News

Momentum in the rural property market has been building over the past couple of months, and, with autumn around the corner, it’s shaping up as an ideal time for vendors to prepare for sale, says Peter Newbold, General Manager Livestock & Real Estate for PGG Wrightson. Newbold told The Country’s...

From the windswept hills of Hawke’s Bay to the wharves of Ahuriri, our East Coast legacy is built on the bold decisions of rural icons like Frederick Williams and Nathaniel Kettle, who formed Williams & Kettle during one of New Zealand’s toughest economic periods in the 1880s. Amidst challenging...

Strong wool prices have opened 2026 with renewed confidence, and early indicators suggest the momentum is holding. Speaking with Hamish McKay on The Country, Rachel Shearer from PGG Wrightson Wool shared insights from recent auction results, international demand signals, and what this means for...

The Government and industry are backing new training initiatives to improve animal health and welfare outcomes in New Zealand’s shearing sector, Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard says. “We’ve worked with industry to establish a $75,000 fund to support targeted training initiatives that...

The outlook for New Zealand’s deer industry is improving heading into 2026, with venison prices holding steady and velvet supply expected to ease, PGG Wrightson’s National Deer and Velvet Manager Tony Cochrane says. Cochrane said venison had enjoyed an upswing this season, alongside other meat...

Large volumes transact as growers hold firm and withstand market pressure to secure pay off for their commitment to value. After a slow start due to high stocks in market and low-priced activity by opportunist traders, uncertainty in the velvet market was resolved in late December. Large volumes of...

Changing mindsets, wider audience and continued response to feedback makes 2025 a watershed year for bidr. New Zealand’s most used online livestock sales platform and the sector’s predominant auction technology, bidr experienced phenomenal growth during 2025. More than 14,000 people have signed up...

Demand from safari park operators and specialised hunting guides motivates Clachanburn Station, Maniototo to put up trophy animals. Responding to demand from safari park operators and specialist hunting guides, in February Maniototo deer farmers John and Mary Falconer of Clachanburn Station are...

Livestock team members prevail with innovative solutions to clients’ on-farm challenges. Rising stars in the PGG Wrightson Livestock team took out the top three awards in the company’s prestigious Academy this year. A 12-month training programme offered each year to around 20 participants from...

Mokoreta Genetics achieves near complete clearance as buyers respond to Suftex, Romney-Texel and Coopworth-Texel offering with enthusiasm. The inaugural on-farm ram sale for Eastern Southland stud Mokoreta Genetics was greeted by an enthusiastic gallery of buyers in mid-December. Owner Matt McRae...

It was all go today when The Country’s Jamie Mackay caught up with PGG Wrightson Livestock Manager - Dairy, Barry Fox, live at the Temuka Saleyards. Fox was taking in the sights of the IHC Beef Calf Sale–and the sounds, with cattle bellowing in the background. It was day two of the sale when Mackay...

The origins of the National Mortgage and Agency Company of New Zealand began in late 1850, when 22-year-old Henry John Le Cren arrived in Lyttelton, and established a store and accommodation agency with his friend Joseph Longden. During this time, large farms were being established in South...

The strong wool sector has been through a tough run, but signs of real recovery are beginning to emerge. Speaking with Jamie Mackay on The Country, Rachel Shearer from PGW Wool shared the latest auction results, market drivers, and how the new national auction format is helping create momentum...

Fonterra has cut its farmgate milk price forecast for the current season, so what does that mean for the price of dairy farms. That’s the question host Jamie Mackay put to Peter Newbold, General Manager Livestock & Real Estate for PGG Wrightson, on The Country today. Fonterra has narrowed its...

Demand prevails for spring lambs, rams and dairy beef weaner calves as farmers seek to re-invest recent red meat profits. Livestock markets throughout the country have eased into their busy late spring-early summer mode. Strong demand for all types of livestock prevails, supporting elevated values...

Leading western Waikato and King Country studs set the scene with encouraging clearances and average prices well in excess of last year. Indications from the season’s first few ram sales confirm the sheep and beef sector’s current positive outlook. Sales held by three leading western Waikato and...

Vendors maintaining control and purchaser convenience driving increasing popularity of bidr sale. A fully online auction of approximately 1200 South Island cattle in late November attracted firm values to achieve a strong clearance. Mainly comprising steers and heifers across various breeds, plus a...

December Temuka sale likely to transact 4000 100-kilogram calves, also doubling as an IHC fund-raiser. Traditionally one of the South Island’s biggest calf sales, at Temuka Saleyards on 3 and 4 December approximately 4000 dairy beef calves are set to transact, with a proportion of the sale...