New Zealand’s arable industry is on the hunt for its ‘tall poppies’ – not to chop them down but to celebrate their achievements and to inspire others. “We’re a sector that generates $800 million of sales a year, $260m of that in exports, and we’re determined to better highlight to fellow New Zealanders the role […]
People
Good Employer Awards celebrate food and fibre sector
Media release – NZ Government The food and fibre sector acknowledged its people and leadership at last night’s 2022 Primary Industries Good Employer Awards, a time to celebrate their passion towards supporting employees by putting their health, welfare and wellbeing first,” Acting Minister of Agriculture Meka Whairiti said. “Award winners were selected from an extraordinary […]
Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network welcomed as “a force for rural health”
Media release – Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network Over 150 rural health representatives from across New Zealand gathered at Parliament yesterday to celebrate the launch of Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network. The new collective organisation was welcomed by Hon Peeni Henare Associate Minister of Health (Māori) as a “force for rural health.” Reflecting upon the […]
Kiwi farmers filling food banks
Kiwi farmers want no one in New Zealand to go hungry. They’re banding together to change the way we respond to food poverty. A new nationwide partnership has been launched between Feed Out and Fonterra which aims to have 1 million litres of milk donated to food banks by dairy farmers within its first year. […]
Nathan Guy appointed Chairman of Meat Industry Association as John Loughlin steps down
Media release – Meat Industry Association Former Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy has been appointed the new Chairman of the Meat Industry Association following the retirement of current Chairman John Loughlin from the role. Mr Loughlin finishes his six-year term after the annual Red Meat Sector Conference in Christchurch on 31 July-1 August 2022. “It […]
Ki uta ki tai: NIWA’s role in mountains-to-sea estuarine management
NIWA is underway with work on better understanding communities’ aspirations for protecting estuaries, and the factors that weigh on estuarine health. Estuaries are coastal waterbodies where freshwater mixes with seawater. Many estuaries in Aotearoa New Zealand have been impacted by pollutants and contaminants entering via freshwater. Regional councils are developing coastal environmental plans to comply with […]
Futures Fund gets onside with cutting edge network technology company
New Zealand-based Agritech company Onside has secured government co-investment of $4 million to expand and accelerate the development of its biosecurity technology. Onside’s biosecurity software, Onside Intelligence (OSI), uses data from a range of sources and clever algorithms to construct an intricate rural network that’s able to map potential disease pathways and predict where incursions […]
New sheep shifting bylaw worries farmers
Federated Farmers says a proposed new stock control bylaw from Tasman District Council will be impossible for farmers to comply with. Federated Farmers Nelson provincial president Stephen Todd says the proposal for farmers to hold sheep 50 metres back from a road while they are shifting stock until all cars have driven past, could end […]
Don’t kid yourself that going meat free helps the planet
I think everyone gets their back up a bit when they see or hear ill-informed and incorrect comments thrown around. This is why I am sick of hearing and seeing throw-away statements from people (who often should know better) about the supposed benefits to the globe of meat-free days, or a meat-free diet. This time, […]
Revisiting the great exploding trousers epidemic of the 1930s
By Laura Williamson, editor/co-founder of 1964: mountain culture/Aotearoa It was strange behaviour for a “quite respectable garment”, according to the Hutt News, “Not long ago, in a country township, a man’s pair of trousers exploded with a loud report.” Fortunately, he wasn’t wearing them at the time and was able to throw the offending pants […]