-
font size
decrease font size
increase font size
The Hound hears that the jokes were on PM Bill English who was in fine form at the recent Ahuwhenua Trophy awards in Whangarei.
Talking about land development, English recalled that as a 14-year-old, his father set him off on a D2 Caterpillar with a single plough to open up an 80 acre paddock on the family farm. The PM admitted it was hard to keep a straight line, and worse when he fell asleep at the wheel and ended up in the neighbour’s paddock still happily ploughing along. Sonny Tau, of Omapere Trust, also teased the PM, saying he’d heard English had asked for a time machine to see what NZ would look like in 50 years, but this posed a problem for the PM: the answer came back in Maori.
Popular Reads
$120m Tōrea Orchard Development to Produce 116 Million Apples in Mid-Canterbury
A large-scale modern orchard development in coastal Mid-Canterbury is expected to eventually produce 116 million apples a year from 900,000…Yili’s New Zealand Dairy Group Posts Record $1.58 Billion Revenue
Yili's New Zealand businesses have reported record profits following a major organisational and strategic transformation.NZ Companies Launch World’s First Wool-Based Colour for 3D Printing Filament
A collaboration between two New Zealand companies will see wool used as a renewable colour source for 3D printing.Synlait Loses Third CEO in Five Years as Richard Wyeth Resigns
Troubled milk processor Synlait has lost its third chief executive in five years.Featured
Potatoes New Zealand and Garden to Table Partner to Inspire Future Food Leaders
Potatoes New Zealand and Garden to Table have partnered together to celebrate a versatile vegetable and the people behind it.
Mainland Poultry Confirms New Ownership as PEP Gateway Joins Navis
Mainland Poultry has confirmed new ownership of its vertically integrated agribusiness with Pacific Equity Partners Gateway (PEP Gateway) now joining current shareholders Navis.
Australian Tractor Sales Continue Decline Despite Record Farm Production
The recently published State of the Industry -Tractors and Machinery 2025 from the Australian Tractor and Machinery Association (TMA), the equivalent of New Zealand’s TAMA, gives an interesting perspective of the industry.
New Zealand Wool Prices Hit Highest Levels Since 2011 Amid Tight Supply and Surging Demand
Strong competition and tightening supply have seen wool reach its highest prices paid at auction since 2011.
Government Backs Hawke’s Bay Growers With McCain Hastings Site Feasibility Funding
The Government is funding a feasibility study to investigate what would be required for a successful farmer-led purchase of the McCain Foods' vegetable processing site in Hastings.
Young Lincoln Graduate Steps Into Dairy Farm Ownership In Mid-Canterbury
A young man just five years out of his Lincoln University degree already has his foot in the door of farm ownership, as equity manager of a large new dairy conversion now taking shape in Mid- Canterbury.
National
Back Country Launches Giant Sock Swap Fence at Fieldays 2026
New Zealand rural apparel brand Back Country is inviting Kiwis to part ways with tired, holey socks at Fieldays with…
Federated Farmers Welcomes $79M Wilding Pine Control Funding Boost
Federated Farmers says the Government's announcement of $79 million in funding for wilding pine control marks a major breakthrough.Beef + Lamb New Zealand Awards 2026 Winners Announced in Christchurch
Last night saw the winners of the 2026 Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) Awards named at a gala dinner…AgriZeroNZ Invests in Low Methane Sheep Research to Boost Farmer Uptake
A move to boost farmer uptake of low methane emitting sheep is underway.Silver Fern Farms Airlifts NZ Lamb and Beef to UAE Amid Middle East Shipping Disruptions
Silver Fern Farms has tackled the ongoing war-induced shipping challenges to mideast markets by airlifting 90 tonnes of chilled New…Machinery & Products
Safer Farms Champions Promote Quad Bike Crush Protection Devices
Safer Farms Regional Champions are putting Crush Protection Devices (CPDs) through their paces and sharing their first-hand experiences with other…
Quicke Launches New Q-Series Facelift and Q-Companion 2.0
Well-known Swedish front-end loader manufacturer Quicke is launching the Q-series Facelift and Q-Companion 2.0 system.Beef + Lamb NZ Quad Safety Day Focuses on ATV Risk Reduction
A recent Beef + Lamb New Zealand quad safety field day, held along the rugged Whanganui river valley at Kakatahi, focused…John Deere Launches Operations Center PRO Service in New Zealand
The all-new John Deere Operations Center PRO Service option will give agricultural, construction, forestry and turf customers across New Zealand…Ursa Ag Launches Simple Cummins-Powered Tractors as Farmers Push Back on Cost and Complexity
A walk around any agricultural field day or a dealership yard will find several potential customers moaning that tractors are…» Latest Print Issues Online
The Hound
New Broom
OPINION: The old saying 'a new broom sweeps clean' doesn't always hold up, if you ask the Hound.
Back to School
OPINION: This old mutt went to school to eat his lunch, but still knows the future of the country, and…
» Connect with Rural News
» eNewsletter
