OPINION: The Hound was gobsmacked to learn that the NZ media's love affair with 'our' Jacinda took another great leap forward - or more correctly backwards - during the recent visit of Australian PM Scott Morrison.

A warm and settled autumn has given way to winter.

More evidence - if it was needed - that farming sector confidence is on the wane, burdened down by increasing red tape and workforce shortages.

National Fieldays 2021 has come and gone, with general consensus being that it was a good event.

Farmers are again the hapless targets of new government regulations - this time to reduce the country's car fleet carbon emissions.

Despite the disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic, revenue from New Zealand's primary exports in the past season only dropped by 1% and is predicted to quickly pick up and reach a record high of $49.6 billion in the next 12 months.

A new farm work visa proposed by Australia could cause more misery for labour-strapped New Zealand farmers.

A University of Otago study has found that the poorly-managed government response to the 2017 M. bovis outbreak inflicted significant and lasting trauma on farmers whose stock were culled.

With the effects of Covid-19 still impacting many New Zealand industries, it's imperative the wine sector taps into home-grown business knowledge and support.

Drinks International have conducted their annual survey to find out which are the world's most admired wine brands.