Fieldays hold out the begging bowl
OPINION: When someone says “we don’t want a handout, we need a hand up” it usually means they have both palms out and they want your money.
Aimed at the contractor market, or at end users who demand a top-quality machine to achieve low operating costs, the Bunning Lowlander GT4 muck spreaders, imported into the North Island by Hamilton-based Ag and Civil Limited, fits the bill.
Designed to spread all types of manure, the key 105 Compact and 150 models both feature a fully welded, heavy-duty construction, using 4mm steel plate for the sides and 5mm thick material for the floor. With capacities of 12.6 and 16.6 tonnes respectively, a 1500mm wide, tapered body can carry loads of 12.9 to 21 cubic metres. This is moved rearwards, by a variable speed hydraulic floor drive, utilising a combination of 16mm/32 tonne capacity floor chains and full-width beaters.
At the rear of the machine, dynamically balanced, twin vertical beaters take their drive from a centrally mounted gearbox, with an intermediate cushioned drive to protect against shock loads.
In the event of an immoveable object shear bolt protection in the beater driveline prevents damage.
Equipped with 10mm thick Boron steel flights and cutters, the rotors offer spreading widths of up to 16 metres, depending on material, with a rear canopy for spreading fine materials like chicken manure.
Meanwhile, a lift-off configuration, means the rotor module can be quickly removed to allow the trailer to be used for other haulage duties.
Both machines feature on-board weighing systems, in the case of the 105, a Topcon GT400 system, while the 150 model uses a full specification ISOSCAN application rate controller, allowing a targeted application rated by automatically adjusting the floor speed to travel speed, or via a predefined application map can be loaded via the USB port. The system also allows live weighing using 20-tonne weigh cells situated on both axle and drawbar.
Standard equipment includes a rear vertical slurry door, 1000 rpm PTO input, hydraulic brakes and parking jack, with the whole machine covered by a three-year warranty.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sirma Karapeeva has resigned from the role.
The winners of the 2026 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at Copthorne Solway Park in Masterton on Thursday evening.
Environment Southland is welcoming this week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the release of Blaptea elguetai, a leaf‑feeding beetle that will help control the highly invasive Chilean flame creeper.
This March, the potato industry is proudly celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March alongside the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the vital role women play across every part of the sector — from paddocks and packhouses to research, leadership, and innovation.
Fruit trader Seeka posted a record profit and returns to shareholders in 2025.
Recent weather events in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and Canterbury have been declared a medium-scale adverse event.

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