Farmlands returns to profit with strong FY25 result
Rural retailer Farmlands has reported a return to profitability, something the co-operative says shows clear progress in the second year of its five-year strategy.
Construction has begun on Farmlands’ new Taranaki store.
The new store at 35 Hudson Road, Bell Block, is two kilometres from the current site and the new store opens September 2025.
Farmlands’ Taranaki team were at the site last month to celebrate the milestone in the traditional spade-wielding way.
Chief executive Tanya Houghton says the new store is all about delivering on Farmlands’ promise to better serve the region’s unique needs and provide a better customer experience for all customers.
With more parking, a dedicated delivery entry, a prime spot near the highway, and free recycling for HDPE plastic containers and small seed, feed and fertiliser bags in partnership with Agrecovery, the new site will be a significant upgrade on the current store.
“Taranaki’s mix of dairy, sheep, beef and regenerative farming deserves the best we can offer in tailored products and expertise,” Houghton says.
Construction updates will be going out to the local community in the coming months and a grand opening is planned for September 2025.
Farmlands is also opening a new bulk and retail store in Hastings in July, alongside its new Horticulture Hub. This is all part of Farmlands strategy to operate a regionally tailored service model, Houghton says.
“Ultimately everything we do is to provide our customers the best access to their essential rural supplies - through our retail network, our on-farm sales team, and digital tools the FarmlandsPRO app and Farmlands Card app.”
Canterbury farmer Michelle Pye has been elected to Fonterra’s board for a three-year term.
Farmers are welcoming the announcement of two new bills to replace the under-fire Resource Management Act.
The Government has announced it will immediately roll over all resource consents for two years, with legislation expected to pass under urgency as early as this week.
The New Zealand National Fieldays Society has achieved a major sustainability milestone - reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the target five years early.
Fonterra's 2025/26 financial year is off to a strong start, with a first quarter group profit after tax of $278 million- up $15m on the previous year.
Government plans to get rid of regional councillors shows a lack of understanding of the fundamental problem affecting all of local government - poor governance.

OPINION: Your old mate welcomes the proposed changes to local government but notes it drew responses that ranged from the reasonable…
OPINION: A press release from the oxygen thieves running the hot air symposium on climate change, known as COP30, grabbed your…