Pukerau Winter Grazing Field Day to Help Southland Farmers Prepare for Season
Southland farmers are being encouraged to get ahead of the winter grazing season by attending a practical field day in Pukerau next week.
Wilma Falconer has been announced as Environment Southland’s (ES) new chief executive.
The announcement was made yesterday in a statement by ES chair Nicol Horrell.
Falconer has been a member of the ES’s executive team as it’s general manager of strategy, planning and engagement for two and-a-half years and took on the acting chief executive role after Rob Phillips retired last month.
She has also held roles at Environment Canterbury and Ngāi Tahu as well as running her own consultancy firm in Wellington.
“She has strong strategic leadership skills and a thorough grasp of the environmental issues facing the region, and our work programme to address them,” says Horrell.
He says Falconer’s appointment to the role brings continuity to the Council, something he says is highly beneficial given the increasingly complex nature of the challenges it faces.
“Wilma’s significant management experience will be crucial in leading our staff in the delivery of the broad range of services we provide for the community and the increasing workloads required for us.”
“Wilma’s expertise, energy and drive will be a real asset to the Council and I and my fellow councillors are thrilled that Wilma has accepted the position,” says Horrell.
Horticulture New Zealand says proposed changes to the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 will drive innovation, investment and long-term productivity.
More than 1200 exhibitors will showcase their products and services at next month’s National Fieldays, with sites nearly sold out.
Despite difficult trading conditions for European machinery manufacturers brought about conflicts in Ukraine and Iran, alongside the United States imposing punitive tariffs, Italian manufacturer Maschio Gaspardo, has seen turnover increase 12% in 2025 to €390 million (NZ$775m) with a net profit of €11.2 million (NZ$22.3).
New Zealand innovation company Techion, best known for its animal diagnostics platform, FECPAK has signed an exclusive strategic partnership with Farmlands to bring independent animal health disease intelligence to its customers.
Zespri says it welcomes the recently signed Western Bay of Plenty Regional Deal, describing it as an important step towards supporting growth in the region and for New Zealand's kiwifruit industry.
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.

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