Barbering Ākonga Prepare to Cut It with Red Bull

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology barbering ākonga are teaming up with Red Bull to showcase their skills next week at the Southern Hemisphere’s largest agricultural event, Fieldays.  

Red Bull Cut It is a form of lawnmower racing and it is making its adrenaline-fueled debut at Fieldays 2025. It is an exciting twist on the traditional lawnmower racing format that originated in 1973.

Toi Ohomai Academic Lead Automotive Barry Dawe is not only preparing to compete at the event, but he has secured an opportunity for our barbering ākonga to be part of an event activation.  

“I have been involved with this in my role at the New Zealand Lawnmower Racing Association. We’ve been planning it for a few months but we’ve only just been able to announce it,” he said.  

“The event itself is really exciting. This will be the biggest thing in lawnmower racing in New Zealand. The team at Red Bull also wanted an activation following the Cut It theme. They wanted to offer haircuts, but had trouble getting barbers there, so we came up with a plan to get our barbering ākonga to come along and help out.”  

As part of the activation, participants will spin a wheel and whatever haircut it lands on is what they will be getting from the Toi Ohomai barbering ākonga.  

“It’s a great way to get our students involved,” Barry says.  

Lawnmower racing in New Zealand has been gaining popularity, attracting enthusiasts of all ages and emphasising fun and accessibility. The machines used for racing are modified ride-on mowers with the cutting blades removed and they are considered one of the most accessible forms of motorsport.  

"Red Bull Cut It is an exciting opportunity to bring the iconic Red Bull brand into the already thrilling world of grassroots motorsport - elevating the competition and delivering an unforgettable experience for drivers and fans alike,” Barry says.

“Bringing the event to New Zealand Fieldays it a great opportunity to get young motorsport and farming audiences to see the next big thing in quirky motorsport. We encourage the young farmers to add some motorsport to their lives.”  

The Red Bull Cut It machines will be on display from Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 June with the contestants on site for Super Saturday, taking to the track for Red Bull Cut It. The Red Bull Cut It activation zone will be located next to the Heavy Equipment precinct on Q road at the South Entry.  

Visitors will have the chance to meet competitors, learn about the machines, and soak up the fun atmosphere created by the Red Bull team alongside the New Zealand Lawn Mower Racing Association.

The competition itself will take place on Saturday, featuring several different events.

Fieldays 2025 will take place from 11 – 14 June at Mystery Creek Events Centre, Hamilton.