• More Weather

Magic Talk

Listen Now
Horticulture
Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor visited the field operation in Devonport.

Biosecurity response ramps up after second fruit fly discovered
Watch: Horticulture NZ's Mike Chapman talks to Rural Exchange about the dry conditions facing many growers.

Produce prices likely to skyrocket as big dry continues
Watch: The kiwifruit industry has produced a video to help recruit workers

Kiwifruit sector front-foots campaign to find pickers
A fruit fly was found in Devonport, and a second one has been discovered in Otara.

Minister cuts short trade visit as second fruit fly discovered
The lack of rain is having a major impact on growers in the Nelson area.

Drought conditions force early apple harvest in Nelson
Biosecurity Minister Damien O'Connor visited the field operation in Devonport.

'$1m per fruit fly': Auckland biosecurity lockdown to be in place for weeks
Are we paying too much for our food?

Why you're paying more for your veges
The Tasman region is coping with fire and drought.

Devastating blow for Nelson growers as water restrictions announced

Wakefield residents evacuated due to the Tasman fire can now return home.

Tasman fire: Farmers, contractors warned not to use machinery
A lack of workers has been a challenge for apple growers.

Bumper season for apple and pear crops - report
Two major players in the horticulture industry have claimed MPI lacks the resources to provide adequate protection.

Call for compulsory broadcast of biosecurity videos on planes
Many New Zealanders like to pick their own blueberries.

Breakthrough research hails benefits of blueberries
Many regions are already very dry .

Marlborough growers urged to conserve water
All it takes is one spark for the dry grass to turn into an inferno.

Vineyard owner learns the hard way about fire safety
The organic sector was also under the spotlight after a complaint about a real estate company's alleged misuse of the word 'organic'.

NZ organic sector impresses Hong Kong industry group
The stink bug is considered a serious biosecurity risk

Biosecurity review ordered after latest stink bug find
The Government has a target of planting 1 billion trees in 10 years

Union disputes claims workers can get $400 a day planting trees
A NIWA report said 2018 was the second-equal hottest year on record.

Water restrictions in place as Nelson river levels drop
A needle was found in a punnet of strawberries at an Auckland supermarket last year.

Foodstuffs investigating 'foreign object' in blueberries
Opinion LAWA's National River Water Quality 10-year Trend Summary report found a "mixed bag" of trends across the country's freshwater ecosystems.

Opinion: Plants need water too
Growers say they may have to leave millions of dollars worth of apples on trees. due to a lack of workers.

Union fires broadside at worker shortage claims
The issue has been under the spotlight after the needle contamination case in Australia.

Industry groups back plans to clampdown on food sabotage
Urban expansion is causing problems for vegetable growers.

Fruit and vege prices drop
Watch: Why some growers are reviewing the PYO system.

Watch: Greedy punters eat more than they pick
The move comes after the needle contamination scare in Australia.

Calls for stricter penalties for people who contaminate food
Opinion Growers may have to leave millions of dollars worth of apples on trees because there are not enough people to pick them.

Opinion: Australia and NZ competing for harvest workers
Growers struggling with last year's labour shortage turned to machines.

Unemployment 'so low' there aren't enough people to pick apples
While the Varroa mite are a threat to all bees - an Auckland couple have made it their mission to rescue and re-home bees across the city's rooftops

Honey bee-harming Varroa mites also a threat to other insects
Twenty-six live brown marmorated stink bugs were found in package from the United States in December.

Authorities investigating after more stink bug discoveries
Growers may have to leave millions of dollars worth of apples on trees.

Apple harvest at risk due to lack of workers
The brown marmorated stink bug is among possible biosecurity threats to our horticulture industry.

New agreement to protect NZ tomato industry
Bay of Plenty Waikato avocados

Alleged avocado thief caught with massive haul
The scanner will help detect biosecurity threats such as the stink bug which could devastate the horticulture industry.

Million dollar scanner boosts Auckland Airport biosecurity
Watch live.

Livestream: Police, Immigration speak about Hawke's Bay human trafficking operation
Updated A 64-year-old man has been arrested and charged with human trafficking and slavery.

Man arrested for alleged human trafficking operation spanning decades
The Provincial Growth Fund has come under fire from the National Party.

Kiwifruit industry benefits from Provincial Growth Fund

The AM Show recently looked at whether New Zealanders are paying too much for food.

Vege prices fall heading into summer
Customers at a Melbourne supermarket took buying summer fruit a bit too seriously, with a fight erupting over cherries.

Wet spring brings upside for summer fruit lovers
The stink bug is considered a serious biosecurity risk.

Find of stink bugs in imported shoes 'concerning'
The bugs are a major biosecurity threat.

Stink bugs found in shoes bought on eBay
Horticulture New Zealand Chief Executive Mike Chapman recently spoke to RadioLIVE's Rural Exchange team about the healthy state of the sector.

New HortNZ president excited about the future
A recent report had grim findings about the state of our soil.

Celebrity foodie crusading for health of New Zealand soils

New Zealand's organic industry is coping with growing demand from the domestic and international market.

Industry welcomes new legislation for organic sector
The Consumers Right to Know (Country of Origin of Food) Bill passed its third reading on Wednesday.

Do the new country of origin laws go far enough?
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug Council chairman Allan Pollard spoke to Rural Exchange 's Hamish McKay, Sarah Perriam and Richard Loe about why stink bugs pose such a danger.

Cargo ship ordered out of NZ after stink bugs discovered
Opinion Mike Chapman recently spoke to RadioLIVE's Rural Exchange and is also worried about urban spread.

Opinion: What's the future for rural New Zealand?
Strawberry growers urged the public not to panic when a needle was discovered in a strawberry last in September.

Needles in NZ fruit, veges 'random incidents' - expert
Horticulture New Zealand's Mike Chapman spoke to the RadioLIVE Rural Exchange team.

Big growth predicted for NZ's kiwifruit and apple industries
Zespri turned 20 last year and told Duncan Garner it was on track to more than double its sales by 2025.

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri wins prestigious business award
Honestly boxes at roadside fruit stalls have been raided recently. Now people are taking advantage of pick your own berry systems.

Why this Whanganui berry farm stopped its 'pick your own' system