Nuova Zelanda

ash16frnl.jpg Grant and Jan Early. Mayfield dairy farmers Grant and Jan Early have been involved in the DairyNZ-led programme, Forages for Reduced Nitrate Leaching (FRNL), which has won an industry award.

The Ashburton Golf Club is expecting a big field for its annual Brandon Open on February 1.

ash16tinwaldpool.jpg JayJay Simon, 6, Hinarere Simon, 9, Zaylah Morunga, 11, and Mikaere Morunga, 8, (above) were among the scores of people enjoying a dip in the Tinwald Community Pool in the Tinwald Domain last weekend as the temperature around Mid Canterbury hit the high 20s.

Benechetrit asked for his banana to be peeled - the umpire had to step in.

ash16drama_gardens.jpg Big Little Theatre Company (BLTC) summer school students in playful mood at Trotts Garden on Tuesday. Imaginations have been given full rein and Trotts Garden is being used as the impressive backdrop and playground for drama students to "explore" at this year’s Big Little Theatre Company (BLTC) summer school.

After months of sightings, Stranger Things' David Harbour and Lily Allen made things red carpet official at the 26th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday.

The district's drinking, stormwater and wastewater services will be managed by Ashburton Contracting Limited (ACL) for the next five years, after the award of the treatment, network operations and maintenance contract by Ashburton District Council.

ash16swimmers_here.jpg Christchurch’s JASI swim team members and supporters at their accommodation base, the new lodge in the Tinwald Domain. Some 27 swimmers from Christchurch’s JASI swim team have been enjoying eight days of training at a summer swim school in Ashburton.

2020-01-20t000000z_372299453_rc2eje9sg4yx_rtrmadp_3_australia-drought-duststorm.jpg A dust storm approaches a farm northwest of Dubbo in New South Wales on Sunday. Photo: social media/Jason Herbig via Reuters Drought-ravaged parts of rural Australia have been hit by dust storms that threaten to drift over more heavily populated cities including Sydney, bringing a new element to the extreme weather that has dominated the country over summer.

Pendarves Young Farmers, Farm Strong and Rakaia’s Railway Tavern are hosting a Young Farmers Speed Shear event. It will be held at the tavern on January 25.

Four-year-old Stuart Pouniu (above) got a birthday treat visiting the Plains Vintage Railway & Historical Museum at the weekend.

The Mid Canterbury early childhood and primary education research team included (back row, from left) Kim Wall, Steph Hansen, Liz Depree, Anne Porter and (front, from left) Vincent Brierly and Amanda Moore. Some Mid Canterbury children moving from early childhood education centres to primary schools this year will be accompanied by unique personal profiles telling their new teachers all about them.

Kate Moss brings daughter Lila Moss to Dior Menswear show where they mingled with the Beckhams during Paris Fashion Week.

Right - Methven’s Dallas McLeod will be wearing a Crusader playing strip this season. Rugby fans will have the chance to get up close to their Crusader and All Black heroes when the Crusaders play the Hurricanes in a Super Rugby pre-season game at the Ashburton Showgrounds on Saturday.

A large shed fire has broken out in Appleby, near Nelson, with nine fire crews battling the blaze.

Tinwald School principal and part time comedian Peter Livingstone. Tinwald School principal Peter Livingstone likes nothing better than putting a smile on a face, or hearing people laugh. Stand-up comedy is his new thing, and he’s the support act for well-known comedian Ben Hurley at a gig in Methven in March.

Mid Canterbury Vintage Machinery Club president John Stewart says the latest barley straw harvest from the former Tinwald saleyards holding paddock is the best in three years. Photo Struan Christie An eight-hectare holding paddock at the former Tinwald saleyards is still paying dividends for Mid Canterbury machinery fans.

Tom Hanks has the audience in stitches with his reaction to Eugene and Dan Levy's opening monologue at the 2020 SAG Awards.

Layna Hunt is off to the World Championships of Performing Arts in America. Ashburton-grown singer and actor Layna Hunt will represent New Zealand at the talent Olympics in the USA later this year.

Seniors practising at Monday afternoon’s Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School session. The Mid Canterbury Summer Singing School is in its 20th year and this year’s singing intake is rehearsing hard ahead of three public concerts, including a special celebratory gala performance on Saturday evening.