A dairy farmer under financial pressure despite working 100-hour weeks has admitted breaking the tails of nearly 50 cows.

A Hong Kong woman has been sentenced to more than nine years in prison for smuggling $1 million of methamphetamine in cans of pork.

A former contract milker who rammed a difficult dairy cow with a quad bike is banned from the dairy industry for 12 months.

A commercial fisherman is to be prosecuted and faces a fine of up to $100,000 after dozens of albatrosses were killed during a fishing trip.

Claudio Da Costa, 47, told MPI investigators he used scissors because it was a 'quick and cheap fix for the problem'.

Fieldays announcement gives $600,000 for mental health.

Alarm after tuberculosis-positive cow discovered at his farm.

After week of controversy regarding illegal dumping of fish, the Ministry for Primary Industries announces independent review.

A big Commerce Commission report has found there's not enough competition to justify any deregulation of New Zealand's dairy sector.

The Ministry for Primary Industries and New Zealand's big three fishing companies have joined forces to develop a new "Tiaki" category of premium seafood.

Controls on the movement of certain fruit and vegetables in a 1.5km radius from where the fly was found have been put in place.

Argentinian traveller will have to re-think her act after disgusting find at Auckland Airport.

Biosecurity staff at Auckland Airport have foiled an attempt by a live huntsman spider, during a routine inspection of outdoor equipment.

From the flag debate to the outrage surrounding the TPPA, this year the government was at the centre of the country's three biggest PR challenges.

New Zealand is now fruit fly free after a small number of the Queensland pests were found early this year in an Auckland suburb.

Ministry for Primary Industries compliance director Dean Baigent said the new animal welfare rules would now prevent farmers from keeping pregnant sows in stalls.

Fishery officers have raided properties in the Bay of Plenty after a 12-month investigation into the black market sale of paua and kina.

A new four-legged investigator has been added to the biosecurity team, marking the first time a harrier hound has been trained for snooping through suspicious baggage.

Fonterra lost market share in the South Island and will probably lose more this season before an improvement in 2016/17, says CEO Theo Spierings.

Beef exports have hit $3 billion - a record high, driven by international shortages, rising local production, and a falling New Zealand dollar, Statistics NZ said.

The Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) said it was completing efforts to eradicate the pest.

Extra staff and biosecurity dogs will be out in force to combat the fruit fly during the coming cruise ship season.

This year's El Nino weather pattern is shaping up to be one of the strongest, if not the strongest, on record - bringing with it an elevated risk of drought.

Fonterra chairman John Wilson responds to criticism last week that Fonterra has been a failure.

Created in 2001, Fonterra was heralded as an "icon of economic transformation", a "breakthrough idea", "helping NZ catch the knowledge wave".

A "slick" of snapper found floating off Whangarei may have been dumped for safety reasons after a commercial vessel accidentally netted a log.

A government ministry has blown its budget on a costly head office refit — including the construction of a $20,000 stage to allow senior managers to address staff.

A total of 20 venomous spiders have been discovered in imported Mexican grapes but there have been no reports of anyone being bitten so far.

The Ministry has been working with supermarkets to remove all Mexican grapes from shelves after the first poisonous spider was discovered.