PM secures trade gains for farmers in UK visit, rural lifeline closes as funding uncertainty bites, and historic Oamaru farm recreated in Minecraft to grow ag education.

Welcome to Proud Country's Early Bird - The top things you need to know that impact rural New Zealand delivered to you by 5am, because who doesn’t need better chat beyond the weather!

 

PM secures trade gains for farmers in UK visit

Ag exporters stand to benefit from Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's three-day visit to the United Kingdom, where meetings with King Charles III and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer reinforced growing trade opportunities between the nations.

The visit highlighted how the existing free trade agreement is already delivering results for rural New Zealand, with export growth exceeding 20 percent over the past year despite global economic challenges. 

During business roundtables in London, Luxon actively promoted New Zealand as open for investment, focusing particularly on opportunities to strengthen infrastructure that supports the primary sector. The visit witnessed the signing of commercial deals between UK and New Zealand companies totaling more than $120 million, with several agreements benefiting agricultural exporters.

While discussing international challenges with PM Starmer, Luxon underscored the importance of maintaining predictable market access through the rules-based trading system that New Zealand farmers rely on. The two leaders agreed to refresh defense cooperation arrangements, with Luxon also announcing an extension of NZDF personnel deployments for Ukrainian soldier training until December 2026.

 

New UK partnership boosts methane solutions for Kiwi farmers

Farmers are set to benefit from affordable emissions reduction tools following a new partnership between AgriZeroNZ and Britain's national innovation agency, Innovate UK. The agreement, signed in London during Prime Minister Christopher Luxon's UK visit, combines grant funding, investment and expertise to accelerate development of practical on-farm solutions.

AgriZeroNZ chief executive Wayne McNee says the partnership will unlock new investment opportunities supporting their mission to provide all Kiwi farmers with accessible and cost-effective technologies to reduce biogenic methane and nitrous oxide emissions. 

The partnership builds on existing investment relationships, including AgriZeroNZ's involvement with UK start-up Agroceutical Products. This venture, announced last July with up to $4.45 million investment, is investigating daffodil extracts as methane inhibitors. Lincoln University researchers are undertaking animal trials, following promising lab results suggesting the daffodil compound could reduce livestock methane emissions by 30% when used as a feed additive.

 

Minister's response fuels Fish & Game dispute with rural sector

Federated Farmers is calling for practical solutions rather than dismissive responses from Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager over mounting tensions with Southland Fish & Game. The farming organisation says the Minister has trivialised legitimate concerns while offering no credible pathway forward.

Federated Farmers hunting spokesperson Richard McIntyre, who also serves as a Wellington Fish & Game councillor, describes the Minister's characterisation of the issue as a "local squabble" as unacceptable. McIntyre says Southland farmers are facing genuine problems including an explosion in duck populations devastating winter crops, while simultaneously dealing with what they view as persistent anti-farming rhetoric from the local Fish & Game council.

The dispute intensified last month when Federated Farmers Southland called for a boycott, urging hunters to purchase licences from other regions. Southland president Jason Herrick points to years of problematic behaviour ranging from unnecessary court cases to objections against gravel extraction, all while duck numbers have been left unmanaged despite other regions implementing summer shooting seasons to control populations.

Feds national president Wayne Langford emphasises this isn't merely a local issue, with growing frustration that the statutory body is behaving more like an environmental activist group in some regions. Langford says many farmers find it especially galling that their compulsory licence fees are being used to advocate against them. The organisation is now calling for Fish & Game to be stripped of its advocacy function and refocused on its core business of managing sports fish and game birds.

 

Rural lifeline closes as funding uncertainty bites

Manawatū's rural communities are losing a vital support lifeline after funding uncertainty has forced the closure of the Manawatū Rural Support Service after 35 years of operation. The free service, which helps farming families and rural residents from Himatangi north to Rangiwahia, can no longer continue due to unstable funding streams.

Manager Linda Sievwright says declining grant funding and the loss of a $20,000 Oranga Tamariki contract pushed the service into crisis, with annual operational costs of around $100,000 becoming increasingly difficult to secure. 

The closure creates a significant gap in rural support across the region, where the service has been providing face-to-face assistance for approximately 60-70 referrals annually. Staff regularly visited isolated rural properties and community hubs including schools, playgroups and businesses, addressing issues from relationship stress and parenting problems to suicide prevention and mental health support.

The incorporated society will hold two meetings to get member approval for closure, with remaining funds to be distributed to charity, marking the end of over three decades of dedicated rural community support.

Historic Oamaru farm recreated in Minecraft to grow ag education

A Minecraft recreation of Totara Estate in Oamaru is giving Kiwi students hands-on experience with farming practices spanning from historic beginnings to modern innovations. The digital learning platform, dubbed Mātiki Minecraft, transforms the birthplace of New Zealand's frozen meat industry into an interactive agricultural classroom.

Developed by Sow the Seed and Agribusiness in Schools with support from educational technology company Museograph, the platform allows year 7-10 students to explore everything from sheep shearing to robotic dairy systems. The virtual farm world complements new science and agricultural curriculum units where students can innovate their own farming solutions including virtual fencing and drone technology.

Sow the Seed subject advisor Suzy Newman says the platform also features a knowledge hub highlighting career opportunities across seven key primary industries - beef, sheep, kiwifruit, arable, dairy, pipfruit and forestry. This connection between classroom learning and industry partners aims to inspire students considering future pathways in Agricultural Science, Agribusiness, and related fields.

The educational tool recently featured at the Horticultural & Agricultural Teachers Association conference in Methven and will appear at regional career expos and the New Zealand National Fieldays.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.