Hectre Opens Auckland Lab for Hyperspectral Fruit Research
A new fruit quality research laboratory has been opened in Auckland by agritech company Hectre to develop pioneering hyperspectral technology.
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.
McClay says that significant rainfall and flooding over the summer have caused damage to farms and orchards while also impacting freight, transport and other infrastructure.
"Farmers and growers have shown significant resilience getting through recent storms and ensuring the welfare of their animals. These workshops will help in emergency preparedness," he says.
The catchment emergency preparedness workshops will be held across the country with a rural resilience roadshow set to be held on the West Coast this month.
Mark Patterson, Rural Communities Minister, says rural communities are highly exposed to the impacts of emergencies, and preparation is key.
"The workshops are designed to be practical to help rural New Zealanders prepare for and respond to adverse events," he says.
A farm emergency plan template and an adverse event preparedness checklist for farmers can be found on the Good Farm website or on MPI’s website: https://www.mpi.govt.nz/funding-rural-support/adverse-events/preparing-for-adverse-events.
Additional details for workshops will be available on the events section of the NZ Landcare Trust website closer to the time.
Three men have been sentenced in District Courts after Ministry for Primary Industries prosecutions over animal welfare, food safety and cattle tracing offences.
Fonterra’s 2026 financial year was a year of delivery, with record volumes of milk collected, processed and shipped by the co-op.
OPINION: The Government's decision to reinstate agriculture and horticultural science as a standalone subject from Year 11 is the right one.
Dairy farmers, still holding onto their Fonterra shares despite switching milk supply elsewhere or exiting the industry, now face a stricter share sell-down requirement.
Hamilton-based agritech company Aimer Farming has completed a $3 million capital raise to support its next stage of growth, including a beef farming product due to launch in 2027.
When dairy manager Miriam Lauridsen learned the farm, she was joining held weekly health and safety meetings, she initially thought that was “a bit over the top”. Experiencing that culture changed her mind.

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