Sun smiles on Mystery Creek Fieldays

Whakatane High School students Emma-Li Merito (left) and Ngamiha Elliott at the Fonterra Group tent at the National Fieldays, Mystery Creek yesterday. Photo/Stephen Parker

There were plenty of gumboots and sunnies on parade but very little wet weather gear as thousands trekked around Mystery Creek event centre under sunny skies at the opening of the National Fieldays.

While the upper North Island weathered the rain deluge, attendees at the country's biggest agricultural event near Hamilton sat out in mild temperatures munching hot dogs, chips and whitebait fritters.

The rain forecast not only dented attendance numbers but bottom line profits.

It is estimated a drop in 10,000 visitors can lose the event $250,000.

Accommodation is booked out within 50km radius of the event as moteliers, campgrounds and private homeowners look to reap rewards from the popular event.

Rotorua couple James and Kathy Warbrick haven't missed the annual four-day show in 23 years.

"We first came to it when our eldest daughter was born," Kathy said.

The family cast their eye over the latest products from irrigation systems to work boots to bamboo filled pillows among the 900 exhibitors.

"We've invested a bit of money over the years from what we have seen at the Fieldays," said Mr Warbrick, who works for Parekarangi Trust in Rotorua.

"We are here today as a family, there won't be any impulse buying," he said.

Reporoa Engineering contractor Dan Gorton thought the attendance for the first day was a little below previous years.

"I think the weather forecast may have put people off to change their plans and arrive later in the week," he said.

Interest had been steady for the firm's products - the Herdflow Crowd Gate, and improved High Lift Gate, he said.

The company was one of the few local firms at the event which was dominated by firms from Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury.

"We get more inquiries on days like this than actual sales."

"But generally speaking it is pretty quiet which is good for exhibitors in a way because we aren't trying to avoid getting wet while talking to customers."

The event has attracted a large number of international delegations from Asia, North and South America, and more than 200 individuals from around 30 countries.

National Fieldays will close on Saturday.