16th September 2026 // Rural News

Farmer profitability hits decade high, but confidence dips New QEII National Trust Chair appointed DairyNZ opens applications for Māori internship programme   WANT TO LISTEN TO THE SHOW LIVE (11am-1pm NZST) ON THE GO? Download CountryWide Connect mobile app to stream the show via Apple Car Play or Android Auto. Or try the voice command ‘Play CountryWide Connect’ on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.   Apple: https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&hl=en_NZ   Farmer profitability hits decade high, but confidence dips Farmer profitability is at its highest in a decade, according to Federated Farmers' latest Confidence Survey, with seventy-two percent of farms now making a profit. Federated Farmers president Colin Hurst says dairy, sheep and beef farmers are enjoying strong returns again, though confidence about the year ahead has dropped sharply, with almost thirty percent expecting conditions to worsen. Dairy farmers are the most pessimistic, driven by concerns over rising costs, the upcoming election and ongoing regulation. Arable farmers are faring worst overall, with only one in five reporting a profit. Just under a third of farmers say these pressures are affecting their mental health, down from around seventy percent in twenty twenty-three. Hurst says farmers want the Government to finish reforming the Resource Management Act and simplify consents, calling it the clearest path to easing pressure on the sector.   New QEII National Trust Chair appointed Waikato dairy farmer Susan O'Regan has been appointed the new Chair of the QEII National Trust Board. O'Regan will provide sound leadership and strengthen the Trust's connections with the rural sector and iwi, adding the Trust is in good hands. O'Regan brings extensive rural and governance experience to the role. She's a former Mayor of Waipa District and currently holds a Crown appointment to the Waikato River Authority, alongside strong ties to the rural community. She takes over as Chair following the death of previous Chair Alan Livingstone in April. The QEII National Trust works alongside private landowners across the country, helping protect open spaces of special significance through conservation covenants that safeguard land for future generations.   DairyNZ opens applications for Māori internship programme DairyNZ is opening applications for its Māori internship programme, giving rangatahi Māori the chance to gain paid, hands-on experience in New Zealand's dairy sector. Now in its sixth year, the programme combines summer fieldwork with mentoring and professional development, and has supported eleven rangatahi Māori so far. DairyNZ's Head of Māori Engagement and Partnerships, Julian Reti Kaukau, says interns work alongside DairyNZ experts and industry partners, building connections that can support their future careers. Last summer's intern Amber Murfitt says she learned how mātauranga Māori and Western science can work together, gaining hands-on skills in water testing, eDNA sampling and biodiversity surveys. Reti Kaukau says the programme reflects a growing recognition of mātauranga Māori across the sector, and aims to help more rangatahi Māori build careers in dairy. Applications are open now, with more details available on the DairyNZ website.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.