Rural
Movies return to Raetihi's beloved Royal Theatre
As well as being a boon for the small Ruapehu District town, it's also one for the history buffs, as it is thought the Royal is the oldest provincial cinema in New Zealand still in existence. Audio
Instadate: A speed dating service for Cantabrians 'over the apps'
After three disappointing years on dating apps, Canterbury woman Beaulieu Matthews founded the speed dating service Instadate last year. Now she hosts speed dating events and tells funny anecdotes… Audio
Midday Rural News for 4 April 2024
A leading sheep farming is giving up selling through wool auctions.
Monique Steele has the rural news. Audio
Piggery effluent lands Canterbury farm $29,000 fine
A mid-Canterbury farm has been fined for discharging piggery effluent.
Govt urged to sell farming body Pāmu into private ownership
An agribusiness accountant says selling Pāmu could boost government finances by $2 billion.
New Zealand at 'electrifcation tipping point'
New Zealand is at the 'electrification tipping point', according to a new report from non-profit Rewiring Aotearoa. Rewiring Aotearoa's aims to boost knowledge of electronificaiton. CEO Mike Casey… Audio
Synlait investors crossing fingers before first-half results released
Investors will be looking for a resolution to Synlait's debt situation when it releases its first-half result Tuesday morning.
Wild horse lovers hustle to find homes for herd
After last year's muster was cancelled, nearly half the herd is looking for homes - and they are running out of time.
From cow to cone - a big scoop from Nelson
Milk from Murray King's farm on the lower Waimea River flats is crafted into award-winning ice cream. "We had to find a way of generating better income than we would by producing whole milk powder… Audio
Finding the flock - searching for stories from Flock House
A search is underway for descendants of hundreds of British boys sent out for farming training in New Zealand a century ago. Flock House, a flagship agricultural school in New Zealand was set up 100… Audio
Raising fowls for families impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle
A hen rescued from floodwaters in Cyclone Gabrielle is helping bring back life to farms one year on. Hawke's Bay farmer Sally Newall hatched the idea to gift chicks to families impacted by the cyclone… Audio
Rural News Wrap
A round-up of the week's agricultural news with RNZ rural news reporter Sally Murphy. Audio
Country Life for 29 March 2024
Appleby Farms, Flock House centenary and Cyclone Chicks Audio
'A horse in a small package': Tiny equines ready to take on big race
Four-legged athletes will thunder down Ninety Mile Beach in what is being called "the biggest miniature horse race in the world". Audio
Third-generation cowboy takes out national rodeo championship
Johnson Davis has been riding since he was a toddler and says he is "chuffed" to have the title - and the winner's trophy saddle.
Drought declaration unlocks support for some North Island farmers, growers
Extremely dry conditions affecting North Island farms are not expected to improve in the short-term, the Minister of Agriculture says.
Drought a boon for salt works
Dry conditions are no good for farmers right now, but at Dominion Salt's works south of Blenheim, workers can't get enough.
Open fires banned in Hawke's Bay
The region has dried out and no rain is forecast in the next 10 days, heightening the risk of wildfires.