http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.rkurkt.org.nz en-us Sat, 09 May 2026 18:35:15 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/163616/pasture-cover-for-winter-setting-the-platform-for-the-season-ahead/ By Nick Collins As we head towards winter, pasture cover becomes one of the most important levers farmers have to set up the season ahead. Across the farms involved in the Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project, what we are seeing right now reflects just how much impact early decisions can have on winter performance and beyond.... Tue, 21 Apr 2026 11:38:54 +1200 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post163616 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/162561/the-future-of-nz-dairy-in-a-fuel-constrained-world/ By Alison DewesWe are at a pivotal time in NZ agriculture, forcing us to rethink our systems. When this is done well-production holds or improves, costs fall, emissions reduce, and the system becomes more stable. Our dairy farming is entering a new phase with rising input costs, pressure to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increasing climate variability.Its evident a shift from silo thinking to system thinking gives multiple benefits.   Better pasture   Smarter animals   ... Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:53:37 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post162561 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/161469/what-we-learned-at-the-dairynz-organic-discussion-day-at-utterly-organic/ On 25 February, our team from Rere ki uta rere ki tai - Living Soil Project attended the DairyNZ Organic Discussion Day held at Mandy and Pete Patterson’s Utterly Organic farm in the Waikato.The day brought together farmers, advisors and industry representatives to explore organic dairy systems in practice. It was an opportunity to see the system on the ground, hear directly from the farmers, and engage in open discussion about what transition and resilience really look like.Here are some of t... Fri, 06 Mar 2026 07:37:34 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post161469 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/159887/te-roroa-spring-cropping/ Trialling summer cropping on challenging soilsAt Te Roroa, the team trialled summer cropping on a very degraded paddock that had been significantly damaged through previous attempts to cultivate sandy soils. The paddock was extremely weedy, with heavy thistle pressure, and was widely considered a difficult area to recover.Despite these challenges, a summer cropping plan was developed and proposed to support both short-term feed supply and long-term soil recovery. The plan was accepted by the Far... Thu, 05 Feb 2026 13:31:14 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post159887 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/158353/introducing-our-new-structure/ As Rere ki uta rere ki tai continues to grow, so too has the need for a structure that clearly reflects who we are, how we work, and where we are heading. We have recently formalised a new structure that supports our kaupapa, strengthens governance, and creates space for future initiatives to grow alongside our flagship work.The diagram above shows how this structure now fits together.... Tue, 23 Dec 2025 11:06:13 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post158353 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/158259/vertical-grazing-growing-resilience-from-the-soil-up/ By Nick Collins, Farm Engagement LeadAt Rere ki uta rere ki tai we are always exploring practical ways to help farmers build systems that are resilient, productive, and connected to the whenua. One approach that is gaining momentum across our partner farms is vertical grazing. This method introduces edible trees and shrubs into paddocks to create living shelterbelts and hedgerows that provide up to three metres of vertical forage on each side. These systems support livestock, the soil, and the w... Fri, 19 Dec 2025 07:42:42 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post158259 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/157653/the-bloom-room-our-end-of-year-hui/ On the 25th of November we gathered online for The Bloom Room, our end of year hui for farmers and the wider Rere ki uta rere ki tai – Living Soil Project team. Although we were meeting through screens, the feeling in the room was warm, open, and full of connection. This hui was designed to close out the year together, celebrate progress, acknowledge challenges, and share honest reflections from across the kaupapa.Opening and reflections from the yearKiri opened the evening and set the tone fo... Mon, 08 Dec 2025 13:54:14 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post157653 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/156601/summer-resilience-on-farm-key-priorities-to-protect-stock-pasture-and-infrastructure/ With more extreme temperatures on the way, slightly lower stocking rates, and more trees across our landscapes, there are plenty of upsides, but the risks still need managing. Water, heat stress, fire, and disease all become bigger challenges as conditions warm up. The recent fire near Pōrangahau was a reminder of what may become more frequent as summers intensify.Summer is arriving with its usual unpredictability: long heat waves, sudden downpours, humidity spikes, and growing fire danger. Thi... Tue, 25 Nov 2025 15:53:06 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post156601 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/156001/a-year-in-review-rere-ki-uta-rere-ki-tai-living-soil-project/ As we mark the first full year of the Rere ki uta rere ki tai – Living Soil Project, we are taking a moment to reflect on how far we have come and what we have learned along the way.Our kaupapa continues to connect people, place, and practice, weaving together science, Mātauranga Māori, and farmer knowledge to restore the mana and mauri of our soils.Our Growing NetworkThis year, we welcomed 12 farms into the project, including 7 Māori-owned (5 iwi-owned) and 5 non-Māori farms, representing... Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:32:22 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post156001 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/post/156000/whakangungu-reconnecting-farmers-with-ancestral-knowledge/ When LJ and Freda from Te Roroa joined the first Whakangungu wānanga led by Te Aho Tu Roa, they stepped into a space that went beyond learning. It was a reconnection.The workshop was attended and facilitated by our team member Kiri Reihana, who supported the session as part of the Rere ki uta rere ki tai – Living Soil Project.This wānanga, grounded in Te Ao Māori frameworks of understanding, explores how ancestral knowledge, language, and environment are woven together. For farmers, it open... Tue, 11 Nov 2025 08:11:50 +1300 http://www.rkurkt.org.nz/blog/#post156000