1+ day, 8+ hour ago  (645+ words) Rural communities are being gutted of people and services by the conversion of farmland to exotic forestry, a researcher says. Kathryn Wright, a rural mental health counsellor who works in rural social services, is studying the social effects on rural…...

1+ day, 8+ hour ago  (1260+ words) By Neal Wallace and Richard Rennie Forestry's footprint is unlikely to expand much further due to changes to the Emissions Trading Scheme and tighter government rules on land use. So says Forest Owners Association chief executive Dr Elizabeth Hegg, who…...

3+ week, 1+ day ago  (467+ words) James and Melissa Barbour knew they wanted to invest in the environment from the outset when they took ownership of their Waotu property, south of Putaruru, in June 2022 after 15 years of sharemilking. They restored an under-used corner of their 196 hectare…...

3+ week, 2+ day ago  (805+ words) A new biodiversity plan for Canterbury piles the cost and responsibility of conservation onto farmers while tightening the rules on how they farm, Federated Farmers says. Environment Canterbury (ECan) has asked Federated Farmers to endorse its new Waitaha Canterbury Biodiversity…...

1+ mon, 6+ day ago  (263+ words) The National Party has withdrawn its support for resuming live animal exports by sea. Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard announced on Tuesday that the'government would not get round to resuming the trade this term'as there were more pressing matters. The…...

1+ mon, 6+ day ago  (225+ words) Southland farmers will find it easier to control ducks this coming duck season after the minister of hunting and fishing approved changes to the region's 2026 game bird hunting regulations. Last year Federated Farmers was at odds with Southland Fish & Game…...

1+ mon, 6+ day ago  (524+ words) By Keiller Mac Duff of RNZ The Green Party is welcoming news that the government has backtracked on plans to reinstate live animal exports. Animal Welfare Minister Andrew Hoggard'told 1 News'he could not get Cabinet agreement on overturning the ban, which…...

1+ mon, 1+ week ago  (707+ words) By Richard Dawkins, Federated Farmers meat and wool chair After years of debate about carbon settings and land-use change, attention must now turn to who bears the costs when routine forestry operations cause damage. Too often, predictable risks like slash,…...

2+ mon, 6+ day ago  (237+ words) The government is seeking applications for a share of a $28 million fund for erosion control. The Hill Country Erosion Programme (HCEP) fund is a four-year partnership between the Ministry for Primary Industries, councils and landowners to assist with regional erosion-control…...

2+ mon, 2+ week ago  (450+ words) By Roger May. May runs Tomorrow's Forests," a forestry consultancy company. Severe rainfall events around the country have shown us that forestry is not always on the right side of the social licence ledger." The damage following Cyclone Gabrielle, ex-cyclone…...