Some of New Zealand’s most remote communities will receive broadband for the first time thanks to a new Government-led initiative. The Remote Users Scheme will equip as many remote households as possible with the connectivity infrastructure needed to access broadband services, Minister for the Digital Economy and Communications David Clark has announced. “Whilst these locations […]
Rural Champion pens Wool’s the Word storybook
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) recognises the importance of sharing stories about the innovative women living and working in rural Aotearoa New Zealand. “It is an absolute pleasure to showcase and promote the incredible creativity of rural women in Aotearoa New Zealand, especially our NZI Rural Women NZ Business Award Winners,” National President Gill Naylor […]
Otago masters student probes rural dating scene
A ute drive to some hill vista to watch the sunset? A few beers/wines at the country pub? Skinny dipping at a secluded swimming hole? How do rural men pursue dating and negotiate relationships? Is it any different from their townie counterparts? That’s a topic that Otago University student Sophie Dix is investigating as part […]
Tekapo wildfire sparks warning to landowners
A wildfire at Lake Tekapo this morning has prompted a strong warning for landowners to make sure any land management fires are completely extinguished. Fire and Emergency Incident Controller Steve Ochsner said the fire was reported at 2.45am, very close to the Tekapo Power Station on Tekapo Powerhouse Road, and near Lake Tekapo Village. The […]
Why farmers are digging their heels in over emissions pricing….
Federated Farmers South Canterbury President Greg Anderson has written his share of reports and submissions in his role advocating for local farmers but he says a recent piece he penned for his local newspaper sparked the most feedback he’s received – especially from people who’ve found the agricultural emissions issues confusing. We thought it was […]
Help preserve our historic woolsheds
by Celia Lemhouse Federated Farmers is helping on a project to help record the history and impact of woolsheds and the contribution of farm workers on New Zealand culture and communities. Woolsheds are a familiar sight on the New Zealand landscape, but due to recent changes in sheep farming and land use, early woolsheds and […]
Land use change in mid-Canterbury may accelerate in the early 2040s
The convergence of water use consent renewals and dairy shed renewals may be a catalyst for land use change in mid-Canterbury around the early 2040s. A report released today found that around 40 percent of all dairy milking sheds in the district were built between 2007 and 2015, according to resource consents. Using the IRD […]
Call to flood social media on ridiculous ‘wetland’ rules
By Jacqui Hahn, Federated Farmers Waikato President When will the foolish regulations stop?! Only when people look in depth at the various parties’ policies around agriculture and are smart about who they vote for. Reports from the Rural Support Trust show they’ve never had demand like they have had in the past few months. The […]
Future-proofed with his own 13ha dam
By Simon Edwards There were plenty of people who told Len French he was mad to try and build an irrigation reservoir on his farm. But he’s ploughed on through regulatory and other hurdles, and got it done. Len owns and farms 380ha at Whareama, east of Masterton, and leases another 548ha. The Federated Farmers […]
Forestry transformation plan doesn’t address emission offsetting
by Hamish Barwick The government has presented Federated Farmers with yet another opportunity to point out the false economy of trying to “pine tree’ our way out of climate change. The laudable aspirations of MPI’s Forestry and Wood Processing Draft Industry Transformation Plan are supported by Federated Farmers, but bizarrely the plan completely fails to […]