A Chinese bid to buy 20 NZ farms will be rejected or severely restricted after an Overseas Investment Office review, the Herald understands.

The Crafar farming family has lost its appeal against convictions and sentences for dirty dairying practices on a Waikato dairy farm.

Rain has worsened flooding on a Canterbury farm where a river has forked along an earthquake fault line, cutting through the property.

Weary Canterbury farmers picking themselves up from days of earthquakes and aftershocks face new threats.

Fonterra says the earthquake has damaged some milking sheds, but all milk has been collected from its Canterbury suppliers.

Looming bad weather and a fear that electricity may be out for days is worrying Canterbury farmers in the wake of this morning's quake.

Maurice Williamson's comments that opponents of land sales to foreigners were sometimes being racist was a case of humour backfiring, John Key said today.

Allan Hubbard is blaming Government regulations for the failure of South Canterbury Finance.