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Home / The Country / Latest news

Latest rural news

Practice makes perfect: Flower grower's journey to ideal soil health
The Country

Practice makes perfect: Flower grower's journey to ideal soil health

Year in Review: Nicky's healthy soil struck a chord with readers in September 2025.

30 Dec 04:02 PM
The Country

Tales of The Hat: City slicker amazed by farmer's legendary appetite

OPINION: Hunter Wells' fond memories of a hungry farmer was a popular read of 2025.

30 Dec 04:01 PM
The Country

Year in Review: Barbie's woollen dog bed business

The tale about Barbie's search for a new owner proved popular on The Country in 2025.

30 Dec 04:00 PM

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Decades of dedication: Libby Fletcher honoured for protecting Lake Tarawera
The Country

Decades of dedication: Libby Fletcher honoured for protecting Lake Tarawera

Libby Fletcher awarded a King’s Service Medal in the New Year 2026 Honours.

30 Dec 04:00 PM
Why every garden needs a persimmon tree
The Country

Why every garden needs a persimmon tree

This persimmon piece was the second most-read "Kem Ormond's vegetable garden" in 2025.

30 Dec 04:00 PM
From hotline to honours: Farmer receives New Year Honour for rural sector service
Dairy

From hotline to honours: Farmer receives New Year Honour for rural sector service

30 Dec 04:00 PM
'Come home': Family vintage tractor returns to original owner
The Country

'Come home': Family vintage tractor returns to original owner

29 Dec 04:02 PM
'Really excited': Waikato farming family's hazelnut success
The Country

'Really excited': Waikato farming family's hazelnut success

29 Dec 04:01 PM
Year in Review: Upokongaro - where herons roost and gin wins gold
The Country

Year in Review: Upokongaro - where herons roost and gin wins gold

29 Dec 04:00 PM
Pastures Past: Boar attacks boat in 1937
The Country

Pastures Past: Boar attacks boat in 1937

This true fishing story was one of the most read editions of Pastures Past in 2025.

29 Dec 04:00 PM
Jamie McKay: Winston, FTAs and farm votes – what’s really at stake in 2026
Opinion

Jamie McKay: Winston, FTAs and farm votes – what’s really at stake in 2026

OPINION: One thing you can say about Luxon’s Lot is they are farmer-friendly.

29 Dec 04:00 PM
Farming with AI: Waipukurau farmer moves his stock while on holiday in Colombia
The Country

Farming with AI: Waipukurau farmer moves his stock while on holiday in Colombia

'It was just one of those light bulb moments like ‘holy s*** I need this.'

28 Dec 05:00 PM
Bob's small but mighty berry business
The Country

Bob's small but mighty berry business

Bob Teal's 1.68-hectare Cambridge orchard was a popular story from June 2025.

28 Dec 04:00 PM
Students transform farm stream with native planting effort
The Country

Students transform farm stream with native planting effort

Students helping out a Cust farmer was a popular read on The Country from June 2025.

28 Dec 04:00 PM
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The prickly history of boxthorn and Taranaki's inventive solutions
The Country

The prickly history of boxthorn and Taranaki's inventive solutions

Kem Ormond's article on the mighty boxthorn hedges of Taranaki was a popular read in 2025.

28 Dec 03:59 PM
The organisation using surplus food for social good
The Country

The organisation using surplus food for social good

Nourished for Nil's story of food rescue was a popular read on The Country in 2025.

28 Dec 03:59 PM
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Climate change is stressing Italy’s cows, and coming for your burrata
The Country

Climate change is stressing Italy’s cows, and coming for your burrata

NYT: Extreme heat causes cows to produce less milk. This is a problem for cheese-lovers.

27 Dec 09:00 PM
'Healthy exercise': Why Phil Thomsen loves gardening – even weeding
The Country

'Healthy exercise': Why Phil Thomsen loves gardening – even weeding

The gardening author has been growing vegetables since he was about 5 years old.

27 Dec 04:00 PM
Glenn Dwight: Snails, dinosaurs and weirdness – my review of 2025
Glenn Dwight
OpinionGlenn Dwight

Glenn Dwight: Snails, dinosaurs and weirdness – my review of 2025

OPINION: A look at the odd, fun and joyful moments that made us proud to be Kiwi in 2025.

27 Dec 04:00 PM
Kem Ormond: Try growing a nut tree, the reward is worth the wait
Kem Ormond
OpinionKem Ormond

Kem Ormond: Try growing a nut tree, the reward is worth the wait

OPINION: From towering walnuts to compact almonds, there is a nut tree for most gardens.

27 Dec 04:00 PM
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'Nuisance': Roosters keep New Plymouth awake in 1937
The Country

'Nuisance': Roosters keep New Plymouth awake in 1937

“I suggest that people who keep roosters should be compelled to pay a tax."

27 Dec 04:00 PM
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Tradie's remarkable revival of long-lost NZ clothing brand from his backyard shed
The Country

Tradie's remarkable revival of long-lost NZ clothing brand from his backyard shed

Nikolai Solakof had never sewn before reviving Oscar Eide from his shed.

27 Dec 01:00 AM
John Deere a family affair for this dairy farmer
The Country

John Deere a family affair for this dairy farmer

Catherine Fry's story on Reece Houghton's tractor was widely read on The Country in 2025.

26 Dec 04:01 PM
'A lot of fun': Planting project rewarding for farming couple
The Country

'A lot of fun': Planting project rewarding for farming couple

This June 2025 story about Brian and Rosemary Whyte's planting efforts was a popular read.

26 Dec 04:00 PM
The leaders at the centre of The Country show's most popular item in 2025
The Country

The leaders at the centre of The Country show's most popular item in 2025

The Country's June 16 edition was the most listened to (and read about) in 2025.

26 Dec 04:00 PM
Taranaki woman turning local wool into heirloom blankets
The Country

Taranaki woman turning local wool into heirloom blankets

This story about Alison Ross's woolly blanket was a popular read on The Country in March.

26 Dec 03:59 PM
Thunderstorms sweep country as MetService warns of flash flooding and hail
The Country

Thunderstorms sweep country as MetService warns of flash flooding and hail

Predicted downpours pose a threat of flash flooding in some areas.

26 Dec 01:10 AM
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Kem Ormond's seasonal salads to make summer entertaining easy
The Country

Kem Ormond's seasonal salads to make summer entertaining easy

These salads are easy to prepare and come together in no time.

25 Dec 04:00 PM
Heavy rain, thunderstorm risk for Boxing Day shoppers as wild weather lashes both islands
The Country

Heavy rain, thunderstorm risk for Boxing Day shoppers as wild weather lashes both islands

A heavy rain watch is in force from 6pm for Bay of Plenty east of Whakatāne.

25 Dec 04:00 PM
What sets farm dogs apart from the ‘average pooch’
The Country

What sets farm dogs apart from the ‘average pooch’

A study on what makes pooches tick was a popular article on The Country in 2025.

25 Dec 04:00 PM
Best of Glenn Dwight: Why NZ needs its own Clarkson's Farm
Glenn Dwight
OpinionGlenn Dwight

Best of Glenn Dwight: Why NZ needs its own Clarkson's Farm

OPINION: Glenn's idea for a Kiwi version of Clarkson's Farm proved a hit in June 2025.

25 Dec 03:59 PM
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Meet the woman who peels 20kg of horseradish a day
The Country

Meet the woman who peels 20kg of horseradish a day

Kem Ormond's story on Mandys Horseradish was one of The Country's most popular in 2025.

25 Dec 03:59 PM
On The Up: Meet Charlie, Rotorua Airport's 'top dog in aviation'
The Country

On The Up: Meet Charlie, Rotorua Airport's 'top dog in aviation'

He gets paid in pats and peanut butter cookies.

25 Dec 12:00 AM
Award-winning couple juggle family and farming
The Country

Award-winning couple juggle family and farming

This look into farming life with the Langfords was one of the most popular reads of 2025.

24 Dec 04:01 PM
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