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'Wiped out entire crops' - Canterbury farmers frustrated by wild weather
Canterbury arable farmers are facing millions of dollars of losses after a third big hail storm hit parts of the region on Friday.
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'Plan B' wanted for highways that keep getting damaged by storms
26 Jan 2026Farmers on the East Coast are worried about how long it will take to reopen storm-damaged State Highway 2.
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150,000 tonnes of fallen trees, $1m council costs: Clutha cleanup continues
26 Jan 2026One contractor says they now have a two-year local wait list. Audio
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New world record blazes trail for more female shearers
21 Jan 2026Four Kiwi women established a new standard by shearing 1938 lambs in eight hours in a South Otago woolshed.
Country headlines with summaries.
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'It's a little taonga': Saving one of our rarest plants
9 Jan 2026A critically endangered forget-me-not is being saved from the brink of extinction.
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Fruit fly could have 'massive impact' on crops
8 Jan 2026Horticulture chief executive Kate Scott says while the fly doesn't pose a health risk to humans, an outbreak would have a significant economic cost.
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Dairy prices reverse course, with demand rising
Dairy prices have risen sharply overnight in the latest Global Dairy Trade index, delivering a surprise uptick for farmers.
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'A lot of mud, a lot of logs, a lot of debris': Tolaga Bay farmer back at square one
5 Jan 2026Intense localised downpours caused damage that could take up to a year to repair.
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Country Life: On the job with Whanganui River's rural postie
20 Dec 2025Rural postie Tracy Marshall takes visitors along her mail delivery route which winds along the Whanganui River.
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ECan 'put on notice' over rule-making for discharges
24 Dec 2025The High Court stopped short of ordering the regional council to change the rule relating to the discharge of nitrates because of the amount of time that has lapsed.
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How planting exotic trees can help native ones grow
21 Dec 2025"You can come here and see nearly every type of forestry system that can be applied," Blair Jamieson says of Tāmata Hauhā's demonstration farm near Palmerston North.
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Country Life: Behind the scenes at the Roy's berry farm
20 Dec 2025The Roy family all pitch in getting berries from orchard to Christmas plate over the festive season. Country Life goes behind the scenes of the Christmas berry rush.
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Fonterra lowers milk price forecast amid strong supply
The co-op reduced the forecast range on its Farmgate Milk Price from $9-$10 per kilogram of milk solids to $8.50-$9.50 per kg.
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Privatised meat inspections could increase costs, reduce flexibility - report
15 Dec 2025Meat inspectors gathered at Parliament on Monday to express their concerns about the proposed changes.
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Harraways to upgrade NZ's oldest and only oat mill
15 Dec 2025The well known Otago business is spending $11m on the factory and will automate some of its production.
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Strong agricultural sector boosts PGG Wrightson
15 Dec 2025The company expected operating earnings of about $64 million for the year ending 30 June 2026.
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'It's the magic of training, the magic of animals'
13 Dec 2025Teens and kids at Bex Tasker's place find joy and life skills training farm animals.
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Rural life in the big smoke
13 Dec 2025Being right in the middle of Auckland city and surrounded by city-dwellers comes with its challenges for Cornwall Park farm.
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How to support a low-emissions farming future
12 Dec 2025A transition to low-emissions farming will need tech, support to diversify - and probably fewer cows, new research says,
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Appeal to backyard beekeepers over yellow-legged hornets
12 Dec 2025The hornets are at a stage where they will be attracted to beehives, the Auckland Beekeepers Club president says. Audio
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Farmers doing their bit to support those with intellectual disabilities in rural communities
11 Dec 2025Strong beef prices are helping raise record funds as part of a fundraising scheme that's been going for more than 40 years.
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Hornet surveillance zone doubles as 3500 properties searched
11 Dec 2025So far more than 3500 properties have been searched within 200 metres of confirmed finds, Biosecurity NZ says.
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How the world got talking about red-tipped bananas
British travelers wondered what was up with the Aussie bananas in the supermarket. The video has been viewed 11 million times.
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'No plans to ship to the US': Tariffs bite into apple grower's profits
10 Dec 2025Tariffs on a range of New Zealand exports including apples were first introduced in April at 10 percent, and increased to 15 percent in August.
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New rules for small-scale butchers
12 Dec 2025The government is looking to cut red tape for small meat processors and is also exploring how homekill meat could be made suitable for sale.
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A district 'swallowed' by pine trees: Fears over IKEA forests
5 Dec 2025The Swedish furniture giant is one of the biggest forestry owners in a region, and it's worrying residents.
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Kiwis putting cost of living ahead of environment, ministry boss says
5 Dec 2025The Ministry for the Environment boss believes New Zealanders are more concerned about immediate pressures on households, than the environment.
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You say 'Wayleggo' and I say 'Wal-a-go'!
6 Dec 2025How do sheep dogs and shepherds' handling techniques vary between New Zealand and Australia? The best teams battle it out at a Trans-Tasman dog trial, the Wayleggo Cup.
Top News stories
- Politics live: Parliament returns for 2026, first poll shows boost for NZ First, Labour
- Justice Minister defends 'absolutely fierce' head of retail crime advisory group after spate of resignations
- Woman dies after Christchurch ED staff missed signs of sepsis, HDC report says
- Endangered kākāpō lays eggs in anticipated livestream
- 'Strong case' for government inquiry into deadly Mt Maunganui landslide, Luxon says
