Farming
It might be a drought - but it's part of a 'perfect storm' facing farmers
Farmers are a resilient bunch, but the conditions they're facing are out of the ordinary, the Agriculture Minister says.
Farmers in top of South Island still facing extremely dry conditions
Many farmers across the top of the South Island are still facing extremely dry conditions, with no significant rain on the horizon. Agriculture Minister Todd McClay met with farmers in South… Audio
Midday Rural News for 18 March 2024
Six-and-a-half-thousand hectares of mainly mature plantation trees in the Central North Island were blown over or snapped in half last February.
Crews have been working non-stop to salvage the wood… Audio
This Weekend: Waimarino Shears
Every Friday, we bring you some of the most interesting events and happenings coming up in Aotearoa this weekend.
Audio
From woolshed to bed - two sisters spin their homeware dreams
How did two sisters design throws and blankets using lambs wool from the family farm? Kate Cullwick and Prue Watson share the secret to their Foxtrot Home business success and why it's essential to… Audio
A blast from the past - Mustering in Marlborough
It's 1956 and in the heat of February seven shepherds, a pack train and 40 dogs drove 4000 ewes from remote Bluff Station, 90 kilometres down the back country to Kekerengu for shearing. Audio
Country Life for Friday 15 March 2024
From woolshed to bed - two sisters spin their homeware dreams, Young fruit growers climb the hort ladder, A blast from the past - Mustering in Marlborough and a wrap of the week's rural news Audio
A wrap of the week's rural news
More government support will be heading the way of farmers and growers in the Marlborough, Tasman and Nelson districts where an intense dry spell has been labelled a medium-scale adverse event. Audio
Minister walks back environment announcement experts say is unlawful
"It would be unwise to bother," Andrew Hoggard told councils this week, but he says he was misunderstood.
Auckland lecturer buzzing as she heads to the US to study bees
Auckland computer scientist heading to the US to work on predicting stress levels in bees.
Midday Rural News for 13 March 2024
News from the rural farming sector. Cuts are coming for the Ministry for Primary Industries, but an MPI boss says it won't be to core frontline services like its quarantine officers, veterinarians or… Audio
'Pretty barren': Farmers desperate for downpour as lake runs low
An irrigation scheme is running dry with only a week's worth of water left.
Midday Rural News for 12 March 2024
News from the rural farming sector. Lake Opuha only has a week's worth of water left. The dam near Fairlie which generates electricity for the national grid and supplies water to 16-thousand hectares… Audio