Open Farms halts 2026 nationwide open day, rethinks future model

About 15% of Open Farms attendees set foot on a farm for the first time.

Open Farms will not run a national open farm day in 2026.

“It’s bittersweet to announce we’re taking a break, but it’s the right time to step back and think strategically about where Open Farms goes next,” founder Daniel Eb said.

Since launching in 2020, Open Farms has helped 20,000 New Zealanders visit 153 farm events across the country.

For 15% of those visitors, it was the first time they had set foot on a farm.

“Open Farms started at a time when the rural-urban divide felt like a real problem in New Zealand,” Eb said.

“The work to reconnect urban Kiwis with our land, food and farmers is far from done, but it feels like there are more and more bridges across that divide today.

“We’re really proud to have played some part in that.”

The pause would allow the Open Farms team to evaluate how to build on the connections and enthusiasm generated over the past five years.

Eb said Open Farms had connected two groups through the project: “Tens of thousands of urban Kiwis who are genuinely interested in where their food comes from, and hundreds of farmers who’ve discovered they love sharing their stories.

“Our job now is to build on that momentum with a sustainable funding model.”

Potential directions for the project include integrating the platform into New Zealand’s agricultural education system, shifting to a biennial event or supporting the agri-tourism sector.

Eb said the team had seen some “amazing things happen” through Open Farms.

“Like young people who visited a farm and then came back to volunteer or take on summer work.

“Farmers who were initially apprehensive, but ended up buzzing afterwards, telling us they enjoyed it more than they expected.

“Those stories show there’s real value here. We just need to figure out the right model for the future.”

Research conducted after the 2020 and 2021 events showed that visitors felt more connected to farmers, viewed sustainability in farming more positively and better understood the complexities of farming after an open day.

Eb said the project was only possible because farmer hosts opened their gates year after year.

He thanked every farmer who participated, saying their generosity made the event possible.

“You welcomed people on to your land, answered their questions and showed thousands of Kiwis where their food and fibre starts.

“That takes time, energy and courage.

“We’re incredibly grateful and look forward to building a more sustainable project model that fairly rewards this work and enables more farmers to share their story too.”

Open Farms hosts are also encouraged to reuse hosting guides and equipment provided over the years to host their own open day experiences in the interim.

- Supplied by Open Farms