Navigation for News Categories
Country
Featured Country stories
A grape harvest pick 'n' mix
Friends, fun and community are all in the mix at a small Wairarapa vineyard's first grape pick of the season.
-
'Breaking a sweat, having some fun': How line dancing found a home in the city
14 Mar 2026Line dancing is accessible, low-pressure, and fun to do with friends - and townies are among its biggest fans, Country Life discovered.
-
Making memories at the Shepherdess Muster
14 Mar 2026A weekend retreat filled with crafts, relaxation, learning, fun and connection in the remote rural community of Tokanui in Southland.
-
Logistics boost for Gisborne's Eastland Port ahead of big kiwifruit harvest
13 Mar 2026Growers in Gisborne have a long-awaited alternative to road transport to get their produce out of the region.
Country headlines with summaries.
-
Wattie's a big name reminder of pressure on NZ manufacturers
Heinz Wattie's announced this week it was planning to close some of its manufacturing operations.
-
'Another nail in the coffin': Wattie's supplier fears for industry
Methven farmer Hamish Marr has supplied Wattie's with peas for around 20 years, and says the proposed closures is devastating for staff and growers alike. Audio
-
'We can't be left behind': Wattie's employee pleads for government help
12 Mar 2026A Wattie's factory employee fears for her and her colleagues' futures, saying it has been decades since some of them have had to interview for a job. Audio
-
Decorated East Coast fencing champion chases three-peat at Rural Games
13 Mar 2026Tim Garrick could win his third New Zealand Speed Fencing Championship at the Rural Games in Palmerston North this weekend.
-
Pre-harvest karakia brings together team at kiwifruit orchard
12 Mar 2026About 100 people are expected at Friday's blessing at Pukerau Orchard, which has been owned by Ngāti Hine Forestry Trust since 2018.
-
A taste of farm life in the central city
Auckland's Cornwall Park is opening its gates for 'Farm Week' from Saturday.
-
350 jobs at risk in Heinz Wattie's proposed closures
11 Mar 2026The company's plan includes axing a number of products and brands, including frozen vegetables and Gregg's.
-
Live animal exporters disappointed about U-turn
11 Mar 2026Exporters of live animals by sea are feeling "not flash" about the government's announcement it will not resume the trade this term.
-
Farmers fear double whammy of rising fuel and fertiliser costs
The conflict in the Middle East has pushed up the price of oil and the spot price of urea has jumped since the war began. Audio
-
Homes needed for 150 Kaimanawa wild horses as muster goes ahead
10 Mar 2026Department of Conservation backed down from plans not to fund it a muster this year, which could have led to a cull.
-
National would only support 'gold standard' live animal exports, Todd McClay says
The Agriculture Minister has confirmed National has withdrawn its support for resuming live animal exports by sea. Audio
-
What do rural sector groups think of the RMA?
Access to water, food production as a priority, and land use classifications are some of the issues primary sector groups are considering with the government's proposed new resource management…
-
Work on to get beef destined for Middle East back to NZ
10 Mar 2026Premium beef cuts with a shelf life of 120 days that were on the way to Dubai have been parked by shipping companies in various ports.
-
Farmer fined $35k for failing to register hundreds of cattle
9 Mar 2026Trevor Ronald Bolton failed to register 269 animals and failed to declare 571 animals that were moved off-farm.
-
Aussie farmer who swam his way out of depression
After decades of self-medicating with beer, Brendan Cullen is now an open-water swimmer and a "sounding board" for rural people who are struggling.
-
Women farmers say progress in agriculture still 'patchy'
Researchers say women's contributions to farming businesses remain under-recognised despite decades of advocacy.
-
Eat local, learn new ways to farm, and be merry
7 Mar 2026Agri-innovation talks, farm-to-table food, and good company; it's all in the name of better soil science at the Underground Festival.
-
Permaculture power in Poukawa
7 Mar 2026The Duff family's focus is working with nature when it comes to their permaculture farm and organic nursery, Kahikatea Farm.
-
Combating Australia's bushfires from the air
7 Mar 2026Henry Phelps started out flying tourists over New Zealand's wilderness areas and has lately been helping map and fight the Australian bushfires.
-
'Completely different': The secret to NZ's sheep shearing success
6 Mar 2026More than 400 competitors from 24 countries have assembled as the the Golden Shears are held in Masterton.
-
Farmers die days apart lifting vehicles with tractor forks
6 Mar 2026The son of one farmer said his father "could have died a thousand times in other ways".
-
Why Country Calendar is still going strong after 60 years
6 Mar 2026On 6 March, 1966 the first episode of a new show for farmers began.
-
WorkSafe spots chemical, machinery risks on NZ orchards
5 Mar 2026WorkSafe is mostly content with the health and safety of orchards it visited, but warns of some chemical and machinery risks.
-
Global dairy prices continue to rise in wake of Middle East conflict
The important whole-milk powder price, which influences farmer payouts, rose 4.5 percent.
Top News stories
- Anger over West Coast hydro scheme's fast-track approval
- North Korea fires 10 ballistic missiles during US-South Korea military drills
- Thousands queue as doors open at revamped Wellington Library after seven years
- What to know about Kharg Island, the tiny coral outcrop at the heart of Iran’s oil industry
- Auckland FC end Newcastle Jets' winning run
