Rural Guardian

09/01/2026

When Hannah Williamson and Dylan Amyes unlocked the doors to D.O.T.I in June last year, they did it on a leap of faith.

Redundancy had pushed them out of their long-held roles at Waipara Hills, and although they both temporarily picked up jobs elsewhere, they were still searching for what came next.

Then the old Amberley grain store came up for lease.
Claire Inkson has the story.

When Hannah Williamson and Dylan Amyes unlocked the doors to D.O.T.I in June last year, they did it on a leap of faith. Redundancy had pushed them out of their long-held roles at Waipara Hills, and although they both temporarily picked up jobs elsewhere, they were still searching for what came next....

07/01/2026

More funding is needed for brain cancer research. Full stop.

Some of you will have seen the 2000km Challenge for 2026, created by Mark Ferguson of NeXtgenagri after his close friend and colleague, Professor Andrew Thompson (Thommo), was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2025. Thommo is a lifelong research scientist, and his diagnosis has highlighted just how underfunded brain cancer research still is.

The challenge is simple but big: run, walk, ride or row 2000km across 2026 to raise awareness and help the Cure Brain Cancer Foundation do its job even better.

I’ve joined the Strava club — and I’m also doing this for someone very close to my heart.

Many will remember Nick Hamilton as a North Canterbury farmer, for his time at Heartland Bank and NZ Merino, and for the huge amount of community work he gave to farming and grassroots rugby. Nick passed away in December 2024 after a brain tumour, and his loss is still felt deeply across this region.

Brain cancer survival rates have barely shifted in decades. That should concern all of us.

If you’re able to:
• Join the Strava club
• Take on some of the 2000km
• Or donate via the club page

Every bit helps.

Let’s turn movement into something that matters — and push for the research and funding this disease urgently needs.

Strava club here: https://www.strava.com/clubs/1858801

Let's do this! Obligatory token walk selfie.
-Claire Inkson

07/01/2026

A Southland deer farmer who once hand-knitted his first 50 metres of bale netting is now preparing to take his invention to agricultural events across Europe — and has caught the attention of Prince William along the way.

Orepuki farmer Grant Lightfoot, inventor of the edible jute bale net Kiwi Econet, has seen remarkable growth since winning the 2024 Southern Field Days Innovation Award at Waimumu.
Claire Inkson has the story.
Kiwi Econet

A Southland deer farmer who once hand-knitted his first 50 metres of bale netting is now preparing to take his invention to agricultural events across Europe — and has caught the attention of Prince William along the way.Orepuki farmer Grant Lightfoot, inventor of the edible jute bale net Kiwi Eco...

07/01/2026

Ashburton man Andy Macfarlane was “a bit staggered” when he found out he’d received a New Years Honour.

“It was the last thing I was expecting.”

Macfarlane was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2026 Honours for his service to the Deer Industry.
Anisha Satya has the story.

Ashburton man Andy Macfarlane was “a bit staggered” when he found out he’d received a New Years Honour.“It was the last thing I was expecting.”Macfarlane was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in the 2026 Honours for his service to the Deer Industry.He and his wi...

07/01/2026

Good yarn in Hawarden with Waitohi Ag’s John Svennson and Dustin Wright about backing young people in ag.
Plus Molly the dog, who clearly thought this was her moment.
Story coming soon in Rural Guardian.

06/01/2026

Amberley is a town with one foot firmly planted in its rural past and the other stepping confidently into a future of boutique shopping, modern cuisine and wine-region tourism.
Claire Inkson has the story.

AmberleyNZ
Amberley Country Estate - Retirement Village

Amberley is a town with one foot firmly planted in its rural past and the other stepping confidently into a future of boutique shopping, modern cuisine and wine-region tourism. It is both a service town and a destination, a place where you can pick up fencing gear or stock feed in the morning and en...

06/01/2026

Have you seen Hers Not His?

It’s a Rural Guardian series sharing the stories of women in agriculture — what you do, how you got there, and the ute that gets you through it all. No polish required. Real life, real work, real women.

We’ve been profiling women from right across the country, and all the stories now live together online — but we’re keen to add more.

If you’re farming, growing, contracting, managing, studying, juggling kids and calving, or quietly getting on with the job, we’d love to hear from you. You don’t need to be “extraordinary” — you just need to be you.

If you’re keen to take part, or want to know more, email:
📧 [email protected]
And feel free to tag someone who should absolutely be in this.

Celebrating women in agriculture

06/01/2026

We’ve been working away on something new, and it’s finally live.

The Rural Guardian website is now up and running — a home for our stories beyond the paper. Long reads, rural people, places, opinion and features, all in one place and easy to find.

It’s still very much a work in progress, but it’s built with the same intent as the print edition: practical, grounded rural storytelling, done properly.

If you read the paper, this is an extension of it.
If you don’t, this is a good place to start.

Have a look around:
👉 https://www.ruralguardian.com

More coming soon.

Reaching 26,000 rural households every month with an estimated readership of 100,000 Rural Guardian is where the stories of our land come to life. From paddock to paper, we deliver the latest news, practical insights, and inspiring stories from the people and places that power New Zealand’s primar...

05/01/2026

Good dogs, great yarns, and a day out worth leaving the farm for - the Hurunui Flock Tours are back, bringing the district together one paddock at a time.

Amberley A&P Show

Good dogs, great yarns, and a day out worth leaving the farm for - the Hurunui Flock Tours are back, bringing the district together one paddock at a time.Each March, the hills and valleys of Hurunui come alive with the sound of dogs, utes, and good conversation as farmers open their gates for the an...

05/01/2026

Young Farmers are the future of New Zealand agriculture, so each issue we shine a spotlight on a Young Farmers Club member. Today we talk to Abbey White from Clinton Young Farmers Club.
NZ Young Farmers

Young Farmers are the future of New Zealand agriculture, so each issue we shine a spotlight on a Young Farmers Club member. Today we talk to Abbey White from Clinton Young Farmers ClubAbbey’s club describes her as the kind of leader who quietly lifts the whole team. As Chair, she’s often the fir...

04/01/2026

From the Editor:
A Year of Stories, Connection and Rural Pride
Storytelling has been in my bones for as long as I can remember.
Ever since I was seven, I’ve wanted to write.
When I was 15, my father bought me my first proper camera - a second-hand Olympus 35mm that I treasured and still have today.
I’d wander around our farm taking photos, jotting down every camera setting in a notebook so I could figure out what worked and what didn’t.
Agriculture has always been my anchor.
I have the deepest respect for the people who work the land and for the contribution they make to our economy, our communities and our country.
To now work as editor of the Rural Guardian means I get to bring together my three lifelong passions: writing, photography and agriculture. It’s a privilege, and I’m genuinely grateful to the farmers and producers who trust me with their stories.
As we step into a new year, I’ve found myself thinking about just how far the Rural Guardian has come.
What began as a small, determined regional paper has grown into something that genuinely reflects the energy, grit and heart of rural life across the South Island.
Over the past year we’ve shared more stories than ever - features that celebrate the people who keep our communities ticking, practical pieces that support farmers through the tough patches, and those great moments of rural pride that deserve to be shouted far beyond the farm gate.
Every edition reminds me that our region thrives on connection, resilience and a willingness to back each other.
It matters more than ever that we keep telling our farming stories - not just to profile the incredible people who rise before dawn and work through every season, but to inspire and encourage the next generation coming through.
That’s why our FMG Young Country segment remains so important. These stories show young Kiwis that there is a future in agriculture worth stepping into.
Our readership continues to grow, and with it, the opportunities to evolve.
One of the biggest steps this year has been the development of our dedicated Rural Guardian website.
Creating it has been exciting - a modern, professional platform where we can showcase stories more dynamically, support advertisers more effectively, and reach rural readers well beyond our print footprint.
To our advertisers - thank you. Your support allows us to keep producing authentic rural journalism and shining a light on the people who make this industry what it is. In backing us, you’re backing rural New Zealand.
As 2026 gets underway, I’m excited for what’s ahead - more great features, more community stories, and an even stronger Rural Guardian presence both in print and online.
Thank you for being part of the journey so far, and for continuing to welcome us into your homes, businesses and paddocks.
Find our new website at www.ruralguardian.com

02/01/2026

It’s difficult to understand something that you do not experience.
Registered counsellor Kathryn Wright says It is more than likely that someone close to you has some kind of mental health challenge going on.

With Mental Health Week just having past, it’s great to see awareness building on the topic – an issue that has always existed, but with more visibility and acknowledgement, comes a perception that problems are increasing.If you don’t struggle with your mental health, that is great. You lucked...