Editorial: RMA reforms uproar
OPINION: The euphoria over the Government’s two new bills to replace the broken Resource Management Act is over.
Farmers are doing their bit to help needy families this Christmas.
The Federated Farmers ‘Farmers Feed Families’ campaign is in its last week: to date $37,000 has been raised for the Auckland City Mission.
The farmer lobby is pushing on to get to the $100,000 target.
Feds Gisborne president Toby Williams, who came up with the campaign, says the struggle is real for families as a result of Covid fallout, including loss of jobs or cutbacks to hours.
‘Farmers Feed Families’ encourages farmers and growers to consider giving a wee bit to the cause via a Givealittle page which links directly to the Auckland mission.
"We can do this and I ask farmers and growers to dig deep this week," Williams says.
It costs $135 to provide a box of food for a family of four, with enough good ingredients for about four days’ worth of meals.
"The ongoing impact of three months of lockdowns has reduced the ability of too many families to provide the necessities of life, and especially to get through Christmas. We want to do something about it," he says.
Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard says the organisation is pleased to actively support the Mission’s Zero Hunger initiative.
"Sometimes Feds does things that are not about politics or regulations. We just want to feed families, especially when times are tough. ‘Farmers Feed Families’ - that’s what we do.
"We often talk of how we can make connections between farmers and urban communities, well here’s one way."
Auckland City Mission was chosen as the recipient because it is able to get to those who need the support most - and fast.
Mission chief executive Helen Robinson says more people have been turning to them for support than ever before during this latest lockdown, and it will be a difficult Christmas for many. In one week alone about 2,000 parcels of food were distributed, which is more than four times the weekly amount prior to Covid.
"Supporting people in Auckland who are facing the greatest need is a very real way farmers can connect with the city where the majority of their produce and meat is consumed," Robinson says.
"Quite simply we cannot offer the level of support we do without the generosity of people. My thanks goes to them all."
The Mission expects to give out around 9,000 Christmas food parcels and tens of thousands of gifts to families who would otherwise go without.
The Meat Industry Association of New Zealand (MIA) today announced that Chief Executive Officer Sirma Karapeeva has resigned from the role.
The winners of the 2026 Hawke’s Bay/Wairarapa Dairy Industry Awards were announced at the annual awards dinner held at Copthorne Solway Park in Masterton on Thursday evening.
Environment Southland is welcoming this week’s decision by the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to approve the release of Blaptea elguetai, a leaf‑feeding beetle that will help control the highly invasive Chilean flame creeper.
This March, the potato industry is proudly celebrating International Women’s Day on 8 March alongside the International Year of the Woman Farmer, recognising the vital role women play across every part of the sector — from paddocks and packhouses to research, leadership, and innovation.
Fruit trader Seeka posted a record profit and returns to shareholders in 2025.
Recent weather events in the Bay of Plenty, Gisborne/Tairawhiti, and Canterbury have been declared a medium-scale adverse event.

OPINION: A mate of yours truly reckons rural Manawatu families are the latest to suffer under what he calls the…
OPINION: If old Winston Peters thinks building trade relations with new nations, such as India, isn't a necessary investment in…