Bikinis in cowshed
OPINION: An animal activist organisation is calling for an investigation into the use of dairy cows in sexuallly explicit content posted on social media and adult entertainment subscription site OnlyFans.
A former contract milker has been banned from working in the dairy industry for 12 months for ramming a dairy cow with a quad bike, causing it severe pain and distress.
Christopher Mark Bennett, 56, was working on a farm in Raglan when the abuse occurred in November 2014.
Bennett had been rounding up stock when he rammed a difficult cow that was in full milk, with his quad bike at least twice.
The Ministry for Primary Industries began an investigation after witnesses, who were horse-riding on the farm, reported the incident.
MPI investigations manager, Simon Anderson, says offending of this nature is unacceptable.
"The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect animals from this sort of abuse.
"There is never an excuse for ill-treatment of animals. MPI takes any reports of abuse very seriously. If we find evidence that warrants charges being laid, we will prosecute."
Bennett was convicted and sentenced to 125 hours community work and disqualified from working in the dairy industry for 12 months when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on July 29.
Academic Dr Mike Joy and his employer, Victoria University of Wellington have apologised for his comments suggesting that dairy industry CEOs should be hanged for contributing towards nitrate poisoning of waterways.
Environment Southland's catchment improvement funding is once again available for innovative landowners in need of a boost to get their project going.
The team meeting at the Culverden Hotel was relaxed and open, despite being in the middle of calving when stress levels are at peak levels, especially in bitterly cold and wet conditions like today.
A comment by outspoken academic Dr Mike Joy suggesting that dairy industry leaders should be hanged for nitrate contamination of drinking/groundwater has enraged farmers.
OPINION: The phasing out of copper network from communications is understandable.
Driven by a lifelong passion for animals, Amy Toughey's journey from juggling three jobs with full-time study to working on cutting-edge dairy research trials shows what happens when hard work meets opportunity - and she's only just getting started.