Monique Steele

Christchurch

Journalist at Radio New Zealand (RNZ)

Ōtautahi-based Journalist for Radio New Zealand's Rural News. Formerly: Today FM radio, Stuff reporter, business news reporter and Christchurch City Council.

Articles

Economic headwinds in Asia considered in Zespri's new season kiwifruit forecasts

1 week ago | rnz.co.nz | Monique Steele

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has updated its indicative forecasts for the current kiwifruit season, as its 2800 growers examine how well licensed varieties will bear fruit for them. Zespri was expecting another record crop for the 2025/26 season of around 200 million trays, more than half of which had already been shipped to global markets. Average orchard returns per hectare for this season are steady or higher for most varieties, compared to last year's.
Economic headwinds in Asia considered in Zespri's new season kiwifruit forecasts

1 week ago | radionz.co.nz | Monique Steele

Kiwifruit marketer Zespri has updated its indicative forecasts for the current kiwifruit season, as its 2800 growers examine how well licensed varieties will bear fruit for them. Zespri was expecting another record crop for the 2025/26 season of around 200 million trays, more than half of which had already been shipped to global markets. Average orchard returns per hectare for this season are steady or higher for most varieties, compared to last year's.
Hunters feeding hungry Cantabrians with tonnes of venison meat

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Monique Steele

Hunters around North Canterbury have their eyes on the target to help feed around 8000 Cantabrians in need each month with donated venison meat. Around 1014kg of minced meat was donated by Hunters4Hope to social services provider Hope Community Trust in Rangiora for distribution last week. The non-profit volunteer group collected surplus venison meat or carcasses to process into mince to donate to its longstanding charitable partner.
Fieldays 2025: Christchurch start-up turns sheepskin into collagen powder

2 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Monique Steele

A Christchurch start-up extracts proteins from sheepskin and processes them into a collagen powder for health and wellness products. Photo / RNZBy Monique Steele of RNZA Christchurch biotechnology start-up is using sheepskins diverted from waste to create a world-first collagen powder for the booming health and wellness market.
Fieldays spotlight: Christchurch start-up's sheepskin collagen powder

2 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Monique Steele

A Christchurch biotechnology start-up is using sheepskins diverted from waste to create a world-first collagen powder for the booming health and wellness market. The company, Tertiary Extracts Ōtautahi, extracted protein from sheepskin to create its branded bioactive protein Ovitage that was then processed into a collagen powder and marketed in various health products. The company was up for an early-stage innovation award at this week's Fieldays event in Waikato against more than 30 others.
New EU deforestation rules progress, despite NZ opposition

3 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Monique Steele

The new rules aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. Photo / Alan GibsonBy Monique Steele of RNZNew Zealand exporters sending wood, beef and leather products to the European Union will soon have to comply with new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. New Zealand government officials and industry opposed the approach to anti-deforestation taken by the incoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR).
New Zealand exporters try to see forest for the trees with new EU import rules

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Monique Steele

New Zealand exporters sending wood or beef and leather products to the European Union (EU) will soon have to comply with new rules that aim to reduce deforestation in the supply chain. New Zealand government officials and industry opposed the approach to anti-deforestation taken by the incoming European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), due to increased compliance costs exporters will face in proving their products have not contributed to the loss of trees.
Peas and quiet: the organic vege farmer and the cache of illegal firearms

3 weeks ago | stuff.co.nz | Poppy Clark |Hamish McNeilly |Monique Steele |Lisette Reymer

A South Otago organic farmer had a cache of illegal firearms to protect his crops – from rabbits rather than criminals. When police carried out a search warrant on March 4 at the rural lifestyle block belonging to Shaun James McVicar, 61, of Clinton, they found five firearms, more than 400 rounds of ammunition and cannabis plants and head. McVicar told police the guns were to protect his vegetables from rabbits and that the cannabis was for his own use.
Madagascar ragwort spreads in Northland, posing threat to farms

3 weeks ago | nzherald.co.nz | Monique Steele

Perennial Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis) can grow up to 50cm tall in ideal conditions, and has multiple branches, long leaves and many flowers. Photo / Supplied, Northland Regional CouncilBy Monique Steele of RNZThe Northland Regional Council and farming groups are developing a plan to try to control an invasive weed known as the “mad rag” or “fireweed”, amid fears it could spread to other regions.
Toxic 'superweed' spreading across Northland sparks concern for pastoral farming sector

3 weeks ago | rnz.co.nz | Monique Steele

The Northland regional council and farming groups are developing a plan to try to control an invasive weed known as the "mad rag" or "fireweed", amid fears it could spread to other regions and even into the South Island. Madagascar ragwort (Senecio madagascariensis) is a poisonous and sometimes fatal plant for livestock with bright yellow, daisy-like flowers, now considered widespread in the Far North particularly on cattle farms.