This year's National Agricultural Fieldays benefited the national economy by $421.5 million in terms of the revenue it generated - $50 million more than last year, an economic impact analysis done by Waikato University shows.
Fieldays was held at Mystery Creek near Hamilton. Photo: RNZ / Andrew McRae
Fieldays is the biggest event of its type in the southern hemisphere. This year, more than 940 exhibitors took part with almost 120,000 people through the gates over its four-day run in June.
Chief executive Jon Calder said the university's report also shows the significant boost that the event in its 46th year makes to the regional economy.
"The two biggest numbers to come out of the report were the impact for the Waikato region, which comes out at $138.2 million and for the New Zealand economy, a total of $421 million - so it's accommodation, hospitality, transport, salaries and wages, all that spending that goes on around it.
"The average sales generated per exhibitor at Fieldays, so 942 exhibitors, the average was $125,000 per exhibitor. Total sales across our New Zealand exhibitors was $162 million and that's allocated at $45 million to Waikato-based firms, $117 million to companies outside the Waikato across the rest of New Zealand."
Mr Calder said next year's Fieldays would be expanded, with a further 30 to 40 sites in response to growing demand for space.
