Storm-damaged trees still causing havoc in Southland
Southland farmers are being urged to put safety first, following a spike in tip offs about risky handling of wind-damaged trees
More roads have been closed because of flooding throughout the Southland District.
They are:
Rakahouka Hedgehope Road between Yorke and Factory Rd (Hedgehope end) will remain closed until tomorrow at least and South Hillend Road to Dipton Road near the Taringatua Camp and Waiarikiki Road, Waiarikiki, are still both closed as well.
All of these roads are likely to remain closed overnight.
Ellis Road is now open and passable with care. Riversdale Waikaia Road is passable with care. Particular care needs to be taken around the Freshford Area. Pyramid Waiparu Road is passable with care
Other roads throughout Southland have also been affected by flooding so caution is needed. Drivers need to take care because there may be road surface damage in places, even in areas where the water has already receded.
For state highway conditions, please check www.nzta.govt.nz and for further general roading updates check www.aa.co.nz
Farmer interest continues to grow as a Massey University research project to determine the benefits or otherwise of the self-shedding Wiltshire sheep is underway. The project is five years in and has two more years to go. It was done mainly in the light of low wool prices and the cost of shearing. Peter Burke recently went along to the annual field day held Massey's Riverside farm in the Wairarapa.
Applications are now open for the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards, set to be held at Parliament on 23 July.
Ravensdown has announced a collaboration with Kiwi icon, Footrot Flats in an effort to bring humour, heart, and connection to the forefront of the farming sector.
Forest & Bird's Kiwi Conservation Club is inviting New Zealanders of all ages to embrace the outdoors with its Summer Adventure Challenges.
Grace Su, a recent optometry graduate from the University of Auckland, is moving to Tauranga to start work in a practice where she worked while participating in the university's Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP).
Two farmers and two farming companies were recently convicted and fined a total of $108,000 for environmental offending.

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