The Country 05/06/25: Richard Lindroos talks to Jamie Mackay

Six sleeps to go, and we continue the countdown with the new chief executive of Fieldays.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Richard Lindrews is the new chief executive of Field Days.
We've got our wires crossed. He thought he was on
the show tomorrow. I thought he was on today. I'm
sticking with my story and Richard, as per normal, I
get my way, you're on the show today, So we're
going to have to wing this one. How's preparation going
for Field Days? Your first Field Days with six sleeps
to go? Good afternoon?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Yeah, Hi, Jamie, I was fantastic down here at Mystery
Creek and we're actually raring to go. Pekin As in
full swing. As you know, Damie. It's a city, not
a village, and we're already go for the next Wednesday.
I had a few showers that came through yesterday, but
things are going well, so we're excited looking forward to it.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Hey, I know your predecessor, Peter Nation used to keep
such a he would I think he would lie awake
at night worrying, worrying about the weather. He's got nothing
to worry about now apart from counting his money, but
he was worrying about the weather, the long range forecast,
No doubt. You and the team at Field Days at
my Street Creek we'll be keeping a keen eye on

(01:02):
the long range forecast six days out. What are we
looking at?

Speaker 2 (01:05):
Yeah, well, we were actually having that discussion last night
if you board members, and we were comparing the different
long range forecasts that we're looking at. Look, I think
you will get the odd shower too, but it's looking
pretty good for the end of the week, going to
be a bit cooler. But no, we're comfortable with whatever
it brings so Resilian audience, as you know, and we're
looking forward to hosting you down here. And I think

(01:26):
if we just go back to Peter well done on
his King's Birthday weekend, Honor and I caught up with
them after that. So we're delighted that Field Days is
in the press and is that top of mind for
the all of New Zealand at the moment. So let's
just hope to where the gods behave themselves as we
head towards next Wednesday.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
Well, you can take us set of gun but you
literally only even need them in the car park. You
don't need them on site because everywhere's paved these days.
And now the good news also whether wise there might
be a few showers, apparently it's not going to be cold,
but the good news is what you know, the shower
is a bit of one that prevents that the F
word turning up in Hamilton, which can be a bit

(02:06):
of a killer fog according to Phil Duncan, my weather guy.

Speaker 2 (02:10):
Yes, the fog is part of the atmosphere. But I
think we're excited. I said just before that we open
on Wednesday, we go through to Saturday. We're hosting you
the whole week and your your your life on that
from the show, and I'm looking forward to talking to you.
I heard your conversation with the Prime Minister yesterday about
all where field Days is heading in the next few years,
and I concur with him. You know, we've going to

(02:32):
all the all the good work of the people before
us as we're lifting the game every year, continuous improvement
as agri businesses on a high so as field Days.
So we're looking forward to where we get to. Uh.

Speaker 1 (02:44):
Every year you have a theme at field Days where
you used to under Peter's stewardship. I'm assuming there's there's
a theme or what is your mission statement for this
year's field.

Speaker 2 (02:53):
It's the mullet strategy, Jamie. You know about the business,
the business at the front and the party at the
So the business is you know, the Wednesday, Thursday, Friday.
The party at the back is you know, it's the
Super Saturday. We have the Red Bull, Normar erasing the
drone Zone, the fiftieth anniversary of the Tractor Paull, the
one big dig, so lots going on. The Heritage village

(03:16):
and dairy block has been opened again. So lots to
do with the mullet strategy. That's all the business at
the front and the party at the back.

Speaker 1 (03:26):
Is there a competition for the best mullet at Field Days? Well,
I think you and I could have a go, but
we'd have to go back to the eighties, I think
for that one.

Speaker 2 (03:33):
A few photos around though, Jamie.

Speaker 1 (03:34):
I'll tell you yeah, I'm a big Emerson's fan down
on Duneed and of course wonderful brewery. But the guys
up here in the North Island, and I think they're
still with you, good George, is that right?

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Are there? Which we're running three bars and so one
of them that we rebranded the Country Bar. So we're
looking forward that three public bars operating during the event.
What a great way to celebrate and connect of people
and it's no Field Days. It's all about connection. It's
you know, the event itself, but actually that networking and
that connection you get during the four days it's on.

Speaker 1 (04:08):
Okay, we're going to catch up with you just again
before Field Days for another scene set Richard. But if
people are wanting to go along, it's important. It's like
it's cashless entry.

Speaker 2 (04:16):
Now.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
The best thing to do is to go online and
get your ticket. It saves you a hell of a
lot of time.

Speaker 2 (04:22):
Exactly is this easier? You know, we live in an
online world. Purchase before the day and download our Field
Days app, which is a fantastic resource.

Speaker 1 (04:31):
You know.

Speaker 2 (04:31):
It shows we park your car, you're pin your car,
where you're heading. You can actually map out your route
and your day and it has all the exhibit information
on it. So it's fantastic, the Field Days app.

Speaker 1 (04:43):
Yeah, absolutely, download that all right, A business at the front,
party at the back. We'll see you next week.

Speaker 2 (04:48):
We will take care