Wools of New Zealand Calls for India FTA to Boost Farmer Returns
Wools of New Zealand is joining calls for New Zealand to urgently ratify a Free Trade Agreement with India.
Wools of New Zealand Upper South Island Wool Representatives. From left to right – Gavin Crump, Mark Greenlaw, Roger Fuller, Sophie Davies, Milton Hulme, Simon Averill, Ivan Gullidge, Thomas Dravitzki
Wools of New Zealand has launched its first showroom in Christchurch as part of the Home Ideas Centre, a design space showcasing businesses thriving in New Zealand’s building industry.
Visitors can view Wools of New Zealand carpets and match these with their other interior design ideas all in the one convenient place.
“The Home Ideas Centre is a place New Zealanders go to when building a new home, renovating an existing home, decorating, or just shopping for inspiring ideas,” says Wools of New Zealand chief executive John McWhirter.
“Having our own place where we can showcase our products means that consumers can see and feel our products. Partnering with the Home Ideas centre just makes sense.”
McWhirter says that the centre also has facilities available for the company to use to host events for specific audiences, including carpet-laying seminars or design talks with architects and designers.
The Home Ideas Centre has been in business for over 30 years and centre manager Jason Boa says he is excited to welcome Wools of New Zealand to the centre.
"Wools of New Zealand is an iconic New Zealand brand with a fantastic understanding of how New Zealanders design and live in their homes. They provide a beautiful, healthy and sustainable product and we look forward to working with Wools of New Zealand to inspire our visitors when building, designing and decorating their homes for today and the future."
Currently, the centre is undergoing major renovations to improve visitor experience and provide a modern environment with a focus on technology.
It plans to celebrate the end of stage two of the renovations early Spring 2022 and will present the next stages of development to the centre.
The Home Ideas Centre remains open during renovations seven days a week.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
Power Farming has launched a joint venture in Southland.
Food rescue charity Meet the Need has released its 2025/26 Impact Report, revealing a record year of growth alongside a stark warning: demand for food support across New Zealand is rising faster than supply can keep up.
As we move into the second half of 2026, the Tractor and Machinery Association (TAMA) reports that Year-to-Date figures ending June 30 saw new tractor deliveries hitting 1,386 units or 10.7% ahead of the same period in 2025.
The avocado sector is entering the new season with a larger crop and positive market opportunities.
New Zealand growers have always adapted to changing conditions, but one challenge is steadily gaining ground across the horticulture sector: resistance.

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