Press release
January 28, 2002
Fencepost.com celebrates a smart new look and big improvements for users
New Zealand's leading agricultural website has just got even better. Fencepost.com has undergone a major revamp which
includes a new look, smart new ways of finding information and now provides on-line milk information for 97 per cent of
New Zealand dairy farmers.
“Since launching in August 2000, Fencepost.com has grown to become one of the biggest sites in New Zealand," says Mike
Ryan, acting chief executive officer for Fencepost.com.
“Over that time we've seen a four-fold increase in our on-line tools and services. There are some tremendous features on
the site, but many of our users haven't been aware of all of them because they haven't been obvious. The revamp is all
about letting our users know about all our features - and ensuring they can access them quickly and easily.”
The key change users will notice is a handy new navigation bar which runs down the left hand side of the home page and
clearly lists all the main tools and services.
"Now, rather than loading several pages to find what they want, users can glance down the navigation bar and with one
click go exactly where they want to go," says Mike Ryan.
"Finding your way around the site involves fewer page downloads so it's faster and easier. Users now have instant access
to everything from the latest news and weather information to milk data, market prices, on-line livestock trading,
discussion groups and a raft of farm production tools.”
The single click access is particularly important for rural users battling with slow telephone lines.
"One of the biggest problems faced by our customers is frustratingly slow internet access. We have always worked hard to
provide easy access and rapidly downloading pages but the latest design is even more advanced because the navigation
system requires fewer page downloads. Users can now get to where they want in a single click.”
The site revamp involved a marathon effort over the Christmas period changing 1400 web pages to incorporate the new menu
and navigation system as well as ensuring each individual page has the same look and feel. Around 97 per cent of New
Zealand dairy farmers can now check their milk figures on-line every day to assist them with quality control, farm
management and budgeting information.
"One of Fencepost's goals is to help farmers achieve the industry's annual four per cent increase in productivity and
one of the best ways we can do that is through our on-line farm management tools," says Mike Ryan. As part of its
commitment to users, Fencepost has recently formed several alliances with on-line partners to provide new services
including:
"Forestry. Fencepost has partnered with Woodmetrics, a Carter Holt Harvey-owned business which acts as an independent
agent to represent the interests of forest owner. Woodmetrics manages everything from resource consent, inventory,
mapping, harvest planning, tender negotiations and harvest management.
"Real Estate. Fencepost has teamed up with a new rural real estate alliance made up of 15 independent real estate
agencies which cover the length and breadth of the country and have come together under the name New Zealand Realtors
Association Ltd. On-line listings of rural properties throughout the country can now be viewed through Fencepost.com.
"Motel accommodation. Farmers can now access a comprehensive range of motel accommodation on-line, thanks to a joint
initiative between Fencepost.com and the Motel Association of New Zealand (MANZ). Monthly motel specials will be made
available through Fencepost.com and MANZ will provide on-line information about more than 450 motels spread across the
length and breadth of the country.
Fencepost acting chief executive officer Mike Ryan says the overall aim of the changes are to make things better for
both new and existing users.
"Fencepost.com has been a market leader since our launch in August 2000 and these advances are going to exceed the
expectations of our users.”
For more information, visit www.fencepost.com.
Released for Fencepost.com by pead pr
For further information contact Mike Ryan Deborah Pead
Acting chief executive officer pead pr
Fencepost.com
Email: mike.ryan@nzfencepost.com Email: deborah @peadpr.co.nz