Te Kuiti sheep get a Ponsonby makeover for Moa's Station IPA beer launch.

Less wool than forecast was offered at NZ weekly auction as farmers held back bales

Wool now New Zealand's 17th-most valuable commodity export

The weak wool market showed some improvement at the latest New Zealand weekly auction.

Taranaki's shearing competition featured world champions. Made with funds from NZ On Air.

It might sound like something straight out of the 2006 horror comedy Black Sheep, but woolly mutants are leading our scientists toward intriguing discoveries - and innovative new products.

New Zealand lamb wool prices continued to decline at this week's auction amid lacklustre demand during the peak production period. The

Prices continued their downward trend at last week's South Island wool sale.

Three shearers from different corners of the country have smashed a world shearing record - 1611 strongwool ewes between them in just eight hours. Made with funding from NZ On Air.

The chance to get your hands Tirau's giant animal couple has now gone - with the corrugated sheep and ram sold to a buyer this week.

Sheep and beef farmers are in for a 13 per cent fall in income this year, particularly if the NZ dollar remains high, according to Beef and Lamb NZ.

Feral sheep are under threat but Wimbledon farmer Brian Hales is showcasing what these exotic breeds have to offer. Made with funding from NZ on Air

Education sessions will be next year added to Central Otago's woolliest fashion showcase.

New Zealand wool prices generally advanced at the country's latest weekly auction, which featured the greatest number of bales on

It's all about the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final today. Plus Maori Language Week, politics, weather, wool...and Metallica.

It's the whole show in one go! Today The Country is brought to you by Brexit, Shexit and Wet, Wet, Wet. Yes the appalling music continues

NZ Merino has signed a five-year, $45 million deal to supply fine wool to Italian luxury fabric manufacturer Successori Reda.

Wool prices rose at the first auction following the Christmas and New Year holiday period, helped by the lower New Zealand dollar.

New Zealand's smallest annual wool clip in six years reflects the lowest sheep flock in more than 70 years.

Wool auction volumes are set to increase next week as farmers who have been holding out put their bales on the market.

Sheep meat prices have fallen by about 10 per cent over the past two months, driven by a drop in demand in China and difficult conditions in another important export market - Britain.

The risk of the kiwi dollar remaining high is the biggest risk to Government forecasts for growth in the nation's farm, forestry and seafood exports, a new Government report says.

A fall in global commodity prices and the strong kiwi dollar meant New Zealand producers were squeezed in the first quarter.