Farming
Auckland lecturer buzzing as she heads to the US to study bees
Auckland computer scientist heading to the US to work on predicting stress levels in bees.
Midday Rural News for 13 March 2024
News from the rural farming sector. Cuts are coming for the Ministry for Primary Industries, but an MPI boss says it won't be to core frontline services like its quarantine officers, veterinarians or… Audio
'Pretty barren': Farmers desperate for downpour as lake runs low
An irrigation scheme is running dry with only a week's worth of water left.
Midday Rural News for 12 March 2024
News from the rural farming sector. Lake Opuha only has a week's worth of water left. The dam near Fairlie which generates electricity for the national grid and supplies water to 16-thousand hectares… Audio
Farmer confidence 'still in the gutter'
Federated Farmers says it is good to see an improvement in confidence, but it is coming from the "lowest base we've ever had".
Farmers Markets celebrate success
At the weekend, tens-of-thousands of New Zealanders supported their local growers at the country's 25-or-so Farmers Markets.
The markets, which comprise more than 1000 small food businesses, have… Audio
'Give us a break!' say surfing farmers
Every Thursday afternoon, Banks Peninsula farmers head to the beach in Hickory Bay and ride waves to forget about work. Farmer and surfing coach, Kristin Savage, runs the Surfing for Farmers… Audio
"Fresh ideas, younger muscles" - taking on the family farm
Sarah Maxwell switches from inseminating cows in the morning to shifting cows and sheep in the afternoon, working at the local sale yards and more besides. Audio
'No turning back' - From Bluff to Picton on horseback
Karolin van Onna and her friend had dreamt about horse trekking the length of the South Island for years - and last summer they finally did it. Video, Audio
Country Life for Friday 8 March 2024
'Give us a break!' say surfing farmers, a back country dream comes true on horseback, Sarah Maxwell's farming journey and a wrap of the week's rural news. Audio
A wrap of the week's rural news
A chat about the top stories this week from RNZ's rural news team with Susan Murray in Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Audio
MPI aims to slash consultant spend by 34%
The department, which is being asked to find overall savings of 7.5 percent, spent $57.81m on consultants and contractors in the 2022-23 financial year.