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Country headlines with summaries.
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Everything's coming up roses as Rural Women marks centenary
A rose created for the occasion is already two thirds sold.
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Seed and Grain NZ celebrates its 'incredibly important' women
28 May 2025The country's seed and grain sectors are hoping to empower the wāhine who make up about a third of its workforce.
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Tariff uncertainty prompts agricultural businesses to seek new markets
28 May 2025New Zealand agriculture can no longer relay on its usual international customers.
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'Don't go far enough': Industry unimpressed by government targets
29 May 2025The targets come after a review found the approval process wasn't always allowing timely access to the products.
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Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre sale 'yet to be finalised'
The centre in Wairarapa was put into liquidation seven years ago.
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Farm machinery tax discount a 'boost' for rural economy
27 May 2025Those in the agriculture sector who can afford to buy new farm equipment are feeling buoyed by the government's new tax incentive.
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MPI closely watching bird flu vaccine trials for cattle and poultry
26 May 2025The agency is not currently doing its own research into the vaccines.
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'We won't survive': Oyster farmers call for urgent solution to sewage overflows
27 May 2025Each spill into the Mahurangi River results in a 28-day ban on harvesting.
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'Premium beverages' for pets made from catnip
27 May 2025An Auckland startup making wines for cats and dogs says catnip could be the next big thing in New Zealand's diverse horticulture offering. Audio
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High quality agreements with new trade partners priority for agricultural sector - report
28 May 2025The report asked local industry leaders their views on where the sector needs to go.
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The business turning kiwifruit into a leather alternative
26 May 2025KiwiLeather Innovations aims to repurpose the 50,000 tonnes of kiwifruit rejected in New Zealand each year.
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Economy could earn extra $10b in five to seven years through better land use - report
27 May 2025A new report suggests the country needs to change its thinking about how it uses agricultural land to get better productivity and economic returns from farmers.
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'Massive' hay shed fire cost company up to $1.5 million
26 May 2025A Canterbury business owner is absolutely gutted after more than half of his winter feed went up in flames.
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Former Timaru meatworks site sold for undisclosed amount
26 May 2025Six hundred meatworkers lost their jobs last year when the 139-year-old site was closed.
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New Zealand's best country music song of the year named
23 May 2025The exhaustion of first-time parenting has inspired Aotearoa's top country tune for 2025.
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Telling stories from the country for 100 years
23 May 2025As RNZ celebrates an important centenary, Country Life dips back into the archives to bring you some of the well-loved voices and shows from its rural team through the decades.
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Preserving native bush and local history on the 'perfect farm'
23 May 2025Former South-Taranaki mayor Ross Dunlop has led the way with conservation efforts on his family's dairy farm.
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AgriTech leaders say Budget sows seeds but real growth requires bold vision
23 May 2025Tax incentives and a $100 million venture capital boost signal government support for food and fibre innovation but agritech leaders say it's time to step up with a bold national growth strategy. Audio
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New discovery in the fight against facial eczema
New Zealand scientists studying a complex fungal disease that affects sheep have made a scientific breakthrough.
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Horse riders feel 'overlooked' by snubs for road protections
21 May 2025Equestrians are feeling "frustrated" as repeated bids for greater safety measures fall on deaf ears.
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NZ wool being used to make eco-friendly caskets
24 May 2025A Christchurch wool business has found a successful and unusual niche for its product.
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Kiwifruit giant Zespri posts $155m profit, while corporate profit soars
Orchard gate returns have dipped across most kiwifruit varieties per tray in the 2024/2025 fruit season, off records last year, while marketing giant Zespri's corporate profits hit a record.
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'Seems crazy': Bakery using Aussie broker to buy butter
21 May 2025It is too expensive to buy butter directly from NZ dairy companies.
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MPI wants to increase amount of glyphosate allowed on some crops
20 May 2025The agrichemical is the active ingredient in weedkillers like Roundup.
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