Looking for ‘Golden Standard’ inventions

MEDIA RELEASE 1 May 2008

Looking for ‘Golden Standard’ inventions I

f you’ve ever looked at an agricultural or horticultural problem and seen an opportunity, the Fieldays Innovation Centre, powered by the University of Waikato, is looking for you. The search is on for amazing inventions, improved equipment and talented young inventors with a promise of cash prizes, profile and trophies, including the new ‘Golden Standard’ award which will be presented to the very best invention at Fieldays 2008. Innovations Centre coordinator, Lianne Dunbar, says that plenty of thought went into the new award. “This supreme inventor’s award takes inspiration from the versatile ‘pigtail’ standard,” she says, “and here in New Zealand we always go for gold! We’re looking forward to presenting this first award to the golden standard invention of the Innovations Centre.”

The Golden Standard will go to the best entry from the Inventions and Young Inventors classes. The trophy comes with a $5,000 cash prize and young inventors are eligible for a $1,000 cash prize. 2007 inventions were also of a standard that resulted in two $500 merit awards being presented. Inventions sponsor, Straight Furrow, profiles each inventor, providing valuable publicity that reaches 90,000 New Zealand readers. The Equipment section provides a fiercely contested class for improvements to existing products or for products that have passed prototype stage and are now available for sale. In this class, entries are featured in the Innovation Centre and around the Fieldays site on participating exhibitor sites.

Entries for the Fieldays Innovation Centre are open now, with applications accepted until 19 May. The very best inventions and equipment will be displayed at Fieldays’ 40th anniversary event running 11 – 14 June 2008 at Mystery Creek Events Centre, south of Hamilton. For entry forms visit www.fieldays.co.nz.

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