Let the games begin!
New Zealand's largest celebration of rural sports athletes and enthusiasts – New Zealand Rural Games - is back for its 10th edition, kicking off in Palmerston North from Thursday, March 6th to Sunday, March 9th, 2025.
Small Business Minister Craig Foss says five more locations are being added to the hugely popular Taking Care of Business roadshow.
“More than 1200 business owners and operators have so far attended a dozen events around the country, from Invercargill to Hamilton,” Foss says.
“Five new events will be held in Porirua, Masterton, Rotorua, Christchurch and Blenheim, in addition to those in Whangarei and Auckland already scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
“Every stop on the roadshow gets bigger and better, with overwhelmingly positive feedback.
“This roadshow is all about helping business owners engage with government agencies more effectively and efficiently by taking the experts to the businesses, not the other way around.
“Attendees hear from a wide variety of speakers on issues such as health and safety legislation, tax, ACC and minimum employment standards. There’s also an opportunity to speak to officials one-on-one and network with others in the local business community.
“The government is committed to helping small businesses grow and thrive. I look forward to getting back on the road and speaking to as many hard-working business owners as possible.”
For more information, including dates and locations, visit the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment website: http://www.mbie.govt.nz/info-services/business/business-growth-and-internationalisation/small-enterprise/taking-care-of-business/
Among the regular exhibitors at last month’s South Island Agricultural Field Days, the one that arguably takes the most intensive preparation every time is the PGG Wrightson Seeds site.
Two high producing Canterbury dairy farmers are moving to blended stockfeed supplements fed in-shed for a number of reasons, not the least of which is to boost protein levels, which they can’t achieve through pasture under the region’s nitrogen limit of 190kg/ha.
Buoyed by strong forecasts for milk prices and a renewed demand for dairy assets, the South Island rural real estate market has begun the year with positive momentum, according to Colliers.
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New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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