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.
Tickets are now available for the 2026 Arable Awards, set to be held in Christchurch on 20th August.
Environment Southland is calling on residents to be vigilant and check their properties after a new Old Man's Beard site was discovered near Dipton.
Amelia Marsden has secured the 2026 Nelson Young Grower title for the second year running, earning another opportunity to represent the region at the national Young Grower of the Year competition later this year.
Federated Farmers is urging the Government to put a halt to Waikato Regional Council's controversial Plan Change 1 (PC1), warning the regulations will impose significant costs, complexity and duplication on thousands of farmers while major national reforms remain unresolved.
Joshua Irving has been named the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Vets say they support the responsible use of virtual fencing and virtual herding technology for cattle and wants to work with farmers, manufacturers and government to help shape standards for future use backed by ongoing research to strengthen animal welfare outcomes.

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