Tīeke Golf Estate general manager Scott Meiklejohn overlooking Fieldays 2023 at Mystery Creek.
Scott Meiklejohn reckons it’s pretty neat being Fieldays closest neighbour.
The back fence of Tīeke Golf Estate, where Meiklejohn is general manager, borders the Mystery Creek site of Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event.
So, he and the golf club’s members get an almost front row seat each year.
Running until Saturday, today – Thursday – is the second day of the four-day event, which returned to June dates after being held in late November and early December last year.
Fieldays 2023. Photo: Alysha Gill.
In 2022, about 75,000 people attended – down from 132,776 in 2021, generating $675 million in sales revenue.
Scott, who has lived in Waipā for about a year, said it’ll be the first June Fieldays he’s attended.
“I certainly plan to pop in,” he said.
The 950-member Tīeke club, formerly Riverside Golf Club’s Lochiel course, has a restaurant and bar open to the public during Fieldays.
About 1000 New Zealand and international exhibitors will attend Fieldays this year.
Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce chief executive Shane Walsh said Fieldays move back to its usual June calendar dates was a positive.
Having the event at Mystery Creek had an obvious flow on effect in Te Awamutu.
Shane Walsh.
“It’s a very busy time for our accommodation providers and we usually get an influx of visitors in town too.”
Meanwhile, back on the golf course, when asked if he thinks he’ll sneak in a round in between visiting Fieldays, Scott smiled.
“These days, I don’t really get to play as much golf as you’d think.”
