Fieldays huge success

Fieldays organisers are declaring the event a huge success, after a big jump in the number of visitors on the final day.

More than 30,000 people went through the gates at Mystery Creek yesterday, up 40 percent on the number last year.

The four days of the trade show drew an overall crowd of 128,000.

Chief Executive Jon Calder says Fieldays' success goes well beyond pure visitor numbers.

"We've had some fantastic feedback from some of our exhibitors, huge sales numbers coming through. A couple of companies have had record sales days. All in all it seems to have been a very, very positive four days.

Mr Calder says the theme this year has been 'changing the face of farming'.

"Our innovation centre boasts some fantastic new inventions and creations, and that number 8 wire mentality. New Zealand creativity and invention has certainly been on showcase here for the last four days."

The New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays will return next year for its 45th edition.

Photo: Nigel Yalden