Prime Minister John Key opens Fieldays 2015
The 47th Edition of Fieldays has been officially declared open by Prime Minister John Key.
The Village Green was bustling with very important people; businessmen, farmers, politicians and diplomats from all around the world, including Korea and Tonga, mingled making small talk and deals in equal measure as they waited for the 47th Fieldays Opening Ceremony to begin on Wednesday.
Prime Minister John Key schmoozed through the crowd, genially shaking hands and having quick chats, pausing every few moments for the flocking photographers to take their shots.
At midday the MC, comedian Te Radar, started things by telling the crowd if they listened closely they could hear the economic backbone of New Zealand stretching and strengthening.
Fieldays CEO John Calder followed him, and said Fieldays was the blueprint for New Zealand agriculture, and all about innovation. He said that innovation is a key part of maintain New Zealands position in the agriculture sector.
He welcomed the 1000 exhibitors and nearly 30,000 visitors on site for the first day.
Prime Minister John Key then took the podium.
Key spoke about the current tough times for farmers, and said the kind of things Fieldays showcases was vital in times like these.
“It’s at the toughest of times we have to look to innovation,” he said.
He gave an example with sheep farming. In 1970 New Zealand had over 70 million sheep, but even though the national flock count has dropped below 30 million we are still producing just as much lamb meat thanks to innovation and technology.
Key and Fieldays Society President Warrick Roberts cut the ribbon, officially opening the 47th Fieldays, followed by Shannon Lamb singing the National Anthem as the Waikato Rural Women’s group raised the New Zealand flag over the Green.
