“We’ll look at the Fieldays physical event every quarter and review it. No one knows when we’re going to come out of lockdown and get back to level one.
“The feedback we’re getting is that people are still looking for the physical Fieldays event to be stood up but we’re at the whim of covid-19.”
Even if the Government decides to come out of lockdown the restrictions around gatherings of more than 500 people will still need to be removed, he said.
“As a business were trying to work out contingencies. We’re looking out 12-18 months to see what our event potential looks like. We’re doing a lot of strategising.”
Some companies that were loyal Fieldays customers might no longer exist because of the economic shock covid-19 has caused.
“Or there might be new exhibitors that might want to come to our event.”
One of the ideas mooted is holding an online Fieldays where exhibitors would be given a virtual platform to showcase their products as they would have if the event had gone ahead as planned.
Initial feedback on the concept has been pretty good in conversations with individual exhibitors.
“We’re working strategically on that.”
There are a few examples where such events have been successfully staged elsewhere but nothing like it has been staged in New Zealand, he said.
“It will be a bit cutting edge if we pull it off.”
Technology had also caught up, making it possible for agricultural companies to showcase their products using 3D imaging, he said.
On the issue of refunding exhibitors, Fieldays is continuing to work through its business contingencies.
“We have an opportunity here for people to take up a different opportunity and we’re working with our customers individually and we’ve been open with our communications.”
He urged exhibitors to contact Fieldays to discuss their options if they want a refund.
“We’ve got a few options for them and we’ve been open with that in our communications.”
What worries Nation is the impact covid-19 is having on the events industry. An Events Association survey showed 5000 events have been cancelled nationwide. Another 3393 events have been postponed indefinitely.
He is concerned the effect that is having on the wider service industries for events – marquee and lighting companies and the motel and hospitality industries.
“For us as a very large event business that takes every marquee in NZ we’d better hope that those event businesses stay in business.”
It is not just Fieldays but sporting and cultural fixtures that also use those service industries that will be affected.
“That worries me, not just for my business but as a New Zealander. If you think about the fabric of our culture we’re very much an events country.
“When we went to zero income on March 16 so did everyone else in that industry.”
