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A massive rural event with a 40-year history is gearing up once again to showcase the best of the farming sector with a spotlight on adventures in the great outdoors this year.
The 2025 Northland Field Days (NFD), aka ‘The Friendly Field Days’, is the region’s largest agricultural event, held annually in Dargaville over three days, from February 27 to March 1.
There will be more than 300 exhibitors from all over New Zealand and overseas presenting the latest in farming technology, machinery and innovations.
The aim of the event is to help expand public awareness of the country’s primary industries and promote agriculture products.
Along with the three generous food courts and two lifestyle pavilions filled with vendors plying a wide range of wares from home, garden and leisure to healthcare, travel and real estate, a new adventure hub ‘The Outdoor Zone’ will debut this year.
This area will focus on hunting, fishing, boating and 4×4 driving, reflecting Nothland’s reputation as an outdoor recreation destination. Local businesses including Mangawhai Barfoot & Thompson, Te Arai’s Native Nursery and Te Arai Berry Shack will also be heading to the show.
The entertainment area will include 4WD club competitions, motorcross drags and mini-mack rides, laser clay shooting, tractor pulling, lawnmower racers and helicopter rides, as well as kid’s entertainment, sheepdog trials and a silage bale painting competition with this year’s theme, ‘Climate change and agriculture in Kaipara’.
Visitors will also have a chance to ‘fight a knight’ with The Dargaville Medieval Combat Club, who will be giving scheduled demonstrations of their craft throughout the day.
Environmental groups, community clubs, religious organisations, councils, political parties and charities, such as Kaipara Moana Remediation and Mountains to Sea Conservation Trust, Rural Support Trust, Northland Fish and Game, will also be on hand to talk to the public.
Brought to the community through the voluntary efforts of the NFD committee, who contribute their time and own equipment to help make the events an ongoing success, the popular show attracts thousands of visitors every year.
A registered charity, NFD also reinvests the show profits back into the rural sector through scholarships and research grants. Not-for-profit groups who volunteer their time at the event, also receive donations from the charity, in an example of community supporting community.
