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After 17 years as a volunteer firefighter, Felicity Lang is stepping into the role of first female officer for the  Waipara Volunteer Fire Brigade. Felicity Lang has been answering the pager for nearly two decades. Now the Waipara volunteer firefighter is stepping into an officer role at the brigade, becoming the first woman to do so - although it’s not something she makes much of. To her, it is simply the next step. “I’m just one of the guys,” she says. “That’s how I look at

I’m not sure you noticed, but a large grocery retailer recently announced they will start supplying US butter for $6.99. This is not good news for NZ dairy. In an election year, New Zealanders will be wondering why we can import butter cheaper than we can make it ourselves, and the questions won’t stop there. That $10 Kiwi butter sits on the shelf right alongside news of the dairy industry windfall courtesy of Fonterra’s capital payout. Meanwhile, Kiwis will cast their votes

Ella Gorton with the new Ford Ranger Super Duty at the Wanaka A&P Show. Photo Claire Inkson With fuel prices climbing and global uncertainty starting to filter through to everyday decisions, the conversation around what people drive is shifting again. Petrol, diesel, hybrid - buyers are weighing it all up. At Macaulay Motors in Queenstown, Ella Gorton is having those conversations daily. There is interest in plug-in hybrids, she says, but for many South Island drivers - parti

Colin Maw with a vintage tractor and plough at the Methven A&P Show on March 14, ahead of the 2026 New Zealand Ploughing Championships. Claire Inkson Before GPS, before minimum till, before modern machinery - there was the plough. This April, that history returns to the paddock in Methven for the first time since 2010. The 2026 New Zealand Ploughing Championships and Methven Country Fair will bring together some of the country’s top ploughmen and women, along with a full week

From left, John Chapman, CEO of MATES in Construction; Lucy Waterreus, CEO of ClubsNZ; Barbara Kuriger, MP for King Country and Taranaki, deputy speaker of the house, and Patron of the Whatever with Wiggy Charitable Trust; and Craig Wiggins, meeting in Parliment in 2025. Supplied. Rising fuel costs are placing fresh pressure on rural New Zealand, adding to the growing burden of many local farmers. And Craig Wiggins, founder of the Mid Canterbury ‘Whatever With Wiggy’ mental h

The shores of Lake Hāwea Station will host the inaugural Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships, with alpine views providing a dramatic backdrop for the event. What could be more kiwi than skimming stones? A flat rock, a stretch of water, a bit of friendly competition - and suddenly everyone’s eight years old again. That simple lakeside pastime is about to get a national stage, with the first-ever Aotearoa Stone Skimming Championships set for May 16 at Lake Hāwea Station. The

Giving the finals a red hot crack The Woodbury Domain erupted with applause, when Coldstream local Jack Taggart was announced as the winner of the Aorangi Young Farmers regionals. “This is Jack’s year”, said Aorangi Chairman Mitch Aldrigre, cheering along with the crowd. “He really deserves this, we’re all rooting for him.” 26 year-old Taggart, a young dairy farmer from the Hinds Young Farmers Club, usually spends his days at Skibbereen Farm in Coldstream, where he manages th

A big moment on stage as Bryce Win is named Tasman FMG Young Farmer of the Year. A win, a wedding, and a shot at the national title Less than two weeks out from his wedding, Bryce Win has added another milestone to what is already shaping up to be a big year. The 29-year-old Upper Moutere farmer was crowned Tasman’s FMG Young Farmer of the Year, earning his place at the Grand Final in July. “It is starting to sink in now,” Win said. “On the drive home, I realised I have actua

Thomas Slee after being crowned the 2026 Otago Southland FMG Young Farmer of the Year in Gore on February 7. Supplied Third time lucky for Slee in Otago Southland Young Farmer final Nightcaps dairy farmer Thomas Slee is heading to the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final after taking out the Otago Southland regional title in Gore on February 7. The 28-year-old accumulated 271 points across five demanding modules at the Gore A&P Showgrounds, finishing ahead of Henry Smith

Where and what are you farming?  I'm an agricultural photographer travelling the country in a Jayco Silverline Outback, towed by a Ford Ranger.  I picked up both the Jayco and the Ford from Auckland over a year ago and have spent the last year winding my way south staying at dairy farms, on sheep and beef stations, horse studs, wineries and market gardens.  I build a library of on-farm imagery that I license through my website to industry bodies, government departments, marae

Farmers and transport operators say rising fuel prices are already reshaping decisions on the ground, with pressure building across the entire rural supply chain.   Uncertainty is the word coming through loudest from rural New Zealand as fuel prices climb sharply off the back of the Iran conflict. Mid Canterbury farmer and Federated Farmers arable chairperson David Birkett says the impact is immediate - and far-reaching. “The vibe is uncertainty -everyone knows that fuel affe

1.      Most of Renae’s farming life had been spent in the North Island, where she was born and raised. South Otago brought a new climate, new systems and a steep learning curve. Supplied. Renae Flett did not grow up dreaming of becoming a dairy farmer. Her career began almost by accident. “I think it was from a friend who took me to where he was working one day, milking. And from then on I decided cows were fun,” she says. That was around 18 years ago. Since then, Renae has

As with most parents, my mornings and life blood are fuelled by the beautiful brown elixir that is coffee. We even splurged on our own machine and our Covid panic buy was not extra toilet paper, but 20 kg of green beans and an at-home roaster. Owning a home coffee machine comes with both advantages and challenges. The water tank requires frequent refilling and it’s easy to overfill when in a rush. After one particularly sleepless night, I did exactly that, but instead of the

The Farmers Fast Five: where we ask a farmer five quick questions about farming, and what agriculture means to them. Today we talk to Otaua dairy farmer Delilah Flavell.   1.       What did your journey into farming look like? I grew up in Otaua around dairy farming, so being on a farm has always felt like home. My first jobs as a kid were teat spraying and helping feed the calves and I quickly learned that I loved being outdoors and working with the cows. After finishing col

If I asked you to name three or four events that have happened to you over the last few years, what comes to mind? Probably the big stuff. Accidents. Break‑ups. Graduations. Getting engaged. Someone dying. But notice that I didn’t say major  events. Like most people, your mind likely jumped straight to the significant moments—the ones that feel dramatic or life‑defining—when the truth is that each and every day contains dozens of small events that can offer wonder, comfort, a

EcoPond being applied on Cam Henderson’s Oxford farm - a simple system targeting methane at the pond level. Claire Inkson A Canterbury farm hosted a global delegation last week as Synlait and Nestlé showcased EcoPond - a New Zealand-developed system reducing methane emissions from effluent ponds by more than 90 percent. A busload of visitors pulled into Cam Henderson’s Oxford dairy farm on March 18, carrying a mix of Synlait staff and international guests - for many, their f

Richard Subtil (owner) – Omarama Station , Cassidy Grey (Zentera) on Omarama Station. Supplied After three decades building global demand for New Zealand’s finest wool, the New Zealand Merino Company is preparing for its next chapter. From March 17 the company will operate under a new name - Zentera Wool Company -a move CEO Angus Street says reflects both the changing global market for natural fibres and the company’s broader international role. Street describes the shift as

Ravensdown chief executive Garry Diack. Footrot Flats has been part of kiwi culture since it was created by Murray Ball in the 1970s. Supplied. After several tough seasons in the agriculture sector, there’s a sense things are finally turning, says Garry Diack, Ravensdown chief executive. “We’re a bit of a cork in the tide of farmer fortunes. When the fortunes are going well, so do we. The long-term outlook for sheep and beef has given a bit more confidence to the sales proces

A community gathering in the Greenstreet Hall to talk about the Ashburton River, hosted by Greenstreet Catchment Group. Across Mid Canterbury, catchment groups are getting on with the job of improving their natural environment, building resilience and strengthening community connections. One group in particular – the Greenstreet Catchment Group – has found its groove over the past year, demonstrating what is possible when local leadership is backed by consistent support from

Castle Ridge Station’s Paul and Kerry Harmer after being named Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. Supplied Castle Ridge Station’s Kerry Harmer says she and her family were “blown away” to be named the Canterbury Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards on March 5. “We were pretty overwhelmed,” she says. “We don’t really think we’re doing anything amazing. We just do what we think is right for us and for the pla