HortNZ Welcomes $400 Million Boost for State Highway Resilience
Horticulture NZ says the funding boost to improve state highway resilience will support growers and strengthen the transport links they rely on to get produce to market.
Horticulture New Zealand’s grower members have elected two new directors to their board: John Cook and Mike Smith, both kiwifruit growers from Bay of Plenty.
Cook has worked extensively in agriculture and horticulture -- owning a dairy and sheep farm – and has worked on and had investments in pipfruit, summerfruit and kiwifruit businesses in Australia and New Zealand. He has a Diploma in Agriculture from Lincoln University and was a recipient of a Kellogg Rural Leadership Scholarship.
Smith has been in the kiwifruit business for at least 20 years and has worked in dairy farming and the stock and station industry. He is chair of the Green Kiwifruit Growers Association and a member of the Bay of Plenty Young Fruitgrower committee.
The new board’s term starts at the HortNZ annual meeting in Rotorua on July 28.
Joshua Irving has been named the 2026 Ormond Nurseries North Canterbury Young Viticulturist of the Year.
Vets say they support the responsible use of virtual fencing and virtual herding technology for cattle and wants to work with farmers, manufacturers and government to help shape standards for future use backed by ongoing research to strengthen animal welfare outcomes.
National and world records tumbled as top Kiwi axeman claimed two Stihl Timbersports world titles at the same event in Budapest, Hungary over the first weekend in June.
A safety push across New Zealand has revealed significant gaps in hazardous substances management, farm vehicles, tractors, quad bikes and side-by-sides.
New Zealand farmers have earned a global edge by consistently yet cautiously taking advantage of emerging agri-technology.
New season data from LIC shows a strong reproductive performance for the 2025-26 season, with a lift in key metrics compared to last season.

OPINION: Central Hawke's Bay farmer Mark Warren recently told the Hawke's Bay Times it's time for a conversation about allowing…
OPINION: A nation that relies as heavily as NZ does on functional global shipping lanes will have to do its…