The NZ Dairy Expo is returning to Matamata next year and promises to be bigger and brighter than ever.

Organiser Amanda Hodgson says more than 100 exhibitors are already locked in for the February 11-12, up from 86 for this year’s inaugural edition.

With returning exhibitors were given first choice for their spot in 2025, a waiting list has been drawn up for newcomers to claim the limited remaining sites.

Amanda stresses that exhibitors must be dairy-related.

“The NZ Dairy Expo is a genuine grassroots event, focused on connecting the heart of the dairy industry-farmers and industry professionals-in a relaxed setting that encourages meaningful conversations, with the goal of turning these into valuable business opportunities.

Unlike bigger, more commercial events, Amanda says the expo is about presence, genuine engagement, and building lasting relationships.

Almost nearly 2500 dairy farmers attended the inaugural event in February from across the country, including groups from Victoria and Tasmania.

Amanda says the expo is designed with the farming community in mind.

Co-owner/CEO of Te Puke-based agricultural service provider Archway Group, she was also in the unique position of being an exhibitor as well as event organiser.

“It’s about putting yourself in front of farmers,” she says. “They like the face-to-face engagement.

“It's not about flashy set-ups, but about being there, flying your flag, and having real, impactful discussions with the people who matter most…farmers.”

Amanda says the expo provides farmers with the platform to meet “everyone they need on-farm” in a practical sense.

While farmers may have had just a chat on the day with exhibitors, she says a number of sales were completed on-farm after the event.

“Farmers still want to understand who they are buying from.”

Matamata farmer PJ Williams was one of those to make a significant purchase after an item caught his eye at this year’s expo.

A water filtration system, serving his farm and home “is paying dividends already”.

PJ found out that cows “hate iron” in their drinking water, with testing showing his supply contained elements including suspended iron and manganese.

Through the filtration system he picked up at the 2024 expo, he says his cows are now consuming water which is up to human water-drinking standards.

“And drinking more water means more milk is produced.”

PJ agrees that the 2024 expo was farmer friendly.

“We got to talk one-on-one with suppliers and services,” he says. “It was completely farmer focused.”

PJ says there was a good variety of sites, with more ensured for next year’s expo.

Because the scale of the expo is not as great as some national events, he says farmers could see what they wanted to see in a couple of hours.  

With the current payout, he expects dairy farmers to have a buoyant upcoming season and the expo to be a real drawcard next February.

“I’d like to think it will become a regular fixture here.”

He understands there also considerable spin-offs for Matamata retailers after each of the two-days.

PJ is on the committee of United Matamata Sports Club which is paid by expo organisers for allowing the event to be held on Bedford Park.

This is ploughed back into junior rugby by way of new equipment including balls and training gear.

A portion of the expo funding will also go towards redevelopment of the changing rooms underneath the grandstand at Bedford Park.

PJ says this project is due for completion before the start of the next club rugby season.

Amanda Hodgson says it is great to “give back” to the local community which has supported the expo.      

NZ Dairy Expo organiser Amanda Hodgson at Bedford Park.

She admits the first edition was predictably a learning experience, but one that has been built on for 2025.

While an extra row of sites has been added at the Bedford Park venue, Amanda says the layout has been “tightened up a bit” to utilise space better.

A wide variety of dairying services and products has already been confirmed including automation, cow collars, machinery, engineering, consultants, and riparian planting advice, plus cow health, hygiene and nutrition.

The two-day expo will again run on farmer-friendly time: 8.30pm to 3pm.

Amanda says February is a relatively quiet time on the farm, making it the best time to connect with dairy farmers.

“They’re not quite so under the pump.”

February weather also came into consideration for repeating the date.

Amanda says the expo is free for farmers “because we're here for the industry, driven by our passion for what we do”.