Editorial: Common Sense Prevails
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Federated Farmers has welcomed Elizabeth Soal as the new chief executive of Irrigation New Zealand.
"Federated Farmers maintains an excellent working relationship with Irrigation New Zealand," Feds water and environment spokesperson Chris Allen says.
"Elizabeth has the credentials and background, including her strategy and policy work for the Waitaki Irrigators Collective, to help ensure INZ continues its excellent work."
Federated Farmers says reliable water supply and storage, as well as its use in an environmentally sustainable way, is crucial for food growers and exporters, and thus to the vitality of provincial New Zealand. This will be even more important as the impacts of climate change bite.
"We look forward to working with Elizabeth and the INZ board to promote and enhance the critical role that irrigation has in food security," says Allen.
Federated Farmers has also thanked outgoing IrrigationNZ chief executive Andrew Curtis for his contribution and wishes him well for his future endeavours.
Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.

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