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Spuds losing ground to housing

Potatoes NZ chief executive Kate Trufitt says land use is one of the major challenges facing the sector.

Potato growers are losing prime land to urban sprawl, with over 3000ha lost since 2016.

Rural resilience programme expands

The WellMates programme is having a positive effect in increasing awareness and building knowledge of rural mental health.

Mental health and resilience programme WellMates is available at Massey University for a second year after research found that it has significantly benefitted participants.

Gabrielle's impact still hitting

Scott Lawson talks about the province’s continuing struggle to recover from Cyclone Gabrielle, speaking at the recent Horticulture Conference in Christchurch. Photo Credit: Nigel Malthus

Hawke’s Bay Vegetable Growers Association chair Scott Lawson says stress and anxiety levels are up among rural communities in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle.

A number of challenges in beef markets

Much of the heat has come off the global beef market and returns have eased considerably.

The latest beef market report by Rabobank shows a trend that will be of concern to NZ cattle farmers.

Wool petition hits Parliament

A petition calling on the Government to reverse its decision to fit rural schools with synthetic carpet was recently delivered to Parliament.

South Canterbury farmer Angela Blair has delivered a petition to Parliament calling on the Government to reverse its decision to fit rural schools with synthetic carpet.

More support for wool carpets

Banks Peninsula farmer and NZ Corriedale Championships organiser James Dwyer says he supports TSS because he’s had enough of wool being ignored.

The battle to get wool carpets into public buildings has taken another step with the launch of The Southern Series (TSS) elite shearing competition circuit.

Getting it right crucial!

Paul Paynter believes getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the region’s economy.

A leading Hawke’s Bay orchardist says getting the recovery of the apple industry right in Hawke’s Bay is critical to the whole economy of the region.

Better roads, lower costs

Leaderbrand chief executive Richard Burke.

The greatest need in the Tairawhiti region is better and secure infrastructure, in particular the roading network.

No shortage of spuds in NZ - Olsen

Potatoes NZ chair Paul Olsen has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

The newly elected chair of Potatoes NZ has dismissed claims that there is a shortage of potatoes in the country.

High stress in rural NZ

Rural Support Trusts national chair Neil Bateup says Cyclone Gabrielle is the biggest event that RSTs have had to deal with since their inception and there are lot of rural people stressed.

Rural Support Trusts around the country are having to significantly increase their staff to deal with growing stress in rural areas in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events.