Generate Rural Leadership Course is FREE for RWNZ members around New Zealand. A great chance to improve your leadership skills and gain a nationally recognised Certificate in Rural Leadership. Read More

Conference Overview NZ Landcare Trust will host a 2 day conference starting 29 February 2012 at the Academy of Performing Arts, University of Waikato Campus, Hamilton. In addition an optional field trip is planned for 28 February, for those who would like to discover more about landcare issues around Hamilton and the work carried out within the community. Read More

There are two species of introduced paper wasps (Polistes wasps) and they were last surveyed in the early 1990s. The first species to become established in New Zealand was the Australian paper wasp Polistes humilis, which has been present here since the 1880s but restricted to the North Island. The second species is the Asian paper wasp Polistes chinensis, which was first recorded in New Zealand in 1979.  Read More

A great article and photo in the Irish Farmers Journal by our very own Kate Buckley and Leonie Cadman - great work! Click on the image below to view a PDF of the article. Read More

“Too many rural teenagers are killed and injured in road crashes when they start to drive by themselves on their restricted licence, and we need to do something about it” says ACC’s General Manager Insurance and Prevention Services, Keith McLea. At the same time he understands that rural parents want their teenagers to gain their driving independence as early as possible. Read More

MAF is currently calling for applications for small projects, $25,000 or under, by 13 February 2012. These grants are ideal for local projects, scoping studies or smaller sector groups; and have been extended this year to include aquaculture projects (marine or land-based). To find out more, click here. Read More

Neil and Hazel MacMillan are a double act, juggling dozens of volunteer roles with running a Far North farm so it's fitting that they've pulled off a rare double by both receiving a Queen's Service Medal for services to the community. Read More

Poplars and willows - they’re the arboreal workhorse of our rural landscape, holding hillsides and river banks together, providing shade, shelter, timber and fodder for stock when feed is short. It’s therefore appropriate that the first Trees on Farms workshop for 2012, to be held in Central Hawke’s Bay in February, will focus on the management of these two species at a time of year when the option of harvesting appropriate trees for fodder starts to look very appealing. Read More

Improving health and safety in the agriculture industry – a sector with one of the highest death and injury tolls - is the focus of the draft Agriculture Section Action Plan released for consultation today(14/12/2011).  Read More

Read interviews with farmers, vets and TB testers working at the frontline of New Zealand’s battle with bovine TB.  This resource has been put together by the Animal Health Board to be used as a education initiative to communicate the continuing threat TB poses to our beef, deer and dairy industries. Read More