NZ Catchment Groups Thrive with ‘Source to Sea’ Approach
The most successful catchment groups in NZ are those that have 'a source to sea' approach.
A former contract milker has been banned from working in the dairy industry for 12 months for ramming a dairy cow with a quad bike, causing it severe pain and distress.
Christopher Mark Bennett, 56, was working on a farm in Raglan when the abuse occurred in November 2014.
Bennett had been rounding up stock when he rammed a difficult cow that was in full milk, with his quad bike at least twice.
The Ministry for Primary Industries began an investigation after witnesses, who were horse-riding on the farm, reported the incident.
MPI investigations manager, Simon Anderson, says offending of this nature is unacceptable.
"The Animal Welfare Act exists to protect animals from this sort of abuse.
"There is never an excuse for ill-treatment of animals. MPI takes any reports of abuse very seriously. If we find evidence that warrants charges being laid, we will prosecute."
Bennett was convicted and sentenced to 125 hours community work and disqualified from working in the dairy industry for 12 months when he appeared in the Hamilton District Court on July 29.
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.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.