Alliance completes $16m warehouse tech update
Alliance Group has launched a new $16 million warehouse technology system at its Lorneville plant near Invercargill.
Ahead of the World Butchers' Challenge, the captains of 14 nations’ teams squared off in Paris over the weekend.
In one pre-game clash, Germany’s reigning champions went head-to-head with host nation France in an arm wrestle between German captain Dirk Freyberger and French captain Ip Yan Fat.
The friendly rivalry set the tone for what promises to be a high-stakes competition, with Germany claiming the first unofficial victory of the weekend.
Ashley Gray, chief executive of the World Butchers’ Challenge says anticipation is at an all-time high and the energy in Paris is “electric”.
“Some teams are hungry for their first victory, others are determined to defend their title, and new nations are ready to make their mark,” Gray says. “We can’t wait to see the competition unfold and wish all the competitors the best of luck.”
Today, Paris will play host to 14 national teams for the ninth World Butchers’ Challenge at Paris Arena Sud 6, part of the Paris Expo Exhibition Centre.
The three-hour challenge will see each team demonstrate their carving, boning and finishing skills – underpinned by creative and cultural flair.
The winning team will be awarded the Friedr. Dick Golden Knife Trophy at a Gala dinner on Tuesday, 1 April in Paris.
The 2025 World Butchers’ Challenge is sponsored by Friedr. Dick, Devro, Van Hessen, and Anago.
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.

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