New Zealand
'The buck always stops with us': Fuel spike piles pressure on farmers
Surging diesel and petrol prices are pushing up fertiliser, feed and freight costs.
Latest from Ministry for Primary Industries
Stories and analysis from The Northern Express Herald.
Illegal nets, car batteries and busted rules: Inside NZ's summer fishing crackdown
Officers seized illegal set nets, including one anchored with a dumped car battery.
Council proposes to slash cremation fee as families go out of town
Many other charges are set to rise, including pool entries and building services fees.
Christchurch supermarket recalls five bread products over possible metal presence
Consumers are advised to return the products to the supermarket for a full refund.
Conservation Minister wants to 'get the balance right' in fishing rule changes
A new bill would scrap minimum size limits for 'almost all' commercial species.
‘Outrageous and crazy’: Fishing host slams plan to scrap commercial minimum fish sizes
The bill would scrap minimum size limits for 'almost all' commercial species.
'Killing baby snapper': Proposed rules remove fish size limits for commercial fishing
Recreational fishers would still face size rules and daily snapper limits.
Iran war squeeze: Packaging firms hit with 20-30% jump in plastic material prices
Bonson Packaging has secured materials for about the next five months.
Shellfish firm fined $20k after illegally receiving 259,000kg of green-lipped mussels
The Christchurch company pleaded guilty to nine Biosecurity Act charges.
Cheese recall over Listeria risk: Check your fridge for this brand
The cheese may contain Listeria, which can cause serious illness.
'Leaves us grasping': Exporters hit back as live animal trade stalls
Industry says three years without exports has cost rural areas $300m a year.
Government backtracks on live animal export plans
Green Party spokesperson Steve Abel said the news was a win for animals.
Farmer fined $35k for failing to register hundreds of cattle
“This farmer’s failures under the Nait Act related to almost 1000 animals," MPI said.
'Multiple callouts': Farmers fined over poor condition of 139 cattle
One of Glenise Stone's bulls was so unsteady it had to be euthanised on site.
2500 cases of Steinlager recalled after mislabelled beer accidentally sold as alcohol-free
'People avoiding alcohol should not consume this product.'
From dive trip to black market: How a deckhand’s side hustle cost him thousands
Spooner was one of 26 people caught in 2025 selling recreational seafood illegally.
Would a Commissioner for Animals improve welfare?
Animal groups say MPI can't enforce welfare independently, but a commissioner could.
Storm-hit farmers fear they will not qualify for help
The storms’ medium‑scale status unlocks tax relief and extra clean‑up help.
MPI wants to better track pig and sheep movement
New Zealand is one of 11 OECD nations not individually tracing sheep.
Why home-reared supermarket salmon has become a luxury on Kiwi shelves
Cheaper smoked salmon at $11.05 per 100g is imported from Norway via Germany.
‘Infested’ online order: NZ shopper finds live bugs crawling through new dress
Jayd Graham says one of three Peppermayo dresses arrived crawling with bugs.
Dr Jacqueline Rowarth: Digging into decades of NZ soil science
OPINION: Years on, soil research is still the hidden engine of our food system.
More yellow-legged hornet nests found as radio tracking ramps up
Teams have already destroyed 51 nests, 49 queens and hundreds of workers.
Farms 'smashed' in East Coast storms
Five badly damaged farms have been given priority for urgent support.
Fears dung beetle investment will be flushed away
NZ's only dung beetle rearing facility says it may close if there's no more support.
'Plan B' wanted for highways that keep getting damaged by storms
NZTA warns at least 1000 more truckloads of slip debris must still be cleared.
'Very important tool': Hornet tracking technology proving effective
Small radio trackers imported from the Netherlands help find queens, workers and nests.
'Limited knowledge of rules': Civil Defence manager nabbed for pāua breaches
Kumeroa Tuhaka was caught with undersized shellfish in an area of cultural significance.
Spearfishing champion warns: Ban bottom trawling or risk more fishery collapses
Darren Shields says the method risks Northland scallop collapses being repeated elsewhere.
Fishers warned: Prosecution likely for illegal toheroa, excess tuatua this summer
Taking prohibited toheroa can mean a $500 fine or a court prosecution.