The Government is backing a $5 million project to develop a commercial-scale autonomous robotic asparagus harvester, Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor announced today. The Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund (SFF Futures) is contributing $2.6 million to the project. Project partner Robotics Plus Limited (RPL) will build on a prototype asparagus harvesting robot developed by Waikato […]

The annual World of Wearable Arts awards show has been cancelled for the second year in a row amid the uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2021 show was postponed on August 30 after the country plunged into Level 4 lockdown due to the current Delta outbreak. The show was scheduled to take place […]

Young people interested in a beekeeping career are being encouraged to apply for the annual Ron Mossop Youth Scholarship, sponsored by Mossop’s Honey and Apiculture New Zealand. The scholarship was set up three years ago as a way of giving young people the best possible start in the apiculture industry. The scholarship includes $2000 to […]

The University of Waikato has launched the world’s first Bachelor of Climate Change degree as New Zealand works to meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050. The three-year degree, starting next year, combines scientific knowledge with understanding of economic, social and political systems and Māori and Pacific responses to climate change, delivering graduates […]

Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) are partnering in a new $16.7 million beef genetics programme, with the potential to boost the sector’s profits by $460 million over the next 25 years. The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) is co-investing in the seven-year partnership through its Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund. The programme will […]

Research, Science and Innovation Minister Hon Dr Megan Woods has today announced the recipients of this year’s Endeavour Fund to help tackle the big issues that New Zealanders care about, like boosting economic performance, climate change, transport infrastructure and wellbeing. In total, 69 new scientific research projects were awarded over $244 million, through New Zealand’s […]

According to a new survey, the latest lockdown is having a disproportionately higher impact on the mental health of business owners than non-business owners. Perceptive’s latest Covid-19 Tracker Survey has revealed 33 per cent of business owners and key decision makers reported concerns around mental health compared with 17 per cent among the general population. […]

A former kiwifruit grower who smuggled cuttings of Zespri’s prized gold variety to China has been ordered to pay the kiwifruit exporter more than $12 million after an unsuccessful appeal. Zespri claimed Gao’s agreement to supply the cuttings was an infringement of its rights under the Plant Varieties Rights Act. Zespri initially sought $30m damages […]

Transport Minister Michael Wood announced the next three years of funding for the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP) today. The $24.3 billion fund is an increase of 44 per cent since the last programme between 2018 and 2021. The NLTP funds are for roads, public transport, walking and cycling and safety initiatives, with $7.3b going […]

Three out five home owners would not be able to afford their property if they had to buy it at the current valuation, Consumer NZ has revealed. The figures were gathered through the organisation’s sentiment tracker, which tracks how New Zealanders feel about a range of issues. For people who did not own property, the […]