Rural
PGG Wrightson increases half-year profit on back of increased sales
PGG Wrightson made a net profit of $17.3 million up from $16m.
Scheme helping teens enter the farming industry
From being chased by bulls to killing sheep and ensuring the budget is balanced, there's no end of things to learn from life on a farm. Now, 19 teenagers are being put through their paces in a new… Audio
Moonshine matriarch: Southland's tradition of distilling Scottish whisky
A look inside the Hokonui Moonshine Museum where the manufacture of this legendary spirit continues in the modern day.
Biochar made with hops, slash, and number 8 wire magic
Waste hops from a Wellington brewery, cotton offcuts from a New Zealand clothing brand and forestry slash are being turned into so-called "black gold" at a kiln in the heart of the Akatarawa Valley.
How UK farmers inspired New Zealand's agricultural festival
The Underground Festival in Waipara, held this week, brought farming families together to share information, a feed, and time off the farm together.
Turning brewery gunk and forest junk into something good
Hops from a Wellington brewery, cotton offcuts from a fashion label and forestry slash has turned Matt Welton into a bit of a Heath Robinson. His first job was collecting scrap metal in London's East… Audio
Moonshine matriarch
A look inside the Hokonui Moonshine Museum where the manufacture of this legendary spirit continues in the modern day. Audio
A festival for farmers
Underground Festival organiser Fran Bailey chats with Anisha Satya about what goes into a festival for farmers, and what inspired the event. Audio
Country Life Friday 20 February 2026
Country Life heads to Waipara for the Underground Festival, looks at the tradition of whiskey making in Southland and meets a biochar-maker north of Wellington. Audio
Rural news update for 20 February 2026
The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke. Audio
AK Council using "natural" methods to guard sheep on farms
First Up's reporter Ke-xin Li meets guard Llamas at Auckland's Ambury Park. Audio
Morning Rural update for 19 February 2026
The latest rural news with Gianina Schwanecke. Audio
Midday Rural News for 18 February 2026
Rebounding dairy prices, a good start to the pipfruit harvest, and storm-damaged highways. For the latest from the RNZ Rural News team. Audio
Hurry up with new agricultural machine road rules, rural contractors say
New road rules for agricultural machinery are nowhere to be seen, and in the meantime contractors are still being stung with fines.
Midday Rural News for 17 February 2026
An update on the latest news from RNZ's rural team. Audio
Morning rural news
Fruit and veggie growers are taking stock of damage following recent storms. The morning's rural news with Gianina Schwanecke. Audio
Fences taken out, crop destroyed as floods hammer farmers
Farms along the banks of the Waipā River are most affected, an Ōtorohanga farmer says.
