Rural NZ faces shift as copper network deregulation looms
Rural communities say support is required to shift away from the copper network that has been the only source of internet connection for some parts of rural New Zealand.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is marking International Women’s Day by reminding the rural sector why the day is important.
"By measuring progress and highlighting the work still to be done, we can ensure that we keep moving forward in addressing inequities faced by girls and women around the world,” says RWNZ president Gill Naylor.
She says the primary industry has typically been seen as a man’s world where women remain hidden as an invisible partner or in a support role where they are perceived as providing less value.
However, there is light at the end of the tunnel, she says.
“There are increasing numbers of women represented at all levels of primary industry whether running farming businesses, heading up industry organisations or taking on governance roles but we still have some way to go to ensure we are not restricting the talent pool and putting unnecessary barriers in the way,” Naylor says.
“We also need to keep reminding ourselves and our communities of the valuable work that women do and the contributions they make to a healthy and thriving society.”
She suggests there are a number of ways New Zealanders can show their commitment to gender equity.
Naylor says one way is for employers to get behind the “Mind the Gap” which seeks to end the gender pay gap in New Zealand.
“We can support the recognition of the vital work done by those in female dominated professions, such as nursing, midwifery and healthcare, and the value of their contribution.”
Naylor says RWNZ will continue to promote women’s voices and the need to apply a gendered lens to policies both in New Zealand and across the globe.
NZPork has appointed Auckland-based Paul Bucknell as its new chair.
The Government claims to have delivered on its election promise to protect productive farmland from emissions trading scheme (ETS) but red meat farmers aren’t happy.
Foot and Mouth Disease outbreaks could have a detrimental impact on any country's rural sector, as seen in the United Kingdom's 2000 outbreak that saw the compulsory slaughter of over six million animals.
The Ministry for the Environment is joining as a national award sponsor in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA from next year).
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
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