On Your Behalf: Health and Safety Checklist for Vineyards and Wineries
Keeping healthy and safe during vintage 2026
Health and safety reforms on farm are coming, according to consultants OnFarmSafety New Zealand.
The company says from talking to farmers in recent months, it seems many remain confused.
“The problem is it all seems too hard and the general perception is that most don’t know where to start; it will involve a lot of paperwork and be very time-taxing,” it claims.
“You will have to set up some good sound health and safety systems, but it doesn’t need to feel like you’re planning the next Mount Everest expedition.
“Your health and safety system needs to work for you, your style of doing business and in a way that gives you peace of mind that you have taken ‘all practicable steps’ to ensure the safety of anyone on your property, including staff, contractors and visitors.”
OnFarmSafety systems and processes are designed to make sure farmers are able to gain good working knowledge on the subject of health and safety, while still having the time to run their business.
It starts the process with a full assessment audit of how you currently operate and what you do either informally or in writing. This enables the company to tailor a system specifically for each client to give them the confidence that if there is a serious situation they have taken all the necessary measures required.
Every workplace needs a health and safety plan. “If you are a one-man-band, you need to take all necessary precautions to ensure those coming onto your farm are safe and are fully aware of all the relevant hazards they could encounter.”
Tel 0508 ONFARM
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.

OPINION: Election years are usually regarded as the silly season, but a mate of the Hound reckons 2026 is shaping…
OPINION: If farmers poured just a few litres of some pollutant into a stream, the Green Party and the wider…