Two listed companies are the first victims of a suspected incursion in NZ of a bacterial disease which has ripped through gold kiwifruit varieties overseas, particularly in Italy.

An orchard is under quarantine after the discovery of a suspected bacterial disease that may threaten NZ's $1.5b kiwifruit industry.

Heads of the NZ Jewish communities are protesting the Government's proposed animal-welfare ban on shechita, the Jewish ritual slaughter of livestock.

The Govt is putting up $144.1m into two initiatives worth $321m over seven years to boost productivity and new products for the dairy and red meat sectors.

Sheep and beef farming could all but disappear in New Zealand if "structural issues" causing profits to drop are allowed to continue, says Federated Farmers.

The NZ Walking Access Commission is producing a mapping system so that people can more easily find out where there is legal public access across land.

The sale of 16 Crafar dairy farms could be enough to cover all of the family's bank debt.

The former head of NZ's biggest private dairy operation is talking to foreign interests in an attempt to trade his way out of debt.

The Govt should think carefully when drawing up its new rules for the treatment of pigs, writes Catriona MacLennan.