Climate change will force major rural land use change, Simon Upton says

Climate change will force major rural land use change, Simon Upton says
Parliamentary commissioner for the environment Simon Upton. (Image: PCE)
Greg Hurrell
Climate change is going to drive rural land use change whether we want it or not, says parliamentary commissioner for the environment Simon Upton.In a new report he said it was time New Zealand confronted some hard questions, weighed the trade-offs needed and took action.His June 22 report “Going with the grain: changing land uses to fit a changing landscape” calls for land use to be managed on a river catchment basis, with the focus on the most vulnerable areas first. Last year’s Auckland floods and Cyclone Gabrielle bro...

More Primary Sector

Wood industry unveils value-added plan to double exports
Primary Sector

Wood industry unveils value-added plan to double exports

There aren't enough trees in NZ to double timber export receipts with raw logs.

Greg Hurrell 10 Oct 2025
Why NZ's US tariff rates could rise on a whim
Primary Sector

Why NZ's US tariff rates could rise on a whim

NZ's trade surplus with the US is likely to go up. Donald Trump won't like that.

Greg Hurrell 09 Oct 2025
Dairy prices fall for fourth straight auction, whole milk powder down 2.3%
Primary Sector

Dairy prices fall for fourth straight auction, whole milk powder down 2.3%

Prices have slipped again in the latest Global Dairy Trade auction, held overnight on Tuesday, with a 1.6% dip across the board.This was the fourth consecutive decline, following a 0.8% slide at the previous auction, a 4.3% decrease before that, and a 0.3% drop on Aug 19.Whole mi...

Staff reporters 08 Oct 2025
Dairy Farms NZ sells 6 of 7 farms, last one to go next year
Primary Sector

Dairy Farms NZ sells 6 of 7 farms, last one to go next year

The corporate dairy farmer has sold most of its Fonterra shares.

Riley Kennedy 08 Oct 2025