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“We know the average outcome of El Niño, but no El Niño is average.” That is the message from Earth Sciences New Zealand Chief Scientist Weather and Seasonal Forecasting Chris Brandolino, as farmers begin preparing for what could be one of the strongest El Niño events on record. Earth Sciences New Zealand has confirmed El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and expects the climate driver to strongly influence New Zealand’s weather through spring, summer and

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

Where and what are you farming? We are now Sheep and beef farming at Springfield. Moved here from Hawkes Bay just over two years ago and reestablishing ourselves here. Have a smaller block of our own and a home base so will never be without a base if a job were to end like many managers find themselves in sadly. We have a business where we (Paddy, my husband) contracts his labour and dogs out to other farmers. What year, make, and model is your trusty ute? A 2017 Isuzu

Howdy founder Mia Ryan launched the rural-focused dating app after struggling to meet like-minded people while living and working in regional Australia. Supplied If you’ve spent any time on modern dating apps, chances are you’ve seen it all before. Dead pig photos. Fish photos. Gym selfies. Bios demanding “someone who doesn’t take life too seriously”. Conversations that start with “hey” and end in ghosting. Now imagine trying to navigate all of that from the middle of rural N

Rosa Power (right) and Margo Flanagan say the idea behind Two Raw Sisters has always been about simplifying wellness and helping people feel good through practical, nourishing food. How Two Raw Sisters are helping New Zealanders rethink food, wellbeing and the cost of living For Margo Flanagan, the answer to feeling better was never found in another diet, wellness trend or expensive health hack. It was found in simplicity. In slowing down. In learning how to use what was alr

Canterbury and Otago farmers and growers are being encouraged to check their irrigation systems and water-use plans now, as El Niño increases the likelihood of drier conditions across eastern parts of New Zealand. Earth Sciences New Zealand has confirmed that El Niño conditions have developed in the tropical Pacific and are expected to strongly influence New Zealand’s weather into 2027. Irricon principal environmental consultant Sarah Rickard says the outlook is a timely remi

West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane receives the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize from Rabobank’s Elio Pegorer at the Executive Development Programme awards evening. Supplied. West Otago dairy farmer Luke Kane has taken out a prestigious trans-Tasman farming award, winning the 2026 Rabobank Dr John Morris Business Development Prize. The award is presented through Rabobank’s Executive Development Programme (EDP) and recognises an outstanding business devel

Amy Po-Ching says financial confidence starts with understanding your position, knowing what you own, what you owe and where you want to go financially. Supplied. When Levridge founder and financial adviser Amy Po-Ching stood in front of a room full of women at the Women in Seed Forum in Christchurch last month, the discussion quickly turned from KiwiSaver and investing to women can feel uncomfortable talking about : financial independence. But it’s a conversation worth havin

It’s amazing to think that the Carters Creek catchment group is now three years old. One of the more recent achievements of the group has been looking after a council reserve area next to the creek on Melcombe Street, gradually planting it out to reduce sediment and pollutants entering the creek. A nearby local in his eighties wandered over to tell us recently that he enjoys visiting the site. The area is no longer an eye sore and he feels we are doing a good job protecting

Glen Thurston speaking at the NZDA conference as part of ongoing conversations around mental health, firearm safety and help-seeking within the hunting community. Supplied. For MentalHunts co-founder Glen Thurston, the conversations around mental health and firearms legislation deeply personal. The father, builder and passionate hunter has spent much of his life navigating depression, burnout and alcohol abuse. Those experiences eventually led him to launch MentalHunts alongs

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

Kylie Dorr (center) receiving her award for Supreme Winner of the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards at Parliament from NZI’s Christina Chellow (right) and Kylie’s supporter and mother Sandy Dorr (Left). Kylie Dorr admits she was in shock when her name was called as the Supreme Winner of the 2026 NZI Rural Women Business Awards. The owner of Southern Reproductive had already taken out the Emerging Enterprise category at the awards before being named the overall winner at

For years, rural New Zealand has been told to “speak up” and “reach out” when things get tough. But for many people living and working in the country, asking for help is rarely that simple. Isolation, workload pressure, financial stress, relationship strain and the deeply ingrained culture of simply “getting on with it” can all become barriers long before someone ever reaches crisis point. That is where Fiona McCracken believes things need to change. After years working acros

Lynton Downs homestead sits beneath the towering inland Kaikōura ranges, surrounded by mature trees, gardens and rolling farmland. There is a quiet kind of magic about Lynton Downs. Maybe it is the stillness of the hills. The creak of an old homestead staircase. The sight of sheep moving through the paddocks beneath mountain ranges that seem to rise straight out of the earth. Or perhaps it is the feeling that this is a place layered with stories. Built in the 1860s and added

Professor Matthew Wilson on the left and researcher Xander Cai on the right, holding the prototype sensor, which will be mounted to a pole above fence height and linked to a computer system which runs the AI technology. Amy Riach A brand-new venture for GPS signals: moonlighting for a water management system on New Zealand farms. Using artificial intelligence and satellite technology, a new research project designed to measure soil moisture may help to guide Kiwi farmers mak

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

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon joined the competitors on stage in New Plymouth to congratulate the 2026 winners. From left, runner-up Jack Taggart, overall winner Tom Slee and third-place finisher Cam Clayton. Methven has plenty to celebrate after three local competitors delivered podium performances on the national stage. Former Mount Hutt College student Jack Taggart finished runner-up in the 2026 FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final, while current students Emma Kinze

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