MEDIA RELEASE
12 June 2013 – For immediate release

Te Aroha retains its title, trophy and bragging rights for top town in the Waikato, winning by a landslide in Fieldays’ Big Little Town competition.

Big Little Town is a sub-event of Fieldays designed to involve and celebrate the heart of the annual agricultural event: the Waikato’s regional towns - which play a vital role in contributing to Fieldays by showing their community spirit to visitors.

For the first time, the competition was opened up to include those from the service, hospitality, tourism areas, as well as the not-for-profit sector, rather than just local businesses.

Eight towns took up the challenge this year; Morrinsville, Cambridge, Matamata, Tirau, Tokoroa, Raglan and Te Awamutu with Te Aroha being the standout performer.

Judges unanimously decided that Te Aroha was set to retain its title Big Little Town with the outstanding creativity, innovation and a bit of Kiwi No8 wire to critique displays that were put on show.

Michelle Laurie, from Isite in Te Aroha says the competition really gives local retailers, service industries and not for profits something to strive for when Fieldays comes to town;

“We’re wrapped that so many people from our community got behind it with lots of people entering. It’s awesome to see what the locals get up to – creating lively window displays and really transforming them to tie in with the theme of the largest agricultural show in NZ.

“It’s fun and Fieldays is such a part of the Waikato, we want to get behind it. I can say on behalf of the wider community we’re very proud to maintain the title and hang onto the trophy for another year”.

Competition winners:
Category winners were awarded $1000 and 10 Fieldays tickets with runner ups receiving $500 and 5 Fieldays tickets to recognise their efforts.

Retail:
Winner – Nite N Day Fashions, 298 Thames Street, Morrinsville
Runner Up - Addictions , 178 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha

Service:
Winner - Te Aroha Physiotherapy,31 Pooles Road, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Kays Way Hair design, 134 Whitakers Street, Te Aroha

Tourism:
Winner – Te Aroha Isite, 102 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Cambridge Isite – Corner of Queen and Victoria Streets, Cambridge

Hospitality:
Winner – Blairgowrie House, 75 Peake Rd, Cambridge
Runner Up – Te Aroha Landing, 31 Pooles Road, Te Aroha
Not for Profit:
Winner – Te Aroha Arts Centre, Rewi Street, Te Aroha
Runner Up – Te Aroha Business Association , Te Aroha
New Zealand National Agricultural Fieldays is held 12-15 June 2013 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, 10 minutes south of Hamilton. Fieldays is proudly supported by strategic partners - ANZ and the University of Waikato.

For more information, head to the Fieldays website, www.fieldays.co.nz.

ENDS

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