Election 2026: Rural Lobby Groups Challenge Parties on Agriculture Policy
Three farmer lobby groups are applying the blowtorch to political parties on key issues facing the primary sector ahead of the general elections.
OPINION: Meanwhile, speaking of Groundswell, this old mutt understands that the leaders of the rural lobby group and fringe political party Democracy NZ recently met up in a café in Gore for a clandestine catch up.
This was all before the major meltdown in the Democracy NZ political movement last month, where five of its 10 selected candidates resigned en mass.
This included Waikato candidate Steven Cranston, who was the former ag emissions spokesman for Groundswell - before he jumped on the Democracy NZ crazy wagon.
Your old mate suggests that Groundswell should steer clear of having such a close association with a fringe political outfit like Democracy NZ or they are in danger of being labelled as associating political crazies and burning off much of the goodwill it has built up in rural NZ.
Cyclone Vaianu is continuing its track south towards the Bay of Plenty, bringing with it destructive winds, heavy rain, and large swells, says Metservice.
While Cyclone Vaianu remains off the East Coast of New Zealand, the Waikato Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) Group says impacts have been felt overnight.
A Local State of Emergency has been declared for the Waikato for a period of seven days as the region prepares for Cyclone Vaianu to hit the area.
Farmers will get an opportunity to hear about the latest developments in sheep genetics at the Sheep Breeder Forum this May.
Specialist horticulture and viticulture weather forecasters Metris says the incoming Cyclone Vaianu is likely to impact growers across the country.
A group of old Otago uni mates with a love of South Island back-country have gone the lengths of Waiau Toa Clarence from source to sea. Tim Fulton, who joined the group in the final fun to the river mouth, tells their story.

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