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Gianina Schwanecke
Reporter

Reporter

We are your advocate, Aotearoa. Uncovering stories that matter, asking hard-hitting questions of those in power, live-blogging sport events, monitoring the highs and lows of the NZX and providing Premium expert opinion and analysis. Bringing you distinctive, quality journalism and breaking news from across New Zealand and around the world. With specialists working together to create indepth reads, engaging video, and unmissable podcasts.

Check out Gianina’s latest content
NZ no longer in a state of 'peak tractor'
The Country

NZ no longer in a state of 'peak tractor'

02 Jul 10:24 PM
Union warns against meat self-inspection plans
The Country

Union warns against meat self-inspection plans

01 Jul 03:22 AM

PSA says plans to privatise meat inspection service could risk food quality and safety.

Advocates renew calls to end colony-cage egg farms
The Country

Advocates renew calls to end colony-cage egg farms

25 Jun 03:26 AM

Advocates say colony cages weren’t much better than battery or conventional cages.

Could spiders help NZ's farms?
The Country

Could spiders help NZ's farms?

23 Jun 09:42 PM

“I think it’s an approach we should be looking at in Aotearoa NZ.”

'It means a lot': Hunting contest's crucial role in rural rescue
The Country

'It means a lot': Hunting contest's crucial role in rural rescue

09 Jun 03:00 AM

'Pongaroar' brings together hundreds of hunters, farmers, locals and spectators.

Thieves target Bay of Plenty orchards for scrap metal
The Country

Thieves target Bay of Plenty orchards for scrap metal

04 Jun 10:25 PM

Almost 40 burglaries have been reported since January, police say.

Primary sector unimpressed by Govt's horticulture reforms
The Country

Primary sector unimpressed by Govt's horticulture reforms

28 May 10:54 PM

Those in the primary sector say the new targets don’t go far enough.

Gap between people and sheep rapidly closing in NZ
The Country

Gap between people and sheep rapidly closing in NZ

08 May 12:02 AM

There are now about 4.5 sheep to every person in New Zealand; there used to be 22.

Premium
New water storage project proposed at former Ruataniwha dam site
The Country

New water storage project proposed at former Ruataniwha dam site

15 Dec 04:00 PM

Storage about 'the needs of the community'.

Premium
Labour shortages set to hit harder than ever this summer
The Country

Labour shortages set to hit harder than ever this summer

06 Dec 02:21 AM

If you need a summer job, you're in luck. But if you need a summer worker, join the queue.

Premium
Napier's stormwater system would cost $341m to replace
The Country

Napier's stormwater system would cost $341m to replace

08 Nov 04:00 PM

A report on last year's flood sheds new light on Napier's stormwater infrastructure.

Premium
Mayor says minister promised officials would visit Wairoa before Three Waters decision
The Country

Mayor says minister promised officials would visit Wairoa before Three Waters decision

03 Nov 05:00 PM

Wairoa mayor Craig Little says a promise has been broken by Nanaia Mahuta.

Premium
The balancing act on what will become NZ's last unsealed highway
The Country

The balancing act on what will become NZ's last unsealed highway

01 Nov 02:02 AM

Mayor says drivers hit the gravel and decide to u-turn: "The road turns people away."

Premium
Hawke's Bay mayors say Government water takeover 'pretty scary'
The Country

Hawke's Bay mayors say Government water takeover 'pretty scary'

27 Oct 12:41 AM

Hawke's Bay mayors say they gave the Government the path forward, but were ignored.

Horror ute roll: Farming community rallies to find missing dog
The Country

Horror ute roll: Farming community rallies to find missing dog

20 Oct 08:53 PM

Five-year-old Glen has been missing more than a week, missing the birth of his six pups.

Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market ute stolen from Hastings market
The Country

Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market ute stolen from Hastings market

11 Oct 01:59 AM

The Hawke's Bay Farmers' Market ute was stolen at the weekend.

Workers injured in three separate morning incidents in Hawke's Bay
The Country

Workers injured in three separate morning incidents in Hawke's Bay

30 Sep 11:16 PM

Rescue chopper responds to three work accidents over five hours this morning.

Premium
Weekday log train services between Napier and Wairoa to start Monday
The Country

Weekday log train services between Napier and Wairoa to start Monday

29 Sep 11:47 PM

The number of log trains between Wairoa and Napier will go from two to five next week.

Storm coming for Hawke's Bay: Strong winds, heavy rain, and a snow warning
The Country

Storm coming for Hawke's Bay: Strong winds, heavy rain, and a snow warning

26 Sep 09:46 PM

The stormy winds are coming, and they're going to have a bite to them.

Premium
Napier, the town where the water runs brown, says no to the Crown
The Country

Napier, the town where the water runs brown, says no to the Crown

23 Sep 03:30 AM

Council received 800 responses from residents about Government's Three Waters proposal.

Premium
Forestry leaders slam study of impact by Wairoa and Tararua councils
The Country

Forestry leaders slam study of impact by Wairoa and Tararua councils

20 Sep 06:00 PM

Forestry leaders say study will "put every obstacle in the way" of climate change goals.

Premium
Salmonella strain: Hawke's Bay producer says NZ's love affair with runny eggs at risk
The Country

Salmonella strain: Hawke's Bay producer says NZ's love affair with runny eggs at risk

20 Sep 12:42 AM

Licking the cake mix from the bowl also under threat: "It's going to be an ongoing issue."

Premium
Quest to get headstone for soldier killed in 1938 landslide
The Country

Quest to get headstone for soldier killed in 1938 landslide

17 Sep 06:00 PM

How did a Wellington-based returned serviceman end up buried in Napier without a grave?

Watch: Pulp friction - slippery trail of oranges on SH5
The Country

Watch: Pulp friction - slippery trail of oranges on SH5

14 Sep 12:41 AM

State Highway 5 between Napier-Taupō was covered in orange pulp this morning.

Premium
Hawke's Bay farmer fears 'unfair' regulation of family's bore water under new bill
The Country

Hawke's Bay farmer fears 'unfair' regulation of family's bore water under new bill

29 Aug 07:03 PM

Classifying farmers as water suppliers is 'unfair' and unnecessary, HB farmer says.

Premium
Hawke's Bay councils ask for rethink on Three Waters Reform
The Country

Hawke's Bay councils ask for rethink on Three Waters Reform

20 Aug 05:00 AM

"Localism is important to us and part of our success as a region."

Premium
'Essential part of producing a crop': Pruners and sprayers essential workers, Govt decides
The Country

'Essential part of producing a crop': Pruners and sprayers essential workers, Govt decides

18 Aug 03:46 AM

Damien O'Connor met with more than 180 primary sector leaders and gave them good news.

Premium
MPI's $95K helps launch new pumpkin 'milk alternative'
The Country

MPI's $95K helps launch new pumpkin 'milk alternative'

15 Aug 11:57 PM

NZ is one of the largest exporters of kabocha, a type of squash, to parts of Asia.

Premium
'It's not over': Napier Port's inland port at Whakatū on hold
Horticulture

'It's not over': Napier Port's inland port at Whakatū on hold

12 Aug 08:09 PM

"The soil in that area is pristine, it belongs. The containers don't."

Premium
'Upsetting and confusing': Further changes possible for Hawke's Bay farmers
The Country

'Upsetting and confusing': Further changes possible for Hawke's Bay farmers

11 Aug 10:18 PM

"The worst thing we can do is just stop," MyEnviro creator Brent Paterson says.

Premium
Apple giant to create 150 new permanent roles
The Country

Apple giant to create 150 new permanent roles

02 Aug 01:46 AM

Despite hiring close to a 1000 Kiwis in place of RSE workers, they were still 300 short.

'We are up in arms': Clive community fumes as thieves target utes
The Country

'We are up in arms': Clive community fumes as thieves target utes

26 Jul 09:12 PM

"I can pretty much touch the car from my bedroom window. You'd never expect it."

Premium
Ute tell 'em: Hastings feebate protest organiser expects hundreds for 'bark-up'
The Country

Ute tell 'em: Hastings feebate protest organiser expects hundreds for 'bark-up'

07 Jul 12:08 AM

Farmers are "sick of signing petitions and talking at dinner parties", Chris Miles says.

Fitting service at Wairoa community centre for farmer who helped build it
The Country

Fitting service at Wairoa community centre for farmer who helped build it

28 Jun 08:52 PM

"He had the ability to see beyond the years he lived," Wairoa mayor Craig Little said.

The new tool helping Hawke's Bay orchardists
The Country

The new tool helping Hawke's Bay orchardists

27 Jun 04:20 AM

"They are good at growing things. We are good at developing software."

Premium
Hawke's Bay's fence crash woes: More than 500 in three years
The Country

Hawke's Bay's fence crash woes: More than 500 in three years

14 Jun 06:00 PM

"It's a wonder no one has been killed," resident of road where cars regularly crash says.

Premium
Nash tells forestry donations sceptics he's following the rules
The Country

Nash tells forestry donations sceptics he's following the rules

10 Jun 09:40 PM

Napier MP says there's no conflict of interest relating to 2020 campaign donations.

Premium
About dam time? Group set up to explore CHB water security
The Country

About dam time? Group set up to explore CHB water security

09 Jun 05:00 PM

'This is not a project to rebirth the Ruataniwha. Not at all,' chair Mike Petersen says.

Premium
'The least we can do': HB farmers helping Canterbury
The Country

'The least we can do': HB farmers helping Canterbury

07 Jun 10:50 PM

Hawke's Bay farmers are organising a feed run to help their flood-hit counterparts.

Glimpse of the future? HB sheep numbers drop 346,000 in a year
The Country

Glimpse of the future? HB sheep numbers drop 346,000 in a year

14 May 06:00 PM

Farming leaders say climate change will turn the screws for those reliant on sheep.

Future of Westpac's Hastings branch up in the air
The Country

Future of Westpac's Hastings branch up in the air

10 May 11:54 PM

The Westpac branch in Hastings remains closed following a building assessment in March.

'Couldn't believe my eyes': Wasp nest found in paddock shocks beekeeper
The Country

'Couldn't believe my eyes': Wasp nest found in paddock shocks beekeeper

04 May 01:18 AM

Check out this wasp nest found in a paddock in Hawke's Bay.

Premium
Hawke's Bay farmers being over-run by feral deer
The Country

Hawke's Bay farmers being over-run by feral deer

26 Apr 09:06 PM

The "super hares" are devouring massive native plant restoration efforts.

Premium
Napier live export protesters 'stoked' with ban announcement
The Country

Napier live export protesters 'stoked' with ban announcement

13 Apr 10:30 PM

She said the two-year transition period was "bittersweet"

Six ships, six weeks: Live export protests in Napier ramp up
The Country

Six ships, six weeks: Live export protests in Napier ramp up

11 Apr 01:52 AM

"We are not going to give up on those cows."

Premium
Hawke's Bay plagued by wasps this autumn
The Country

Hawke's Bay plagued by wasps this autumn

11 Apr 12:13 AM

Working outdoors in HB carries an extra warning with increased numbers of wasps noted.

Premium
Horticulturists hit crossroads - each way, smaller guys lose
The Country

Horticulturists hit crossroads - each way, smaller guys lose

08 Apr 10:05 PM

Those in horticulture are 'ploughing ahead blind' when it comes to planning next season.

What killed them? 20 dead fish found floating in Hastings stream
The Country

What killed them? 20 dead fish found floating in Hastings stream

08 Apr 05:23 AM

The water was clear and healthy. But 20 dead fish were floating on the surface.

Seasonal shortages: Faafoi says Pacific workers won't reach pre-Covid levels in 2022
The Country

Seasonal shortages: Faafoi says Pacific workers won't reach pre-Covid levels in 2022

08 Apr 12:53 AM

There weren't enough pickers for this season. It's not looking promising for the next.

Thieves target heavy-duty vehicle batteries and fuel across Hawke's Bay
The Country

Thieves target heavy-duty vehicle batteries and fuel across Hawke's Bay

07 Apr 11:51 PM

Many of the vehicles were "seriously damaged" by the offenders.

Premium
Hawke's Bay's massive new lake? Council proposes water storage expansion
The Country

Hawke's Bay's massive new lake? Council proposes water storage expansion

31 Mar 09:17 PM

Expansion of Heretaunga farm lake could mean it stores 3 million cubic metres of water.

Fisherman catches11kg kingi off the beach at Bay View
The Country

Fisherman catches11kg kingi off the beach at Bay View

28 Mar 09:45 PM

Cody Webster was just about ready to call it quits, when he got lucky.

'He'd been out for several days': Hunter and dog rescued from mountains
The Country

'He'd been out for several days': Hunter and dog rescued from mountains

23 Mar 09:31 PM

More hunters are expected for 2021 roar, after last year's season was cancelled.

Hawke's Bay residents face rates increases of 19.5 per cent from regional council
The Country

Hawke's Bay residents face rates increases of 19.5 per cent from regional council

20 Mar 10:13 PM

The Hawke's Bay Regional Council has proposed a rates increase of 19.5 per cent.

How community showed Bushman's Tucka their support
The Country

How community showed Bushman's Tucka their support

17 Mar 02:29 AM

"We've run out of mince so had to restock."

'We'll be the poor cousins': Wairoa fears over Three Waters reforms
The Country

'We'll be the poor cousins': Wairoa fears over Three Waters reforms

15 Mar 05:00 PM

'Bigger isn't always better,' says Wairoa's mayor of the Three Water reforms.

Hawke's Bay primary sector: More than 12.5 tonnes of plastic collected in three months
The Country

Hawke's Bay primary sector: More than 12.5 tonnes of plastic collected in three months

13 Mar 09:09 PM

Agrecovery collected 12.5 tonnes of plastic from HB farmers and growers since December.

Rain brings a soaking to Hawke's Bay, more on the way
The Country

Rain brings a soaking to Hawke's Bay, more on the way

11 Mar 02:40 AM

Areas north of Napier are in for heavy rain while areas south are still one to watch.

Premium
'Unprecedented' worker shortage: Loaded livestock trucks turned away from meatworks
The Country

'Unprecedented' worker shortage: Loaded livestock trucks turned away from meatworks

08 Mar 10:20 PM

Progressive Meats says staff shortage is "unprecedented" as workers choose to pick fruit.

Premium
Trio help navigate Three Waters reforms
The Country

Trio help navigate Three Waters reforms

07 Mar 10:25 PM

Hawke's Bay makes up three of 15 positions on the Three Waters Steering Committee.

Premium
Fruitful future: Helen Clark's optimism for Hawke's Bay amid a global crunch
The Country

Fruitful future: Helen Clark's optimism for Hawke's Bay amid a global crunch

26 Feb 12:05 AM

"Hawke's Bay can feel really good with where it sits in the country and with the world."

Wind farm will create 260 jobs, but iwi's concerns remain
The Country

Wind farm will create 260 jobs, but iwi's concerns remain

23 Feb 08:32 PM

Hawke's Bay will soon be home to the country's second-largest wind farm.

Wairoa rural expo to focus on wellbeing and mental health
The Country

Wairoa rural expo to focus on wellbeing and mental health

17 Feb 12:01 AM

23-year-old Elle Perriam co-founded Will to Live.

Farmers welcome rain - Tuesday's predicted downpour arrives
The Country

Farmers welcome rain - Tuesday's predicted downpour arrives

14 Feb 07:54 PM

100-180mm of rain is expected to fall in Hawke's Bay over 48 hours, mostly in the ranges.

Waimarama grass fire latest in spate of suspicious fires around Hawke's Bay
The Country

Waimarama grass fire latest in spate of suspicious fires around Hawke's Bay

10 Feb 12:04 AM

There have been several suspicious fires around the region in recent weeks.

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