News

The new headquarters for NZ National Fieldays Society at Mystery Creek Events Centre was today officially opened by the Rt. Hon. David Carter in front of an audience of 170 staff, society members and guests.

Speaker of the House Mr Carter spoke at the gathering about his history with New Zealand National Fieldays and his first visit many years ago, “I was absolutely blown away by what I saw”.

Mr Carter said that when travelling overseas, in his recent role as Minister for Primary Industries, he was often approached by people who expressed a genuine interest in New Zealand agriculture.

“I would tell them, if you really want to come and look at New Zealand agriculture there is only one time that you should come to New Zealand and that is the middle of June and you should base your trip around making sure you get to Mystery Creek to observe the Fieldays.

“Previous visit to Fieldays with foreign delegations have been easy to be part of because of the hospitality that’s extended by everyone at Fieldays to overseas visitors,” he added.

Directing a comment to Lloyd Downing, President of NZ National Fieldays Society, he said, “I’m about as passionate about these Fieldays as you are,” before he officially declared the building open and cut the ribbon with Mr Downing.

Fieldays and Mystery Creek Event Centre CEO Jon Calder acknowledged the project team that had worked on the building, the first stage in a 15 year Masterplan for Mystery Creek that will see upgrades to infrastructure and a staged development plan.

“Our journey forward into our 45^th year is all about change. We have begun work to redesign our event, working to better understand what our customers and visitors alike want and need from Fieldays. Our purpose remains very clear – we are here to support the advancement of NZ Agriculture.”

Sited beside the main Gate 2 entrance with views over the event centre’s 112 hectares, the new building has been designed to harmonise with its rural surroundings.

Mr Calder said the new headquarters will be the catalyst for significant change in the way the organisation operates.

“Moving into a modern, vibrant space reflects the dynamic environment our business operates in. It was of the utmost importance that we provide our people (staff, society members and volunteers) with a home that could accommodate all our business requirements and that they would be proud of and feel comfortable to call ‘home’. The building also provides space for us to host guests and with magnificent views out over the events centre and toward the river we think we have catered for the practicalities required to run one of New Zealand’s largest multi-functional Event Centres.”

The 1050 sq.m facility, designed by architects Chow Hill, provides accommodation for up to 50 staff with facilities for society members and volunteers.

“Chow Hill have done a magnificent job on the design, creating a visually stunning building that reflects the heart and essence of what Mystery Creek Events is all about, while being considerate to our rural surrounds,” said Mr Calder.

Nestled at the edge of a bank, the new building gives the impression it is evolving out of the existing landscape.

A 12 metre cedar entry tower and an extensive horizontal glazing system are just some of the key design elements of the iconic building. A unique combination of exterior cladding materials and external sun louvers are not only practical but enhance the look and feel of the building. Decks from the building offer expansive views of the site.

The 70metre span mono-pitch roof had to be fabricated onsite due to the length of the roofing materials.

Interior detailing by the architect is innovative and offers acoustic solutions alongside eye catching features such as speciality panelling and floor coverings.

Many eco-friendly features have been included in the building including: solar hot water, heat recovery ventilation system, water harvesting and storage for fire fighting water supply/flushing WC’s and landscape irrigation, a dedicated aerated sewage treatment facility and rain gardens and swales to control all onsite storm water and excess roof run off.

Fletcher Construction Building Manager Mark Ritchie said that Fletchers were excited to have constructed an iconic building that will enhance the landscape of the events centre footprint at Mystery Creek.

ENDS

For further information or images please contact:

Vicki Annison, Communications Executive, Mystery Creek Events Centre
Tel. 07 843 4497  Mobile 027 434 3651 vickia@mysterycreek.co.nz

An early morning convoy of shiny rigs into Mystery Creek Events Centre kicked off the third and final day of the Transport and Heavy Equipment Expo 2013.

The crowd arrived early and stayed all day taking in not only THE Expo show but also the additional 80 trucks participating in the spectacular Show ‘n’ Shine competition.

The Show ’n’ Shine gives drivers a chance to show off the artwork and lights that transform a truck into a piece of art while competing for various awards and an attractive prize pool.
Category winners were;

• Curtain sider, Flat Deck and Tractor Units category winner: Craig Searle
• Tankers category winner: Steve Hart & Alan Pearson from Tranzliquid Logistics Limited
• Tippers category winner: Dean Chandler from Jackson Roadhaul
• Livestock & Logger category winner: Bryan Lang from Graeme Wright Transport Limited
• Classic Trucks Winner: Scott Young from Kim Young & Sons Ltd
• People’s Choice Award went to Roger David Duncan, Bulldog Haulage Ltd
• Supreme Award went to Scott Young with a Mack Cruiseliner

Supreme Award winner Scott Young won a $2000 tracking system from event sponsor, ITS Intelligent Tracking Solutions. Scott drove the family-owned truck up from Ohakune this morning and said he was pretty amazed to have won the awards.

The 1984 vehicle was the first 8-wheeler Mack Cruiseliner in the country and is still owned by the original owner, Scott’s father. “She’s only ever carried carrots, potatoes and the occasional tractor but is pretty much retired now and just does trips from the field to the packhouse,” said Scott.

With gate numbers for the final show day at just over 6000, event organisers are very pleased with the total attendance of 13464.

One of the many sites that saw a constant stream of visitors was the best medium outdoor site award winner Kubota New Zealand which had an interactive display featuring a mini excavator.

NZ Kubota Manager (CB Norwoods Distributors Ltd) Ian Massicks said they had enjoyed three great days at THE Expo but was pleased to have received more enquiries on Saturday that the previous two days put together.

“The enquiry level across the board has been exceptional; we have met our target expectations and anticipate good follow-up sales in the next few weeks. We have seen lots of industry customers and it’s great to get to spend time with them at the event and let them have a good look at the range of equipment we have here.”

As the dust settles and the trucks and heavy machinery roll out, THE Expo exhibitors return to their home bases to follow up on the excellent networking opportunities the event offered and to close their post event deals.

The experienced Mystery Creek Events Centre team organises THE Expo with the support and input from industry associations; Motor Industry Association, NZ Truck-Trailer Manufacturers Federation and NZ Equipment Suppliers Association. Event Partner GE Capital Ltd and Media Partners; NZ Truck & Driver and The Radio Network also contribute to the success of the event.
For further information visit www.theexpo.co.nz
For photographs or further comment please contact:
Vicki Annison, Communications Executive, The Transport and Heavy Equipment Expo
Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand
Phone: 07 843 4497 or Email: media@theexpo.co.nz

During the first three months of 2013 over 40,000 people will have been to Mystery Creek Events Centre to dance, sing, sleep, pray, laugh, eat, network and socialise.

The enormous variety of events held at the Waikato’s most versatile event centre includes trade shows, industry conferences, weddings and New Zealand’s longest running music festival, Parachute.

This weekend the 115 hectare riverside venue has been transformed into a colourful tent city for the annual Parachute Music Festival, an established hotspot on the Kiwi summer radar.

The sell-out event provides family-friendly fun and music with a line-up of over 100 bands, local and international, performing across four stages and catering to fans of all genres. Headlining acts include: Evermore, Switchfoot, Hillsong United, Newsboys, Family Force Five, Lecrae, Rapture Ruckus, Sleeping Giant and Oh, Sleeper.

Sonya Anderson, Mystery Creek Events Centre’s Corporate and Private Events Manager, said, “We are extremely happy with the number and range of events that have booked to use our facilities this year. Parachute music festival is a prime example of the large scale events that we are able to cater for and we are keen to encourage other concert organisers and businesses to grow their events with us.”

Over the last month the Mystery Creek events team has been busy preparing the site for the arrival of 17,500 festival go-ers. Many of them will be taking advantage of the onsite camping facilities, and, using over 300kms of toilet paper over the weekend.

Mystery Creek Events Centre’s space, facilities and infrastructure set it apart from many other venues and the site naturally lends itself to large multi-day events. It is the only events centre in New Zealand that can accommodate 30,000 campers with showers, flushing toilets and all necessary amenities to reside onsite.

Recently the event centre have opened up the camping facilities at several of their other key events and received unprecedented bookings and tremendous feedback from visitors that enjoyed the convenience of staying onsite.

2013 is Parachute’s tenth year at Mystery Creek Events Centre and the robust relationship has recently resulted in the signing of a new five-year contract, ensuring that one of the largest music festivals in the Southern Hemisphere can continue to be held in the convenient Waikato destination.

“We’ve been engaged in discussions with Parachute on how we can create a new business model that gives flexibility and scope to meet both our needs, and recognises the strength of our ten year relationship” said Jon Calder, CEO Mystery Creek Events Centre.

Mystery Creek Events Centre has a long term Master Plan which will see redevelopment of the site over the next 15 years, using many of the property’s natural features to enhance and build on the strengths and possibilities of the world-class event destination.

Parachute Music Festival organisers sign a five-year contract with Mystery Creek Events Centre

Mystery Creek Events Centre will continue to rock to the beat of the Parachute Music Festival following the signing of a five year contract.

Parachute organisers have been working with the Mystery Creek Events Centre team to ensure that one of the largest music festivals in the Southern Hemisphere can continue to be held in the convenient and versatile Waikato destination at Mystery Creek.

The popular Christian music festival is held every year over the Auckland anniversary weekend and attracts thousands of spectators with headlining international and local bands. The drug and alcohol free event drew 20,000 visitors last year with many choosing to stay onsite for the ultimate festival experience.

The teams at Mystery Creek Events Centre and Parachute Music have been working collaboratively to safeguard the stability of the event’s future in Hamilton and 2013 will mark the tenth year that the Parachute Music Festival has been held at Mystery Creek Events Centre.

“We’ve been engaged in discussions with Parachute on how we can create a new business model that gives flexibility and scope to meet both our needs, and recognises the strength of our ten year relationship” said Jon Calder, CEO Mystery Creek Events Centre.

Mystery Creek Events Centre’s 115 hectares provide an excellent infrastructure for large multi -day events; it is the only events centre in New Zealand that can accommodate 30,000 campers with showers, flushing toilets and all necessary amenities to reside onsite. Sonya Anderson, Mystery Creek Events Centre’s Corporate and Private Events Manager, said, “Mystery Creek Events Centre’s space, facilities and infrastructure set it apart from many other venues and the site naturally lends itself to music based camping events. It is the ideal venue for the Parachute Music Festival.”

Mystery Creek Events Centre has a long term Master Plan which will see redevelopment of the site over the next 15 years, using many of the property’s natural features to enhance and build on the strengths and possibilities of the world-class event destination.

Parachute Music has come a long way since its modest beginnings in 1989. The first festival was held in Waikanae in 1992 and moved to Totara Springs in 1995. In 2004, Parachute Music Festival relocated to the expansive and versatile Mystery Creek Events Centre and has grown to now be the largest Christian music festival in the Southern Hemisphere.

Improvements are constantly being made to the event and impressive new features include integrated technology in the festival’s Tag wristbands; these can be preloaded with credit and will alleviate the need to carry cash onsite.

Mark de Jong, Parachute Music CEO said, “There were a number of factors that discouraged us from returning to Hamilton, including Hamilton City Council unexpectedly backing out of their usual sponsorship, however Mystery Creek Event Centre’s flexibility in dealing with us was the key factor in the festival remaining in the Waikato. We’re very grateful for their willingness to help and adapt and we’re excited to be able to work on plans for the future of Parachute in the Waikato.”

Tickets for Parachute, 25-27 January 2013, have been released and are selling in staged tiers with the first two tiers now sold out. Headlining acts for the forthcoming event include Switchfoot, Hillsong United, Newsboys Family Force Five, Lecrae, Evermore, Oh, Sleeper, Half Noise, Rapture Ruckus, Sleeping Giant and many more.

For festival and ticket information please visit www.parachutefestival.com

[ENDS]
Media enquiries to Vicki Annison, Communications Executive, ph. 07 843 4497 vickia@mysterycreek.co.nz
Luke Oram, Parachute Media Spokesperson Luke.Oram@parachutemusic.com

CEO of NZ National Fieldays Society, Jon Calder, has attended the opening of the Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair in the Shaanxi Province, West China attended by 50,000 people.

On Tuesday 20 November Calder delivered a passionate speech at the China Modern Agriculture Summit where he spoke about the history of the NZ National Fieldays, its role in New Zealand’s agricultural sector and the importance of innovation to Fieldays success.

Calder was the only non-Ministerial speaker invited to speak at the summit and said he felt extremely privileged to be representing Fieldays on the global stage.

“I feel humbled to be here representing Fieldays. I am focused and motivated to ensure we maximize this opportunity and convert it into tangible outcomes that benefit not only our organisation, but Agriculture in general,” said Calder.

“The respect and esteem with which our organisation is held on the Global Stage, cannot be underestimated. Fieldays is regarded worldwide as an Agri-Business Expo that is truly world class.”

Calder is in China with Nick Dromgool, NZ National Fieldays Society’s Commercial Manager, as part of a reciprocal agreement with the aim of forging strong ties between the New Zealand agriculture sector and the agri-technology industry in China.

While in China the senior Fieldays staff will be meeting with agriculture officials and academics from the Yangling University, as well as local businesses to start developing opportunities for Fieldays to work cooperatively and collaboratively in China.

Next week Calder will travel to India as part of a business mission led by Minister for Primary Industries, Hon David Carter, and will spend time in Delhi and Chandigarh, with the specific intention of forging closer economic relationships through the primary sector.

The Fieldays 2013 theme, Getting Down to Business in the Global Economy, highlights New Zealand’s unique position as an innovative agribusiness driven economy to capitalise on the growing international demand for food, protein, and agricultural expertise.

New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays will be held 12-15 June 2013 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. The event is proudly supported by strategic partners – ANZ and the University of Waikato.
 

[ENDS]

For media enquiries please contact:
Vicki Annison, Communications Executive, New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays
Phone: 07 843 4497 or email: vickia@fieldays.co.nz

19th China Yangling Agricultural Hi-Tech Fair: en.agri-fair.com

Mystery Creek Events Centre is pleased to be hosting and Event Managing the ESITO annual connection, November 13th-15th.

The Electricity Supply Industry Training Organisation’s ‘Annual Connection’ is the place to be if you want to three days of exciting events including:

- Line Mechanic Competition
- Cable Jointer Competition
- Suppliers’ Expo

For more information please check out this website
www.esito.org.nz/annual_connection/

Great article on the front page of the Waikato Times Business section; showcasing the work going on as we work toward becoming a super events centre for our region and for NZ.

Click here to read on Stuff.co.nz

The hive of activity surrounding the 44th National Fieldays at Mystery Creek Event Centre has not diminished as work has now commenced onsite for the organisation’s new headquarters.

The 1050sqm facility, designed by architects Chow Hill, is due to be ready by Christmas and will accommodate up to 50 staff with designated areas for expansion.

Sited beside the Gate 2 entrance with views over the event centre’s 113 hectares, the new building has been designed to harmonise with its rural surroundings.

Mystery Creek Events Centre CEO Jon Calder said, “Chow Hill have done a magnificent job on the design, creating a visually stunning building that reflects the heart and essence of what Mystery Creek Events is all about, while being considerate to our rural surrounds.

Calder said the new Headquarters will be the catalyst for significant change in the way the organisation operates.

“Moving into a modern, vibrant space reflects the dynamic environment our Events business operates in. Providing our people (staff, society members and volunteers) a home that can accommodate our business requirements, but that also provides space for us to host up to 100 guests, with magnificent views out over the events centre and toward the river was of the utmost importance. We wanted to create something that all our people will be proud of and feel comfortable calling ‘home’. At the same time, the building needs to be functional and we think we have catered for the practicalities required to run one of New Zealand’s largest multi-functional Events Centres.”

Nestled at the edge of a bank, the new Headquarters will give the impression that it is evolving out of the existing landscape.

A 12metre cedar entry tower and an extensive horizontal glazing system are just some of the key design elements of the iconic building.

A unique combination of exterior cladding materials and external sun controlled louvers will be not only practical but enhance the look and feel of the building.

Cantilevered decks will protrude over the banking to offer expansive views of the site

The 70metre span mono-pitch roof needs roofing materials which are too long to be transported so will have to be formed onsite using a special fabrication machine.

The new headquarters also have many eco-friendly features including: solar hot water, heat recovery ventilation system, water harvesting and storage for fire fighting water supply/ flushing WC’s and landscape irrigation, a dedicated air-rated water treatment facility and rain gardens and swales to control all onsite storm water and excess roof run off.

Interior detailing by the architect is innovative and extensive and offers acoustic solutions along with eye enhancing features such as specialty panelling and floor coverings.

Fletcher Construction Building Manager Mark Ritchie says they are excited about being awarded the contract to construct what is to be an iconic building that will enhance the landscape of the events centre footprint at Mystery Creek.

“Due to the tight timeframe required to construct the complex we had to hit the ground running by starting the project the week before Fieldays, having to secure the site to allow earthworks to proceed.”

The short building programme, especially over the winter months, has posed a number of challenges for the construction team however good progress is currently being made with piling complete and subfloor works well underway.

For further comment please contact:
Vicki Annison, Communications Assistant, Mystery Creek Events Centre
Phone: 07 843 4497 or Email: vickia@mysterycreek.co.nz

Engineering consultants Beca have today been revealed as the winner of a unique design challenge to reshape Mystery Creek Events Centre’s 88 hectare property.

The Master Plan Design Challenge was launched in March and received 11 entries from architects, urban designers and planners throughout New Zealand and overseas.

Organisers and land owners, National Fieldays Society, sought independent and expert input in the development of a master plan for Mystery Creek Events Centre’s entire site.

Jon Calder, National Fieldays Society CEO, says the Master Plan provides a blueprint for the development of the campus over the next 20 years.

“The plan addresses key aspects such as growth of exhibition space and enhancement of some of the property’s natural features. The flexibility and scalability in which we can use the site can include many natural elements such as the Waikato River, embankments, water features and land contours.

“Creating an events complex that meets the needs of the many and varied events we host enables us to move closer to our vision of being recognised as a leader in designing and delivering world class event solutions.”

Three finalists chosen in April were each awarded $5,000 and invited to develop their schemes, including consultation with stakeholders and technical refinement of their proposals.

The winner was announced today at a function held at Mystery Creek Events Centre, where all finalists’ designs were on display.

Don Lyon, Beca’s Managing Director, says they are delighted to have won and look forward to working closely with the Mystery Creek team to turn the master plan into a reality which in turn will deliver huge benefits for the region’s community and economy.

“Beca will bring its best local, national and International experience to this project and our Hamilton and Tauranga team of more than 200 look forward to enjoying this wonderful facility when it is completed”.

Established in New Zealand in 1918, Beca has provided engineering design for many landmark New Zealand projects, including Auckland’s Sky Tower, Tauranga’s new harbour bridge, “the Rock” at Wellington Airport, the Hamilton Central City Masterplan and the NZi3 innovation centre at the University of Canterbury plus numerous offshore projects.

Beca has won a number of major New Zealand business awards including; Most Reputable Organisation 2011 (NZ Management Magazine/Hay Group) and Most Sustainable Large Business 2011 (Fairfax Media/PwC Sustainable 60 Awards) and Company of the Year in 2010 (Deloitte Top 200 Awards).

The two other finalists were GHD Ltd and MOAA Architects;

GHD Ltd
GHD has been active in the professional services business for more than 80 years. Since its inception, GHD has assisted global communities to realise their potential and create lasting value by delivering innovative and sustainable solutions. GHD is a company built on partnerships. It continues to be an enduring force to connect, collaborate and communicate with their clients to solve their challenges.

MOAA Architects
MOAA architects are a team of dedicated professionals based in Hamilton. They combine their individual abilities and experiences from their diverse backgrounds to deliver innovative and successful projects for each of their clients. Their team is committed to common values of innovation, design quality, sustainability and the creation of space.

For further information visit www.mysterycreek.co.nz/masterplan or direct:

Media enquiries to Ariana Tucker, Mystery Creek Events Centre Communications Advisor, ph 07 843 4497 arianat@mysterycreek.co.nz.

Competition enquiries to Carene Cohen, Project Coordinator – Master Plan Design Challenge, ph 07 843 4497, masterplan@mysterycreek.co.nz.

Beca enquiries to Richard Douch, Manager BCHF Hamilton, ph 07 838 3828, richard.douch@beca.com

Expressions of interest to participate in the region’s first event-scape design challenge, the Master Plan Design Challenge, closed this week. The opportunity to reshape Mystery Creek Events Centre’s 88 hectare property appealed to 11 specialist firms based within New Zealand and abroad. Organisers and land owners, National Fieldays Society, were pleased with the level of entries considering the tight two week application period.

Following a scrupulous judging process, three finalists have been invited to continue the competition. Each finalist company is awarded $5,000 for this achievement. Assets & Facilities Committee Chairman Tony Begbie elaborates;

“The panel were extremely impressed by the calibre of applicants, presentation standards and the range of master planning experience; local, national and international.”

“The objective selection process focused not only on capability, but also understanding of the project, the proposed methodology, and what different perspective the applicants could bring to Mystery Creek Events Centre.”

In addition, entrants were judged on relevant experience and team composition. All three finalists rated highly in each category:

GHD Ltd – www.ghd.com
GHD has been active in the professional services business for more than 80 years. Since its inception, GHD has assisted global communities to realise their potential and create lasting value by delivering innovative and sustainable solutions. GHD is a company built on partnerships. It continues to be an enduring force to connect, collaborate and communicate with their clients to solve their challenges. Leading team GHD is Melissa Clark, her technical specialisms include urban design, transport planning and landscape architecture both nationally and internationally.

MOAA Architects – www.moaa.co.nz
MOAA architects are a team of dedicated professionals based in Hamilton. They combine their individual abilities and experiences from their diverse backgrounds to deliver innovative and successful projects for each of their clients. Their team is committed to common values of innovation, design quality, sustainability and the creation of space. Spearheading the team from MOAA is Tim Horne who has extensive experience across a range of project scales and has developed a reputation for an inquisitive and innovative approach to design.

Beca – www.beca.com
The Beca Group is one of Asia Pacific’s largest privately owned multidisciplinary consultancies. They deliver professional services including planning, architecture, urban design and landscape architecture, engineering and project management. They work together towards developing and delivering high quality built environments. Project Director for Beca is Richard Douch who has led the planning components of a number of growth management and / or tourism related projects within the Waikato.

Finalists have until 5.00pm Friday 11th May 2012 to submit their site design and rationale for the expansive Mystery Creek campus. Winners will be announced at a function on Friday 25th May. The winning firm will be invited to work with Mystery Creek Events Centre to develop their design, including consultation with stakeholders and technical refinement of the plan. The first phase of the project will commence before the end of the calendar year.

Further information on Master Plan Design Challenge can be found at http://mysterycreek.co.nz/masterplan.

[ENDS]

Contacts:
Media enquiries to Ariana Tucker, Mystery Creek Events Centre Communications Advisor, 07 843 4497 arianat@mysterycreek.co.nz.

Competition enquiries to Carene Cohen, Project Coordinator – Master Plan Design Challenge, 07 843 4497, masterplan@mysterycreek.co.nz