Westpac Urges Farmers to Prepare Now for El Niño Drought
Westpac NZ is calling on farmers and growers to start preparing now for the possibility of a dry summer, as likely El Niño conditions raise the risk of drought across parts of the country.
OPINION: Westpac is the latest bank to tell its farmer clients to meet the climate targets it has set.
The bank has set a target of lowering emissions per unit of meat or milk by 9% across its sheep and beef lending and 10% for dairy.
The bank has used the same intensity-style target Fonterra used to set its Scope three emissions target. Buit Westpac hasn’t set an outright reduction goal, saying it wanted to work with farmers on improving practices.
Fonterra warned farmers that banks were also linking loans to emissions profiles of farms.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.