Fonterra Opens Upgraded Chengdu Application Centre
Fonterra has opened its upgraded Chengdu Application Centre, bringing New Zealand dairy expertise closer to customers in one of China's fastest-growing regions.
The painted rock hide-and-seek craze that has taken the world by storm over the past couple of years has popped up at National Fieldays.
Prompted by the popularity of painting smooth pebbles and then hiding them for people to find, Rosie, the ‘cowbassador’ for New Zealand dairy farmers, has been busy in recent weeks ‘decorating’ rocks that are hidden around the Heritage Village for children, in particular, to find.
The Rosie Rocks feature colourful dairy related images that are hand-painted – or is that hoof-painted?
Finders can be keepers, but Rosie urges children discovering a colourful rock to hide it again for others to discover, taking a photo of themselves with it first. Or they can bring the Rosie Rock to the Old Schoolroom at the Heritage Village and exchange them for a small gift pack.
The global painted rock craze was started by people keen to make connections with others, which they do with special Facebook pages devoted to their particular rock, and via other forms of social media – and to get people into the outdoors.
Rosie says she wants her rocks to be a random act of kindness that will bring a smile to the faces of children attending Fieldays this year. And she admits she hopes the rocks will also help draw attention to the Fieldays show she stars in at the Village Green, and to the fun-filled Old School Classroom at the Heritage Village where she will be hanging out with the kids in between performances.
Child-friendly activities at the classroom include Rosie’s Moovie Theatre, Rosie’s Moogical Corner, and the opportunity to check out her dedicated website www.rosiesworld.co.nz, along with information about the DairyNZ Schools and Farm Visits programmes.
Painted rocks are popular in many communities internationally and around New Zealand, including Hamilton, near the Fieldays venue at Mystery Creek Events Centre.
Hamilton City Council reports the fad has people out and about most weekends looking for Tron Rocks as they enjoy the city’s parks and the beautiful Hamilton Gardens.
Palmerston North has Palmy Rocks, and there are Waiheke Rocks, Tauranga Rocks, Roto Rocks, Clutha Rocks (that’s Balclutha), Cavy Rocks (Dunedin), Invers Rocks (Invercargill), and many, many more Kiwi rocks.
For Taupiri dairy farmers Logan and Sian Dawson, their involvement in the NZ Dairy Industry Awards has been a key catalyst in the growth of their business - the experience helping shape how they approach the farm ownership pathway they are pursuing today.
West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has been awarded the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize.
OPINION: As the general election approaches, political parties are churning out policies in the hope of attracting more votes.
An LIC bull, Tronnoco AR Sadio-ET S3F, bred by Tony and Keri O'Connor of Tronnoco Farming Co Ltd near Timaru, has won the 2026 Mahoe Trophy.
With forecasters advising El Niño conditions will develop through winter and strengthen into spring and summer, Ballance Agri-Nutrients is encouraging farmers and growers to think ahead about nutrient planning and be prepared to work around challenging weather conditions.
A Palmerston North shearer has been sentenced to six months' community detention and 12 months' supervision after being found to have physically abused three lambs while shearing them.
OPINION: After hogging the media limelight for telling a NZ Chinese MP to "go back home", Winston Peters has decided…
OPINION: With fuel prices soaring, one would have expected most farmers to be reclaiming excise duty on petrol.