MANAWATU FARMING LIFESTYLES
My point of view
MAY 2014
19
Allen Cookson
Massive population growth has a downside A talkback host said that Christchurch should grow to over a million population ‘stretching from the coast to the Southern Alps’. Overwhelmingly, callers’ responses to this were supportive of the idea. No consideration of the loss of export earnings resulting from loss of farmland sacrificed for housing! How would all these extra people be employed? Low wage manufacturing attempting to match Asian competitors? What about quality of life? A similar proposal for Auckland envisaged the city expanding to Helensville. It has been reported that the Ministry of Immigration’s plan is to boost our population to 10 million. The distinguished Chilean ecological economist Manfred Max-Neef developed the ‘threshold hypothesis’ that when an economic system grows beyond a certain size, the attendant costs exceed the benefits.
Already Auckland firms, recognising the principle, have started relocating to Hamilton. Some farmers understand the principle as it applies to their land. I doubt that Fonterra recognises it. ‘Biocapacity’ equals the area of land and water available per human/city/ country/planet to supply useful biological material to humans and absorb wastes sustainably. ‘Ecological footprint’ means the area of productive land and water needed to sustain a human/city/country/ planet at their current consumption level. Subtract ecological footprint from biocapacity. A positive answer means the country is an ‘ecological creditor’. A negative answer means an ‘ecological debtor’. New Zealand is one of the few ecological creditor countries (ecological credit 5.88 ha per person). But this is not because of low per capita ecological footprint.
Our consumption of fossil fuels is very high, mainly because of our transport. Were it not for our small population, we would be an ecological debtor country. All ecological creditor countries have small populations for their areas. The worst ecological debtor ‘country’ I have spotted in research statistics is United Arab Emirates with an ecological deficit of 9.83 ha per person. Clearly this is because of the low biocapacity of the desert and the high consumption of oil. Earth as a whole has an ecological deficit of 0.9 ha per person. Present human activity is unsustainable. What are New Zealand’s choices for our
future economy? We could continue to supply ecological debtor countries with ‘virtual land’ in the form of food and timber, preferably adding value to these products by processing them here. We could also develop and sell our skills in science, engineering, information technology, etc. In return we would import materials unavailable to us, and cheap manufactures. Or we could fill up our land with people who would consume most of the food we produce. To balance our international accounts we would have to lower wages in manufacturing and tourism and destroy our environment.
DRIVE TO THE CONDITIONS
Manawatu Rural Marketplace Dream Designs Kitchens Ltd
ROCK PICKING New Zealand’s Best Rock Picker NZ Importer and Operator
“Your dream kitchen but not a nightmare price”
Specialists in diesel systems
Kivi-PeKKa We are looking for work Book now for this season – Buyers Welcome
Cycle Tours in
Adventurous Destinations Africa, Asia & South Pacific
info@escapeadventures.co.nz www.escapeadventures.co.nz
03 525 8783
Call Now Dean 027 550 7986 Office 06 329 3900 A/h 06 323 1279 Email info@countrymachinery.co.nz
Adventurous
KITCHENS – SAVE $1000’s
Diesel fuel injection turbo chargers latest test equipment for all makes of mechanical electronic and common rail fuel system.
Mauways Nursery NOW the largest nursery in the Rangitikei! • Wholesale Prices • Direct to the Public Shop Online and EARN FREE PLANTS or call at our nursery on SH1 10km NORTH of Hunterville
www.mauways.co.nz Phone 06 322 9863 for all your • Perennials • Hostas • Grasses • Natives • Camellias • Ornamental Shrubs
Ph: (06) 358 8748
From a single door facing to a complete kitchen. we also do replacement benchtops
Mob: (021) 720 680
diesel.progress@highwaytrucks.co.nz
Web: www.ddkitchens.co.nz Email: mike@ddkitchens.co.nz
16 McGiffert Street, Palmerston North
CRAMP–STOP
2nd Hand Overalls
For Muscle Function – A Natural Approach
• Fast acting • Easy to use • Good safety profile
Use fast acting CRAMP-STOP at any time – during the night, during or after sport.
from
Spray once under the tongue and repeat in 30–60 seconds if necessary.
Order Online:
or PH 0800 620 60
www.hchformulas.com
0
CALL
$10 each
06 345 6186
250 Victoria Avenue Wanganui
TARANAKI TRUCK
MANAWATU FARMING CLASSIFIEDS
TRUCK & 4WD DISMANTLERS
For Sale
DISMANTLERS LTD
END OF MAYNE STREET, WAITARA
Phone Joe, Dave or Bruce
Ph 06 754 9006 or 0800 878 251 Email t_t_d@xtra.co.nz Fax 06 754 8966 www.taranakitruckdismantlers.co.nz
SAFETY FIRST ON THE FARM • Septic Tanks & Filters. • Quality Products & Service. • Wastewater Treatment Plants. • We Design, Manufacture, Install and Service our own • Water Tanks, Pumps & Filters NZ Made Products. • Farm Tanks / Killing Sheds. • Residential & Commercial. T 06 353 6157 F 06 353 3020 FP 0800 253 273 E andrew@wrighttanks.co.nz W www.wrighttanks.co.nz
33 MIKE DD 0800 6453
LOOK OUT FOR YOUR WORK MATES
Phone 0800 466 793
STOLEN QUAD-BIKES? You won’t find any listed here, but you can pre-empt this kind of thing happening and protect your fuel too. Visit www.parabeam.co.nz or call 0508 727 223 for more information.
Animal Health Products APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, Garlic & Manuka Honey 20L $49.95, 200L - $450 or 1000L - $2000 + GST with free delivery. Black Type Minerals Ltd. Phone 021 185 1501. www. blacktypeminerals.co.nz
Energy Efficient DO YOU LIVE IN A WINDY SPOT? 3 phase wind turbines starting at $2,200 includes 450 watt turbine, 6m pole, charge controller and inverter, Batteries not included. Ring Colin at Windpower Waikato Phone 0274 831 041 A/H 07 843 7983 Email colin@windpowerwaikato.co.nz
Farm Buildings FARM BRIDGES. Phone Pat now 0800 222 189. Visit www.bridgeitnz.co.nz. Bridge It NZ Ltd.