Maori-owned orchards bounce back from cyclone damage
A large Māori-owned kiwifruit business that was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle has bounced back with a vengeance.
This week is the final chance for communities to share their experiences in support of an independent review of the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle.
The short online survey is due to close on Monday, 15 January 2024 and has been open since mid-November 2023.
In addition to an ongoing series of community focus groups, Hawke’s Bay communities and mana whenua have been invited to anonymously share their experiences and views on the CDEM’s response to Cyclone Gabrielle during the days immediately leading to the event and in the immediate aftermath of it.
Since its launch, the Independent Review Panel, led by Bush International Consulting, has received close to 1,000 responses from residents from Wairoa to Pōrangahau, with the community and mana whenua feedback continuing to form a significant part of the ongoing review process.
The Panel says it is also making good progress and remains on track to deliver its final report to the Hawke’s Bay Civil Defence Emergency Management Group Joint Committee by the end of March 2024, just over a year after Cyclone Gabrielle devastated the region.
The survey can be completed by visiting: https://feedback.askyourteam.com/CBqcR2c.
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.
The six young cattle breeders participating in the inaugural Holstein Friesian NZ young breeder development programme have completed their first event of the year.
New Zealand feed producers are being encouraged to boost staff training to maintain efficiency and product quality.
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