There was a strong sense of curiosity and optimism in the air at Tangihanga Station recently, as farmers, landowners and sector leaders gathered for a Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) field day that placed technology and innovation at the centre of the conversation.
Hosted on farm and delivered through an ongoing collaboration between Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust and B+LNZ, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Technology Field Day brought together a diverse group of attendees from across the region. Whenua Māori landowners stood alongside general title farmers and farm operators, all sharing a common interest: understanding how emerging technologies can support better decision-making on farm.
For many in attendance, it was the first time seeing some of these tools in action.
The day was intentionally designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice. Experts first introduced the technology and the thinking behind it before demonstrating how these tools could be applied in real farming environments. From data-driven insights to on-farm digital tools designed to improve efficiency and environmental management, the demonstrations offered a practical glimpse into what the future of farming could look like in Tairāwhiti.
While the technology itself sparked plenty of conversation, the day also reflected something deeper: the growing strength of collaboration across the sector.
The event was supported by the leadership of B+LNZ Māori Agribusiness Advisor for Tairāwhiti,Pania King, and B+LNZ Kāhui (Māori advisory group) member, Bella Hawkins, whose work focuses on strengthening opportunities for whenua Māori farming businesses across the region. Pania plays a critical role in connecting Māori landowners with knowledge, networks and sector expertise to support sustainable and profitable farming systems.
Also instrumental was Ali Forbes, B+LNZ Extension Manager, who works closely with farmers across the Hawke’s Bay and Gisborne region to deliver extension programmes and practical knowledge that supports on-farm innovation and capability development.
She says, “Together, by working collaboratively across organisations and alongside our farmers, we can share knowledge more effectively, accelerate innovation uptake, and deliver stronger outcomes for our rural communities.”
For Tairāwhiti Whenua, the field day represents the kind of collaboration that will become increasingly important as the sector navigates change. With many landowners managing intergenerational whenua and complex farming systems, access to trusted information, practical tools and supportive networks is critical.
Events like this create the space for that knowledge to shift and transmit.
They also reinforce something that is becoming clearer across the region: when organisations work together, the impact is far greater than any single group working alone.
The strong turnout reflected just how hungry the sector is for this kind of learning. Conversations continued long after the demonstrations finished, with farmers discussing how new technologies might integrate into their own systems and what it could mean for productivity, sustainability and resilience on the land.
For Tairāwhiti Whenua, the event also marked an important first for the region.
“Running a field day focused specifically on emerging technologies - and doing so in a way that allowed farmers to see tools operating directly on farm - created a new model for knowledge sharing in the region,” says Hilton Collier, Tairāwhiti Whenua CEO
“It demonstrated that innovation does not need to sit in research labs or conference rooms; it can live on the whenua, where farmers can see it, question it and test its relevance for their own operations.”
Encouragingly, this is only the beginning.
Both Tairāwhiti Whenua and B+LNZ see this event as part of a longer journey to strengthen capability across the region’s farming sector. Future field days, workshops and on-farm demonstrations are already being planned, with the next event expected to take place later this winter.
This article is done in collaboration with Tairāwhiti Whenua Charitable Trust.
