New technology developed at Victoria University designed to help dairy farmers deal with effluent issues is  set to be field tested in a trial at the Taylor Preston meat company in Wellington.

The Wetex technology works by breaking down organic sludge in a pressure system, turning it into usable by-products like  water, steam, fertiliser and acetic acid.

The technology developers  say it could protect rivers and waterways by cleaning up the effluent from dairy farms and sites like the Wellington meat works.

Rural Broadband Tender Progress

The Government has received 39 expressions of interest in the first stage of the tender process for its $300 million rural broadband scheme.

Communications and Information Technology Minister Steven Joyce says interest has come from both New Zealand and international infrastructure companies.

There were also nine substantial expressions of interest covering the entire country.