THE WEEKLY HOTWIRE

With New Zealand heading to the polls on 7 November, Angus Kebbell takes a close look at what the major political parties are offering farmers and rural New Zealand. From freshwater, carbon forestry and methane to regulation, land use, trade and gene technology, this Election 2026 Rural Special looks beyond the campaign slogans and asks what the policies could actually mean on farm. It also examines the National, ACT and New Zealand First Government’s record over the past three years, including what it delivered, what remains unfinished and where its own policies may pull in different directions.

OFFSET is a New Zealand documentary examining the rapid expansion of carbon forestry and its impact on productive farmland, rural communities and the wider economy.

As land use shifts and carbon prices rise, this film asks what it means for the future of farming in New Zealand.

Increasing areas of sheep and beef country are being converted into permanent forest for carbon credits. For some landowners it presents an opportunity. For others it raises serious questions about long term sustainability, food production and the future of rural New Zealand.

Through interviews with farmers, consultants and industry voices, OFFSET explores what is driving these changes and what they mean on the ground. It looks at the economics behind carbon farming, the role of the Emissions Trading Scheme, and whether offsetting emissions is delivering meaningful environmental outcomes or simply shifting responsibility.

At its core, the film asks a broader question. What is the right balance between climate policy, land use and the long term strength of New Zealand’s rural economy.

Filmed across multiple regions, OFFSET is grounded in real stories and practical insight, connecting policy decisions with their impact at farm level.his video is about Edit HD