Fibre broadband expansion to 95% of NZ gets green light – a win for rural connectivity
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
Rural Women New Zealand recently appointed Gabrielle O'Brient as its new chief executive.
"Gabrielle brings a wealth of experience from her previous general management roles in membership based organisations both in the charitable sector and most recently at the New Zealand Law Society," RWNZ president Gill Naylor says.
"This experience combined with her earlier background human resources management, facilitation and organisation development provide her with a strong background to lead our team through the next phase of our development."
O'Brien says she's looking forward to building on the strong legacy of RWNZ and working to provide the best possible platform for rural women to raise and progress issues that are important to them.
"Our rural communities are an integral part of the social and economic fabric of New Zealand.
"Women play a key role in these communities whether as primary producers, community influencers and connectors, entrepreneurs, educators or in the myriad of other essential professional and social roles they hold."
O'Brien took up her appointment at RWNZ earlier this month.
Holstein Friesian excellence was front and centre at the 2025 Holstein Friesian NZ (HFNZ) Awards, held recently in Invercargill.
The work Fonterra has done with Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, LIC and Ravensdown to save farmers time through better data connections has been recognised with a national award.
This past week has seen another round of negotiations between India and New Zealand to produce a free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Cautiously optimistic is how DairyNZ's regional manager for the lower North Island, Mark Laurence describes the mood of farmers in his patch.
The Infrastructure Commission has endorsed a plan by Chorus to expand fibre broadband to 95% of New Zealand much to the delight of rural women.
Questions are being raised about just how good the state of the dairy industry is - especially given that the average farmgate payout for the coming season is set to exceed $10/kgMS.