Rural Life

06/08/2025

Feed pad worth its weight in gold, says Western Southland dairy farmers.

Isla Bank farm owners and operators Tom and Kate Severn show their feed pad and wood chip calving areas.

05/08/2025

Rural professional;, sheep farmer, mother and endurance race competitor — life is just busy enough for Southlander Keely Buckingham. She talks to Shawn McAvinue about her involvement in the sheep, beef and dairy industries and why she tells people about her big goals.

Rural professional;, sheep farmer, mother and endurance race competitor — life is just busy enough for Southlander Keely Buckingham. She talks to...

05/08/2025

A retired farmer found with a melanoma on his back by a specialist nurse during a South Island van tour recommends every farmer gets sinister spots checked out.

A retired Mid Canterbury farmer found with a melanoma on his back by a specialist nurse during a South Island van tour recommends every farmer gets...

04/08/2025

Alliance Group is refusing to comment on speculation Irish meat company Dawn Meats is taking a majority stake in the farmer-owned co-operative.

Alliance Group is refusing to comment on speculation Irish meat company Dawn Meats is taking a majority stake in the farmer-owned co-operative. ...

04/08/2025

Rural mental health advocate Kathryn Wright is undertaking what she believes to be the first social research in New Zealand on population loss due to forestry conversions.

Rural mental health advocate Kathryn Wright is undertaking what she believes to be the first social research in New Zealand on population loss due...

03/08/2025

Dairy farmers have their wallets out again as farm sales rise sharply in Southland and Canterbury on the back of higher milk prices.

Dairy farmers have their wallets out again as farm sales rise sharply in Southland and Canterbury on the back of higher milk prices. Southland...

01/08/2025

A Central Southland catchment group will use a grant to continue its work to reduce feral pig and deer numbers in the Hokonui Hills.

A Central Southland catchment group will use a grant to continue its work to reduce feral pig and deer numbers in the Hokonui Hills. Makarewa...

31/07/2025

Running a dairy farm next to a lake has its challenges for 50:50 sharemilker Karl Dean who has just taken on a bigger job, Tim Cronshaw writes.

Running a dairy farm next to a lake has its challenges for 50:50 sharemilker Karl Dean who has just taken on a bigger job, Tim Cronshaw writes....

31/07/2025

We’ve got a new name. Allied Press and Star Media are now Allied Media.

It’s more than a rebrand. It reflects who we are today: a modern media company with deep local roots and massive reach across the South Island. 29 newspapers. Five magazines. Two events. Commercial printing. Letterbox distribution. And, of course, ODT.co.nz.

We’re still independent, still locally owned and still focused on delivering trusted news and impactful advertising. Thank you for your continued support.

31/07/2025

Ravensdown has reported a loss of $5.4 million after tax and one-off costs for the year ending May, with the costly closing of Dunedin fertiliser manufacturing among business challenges.

Christchurch-based Ravensdown has reported a loss of $5.4 million after tax and one-off costs for the year ending May, with the costly closing of...

31/07/2025

A robotic weeder is the first of its kinds in New Zealand, a Southland vegetable grower says.

A robotic weeder is the first of its kinds in New Zealand, a Southland root vegetable grower says. So Sweet managing director Matthew Malcolm said...

30/07/2025

In a new series, Shawn McAvinue visits Southland dairy farms using different types of off-paddock infrastructure. This week, Waianiwa sharemilkers Jeremy and Michelle Smith highlight a new concrete feed pad.

Off-paddock infrastructure In the first of a three-part series, Shawn McAvinue visits Southland dairy farms using different types of off-paddock...