Agriculture Minister backs AgTech push at NSW Farmers conference
A free AgTech training platform and drone rules featured on Day 1 of the NSW Farmers conference.
North West AFL sides shine at Northern NSW Championship and Regional Australia Bank Cup
North West AFL players have spent the past week representing their region across two major carnivals, with junior sides competing at the Northern NSW Championship in Coffs Harbour before senior teams took the field for the Regional Australia Bank Cup.
Seven charged in New England firearms and drug investigation
Seven people have been charged following a police investigation into the alleged supply of stolen firearms and drugs across the New England region.
The Haven Floristry & Giftware blossoms to win Best Florist
The combination of beautiful flowers and a powerful community purpose resonated strongly with voters.
Local News
Rebecca Reardon new President of NSW Farmers
Moree farmer Rebecca Reardon has been elected unopposed as the new President of the NSW Farmers Association at the Annual General Conference.
Myers part of Australian first on world stage
An Armidale music teacher just helped make history in the Netherlands, becoming part of the first Australian band ever to crack the World Music Contest’s elite division.
Changing of the guard as hundreds of farmers gather to chart NSW agriculture’s future
A New England president departs and another local is tipped to take the chair, as farmers converge on Sydney to fight over renewables, water, drought, and the future of farming.
KE Photography captures Best Photographer title
From newborns to weddings, family portraits and milestone celebrations, thousands of treasured New England memories have passed through Kate Dhu’s lens.
What's On
Best Accountant in the New England?
Tax time doesn’t have to be stressful. Who makes the numbers easy to understand? Which is the best Accountant in the New England?
Events
Tingha Community MarketsEnds: August 1, 2026
Sapphire City MarketsEnds: August 2, 2026- Sapphire City MarketsEnds: August 16, 2026
Stained Glass Art WorkshopEnds: August 30, 2026- Tingha Community MarketsEnds: September 5, 2026
Politics
Coalition cherry-picks corporate insolvency to spruik payroll tax policy
The NSW Coalition says insolvencies prove Labor is failing business. The same data shows collapses actually fell last year. So which figure tells the real story?
The causes of bad numbers: culture and politics
In this final part of our New England Times investigation by RK Crosby, we look at two known forces that corrupt the numbers: culture and politics.
Squadron stops work on Boorolong wind farm as neighbouring Origin project pushes on
Squadron has quietly walked away from its Boorolong wind farm near Armidale, while Origin’s project next door pushes on. The transmission line the Coalition says they won’t build is right in the middle of it.
$2.7 million disaster threshold plan an “insult” to small councils
Damage to your whole town, still miss out on funding: that’s the risk if Canberra’s disaster threshold triples to $2.7 million. Barwon MP Roy Butler says it’s “an insult” to small councils.
NSW extends consultation on Crown land bill after land rights warning
Consultation has been extended on a Crown land bill after Aboriginal land councils said amendments were dropped too late to properly consult with the network. The Law Society wants a key clause scrapped entirely.
Aussie farmers and the new ballad of the virtual drover
After centuries of moving stock around on horseback or motorbike, farmers across much of Australia can now opt to use an app to manage their herds.
Wee Waa Show set to celebrate 90th event this August
The Wee Waa Show Society is putting the finishing touches on its 90th show, with the gates set to open on Friday, 14 August and Saturday, 15 August.
Energy and Environment
Armidale community invited to help shape future water services
Armidale Regional Council is inviting residents to help shape future water, wastewater and stormwater services through community consultation now.
Confusion surrounds new forest carbon credit method as opposition comes from all sides
Farmers say it’s unfair. Green groups call it a scam. The government calls it rigorous. A new forest carbon credit scheme has almost everyone disagreeing, just not about the same thing.
BUSINESS HIGHLIGHT >
From open homes to open hearts: Professionals Armidale’s community BBQ making a difference
A real estate agency might not be the first place you’d expect to find a community fundraising program, but Professionals Armidale is quietly becoming as well known for its local giving as…
Is your IT structured? Or just functioning?
Many regional businesses only review their IT support when problems escalate. But more businesses are reassessing how their technology systems are managed, and the story of what happened to Acacia Medical tells…
BUSINESS
D&J Assisted Technology takes the first Best IT Service title
New category, first time winner, and the first win for Inverell in BITNE2026!
INDIGENOUS
New initiative puts Aboriginal communities in the driver’s seat of licensing support
Transport for NSW is launching an Australian-first program training Aboriginal driving instructors to expand culturally safe licensing support statewide.
SPORT
TAS students shine on national and world stage
While most students spent the school holidays relaxing, these TAS students were busy winning national and international titles in rugby, hockey and rowing.
On engage now
Engage is our hub for opinion, letters, comments and ideas.
- Chaffey’s Corner: Councils’ shoestring budgets hanging on by a thread
In his latest newsletter, Member for Parkes Jamie Chaffey says Councils are struggling to provide the necessities for their communities. The post Chaffey’s Corner: Councils’ shoestring budgets hanging on by a thread appeared first on New England Times Engage.
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Good News
80 student volunteers to descend on Uralla, Deepwater for The Big Lift
Eighty student volunteers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will arrive in Uralla on Tuesday, 7 July, as part of The Big Lift’s 2026 Winter Trip across regional New South Wales and Queensland.
Peter Allen honoured with Blue Plaque at Armidale Folk Museum
An Armidale boy who grew up to become one of Australia’s most celebrated entertainers has been honoured with a Blue Plaque at the newly renovated Armidale Folk Museum.
