Halter goes global, but NZ farmers remain core to innovation
Virtual fencing company Halter is going global but for founder Craig Piggott, New Zealand farmers will always remain their main partners.
Rural Women New Zealand (RWNZ) says it is pleased to hear the Government’s announcement of new funding for improved rural broadband.
“Improving connectivity is vital to successful business, health and safety, education and social connection in rural communities,” says national president, Fiona Gower.
“RWNZ would like to see the Wireless Internet Service Providers (WISP’s) included in the Government’s new rural broadband funding – they have filled the gap left by the big telcos in getting internet into rural, remote and hard to reach areas of our country.
Gower says the rural women lobby also like to see a commitment to improving mobile phone coverage in rural New Zealand. She says because with only 50% coverage across New Zealand, it is the rural communities missing out.
“Covid-19 has highlighted the issue of digital inequity with incredibly slow rural internet speeds and landlines overloading.
“Children now being schooled at home are often struggling to get to their online classes. Women and children living with intimate partner violence are not able to contact support services and the additional health and social service support offered online is only available to those with adequate connectivity – it is our hope that this new funding from Government will alleviate these issues.”
Gower says across the board, self-isolation and restrictions on bubbles mean that it is vital that communities have the tools to connect to, at the very least, maintain mental wellness.
“We know that rural communities tend to be resilient and supportive and this new funding from the Government will, if allocated wisely, keep them that way.”
Alliance has announced a series of capital raise roadshow event, starting on 29 September in Tuatapere, Southland.
State farmer Pāmu (Landcorp) has announced a new equity partnership in an effort to support pathways to farm ownership for livestock farm operators.
Following a recent overweight incursion that saw a Mid-Canterbury contractor cop a $12,150 fine, the rural contracting industry is calling time on what they consider to be outdated and unworkable regulations regarding weight and dimensions that they say are impeding their businesses.
Trade Minister Todd McClay says his officials plan to meet their US counterparts every month from now on to better understand how the 15% tariff issue there will play out, and try and get some certainty there for our exporters about the future.
Brett Wotton, an Eastern Bay of Plenty kiwifruit grower and harvest contractor, has won the 2025 Kiwifruit Innovation Award for his work to support lifting fruit quality across the industry.
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