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"Farming is like being a slave to the most beautiful master," says Nadia Lim. "It consumes you. It's your home, your workplace, your life. But it's so beautiful, and it teaches you so many lessons." At Royalburn Station, perched high above Arrowtown on the Crown Range, Lim's days move with the rhythm of the land — and the happy chaos of three young boys. It's a long way from the TV studios and My Food Bag boardrooms where New Zealand first came to know her. Now, alongside her

When Springfield engineer Andrew Gillies decided to step back into machinery design, he knew exactly what he wanted to build: a drill tough enough for New Zealand terrain and smart enough to meet the needs of modern farmers. “I used to build drills for another company, and later I hired out agricultural equipment, including seed drills,” Gillies explains. A dealer told Gillies they had lost their agent and asked if he had ever thought about building a drill – and for Gillies,

There’s an old saying that 80% of people think they’re in the top 20% of performers. It’s human nature. But are farmers any different? Fonterra tells us we’re the most efficient producers of dairy protein in the world. Yet recent water quality results suggest there’s still room to improve. So how efficient are we, really? The tricky thing about “data” is you can make it say what you want. Take the often-quoted link between nitrates in drinking water and bowel cancer. It’s fre

Back-country pest control boss on the trucks that keep his crews safe and the systems behind them.

When fourth-generation dairy farmer Olivia Cahill walks into the rotary, every cow is known by name, number and lineage. That’s because each cow carries more than a century of family breeding behind it. This winter, Olivia and her husband Jared took a bold step, shifting the historic Sherraine Holsteins stud from Ohoka to a larger property at Swannanoa, doubling their herd and creating a platform for the next generation.

Farmer David Clark said the overhaul was a "tremendous success" for rural communities and their farmers. Anisha Satya A six year extension on farming consents has ended “a period of uncertainty” for Mid Canterbury farmers. The extensions were revealed as part of the Resource Management Act (RMA) replacement announcement, which saw the Act ditched for two new bills that separately regulate land use and environmental impacts. The expiry date for current consents has been extend

Howdy, My name is Jess. I contract milk 230 dairy cows, just outside of Matamata in the mighty Waikato!  I've got a filthy 2015 Holden Colorado, she's kissed more posts than I can count but she goes like the clappers, she's solid as all hell, will tow anything and loves muddin' on farm. As soon as the temp drops under 5 degrees, the rado becomes my get the cows vehicle. The heater on her would singe the skin off a muddy pig and she never misses a beat. I've had that thing stu

Where are and what are you farming?   Bay of Plenty and Waikato- Dairy and Beef   What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? 2022 Sr5 Hilux   What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute?   My other half had it custom painted hot pink for me, never seem to lose it in a parking lot.   What song is always on your playlist when you’re behind the wheel?   Ain't going down till the sun comes up- Garth Brooks     What’s your ultimate roadtrip snack when you’re out on

Where  and what are you farming? We farm in Hawarden North Canterbury. We are mainly beef farmers with a few sheep running around. What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? I drive a 2009 Suzuki Jimny.  She is not quite a ute but she gets me around the farm. What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute? With 4wd she can go most places and as light as a feather, so light that when she decides to not start some days, I can push her and quickly jump in and push-s

Where  and what are you farming? Oruru Valley, far north  What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? 2008 Suzuki jimmy  What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute? Everything. Having a jimmy is life changing. She does everything from beach drives, to farm hack, to picking up the kids from daycare and everything in between. When we have long days in the yards we fold the back seats down, pop a tv show on the iPad, fill it with cushions, blankets and snacks a

Where  and what are you farming?  We 50/50 sharemilk 340 gorgeous Jersey and Fresian cows in Riverton, Southland.  What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? 2001 Ford Courier single cab flat deck ute. What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute? She's hardy and always starts the first turn of the key but if you need to go to town; she'll take you there, just give me 10 minutes to give it a wash and a vacuum inside.  We have owned her since 2019, and the fuel

1. What is the name of your club, and how long have you been a member?   My club is Morrinsville-Ngarua Young Farmers and I have been a member for two and a half years. 2. What has been the highlight for you of joining Young Farmers? What are the benefits and experiences that you feel have helped you most? The highlight for me joining young farmers has been creating friendships with like-minded people who are motivated and inspiring to be around. The benefits for me are havin

When we launched our South Island Country Pub of the Year competition last month in association with Service Foods, it was about far more than just finding the best place for a cold one or a good feed. Country pubs are an integral part of rural communities. They are unassuming, unsung, and quintessentially Kiwi. We wanted to highlight that. While only one pub could take out the top spot in our South Island Country Pub of the Year Competition, every single one nominated is a w

Farmers don’t equipment or experience to join Surfing for Farmers- they just need to show up. Supplied. When Stephen Thomson first had the idea for Surfing for Farmers, he never imagined it would grow into one of New Zealand’s most celebrated grassroots wellbeing initiatives. What began with a handful of Gisborne farmers hitting the surf in 2018 has now evolved into 25 beach locations nationwide, with farmers ditching Swanndris for wetsuits and hitting the water 8,000 times i

Where are and what is your job? I am based in Surrey Hills and I cover the Mid & South Canterbury area delivering Mighty Mix Dog Food. What year, make, and model is your trusty ute?  She is a 2024 Toyota Landcruiser V8 What’s your favourite feature (or quirk) about your ute?  My favourite feature is the power. When she is fully loaded and with towing a trailer she has got plenty of go.  There is no bells and whistles in it but I wouldn't want to be driving anything else. What

Hanzon supports learning on the farm, an approach that appeals to students who have a more practical mindset and learn better on the job...

The old hospital was originally opened in 1922. Claire Inkson Nine months after turning the key on Rotherham’s landmark former Amuri Hospital, Sarah and Michael McGregor are still uncovering the building’s character - sometimes under coats of paint. “The whole place was whitewashed, hiding a multitude of sins. We found purple skirting boards, a black room, orange paint over lino, but we also found original doors and historical lamps tucked away,” Sarah says. The property, whi

When I think of the women who shaped New Zealand’s rural story, I often come back to Jane Deans.  In the 1850s she found herself widowed, with a young child and a farm to manage in a new country with the barest of resources. Instead of retreating, she rose to the challenge. She kept Riccarton farm running, lobbied for schools and health services, and fought to protect Riccarton Bush – a stand of native forest that still exists today because of her determination. Jane’s story

Ingrid Smith’s Facebook page has 15,000 followers where she blends gumboots with glamour and showcases practical make-up looks and her life on the farm. Supplied On a crisp Hawke’s Bay morning, Ingrid Smith might be found crutching sheep, chasing lambs with her children, or shifting mobs across paddocks.  Her nails are neat, her lashes coated in mascara, and there’s usually a slick of long-lasting lipstick in place.  It’s all part of the brand she has built -The Made Up Farme

Environment Canterbury Councillor Vicky Southworth  put forward the motion to declare a nitrate emergency in Canterbury. Photo: RNZ / Nate McKinnon As one of the final acts of the term, Canterbury Regional councillors declared a nitrate emergency. Few deny a problem ,  but some labelled the move as "meaningless" and marks a deepening a divide between town and country. LDR reporter Jonathan Leask looks at the murky issue. The declaration In a slim margin, Environment Canterbur