Sally Murphy

Jan 7, 2025 | rnz.co.nz | Sally Murphy

A better crop of Central Otago cherries should result in higher profits for growers this season. They are over a month into the harvest with about another three weeks to go. Central Otago Fruit Growers Association chair Kris Robb said the quality of cherries this season is really high. "We've had a mixed bag of weather and there are a few micro climates so yields vary from orchard to orchard but overall this season is looking significantly better than last season.

Dec 3, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Sally Murphy

The Associate Agriculture minister says it's beyond disappointing Kāinga Ora isn't putting wool carpet into new state houses. Kāinga Ora has released a request for proposal for companies to provide carpet and underlay for its state homes but it specifically says no wool. At the end of last year the government directed government agencies to prefer the use of woollen fibres where practical and appropriate, rather than artificial fibres in government buildings.

Nov 3, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Sally Murphy

A new company is hoping to create a coffee alternative from a native New Zealand plant. Zoffee founder and chief executive Jack Keeys says the idea first came to him a few years ago when he read an article from the 1870s about the Coprosma plant. It talked about its great economic potential and interesting properties - but further research showed nothing had happened since.

Oct 30, 2024 | sunlive.co.nz | Sally Murphy

The pipfruit industry has begun a five-year project to find new and more effective ways to control bronze beetle. The native beetle chews through growing fruitlets leaving apples unsuitable for harvesting and eating. Apples and Pears New Zealand is investing $598,370 into a five-year project to develop and trial new biocontrol products and to evaluate the effectiveness of a lure to attract and trap females through the use of male pheromones.

Oct 29, 2024 | rnz.co.nz | Sally Murphy

The pip fruit industry has began a five year project to find new and more effective ways to control bronze beetle. The native beetle chews through growing fruitlets leaving apples unsuitable for harvesting and eating. Apples and Pears New Zealand is investing $598,370 into a five year project to develop and trial new biocontrol products, and to evaluate the effectiveness of a lure to attract and trap females through the use of male pheromones.