbocharge their farming careers. 'Why is the Government okay with that money being managed by stockbrokers and invested in Fortune 500 companies, but not by a farmer buying a herd to go sharemilking?' McIntyre says he can't see any reason the Government wouldn't throw their full support behind making this policy change happen. 'A lot of young urban people enter KiwiSaver because it's a good way to build a deposit for their first house. They're saving for a home early on – not for their retirement. 'We're asking for young farmers to have the same opportunity – a one-off withdrawal early in their careers to help them get ahead by purchasing their first home, farm, herd, or flock.' New Zealanders are encouraged to sign the petition online at or at Federated Farmers' Fieldays site D70.
Scoop
08-06-2025
- Business
- Scoop
Federated Farmers Launches KiwiSaver Petition
Federated Farmers has launched a nationwide petition calling on the Government to urgently change the KiwiSaver rules to help young farmers get their foot on the ladder. "Accessing your KiwiSaver to buy your first farm, flock, herd or home has been an incredibly hot topic for farmers," Federated Farmers dairy chair Richard McIntyre says. "On the campaign trail of the 2023 election, Todd McClay stood up in front of young farmers in Morrinsville and made a promise that he would make it happen. "I'm sure he had the best of intentions, but unfortunately farmers have been bitterly disappointed by the lack of action from the Government on the issue to date. "That's why Federated Farmers has launched this petition: to hold the Government accountable and send a clear message that it's time to follow through on their promise." The petition's launch has been timed to coincide with the National Fieldays, where thousands of farmers, industry leaders and politicians will gather at Mystery Creek. "Politicians are always out in force at Fieldays, rubbing shoulders with farmers, and we really wanted to make sure KiwiSaver issues were a topic of conversation," McIntyre says. "Allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver to buy their first herd, home, farm or flock is the number one thing the Government could do to help our next generation of farmers. "It would shave years of hard work and saving off their progression through the industry, and really turbocharge their farming careers. "Why is the Government okay with that money being managed by stockbrokers and invested in Fortune 500 companies, but not by a farmer buying a herd to go sharemilking?" McIntyre says he can't see any reason the Government wouldn't throw their full support behind making this policy change happen. "A lot of young urban people enter KiwiSaver because it's a good way to build a deposit for their first house. They're saving for a home early on - not for their retirement. "We're asking for young farmers to have the same opportunity - a one-off withdrawal early in their careers to help them get ahead by purchasing their first home, farm, herd, or flock." New Zealanders are encouraged to sign the petition online at or at Federated Farmers' Fieldays site D70.
