Karen Williams is Chief Executive of Irrigation New Zealand and a long-time advocate for farmers and rural communities. With a background spanning farming, industry leadership and agricultural advocacy, she brings a practical voice to some of the sector’s biggest conversations around water, land use and the future of food production. 1. You’ve worked across farming, advocacy and irrigation leadership. What has kept drawing you into roles where rural voices need to be heard? M

My daily commute is filling up with glittering signs proclaiming pointless slogans from airbrushed, friendly-looking wannabe politicians angling for my vote. The news is full of stories about the Opportunity Party, while Labour is saying very little, presumably hoping National will lose before they put their foot in their mouth. Election season must be upon us. Most policy announcements from the major parties seem to focus on health and the cost of living, which is presumably

Rose Hinton, left, with Jenny and Wayne Chisnall. The Hursley Terrace and Newcombes Road residents are among those opposing Plan Change 7. Claire Inkson Hurunui District Council says Rosewood Terrace is about giving Amberley Beach residents somewhere to go if natural hazards eventually make relocation necessary. But with around 230 sections proposed, roughly half intended for sale on the open market, opposition from neighbouring rural residents and the beach residents’ associ

Georgie Woods was named the 2026 Royal Agricultural Society of New Zealand Rural Ambassador after being nominated by the Northern A&P Association. For Georgie Woods, being named the 2026 Royal Agricultural Society Rural Ambassador was more than a personal achievement. It was recognition of the role young people can play in ensuring New Zealand’s A&P movement has a future. Nominated by the Northern A&P Association, Woods progressed through the competition before taking out the

Collective community action is well supported locally, as was demonstrated at this Enviro Collective workshop hosted by Somerview Farm The nature of collective community action typically starts small and gradually spreads outwards. Individuals, farm owners and farm teams, catchment groups, and in the case of Mid Canterbury - a catchment collective. Ensuring there is a district-wide vision requires leadership and collaboration as locals can come together around a common goal.

“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

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

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