University of Waikato breaks ground on new medical school
The University of Waikato has broken ground on its new medical school building.
AsureQuality Limited Group Service Manager Mike Fenton with AsureQuality Seed Technology Scholarship recipient Dhanesha Nanayakkara. Photo Credit: Massey University.
83 students from the Massey University School of Agriculture and Environment were awarded close to $400,000 in scholarships at a recent awards evening.
The evening saw the presentation of 19 first-year agriculture and horticulture scholarships, alongside eight first-year Bachelor of Agribusiness scholarships. The Sydney Campbell Foundation, established under the will of Sydney Campbell who owned the Wairarapa sheep and beef farm Riverside Farm, provided four undergraduate scholarships worth $2,500 each, as well as an additional three first-year undergraduate scholarships of the same value.
Overall, 105 scholarships were awarded, including 34 postgraduate scholarships to 25 postgraduate students and 71 undergraduate scholarships to 58 undergraduate students.
Building on updates made to the Applied Programme Scholarship Awards, additional scholarships were granted to incoming students this year.
The scholarship initiative, provided through New Zealand schools, aims to encourage students to pursue careers in agriculture and horticulture by providing financial support for their studies and serving as a motivation to explore career opportunities available within the agricultural industry.
College of Sciences Pro Vice Chancellor, Professor Ray Geor opened the evening by highlighting that the scholarships represented both individual achievement and a commitment to fostering the next generation of leaders and innovators in those fields.
“Our students are our raison d’etre – the reason we as teachers and academics are all here,” Geor says. “We want to nurture, inspire and support the next generation of primary industry leaders here at Massey.”
He says Massey University is committed to supplying the managers, leaders and great thinkers of tomorrow.
“The primary sector is critical to our nation’s economic success and needs Massey’s support,” he adds.
“These scholarships will make a difference to each individual student’s journey with us and shows Massey’s support in an economically challenging environment. I hope they alleviate some financial pressure, allowing our students to focus on their education and start their careers in Aotearoa New Zealand’s leading industry,” Geor says.
Canterbury farmer Michelle Pye has been elected to Fonterra’s board for a three-year term.
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
The Government has announced it will immediately roll over all resource consents for two years, with legislation expected to pass under urgency as early as this week.
The New Zealand National Fieldays Society has achieved a major sustainability milestone - reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the target five years early.
Fonterra's 2025/26 financial year is off to a strong start, with a first quarter group profit after tax of $278 million- up $15m on the previous year.
Government plans to get rid of regional councillors shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental problem affecting all of local government - poor governance.

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