Slow motion catastrophe: Another massive Hawke's Bay drought is looming. Fifteen years ago climate scientists predicted that severe

About this time of year as we go into the usual drought the neighbours must think we've run out of water and I've started sustaining

Let's stop kidding ourselves: we are in the grip of a water crisis, and any government that fails to recognise and immediately work

I hope readers had a lovely break and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine we've had across New Zealand. I'm happy to be into 2017 which

The continued strength of the Fonterra Global Dairy Auction has given many farmers confidence that there will be an increase in milk

Just before Christmas, the Maori Party took a stand that is hugely important for Hawke's Bay. The party told Environment Minister

The Country host Jamie Mackay shares his list of things to see and do before he shuffles off this mortal coil.

I DON'T have any hard data but it seems that the incidence of stock thefts in the Whanganui and Rangitikei districts is rising. Certainly

How's the white gold flowing in Aotearoa so far in 2017? The dairy payout is back up to around $6 per kilogram of milk solids, but

In the late 1940s my father came down from the East Coast to be a shepherd on Omakere Station in Central Hawke's Bay. Part of the

With 2016 being such an up-and-down year for farmers, here's hoping the new year will bring better news on demand and prices. The

Napier regional councillor Paul Bailey is right about one thing - the major problems facing the region must be shared responsibilities

It seems this is the season where we reflect on the achievements of the past 12 months. To refresh my memory I re-read my comments

There's nothing like the smell of freshly cut pine to make me feel festive. I've spent the last fortnight chopping up pines toppled

Ah, the summer holidays are here. While it's lovely to ditch the daily grind of lunchboxes and bus runs, I'm sure I'm not the only

Dom George attempts to piece together the events of The Country's Christmas party.

COMMENT: We're entering that time of year when I remind people to be kind to atheists. Remember, Christmas capitalism has room for all of us.

When I started this job I gave myself 60 days to settle in and to achieve certain objectives and highlight others. Some of us had

Last week's gentle rain was warmly greeted by all vegetable crops around the North Island. The soil was getting a touch dry after

The Country Host Jamie Mackay reflects on the good, the bad and the ugly of 2016.

I'm not sure what I was thinking, taking the grandboys to the A&P Show. I do recall the word "fun" flitting through my mind, so that

New Zealand whitebait are one of the few dining pleasures to escape the culinary assault of reality chefs.

Mike Joy's recent commentary around dams in NZ doesn't tell the full story. I agree with his headline - Agriculture must be clean

Dom George is miffed that boxing novice Jamie Mackay gets ringside seats to the Joseph Parker fight...

This week I will start with a handy tip: enjoy your cheap tomatoes as the flush is nearly over and prices will increase with demand

I would like to thank the people of Horowhenua and Kairanga for re-electing me for another term on Horizons Regional Council. We

COMMENT: I'm not gonna lie. I'm glad to see the back end of him. Clothed, of course, writes Rachel Stewart.

"You won't remember me," a fellow retiree said in town the other day. He was wrong. Vague memories surfaced of learning to swim

Stock access to water can be an emotive issue that sparks strong reactions. It is critical in the debate about water quality and

One of the issues that has been much discussed of late has been the enforcement of resource consents. In recent weeks Hawke's Bay