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CountryWide CONNECT

CountryWide Media
CountryWide CONNECT
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  • CountryWide CONNECT

    24th July 2026 // Rural News

    24/07/2026 | 2 mins.
    India and New Zealand to establish kiwifruit centres
    Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning
    Animal and Plant Health Sector Recognises Long-Standing Contributors

    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

    India and New Zealand to establish kiwifruit centres
    New Zealand and India are working together to establish four kiwifruit centres of excellence
    across India, aimed at improving productivity for local growers under the countries’ free trade
    agreement.
    Dr Stephanie Montgomery, programme manager for New Zealand’s Bioeconomy Science
    Institute, is leading the Green kiwifruit project, with the first centre planned for Nagaland in
    north-east India.
    The project will focus on knowledge transfer, orchard production and supply chain capability,
    rather than sharing commercially protected varieties.
    Montgomery says Indian growers have been welcoming and keen to improve production, but
    the project faces challenges including steep, high-altitude orchards, limited soil data and
    poor roading.
    Zespri says the FTA also provides greater certainty to grow demand in India, with kiwifruit
    receiving zero tariffs on an initial 6200-tonne quota.

    Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning
    The discovery of live rifle ammunition and a shotgun cartridge at a Hawke’s Bay wool
    processing plant is prompting an urgent safety warning across the wool industry.
    Eight live rounds were found in May at Woolworks’ Awatoto factory, after wool from multiple
    North Island farms had been combined. The source farm cannot be identified.
    Chief executive Rosstan Mazey says the rounds were found in a tray beneath the wool
    opening equipment, creating a serious health and safety risk for workers.
    He says farmers, shearers and wool classers need to be more vigilant inside woolsheds,
    particularly around duck shooting season when spent cartridges and live ammunition may be
    present.
    The National Council of NZ Wool Interests and New Zealand Wool Classers Association are
    urging everyone in the supply chain to ensure only wool goes into bales.

    Animal and Plant Health Sector Recognises Long-Standing Contributors
    Two individuals with decades of service to New Zealand's animal and plant health sector
    have been recognised at the annual APHANZ Awards dinner in Wellington.
    Gavin Kerr received the Outstanding Contribution Award for five years as APHANZ chair,
    during which he oversaw the merger of two legacy industry associations into APHANZ and
    established the Emerging Leaders Forum.
    The President's Award went to Awilda Baoumgren, Specialist Adviser Veterinary Medicine
    Regulation at MPI's ACVM team, recognised for more than a decade of pragmatic,
    evidence-based regulatory advice that has strengthened the working relationship between
    industry and government.
    Acting APHANZ board chair Fraser Hodgson says Awilda exemplifies the consistent,
    approachable leadership that underpins good regulatory practice — and ultimately supports
    better outcomes for New Zealand farmers and animal owners.
    APHANZ chief executive Liz Shackleton says the awards highlight the people who deliver
    progress through expertise, pragmatism and collaboration across the sector.
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • CountryWide CONNECT

    Nick Beeby - ‘We are not a threat’: US launch global lamb safeguard investigation

    24/07/2026 | 10 mins.
    This episode features Nick Beeby, Chief Executive, Meat Industry Association discussing the United States' safeguards investigation into imported lamb and what it could mean for New Zealand exporters.

    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • CountryWide CONNECT

    Sport Panel - Blues Matatū, Spurs in town & the best Dad bod

    24/07/2026 | 13 mins.
    This episode features Graeme "Sportsfreak" Beasley and Dave Worsley previewing a huge weekend of sport, including the Warriors' top-of-the-table clash with the Bulldogs, Ryan Fox, the All Blacks, Super Rugby Aupiki and the latest sporting headlines before Sarah closes the show.

    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • CountryWide CONNECT

    Lawrence Meredith - 'Going gangbusters': EU ambassador departs on export high

    24/07/2026 | 11 mins.
    This episode features Lawrence Meredith, European Union Ambassador to NZ and Head of the EU Delegation to NZ reflecting on his time in New Zealand, the growing NZ-EU relationship and the future of agricultural trade before he heads to Canberra.

    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
  • CountryWide CONNECT

    Gregg and Dansy Coppell - Post donations ‘beautiful show’ of community

    24/07/2026 | 8 mins.
    This episode features Gregg and Dansy Coppell, Co-founders, Repost discussing how vineyard waste is being recycled into practical products to help flood-hit farmers while reducing agricultural waste.

    The fundraising link mentioned in the interview can be found here: https://shop.whatsforsmoko.com/products/buy-a-re-post

    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
    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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About CountryWide CONNECT
CountryWide CONNECT is the latest innovative daily livestreamed rural video/radio show broadcast at lunchtime 11am – 1pm Monday-Friday from Christchurch, New Zealand. The show is hosted by respected award-winning agribusiness broadcasters, Sarah Perriam-Lampp (formerly Sarah’s Country & Rural Exchange) and Andy Thompson (formerly The Rural Round-Up). Over two hours, Sarah & Andy cover the latest in New Zealand rural news, views, politics but most importantly in-depth technical farming advice to help improve farmers bottom lines! For more information & to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz
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