This discussion paper records both the formal papers and the group discussions of a two day symposium on rural research needs held at Lincoln College on the 7-8 July, 1987. The papers cover many aspects of rural economy and society, and the group discussions point to important research needs. Topics considered important for research were: rural decline, deteriorating urban and rural relationships, coping with change, rural powerlessness, low farm and rural income, and the use and bias in information. Solutions put forward included: revamping Federated Farmers, fostering work and school exchanges, education programmes for major life changes, devolving decision making to the regions, research into international consumer food preferences, and promoting to the media affirmative action for rural New Zealand. This discussion paper includes the full text of the following papers: Richard Le Heron, Global processes and local adjustments: understanding changes in food and fibre production in New Zealand; Ralph Lattimore, New Zealand farming in an increasingly interdependent world; Pat Devlin, New land uses: a search for land use satisfactions; Mary Gray, Trends and problems in rural social service delivery; Robin Johnson, Government influence – past, present and future; L. Tim Wallace, Agricultural futures; Neville Bennet, Primary producing countries and the modern world economy: a case study in international dynamics; Roberta Hill, Meat industry restructuring and technology; Robyn Grigg, Changing roles of women; Trevor Howse, The land, the Maori, and his economic base yesterday; L. Tim Wallace, Introduction to group discussions: the problem solving process