Power bill cut after Canterbury piggery adds large solar panel system to reduce reliance on national grid

Southern Pork co-owner Jason Palmer only wishes a new 200kw system of 324 solar panels had been put in years ago for the 500 sow finishing farm near Dunsandel. Photo: Supplied

Tim Cronshaw

Sunday, September 13, 2026

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Rural Life OtherSeptember 9

KiwiSaver legislation changes progress to open the farm gate to first-time buyers

Legislation is progressing to allow rural workers to use their KiwiSaver funds to buy their first home.

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Rural Life OtherSeptember 6

Promoting New Zealand’s primary industries through skincare brand

When skincare entrepreneur Megan Seator was on maternity leave with her now five-year-old daughter, times were tough on the farm.

Sally Rae

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Rural Life OtherSeptember 2

Lobbying to get cows to eat Southland seaweed

A seaweed grower is “lobbying hard” to get a legislation change so the native plant grown in Southland can get government approval for use as a methane inhibitor in ruminant animals.

Shawn McAvinue

Lobbying to get cows to eat Southland seaweed

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Rural Life OtherAugust 30

‘The wood industry really did save my life’ — from drugs and booze to businessman

"There’s a good chance I could have been in jail or six feet under but the wood industry really did save my life.” Southland sawmill owner Rodney Lonneker was an inspiring speaker at last week’s New Zealand Institute of Forestry conference in Dunedin.

Sally Rae

‘The wood industry really did save my life’ — from drugs and booze to businessman