The Country
  • The Country home
  • Latest news
  • Audio & podcasts
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life
  • Listen on iHeart radio

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • Coast & Country News
  • Opinion
  • Dairy farming
  • Sheep & beef farming
  • Horticulture
  • Animal health
  • Rural business
  • Rural technology
  • Rural life

Media

  • Podcasts
  • Video

Weather

  • Kaitaia
  • Whāngarei
  • Dargaville
  • Auckland
  • Thames
  • Tauranga
  • Hamilton
  • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Tokoroa
  • Te Kuiti
  • Taumurunui
  • Taupō
  • Gisborne
  • New Plymouth
  • Napier
  • Hastings
  • Dannevirke
  • Whanganui
  • Palmerston North
  • Levin
  • Paraparaumu
  • Masterton
  • Wellington
  • Motueka
  • Nelson
  • Blenheim
  • Westport
  • Reefton
  • Kaikōura
  • Greymouth
  • Hokitika
  • Christchurch
  • Ashburton
  • Timaru
  • Wānaka
  • Oamaru
  • Queenstown
  • Dunedin
  • Gore
  • Invercargill

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / The Country

Cattle euthanised after being hit by freight train near Darfield

Tim Cronshaw
NZ Herald·
28 Apr, 2021 11:43 PM2 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save
    Share this article
Wandering cattle have been put down, after they strayed into the path of a train near Canterbury's Darfield. Photo / Google Maps

Wandering cattle have been put down, after they strayed into the path of a train near Canterbury's Darfield. Photo / Google Maps

Wandering cattle have been put down after they strayed into the path of a train near Darfield, in Canterbury.

A freight train travelling from the West Coast to Christchurch struck around 20 cattle, just before midnight.

"Incidents like this are obviously catastrophic for the animals and distressing for farmers, our train drivers and those who need to clear the rail line.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

"Sadly, events like these are not unusual and last night's incident is a timely reminder of the need to keep land well-fenced and gates closed to prevent livestock getting on the tracks," KiwiRail's South Island operations manager Mark Heissenbuttel said.

"The best prevention is for farmers to ensure their stock are contained along their boundaries with the rail corridor."

A police spokeswoman confirmed they are aware of the incident and trains on the line were stopped until 2am when they were cleared.

Ten to 12 of the animals were euthanised at the scene, the spokeswoman said.

Save
    Share this article

Latest from The Country

The Country

Southern Ocean low, subtropical 'plume of moisture': Waves of rain to lash school holidays

22 Sep 04:18 AM
The Country

Cyclone-hit culvert rebuilt with fish ladder and repurposed material

22 Sep 03:55 AM
The Country

Hayley Gourley talks OCR on The Country

22 Sep 02:36 AM

Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from The Country

Southern Ocean low, subtropical 'plume of moisture': Waves of rain to lash school holidays
The Country

Southern Ocean low, subtropical 'plume of moisture': Waves of rain to lash school holidays

Forecasters say low pressure in the Southern Ocean will drive rain and strong winds.

22 Sep 04:18 AM
Cyclone-hit culvert rebuilt with fish ladder and repurposed material
The Country

Cyclone-hit culvert rebuilt with fish ladder and repurposed material

22 Sep 03:55 AM
Hayley Gourley talks OCR on The Country
The Country

Hayley Gourley talks OCR on The Country

22 Sep 02:36 AM


Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable
Sponsored

Poor sight leaving kids vulnerable

22 Sep 01:23 AM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP