Rural Life

Family ‘farming for the next generation’

In rural North Otago, a hard-working high-country family is working to preserve their slice of paradise for future generations. Rural editor Sally Rae reports.

National Party spokesman for agriculture and horticulture David Bennett speaks with a farmer at a...

Farmers give National hard word

Central Otago farmers are calling for National Party politicians to pay more than lip service to their ‘‘Back our farmers’’ slogan.

Sharp eyes, well-aimed grubbers

Sharp eyes, well-aimed grubbers

On a bitterly cold mid winter afternoon on the Knobby Range Rd, a group of Roxburgh and Teviot Valley farmers pore over a map pinned to the bonnet of a ute.
Testing efforts to keep family farm

Testing efforts to keep family farm

South Otago "primary school sweethearts" David and Ailsa Mackie have kept their farm in the family for more than 100 years.
Father, daughter go head-to-head

Father, daughter go head-to-head

A Western Southland father and daughter duo went head-to-head at a dog sale.

Dairy

Celebrating Fonterra’s plans to build a wood-fuelled biomass boiler at its Stirling cheese...

Switch to sustainable system heralded

Cakes were cut and sustainability pledged at both ends of the country last week with the official opening of Fonterra’s wood-pellet boiler at its Te Awamutu plant and the announcement of Stirling’s...

Van Leeuwen-linked dairy farm fetches $12m

Van Leeuwen-linked dairy farm fetches $12m

New Zealand Rural Land Company (NZRL) has bought another South Canterbury dairy farm linked to the Van Leeuwen Group (VGL).
Stirling announces get out of coal goal

Stirling announces get out of coal goal

Coal-free and fired by wood biomass by August next year; that is what the future holds for the Fonterra Stirling cheese plant.
Fonterra to phase out coal use at Otago cheese plant

Fonterra to phase out coal use at Otago cheese plant

Fonterra has announced plans to phase out the use of coal at its Stirling cheese plant in Otago by August next year.

Red Meat

Otago and Southland have seen a lift in the number of beef cattle but a drop in the number of...

South Island cattle still being live-exported since ban announced

Five live export ships have departed New Zealand since the government announced they'd be banned, with another arriving today.

Policies undermining instead of promoting NZ farmers

Policies undermining instead of promoting NZ farmers

A national tragedy is occurring and no-one seems aware it is destroying our farming communities and will ultimately do major damage to our economy.
Sharp eyes, well-aimed grubbers

Sharp eyes, well-aimed grubbers

On a bitterly cold mid winter afternoon on the Knobby Range Rd, a group of Roxburgh and Teviot Valley farmers pore over a map pinned to the bonnet of a ute.
High log and beef prices push overall exports to record $6 billion

High log and beef prices push overall exports to record $6 billion

Record prices for logs and beef have pushed up overall exports to a record $6 billion in the year to June.

Rural Events

ODT Regions

Horticulture

Border restrictions and reduced airline capacity in response to Covid-19 are creating anxiety in...

Pacific workers welcomed back

Central Otago’s Covid-hit horticulture sector has welcomed news seasonal workers from the Pacific will be able to enter New Zealand from next month.

Seasonal workers allowed into NZ from September

Seasonal workers allowed into NZ from September

Seasonal workers from Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu will be able to enter New Zealand from next month.
Appetite to keep learning a defining trait

Appetite to keep learning a defining trait

The picturesque view from David and Roz Grant’s kitchen, in Methven, looks towards snow-covered Mt Hutt.
Plantain in diet comes with advice

Plantain in diet comes with advice

Expect showers in the milking shed if the cows have been eating plantain, a central Southland sharemilker warns.

Focus on Farming

Oamaru vet Celia Van Kampen enjoys the variety of her work. PHOTO: REBECCA RYAN

Making the most of a move south

Life is a balancing act for Celia Van Kampen. The Oamaru vet tells Rebecca Ryan how she successfully fits her busy sporting schedule in around her work.

New umbrella for catchment groups

New umbrella for catchment groups

The latest evolution in coordinated catchment activity in Otago has been getting its ducks in a row this month, thanks to $200,000 seed funding from the Otago Regional Council and a further $150,000 from MPI.
Sustainability, teamwork pays off for duo

Sustainability, teamwork pays off for duo

Anna Gillespie’s relationship with husband Ben could best be described as symbiotic. It works so well the Omakau farmers are multi-award winners. One thing you should never do is call Mrs Gillespie a ‘‘farmer’s wife’’
Lions pride of Clinton for work raising money for good causes

Lions pride of Clinton for work raising money for good causes

One unforeseen aspect of lockdown for the Clinton area of South Otago was a forced reduction in fundraising activity, but the district’s Lions service group has recently redoubled its efforts in an attempt to boost its community coffers.

People

Dan Devine and Jaz Mathisen, pictured with their young daughters Ava and Ida, are focused on...

Family ‘farming for the next generation’

In rural North Otago, a hard-working high-country family is working to preserve their slice of paradise for future generations. Rural editor Sally Rae reports.

Unlikely pair guiding Groundswell juggernaut

Unlikely pair guiding Groundswell juggernaut

They're an unlikely pair of protesters. In fact, Laurie Paterson and Bryce McKenzie have never been involved in any sort of protest during their lengthy farming careers. Until now.
‘Better off with M.bovis’ – Farmer relays concerns to O’Connor

‘Better off with M.bovis’ – Farmer relays concerns to O’Connor

“I wouldn’t want to go through this again.” This was the enduring feeling for dairy farmer Laurence Rooney who believes he would have been better off if his farm caught M. bovis after “taking a hit” for the Ashburton town during the May floods.
Precious memories of daughter, grandson

Precious memories of daughter, grandson

In the wake of the report on the death of Dunback farmer Nadine Thomlinson and her son Angus, Alice Scott talks to Nadine's mother, Ann Restieaux.

Rural Events

Beaumont Hotel Bark-Up organiser Jana Fransbach sets the pace during Saturday night's inaugural...

Hounds abound at hotel’s first bark-up

There was an unusual number of revellers at Beaumont Hotel on Saturday night, many of them four-legged.

Farmers give National hard word

Farmers give National hard word

Central Otago farmers are calling for National Party politicians to pay more than lip service to their ‘‘Back our farmers’’ slogan.
Father, daughter go head-to-head

Father, daughter go head-to-head

A Western Southland father and daughter duo went head-to-head at a dog sale.
‘Dogs are the same as kids’: triallist

‘Dogs are the same as kids’: triallist

Cam Bain knows the value of a good dog.

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