The Hawke's Bay Showgrounds have become the unlikely setting for possibly the first multi-party election-year debate as the National Horticultural Field Day kicks off today.
Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy will be among those attending, while Labour's Damien O'Connor, New Zealand First leader Winston Peters and the Green Party's Steffan Browning are also expected to attend.
A stage made from apple bins has been erected for representatives of each major political party to have five minutes in the limelight, just one of the highlights of a day of displays and competition promoting the horticultural sector.
It's a joint-venture between the sector and the Hawke's Bay A and P Society, and showgrounds events manager Anna Hamilton says the future of the horticultural industries and increasing export volumes will be high on the agenda throughout the day.
The day starts with a sold-out breakfast at 7am, with guest speakers Mr Guy and the Vice-Chancellor of Massey University, Steve Maharey, a former Labour government Cabinet minister.
Topical discussions throughout the day are expected to include the Ruataniwha Water Storage Project in Central Hawke's Bay and the Tukituki Catchment Plan Change 6, leading subjects in the comprehensive BNZ Seminar Series which runs all day.
As the fruit and vegetable season has drawn to a close for another year, trade exhibitors will be out in force to show off their latest wares with everything from harvesters to tractors, irrigation to specialist horticultural technology, exporters and professional services.
This year's event will have a noticeably bigger trade display area to fit them all in.
Throughout the day, the 10th annual Hawke's Bay Young Fruitgrower of the Year Competition will be running with several of the industry's next-generation stars competing. Alongside this the ECR Equipment Forklift competition and Crasborn's NZ Hydralada competition will run from late morning.
The day will be completed with the Tug-o-war trophy challenge at 3.30pm.
"We're looking forward to a fantastic Field Day," Ms Hamilton said yesterday as she watched the first machinery arriving on site. "There's some big gear coming in."