Northland Field Days Still Relevant In AI-influenced Rural World: Leader

Monday, 3 March 2025, 9:38 pm
Article: Susan Botting - Local Democracy Reporter

Northland Field Days’ future will continue to be relevant into a changing AI-influenced tomorrow says regional leader John Blackwell as 20,000 people turn out to the just-completed 2025 event near Dargaville.

The Okahu, Kaipara farmer and Northland Field Days committee member said there would always be a place for the event- New Zealand’s second-largest annual event of its type after the Mystery Creek Fieldays.

The Northland Regional Council (NRC) and former Kaipara District Council (KDC) councillor said farmers in particular liked to be hands on and talking face to face.

This approach worked well in conjunction with increasingly used AI technology and would continue to do so.

The just-finished 2025 Northland Field Days were held on Thursday 27 February, Friday 28 February and Saturday 1 March at Awakino Point near Dargaville.

It started 40 years ago at the Dargaville racecourse with 80 exhibitors and is now Northland's biggest outdoor event.

The 2025 event was Northland Field Days 38th. It has been run annually since 1985, except for two years during Covid-19 restrictions.

Blackwell said the event was hugely popular, with all the 400 available sites occupied for the first time ever this year.

The 30-year event veteran was among local government leaders who turned out to adjacent NRC and KDC sites this year.

The two councils’ sites cost ratepayers a combined $10,885 – NRC's $10,000 and KDC’s $884.39.

NRC chairman Geoff Crawford said the $10,000 was money well spent.

“It’s a chance to meet all the right people in one place,” Crawford said.

The council’s presence allowed farmers and others the opportunity to visit the council in a different setting.

It offered an opportunity for people to ask questions about a wide range of important aspects including pest control, how to best manage highly erodible land, on-farm freshwater management and potential funding.

“A lot of people in the community are involved with pest control for rats and cats and possums for example,” Crawford said.

“They could come to the tent and find out more about how to do this,” he said.

The same applied for weeds.

“A lot of people have weeds in their gardens, some of which can be quite bad, and they don’t realise.”

The event was for rural, town and city people alike.

About 1800 Free ‘Tex-Mex wallaby quesadillas with parmesan mayonnaise’ were this year’s free wild food treats at the NRC’s field days site - used to highlight the important pest control message of keeping this pest out of Northland.

The joint creation by NRC, NorthTec Level 4 cookery students and their tutor Hughie Blues added to a long list of annual wild food treats with a message over the years including venison bruschetta, wasp larvae icecream, wild pork rolls, rabbit rissoles, possum pate and goat meat pies.

Former Kaipara Mayor and NRC deputy-chair Graeme Ramsay said the event held a special place in the community.

The 30-year Northland Field Days attendance veteran said it was the backbone of the region’s economy, rurally in particular.

Hundreds of hours of volunteering went into making it happen.

“The event highlights innovation in our primary sector to Northland and beyond,” Ramsay said.

“It’s just as important now as it was 30 years ago.”

Another former Kaipara Mayor and event attendee for three decades Dr Jason Smith said the “kanohi ke to kanohi” (face to face) aspect of the Northland Field Days was important.

He said it was also important for local government to be present.

That gave people an opportunity to speak to their local politicians in a setting other than a council building.

“Local government’s important. It’s exactly where the people are,” Smith said.

It also served as an icebreaker for those who’d not interacted with council politicians, staff or the council before.

KDC’s tent highlights included the importance of voting in the upcoming October 2025 local elections and more.

Kaipara councillor and event attendee over 20 years Whakapirau’s Mark Vincent, said people needed to get out and vote.

His will be the only Northland council not to have a Māori ward at the upcoming local elections.

Kaipara Mayor Craig Jepson said being at the event was important for his council.

His council’s spending on its site was worthwhile.

Being at the event was a great way to interact with the community, he said.

-LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.

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