Rural NZ Welcomes $8.5m Government Health Package
Rural New Zealand is welcoming the Government’s recent package of rural healthcare initiatives.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) is launching an online business directory called The Country Women’s Collective to promote and support entrepreneurial rural women.
“We know from our annual NZI Rural Women NZ Business Awards and Activator programmes that rural businesswomen really want to support each other,” RWNZ national president Gill Naylor says.
“We hope the online directory will become the go-to place for people who want to support local and New Zealand made products and services from our rural communities.
“There’s no other online offering like this in New Zealand that showcases and celebrates rural products from clothing and homewares to services from agritourism to farm supplies.”
Rural Women NZ member and co-founder of Foxtrot Home Kate Cullwick is an early adopter of the business directory.
"Foxtrot Home is thrilled to be included in The Country Women's Collective as it is very much a part of our business and personal philosophy to support and celebrate other rural wāhine in business,” Cullwick says.
“The directory is a leading initiative to help small businesses not only increase their exposure to more shoppers, but to heighten and celebrate the incredible talent found out there in rural Aotearoa. I think it will be infinitely inspiring for other up-and-coming entrepreneurs too!"
The directory is freely available on the Rural Women New Zealand website at https://www.ruralwomennz.nz/the-country-womens-collective.
Farmers have until the end of this week to help shape DairyNZ’s future focus.
Wayne McNee, chief executive of AgriZeroNZ, has resigned and will leave the organisation on 15 January 2027.
The New Zealand dairy sector set a record in the 2025/26 season, producing more than two billion kilograms of milksolids for the first time.
Milk powder prices are continuing their merry run, firming up a potential $10/kgMS farmgate price this season.
Teachers are welcoming the outgoing Government’s U-turn allowing agriculture and horticultural science to remain a standalone Year 11 subject.
Outgoing ACT MP and dairy farmer Mark Cameron says Saturday’s election result reflects voters deeply impacted by the cost of living.

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