Why rural New Zealand can’t afford to stand still

Opinion byAidan GentNZ Herald·22 Jul, 2026 11:05 PM5 mins to readAidan Gent is general manager, rural at ASBFarming’s next growth phase depends on productivity and resilience, says Aidan Gent, general manager, rural at ASB.Look around a farm, and you’ll often see the history of innovation all around you. Old sheds and buildings tell the story of an industry that has always evolved and adapted, embracing new technology and ways of working. On my own farm, the old walk-through cowshed is now a hayshed