SECTIONS

Fence Lines

OpinionJuly 4

From ‘Thinking Thursdays’ to ‘Just Do It Fridays’

I have been writing my Fence Lines column for more than a decade.
From ‘Thinking Thursdays’ to ‘Just Do It Fridays’
From ‘Thinking Thursdays’ to ‘Just Do It Fridays’
OpinionJune 20

The value of human assets and universities

I spent a long time at university, taking science papers and undertaking scientific research.
The value of human assets and universities
The value of human assets and universities
OpinionMay 23

Seeing science as part of the big picture

We become frustrated when the "science changes" — it makes us distrust information we are given.
Seeing science as part of the big picture
Seeing science as part of the big picture
OpinionMay 9

Time to become a republic

When I was in primary school, I lined up with hundreds of others along Highgate to catch a glimpse of the Queen — a brief wave through a car window and the excitement was over.
Time to become a republic
Time to become a republic
OpinionApril 25

Plant diversity important for health, not just the planet

Biodiversity is the new orange, or black, or whatever is on-trend/vital to have.
Plant diversity important for health, not just the planet
Plant diversity important for health, not just the planet
OpinionApril 11

What unseen riches lie beneath your feet?

Observational skills are not a strength of mine. This was highlighted once again when a friend took me mushrooming recently, writes Anna Campbell.
What unseen riches lie beneath your feet?
What unseen riches lie beneath your feet?
OpinionMarch 28

What deleting social media from my phone taught me

I have come to the realisation that I suffer from "nomophobia", which means I have a behavioural addiction to my phone.
What deleting social media from my phone taught me
What deleting social media from my phone taught me
OpinionMarch 14

Showcase of the ‘natural’ offers plenty of anything but

It's the end of a long week – I am sitting in the wonder that is Los Angeles airport.
Showcase of the ‘natural’ offers plenty of anything but
Showcase of the ‘natural’ offers plenty of anything but
OpinionFebruary 14

AI might give rise to greater creativity

I showed my student son ChatGPT and we got it to write an essay on the causes of New Zealand river pollution — his eyes lit up as he watched the essay being formed in a matter of minutes.
AI might give rise to greater creativity
AI might give rise to greater creativity
OpinionJanuary 31

Genetic food technologies — time to reopen the debate

The food world is at war — the old versus the new, the processed versus the unprocessed, meat versus plants.
Genetic food technologies — time to reopen the debate
Genetic food technologies — time to reopen the debate
OpinionDecember 20

Farming innovation beats legislation

The methane debate is hotting up in New Zealand as livestock farmers face a bevy of regulations and legislation driving conversion of hill country farms into forestry and carbon farming (often foreign owned).
Farming innovation beats legislation
Farming innovation beats legislation
OpinionNovember 22

Pause before your disapproval

There is a lot of discussion about political polarisation at the moment and my exposure to extreme opinions was given a kick-start while travelling in the United States last month.
Pause before your disapproval
Pause before your disapproval
OpinionNovember 8

More power in smaller teams

We are often taught to believe that "bigger is better" — bigger teams, bigger production systems, bigger farms, bigger businesses, bigger banks.
More power in smaller teams
More power in smaller teams
OpinionOctober 11

Stages of life: rethinking the ageing population

Howdy from Texas.
Stages of life: rethinking the ageing population
Stages of life: rethinking the ageing population
OpinionAugust 30

Try volunteering to stay engaged, get out of a rut

It's a Monday morning, after a mighty win by the West Taieri Ladies B Team in the Division 3 hockey final.
Try volunteering to stay engaged, get out of a rut
Try volunteering to stay engaged, get out of a rut
OpinionAugust 16

Innovative industries require long-term investment

New Zealand’s dominant agricultural industries were not built overnight — sheep and beef, dairy and kiwifruit industries were started by early innovators and have been supported by growers, governments and the science system for more than a century.
Innovative industries require long-term investment
Innovative industries require long-term investment
OpinionAugust 2

What happens when we cannot afford to eat meat anymore?

My sons were discussing meat at a family dinner last night — my eldest son is flatting, while my middle son is in a university hostel, planning on flatting next year.
What happens when we cannot afford to eat meat anymore?
What happens when we cannot afford to eat meat anymore?
OpinionJuly 19

No-one is thinking about you, I promise

In the past few weeks, we have been living in a world of school-formal-turmoil.
No-one is thinking about you, I promise
No-one is thinking about you, I promise
OpinionJuly 5

Do we need to leave to overcome barriers?

A friend of mine is heading offshore to attend an amazing conference on the future of food.
Do we need to leave to overcome barriers?
Do we need to leave to overcome barriers?
OpinionJune 21

NZ should aim to become ‘health foods capital’

The slow food movement was started by Italian Carlo Petrini in the 1980s to defend regional traditions, good food, gastronomic pleasure and a slow pace of life.
NZ should aim to become ‘health foods capital’
NZ should aim to become ‘health foods capital’
OpinionJune 7

Supermarkets — is it time for a new model?

It has been announced that the New Zealand Government is courting Aldi and other international supermarket conglomerates in an effort to bust up this country’s duopoly and lower food prices.
Supermarkets — is it time for a new model?
Supermarkets — is it time for a new model?
OpinionMay 24

Our health is not a concern for Big Food Co

I was interested to read recently about the comparison of Chelsea branded sugar with Pams — the supermarket’s home brand.
Our health is not a concern for Big Food Co
Our health is not a concern for Big Food Co
OpinionApril 26

Ideas of beauty are set to be revolutionised

Supermodels came to the fore in the 1980s, driving the commercial dollar towards an idealised standard of beauty.
Ideas of beauty are set to be revolutionised
Ideas of beauty are set to be revolutionised
OpinionApril 12

Future food security must start with quality production now

In my new business, we buy New Zealand-grown berries — boysenberries and blackcurrants — for their anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties.
Future food security must start with quality production now
Future food security must start with quality production now
OpinionMarch 29

Greetings — we need to kiss all this confusion goodbye

Ukraine, Covid-19, climate change, rising living costs — it’s quite overwhelming and sometimes I stop facing the avalanche and mentally retire.
Greetings — we need to kiss all this confusion goodbye
Greetings — we need to kiss all this confusion goodbye