Diplomatic Incident
OPINION: Your old mate hears an international incident is threatening to blow up the long-standing Anzac alliance as Kiwis and Aussies argue over who wants new Australian resident and former NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Meantime, speaking of actual animal welfare issues... the Hound was tickled by the name of a new drug recently released in Australia that aims to relieve the pain lambs suffer during castration and tail docking.
The cheekily named NumNuts – developed by Meat & Livestock Australia and Scottish engineering firm 4cDesign – have a single action handheld ring activator and injection mechanism to administer a local anaesthetic – lignocaine, as used by dentists. In trials the product was seen to reduce pain behaviour such as tucked-up posture, bleating and lying down. The anaesthetic acts in 30-60 seconds of injection and remains active for about four hours by which time the tissue in the testes and tail is dead, eliminating residual pain.
Waikato milk processor Tatua has again declared a record milk payout to farmer shareholders, leaving other processors in the dust.
A Labour-led Government won’t be bringing back the controversial freshwater rules of 2020.
National’s much-touted free trade deal with India featured in the Rural Issues Debate at Mystery Creek, Hamilton on Wednesday night.
New Zealand's 2026-27 freshwater fishing season has opened, with anglers encouraged to head to rivers and lakes over the coming days as conditions look favourable across much of the country.
Central Otago District Council (CODC) has voted against a plan to spread treated sewage sludge from Cromwell and Alexandra on farmland near Lauder, a decision Federated Farmers says reflects strong opposition from rural residents.
Pāmu has released its FY26 Integrated Annual Report, reporting a Net Operating Profit of $113 million, more than double the $49 million recorded in FY25.