Forest & Bird launches 2025–2026 Summer Adventure Challenges for all ages
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Steph Le Brocq and Sam Allen, a bride and groom-to-be, are among those set to face off in regional finals across New Zealand in the hopes of being named the Young Farmer of the Year.
Since October, New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) members have been putting their skills to the test, battling it out in one of seven District Contests across the country.
Now, the top competitors are set to face off in their respective regions, with seven Regional Finals scheduled between February and April 2025.
Le Brocq will square off against her fiancé, Sam Allen, at the Aorangi Regional Final in March.
It’s her first time competing at the events, while Allen placed runner-up at last year’s regional competition.
“It’s going to be quite fun to have a crack at each other,” she says.
“We met 10 years ago when we were both involved with Surf Lifesaving, so we’ve both got that competitive spirit and are used to pacing ourselves against each other,” she adds.
It was Allen who encouraged Le Brocq to apply.
He says that even though they’re battling each other for the top spot, there are no secrets at the dinner table.
“We’ve each got different strengths and weaknesses, so we’re helping each other prepare,” Allen says.
“We figure it makes sense that we can both put our best foot forward.”
Budou are being picked now in Bridge Pā, the most intense and exciting time of the year for the Greencollar team – and the harvest of the finest eating grapes is weeks earlier than expected.
The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) has released its latest rural property report, providing a detailed view of New Zealand’s rural real estate market for the 12 months ending December 2025.
Rural retailer Farmlands has released it's latest round of half-year results, labeling it as evidence that its five-year strategy is delivering on financial performance and better value for members.
OPINION: "We are back to where we were a year ago," according to a leading banking analyst in the UK, referring to US president Donald Trump's latest imposition of a global 10% tariff on all exports into the US.
DairyNZ says the Government’s proposed Resource Management Act reform needs further work to ensure it delivers on its intent.
Overseas Trade Minister Todd McClay says he's working constructively with the Labour Party in the hope they will endorse the free trade agreement (FTA) with India when the agreement comes before Parliament for ratification.

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