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As politicians ramp up rhetoric and roll out the policy ahead of the November election, most New Zealanders want to hear what their solutions are for getting the cost of living down. Whether you’re a farmer out in Stavely or you’re living in the middle of Ashburton, we’re all interested in cutting out things that unnecessarily add to costs. In the last few years, a big focus of Federated Farmers has been to encourage central and local government to streamline and simplify res

Growing up on a farm, the dangers that came with working in our sector were ingrained in us from a young age. We all had near misses, even as children. It was almost a rite of passage. On quad bikes, driving the farm ute, working in the yards and discovering very quickly what happens when you get on the wrong side of a sheep. Most of the time, they were just that. Near misses. Sadly, some weren’t. We lost young members of our community in farm accidents in relatively quick su

Once upon a time, I was sent to a Management 101 course to learn how to do the job I was meant to already be doing. Over lunch, I met a lovely lady who managed a team supporting minority women to engage with women’s health services. She spoke about how a core part of their job was simply chatting with small groups of ladies within their own communities, creating safe spaces with women who understood them and their backgrounds, breaking down the educational, social and cultura

My husband and I recently returned from a holiday in Vietnam. I found myself thinking about culture. Not the big obvious parts of culture, like language, history or food, the tiny unwritten rules people just know. In Vietnam, one of those rules is crossing the road. A raging river of scooters, cars, bikes, people and horns greet you at any road. The first instinct is wait for a gap. Except, there is no gap. On our first day I ended up messaging a local friend to ask how one

There’s nothing quite like an anniversary to make you step back and reflect on the twists and turns life has thrown at you, and to humble you with the illusion that we have total control over the events that shape our lives. Ten years ago, we were enjoying our carefree adult lifestyles with disposable income, a house that stayed clean for more than a day, and time to waste doing fun, non-productive things like hobbies or sleeping in. We made plans assuming we were in control

Succession. A sensational television show of the late 2010s? Absolutely. But for farming families, it’s also an inevitability reality every business will face. In March 2025, Rabobank published a white paper estimating that, over the next ten years, more than half of all New Zealand farm and orchard owners will reach retirement age. As a result, $150 billion of New Zealand farming assets is expected to change hands. Rabobank referred to this “changing of the guard” as what

A frighteningly long time ago, I subscribed to a weekly newsletter that provided updates on the latest science and innovations in the food safety space. One issue reported new research confirming the potential exposure risk of Campylobacter from raw eggs as 1 in 20,000. Given how dangerous I thought raw eggs were at the time, the information was a revelation. My immediate reaction was, “I’d have to eat 20,000 eggs before I got sick, therefore eggs are safe.” Then my boss said

As the financial year draws to a close, now is often the time to revisit that to-do list and those jobs you’ve been putting off all year start getting another look. Whether it’s a tractor that has become increasingly temperamental, a set of yards that have seen better days, or a project that’s been sitting on the wish list for months, the question is often the same: should I repair what I already own, or replace it altogether? The Investment Boost has added another layer to

The mornings are slow to lighten. The grass slows. Trees stand bare against grey skies. The ground is heavier underfoot, and evenings draw us indoors earlier. Across many dairy farms, cows are dry and calf sheds are empty between seasons. Elsewhere, there are wintering animals arriving, stock to feed and mud to manage. But winter carries a different rhythm. The natural world does not apologise for this. It contracts and gathers itself before the next burst of growth. Paddocks

There is a concept in leadership that most people need to “see to be.” Before we can imagine ourselves in certain spaces, we often need to see someone else stand there first. For me, that moment was spring 1999. I was a university commerce student in Wellington when Theresa Gattung became chief executive of Telecom. At the time, Telecom was one of the largest companies in New Zealand. Suddenly, a woman was visible at the head of corporate New Zealand. I remember thinking, if

“Can’t you just make it work?” are familiar words my colleagues across NZ will be all too used to hearing. As rural accountants, we understand that the numbers aren’t the reason you get out of bed each day, and when you dreamt about farming growing up, we doubt you pictured yourself sitting at a computer trying to sort your annual accounts & taxes. However, the software and systems available today mean shoeboxes filled with faded receipts are no longer the standard in terms o

I had the great pleasure of seeing Split Enz in all their quirky glory on May 4. There was something deeply inspiring about watching a group of 70-year-olds prancing around in flamboyant suits, playing the spoons and hammering piano keys with chaotic enthusiasm. Their complete indifference to what anyone else thinks produces music that is brilliantly creative, slightly unhinged, and timeless — as the audience’s replacement hips could attest. What struck me most was the contra

A wise man (Ben Harper) once said, “there’s good deeds and there’s good intentions, and they’re as far apart as heaven and hell.” The news that Wattie’s and McCain’s are shutting down New Zealand manufacturing due to high energy, labour and environmental costs feels like a case study in exactly that gap. Good intentions, uncomfortable outcomes. New Zealanders, and our governments, expect farmers and factories to produce food with high environmental standards, strong labour pr

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

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

The Farming Fast Five: where we ask a farmer five quick questions about agriculture, and what farming means to them. Today we chat to Culverden dairy farmer Allie King. 1. What did your journey into farming look like? I was born and raised in Christchurch, having no knowledge or experience of farming let alone the fact that Canterbury Dairy Farming was quite literally on our doorsteps! My family and I lived in the suburbs of Christchurch, with Dad being a banker and mum a L

It feels like life is geared these days to be frictionless. Thanks to advances in technology and AI, almost everything we need is at our fingertips — from grocery shopping and workouts to TV shows and music. We can stream what we want, when we want. We rarely have to wait for anything. And AI is only speeding that up. While technology and AI are making their way into farming, the work itself is still hard yakka. But outside the farm gate, life is becoming increasingly automat

Each issue we ask a farmer five quick questions about agriculture, and what farming means to them. Today we chat to Sefton farmer and owner of The Good Cow Tammy Acton-Adams. 1. What did your journey into farming look like? I grew up on a small farm on the other side of Sefton that was very diverse. Between leaving school and when my secretary course started, I joined a shearing gang for the summer. Oh, how I wanted to stay doing that! But was told I had to do the c

Storytelling has been in my bones for as long as I can remember. Ever since I was seven, I’ve wanted to write. When I was 15, my father bought me my first proper camera - a second-hand Olympus 35mm that I treasured and still have today. I’d wander around our farm taking photos, jotting down every camera setting in a notebook so I could figure out what worked and what didn’t. Agriculture has always been my anchor. I have the deepest respect for the people who work the land a

A few years ago, I decided to get some chickens to help tidy up the vege garden over winter. The last thing I wanted was for some of my former colleagues to come knocking on my door, so I spent a few hours digging through district plans knowing the rules can be very different depending on whether you’re in Christchurch, Rolleston, or Ashburton. Simplifying planning makes sense. Provided everyone follows the rules and is considerate. But there’s always that ONE person who sets