Rural Resilience Workshops to Help Farmers Prepare for Adverse Events
Agriculture Minister Todd McClay says a series of rural resilienced set to be rolled out next week will help farmers and growers better prepared for adverse weather events.
Trade Minister Todd McClay has travelled to Indonesia to join the Prime Minister and a high-level business delegation for a two-day official visit.
"Indonesia is an important trade partner for New Zealand, and as our 11th largest export market offers significant trading opportunities," says McClay.
"Our two-way trade currently sits at $1.6 billion, and we're keen to explore ways to meet the target set by the two countries last year to boost trade to $4 billion by 2024.
"We will be looking to further broaden our trade connections, including through the Prime Minister's meeting with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and my own meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Thomas Lembong."
McClay spoke with Minster Lembong at last weekend's G20 meeting in Shanghai and both ministers committed to further develop their government-to-government and business-to-business links.
"With a population of 255 million, Indonesia offers significant opportunity to New Zealand exporters and we will be looking to capitalise on the Prime Minister's visit to open doors for New Zealand companies," says McClay.
While in Indonesia, McClay will take part in business forums in Jakarta and Surabaya. The Jakarta business forum will focus on the benefits of regional economic integration, including between ASEAN and New Zealand. The Surabaya business forum will aim to promote New Zealand's economic relationship with East Java, Indonesia's second most populous province.
"I look forward to working alongside the New Zealand business delegation to showcase New Zealand's commercial expertise in areas of priority for Indonesia, including renewable energy, food and beverage, aviation, education and tourism," says McClay.
Horticulture New Zealand (HortNZ) has released its 2026 election manifesto, outlining priorities to support the sector’s growth, resilience, and contribution to New Zealand’s food security and export revenue.
Farmers have voted to continue the Milksolids Levy that funds DairyNZ.
Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell has resigned after eight years in the role.
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.

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