'World cottoning on to wonderful wool'
Confidence in the wool sector is rebounding as prices hit levels not seen in more than 15 years.
Rural Life Other
Scenic station taken off market
Scenic station taken off market
A remote, hugely-scenic Queenstown high country station has been taken off the market despite attracting “exceptional” offers.
Rural Women calls for more mental health support
Rural Women calls for more mental health support
Rural Women NZ's president says struggles with mental health and wellbeing have always affected the community, but the problem has grown.
Community focus praised
Community focus praised
North Otago farmer Leilani Lobb is the 2026 Dairy Women’s Network regional leader of the year.
Winter farm flyovers set to begin in Otago
Winter farm flyovers set to begin in Otago
Otago Regional Council’s annual winter flyovers are set to begin in the coming weeks to focus on identifying activities contributing to poor water quality across the region.
Inland port project ‘shovel-ready’
Inland port project ‘shovel-ready’
Construction giant Calder Stewart is close to signing up the first commercial tenants for its $3 billion solar and wind-powered inland port being developed to boost Otago’s export trade.
Pest plan feedback deadline extended
Pest plan feedback deadline extended
The deadline for feedback on a review of an Otago pest management plan is being extended until the end of the month.
Anxiety over water quality expressed
Anxiety over water quality expressed
Anxiety about water quality in the Manuherikia River brought an impassioned presentation to the Central Otago District Council meeting last month.
Storm produced tonnes of firewood
Storm produced tonnes of firewood
More than 800 tonnes of firewood, 480 tonnes of saleable logs and 6500cum of mulch has been produced from October’s storm damage in Invercargill’s Queens Park.
'Really bad timing': Farmers set to cop ferry fuel surcharge
'Really bad timing': Farmers set to cop ferry fuel surcharge
An industry leader in livestock transport has described price hikes for freight crossing Cook Strait as coming at the worst possible time of year for farmers.
Farmer standing for NZ First
Farmer standing for NZ First
Southland Federated Farmers president Jason Herrick will stand for New Zealand First in the Southland electorate at the 2026 general election.
Chanel invests in high-country station
Chanel invests in high-country station
French luxury fashion house Chanel has bought a stake in a Central Otago high-country station.
It’s Friesian out here
It’s Friesian out here
The first heavy frost of the season at Millers Flat late last month did not seem to impress this cow.
Personal connections key, PGW chief says
Personal connections key, PGW chief says
PGG Wrightson chief executive Stephen Guerin likens the business as it exists today to a braided river, reflecting the various mergers that have occurred over the past 175 years.
Few concerns over vigilantes flying drones at duck-shooters
Few concerns over vigilantes flying drones at duck-shooters
Fish & Game says it is not concerned about vigilantes flying drones at hunters this gamebird season.
Claims still being settled year later
Claims still being settled year later
It had all the hallmarks of a Hollywood blockbuster.
Concerns over dependence on imported fertiliser
Concerns over dependence on imported fertiliser
While all eyes are on the prices at the fuel pumps around New Zealand, an Otago economist has exposed a dangerous blind spot — our dependence on imported fertiliser for farming.
$3b fertiliser plant proposed for South
$3b fertiliser plant proposed for South
An Australian company has announced plans for a $3 billion fertiliser plant in Southland, converting lignite to urea.
Storm helped drive big claims rise
Storm helped drive big claims rise
Of the record 46 storms to hit New Zealand over the past 12 months, Otago and Southland’s October 2025 windstorm was the most damaging.
Groundswell files appeal against GDC
Groundswell files appeal against GDC
A dispute over Gore’s district plan will be played out in court, after lobby group Groundswell filed an appeal against the council in the Environment Court.