ASB is the first bank to partner with Wool Impact, an organisation that supports New Zealand's wool sector to build a more resilient, higher-value future for strong wool by strengthening market connections, stimulating demand, and building essential sector capability.

Strong Wool Prices Show Signs of Recovery

Andy Caughey, chief executive of Wool Impact, says New Zealand produces approximately 100,000 tonnes of wool each year in New Zealand.

"Over the past 12 months, we've seen average prices for strong wool increase by over $2/kg," Caughey says. "Sustaining that increase means an extra $200 million into rural communities."

He says wool now appears in new categories and new uses through the work of innovative brands, investment in product and value chain innovation, and new businesses working with wool.

"ASB has come on board at a pivotal time, and its support will help amplify these new opportunities," he adds.

Part of NZ's National Identity

ASB's general manager rural, Aidan Gent, says wool is part of New Zealand's national identity, adding that the bank sees the potential for significant gains to be made in farm returns by improving its market relevance.

"Wool Impact has been making great strides over the past the past three years, and we want to help accelerate that momentum."

The partnership is just the latest in a series of programmes designed to demonstrate ASB's commitment to help drive growth the food and fibre sector.

The bank is also backing Kiwi farmers through its Every Hectare Matters programme which provides access to advice, insights and capital to maximise farmers' land potential and ultimately build resilience and productivity over the long-term.

Gent says Wool Impact's work "aligns strongly" with the bank's focus on unlocking greater value for the food and fibre industry.

"Strong wool is a natural, renewable fibre with significant potential, and teaming up with Wool Impact will allow ASB to back practical initiatives that support rural communities, sustainable land use and long-term sector growth," he says.

Wool Impact Working Across The Sector To Rebuild Capability

Meanwhile, Caughey says ASB has signed on at a critical time for the sector.

"Strong wool is a natural, renewable fibre with significant potential, and teaming up with Wool Impact will allow ASB to back practical initiatives that support rural communities, sustainable land use and long-term sector growth," he says.

"Partnerships like this give us the confidence and capability to keep investing in the initiatives that will help unlock that value.”

Wool Impact works with wool businesses across the sector and is part of a Wool Alliance with Campaign for Wool New Zealand, Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand, and Beef + Lamb New Zealand working on what’s needed for a vibrant wool sector and how this can be funded long-term.

Caughey says the partnership is both a practical investment in wool’s future and a recognition of the work already underway. He credits MPI’s investment via its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund, WoolWorks, New Zealand’s wool scourer, Silver Fern Farms and the four other main meat companies for Wool Impact’s initial backing and vision.

The ELI filed a claim in judicial challenging a 2024 decision by the EPA that there was no significant new information about glyphosate that would warrant grounds for a reassessment of the weedkiller.

High Court Upheld EPA Glyphosate Decision

In October 2025, the High Court ruled that the EPA had acted lawfully when making the decision about glyphosate.

The judgment recognised the EPA’s role as New Zealand’s authority on hazardous substances and confirmed it has wide discretion when deciding whether to reassess a chemical.

ELI had appealed the High Court decision to the Court of Appeal but on 5 May abandoned the appeal.

EPA Says Decision Reinforces Science-Based Regulation

"As we said at the time of the ruling, this case sets an important precedent for how the EPA applies the Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996," says Acting Manager of Hazardous Substances Applications Dr Shaun Presow.

"It also reinforces the value of our expert scientists and our commitment to transparency and science-based decision-making."

Dr Presow says the EPA is monitoring international advice and regulations around using glyphosate as a weedkiller and ensuring New Zealand’s polices and regulations aligned.

"We are constantly monitoring international developments and will continue to review any new research relevant to the New Zealand context," he says.

Founder, Dr Hugh Jellie, says the current health of soil is contributing to increasing pressure on farm systems.

“Farmers are dealing with more variability than ever, from dry periods and intense rainfall through to rising costs and market pressure," Jellie says.

“What we’re seeing across the farms we monitor is that many soils are losing their ability to infiltrate and retain water. That has real implications for pasture growth and how resilient those systems are.”

Monitoring Reveals Worsening Soil and Land Conditions

Monitoring carried out by Āta Regenerative on 245 farms shows worsening water erosion, declining pasture diversity and reduced living ground cover over time.

Between 2021 and 2025, monitored farms recorded a 7.5% increase in bare soil, while living canopy (plant) cover dropped by 12.5%, which indicates that land health and resilience are declining over time.

Mulloon Institute Experts to Visit New Zealand

Āta Regenerative is responding by hosting leading practitioners from Australia’s Mulloon Institute this month.

Mulloon is a not-for-profit organisation recognised for its work in landscape rehydration, demonstrating how restoring natural water cycles can improve both farm performance and environmental outcomes.

The visit forms part of Āta Regenerative’s work to support farmers, catchment groups and industry leaders to build more resilient farm systems.

Together, they will focus on sharing practical, on-farm approaches, particularly landscape rehydration and restoring natural water cycles.

Mulloon’s chief executive Carolyn Hall says the challenges being seen in New Zealand are consistent with those emerging globally.

“New Zealand’s intensifying flood and drought cycles, declining water quality, and growing pressure on farming communities, mirror challenges playing out across Australia, Europe and North America,” she says.

“They're symptoms of landscapes that have lost their capacity to hold and move water the way they once did.

Landscape Rehydration Key

Hall says restoring natural water movement through landscapes can significantly improve resilience.

“When we restore the natural movement of water through a landscape, soils rehydrate, pastures remain productive deeper into dry periods, and waterways begin to recover. Productivity and the environment go hand in hand when the water cycle is functioning as it should.”

Hall says Mulloon’s work in Australia has shown what landscape rehydration can achieve at catchment scale.

“By slowing and retaining water across the catchment, landholders have seen measurable improvements in pasture resilience, water table recovery and stream health. That same approach holds real promise for New Zealand landscapes facing similar pressures.”

Regenerative Farming Approach Focuses on Whole Systems

Overgrazing, reduced plant diversity and a lack of deep-rooted vegetation can leave land more vulnerable to erosion and reduce its ability to retain water, Jellie says.

“This is made worse by high levels of bare ground and shallow root systems, which reduce the land’s ability to retain carbon and water.”

He says the issue is not irreversible, but it does require thinking differently about how farm systems are designed.

“If we improve infiltration and reduce runoff, we can hold more water in the system. That supports pasture growth, stabilises soils and helps build resilience over time.”

Jellie says the real question is how farmers build systems that are less vulnerable in the first place, which is where a regenerative, whole-system approach comes in.

“There’s no line you have to cross to become a ‘regenerative farmer’. It’s about designing your system so it regenerates your land, your business and your family. The goal is to progressively build resilience, including financial resilience, into the whole system.

“There are farmers out there who know something needs to change, but they’re not sure what that looks like. This is about giving them more ideas and a place to start.”

Rangitīkei Events to Focus on Practical Solutions

As part of Mulloon’s visit, an on-farm event in the Rangitīkei has been organised in collaboration with the Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment Collective (RRCC).

It will bring together farmers, community members and organisations to explore practical approaches to restoring landscape function at both farm and catchment scale.

This includes a public meeting and dinner on 20 May in Hunterville, followed by a hands-on field day and workshop on 21 May, where farmers will work through practical examples of how water, soil and land management interact across a catchment.

For more information about the events visit https://ata.land/rangitikei-catchment

The proposed settlement relates to certain Hino diesel vehicles acquired or leased in New Zealand between 2010 and 2025, including various 300, 500 and 700 series truck models.

The settlement is currently progressing through the approval and administration process.

Class Action Linked to Emissions and Fuel Efficiency Claims

The proceeding alleged issues relating to fuel efficiency and emissions information which Hino has denied.

No admission of liability is made under the proposed settlement which is now progressing through the settlement approval and administration process.

The class action follows Hino Motors Ltd.’s public admission in 2022 that it had falsified fuel efficiency and emissions testing data to secure vehicle certification in Japan.

Shine Lawyers NZ Urges Owners to Register

Shine Lawyers NZ is urging all potentially affected New Zealand vehicle owners to register ahead of the 18 May deadline.

“With the registration deadline of 18 May approaching, thousands of Hino owners and lessees are urged to act now. If you don’t register (or opt out) by the deadline, you risk missing out on any settlement payment,” said Heidi Gwynne, Solicitor in the Class Actions Team at Shine Lawyers NZ.

“This class action has provided a clear pathway for eligible class members to seek compensation without the delay and cost of protracted and expensive litigation,” she said.

“The key message for Hino owners is to register before 18 May so that if you are eligible, you don’t miss the opportunity to receive compensation.”

Anyone who currently owns or leases, or previously owned or leased, a new or used Hino diesel vehicle in New Zealand manufactured between 2010 and 2022 may be eligible. Class members who have registered will receive further information about the settlement administration process and next steps.

Register (or opt out) by 18 May at shinelawyers.co.nz/hinomotors

The move is said to demonstrate the company's ability to maintain reliable customer supply in the face of ongoing logistics challenges in the region.

The shipment was delivered using a customer-chartered aircraft operating from Auckland to Abu Dhabi, ensuring end-to-end cold chain compliance and product integrity for customers in the region.

The chilled product will supply Middle East distributor Al Tayeb, a division of Lulu Group, supporting ongoing demand for high-quality New Zealand red meat.

Longstanding Middle East Partnerships Supported

Scott Hurdley, Silver Fern Farms' general manager logistics, says the delivery highlights the company's commitment to finding solutions forf customers during a period of disruption across sea freight routes.

“We have longstanding customer partnerships of over 35 years in the Middle East, and many exporters are currently experiencing difficulty servicing this important region,” he says.

“This shipment demonstrates how Silver Fern Farms continues to innovate and work closely with our supply chain partner Al Tayeb to ensure we continue meet our commitments to this market and protect the integrity of our chilled products.”

Chartered Aircraft Provided Alternative Freight Pathway

The Middle East is a strategic market for Silver Fern Farms, particularly for chilled lamb and beef.

With traditional freight routes constrained, the chartered airfreight solution provided an alternative pathway to maintain continuity of supply and uphold long‑standing relationship with Lulu Group.

The plane arrived in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday, with the product successfully disembarked and distributed by Al Tayeb, and Hurdley says the airfreight was made possible thanks to close coordination right across the supply chain.

“We have done smaller-scale airfreight before however completely filling a plane was unique,” he says.

“As the proposition of our chilled product is about shortening the time between the farm and the end consumer, this shipment required close coordination right from our New Zealand-based planning teams right through to our dedicated Middle East office and Al Tayeb team,” he says.

Global Logistics Partners Supported Cold-Chain Compliance

Silver Fern Farms also worked closely with global logistics partner Hellmann Worldwide Logistics to plan and execute the shipment, ensuring strict temperature control and cold‑chain compliance from departure through to arrival.

Auckland Airport supported the operation by facilitating the airside process.

Shipment Hightlights Resilience of New Zealand Food Exports

Hurdley says the success of the shipment underlines New Zealand’s ability to deliver premium food products to international markets, even under challenging conditions.

“Silver Fern Farms is proud to be a partner of one of the leading retailers (LuLu Group) in the Middle East, with a robust network spanning multiple markets and a strong global sourcing ecosystem. This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to delivering world-class quality to our customers while ensuring a resilient and reliable food supply chain,” he says.

“Our customers rely on us to deliver consistently, particularly during periods of uncertainty. This is about protecting trust, maintaining partnerships, and ensuring consumers in the Middle East continue to access high‑quality New Zealand lamb and beef,” he says.

Ministerial Meeting of the MED9++ Countries on “Supporting Food Security and Access to Fertilizers” in Rome, Qu said the current disruptions are affecting far more than global energy markets.

“We meet at a moment of profound strain,” he told ministers and senior representatives from more than 40 countries and organizations. “This is not only a geopolitical crisis, but also a disruption at the core of the global agrifood system.”

Strait of Hormuz Disruptions Impacting Fertiliser Markets

Qu highlighted the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz, which under normal conditions carries substantial shares of globally traded oil, liquefied natural gas, sulfur and fertilizers.

Disruptions to maritime flows through the corridor, he warned, are already tightening fertilizer markets and increasing energy costs, with potentially severe consequences for agricultural production and food prices.

According to Qu, agriculture remains highly vulnerable because fertilizer application is tied to strict crop calendars that cannot easily be delayed.

“Agriculture operates within a crop calendar that cannot be postponed,” he said. “Fertilizers must be applied at specific moments in the crop cycle. If they do not arrive on time, yields are reduced, regardless of what happens later.”

Delayed Fertiliser Deliveries Threaten Future Harvests

Qu added that a delay of even a few weeks forces farmers to reduce fertilizer use or abandon application altogether.

He explained that the impacts seen today are not limited to current prices, but are transmitted forward into the next harvests, which would tighten food supplies into the last half of 2026 and 2027.

Qu noted that the impacts are particularly concerning because they coincide with critical planting and fertilization periods across major producing regions.

Import-Dependent Countries Among the Most Vulnerable

Import-dependent countries in Africa, Asia and parts of the Middle East are among the most exposed, especially those already facing acute food insecurity, economic fragility or climate-related shocks.

Qu emphasized that no country is insulated from the crisis and outlined three priority areas for coordinated action.

FAO Outlines Immediate and Long-Term Priorities

In the Immediate Term

Qu stressed the importance of keeping supply chains functioning by facilitating alternative trade routes, avoiding export restrictions, supporting farmers’ access to agricultural inputs and protecting humanitarian supply chains.

Over the Medium Term

Qu called for strengthened regional coordination, diversification of fertilizer and energy sources, and targeted support for the most vulnerable economies.

In the Long-Term

Qu underscored the need for structural transformation to reduce dependence on concentrated supply routes and fossil fuel-based inputs, including through investments in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, innovative fertilizer solutions and stronger storage and logistics systems.

MED9++ Meeting Focused on Food Security Cooperation

Qu welcomed the MED9++ initiative to strengthen cooperation on fertilizer access and food security, noting that the platform aligns with FAO’s Strategic Framework and its vision of the Four Betters: Better Production, Better Nutrition, a Better Environment and a Better Life, leaving no one behind.

He reaffirmed FAO’s commitment to continue providing technical analysis, policy support and convening capacity to help countries address the evolving challenges facing global agrifood systems.

The Ministerial Meeting of the MED9++ Countries on “Supporting Food Security and Access to Fertilizers” brought together ministers and senior representatives from over 40 Mediterranean and partner countries and organizations to discuss the implications of disruptions to global energy, fertilizer and food supply chains, and to strengthen regional cooperation on food security and agrifood system resilience.

The organisation says the next three months will be critical as councils work to respond to reform expectations signalled by Wellington.

Pressure Mounts for Canterbury Councils

Bex Green, Federated Farmers North Canterbury president, says there is real urgency for council to get it right.

"The starting pistol has been fired and there’s now real urgency here to get this right," Green says.

"Central Government has been very clear that local councils have three months to come together and do something, or the Beehive will step in and do it for them.

"This is our community’s best and only chance to land a locally driven solution that will actually work for Canterbury. We simply can’t afford to let that opportunity pass us by," she adds.

Federated Farmers Opposes Canterbury 'Super Region'

Green says the worst-case scenario for provincial Canterbury, and the region’s rural communities, would be a ‘super region’ centred around metropolitan Christchurch.

"Environment Canterbury has been a dysfunctional and divided shambles since its inception, but a super region would be even worse. It would amplify the problems instead of fixing them.

"Urban and rural communities have different needs and priorities. When you put them at the same table, it dilutes the voices of the communities they represent.

"The needs of Christchurch city’s rapidly growing population are very different to the needs of those who live in places with smaller rural populations like Hurunui, Methven and Waimate," Green says.

Support for Multiple Unitary Councils

Federated Farmers is firmly opposed to a single unitary council for Canterbury.

Instead, it favours two or three unitary councils representing distinct communities across the region.

"It makes sense to have one unitary authority - a metropolitan council - focusing on managing urban growth pressures and changes in Christchurch city.

"And then we want to see one or two other unitary councils that focus on the unique needs, challenges and priorities of rural Canterbury.

"That’d be better for everyone."

South Canterbury Model Suggested

In South Canterbury, there are three district councils: Mackenzie, Timaru, Waimate.

"Bringing those councils together to create one South Canterbury unitary authority, rather than having land use rules and rates set from Christchurch, simply makes sense," Green says.

"There’s uncertainty around where the boundaries might fall for Mid and North Canterbury districts, but one thing is clear - the needs of those communities are very different to those of metropolitan Christchurch.

"Whatever happens, it’s essential that rural representation is protected."

Local Government Reform Linked to RMA Changes

Green says getting local government reform right in Canterbury is crucial.

"The Government is in the process of replacing the Resource Management Act but that won’t be successful unless we have councils that can deliver it properly.

"We need a functioning local government in Canterbury that truly represents the communities they’re setting rules and managing infrastructure for.

"Council leaders now have three months to present a credible and workable solution, so we all need to get around a table quickly and get on with the job.

"Federated Farmers wants to be part of that conversation to make sure rural voices are heard loud and clear when recommendations are made to Government."

Colin Hurst, Federated Farmers' freshwater spokesperson, says that while progress has been made on repealing or replacing some of the previous Government's freshwater rules, too many of the rules still sit on the books.

Freshwater Rules Still Driving Uncertainty

He pointed to the 2020 National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management as a source for concern.

"Former Environment Minister David Parker brought in a swag of poorly written freshwater rules in mid-2020," he says.

"The current Government came into office promising to unwind them and put things right for farmers.

"The clock is really ticking now and we’re getting genuinely concerned they’ll run out of time."

When elected, the Coalition Government said it would replace Labour’s freshwater targets with rules allowing more flexibility.

Nearly three years on, Parker’s National Policy Statement for Freshwater Management 2020 remains law.

Old Rules Still Apply Despite Reform Promises

"It’s good the Government has hit pause on regional councils coming up with new rules to try to achieve the unachievable freshwater targets," Hurst says.

He says early drafts of those plans showed significant areas of farmland would need to be retired to come close to the targets.

"But in the background, Parker’s policy still sits on the books, which means resource consents must be tested against it and Environment Court decisions will also consider it.

"It’s continuing to cause real headaches across the country.

"There’s also the risk that any change in Government would mean it can be immediately turned back on and implemented."

Vegetable Growing and Water Storage Rules Still Pending

Hurst says the current Government also promised changes to make vegetable growing and on-farm water storage permitted activities - but again, that’s yet to happen.

New Freshwater Farm Plan regulations also haven’t been completed, he adds.

RMA Reform Central to Wider Policy Change

Much of the freshwater reform agenda depends on replacement of the current resource management framework.

Mark Hooper, Federated Farmers' Resource Management Act (RMA) reform spokesperson, says bringing in new legislation to replace the RMA was one of the Government’s flagship policies.

"The RMA is by far the biggest handbrake on the growth of our agricultural sector and rural economies," he says.

"From expensive resource consents to unachievable freshwater targets, these difficulties for farmers all sit under the RMA legislation.

"We were really pleased when the Government introduced two bills to replace the RMA last year, but a deep dive into the wording revealed some significant flaws.

"The Natural Environment Bill, in particular, is so poorly drafted that it risks making things even worse for farmers than the current RMA."

Concerns Over Replacement Legislation

Hooper says a major gap right now is the lack of detail around what will replace the current national policy framework.

"What we’ve got in front of us with the Natural Environment Bill is essentially the framework for the new system.

"But a lot of the real detail will sit in national policy direction and national standards, and that’s the part we haven’t seen yet," he says.

"That creates uncertainty. Farmers are being told change is coming, but we still don’t know what the replacement for things like the National Policy Statement will actually look like."

He says, in the meantime, farmers remain stuck operating under the very rules the Government has promised to replace.

"Farmers were told there would be new national standards for things like vegetable growing, water storage and gravel extraction, but none of that has happened yet.

"So, despite all the talk of major reform and quick wins, nothing has really changed in practice and the old system is effectively still live."

Hooper says that uncertainty is weighing on farmer confidence and investment decisions.

"People want clarity. They want to know what the rules of the game are before they make long-term investment decisions - and right now, that certainty just isn’t there."

Some Progress Recognised by Industry

Hurst says credit must go to the Government for moving quickly to repeal Labour’s replacement RMA in 2023, and make fixes to stock exclusion rules and winter grazing rules.

"Farmers also breathed a sigh of relief at last year’s law change to roll over existing resource consents into a promised new resource management system.

"Those are all good things - but the job is far from done."

Leadership Change Brings Cautious Optimism

Hurst  says there’s cautious optimism about new Environment Minister Nicola Grigg, who comes from a strong farming background.

"For Nicola Grigg, I think there’s a real opportunity here to cut through the noise and deliver what farmers have been waiting for.

"She’s shown she understands the issues, but I guess the challenge now is whether she can turn that into action."

Election Pressure Increasing on Policy Delivery

With only months left in the Government’s term, Hurst says time is running short.

"Farmers are watching closely, because what happens next will shape how this works on the ground for years to come.

"The Government needs to get cracking."

In May 2023, 59-year-old Stevens died when his fully loaded logging truck and trailer rolled while negotiating a difficult bend on a private forestry road.

The road had no warning signs, road markers or berms, and its sharp corner was outside recommended specifications for the heavy vehicle he was driving.

Unsafe Forestry Road Conditions Contributed to Crash

The Thames District Court found the corner's turning diameter was 7.5 metres less than the minimum standard for the truck configuration.

Wet surfaces, mud-caked tyres, darkness, and a steep downhill approach made the bend even more dangerous.

Companies Sentenced for Safety Failures

The forest owner, Specialty Timbers (1987) Limited, and the transport contractor, Trevor Masters Limited, have been sentenced for their work health and safety failures.

Judge Tompkins found each party assumed someone else was ensuring the road was safe, so no one took responsibility.

Widow's Emotional Statement

"Greg's death was preventable, and if those companies had done what they should have done, my Greg would still be with me today," Caroline Stevens told the court in a victim impact statement.

She described the ongoing emotional toll on her family and called for stronger workplace safety protections.

"It is my hope that Greg's death will serve as a reminder to prioritise safety in the workplace, so no other family has to endure this trauma," she says.

"My plea is simple: let our loved ones come home from work safely."

WorkSafe Issues Strong Statement

Safe transporting of logs to the forest boundary is part of WorkSafe New Zealand's recently released approved code of practice for forestry and harvesting operations.

"No log load is worth a life," says WorkSafe northern regional manager, Brad Duggan.

"Forestry operators must understand that managing forestry roads isn't optional. If you're moving heavy vehicles through difficult terrain, you need proper risk assessment, proper consultation, and proper controls," he says.

"If you're not sure your roads are up to standard, stop and check before the next truck goes out."

The complaint was brought by Pay Equity Coalition Aotearoa (PECA), which includes the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions, Te Kāhui Tika Tangata Human Rights Commission and RWNZ.

Complaint Targets Changes to Pay Equity Framework

The filing comes exactly a year after controversial new legislation was passed, cancelling existing pay equity claims and introducing stricter tests for bringing new claims.

Pay equity claims are raised to ensure people receive equal pay for work of equal value.

The cancelled claims covered more than 180,000 workers across sectors like care and disability support, education, health, and community and social services. The majority of the people impacted by those claim cancellations are women.

Allegations of Systemic Disadvantage

Sandra Kirby, chief executive of RWNZ, says the amendments were made without proper engagement and ignored the government's guidance regarding the protection of rural communities against policy changes that may negatively affect them.

"A year on, the women who lost their pay equity claims are still showing up, still caring for our elderly, still teaching our children, and still waiting to be paid fairly for it, in a system where the goalposts have been moved so far that many may never get there," Kirby says.

International Human Rights Framework

The complaint asks the United Nations to consider whether legislative changes have created systemic discrimination against women, particularly in relation to equality in employment and equal pay for work of equal value.

Both are protected under the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), to which New Zealand is a signatory.

The United Nations will now assess whether the complaint is admissable.

If accepted, it will be sent to the New Zealand Government for a response. Then, the CEDAW Committee will consider the case and provide its views and recommendations.

Advocacy and Ongoing Engagement

RWNZ has been advocating on the equal pay issue since May 2025 when the Equal Pay Amendment Act passed without consultation.

The organisation submitted to the People's Select Committee on Pay Equity in August 2025.

"Workers across the country were hurt, but rural communities feel it in a particular way, because so much of what keeps them alive depends on work in health, education and care that has historically been undervalued and underpaid," says Kirby.

"For 100 years Rural Women New Zealand has believed rural women deserve fairness and dignity, and we’ll keep advocating until they have it,” she concludes.

Robert Ngaru Kururangi, age 68, was sentencedd this week on three charges under the Animal Products Act following prosecution by New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS).

Illegal Meat Operation Investigated

According to Vincent Arbuckle, NZFS deputy director general, Kururangi operated an unregistered meat business as is required under the Animal Products Act.

This means the business was operating without the necessary checks and balances within the food safety system designed to keep consumers safe.

Compliance investigators started inquiries into alleged pig sales at Kururangi's property after previously advising him that it was illegal to sell unregulated meat.

Undercover Investigation Reveals Illegal Slaughter

The compliance investigation included an undercover officer purchasing pigs which were illegally slaughtered on the farm and cost between $250 and $300.

The officer witnessed Kururangi's farm manager slaughtering a selected pig.

"While someone buying one of these pigs may have considered it a great deal, their health was potentially put at risk because of the pair’s illegal behaviour," says Arbuckle.

Direction Notice Ignored

In November 2022, NZFS issued a Notice of Direction under the Animal Products Act for Kururangi and the farm manager, prohibiting them from selling unregulated meat or providing facilities for any person to kill an animal.

However, electronic records show they continued to offer these services illegally.

Food Safety Rules Protect Consumers

"The majority of operators in New Zealand follow the rules and understand the importance of doing so to keep consumers safe," says Arbuckle.

"When we find evidence of people deliberately flouting the law, we take action to protect consumers as in this case," he concludes.

"WoolyFil" is the world's first commercial 3D printing filament to use a wool-based colourant to replace traditional synthetic or fossil-fuel derived colour.

The innovation is the brain child of Christchurch-based ingredients manufacturer Wool Source and Tokoroa-based 3D printing filament manufacturer KiwiFil.

Turning Strong Wool Into Sustainable Pigments

The colour source comes from Wool Source Pigments, an alternative to standard pigments with 92-98% biobased carbon content, meaning the carbon is almost entirely derived from a renewable, natural source.

Tom Hooper, Wool Source chief executive, says his company's technology takes strong wool fibre and transforms it into fine, coloured particles that can be mixed into other materials for applications like 3D printing, bioplastics and screen-printing inks.

"Unlike other biobased options for textural effect or colour, our four-colour base system gives filament producers maximum colour mixing flexibility," Hooper says.

Designed for Sustainable 3D Printing

Hooper says the Wool Source Pigments product has been designed for customers keen to improve their environmental footprint while still delivering consistent colour and performance.

"The KiwiFil team was willing to have a play with it and give us some feedback - and we're delighted they decided to launch a new range with our pigments as the hero."

KiwiFil Director Eva Hakansson says the company is looking to make the most sustainable filament possible.

“We loved the idea of using New Zealand wool and a biobased pigment in our recycled PLA filament but it needed to work for everyday 3D printing customers, as that’s our market.

“Our customers are loving the totally unique look and feel and the colours inspired by nature.”

“WoolyFil” is available in two colours - Green Marble and Riverstone - via KiwiFil's website with more colours already being explored.

Expanding Commercial Uses for Strong Wool

Wool Source’s broader product range includes Wool Source Particles and Wool Source Powders, which have applications ranging from hydrolysed keratin and personal care to construction materials.

Wool Source is the commercialisation arm of Wool Research Organisation of New Zealand (WRONZ), a specialist funder of wool research and development for the New Zealand wool industry.

These latest releases follow a multi-year R&D programme to find new uses for strong wool, backed by WRONZ, wool growers, the wider wool supply chain, the Ministry of Business and Innovation and Employment and the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund.

The award was announced at yesterday’s gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network 2026 Conference “Success through Inspiration” in Christchurch (5 May 2026).

Recognition for Authentic Leadership

DWN Chief Executive Jules Benton says Lobb embodies the values of the Network through her authentic and community-focused leadership.

“Leilani is a quiet achiever who consistently puts herself forward to take on opportunities that push her outside her comfort zone while supporting others. From stepping into leadership roles while moving to a new region to creating inclusive spaces where connection truly matters, she is always learning and focused on becoming the kind of leader she would want around herself.”

“She understands the importance of connection and growth beyond the farm gate, and actively creates inclusive spaces where people feel supported to engage. Whether she’s bringing together a handful of people or a larger group, Leilani recognises the value in every connection made. Her approach is thoughtful and genuine, she sees a need, builds relationships, and works steadily to strengthen her local community,” says Benton.

Building Connection Beyond the Farm Gate

Based near Kurow, Lobb works full-time as a contract milker alongside her partner, Ben, while dedicating significant time to her role as a DWN Regional Leader.

Her leadership is grounded in a strong belief in continuous learning and giving back. Her efforts are already making a lasting difference, with a focus on strengthening connections across North Otago and rebuilding a vibrant local community.

Leadership Across the Dairy Sector

Lobb has stepped confidently into leadership roles, including serving as a temporary Hub Leader for DWN.

She has also contributed to the wider sector as a member of the 2026 South Island Dairy Event organising committee and as co-founder of the Canterbury Dairy Young Leaders group.

Scholarship and Leadership Development

She will receive a scholarship for a leadership development programme of her choice.

“We’re incredibly grateful for DairyNZ’s continued support of our volunteer Regional Leaders. Their partnership plays a vital role in enabling these grassroots leaders to bring people together, create meaningful opportunities, and drive positive change across rural communities,” Benton adds.

Sector Recognition and Finalists

Benton also acknowledges fellow finalist Ashleigh Gordon for her contribution to the Network and her local community.

“Ashleigh is a committed and reliable leader who is already making a strong impact in her community. Her willingness to step up, bring ideas to life, and build trust within her community reflects exactly what DWN is about. Ashleigh has a bright future ahead as she continues to grow her leadership and influence.”

Now with the news that a purpose-built ship is being constructed to replace the present Southern Taire, there is a sense that at last there is a positive future. Editor-at-large Peter Burke reports.

Decades of Farming Under Pressure

Gary Cameron has been farming on the Chathams for 50 years and has personally experienced the many challenges that farmers on this isolated island have to face daily.

He runs 1600 breeding ewes and 100 breeding cows on his 450ha property and is generally regarded as one of the better farmers on the island.

But the biggest single impediment to all farmers, he says, is the lack of a quality, reliable shipping service.

Aging Vessel Creates Ongoing Disruption

Cameron says while a huge effort has been made to keep the 40-year-old Southern Taire going, this is compounded by the fact that there has been no reliable back-up ship.

"On occasions, the Southern Taire has been out of action for four months being repaired and, in some cases, almost capital maintenance has had to be done, and that was a problem for everyone, expecially farmers who couldn't get stock off the islands to market," he told Rural News.

The result has been that farmers have had to euthanise some stock and reduce their stocking rates, all of which has contributed to a downturn in farming on the Chathams.

Livestock Challenges Intensify Pressure

Cameron says it can be slightly easier to get sheep off the island, but cattle can be a different story because of space issues.

He says in general, getting items from the mainland to the Chathams is easier than trying to send anything back to mainland NZ.

Cameron says this is because livestock are competing with general freight going out and might involve people returning machinery or sending frozen fish to market, creating competition for space on the boat.

"We are essentially a Pacific Island because everything we need or send out relies on a ship and aircraft, and this is a huge challenge at this time," he says.

New Ship Signals Turning Point

In essence, the Chatham Islands' farming has been stymied for years by a poor shipping service, but this is all set to change with the new ship set to come into service at the end of 2027.

This long-awaited move has started to spark some confidence in the farming community, with for example the formation of a Chatham Islands Farmers Association.

Roadmap for Agricultural Transformation

Also, AgFirst has been commissioned to put together a report on the present state of farming there.

The report titled 'Chatham's Agriculture Transformed' provides a series of recommendations on ways to improve farming outcomes and how that benefits not only the wider Chathams economy, but also significantly benefits the wider NZ economy.

Lower Productivity

AgFirst's James Parsons, who authored the report, says the Chatham Islands' farming sector is under extreme pressure, resulting in significantly lower productivity compared to mainland NZ farmers.

He notes that, on average, farms on the Chathams produce just 37.3kg of carcass weight per ha from the islands' 18,000ha (eff). This compares with an average of 134kg of cw/ha on similar farm classes on mainland NZ, measured by the B+LNZ Economic Service.

"The major issue to date is farmers have no certainty when they can get stock off the islands and that affects their confidence. Low confidence in any business makes it incredibly hard to plan and also significantly undermines the investment appetite. For farmers on the Chatham Islands, if they lack confidence in the future, why should they invest? The lack of a reliable shipping service is the number one constraint," he says.

Parsons says while the average carcass weight producton per hectare is low, not all farms are performing poorly, with several operating quite respectably. This proves good production levels are possible, reinforcing the opportunity to boost profits for Chatham farmers and boost economic growth.

The Big Prize

Getting the shipping service right is number one, then redeveloping an overarching Chatham Islands farm strategy is next on the agenda, says Parsons.

He says that while isolation is perceived as a disadvantage it has the potential to be a strength. He says being small and isolated means people have to work together and the synergies associated with that can propel them forward.

“If people don’t collaborate, they will be noticed and peer pressure may come into play to get everyone working together. The prize is big. If the Chatham Islands’ farmers could achieve an average farm production of 80kg cw/ha, just 60% of similar mainland farms, this would more than double farm incomes from the islands to a combined $10.37 million per annum. When including the downstream economic activity, that adds an additional $16.2 million to the NZ economy,” he says.

The AgFirst report comes up with a series of recommendations. Including the need for a new ship and a farm strategy, there’s a need to get accurate data on stock numbers farmed on the islands, and get more accurate, up-to-date data from the shipping company, including stock weights shipped to track the islands’ production.

Parsons sees a need for a farm extension programme and recommends a shift to improved rotational grazing methods to increase pasture production, as opposed to the predominant set-stocking practiced.

Increasing the cattle ratio will make rotational grazing easier and help to mitigate the emergence of sheep parasite drench resistance. Exploring the use of virtual fencing is also an option to reduce the reliance on physical fences that degrade with the salt air and are very expensive to build due to high freight costs for materials.

Other recommendations include benchmarking, safeguarding sensitive environmental areas, communicating the opportunity to funders to invest in the islands and finally setting up an awards program to celebrate successful farmers.

“All this is going to require some paradigm shifts and that will take time. What I do know is that a lot of farmers are open to change, but they need to be confident that the change is in the right direction, and maybe a starting point is setting up a demonstration farm on the islands,” he says.

Farmer Gary Cameron says the prospect of a new ship that will serve the islands properly is starting to make people think about what the future might look like. He says what’s happened over the past six years is that everyone has gone inside their gates and into survival mode.

“We are now reactivating group activities such as Federated Farmers and have set up a catchment group supported by MPI and the Enterprise Trust looking at projects, so that when the ship comes on-line, we are ready to go. People are looking more positive and believe there’s a sound future here,” he says.

The award was announced at last night’s gala dinner at the Dairy Women’s Network 2026 Conference “Success through Inspiration” in Christchurch.

Recognition for Leadership and Purpose

The fourteenth Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year award celebrates women who demonstrate leadership and a commitment to the dairy industry. Hine was recognised for her outstanding leadership, her deep connection to people and whenua, and her transformational impact across the dairy sector and Māori agribusiness.

DWN Trustee and Lead Judge Jenna Smith says Timutimu brings a deeply grounded perspective, with a strong connection between people, whenua and long-term outcomes.

“Her leadership is authentic and anchored in purpose. Hine leads by example, makes decisions clearly, and consistently demonstrates her ability to bring people along with her – whether she’s rolling up her sleeves planting out a stream bank or setting and implementing strategy.

“She does not seek recognition or status, but instead looks to progress outcomes for women, for dairy, and anywhere the two collide,” says Smith.

Blending Mātauranga Māori and Science

Timutimu leads a dual-enterprise model combining dairy farming and maize at Te Tawa Kaiti Lands Trust. Her leadership philosophy -guided by the whākatāukī ‘Ka ora ai te whenua, Ka ora ai te tangata’ (When the Land thrives, the People thrive) -is woven through every initiative she leads.

Timutimu brings together mātauranga Māori and western science to deliver climate resilience, biodiversity restoration, and dairy performance improvements.

Her work includes Project Te Aroha, which accelerates dairy productivity and emissions reduction through herd genomics and regenerative farming; He Whāriki mō Paekoau, a catchment restoration programme engaging schools and hapū; and Kua Āmio ki Tōna Tīmatanga, which creates bilingual resources embedding cultural knowledge into environmental action.

In 2025, Hine represented New Zealand as an expert speaker at the APEC Technical Cooperation Workshop in Bangkok, contributing to international discussions on women’s economic empowerment and sustainable agriculture.

Strong Governance and Sector Influence

She holds governance credentials spanning the IoD Company Directors’ Course, Fonterra Governance Development Programme, LIC leadership programmes, and MPI Governance Essentials, and has been selected for the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme 2026. She is also Vice Chair of the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

Anne Douglas, Group Director – Fonterra Farm Source and a member of the judging panel this year, says she is thrilled to see Timutimu named the 2026 Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year.

“Her ability to bring together mātauranga Māori and modern farming practices is a powerful example of the leadership our sector needs. I’ve also been impressed by her global perspective and how she applies insights from around the world to strengthen our rural communities. Her commitment to people, to land, and to the next generation of farmers is truly inspiring,” says Douglas.

Scholarship and Future Impact

Timutimu will receive a scholarship to be part of the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

The scholarship covers the programme fee, travel and accommodation, mentoring and access to DWN and Fonterra platforms to share research.

Strong Field of Finalists

Smith adds, “we also want to acknowledge the other two incredible finalists who are doing amazing things in our sector”.

LeAnne Blakelock, a dairy farmer, sharemilker and chartered accountant based in Inglewood, Taranaki, is the founder of Calf Chronicles – a farmer-to-farmer platform with over 5,800 followers across New Zealand and internationally – and the creator of the Rose Gold Veal brand, championing ethical veal production and whole-of-system sustainability. LeAnne leads with authenticity and transparency, combining commercial, farming, and entrepreneurial experience with a deep commitment to people, community wellbeing, and connection.

Rachel Short, a born-and-bred Coastal Taranaki dairy farmer near Ōpunakē, is one of New Zealand’s leading voices in organic and regenerative dairy farming. She led the conversion of both her family’s farms to organic certification from 2015, and her practical, humble, and collaborative leadership style – walking alongside others and sharing knowledge from the ground up – has made her a consistently recognised and respected figure in the sector since 2013.

The Tōrea Orchard is fully New Zealand owned through the NZ Superannuation Fund, and managed by the New Zealand owned company FarmRight, which manages NZSF’s horticulture and dairy assets.

From Dairy to High-Value Horticulture

In a reversal of the trend towards further dairy conversions in Canterbury, the orchard is being established on what was a 1200-cow dairy farm at Pendarves, south of Rakaia. It was featured at Dairy NZ’s recent South Island Dairy Event (SIDE), with a field trip visit to the site.

Within a total area of 460ha, 125ha is initially being planted in Rockit apples and 125ha in Joli, both licenced varieties with strong export appeal and both judged as suitable for the climate and latitude of mid-Canterbury. The first commercial crop is expected in 2028.

Strategic Investment and National Portfolio

The general manager of FarmRight’s Super Fund rural portfolio, Ed Tapp, said it handles roughly a billion dollars’ worth of Super Fund assets spread from Tauranga to Southland, about half dairy and half horticulture – apples, kiwifruit, grapes and hops.

When Tōrea is completed, they will have 530ha in apples, the rest mostly in Nelson and Hawkes Bay.

Tapp said they came to Canterbury about two and a half years ago looking to diversify in both variety and location, and selected Rockit and Joli for their suitability for Canterbury.

Location Advantages Drive Productivity

“We ended up with this property, not because we wanted to go out and convert a dairy farm, but we wanted the best land to convert into an orchard.”

The property has good growing degree days, a lower frost risk due to its proximity to the sea less than a kilometre away, reliable groundwater, and quality soil.

“There is the advantage of being a dairy farm that we’ve been able to run it as a dairy farm over the time that we’ve owned it, which is coming up to two years.”

Investment in Scale and Efficiency

Including worker accommodation, the conversion cost is about $120 million.

A portion on the coastal side will be retained as a 600 cow dairy farm, which Tapp said will still be an economic unit.

Tapp said they were aiming to be in the top 5% of the country’s apple growers, by setting it up from the start with high value varieties, efficient infrastructure and other innovations.

Tapp said the big things for anyone wanting to set up are capital and access to varieties.

Premium Varieties and Licensing Model

Rockit apples are licenced by Rockit Apple Ltd and Joli by T&G Global.

He revealed that the Rockit license was $100,000 a hectare, but said that the licensing capital was what allowed the Rockit company to go build and maintain the market.

“There’s no guarantee around price. The big thing that we need to do is produce the quality fruit that they can then sell.”

Minimising variability of production was important and Tōrea orchard’s hail canopy and the irrigation system would be major factors in achieving that.

Tapp said FarmRight grows only high value varieties in its orchards, with high expectations around colour, size and disease control.

“Disease control is a big thing for market access. We need to give them the best fruit for them to them to then sell, but then the pricing structure is we get a premium for that. So that’s where the growing structure comes in.”

Vee System

Orchard manager 

Matt Bentley said they chose a Vee trellis rather than the more common single vertical axis because it gives more linear metres per hectare.

With 18 fruiting wires in the row it could crop 100 tonnes per hectare at 2 kgs per linear metre. The Vee system was repeatable, scalable, easier to mechanize and simpler for training up staff.

Offering some “fun facts” around the sheer scale of the project, Bentley said there were 27,000 of the galvanised steel Vee assemblies installed in just the first 150 ha, and the wires will span 15 times the length of the South Island once they are in place across all 250 ha.

The lower trunk of each tree is painted white so the hares don’t eat them, said Bentley.

“And that’s equivalent of 3000 litres of paint, which is 8500 Mona Lisas.”

Bentley said the biggest risk to the orchard management was staff recruitment, with close to 200 people needed at last year’s peak.

“So it’s a big push for us, having to exhaust the local labour and then get help when we can.”

A 100 bed RSC accommodation building is under construction on site and they were looking to put another 100 beds in either Rakaia or Ashburton.

Bentley said hail was another risk but 5.5m high wires will be fitted with bungee-loaded “catch and release” hail nets designed to collect hailstones then release them safely between the rows when the weight gets up.

“It also helps with retaining more moisture. And stops a bit of sunburn damage and stuff in the peak of summer. So there’s quite a few other benefits to it.”

Irrigation will be from twin drip lines, harvesting from mobile platforms – avoiding ladders for safety – and spraying from a machine that drives under the hail canopy with a boom that extends across three rows at a time in the interests of fuel efficiency.

The trees are supplied by Waimea Nurseries and grown on a dwarfing rootstock. Kept healthy, a tree could last decades but if a fruiting variety goes out of vogue it can be cut off and another variety grafted on.

The conversion is also expected to cut the farm’s environmental impact, with modelled reductions of 81 percent in Carbon emissions, 82 percent in Nitrogen losses and 40 percent in irrigation water use.

Dan Boulton, Silver Fern Farms chief executive says the investment signals a strong vote of confidence in the sector, community and the company's site network.

Largest Capital Investment Ever

Boulton says the investment is the largest ever undertaken by the company.

"This investment forms part of an ongoing programme of investment across the Silver Fern Farms site network to strengthen site resilience, efficiency and long-term competitiveness," he says.

“It will deliver new freezing capacity, automated cold storage, sorting and modern load‑out infrastructure. Once complete, the Finegand redevelopment will significantly strengthen the Site’s role as high-capacity hub for our South Island network."

A Step Change in Product Quality

Boulton says the redevelopment also delivers a step change in product quality and customer outcomes, supporting Silver Fern Farms' premium market positioning.

“Customers will see tangible benefits, including improved carton presentation through reduced handling and damage, and greater shelf‑life utilisation through more accurate, responsive order fulfilment,” he says.

He says the improvements directly support the company's premium strategy and build long-term brand value while automation and modern facility design will improve workplace safety and sustainability.

“Automation will reduce manual handling and forklift movements, creating a safer working environment for our people while supporting the transition into higher‑skill, technology‑enabled roles,” he says.

“Modern refrigeration systems and smarter layouts will also improve energy efficiency and reduce unnecessary handling and transport over time.”

Financial Recovery Enables Investment

According to Boulton, the investment is enabled by disciplined financial management following several challenging years for the business.

“After returning to profit following two years of operating losses, we have retained earnings which strengthens our balance sheet and helps ensure capital was available for reinvestment,” he says. “That approach has positioned us to invest at scale today, building durable, long‑term value for shareholders.”

The Finegand investment is expected to deliver material operating savings and a more resilient earnings base, with strong long‑term returns at both site and network level.

“This is a capital‑intensive investment with a rapid network‑level payback and a clear uplift in returns on capital employed,” Boulton says.

Construction Timeline and Community Impact

Construction will be carefully staged to minimise disruption to existing operations, with commissioning planned from 2027, aligned with lower volume periods.

“Ultimately, this investment is a vote of confidence — in Finegand, in the Balclutha and farming communities, in the future of the sector, and in the long‑term value we can create for our people, our suppliers, our customers and our shareholders,” Boulton says.

The rural trader, which marked the milestone birthday last week, is the result of a 2005 merger between Pyne Gould Guinness Ltd and Wrightson Ltd, which were both amalgamations of numerous companies.

A Legacy Dating Back to 1841

The first of those companies was Levin & Co, founded in Wellington in 1841.

Guerin says the anniversary is an opportunity to acknowledge and commemorate the efforts of its predecessor companies.

“When the company first established, no matter which strand of the organisation you think about when you look back at the history, it was very much a regional business,” Guerin told Rural News.

He says the country’s transportation network was largely built on coastal and regional shipping.

Adapting to a Changing Industry

“We’re still doing some of the things we did way back then,” he adds. “But we do things differently than the way we did back then.”

Guerin points to the company’s online trading platforms, and the advice it gives to farmers and growers, saying those have changed since the company’s forebears were established.

Relationships at the Core

He says it’s relationships between farmers and PGG Wrightson staff that have carried the business through the past 175 years.

During that time, the company has witnessed the rise in corporate and iwi farming enterprises.

“It does come down to the key relationships our staff hold,” Guerin says.

Reflecting Social and Industry Change

Guerin says the company reflects social change that has occurred within New Zealand.

“It took 100 odd years for us to employ our first female staff member. Now, why did that happen? There was social change that took place around World War II when more women entered the workforce. Now we’ve got a large number of women in our team.”

Guerin says that over the time the organization has been in business, many lessons have been learned.

“Farmers take a longer-term view, so trust is really important.

“Being reliable in what you say and how you deliver to that is really, really important.”

He says the company has had periods within its history where they haven’t delivered on that, but they’ve subsequently learned that lesson.

“I reflect back to a short period just after the merger where we brought three businesses together in a very quick space of time and we lost our way a wee bit there for a year or two. We’ve learned from that and re-established who we are.”

Built to Endure

So, why has PGG Wrightson stood the test of time? Guerin says it’s the company’s staff and the relationships they have with their customers.

“Being responsive to the needs of our clients, through those droughts, weather, storm, commodity cycles, and being consistent about that and being supportive of our rural communities is why we’ve survived.”

The Board and General Committee of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association (CAPA) have announced that the Show will return to its original Wednesday-Thursday-Friday format, running from November 11 to 13.

Back to a Proven Format

CAPA says the decision restores a format that served the show for more than 160 years, and reflects direct feedback from the farming community, rural exhibitors, and agricultural businesses who are the backbone of the Canterbury A&P Show.

"This is a return to our roots," said board chairman Sir David Carter.

"Wednesday-Friday is the format that works for farmers, for competitors, and for the rural community that built this show," he told Rural News.

"We listened to our exhibitors and our members, and we are acting on what they told us. That is what good governance looks like."

Avoiding Clash with Cup Week Events

The change also reverses a scheduling conflict with the New Zealand Cup race day at Riccarton on the Saturday.

The Association said the show and the cup were two complementary pillars of Canterbury's Show Week calendar that should not be rivals for the same audience.

The development ends the upheaval that began in 2024 when the then-board announced that because of financial constraints there would be no public show that year - although the competition classes would continue without a public audience.

Dissatisfaction from the association rank and file then led to a change in board membership including Carter as chair, and the acceptance of an offer from events company Event Hire to run a public show at much less cost than the old board had thought necessary.

It ran both the revived 2024 show and the 2025 show to the same schedule.

However, Carter said Event Hire's aspirations weren't quite the same as CAPA's.

"Their aspiration was more a carnival type show than what we think is an agricultural and pastoral show connecting town and country," says Carter.

Amicable Split

Nick Anderson, one of Event Hire's two owner/operator brothers, confirmed that the parting of the ways was amicable but he still did not agree with the return to the old dates.

Anderson said it was hard to compete with the specialist agricultural shows such as the South Island Agricultural Fieeld Days at Kirwee.

"Things have changed and I think the agricultural side isn't as prominent as it used to be. It's bloody hard to get them in.

"That's the reason why we changed the date to a Saturday because it became a numbers through the gate scenario."

The change also marks the return of former show manager Geoff Bone, who last managed the Canterbury Show in 2019, the year before the Covid cancellation of 2020.

Back as Event Director, Bone told Rural News he was inspired to return by Sir David and the Board.

"There's a whole culture there that's worth preserving.

"When we build this Show around rural exhibitors and competitors, the urban audience gets something no other event can offer - a genuinely authentic rural experience to share with their kids. THat's what they come for. That's what we have to protect," he says.

The executive officer of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA), Tony Michelle, says operators across the country are facing multiple bad weather events, and narrow windows in which to operate mean it's simply not possible to get everyone's fertiliser on when they ideally want it.

Narrow Weather Windows and Access Issues

"Infrastructure and airstrip conditions are compounding the problem," Michelle told Rural News.

"Soft-surface airstrips that cut up and sites that trucks cannot access when wet all contribute to delays, creating knock-on effects for other farmers. Truck operators usually have the capacity to move product, but they are dealing with the same access problems to airstrips and bins as the pilots are," he says.

Safety Concerns for Pilots

Michelle says uncovered fertiliser bins are also a problem and can cause delays, which in turn affects other clients waiting for the aircraft to arrive.

He says a client's expectations can put pressure on pilots and that can lead to pilots pushing out the safety envelope.

"And we certainly don't want that to happen," he says.

Infrastructure Key to Efficiency

Michelle says while an airstrip may only be used a few times a year, it is still important for farmers to keep them up to a high standard.

He says aircraft and loading equipment is very expensive and their people need good facilities if they are to deliver safely, efficiently and on time.

"These issues are not new. If we can work together on facilities, timing and preparation, we can make better use of suitable weather envelopes, optimise industry's resources and ensure fertiliser is applied when it will do the most for pasture and production," he says.

Fertiliser Demand Remains Steady

As an aside, Michelle says despite the global crisis, fertiliser activity has stayed constant. 

He puts this down to the fact that, apart from nitrogen, there hasn't been a significant increase in the cost of other fertilisers.

He says any increase appears to be offset by the good returns that farmers are currently receiving.

But Michelle says things may change in spring if the cost of fertiliser and fuel goes up.

That's the message from the chair of the Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA), Traci Houpapa.

She was commenting on the recent signing of the NZ/India free trade agreement (FTA).

FOMA members represent assets with diversified interests across mixed livestock, dairy, horticulture, property, retirement villages, seafood and other investments.

FOMA members are the largest network of Māori freehold landowners in the country. 

The organisation has been working behind the scenes providing input to MFAT and MPI who've been responsible for negotiating the India/NZ FTA.

Dairy Exclusion Limits Benefits

Houpapa says overall FOMA is in favour of the FTA being ratified, but in saying this, she has reservations.

She says the FTA represents a significant shift in NZ's trade diversification and it's well known that India is one of the world's fastest growing economies and Māori, as intergenerational asset holders Māori know all about that.

"We knew from the start that dairy was always going to be sidestepped in the negotiations, however Māori have significant exposure with assets in the dairy sector with big trusts such as Wairarapa Moana in the central North Island and Parininihi ki Waitōtara in Taranaki," she told Rural News.

"We are big players in this sector so the exclusion of dairy limits the upside for some of us. While the gains are real, they are sector specific and we need to be quite clear about what we are signing up to," she says.

'Sign It and Make It Work'

Houpapa says FOMA is in favour of the FTA being ratified, but does so with its eyes wide open around what it is.

She says it isn't a silver bullet and with India being a tough negotiator, you could argue that there's more upside for India in this FTA than NZ.

"But we are not making a call on that. We are pragmatists and so we are saying sign up and get on with the job," she says.

Māori Partnerships

Houpapa says one of the upsides of the FTA is that India is projected to be a multi-trillion-dollar economy, but she says at the same time NZ also needs to look at the likes of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines.

She says one issue that the FTA may offer Māori is investment partnerships with India. She points out that Māori can offer value in renewable energy, agritech and food innovation, while India could bring scale and technology and therefore potentially position Māori as the preferred indigenous partner, which she says makes sense to FOMA.

"But without coordination, we risk being passive recipients instead of active partners, and that requires an intentional strategy, not only on the Māori side but also on the government side," she says.

It should be noted that the India/NZ FTA, like other recent FTA, includes a Treaty of Waitangi clause which allows NZ to meet its treaty obligations. This was a bottom line in the negotiations for Māori.

Another issue is immigration and Houpapa says there is a need to be mindful of what this might mean for Māori.

She says there are pros and cons.

She says realising the growth opportunities for Māori will require deliberate leadership on the part of government, Māori and industry.

She adds that, at the moment, she can't see that happening.

"To sum up, the NZ/India FTA for Māori is neither a clear win or loss - it's a platform we can build on and it's better we are around the table than not at the table," she says.

Last week, the state-owned enterprise announced new equity partners for its Mahiwi Farm in Wairoa, the first livestock property offered under its livestock equity partnership model.

First Partnership Confirmed

The new equity partners are Cameron Hassall and Alice Wilson, experienced sheep and beef farmers with deep roots in the Wairoa district.

The couple bring a strong track record in livestock performance, farm systems, and community leadership, and see the Mahiwi partnership as a pathway to build equity while staying connected to their local community, Pāmu says.

Mahiwi Farm is a 1,755ha sheep, beef, and forestry property west of Wairoa. 

A new entity co-owned by Pāmu and Cameron will lease 708 effective hectares used for sheep and beef farming with Pāmu retaining control of the remainder of the land (forestry and QEII covenants).

From Concept to Delivery

Pāmu chief operations officer Will Burrett said the appointment shows the model moving from concept to delivery.

"This is about backing ambitious, capable people into farm ownership," Burrett says.

"Mahiwi is a strong example of how we can support operators to lift farm performance, grow equity, and strengthen business capability while retaining Crown ownership of the land."

Building Equity On-Farm

The livestock equity partnership builds on Pāmu introducing dairy sharemilking arrangements (including contract milking, variable order, and herd-owning) in 2024.

Cameron Hassall says the Mahiwi equity partnership offered something rare in the sheep and beef sector: a genuine opportunity to grow equity directly on farm. Combined with Mahiwi's proximity to their families, it was a straightforward decision.

"For us, this is about building something real," Alice says.

"We want to grow our stake in Mahiwi, improve the farm's performance, and show that this model works, not just for us, but for other young farmers looking for a way into ownership."

The couple see themselves as committed guardians of the land, with strong values around animal welfare, environmental care, and community involvement.

Between them, they volunteer regularly at local galas, sports events, fundraisers, and the Wairoa A&P Show, where Alice also serves as event manager.

With the Halter collars on his 200 Angus cattle now linked to satellite technology, he knows exactly where to look for them at Northburn Station in the Dunstan Mountains.

"We know exactly where to walk to and where to find them," he told Rural News.

"Previously, we always left a few behind and had to go back to look for them."

Virtual Fencing Unlocks New Land Use

McKnight was one of a handful of farmers who trialled the direct-to-satellite technology for beef cattle smart collars, a world-first solution driven by Starlink and One NZ.

He says the collars were linked to the satellite on February 26. The results are a game changer, he says.

McKnight says direct-to-satellite will also unlock unconstrained grazing.

"Virtually fencing our extensive station using Halter will be a game-changer for land utilisation.

"For the first time, we'll be able to graze large blocks of land that have never been touched by our cattle, because we had no way of managing them there."

McKnight says to have Halter collars on cattle before this satellite solution would have required 25 towers.

"So, this new practical option makes Halter a no-brainer for us."

The station also has fragile areas that are environmentally sensitive and the technology has also enabled him to keep the cattle out of those places.

Global Potential for Agtech Innovation

Internal modelling estimates direct-to-satellite capability will expand access to Halter for New Zealand beef farms by at least 20%.

Direct-to-satellite also positions Halter for expansion into more remote markets globally, such as South America and parts of Africa.

Halter also announced a suite of new tools for reproduction, animal behaviour, and precision pasture management, significantly expanding what is possible for cattle management.

Until now, the solar-powered, GPS-enabled collars system depended on Halter's proprietary LoRa (long-range) radio towers on farms. With the Starlink connection, the collars can communicate directly to satellites, eliminating the need for ground infrastructure entirely.

In New Zealand, Halter will become the largest provider of non-mobile devices connected to Starlink, with hundreds of thousands of the new collar version to go live upon launch, globally.

"Connectivity, for virtual fencing was the blocker for the most remote or large operations and direct-to-satellite solves this," says Craig Piggott, CEO and founder of Halter.

"With One NZ and Starlink, we've removed that barrier. Farmers managing animals on remote, rugged terrain can now access the same tools as operations with full cellular coverage. Combined with our new suite of product features, these farms can be even more productive."

The programme, initiated in 2021 and supported by CRV, set out to identify low-emitting bulls.

The hypothesis was that these bulls would pass the trait on to their daughters.

Because a relatively small number of bulls sire the next generation of cows, this approach offers a cost-effective and innovative way to introduce low methane emissions into the national herd.

Early Promise From Low-Emission Bulls

Early findings were encouraging, with lower methane emission traits identified in young bulls, and clear evidence these traits were passed on to their growing daughters.

However, the final phase of the research, which measured methane emissions in those daughters once they were lactating, found that this trait does not seem to be expressed.

Future Research to Shift Focus

Executive director of the Ag Emissions Centre, Naomi Parker says while the outcome is disappointing, the findings are still valuable, and the job now is to shape the direction for future research.

"Genetics still can have a meaningful role in reducing gross methane emissions. For beef and sheep, we are still confident in the approach, and we will be feeding the insights from this trial into work underway in these areas. For dairy we will consider taking a different approach that will likely focus on measuring lactating cows for methane production to generate a DNA-based selection criteria."

Trade Minister Todd McClay and the Indian Minister for Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, signed the historic FTA between the two countries in front of a large group of NZ and Indian businesspeople.

Among those present was Labour's spokesperson on Trade, Damien O'Connor. The signing formalises the agreement the two countries reached just before Christmas.

Now that the deal has been signed, it will need to be ratified by Parliament, and while the public will have the opportunity to cfomment on the deal via the select committee process, its passage through Parliament is assured now that Labour has said it will support the deal.

Billions in Export Potential

McClay says the deal will deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in additional exports. He says it will create opportunities for our businesses to diversify and create strong trading relationships that provide economic security for New Zealanders.

"That is crucial in these times of global unrest," he says.

The FTA eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95% of NZ exports to India and almost 57% of our exports will be duty-free from day one including lamb, wool, coal, leather, most forestry and industrial products.

The signing was welcomed by New Zealand's red meat sector.

Strong Support From Exporters

Meat Industry Association (MIA) independent chair Nathan Guy says that once ratified, the FTA will expand New Zealand red meat exporters' trade options in a challenging global environment.

"Exporters are operating in a world of rising protectionism and ongoing volatility. Having a broader mix of markets and expanding our reach will help spread risk and provide more stability for farmers and exporters.

"India is a market with significant long-term potential. While we won't see immediate gains, this FTA charts a path to improve market access and create new opportunities for the red meat sector."

India Seen As Major Future Market

Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland says the agreement positions New Zealand in a market with strong promise.

"India is now the world's most populous country and is expected to become the third-largest economy within the next five years. As incomes rise in India, so will demand for high-quality natural protein.

"Access has been constrained due to a 30% tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat. This FTA will start the process of addressing those barriers and puts us in a stronger position as the market develops.

"The FTA can help build the red meat sector's resilience and enable us to keep delivering for the New Zealand economy," Acland says.

He says migrants still make up only a small percentage of the farming workforce.

He was commenting on the findings of a new report that shows farm worker pay growth has levelled off after a post-pandemic period of rapid growth.

The 2026 Federated Farmers-Rabobank Farm Remuneration Report shows the average salary for a farm worker increased by $1,367 to $72,778, or a weighted average rise of 3% across 13 job positions.

However, that is well down from the average annual salary rise of 13%, and a weighted average of 17% for sheep and beef farm roles, between 2022 and 2024.

The report says the slowing in pay rises in the last two years is consistent with broader labour market trends, with wage growth across the economy typically 2-4% annually.

Dean, who is also Feds' employment spokesman, says increases have been higher for some roles.

"For example, the average salary for a dairy farm assistant rose to $63,359 this year, a rise of 5%.

"Wages for an arable farm machinery operator jumped a massive 30% to $82,651."

The report collated results from a survey of 427 farm employers covering nearly 1,500 employees.

Migrant Workforce Remains A Minority

Dean told Rural News that about 75% of dairy farm assistants are New Zealanders and only about 16% are on a visa - and about half of those are on working holiday visas and essentially only here for the spring rush.

In the more senior dairying roles such as herd manager and assistant manager, Dean said migrants make up a higher percentage, probably because Kiwis have greater opportunities to progress into ownership roles.

"If you are on a work visa, you cannot own a business in New Zealand. That means that in the dairy sector, you can't go into contract milking or variable order share milking, until you've become a permanent resident, which generally takes five or six years."

Strong Outlook for Ag Sector Jobs

Bruce Weir, Rabobank general manager for country banking, says despite a relatively modest lift over the last two years, the sector's recent strong performance makes it an attractive option for young Kiwis.

"The agri sector has performed really strongly over the last 18 months and has been the shining light of the New Zealand economy," he says.

"The sector's long-term outlook remains positive, and the strong investment we're currently seeing should flow through to new job opportunities in the years ahead."

However, Weir says ongoing salary growth is also essential to ensure the sector continues to entice the next generation into agri careers.

"Remuneration matters to young people, and attracting strong talent will depend on on-farm salaries keeping up with - or surpassing - the wider employment market." 

Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay says that early implementation of the deal has given Kiwi exporters a critical advantage, with tariff reductions and improved market access accelerating growth.

Exports to the EU hit $8.8 billion in the year to December 2025 - up 29%, or close to $1.9 billion. Two years ago, exports were $5.7 billion.

Key Facts

• Total exports to EU (2025): $8.8 billion
• Growth in two years: +$3 billion
• Annual increase: +29%
• Goods exports: $6.7b (+35%)
• Services exports: $2b (+11%)
• Butter exports: +121%
• Meat exports: +38%
• Kiwifruit exports: $1.2b
• Jobs linked to trade: 1 in 4 NZ jobs

“On the Agreement’s second anniversary, Kiwi exporters have now chalked up an extra $3 billion in sales," says McClay.

"This growth has significantly exceeded forecasts and expectations and shows what’s possible when we back our exporters and open new doors.

“It means the world is choosing more of the high-quality food, fibre and products our farmers, growers and businesses are known for.”

Strong Demand for NZ Products

Some of the strongest gains in the past year include:

• Butter exports, up 121%
• Cheese, up 400%
• Meat, up 38%
• Fruit and vegetables, up 29.3% 

Dairy exports rose 58% overall, with butter reaching $276 million and cheese exports increasing fourfold to $51 million.

Meat exports climbed to $1.9 billion, driven by a 50% increase in sheep meat exports.

Horticulture also performed strongly, with fruit and vegetable exports rising 29.3% to $1.36 billion — including $1.2 billion in kiwifruit exports.

Trade Driving Jobs and Regional Growth

Approximately 25% of Kiwi jobs depend on trade.

McClay says the surge in exports flows directly into stronger regional economies, higher incomes and more secure jobs.

“Making full use of the Agreement is vital in a time of global uncertainty and supports New Zealand’s goal of doubling export value within a decade.

“Today we celebrate not only our strengthened trade to the EU, but also the strong relationship we have developed over many years. The EU remains a trusted and important partner for New Zealand.”

Frequently Asked Questions

How much have NZ exports to the EU increased?

Exports have risen by $3 billion in two years, reaching $8.8 billion in 2025.

What is driving export growth to Europe?

Growth is driven by dairy, meat, industrial goods and horticulture, supported by tariff reductions under the trade agreement.

What products does NZ export most to the EU?

Key exports include dairy (especially butter and cheese), meat, kiwifruit, industrial goods and seafood.

Why is the NZ–EU FTA important?

The agreement improves market access, reduces tariffs and supports economic growth, jobs and export expansion.

How important is trade to New Zealand’s economy?

Trade supports around one in four jobs in New Zealand and is a major driver of regional economic activity.

Developed in partnership with Starlink and One NZ, the technology allows Halter collars to connect directly to satellites, eliminating the need for ground infrastructure like long-range radio towers entirely.

Solving connectivity constraints in remote farming

Up until now, Halter's solar-powered, GPS-enables collar systems required long-range radio towers on farm. With the Starlink connection,  the collars will be able to communicate directly with satellites.

It means Halter is the first company in the world to offer via satellite, unlocking the technology for previously out of reach beef farms, particularly in regions like Central Otago, Gisborne and Southland's high country.

Internal modelling estimates that direct-to-satellite capability will expand access to Halter for New Zealand beef farms by more than 20%. It also positions Halter to expand into more remote markets globally, such as South America and parts of Africa.

'A Game Changer'

Halter chief executive and founder, Craig Piggott says that connectivity was previously a blocker for remote and/or large operations. He says the direct-to-satellite technology solves that issue.

"With One NZ and Starlink, we've removed that barrier," Piggott says.

"Farmers managing animals on remote, rugged terrain can now access the same tools as operations with full cellular coverage," he adds. "Combined with our new suite of product features, these farms can be even more productive."

Bevan McKnight, lessee of Northburn Station in the Dunstan Mountains, Central Otago runs 200 angus cattle and 11,000 merino sheep on 13,000 hectares.

He describes the technology as 'a game-changer'.

"Virtually fencing our extensive station using Halter will be a game-changer for land utilisation," McKnight says.

"For the first time, we'll be able to graze large blocks of land that have never been touched by our cattle, because we had no way of managing them there."

'Kiwi Innovation At Its Absolute Best'

Jason Paris, One NZ CEO, says Halter is an example of "Kiwi innovation at its absolute best", adding that the telecommunications provider is excited to back the company's expansion of rural connectivity.

"It's not every day you're helping cows connect to satellites in space, so that New Zealand farmers can access world leading technology that improves stock management," he says.

"That's exactly the kind of outside of the box thinking we love to see, and love to get behind."

The conveyance allowance is a payment made to parents and caregivers to contribute toward the cost of getting students to school or to the nearest school bus stop.

For rural families whose school bus routes were cancelled before the Ministry of Education paused further changes in March, it is often the only financial support available to meet the cost of getting children to school.

First Increase In Nearly Four Decades

The increase is the first since 1985 and will remain in place for 12 months or until fuel prices drop below $3 per litre for four consecutive weeks.

Education Minister says the fuel price volatility, caused by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, is hitting some schools harder than others.

She says those particularly impacted are the schools reliant on diesel and schools where students face longer distances when travelling to and from school.

“Our priority is to ensure students are attending school and are engaged in their learning. Recently, I directed the Ministry of Education to contact every single school to understand the impact of fuel cost pressures on their individual circumstances so that targeted, temporary and timely responses can be designed.

“As a result of this engagement, we are rolling out interim support for the schools most likely to experience challenges from fuel cost-pressures, while simultaneously planning for a range of potential future scenarios.”

"Sensible, Financially Prudent and Targeted Assistance"

Federated Farmers education spokesperson Richard Dawkins says the funding is "sensible, financially prudent and targeted assistance that will make a difference for rural schools".

"The huge spike in fuel prices - particularly diesel - from the Middle East conflict has hit rural schools particularly hard," Dawkins says.

"Students and teachers in rural areas face longer distances when travelling to and from school.

"Smaller rural schools have the same or similar fixed costs to much bigger schools but when your roll is a couple of dozen, vs 200-300-plus, dividing costs that are per-pupil based across that smaller roll is a lot tougher."

Ongoing Uncertainty for Rural Families

RWNZ Education Policy Action Advisory Group Convenor, Frances Beeston says that while the increase in the conveyance allowance is a welcome step, her organisation is keen to see policy review progress.

Recent changes to the Ministry for Education's school bus routes have made getting to school more difficult for rural families.

"The cancellation of rural school bus routes is death by a thousand cuts for rural communities. It is not just about getting children to school, it is about the long-term health and wellbeing of the communities we live and work in,” Beeston says.

RWNZ says it has been working closely with Federated Farmers and the NZ Rural Schools Leadership Association calling for a review of school bus routes and eligibility criteria.

Yesterday, Trade and Investment Minister Todd McClay and India's Minsiter for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met in New Delhi and signed the agreement in front of a crowd of New Zealand and Indian businesspeople.

The deal eliminates or reduces tariffs on 95% of New Zealand's exports to India.

It ensures that close to 57% of New Zealand exports will be duty free from day one of the deal, including lamb, wool and forestry.

This will increase to 82% when fully implemented including infant formula, a kiwifruit quota almost four times the current exports and seafood.

The remaining 13% including kiwifruit, apples, mānuka honey, wine and some dairy products is subject to sharp tariff cuts.

Widespread Benefits

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon says the benefits of the deal are widespread, adding that the country's business community is excited to see the doors open to 1.4 billion people in an economy set to become the world's third largest.

"One in four jobs are tied to trade," Luxon says.

"In signing this FTA we are setting businesses up to succeed, boosting Kiwi jobs and enabling economic growth – and that means more money in Kiwis’ pockets.” 

Deal Supports Goal to Double Export Value - McClay

McClay says the FTA supports New Zealand's goal to double the value of exports in 10 years.

"This deal will deliver thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in additional exports," he says.

“Creating opportunities for our businesses to diversify and create strong trading relationships provides economic security for New Zealanders – and that is crucial in these times of global unrest.”

Most Favoured Nation

The Government argues the signing ensures that New Zealand is on track to benefit from a Most Favoured Nation clause for wine and services exports, meaning Kiwi exporters will have better access if the deal comes into force before the European Union's deal.

“That clause will be worth tens of millions of dollars in extra exports for the New Zealand economy,” Luxon says.

“Two-way trade is currently NZ$3.95 billion. The deal we have struck and the relationship we have built will grow this exponentially and deliver deep and lasting benefits for generations to come.”

Red Meat Sector Reacts

New Zealand's red meat sector says it welcomes the signing of the FTA and its potential to unlock opportunities over time.

Meat Industry Association (MIA) chair Nathan Guy says that once ratified, the FTA will expand New Zealand red meat exporters’ trade options in a challenging global environment.

“Exporters are operating in a world of rising protectionism and ongoing volatility. Having a broader mix of markets and expanding our reach will help spread risk and provide more stability for farmers and exporters," Guy says.

“India is a market with significant long-term potential. While we won’t see immediate gains, this FTA charts a path to improve market access and create new opportunities for the red sector.”

Meanwhile, Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland says the agreement  positions New Zealand in a market with strong promise.

“India is now the world’s most populous country and is expected to become the third-largest economy within the next five years. As incomes rise in India, so will demand for high-quality natural protein.

“Access has been constrained due to a 30 per cent tariff on New Zealand sheepmeat. This FTA will start the process of addressing those barriers and puts us in a stronger position as the market develops.

“The FTA can help build the red meat sector’s resilience and enable us to keep delivering for the New Zealand economy.”

NZFOA Welcomes Deal

The New Zealand Forest Owners Association (NZFOA) has also joined the chorus of primary sector voices welcoming the deal.

Elizabeth Heeg, NZFOA chief executive, who was in India for the signing says it is an honour to witness the progress of an agreement with such significant potential for New Zealand forestry.

“Forest growers welcome the signing of this agreement. India is a large, fast-growing economy and an increasingly important partner for New Zealand.

"Wood and wood products are already New Zealand’s largest goods export to India, worth NZ$134 million in the year to June 2025, giving our sector a strong base to build from.

"Improved access to the Indian market gives forest growers, wood processors and exporters greater confidence to invest, grow trade and support jobs across the forestry supply chain.”

What's Next?

The deal is set to be ratified by the Government later this year following much political debate.

Signing of the FTA activates the standard parliamentary process, allowing Parliament and the public to scrutinise the agreement through the Select Committee. The FTA text and National lnterest Analysis will be tabled in Parliament today and referred to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee (FADTC).

Once FADTC has completed its examination, enabling legislation will be introduced and will follow the usual legislative process. This approach is consistent with that taken for the TPP, CPTPP, and agreements with the United Kingdom, European Union, and United Arab Emirates.

Wellington Fish & Game manager Phil Teal says a range of factors have aligned in the lead up to the season to get hunter excitement levels ratcheted up.

"By our standards in this part of New Zealand, it’s been a pretty rubbish summer, with frequent weather events ranging in intensity from mild to severe.

"The wet conditions have come at a crucial time for young ducks, though, meaning there’s been plenty of places they can feed which greatly improves survival rate."

That’s lead to a reasonable jump in duck numbers across much of the lower North Island.

"Every year we monitor the mallard duck population by conducting transect surveys using small aircraft - this helps us set sustainable harvest limits for hunters. Overall, we’re looking at around a 16 per cent increase in mallard numbers this year compared to last season."
Teal says another bonus from the average weather has been a delayed crop harvest in the region.

"Mallards are opportunistic feeders and will move in to feed briefly on maize and grain from recently harvested paddocks," he says.

"The fact that the harvest has been quite late could see more ducks remain locally, for longer, because they don’t need to search for food elsewhere."

While there are plenty of ducks around on the eve of this weekend’s Opening (May 2/3), the torrential rain means some hunters may have to adapt to wider bird distribution.

"There’s a lot more standing water around this season, giving ducks more options for where they feed and roost. Hunters may need to take that into account and have a few back-up spots if the ducks aren’t coming into their chosen possie on Opening morning."

He’s also encouraging hunters to hunt throughout the season: "Often we see blue skies and calm condition over Opening Weekend which favours the ducks because they can fly high, and this makes hunting a little more challenging.

"The better waterfowl hunting weather comes later in the season, so hunters should make the most of their investment in a game bird hunting licence and get out often after Opening too."

Over 5000 duck hunters are expected to be out in the Wellington Fish & Game region - roughly the area between Cook Strait and Waiouru - over Opening Weekend.

"Duck hunting is an important tradition for many Kiwis - one of the few recreational pursuits that sees some senior rugby cancelled over the weekend. Friends and families come together from all walks of life, often the only time they see each other for the year, to harvest some healthy food and socialise after the hunt.

"It’s an important bridge for the rural-urban divide too, with many landowners generously allowing hunters onto their properties. Opening Weekend of the game bird season is certainly a big part of Kiwi culture and has a significant following in the lower North Island."

Anyone hunting ducks must have a valid game bird licence, available from the Fish & Game website - www.fishandgame.org.nz - or outdoor supplies stores.

Teal points out that Fish & Game Rangers will be active across the region, checking compliance, with support from Police officers.

"Make sure you’ve got your game bird licence, you’re familiar with the regulations and bag limits for the season, and always follow the firearms safety rules."

Hosted by Environment Southland, the event will focus on planning, compliance, and soil management ahead of the winter grazing season, which runs from May 1 to September 30.

Focus on Soil and Strategic Grazing

Environment Southland land sustainability manager Simon Stokes says the field day, held on 30 April, will feature informative and thought provoking speakers and a quick run through of a winter grazing checklist.

The theme for the event is 'Soil and Strategic Grazing' and speakers include Beef + Lamb NZ's Tom Orchiston.

Orchiston will cover soil structure, nutrient movement, and how grazing decisions impact land health.

Planning Key to Reducing Risk

The best way to mitigate risks is to have a winter grazing plan for the season as required under the Southland Water and Land Plan.

Making sure people get it right around buffer zones and protecting critical source areas was crucial, he said.

Stokes says good planning is crucial.

"Help your team and contractors understand what they need to be doing. If you haven’t already, take the team out on a farm/paddock trip and have a look at the location, go through a few scenarios, including what to do when the weather cuts up rough, or the soils get saturated early in the season.”

Event Details

The field day will include a winter grazing checklist, expert presentations, and opportunities for discussion.

Location: Pukerau Hall, 71 Middle Street, Pukerau
Date: Thursday, April 30, 2026
Time: 10:00am – 1:30pm
Lunch provided

Farmers can register or find more information via the Environment Southland website or by contacting their team directly.

Now in its 15th year, Road Safety Week is coordinated by road safety charity Brake and sponsored by NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) and Beca.

"Be A Road Safety Hero"

The theme for 2026 is to "Be a road safety hero", recognising the people involved in making New Zealand's roads safer for everyone - from designing safer roads to caring for people after a crash – and highlighting the part we can all play in making roads safer.

Brake is calling on families and community leaders to register for a free online action pack of resources, including downloadable resources and activity ideas.

Community Action Key to Safer Roads

Brake's NZ director, Caroline Perry, says that everyone should be able to get around in safe and healthy ways.

"There are lots of people who work to make our roads safer, to save lives when crashes happen, and to support those affected by crashes, so this Road Safety Week, we want to recognise all these Road Safety Heroes and highlight how everyone can be a hero too," Perry says.

“Parents and community groups can help get these vital messages out to families, young people and local drivers, making a difference to their local community," she says.

"It’s not too late to get involved – just visit the Road Safety Week website and sign up to get a free action pack.”

Strong Backing from Industry and Government

Fabian Marsh, NZTA strategy director - safety, says NZTA is proud to sponsor Road Safety Week 2026, adding that making New Zealand roads safer for everyone is a top priority for the organisation.

“Road Safety Week is a great way to help highlight people and organisations already involved in improving road safety, and to help raise awareness of road safety in local communities.”

Meanwhile, Beca's managing director - New Zealand, Andrea Rickard, says that reducing harm on New Zealand's roads is a vital part of her organisation's work.

"We’re proud to again stand alongside Brake, NZ Transport Agency, our partners and all the road safety heroes in communities across the motu who work every day to make our roads safer.

"I know our Beca teams around New Zealand are excited to get out and promote road safety messages in the communities we live and work in, including teaching students in our local schools about how to stay safe on and around roads.” 

Celebrate Your Road Safety Heroes

There are ways communities can highlight their own Road Safety Heroes locally during Road Safety Week, and ideas are included in the action pack.

Heroes will also be celebrated nationally throughout the week. Brake is a member of the Yellow Ribbon Road Safety Alliance, a group of organisations working to raise awareness of road safety. The Alliance will be presenting the annual Road Safety Hero Awards during Road Safety Week, and Brake will also be highlighting the important work of a range of people working to make our roads safer.

Another way the Alliance raises awareness of road safety is through use of the colour yellow, including wearing yellow ribbon pins and lighting up bridges, buildings, and icons yellow during Road Safety Week. Other organisations can support this by lighting local buildings or icons, wearing yellow, or wearing a yellow ribbon pin. If you have a local icon that could be lit yellow, please get in contact with Brake or the Alliance.

The report shows the average salary for a farm worker increased by $1,367 to $72,778, a weighted average rise of 3% across 13 job positions.

Karl Dean, Federated Farmers employment spokesperson says that for some roles, the increases have been higher.

"For example, the average salary for a dairy farm assistant - the most common position on a dairy farm - rose to $63,359 this year, a rise of 5%," Dean says.

"Wages for an arable farm machinery operator jumped a massive 30% to $82,651."

The moderation in farm worker pay rises in the last two years is consistent with broader labour market trends, with wage growth across the economy typically 2-2.4% annually.

"Keep in mind, too, that average annual salaries in our sector jumped 13% between 2022 and 2024, with a weighted average rise of 17% for sheep and beef farm roles," Dean says.

Total Package Value Rising Above Base Salary

Rabobank's general manager for country banking, Bruce Weir, says the report highlights slightly stronger growth in Total Package Values (TPV) for farm employees.

"The salary figures don’t include the range of other benefits provided to farm employees, which can include things like vehicle usage, meat, firewood, phone and power allowances," Weir says.

"For many farm employees, those extras can add up to several thousand dollars a year.

"Overall, the weighted average TPV across all farm employees lifted 5% to $77,030, nearly $4,252 more than the average salary."

An Attractive Option

Weir says that in spite of the relatively modest rise in salaries and TPV in the past two years, the sector's recent strong performance makes it an attractive option for young Kiwis.

"The agri sector has performed really strongly over the last 18 months and has been the shining light of the New Zealand economy," he says.

"The sector’s long-term outlook remains positive, and the strong investment we’re currently seeing should flow through to new job opportunities in the years ahead."

However, Weir says ongoing salary growth is also essential to ensure the sector continues to entice the next generation into agri careers.

"Remuneration matters to young people, and attracting strong talent will depend on on-farm salaries keeping up with - or surpassing - the wider employment market."

Dairy Sector: Margins Under Pressure Despite Strong Prices

For dairy farm workers, the average weighted rise in TPV was 5%, up to $77,186.

"Pay rises for dairy farm staff were stronger in entry- and mid-level roles, and while the labour market remains competitive for experienced dairy workers, wage pressures have eased," Dean says.

The dairy sector is facing increasing margin pressure despite solid commodity prices.

While forecast milk prices remain relatively strong at $9.20-$9.80 per kilogram of milk solids, breakeven costs have risen to around $8.50kgMS.

That’s eating into margins for many operators and is reflected in farmers’ weakening profit expectations, which fell to a net negative position in early 2026, Dean says.

"These factors help explain why dairy farm pay increases have been more incremental compared to bigger lifts in the previous years," Dean says.

Sheep and Beef: Stable but Cautious Employment Growth

Sheep and beef farm remuneration rose more modestly:

• TPV increased 2% to $76,296
• Salaries also lifted 2% overall

Despite improved seasonal conditions, farmers remain cautious due to cost volatility; cyclical market conditions; and uncertain forward returns.

This is limiting more aggressive wage growth and hiring expansion.

Arable Sector: Strong Gains in Skilled Machinery Roles

The arable sector showed the most variation in pay movement:

• TPV increased 7% to $73,980
• Salaries rose 5% overall

Machinery operators saw big increases in both TPV and salary, but general farm hands and farm managers experienced declines.

Dean says the pay boost for machinery operators is largely attributable to the lift in technology in harvesting and other equipment coming onto farms, and the greater level of knowledge required to operate this equipment.

"These skills are becoming harder to find and come at a cost of remuneration," he says.

"The lift in pay also reflects the fact that the past two wet harvests have increased the number of hours worked by operators to get the harvest done and extra time spent getting crops established."

Dean says that while a relatively smaller sample size from this sector means results should be interpreted with some caution, the outcomes reflect economic and operational pressures.

"There is global oversupply in herbage seed, softer prices are putting a dampener on returns to farmers and wetter conditions over the past season have reduced yields.

"The decline in pay for general hand and manager positions is down to reduced profitability in the sector."

The Commission says a shortfall would mean that more targets could need to be auctioned in the future to enable the NZ ETS to function well while remaining aligned with emissions targets.

Jo Hendy, chief executive of the Climate Change Commission, says the advice is designed to help the Government make regular updates as needed.

"We've identified a potential future unit shortfall, which is concerning but uncertain," Hendy says. "Our view is that the best option for now is to hold auction settings steady, get ready to act if needed, and reassess next year when better information is available."

She says the recommendations aim to avoid changes that could further unsettle the market.

"While this advice is focused on making the NZ ETS work as well as it can given its existing architecture, bigger reforms are needed for the NZ ETS to be an effective tool in the 2030s. We advise the Government to start developing these reforms carefully and transparently, and with consultation," says Hendy.

Shortfall Risk Could Create Price Volatility

Hendy says that for an ETS to support an orderly transition to meet emissions targets, the emissions price needs to steadily rise over time to encourage the shift to low-emissions options.

"In contrast, a unit shortfall could cause volatile price spikes - which could force emissions reductions through lower production or factory closures rather than upgrading to lower emissions technologies and processes," she says.

"A shortfall could also put the Government under pressure to make ad hoc market interventions, which in the past has been bad for confidence. The Government can get ahead of that by publicly consulting on options to address a future shortfall."

These recommendations are conditional on the next settings advice and update being in 2027, which the Government has recently confirmed will go ahead.

Auction Settings Have Limited Reach

NZ ETS auction settings shape expectations and market confidence, which matters for investment decisions, but they have limited reach. Auctioned units are a small share of total units in the system, and the NZ ETS covers less than half of Aotearoa New Zealand’s emissions. This means settings are important, but not decisive on their own.

"Annual auction settings can’t solve the bigger design challenges with the NZ ETS. The scheme covers around 40% of domestic emissions, and that share is declining," Hendy says.

"Under the current architecture, by the mid-2030s the NZ ETS will struggle to provide an investment signal for either decarbonisation or forestry," she adds.

"We’ve previously advised that the Government needs to start a transparent and consultative process to determine what an effective NZ ETS in the 2030s will look like.

"Investors need credible, well-signalled and consistent policies on the NZ ETS - and on climate change generally - to have confidence that investments in emissions reduction will generate returns."

Party leader Helen Houghton says that many New Zealanders are already worried about being pushed out of employment as businesses increasingly turn to low-cost migrant labour.

"New Zealanders were never asked whether they supported an agreement that expands temporary work pathways at a time when many locals are struggling to secure stable employment, but they'll certainly feel the consequences," Houghton says.

"If a trade deal mainly delivers more workers competing for the same jobs, that's not free trade - that's selling out your own workforce," she says.

Concerns Over Jobs and Migration

Houghton says Kiwis are already concerned about pressure on housing, infrastructure and public services.

"New Zealand is already struggling with housing shortages, stretched infrastructure, and growing pressure on health and education services," she says.

"Increasing the number of foreign workers without addressing those pressures risks making the problem worse," she adds.

Houghton's criticism comes a day after the Labour Party announced it would support the deal.

She says the deal shows how the two major parties - National and Labour - are out of touch with the realities of ordinary New Zealanders.

“National and Labour may celebrate this as a diplomatic success, but for many Kiwis the question is simple: what are we actually gaining from it?”

Call for Economic Focus

Houghton argues that trade agreements need to focus on expanding export opportunities for New Zealand businesses and strengthening the economy.

"Trade deals should open markets for our farmers, exporters and innovators - not intensify competition for jobs at home," she says.

The party is calling for greater transparency around the agreement and a clear explanation of how it will benefit New Zealand workers and families.

"New Zealanders deserve trade policies that put their interests first," Houghton concludes.

Cameron McIntosh, chief executive of Southland District Council, says Council's priority is maintaining critical infrastructure and services that rely on diesel fuel.

Focus on Power, Water and Wastewater Continuity

One of the most critical areas is electricity generation on Stewart Island Rakiura, where diesel-powered generators are essential for maintaining a stable power supply.

Additionally, several of the district's water and wastewater treatment plants rely on diesel generators as back-up power to operate safely and meet public health requirements.

Council staff are monitoring fuel requirements for these essential services to ensure continuity of supply.

Dedicated Response Team Monitoring Situation

McIntosh says Council has set up a team, which meets weekly, to closely monitor the situation as it evolves, assess risks and co-ordinate the Council's response.

"This team is focused on maintaining oversight so that we can respond quickly to any changes," he says.

Staff have been encouraged to work with a range of practical measures to help reduce fuel demand where possible, including sharing vehicles when travelling across the district, making greater use of online meetings rather than travelling where appropriate, reinforcing efficient driving practices and ensuring Council vehicles maintain adequate fuel levels.

Community Encouraged to Play a Role

The Council is encouraging residents and businesses to consider taking simple steps where they are able.

Recommended actions include:

• Carpooling or sharing transport
• Planning trips efficiently
• Driving smoothly to reduce fuel use

“We want to let our communities know that Council is actively monitoring and managing the situation," says McIntosh.

"Our focus is on protecting essential services like power, water and wastewater while also doing what we can to reduce demand. Small actions by many people can make a real difference,” he adds.

Labour’s spokesperson on Trade, Damien O’Connor says if National had provided all the information it wanted right at the start they would have signed it off much earlier.

He says Labour has always wanted to be bipartisan on trade and have signed  many such agreements in the past.

“But in this case the problem was not having details throughout the negotiations and when the deal was agreed Labour had to investigate the detail in the deal itself. People in the Labour party  were asking legitimate questions around migration, education and even around the dairy. They wanted to make sure  that migrant workers were not going to be exploited and  that students who come to this country were going to  get legitimate education and not being exploited,” he says.

O’Connor says they had a responsibility to understand the legal rationale and support and advice that sat behind the FTA.

He says they also needed to investigate claims by Winston Peters that it was a bad deal for NZ.

“We checked out these claims and we are satisfied they were not true,” he says.

O’Connor describes the FTA as a step forward with the worlds most populous country and that in the end it will be the role of exporters to extract value from it.

He says government's role is to open doors and let business decide what opportunities best suit them.

Labour’s support for the FTA means that it can now be successfully ratified by the NZ parliament

The FTA is Due to be signed by Trade Minister Todd McClay in Delhi this coming week. The Minister has with him a cross party delegation including MP’s and more than 30 kiwi business representatives

Todd McClay says a trade agreement with India has been a long ambition for New Zealand.

“The signature of the NZ-India FTA is an occasion to celebrate,” he says.

Following prosecution by the Ministry for Primary Industries, David Fraser Beck pleaded guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act.

He was sentenced on 22 April after his neglect resulted in more than 200 sheep needing to be euthanised due to starvation, severe flystrike and parasite problems.

Evidence of Severe Welfare Failures

The charges included reckless ill treatment of 219 sheep and failing to treat ill or injured animals.

There was also one representative charge relating to 2,164 sheep for failing to provide proper and sufficient food, to provide preventative flystrike treatment and to diagnose and treat sheep for internal parasites.

MPI district manager of animal welfare and NAIT compliance, Tom Teneti says that when animal welfare inspectors visited the farming operation at Waipiropiro station they found evidence of serious animal welfare offending.

“This included many sheep with active flystrike, 17 of which had to be euthanised immediately to prevent further suffering. Sheep carcasses were found throughout the property," Teneti says.

He says Beck was an experienced farmer but failed to provide the basics - sufficient veterinary treatment and quality feed for his sheep.

Majority of Flock Below Welfare Standards

During subsequent visits to the farm, conducted under a search warrant, animal welfare inspectors had 1,497 sheep examined. 

The body condition of just 59 of these animals met the minimum standards of the Code of Welfare Sheep and Beef Cattle.

“It was clear that these standards, including providing sufficient food and water, were not being met and that preventative or remedial action was not being taken when animals were showing signs of ill health. Mr Beck was failing in his responsibility to these animals," Teneti says.

Infrastructure Failures Compounded Animal Suffering

Teneti says fences and gates on the farm were in disrepair, and some had been pushed over by sheep and cattle.

"An additional 219 sheep had to be euthanised to end their suffering," he says.

“This was serious offending. These animals were suffering a range of problems including broken legs, lameness, severe flystrike, parasites and starvation. They were euthanised to end their pain and suffering.

“Most farmers do the right thing for their animals and take early action where necessary. Mr Beck let these animals down. When we find evidence of poor practice and cruelty, we take action,” Mr Teneti says.

Beck was also ordered to pay $5,000 costs to MPI.

MPI strongly encourages any member of the public who is aware of animal ill-treatment or cruelty to report it to the MPI animal welfare complaints freephone 0800 008 333. 

Returning to Mystery Creek, Hamilton, 10–13 June, South Island ticket buyers will automatically go in the draw to win a $2,000 cashback to help cover travel costs, making it easier than ever before to be part of Fieldays.

“We know it’s a big commitment to travel from the South Island, so we wanted to give people a real incentive to join us,” says New Zealand National Fieldays Society chief executive Richard Lindroos.

The $2,000 cashback prize is designed to help offset the costs of flights, accommodation, and travel. Tickets purchased before May 11 will automatically go into the draw to win.

“We have Hamilton Airport on our doorstep, and it is not only a great opportunity to come to Fieldays but stay and have a look around the mighty Waikato region and enjoy local hospitality,” says Lindroos.

More than 1,200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services, with sites nearly sold out. Visitors can expect a diverse and engaging experience, from cutting-edge agri-tech and advanced farm machinery to artisan food and new-to-market vehicles. A wide range of financial and insurance solutions will also be on display.

The introduction of a new Fieldays Function Centre located on the Village Green will create additional opportunities for businesses to host innovative and engaging functions during the event.

A strong lineup of feature areas will give visitors the opportunity to explore emerging technologies, career pathways, sector insights, and the latest developments shaping the future of agriculture and rural industries. These are showcased across the Fieldays Hubs, including Innovation, Careers & Education, Forestry, Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing, Rural Advocacy, and the Drone Zone.

Several key features are also reaching important milestones, with the Fieldays® Hauora Taiwhenua Health & Wellbeing Hub celebrating its 10-year anniversary and the Fieldays® Forestry Hub marking five years as part of the Fieldays programme.

Competition highlights include Tractor Pull, Fencing and Excavator Competitions. These features continue to celebrate capability, skill, and a strong sense of grassroots entertainment, providing popular entertainment for visitors.

Families will find no shortage of action in the Fieldays Family Fun Zone. Packed with free, hands‑on activities, the zone invites kids and parents alike to scale the rock wall, try the bungy trampoline, test their swing on the golf simulator, or burn off energy on the inflatables.

Just steps away, families can wander through the Heritage Village, where highlights include the historic church, the old Kihikihi jail, and the National Dairy Museum. For those interested in rural art, The Fieldays Creative Space, also located in the Heritage Village, offers visitors a chance to slow down and engage with the creative side of rural life, celebrating storytelling and humour inspired by artist David Henshaw. The space showcases artworks, exhibitions and creative displays that reflect rural heritage, landscapes and lived experiences, providing a thoughtful contrast to the event’s technology and innovation focus.

Visitors can get involved with voting for their favourite Fieldays Innovation Awards via the kiosk in the Innovation Hub and Exhibitor Site Awards through the official Fieldays App.

The Gate Prize also returns, supported by JAC and Stoney Creek. Every personalised ticket that comes through the gates is a chance to win a JAC T9 Ute (RRP $49,990) and $10,000 of Stoney Creek gear. Visitors can triple their chances of winning during the event by visiting the JAC site at I30 and Stoney Creek at site F55.

General admission tickets are priced online at $36 for a one-day adult pass and $18 for a one-day child pass, with free entry for children under five. A family pass is available for $108. Ample free parking is available and limited VIP parking can also be purchased, giving visitors access through Gate A on Airport Road, just steps from the North Entry.

As part of ticket purchasing for 2026, customers have the option to donate during checkout to the Rural Support Trust.

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing relationship with Rural Support Trust through our donation initiative. Donations support the Trust’s vital work providing practical assistance and wellbeing support to farming families and rural communities across New Zealand," says Lindroos.

Also on sale is the Fieldays® Business Lounge ticket, brought to you by One NZ. This premium ticket option includes access to an all-inclusive lounge, VIP parking, complimentary meals, barista and beverage service, and dedicated meeting spaces with workstation facilities.

ickets are on sale now at http://www.fieldays.co.nz/.

The NZIBF says Labour's support is a clear affirmation of the importance of a stable and predictable approach to trade policy.

NZIBF executive director Felicity Roxburgh says that bipartisan support for the agreement provides exporters with greater certainty as they invest and plan for future engagement in the Indian market.

Bipartisan Support Strengthens Export Confidence

Roxburgh says Labour's endorsement reinforces the importance of consistent trade policy in supporting New Zealand’s export-led economy.

"Our ability to compete and sell into global markets underpins jobs, drives incomes, and funds the public services New Zealanders depend on.

"Bipartisan support for this deal gives businesses the confidence to take a long-term view," she says.

Unlocking Access to 1.4 Billion Consumers

The agreement, which is set to be signed in New Delhi on 27 April, was announced at the end of December 2025 and will unlock access to India's 1.4 billion consumers.

"This is about more than market access, it is about the farmers, growers, manufacturers and innovators behind our export sectors, and the communities across New Zealand that depend on them," Roxburgh says.

Roxburgh says the agreement is a critical development in New Zealand's engagement with India, which is a fast growing and strategically important economy.

“India represents a major opportunity. This agreement begins to break down barriers and opens the door to deeper commercial relationships across a wide range of sectors," she says.

“In a world shaped by rising protectionism and geopolitical tension, standing still is not an option. Securing improved access to markets like India strengthens New Zealand’s resilience, spreads risk, and ensures our exporters remain competitive.”

“We are focused on working constructively with government to ensure New Zealand businesses are well positioned to take full advantage of the opportunities this agreement creates, and that these are translated into real commercial outcomes for exporters.”

NZ Winegrowers See Opportunity in Deal

New Zealand Winegrowers (NZW) says it also represents Labour's support for the agreement.

NZW chief executive Philip Gregan says maintenance of bipartisan alignment on trade is very positive.

“India represents a significant long-term opportunity for New Zealand wine, and sustained cross-party commitment will be key to delivering a high-quality agreement with real commercial outcomes," Gregan says.

“We value the constructive approach taken across Parliament and the shared recognition of trade as a driver of growth, jobs, and regional prosperity,” he concludes.

The funding will help accelerate wallaby control work during the 2026/27 and 2027/28 financial years, reducing the risk of wallabies spreading into new areas and avoiding much higher long-term control costs.

It builds on previous investment and ensures earlier gains aren't lost at a critical point in the programme.

South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi Councillor Nick Ward says wallabies are one of the most significant biosecurity threats facing Canterbury.

"This is urgent, we must act now with a huge knock-down, not a band aid approach," Ward says.

He says the boost is a "wise use" of the reserve funds.

"A dollar spent now is ten dollars saved later on," he says.

Peter Scott, another South Canterbury/Ōtuhituhi says local knowledge and coordination is important.

“I know two people who recently shot 200 wallabies over two days. This is a pest and it's destructive. It’s also a huge area we’re dealing with so we need to work with the community to find a local solution for a local problem. I’m pleased the Council has supported this, which will ultimately benefit the whole region and country," Scott says.

“If left unchecked, wallaby spread would have serious consequences for biodiversity, productive land, and neighbouring regions. Acting now enables us to protect both local communities and the substantial public investment already made,” he adds.

The investment will be used for a coordinated package of work across the containment area, including new exclusion fencing, expanded aerial and ground control, maintenance operations and enhanced monitoring and landowner engagement.

The funding comes from the Council’s Pest Management Reserve. The policy sets a target balance of $1 million, allowing surplus funds to be reinvested into urgent pest management activity without the need to increase rates.

The work also complements central government investment through the Tipu Mātoro National Wallaby Eradication Programme, under which nearly $14 million has already been invested in Canterbury.

The Council will receive progress updates on delivery at the end of each financial year, while longer‑term funding options for wallaby management, including targeted rates, will be considered through the Long‑Term Plan 2027–37.

However, Labour Leader Chris Hipkins is warning businesses to proceed with caution and do their own due diligence.

"New Zealand businesses need to go into this with their eyes wide open," Hipkins says.

The deal, set to be signed in New Delhi on 27 April, was announced before Christmas last year.

Labour's support is required for the deal to come into effect because coalition partner NZ First withdrew it's support, with Winston Peters claiming the deal is "neither free nor fair".

Hipkins says that while the deal cuts tariffs and increases market access for New Zealand exporters, its $33 billion investment target is unrealistic and missing that target could mean benefits of the deal are "clawed back in 15 years".

"While Todd McClay says it's all aspirational, India is already setting up oversight and has signalled it will enforce the clawback," he says.

“This is not the deal Labour would have negotiated, but we value our relationship with India and the positive contributions of our Indian communities,” Hipkins says.

The Government has now committed to an expanded labour inspectorate at the next budget; faster visa changes; and prioritisation of the Modern Slavery Bill.

Hipkins says his party's position on the FTA is now settled.

"Our expectations, both on implementation of the commitments above, and on how this Government conducts itself toward the communities affected, are not negotiable," he concludes.

Land Information Minister Mike Butterick says the bill, which was introduced to Parliament today, will unlock economic opportunities and support job creation across regional New Zealand.

Butterick says the Government has listened to the rural community and understands that the status quo has placed constraints on pastoral leaseholders, limiting their ability to diversity and respond to changing market conditions.

"The proposed legislation will offer increased flexibility for secondary use activities, which contribute to economic growth and create new jobs," he says.

"Proposals also recognise that other activities can be undertaken together with pastoral farming, and in a way that the inherent values of the unique environment are maintained or enhanced."

Permitted activities within the Bill include farm shops selling products grown or reared on farm; hospitality ventures; arable and horticulture activities; and renewable energy projects.

"The listed activities will offer leaseholders the opportunity to diversity their income and grow their businesses," Butterick says. "Where this occurs, we know there is a flow-on effect to local businesses and communities who benefit. This is always a win/win situation."

Butterick says that administrative processes will also be streamlined under the bill, reducing the red tape involved.

"These improvements are intended to let leaseholders focus on farming and innovation, rather than compliance.”

The public will be invited to provide input on the proposed changes through the Select Committee process.

Butterick says he encourages all interested parties to share their views and help shape the final legislation.

“The Government looks forward to working with stakeholders to realise the benefits of these progressive reforms.

“This legislation marks a new chapter for high country farming, underpinned by a commitment to economic growth, environmental stewardship, and strong rural communities.”

Now in its 20th year, the organisation runs an annual event to formally honour New Zealand families which have farmed their land for 100 years or more.

With 36 Century Farms to be featured this year, some 300 people are expected at the event, to be held in Lawrence, Otago, on the weekend of May 15.

Another 12 farms will be honoured as SesquiCentennial farms, having clocked up 150 years.

The event includes a welcome on the Friday night then a farm and town tour on the Saturday before the awards dinner that evening. It is not a competition, but all honourees are presented with a certificate and a bronze plaque suitable for mounting on their property.

"We need to celebrate farming. Farming's been a really big part, and still is a big part, of what makes New Zealand, and makes our income as a country," said Barnett.

She said the history of farming families, the things they have been through and the things they've done, might otherwise be forgotten.

"Most farmers aren't just stuck on a farm working their farm, a lot of them are a major part of their local communities.

"So often farming is seen in a negative light and I think it's good to reward those that have done great things and are still doing great things."

Barnett said she and her husband spent 28 years on a 10-acre block, which was "nothing" compared with the Century farmers, but it gave an appreciation of the highs and the lows that farmers have been through.

NZCFSA chair Edward Fitzgerald said the NZCFSA team and Lawrence locals were looking forward to hosting the event.

"It is a real honour to acknowledge the families' hard work and perserverance."

To qualify, a farm has to have been held and farmed by the same family for over 100 years.

Barnett said it doesn't matter whether the farm is owned or leased, with many farms in the earlier days starting out as Crown or Māori lease, many of which had since converted to freehold.

She said many farms were balloted to returned servicemen after the first world war, in a process that continued into the 1920s.

"So that's bringing out quite a few of our Century Farmers these days."

Barnett said the movement was long established in the United States and Canada and was launched in New Zealand after "a key couple of people" heard about it,

The New Zealand movement is based in Lawrence partly because there is a good number of Century Farms in the area. Barnett said it was the site of New Zealand's first major gold rush in 1861, and many miners who made their fortune from the Gabriel's Gully gold used their earnings to buy land in the district.

"Our first awards in 2005 were a very quiet affair and it's got bigger ever since."

She said the 12 SesquiCentennial Farms was the highest number yet.

"Some of them are returns that have celebrated the farm as a Centennial farm and have since kicked over the 150 years."

 Farmlands has been the major sponsor throughout.

Meanwhile, NZCFSA is inviting applications for the next event, from families that have worked their land since 1926 or earlier. The deadline is November 30.

That's how Otama Marere Advisory trustee Diane Berghan described the field day at their orchard, staged as part of the Ahuwhenua Trophy competition to determine the top Māori horticulture entity in the 2026 competition.

Otama Marere Trust is one of three finalists in the competition and manages 45 hectares of Māori freehold land at Paengaroa near Te Puke in the Bay of Plenty. Their land was originally leased to the Te Puke Golf Club before the trust took ownership of it in the 1980s and converted it into an orchard.

Today's operations include more than 21ha of kiwifruit, avocados, native plantings, and 6.3ha of protected wetlands. The Trust diversifies through commercial property investment and Māori partnerships.

More than 200 people turned up for the field day and heard presentations by trustees and staff about the operation of the trust, before being taken to two sites to see the orchard and how it is developing.

Among those present was Larissa Wooding-Ngata, one of the finalists in this year's Ahuwhenua Young Māori Grower competition, run in conjunction with the main Ahuwhenua Trophy event.

Berghan says she couldn't be happier with the field day and says people were able to see that they are not just about growing kiwifruit but are also about restoring and giving back to the land.

"The day was also about acknowledging the owners of Otama Marere and the support they guve the trustees and the decisions they are making now for future generations," she says.

Another advisory trustee, Petera Tapsell, says he was ecstatic with the day, which was bigger than he though it would be. He was especially pleased with the positive comments from attendees.

"That gave me a lot of heart and I am very proud of where we have gotten to," he told Rural News.

Ahuwhenua Trophy chair Nukuhia Hadfield praised Otama Marere Trust for running an enjoyable field day. She says they have worked hard establishing a diversity of crops and have taken a leading role in growing SunGold G3, being one of the first Māori-owned orchards to grow this crop.

"This gave attendees a picture of what they have achieved by hard work and determination over many years," she says.

The winner of the competition will be announced at a gala dinner in Whangarei in June.

To understand whether plant disease-causing fungi are being moved this way, scientists from the Bioeconomy Science Institute are identifying the species being carried on beetles found in Kiwi forests and orchards.

Darryl Herron, task lead on the project says that while much is known about the beetles, less is known about the fungi travelling with them.

Since 2024, researchers across the Bioeconomy Science Institute, including teams from Lincoln, Rotorua, Ruakura, Auckland, and Motueka, have collaborated to trap bark and ambrosia beetles across the country and analyse the fungi they carry, through projects funded by Better Border Biosecurity and Zespri.

The work has revealed a broad range of fungi associates linked to native and introduced beetle species.

While most of these fungi are common plant associates, the team has detected species with the potential to disrupt plantation forestry, horticulture and native ecosystems if conditions change or new beetle species arrive. 

The work includes assessing potential risks to native bush, urban environments and botanical collections and monitoring beetle activity in and around orchards, where new associations and increased aggressiveness in the beetle-fungal system could pose future threats.

Bark and ambrosia beetles tunnel into trees and interact with fungi in different ways. The latter carry and cultivate specific fungi, while the former pick up a more mixed assortment. Together, they’re associated with a wide range of woody plants across plantation forests, orchards, urban areas and the native estate. Their rapid breeding ability means beetle numbers can rise quickly – so their fungal passengers are never short of taxis.

Herron says it's often these fungi that cause the greatest harm.

"Some fungal species block a tree's ability to move water and nutrients, weaken natural defences or accelerate disease, particularly when trees are already stressed by drought, age or harvesting activity," he says.

"By identifying these fungal 'passengers', we're building a clearer picture of the microscopic communities being moved across New Zealand and which beetles are more important to focus on from a biosecurity perspective. This helps us assess whether these beetles have the potential to facilitate the movement of fungi not currently established in New Zealand."

Overseas, certain beetle–fungus partnerships have caused extensive forest dieback.

Herron says the focus of the research is to understand what risks exist in New Zealand before those impacts occur.

"If we know which beetles can carry damaging fungi and where they’re moving, we can respond faster and reduce the risk to forests and export markets," he says.

The research also contributes valuable information to national surveillance efforts led by the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) and industry partners, including the Forest Owners Association, alongside other research programmes. Understanding fungal diversity being carried on these tiny beetle taxis could help refine risk modelling tools, guiding where and how surveillance and monitoring is most effective and strengthening post‑border surveillance. 

Together, these investments support New Zealand’s ability to stay ahead of emerging biosecurity risk, helping protect forests, horticulture and ecosystems and the industries and communities that depend on them.

 “Maintaining strong biosecurity pathways is critical for protecting plantation forestry and export markets,” Herron concludes.

A major new 1.5 million tonne per year urea fertiliser project is set to be developed in Southland, offering an environmentally innovative and strategically significant alternative to imported urea fertiliser.

The proposed $3 billion project, intended to be located about 30 kilometres northeast of Invercargill, will give New Zealand’s agricultural sector self-sufficiency, which is critical to the long-term security and performance of an economy heavily dependent on agriculture.

Developed by Australian-based Victorian Hydrogen, the project will also deliver significant investment and employment opportunities in Southland.

“The Southland lignite-to-urea project represents a transformative opportunity for New Zealand’s fertiliser supply chain,” says Victorian Hydrogen executive director Allan Blood.

“By combining proven global technologies with local innovation, we aim to deliver high-quality urea at competitive prices while supporting long-term sustainable agricultural growth and addressing climate challenges.”

New Zealand currently imports 500,000 tonnes of urea annually. In addition New Zealand manufactures 265,000 tonnes, but falling gas supply means domestic production might end.

Ballance Agri Nutrients, which operates the Kapuni urea plant in Taranaki, is facing gas supply issues.

It has been mulling snowballing the country’s only ammonia-urea manufacturing facility.

The proposed facility aims to:

• Enhance domestic supply and reduce reliance on volatile international markets.
• Stabilise fertiliser costs and mitigate foreign exchange and cost risks for farmers.
• Produce additional products such as AdBlue, a diesel exhaust additive to reduce emissions.
• Support peaking power electricity demand of up to 114 MW at any one time by temporarily reducing production.

The Southland facility will employ a proven lignite gasification process:

• Lignite is reacted with oxygen at high temperatures and low pressures to produce syngas.
• Syngas is reacted with steam to produce hydrogen.
• Hydrogen is combined with atmospheric nitrogen to produce ammonia.
• Ammonia is then reacted with captured carbon dioxide from previous reactions to produce urea.

Blood says the technology is well established globally.

The world’s latest urea plant, using technology identical to that to be used in Southland, was commissioned in Zambia in late 2025.

“The Southland project is about applying this existing technology in a smarter and cleaner way,” Blood says.

“We are committed to mitigating the greenhouse gas impacts before the project proceeds, not after.

“Environmental management will be central to the project’s design, with various opportunities being looked at. These include using CO₂ to make algae-based cattle feed, liquid fuels, construction materials, and in inhibitor technologies to reduce nitrous oxide emissions.”

Blood emphasises the company’s dedication to transparent engagement with stakeholders, including local iwi, Ngāi Tahu rūnanga, councils, farmers and landowners across the 3,141-hectare exploration area that has been applied for.

“Mining operations will be designed to minimise disruption, with progressive rehabilitation and more-than-fair compensation for affected landowners,” he says.

The project is expected to apply for approvals under the fast-track regulatory process. Key milestones include:

Applying for regulatory consents and engaging with landowners.

Completing initial geological and hydrological studies by spring 2026.

Progressing to detailed engineering and process design.

A targeted three-year pathway from the conclusion of the very detailed studies currently underway, to full production.

“The initial economic analysis looks very good indeed and hence the desire to move forward quickly,” Blood says.

“New Zealand is currently exposed to global fertiliser shocks it can’t control. This project is about providing national self-sufficiency for the next 50 years plus - producing what farmers need in New Zealand, with world-class technology and robust environmental safeguards,” Blood says.

Her selection follows current National MP Maureen Pugh’s decision to retire.

Labour MP Damien O’Connor, who previously held the seat, will also not be standing.

Milne is a fifth-generation family farmer from the West Coast and was the first woman to be elected president of Federated Farmers – serving from 2017 to 2020 in that role. Her career in farmer politics began in 1991 and she once told Rural News her initial role was in the Feds dairy section, which she took on to help others understand why farmers do what they do and to correct a lot of misconceptions about the sector.

She also called out some of the rules farmers were subjected to, saying certain individuals had no idea of the consequences of their decisions at a practical level on farm.

In 2015 Milne was named Fonterra Dairy Woman of the Year and later served on the National Animal Welfare Advisory Committee, chaired the West Coast TB Free Committee and was a member of the Farmer Mental Wellness Strategy Group and helped found the Lake Brunner Community Catchment Care Group.

Milne and her partner Ian own a dairy farm near Lake Brunner southeast of Greymouth. She says as a lifetime advocate for farming, she applauds the current government for its support for farming, including removing red tape and signing major trade deals.

“As a fifth-generation coaster, I know that our region can be more productive, with more jobs and higher wages, which is why I am standing for National,” she says.

NZ Grow Co is designed to boost the cannabis industry's position as a high-value export sector.

It will provide an integrated model linking cultivation, processing, and export capability. It enables growers to participate in regulated international markets through a coordinated system, rather than operating as standalone producers.

Ora Pharm, the company behind NZ Grow Co, already has 30 cultivators.

Chief executive Zoe Reece says they are getting new enquiries every week.

"We have and will be expanding our satellite grower program where we get the licenses for the growers to help streamline the process for them," she told Rural News.

Reece believes that the sector is now moving beyond its early, fragmented phase.

"Regulatory clarity is critical to unlocking investment and participation. What we are seeing now is the opportunity to build a more coordinated, export-focused industry that delivers real economic value."

The new extraction facility in North Waikato is in the process of securing EU good manufacturing practice certification - positioning the business to meet the standards required in regulated export markets.

Reece said the focus must now shift from establishment to execution.

"New Zealand has strong fundamentals: trusted primary production, a reputation for quality, and a stable regulatory environment. The next step is building the infrastructure and systems that allow the sector to scale and compete internationally."

Reece says with the new extraction facility open, they will soon be able to offer "gate prices" to cultivators.

"This will take the uncertainty out of where the product can go. We also work closely with suppliers of the grow inputs to get discounts for the farmers to reduce the cost of growing. This adds up to high margins for the farmers."

Farmers can grow cannabis as a supplementary crop but not have stock among the crops.

"They would be able to grow cannabis in rotation with other crops, like over summer and then veggies over winter."

The new extraction facility, opened by Deputy Prime Minister David Seymour this month, can process up to 400kg of flowers per day.

"We will be looking to process the majority of flower from this summer harvest and any that cultivators have from previous cycles too," says Reece.

Ora Pharm executive chair Stuart Wilcox believes New Zealand's opportunity lies in premium positioning.

"This is not a commodity play. With the right settings, New Zealand can build a high-quality, science-led export sector based on consistency, traceability, and compliance," says Wilcox.

Seymour says the medicinal cannabis sector has similar potential to the kiwifruit, honey and wine sectors.

"If you think about kiwifruit, about manuka honey, a couple of years ago, they were nothing.

"Now they're worth millions and I think the same opportunity exists here."