Omihi School is inviting locals and visitors alike to come together for an evening of food, connection and community when Food Truck Friday returns to Omihi Community Hall on Friday, March 6. Now in its third year, the event runs from 5pm to 9pm and is designed as a relaxed community gathering rather than a fundraiser. Principal Maree Lucas says the idea grew from a desire to reconnect people after COVID and create something welcoming for the wider rural community. “It’s not

Festival director Kristy McGregor says the Shepherdess Muster is about “filling your own cup so you can give back to everyone else.” Supplied From 6–8 March 2026, the small Southland community of Tokanui will host the Shepherdess Muster – a three-day festival created to give women something many don’t allow themselves very often: time. Festival director and Shepherdess magazine publisher Kristy McGregor describes it as a deliberate pause from the constant demands many women c

AgProud chairperson Jon Pemberton (left) with National Lamb Day co-founder Pete Mcdonald. Supplied. National Lamb Day will be marked again on 15 February, with organisers encouraging New Zealanders to get behind a day that’s about more than just what’s on the plate. While lamb gives the day its name, chair of Ag Proud and the National Lamb Day committee Jon Pemberton says the focus is broader, celebrating New Zealand agriculture as a whole. “This is no one’s day. It’s not Ag

What started as a grassroots addition to the Methven A&P Show on March 21 has quickly become one of its biggest crowd-pullers — and this year, the Methven Ute Muster is aiming even higher. Running alongside the event, organisers are preparing for a Ford Ranger world record attempt, alongside a growing line-up of ute categories and a new women-led class designed to broaden who the event speaks to. Run as part of the annual Methven Show, the Ute Muster has been steadily buildi

Farmers could walk away from this year’s Southern Field Days with more than ideas and contacts - they could come away with a brand-new home, with every dollar raised supporting rural wellbeing. For Adam Newton from Adam Newton Homes, taking a home to the Southern Field Days isn’t new. But deciding to auction one - and donate the proceeds - was a step further. “This is the second year we’ve taken a house out there,” says Newton. “We tossed up whether we raffled a house or auct

WHEN 11–13 February 2026 TIME: 9am to 5pm Each day WHERE: Waimumu, Gor e, 12km from Gore. 575 Waimumu Road, Gore 9774 TICKETS: Adults: $25 Children under 16: Free Students with valid student ID: Free   What’s On Exhibitors Over 700 exhibitors showcasing the latest in rural technology, machinery and innovation from New Zealand and overseas. Competitions and Live Action • CablePrice Regional Excavator Operator Competition • TPNZ Tractor Pull featuring four classes • Speed Shea

Markham Street Festival Sunday 15 February Amberley Township • Family-friendly community festival on Amberley’s oldest street • Handpicked local stalls, food trucks and live music • Dedicated kids’ zone behind the Amberley Hotel (face painting, balloons, bouncy castle, youth activities) • Lions Club fundraising raffle at each end of the street • Local shops open, plus displays from community groups • Moved to Sunday to avoid Saturday sport and support traders • Free entry A r

Good dogs, great yarns, and a day out worth leaving the farm for - the Hurunui Flock Tours are back, bringing the district together one paddock at a time. The top flocks from each area then go on to the Champion of Champions Day, which sees eight farms visited in one day, followed by a community prizegiving and dinner. Supplied. Each March, the hills and valleys of Hurunui come alive with the sound of dogs, utes, and good conversation as farmers open their gates for the annua