Covid's urban/rural divide
According to a new study from the University of Otago, there was a visible rural/urban divide in Covid-19 vaccination rates.
New Zealand is heading for an unprecedented shutdown.
The Government has lifted coronavirus alert to Level 3 and in 48 hours we go to the highest level — Level 4.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern says Level 4, beginning at 11:59 pm on Wednesday, will remain in place for four weeks.
“For the next wee while things will get worse before it gets better,” she says.
She says the new measures will save lives and prevent the virus from overwhelming our health system.
Supermarkets, service stations, doctors and pharmacies will remain open. Other businesses have 48 hours to shut down.
• Alert Level Three is where the disease is increasingly difficult to contain. This is where we restrict our contact by stepping things up again. We close public venues and ask non-essential businesses to close.
• Alert Level Four is where we have sustained transmission. This is where we eliminate contact with each other altogether. We keep essential services going but ask everyone to stay at home until COVID-19 is back under control.
Analysis by Dunedin-based Techion New Zealand shows the cost of undetected drench resistance in sheep has exploded to an estimated $98 million a year.
Shipping disruption caused by Houthi rebels in the Red Sea has so far not impacted fertiliser prices or supply on farm.
The opportunity to spend more time on farm while providing a dedicated service for shareholders attracted new environmental manager Ben Howden to work for Waimakariri Irrigation Limited (WIL).
Federated Farmers claims that the Otago Regional Council is charging ahead unnecessarily with piling more regulation on rural communities.
Dairy sheep and goat farmers are being told to reduce milk supply as processors face a slump in global demand for their products.
OPINION: We have good friends from way back who had lived in one of our major cities for many years.