Award-winning Māori farm severely damaged by isolated Northland thunderstorm
One of the country's top Māori farms has been badly damaged by a severe isolated thunderstorm which hit parts of the east coast of Northland last week.
OPINION: This old mutt has been around for a few years now and it seems these ‘once in 100-year’ weather events are occurring nearly every year.
That doesn’t deter the old “I’ve seen worse, back in my day” comments, but tell that to the poor buggers that have to clean up the mess, year after year.
And that’s the only real silver lining here – seeing how Kiwi communities, particularly in remote rural areas like the recently-hammered Far North, pull together, look after each other and get on with what needs to be done to protect lives, then restore farms and properties when the sun finally reappears.
The Northland Civil Defence chairman rightly praised local coastal communities, saying they were well prepared, worked in with Civil Defence and helped each other out.
The Kiwi Way is alive and well in the provinces!
Environment Southland is inviting feedback on two bylaws that play a critical role in safeguarding the region's waterways and ensuring the safety of the local community.
While the North Island is inundated with rain, Southland is facing receding water levels as warm weather and lack of rainfall continues.
Entries have opened for the 2026 Fieldays Innovation Awards.
Organisers are expecting another full field of 40 of the country’s top shearers for the popular Speed Shearing event at this year’s Southern Field Days at Waimumu.
The Southern Field Days Innovation Awards have a great record in picking winners and the winner of the 2024 event will be putting up a display to support the event at this year’s show.
A buoyant farm economy should make for a successful 2026 Southern Field Days, says chairman Steve Henderson.

OPINION: Meanwhile, red blooded Northland politician Matua Shane Jones has provided one of the most telling quotes of the year…
OPINION: This old mutt has been around for a few years now and it seems these ‘once in 100-year’ weather…