Wool
Allbirds - The right amount of nothing
Former World Cup soccer player Tim Brown on finding the right amount of nothing in an overcrowded market and why launching his sustainable footwear label, Allbirds wouldn't have been made possible in… Audio
Wobbly times ahead for wool - industry
New Zealand could face a shortage of shearers because they're not being trained, an industry organisation says.
A Good Yarn
A small yarn manufacturer in Napier has gone from employing 85 staff in its hey-day, to about 18 now. Cheap imports from China undercut wool knitting yarns made in New Zealand, but Design Spun has… Audio
Wool exports 'improved a little' from slump
After a slump following changes in the Chinese fashion industry, the outlook for New Zealand wool exports is more promising.
Wool industry hits hard times
Wool prices have hit rock bottom, causing a lot of stress and emotion in the industry, says a Hawke's Bay wool broker.
The Butcher Shop: Wool
Wool is passing muster in the world of high fashion, but it’s now a niche fabric occupying only 1% of the fibre market. So does it keep a grip on our sense of identity any more? Audio
Knock Out The Needle
Marlborough farmer Tim Struthers has spent several years trying to control Chilean Needle Grass on his sheep and beef farm near Seddon. The invasive weed can out-compete pasture grasses and its seed… Audio
Changing Chinese fashions slam NZ wool market
The New Zealand wool market is being hit by a change in Chinese fashion to finer-fibre wools, New Zealand Wool Services International says.
Raising the Baa
Robert Gardyne, a sheep farmer from Oturehua in Central Otago, was crowned lamb Producer of the Decade at the recent Beef and Lamb New Zealand Golden Lamb Awards, aka the Glammies. Audio
Ramming it home
Tim and Sue Anderson have run Mt Guardian Perendales on their farm at Conway Flat since the mid '60s. Their son Woody is keen to take over the stud when his parents retire. Audio
NZ wool brokers worried the worst is yet to come
The New Zealand wool market has limped along this season and, with Donald Trump now officially US president, wool brokers are worried the worst is yet to come.
Wool and Wine
John Perriam has been growing fine wool at Bendigo Station in Central Otago since 1979. He was at the centre of farmer-driven initiative that led to the formation of Merino New Zealand and more… Audio
Wool Woes
Returns for wool have taken a dive. Federated Farmers Meat and Fibre spokeserson Rick Powdrell says the demand from Chinese buyers has dropped right off and returns following the Brexit vote have… Audio
China's market for NZ wool quietens
The Chinese have disappeared from the wool market, leaving producers and companies worried about sinking prices, a broker says.
Godfrey Hirst loses appeal to block NZ wool processing merger
Australian carpet maker Godfrey Hirst has lost its Court of Appeal case to stop a merger designed to create a single wool processing business in New Zealand.
Wynn Hamlyn: striving for perfection
Wynn Hamlyn Crawshaw is a young designer who moved from a career in construction to developing his own womenswear label. Audio, Gallery
John Key's staff knew about claims of Chinese threats
Prime Minister John Key on his weekly Morning Report slot. This week he explains why his staff did not tell him about claims China has been threatening NZ's dairy, wool and kiwifruit exporters. Audio
Philip Armstrong: sheep
Kim Hill talks to the Head of the Department of English at the University of Canterbury, and co-director of New Zealand Centre for Human-Animal Studies about his new book, Sheep. Audio
Spinning the Wheel
In 1940 Walter Ashford started making spinning wheels and weaving looms. 76 years on his son Richard and his wife Elizabeth Ashford are still running the family business that has made over 500,000… Audio
Commission approves wool company takeover
The Commerce Commission has approved Cavalier's application to acquire NZ Wool Services International's business and assets - despite it creating a monopoly.