Damien O’Connor: NZ united on global trade
When it comes to international trade, politicians from all sides of the aisle are united, says Labour's trade spokesman Damien O'Connor.
The Hound reckons West Coast MP and Labour’s primary industries spokesman Damian O’Connor made a complete idiot of himself over his ‘support’ during the recent Anzac rugby league test.
O’Connor posted on Twitter what an ‘amazing performance’ it was from the Kiwi team – but unfortunately for him this before the game had been played. Trouble for O’Connor was he’d been travelling on the night the test was to be played, but it had been postponed for 48 hours because of flooding in Brisbane. So when the hapless MP sat down to watch the game ‘live’ his cheerleading was for a test that was played six months before. The good news is the Kiwis did win the match when it was played two days later; the bad news is this did not stop O’Connor from looking like a real plonker.
Registrations are now open for the 2026 Ruralco Golf Classic, with all proceeds from the event set to support the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust.
Mating wrapped up last month at the across-breed Beef Progeny Test on Pāmu’s Kepler Farm in Manapouri.
Libby Judson is a keeper of memories from an age gone by. Tim Fulton tells her story.
A New Zealand-first native tree study has highlighted the Bioeconomy Science Institute's position as a forestry research leader.
Hemp fibre processor Rubisco is relocating its core processing facility to Ashburton as part of a $20-$30 million expansion to leverage what it says is an accelerating global demand for sustainable and renewable fibres.
Tradition meets some of the latest in technology at the 2026 East Coast Farming Expo.

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