Whanganui Region Catchment Collective

15/05/2026

🌿 What a fantastic two days out in Ōhakune and Taumarunui last week!

Whanganui Region Catchment Collective was thrilled to co-host Porina workshops alongside Rangitīkei River Catchment Collective, MPI On-Farm Support, and AgResearch — and the turnout at both events was outstanding.

A huge thank you to our keynote speaker Sarah Mansfield for sharing her expertise on Porina biology and control measures. Sarah's message was clear: get out and dig now — getting ahead of the problem before pasture damage appears is key to protecting your farm this season.

We also heard from Horizons on the green thistle beetle, which sparked some great discussion on the day.

None of this happens without incredible support — thank you to PGG Wrightson for providing the BBQ and ANZ for supplying the drinks, and of course to our generous host farmers for opening up your properties for the day.

If Porina is on your radar this season, don't wait for the damage — reach out to your local rural support team to talk monitoring and management options.

Rangitīkei Rivers Catchment Collective PGG Wrightson Retail and Water Horizons Regional Council

14/05/2026

🌿 A big milestone for our committee this March — we came together in person for a workshop that felt truly special.

Our Whanganui Region Catchment Collective leaders had the privilege of sitting down with Ngā Tangata Tiaki and Horizons Regional Council to share our visions for the river and explore where our goals align. It was a meaningful kōrero — hearing each other's perspectives and identifying real synergies as kaitiaki of this taonga.

We also got hands-on with Landscanner, learning how catchment maps have been built for our groups. Seeing the landscape data come to life for our specific areas was eye-opening and will be a powerful tool as we plan ahead together.

Ngā mihi nui to everyone who made the journey and contributed to the conversation. This is exactly the kind of collaboration that will help us care for our awa for generations to come. 💙

13/05/2026

Head on down to 303 River Road today, hear from Rabobanks Jen Corkran, have a burger for lunch and then see a variety of ways drones can be incorporated on farm.

13/05/2026

Tomorrow. 12pm. Taumarunui. 🙌

This is your last chance to register for Paddock to Profit — and it'd be a shame to miss it.

Four speakers. Two sessions. A BBQ lunch. And some of the most practical farming and market knowledge you'll hear all year.

✅ Red meat market outlook with Jen Corkran (Rabobank)
✅ On-farm drone experience with Travis Carter
✅ Spray & spreading drones with Stephen Wheeler (Swarm Agridrones)
✅ Environmental drone applications with Mike Jensen (Envico)

Free to attend. Just let us know you're coming.

✉️ [email protected]
📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road SH43, Taumarunui
🕛 12pm – 4pm, Thursday 14 May

12/05/2026

Drones for the environment — and it's more impressive than you'd think 🌿

Mike Jensen from Envico rounds out our speaker line-up for Paddock to Profit. Mike and his team use drones for seed pod dispersal, pest bait applications, and environmental restoration work across NZ.

Work that used to require large crews going into difficult terrain is now being done more precisely, more safely, and at a fraction of the cost — from the air.

If you care about what's happening on the environmental and conservation side of farming, Mike's session is not to be missed.

🌐 envicotech.co.nz

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road SH43, Taumarunui
🕛 Tomorrow — Thursday 14 May, 12pm–4pm
✉️ Last chance to register: [email protected]

Envico Technologies is a leading conservation technology company, based in New Zealand, developing automated systems for conservation, biosecurity and biodiversity. Envico conducts R&D as well as provides services globally with proprietary drone technology.

12/05/2026

Spray smarter, not harder 💨

Stephen Wheeler from Swarm Agridrones is joining us at Paddock to Profit this Thursday to talk spray and spreading drones — and how they're changing how we are applying sprays and fertiliser on NZ farms.

We're talking precision w**d control in all classes of country, fertiliser spreading on sensitive soils and pastures, and potential reductions in chemical use through precision application.

Stephen works with these machines every day. Come and ask him the questions you've actually got.

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road SH43, Taumarunui
🕛 Thursday 14 May, 12pm–4pm
✉️ Register: [email protected]

11/05/2026

Our second speaker for Paddock to Profit is a local farmer who's already making drones work on-farm 👇

Travis Carter will share his real-world experience using drone technology in his day-to-day farming operation — what he's tried, what's actually delivered, and what he'd do differently.

No sales pitch. No theory. Just honest experience from someone farming in our region.

If you've been curious about whether drones are worth it — this is the session to hear.

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road SH43, Taumarunui
🕛 Thursday 14 May, 12pm–4pm
✉️ Register: [email protected]

11/05/2026

Meet our first speaker for Paddock to Profit 👇

Jen Corkran is Rabobank's Senior Analyst for Animal Protein — one of the sharpest minds in agricultural market analysis in this country.

On Thursday she'll give us the unfiltered view on where red meat markets are heading. Pricing trends, global demand shifts, export outlook, and what NZ producers should be thinking about heading into the second half of 2026 .

This is the kind of market insight that usually stays in the boardroom. We're bringing it to Taumarunui.

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road SH43
🕛 Thursday 14 May, 12pm–4pm
✉️ Register: [email protected]

10/05/2026

🗓️ This Thursday, 14 May — Paddock to Profit

We're hosting a half-day event at Puke-Nui Angus, Taumarunui, and the line-up is genuinely exciting.

Session One covers the red meat market outlook — what's happening with pricing, where exports are heading, and what it means for NZ red meat producers right now. Featuring Rabobank's Senior Analyst for Animal Protein, Jen Corkran.

Session Two is all about agricultural drones — from stock mustering to spray applications, spreading, and environmental work like seed dispersal and bait drops. Three speakers who are actually doing this stuff in NZ.

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road, SH43, Taumarunui
🕛 12pm – 4pm, Thursday 14 May
🍖 BBQ lunch provided - Refreshments kindly provided by Rabobank.
✅ Free to attend

Register by emailing [email protected]

Organised by the Whanganui Region Catchment Collective in partnership with Rabobank.

08/05/2026

💰 What's really happening in red meat markets right now — and what does it mean for your farm?

Join us next Wednesday for Paddock to Profit: Red Meat Markets and Agricultural Innovation.

Two packed sessions:
🥩 Session 1 — Red Meat Market Outlook with Jen Corkran, Rabobank's Senior Analyst for Animal Protein. Get the latest on pricing trends, global demand, and what's ahead for NZ producers.
🚁 Session 2 — Agricultural Drones. Discover how drone tech is transforming farm management — from stock mustering to w**d control and beyond.

📍 Puke-Nui Bull Sale Complex, 303 River Road, SH43, Taumarunui
📅 Wednesday 14 May | 12pm–4pm
🍖 BBQ lunch provided

Free event — register now at [email protected]

Tag a farmer who needs to hear this 👇

06/05/2026

📣 TODAY – Porina Management discussion, Taumarunui.

King Country farmers — this morning's session is for you.

📍 Romani Farms, 723 Ngapuke Rd, Taumarunui
🕙 10:00am | Free to attend

Chemical control matters — but so does the timing. Diazol® 800 should be applied Feb–April when grubs are small and near the surface. Miss that window and you need a plan B. That's exactly what we're discussing today.

Plus — learn how the Horizons biosecurity team's work on Californian thistle biocontrol may also reduce porina pressure on your farm.

See you there. Questions? [email protected]