Farming & Rural

Southland farmers have been given an 18-month reprieve on freshwater farm plan deadlines as the government overhauls what it calls a flawed system. The original May 2026 deadline for submitting farm plans under regional rules has been pushed back to November 2027, giving farmers breathing room while new national standards

A Southland farming couple has claimed top honours at New Zealand's premier dairy industry awards, taking home more than $28,000 in prizes and cementing their reputation as leaders in the sector. Scott and Stacey Mackereth from the Southland/Otago region were named 2026 New Zealand Share Farmers

A Southland dairy farmer is revolutionising agricultural education by partnering with Telford to deliver New Zealand's first app-based farming qualifications. Tangaroa Walker, founder of the popular Farm 4 Life app, has teamed up with the agricultural campus to offer the Certificate in Farming Systems and Equipment (Level 3)

An Australian company is proposing a $3 billion plant near Invercargill that would turn Southland's brown coal reserves into fertiliser. Victorian Hydrogen wants to build the facility 30km northeast of the city, processing lignite into 1.5 million tonnes of urea fertiliser annually. The project could make New

The Government will receive a $10 million special dividend from Landcorp Farming Limited today, State Owned Enterprises Minister Simeon Brown announced. The payment brings Landcorp's total dividend contributions to the Crown to $25 million for the 2025/26 financial year. "We expect our state-owned enterprises to operate

South Island farmers will get more freedom to diversify their operations under new regulations for Crown pastoral land announced by the government. Land Information Minister Chris Penk and South Island Minister James Meager said the changes would allow pastoral lease holders to add activities like horticulture, beekeeping, tourism and hospitality

Dairy giant Fonterra has appointed Richard Allen as its new chief executive, taking over from Miles Hurrell in May 2026. Allen, who has worked at the cooperative for 16 years since joining as a graduate in 2008, currently serves as President Global Ingredients where he oversees the company's

A Gore-district farming family has been named the Southland Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for transforming two neighbouring properties into a thriving, diversified operation. Tony and Michelle Roberts, alongside daughter Kate Roberts and her partner Mark Lieshout of Top Deck Trading, have built the combined 269ha