The zoned industrial land on which the Whakatu Inland Port will be built on has fired debate about whether fertile land should be used for development or agriculture. read more...

It is great to see former Prime Minister Helen Clark join the debate about re-opening New Zealand’s borders. We need it. There is no better time for New Zealand to re-launch itself to the world. read more...

More evidence has emerged of the perils of growing food in the era of Covid-19 read more...

Some of the $3 billion post-Covid infrastructure budget announced this week should go towards projects in rural communities, says Federated Farmers president Andrew Hoggard. read more...

Covid-19 is projected to cause considerable strain on the dairy sector and wider primary industries maintaining its labour force. Industry leaders have been vocal in articulating the challenges of operating without the access to overseas labour and have started responding with fresh calls for people to come and work on the land. But there is a danger that a potential wave of available New Zealand workers will continue to overlook farm work if the industry continues to focus on the work that needs to be done rather than the way people want to do it. Phil Edmonds reports. read more...