New Zealand kiwifruit company Zespri has launched a three-year trial program growing kiwi’s and promoting authorized plantations in Sichuan province. The vendor indicated that during the first year of the trial program, the company would gather an expert council consisting of Chinese scientists, scholars, and practitioners. The expert council aims to share experience and knowledge […]

This year, Captain Cook and Marsden Wharves will host the Auckland Lantern Festival. The festival will fun from the 24th to February 28. Auckland Domain previously hosted the lantern festival, however, was cancelled in 2020, due to Covid19. The annual event has become popular with both locals and visitors to the city. The lantern festival […]

The New Zealand crayfish industry is experiencing a boom, mostly thanks to increased demand from China. China accounts for two-thirds of New Zealand’s crayfish exports, employs 2500 people and earns $320 million a year. At the start of 2020, the industry experienced a significant shock when Covid-19 sent China into lockdown. With restaurants closed, the […]

The South Waikato’s growing tourism sector remains strong in spite of Covid-19. In March, prior to the country going into lockdown, the district had the Waikato’s second fastest growing tourism market. And South Waikato District Council economic development manager Paul Bowden said little has changed since. The Te Waihou Walkway/ Blue Spring, which has had […]

South Waikato’s main town Tokoroa will have a brand new $14 million trades training centre by 2022 catering for up to 500 students a year thanks to a Government grant of $10.84 million announced today. The new trades training centre is being co-funded with $1 million grants from each of Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, […]

For more than 30 years Tīrau’s Tapapa Marae sat vacant amongst farmland. Now it’s home to the South Waikato’s first rammed earth wharenui (meeting house). It comes after the Department of Internal Affairs granted $1.34 million for the first of three stages of the marae’s reconstruction earlier this year. A wharenui was built on the […]

Increasing house prices are a barrier to homeownership for many but buying in regional areas is one way to get on the ladder – and the strategy is growing in popularity. That’s because while prices in the big cities might be sky-high, in regional markets they are far more reasonable and that provides buyers with […]

Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and Environment Minister David Parker have announced three new projects to be fast-tracked past the Resource Management Act. Parker, speaking to media after the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing, says the projects include mixed use development on Dominion Road, a foam factory in Huntly and The Vines subdivision in Richmond, and have […]

Pacific Islands seasonal workers who will be allowed into New Zealand under a new border exemption will finally be paid a living wage. The New Zealand government has announced it is granting access through the border for 2000 workers under the Recognised Seasonal Employers scheme in the new year. New conditions in place as part […]

It’s the world’s biggest trade deal most people have never heard of. New Zealand and 14 other countries from the Asia Pacific region are set to sign a new major trade agreement this weekend – the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). It encompasses Japan, China, South Korea, the 10 members of the Association of Southeast […]