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

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.
&nbsp;
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 &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

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

CountryWide CONNECT is the latest innovative daily livestreamed rural video/radio show broadcast at lunchtime 11am &ndash; 1pm Monday-Friday from Christchurch, New Zealand.
 The show is hosted by respected award-winning agribusiness broadcasters, Sarah Perriam-Lampp (formerly Sarah&rsquo;s Country &amp; Rural Exchange) and Andy Thompson (formerly The Rural Round-Up).
 Over two hours, Sarah &amp; 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 &amp; to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

CountryWide CONNECT

CountryWide CONNECT is an 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

CountryWide CONNECT is an innovative daily livestreamed rural video/radio show broadcast at lunchtime 11am &ndash; 1pm Monday-Friday from Christchurch, New Zealand.
 The show is hosted by respected award-winning agribusiness broadcasters, Sarah Perriam-Lampp (formerly Sarah&rsquo;s Country &amp; Rural Exchange) and Andy Thompson (formerly The Rural Round-Up).
 Over two hours, Sarah &amp; 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 &amp; to subscribe to CountryWide, visit www.country-wide.co.nz

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

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.

<ul>
<li>India and New Zealand to establish kiwifruit centres</li>
<li>Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning</li>
<li>Animal and Plant Health Sector Recognises Long-Standing Contributors</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
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 &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>
&nbsp;
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&rsquo; free trade agreement.
Dr Stephanie Montgomery, programme manager for New Zealand&rsquo;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.
&nbsp;
Live ammunition found in wool prompts safety warning
The discovery of live rifle ammunition and a shotgun cartridge at a Hawke&rsquo;s Bay wool processing plant is prompting an urgent safety warning across the wool industry.
Eight live rounds were found in May at Woolworks&rsquo; 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.
&nbsp;
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 &mdash; 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.

24th July 2026 // Rural News

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

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.
&nbsp;
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 &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

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

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

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.
&nbsp;
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 &lsquo;Play CountryWide Connect&rsquo; on Amazon Alexa or Google Home.
&nbsp;
Apple: <a href="https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881">https://apps.apple.com/nz/app/countrywide-connect/id6761033881</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ">https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.countrywide&amp;hl=en_NZ</a>

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

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