increase font size
The Government's investment of $260,000 for the Golden Shears World Shearing and Wool Handling Championships in 2017 is a vote of confidence in the Southland region.
The Government's investment of $260,000 for the Golden Shears World Shearing and Wool Handling Championships in 2017 is a vote of confidence in the Southland region.
Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt says the Government's Major Events Fund investment for the February 9-11 event to be held at ILT Stadium Southland was a clear recognition the events industry was of enormous value to the country.
"I think it's fantastic that the Government is supporting us on this because it means that the events industry is coming of age."
The Golden Shears was a perfect fit for Southland as shearing and wool handling was an integral part of the region's cultural identity.
Shadbolt says the event was likely to become the biggest event the city had hosted.
Shearing Sports New Zealand chairman and five-time world shearing champion Sir David Fagan says the Government support was huge for the Golden Shears event.
"It really secures that we're going to have a successful event because without the Government support it would be very, very difficult to run."
The event organisers have had huge local support and local buy-in from Invercargill and the wider Southland region, he says. It will be incredible to welcome visitors from more than 30 countries, Sir David says.
"The whole event feels easy to run down there because of that whole community buy-in and the support and enthusiasm for it. We are excited about it."
The Golden Shears was about shearing and sheep, but it was also about putting on a great show for the public.
"It's something that we're really proud and excited to have in Southland. I can't wait to see the Mayor shear a sheep, actually," Sir David says.
While wool returns continue in the doldrums, smart sheep farmers are looking for alternatives for a product that currently cost more to get off a sheep's back than it's worth. One such initiative is run by husband and wife team Hayden and Anastasia Tristram who farm at Wanstead in the Central Hawke's Bay. Mark Daniel reports.
The rise and rise of top-class female shearers is a growing phenomenon in NZ – especially during recent times.
New research has provided insight into the functional potential of wool-derived protein, with an initial trial revealing it can influence how the body responds to insulin.
South Canterbury farmer Angela Blair has delivered a petition to Parliament calling on the Government to reverse its decision to fit rural schools with synthetic carpet.
Thousands of students could benefit from a new initiative designed to simplify schools’ access to New Zealand wool carpets for their classrooms.
Federated Farmers president Wayne Langford is claiming “some real success” on the 12 policy priorities it placed before the Coalition Government.
Federated Farmers is throwing its support behind the Fast-track Approvals Bill introduced by the Coalition Government to enable a fast-track decision-making process for infrastructure and development projects.
The latest report from ANZ isn’t good news for sheep farmers: lamb returns are forecast to remain low.
Divine table grapes that herald the start of a brand-new industry in Hawke’s Bay have been coming off vines in Maraekakaho.
In what appears to be a casualty of the downturn in the agricultural sector, a well-known machinery brand is now in the hands of liquidators and owing creditors $6.6 million.
One of New Zealand’s deepest breeder Jersey herds – known for its enduring connection through cattle with the UK’s longest reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II – will host its 75th anniversary celebration sale on-farm on April 22.
