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Ruby Harfield
Hawke's Bay

Ruby Harfield is a Hawke's Bay Today reporter

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Ruby’s latest content
Mystery surrounds death of beloved horse
The Country

Mystery surrounds death of beloved horse

01 Jul 07:01 AM
More than 20,000 trees planted along Karamu Stream
The Country

More than 20,000 trees planted along Karamu Stream

24 Jun 06:42 PM

More than 20,000 plants have been laid along Karamu Stream as part of planting project.

Top quality bull brings in big bucks at Maraetotara sale
The Country

Top quality bull brings in big bucks at Maraetotara sale

15 Jun 03:09 AM

A top quality bull sold for a record-breaking sum at a recent Hawke's Bay sale.

Record-breaking turnout at winter planting event
The Country

Record-breaking turnout at winter planting event

26 May 12:22 AM

A Hawke's Bay Regional Council planting event drew a record-breaking turnout on Saturday.

Watch: Te Mata Peak track protests continue
The Country

Watch: Te Mata Peak track protests continue

20 May 07:00 AM

Protesters gathered outside Craggy Range for a second consecutive weekend.

Protest at Craggy Range over trail backtrack
The Country

Protest at Craggy Range over trail backtrack

13 May 06:01 PM

Protest organiser Rose Mohi said the winery had reneged on its promise to restore land.

Watch Video: Quacker of a start to duck shooting season
The Country

Watch Video: Quacker of a start to duck shooting season

05 May 12:58 AM

Hawke's Bay duck hunters had a quacker of a start to the season despite calm weather.

No outdoor burning in Hawke's Bay winter
The Country

No outdoor burning in Hawke's Bay winter

15 Apr 08:00 PM

Hawke's Bay Regional Council's annual winter outdoor burn ban is fast approaching.

The rise, fall and resurrection of Kiwi saffron
The Country

The rise, fall and resurrection of Kiwi saffron

11 Apr 08:00 PM

Hawke's Bay's saffron industry went from booming to virtually non-existent.

Championship dog shows a hit at racecourse
The Country

Championship dog shows a hit at racecourse

06 Apr 09:20 PM

More than 450 carefully combed canines competed in champion dog shows in Hastings.

Unseasonably warm week forecast
The Country

Unseasonably warm week forecast

01 Apr 04:44 AM

Hawke's Bay is in for a week of unseasonably warm autumn weather.

Rabbit owners urged to vaccinate pets
The Country

Rabbit owners urged to vaccinate pets

26 Mar 07:00 PM

HBRC to release RHDV1-K5 strain of calicivirus on April 23 to cut number of wild rabbits.

Rare native skink found in Hawke's Bay
The Country

Rare native skink found in Hawke's Bay

25 Mar 08:00 PM

The rare native Ornate skink has been discovered in southern Hawke's Bay.

Landslide and lake may become permanent
The Country

Landslide and lake may become permanent

25 Mar 05:00 PM

A landslide between Wairoa and Gisborne created a lake which is rising at 60cm a day.

Dehydration woes at Horse of the Year
The Country

Dehydration woes at Horse of the Year

16 Mar 08:45 PM

At least 12 horses at a national equestrian event have become ill from dehydration.

Horse of the Year Extravaganza delights
The Country

Horse of the Year Extravaganza delights

16 Mar 05:00 PM

The Tomoana Showgrounds was packed for an evening of equine entertainment yesterday.

Napier hosting US and Canadian fruit-growers
The Country

Napier hosting US and Canadian fruit-growers

25 Feb 09:00 PM

Napier is hosting a group of top US and Canadian fruit-growers today.

Hawke's Bay rugby great farewelled
The Country

Hawke's Bay rugby great farewelled

25 Feb 04:16 AM

Hawke's Bay rugby great Hepa Paewai was farewelled by more than 800 people on Saturday.

Personal locator beacon saves farmer after bull attack: 'It was out to get me'
The Country

Personal locator beacon saves farmer after bull attack: 'It was out to get me'

02 Feb 06:12 PM

A Hawke's Bay farmer has been left shaken and battered after a bull attack in Puketitiri.

Two Hawke's Bay water spots contaminated
The Country

Two Hawke's Bay water spots contaminated

28 Jan 05:00 PM

High Cyanobacteria readings in two Hawke's Bay water spots have prompted no-swim warnings.

Rosé popular at hot wine festival
The Country

Rosé popular at hot wine festival

21 Jan 08:30 PM

Thousands enjoyed fine wine, good food and sweet beats the Bridge Pa Wine Festival.

Wairoa show ends on a high note
The Country

Wairoa show ends on a high note

21 Jan 06:45 PM

Wairoa's showgrounds was buzzing for last day of the annual A and P Show on Saturday.

Wairoa puts on a show
The Country

Wairoa puts on a show

20 Jan 05:40 AM

Wairoa's showgrounds were buzzing with excited families this afternoon.

Bull riders draw hundreds to Porangahau
The Country

Bull riders draw hundreds to Porangahau

19 Jan 09:00 PM

Hundreds gathered to watch a night of rodeo action in Central Hawke's Bay yesterday.

Dead fish found in lake
The Country

Dead fish found in lake

12 Jan 09:33 PM

Dead fish have been found in a Hawke's Bay lake.

Concern after fish die in Hastings river
The Country

Concern after fish die in Hastings river

17 Dec 05:00 PM

Nearly 200 fish were found dead in the Clive River on Saturday due to weed build-up.

More livestock coming into Hawke's Bay than usual
The Country

More livestock coming into Hawke's Bay than usual

13 Dec 09:00 PM

Dry weather in the North Island has lead to an increase in livestock coming into the Bay.

Angry residents protest water issues
The Country

Angry residents protest water issues

10 Dec 08:00 PM

Angry Napier residents took to the streets to express concerns about the city's water.

Going back to basics for better wine
The Country

Going back to basics for better wine

07 Dec 03:00 AM

A Hawke's Bay company is leading the region in organic winemaking by going back to basics.

Technology boosts aerial topdressing
The Country

Technology boosts aerial topdressing

15 Nov 10:00 PM

Aerial topdressing has become more efficient with technological advancements.

Squeezing growth out of citrus industry
The Country

Squeezing growth out of citrus industry

08 Nov 08:54 PM

The citrus industry in Hawke's Bay is largely untapped but has potential for growth.

Air curtain on Lake Waikopiro proving successful
The Country

Air curtain on Lake Waikopiro proving successful

01 Nov 08:00 PM

A trial aimed at tackling toxic water quality in Tutira has so far been a success.

Carnival draws large crowd
The Country

Carnival draws large crowd

29 Oct 05:00 PM

Rain cleared in time for thousands to enjoy Havelock North's annual street extravaganza.

Champion wine comes from great grapes
The Country

Champion wine comes from great grapes

25 Oct 09:00 PM

Villa Maria Estate viticulturist Jonathan Hamlet is over the moon his Te Awa wine won big.

Blend of great teamwork helps students win
The Country

Blend of great teamwork helps students win

21 Oct 01:00 AM

Teamwork - and good grapes - were key in producing this year's Best Student Wine.

Te Awa trumps wine awards
The Country

Te Awa trumps wine awards

21 Oct 12:00 AM

Hard work, quality and a good site are all factors in creating this champion wine.

More ducks needed for spring festival
The Country

More ducks needed for spring festival

15 Oct 10:50 PM

This year's Waipawa Spring Festival was a success.

Truck day a big hit
The Country

Truck day a big hit

15 Oct 09:02 PM

Trucks, trucks and more trucks was the theme of a family fun day in Whakatu on Saturday.

Fire risk: Out-of-control burnoff sparks warnings
The Country

Fire risk: Out-of-control burnoff sparks warnings

15 Oct 08:31 PM

An out-of-control burnoff in Napier has sparked a warning from emergency services.

Bay birds need a vote
The Country

Bay birds need a vote

09 Oct 06:00 PM

Forest & Bird's annual Bird of the Year competition features many Hawke's Bay birds.

Stolen pet lambs  reunited with owners
The Country

Stolen pet lambs reunited with owners

02 Oct 06:00 PM

A Hastings couple devastated after their pet lambs were stolen have been reunited.

Anger as tourism body backs water order
The Country

Anger as tourism body backs water order

27 Aug 07:00 PM

The wording of an approved document is a big threat to Bay tourism, says HBRC chairman.

Tourism body backs river protection
The Country

Tourism body backs river protection

26 Aug 08:00 AM

A Water Conservation Order has received backing from a national tourism association.

Vigils held in four places in support of clean water
The Country

Vigils held in four places in support of clean water

20 Aug 09:30 PM

Havelock North residents united in support of clean water at a candlelit vigil last night.

Top marks for aspiring winemaker
The Country

Top marks for aspiring winemaker

20 Aug 02:31 AM

An aspiring Hawke's Bay winemaker came out on top at a North Island competition.

NZ not so pure after water crisis?
The Country

NZ not so pure after water crisis?

11 Aug 10:00 PM

New Zealand's pure image may have taken a hit overseas after water crisis.

Water crisis - one year on
The Country

Water crisis - one year on

11 Aug 08:10 PM

One year ago, health authorities were alerted to an outbreak of gastro in Havelock North.

Community mourns Farmer of the Year
The Country

Community mourns Farmer of the Year

04 Aug 07:35 PM

Hawke's Bay farming and rugby communities mourn loss of local hero.

Hundreds ooze toughness in muddy challenge
The Country

Hundreds ooze toughness in muddy challenge

30 Jul 08:00 PM

Hawke's Bay's Tough Guy and Gal Challenge was the muddiest and dirtiest it has ever been.

Farmer drinks stream water to prove point to PM
The Country

Farmer drinks stream water to prove point to PM

16 Jul 08:00 PM

A Wairoa farmer has been using social media to highlight water quality issues.

DoC use drone, coffee cups to replant cliff faces
The Country

DoC use drone, coffee cups to replant cliff faces

01 Jul 03:00 AM

A drone is being used as an innovative way to replant cliff faces south of Waipukurau.

Decade-long project helps rare coastal bird
The Country

Decade-long project helps rare coastal bird

25 Jun 07:00 PM

A decade-long project has helped to restore a rare native bird population in Hawke's Bay.

Decade-long project helps rare bird in Hawke's Bay
The Country

Decade-long project helps rare bird in Hawke's Bay

24 Jun 12:17 AM

A decade-long project has restored a rare native bird population in Hawke's Bay.

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