Fieldays’ sustainability credentials getting greener
The New Zealand National Fieldays Society has achieved a major sustainability milestone - reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and reaching the target five years early.
Once again, the sharp minds at St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton were the 2023 Young Innovators of the Year Winners at this year’s Fieldays.
CAPRA Skin, conceived, designed and manufactured by students Lucy, Emma, Mackenzie and Lochie is a specially- formulated goat’s milk lip balm.
Early in the process, the group realised that the core ingredient offered many natural benefits, including vitamin A, fatty acids and moisturising agents.
These, alongside the other main ingredients of kawakawa oil and bee venom, all have cell regeneration qualities.
In developing the lip balm, the team recognised that many teenagers suffer from acne and use medication to clear up the problem. Unfortunately, a major side effect is drying out and cracking of the lips. The students looked at the current lip balm market but couldn’t find a lip balm that was specifically targeted towards teenagers with dry and cracked lips.
From a development perspective – and wanting to incorporate New Zealand ingredients – the group decided to use Kawakawa oil, which is a native to New Zealand. The ingredient is nongreasy, helps heal skin conditions and seals wounds. It also restores hydration, while reducing itching and redness.
On the marketing front, the students decided to call the product Capra Skin. The name originates from the Latin word for goat, which more recently is used as the acronym for the Greatest of All Time (GOAT) – which is the impression they want customers to feel, having used the product.
There are plans to expand the product offering beyond lip balm to an extensive range of skincare products. Follow the journey on Instagram at capra.skin and other social media outlets.
Virtual fencing and herding systems supplier, Halter is welcoming a decision by the Victorian Government to allow farmers in the state to use the technology.
DairyNZ’s latest Econ Tracker update shows most farms will still finish the season in a positive position, although the gap has narrowed compared with early season expectations.
New Zealand’s national lamb crop for the 2025–26 season is estimated at 19.66 million head, a lift of one percent (or 188,000 more lambs) on last season, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) latest Lamb Crop report.
Farmers appear to be cautiously welcoming the Government’s plan to reform local government, according to Ag First chief executive, James Allen.
The Fonterra divestment capital return should provide “a tailwind to GDP growth” next year, according to a new ANZ NZ report, but it’s not “manna from heaven” for the economy.
Fonterra's Eltham site in Taranaki is stepping up its global impact with an upgrade to its processed cheese production lines, boosting capacity to meet growing international demand.

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