Politics

In the second episode of our new podcast, Country-Wide Editor Rebecca Greave discusses what's being done to combat the decline rural mental health and safety, unpacking the research with rural counsellor Kathryn Wright.

In our first podcast, Country-Wide Editor Rebecca Greaves talks to Professor Hugh Campbell, Professor of Sociology at the University of Otago, Brent Paterson from MyEnviro and Hon. Todd McClay, Minister for Primary Industries & Trade.

While voters in rural electorates took a right turn at the recent election, the trend has been to greater diversity, Hugh Campbell writes.

We asked Country-Wide readers who they thought had done the best job as Primary Industries or Agriculture Minister over recent decades. The results are in, with Nathan Guy just edging out Lockwood Smith as preferred Ag Minister.

Opposition parties have ideas about what they’d do with Landcorp should there be a change of government in October. By Jo Cuttance.

Based on their performance, we want to know who you think was the best - past or present - NZ agriculture (and primary industries) minister.

Is there a future in public ownership for Landcorp Farming? Ray Macleod thinks the SOE is far from a shining example for the farming sector to aspire to and says it needs to sharpen its farming act.

As the election nears, political parties are releasing their policies. Jo Cuttance looks at what the various parties are proposing for the agriculture sector – policies that will all have an impact on individual farming businesses and the entire sector.

Economist Dennis Wesselbaum says whoever wins the election will have to lead the country out of stormy economic waters with a much-needed ambitious growth policy.

Critics say the government would be better off selling its farming operation, Landcorp. By Terry Brosnahan and Glenys Christian.