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  1. Survey of Rural Decision Makers 2025: a vital tool in the ag-sector toolbox

    The Survey of Rural Decision Makers is the leading source of information about New Zealand’s primary sector. Conducted every 2 years, thousands of farmers, foresters, growers, and lifestyle block owners from Cape Reinga / Te Rereanga Wairua to Halfmoon Bay complete the survey.

  2. Turn and face the change: what drives primary sector risk-taking?

    The future importance of transformative adaptations in the face of climate, technological, economic and other future changes is familiar rhetoric – including in the primary sector.

  3. Transforming Pacific agriculture for a resilient future

    In April 2025 the cross-party New Zealand Government 2025 Pacific Mission visited Tonga, announcing the MFAT-funded CALM programme (Climate Smart Agriculture and Sustainable Land Management). Tonga, alongside Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Niue, and the Cook Islands, is partnering with Manaaki Whenua on the ...

  4. Separating truth from fiction in AI

    Did you see the US election images of Swifties for Trump? Hear Sir David Attenborough narrating the moment an ant falls into someone’s fish tank? Or the talkshow clip of Greta Thunberg – yes, her! – talking about vegan grenades? Unbelievable!

  5. Green streets: measuring the many benefits of urban trees

    The health, social, amenity, climate and ecosystem benefits of urban trees are well-known – from flood mitigation to carbon sequestration to air quality improvement. A view of trees from the workplace even contributes to reducing the average number of days of sick leave that people take.

  6. Hive talking: fewer winter losses in 2024 for the nation’s beekeepers

    Conducted annually since 2015, the New Zealand Colony Loss Survey is based on the survey of beekeepers developed by the international COLOSS honey bee research association.

  7. Major step forward in understanding facial eczema in livestock

    Facial eczema is a disease of livestock that causes liver damage, lowered production, skin irritation and peeling, and sometimes death. It is caused by a toxin produced primarily by the spores of a fungus growing in the dead litter at the base of pasture in warm moist conditions.

  8. Celebrating our achievements

    Celebrating the achievements of our staff

  9. Endings and new beginnings: a story of Manaaki Whenua

    On 1 July 2025, Manaaki Whenua - Landcare Research became part of the new Bioeconomy Science Institute alongside AgResearch, Plant & Food Research, and Scion. This ended a chapter in the remarkable story of science in New Zealand, which began in 1992 with the formation of the Crown Research Institut...

  10. Herding cats – the science of deterrence

    Aotearoa New Zealand has among the highest per capita ownership of domestic cats in the world, with an estimated 1.2 million nationwide. Some 41% of households own at least one cat.