Northern Farming Lifestyles, April 2016

Northern

FARMING Lifestyles

April 2016 Edition

33,200 copies DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga

On the right path

P4

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All creatures great and small Pages 18–19

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

A strong comeback

The Northern Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned New Zealand company.

Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 • Fax: 09 439 6930 Email: info@nsmm.co.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: Lifestyler House, 107 River Road, Dargaville General Manager: Deb Wright | 021 639 9633 Editorial: Graphic Design: Paul Campbell Jessica Wright Andy Bryenton Gavin Bainbridge Ann Morgan James Menzies Ayla Miller Callum McDonald Dylan Hansen Advertising: Betty Willetts Production: Lorriane Allardyce Vivian Webb Lara Ozkan Accounts: accounts@nsmm.co.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: northernfarming.co.nz

LIC’s Jersey Premier Sires bulls have cemented their position at the top of the national Jersey Ranking of Active Sires list.

Northern Farming Lifestyles Distribution area

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This is good news for dairy farmers who prefer to get their Jersey inseminations from their farmer-owned co-operative. Among a range of positive statistics on the Jersey RAS list, LIC has all of the top five bulls. It also has eight of the top 10, and 11 of the top 15 bulls on the Jersey RAS list. Of the 11, nine are new graduates which illustrates the change in LIC’s momentum.

“In these economically challenging times for dairy farmers, LIC’s Jersey Premier Sires bulls offer exceptional quality and value for money,” said LIC Jersey Bull Acquisition Manager, Malcolm Ellis.

“As a dairy farmer myself who is passionate about farm profitability, and particularly at times like these, I want farmers to have the confidence that Jersey Premier Sires will give them the best value, at around $19 in the cow for a 400 cow herd for the average farmer.

“The Premier Sires liquid semen is the most cost-effective way to provide genetic gain to our farmer-shareholders.

They can be confident the majority of the industry’s top Jersey bulls are now within the LIC Premier Sires team,” said Mr Ellis.

LIC has now had the top five Jersey bulls on the Jersey RAS list for the last three consecutive Animal Evaluation runs. The RAS list ranks the bulls from all the companies that provide inseminations to dairy farmers nationwide. The latest list was released on Saturday, April 2. The list is administered by the industry-good organisation DairyNZ. LIC will be holding Jersey field days for farmers to share the latest information, give updates on its Jersey breeding programme and explain related aspects including LIC’s new Once a Day Selection Index.

There will be seven field days in total across five regions — Northland,

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Mr Ellis said LIC has improved the performance of its Jersey bulls significantly over the past five years, with a focussed programme of work.

“We have brought a return to basics mentality to our breeding scheme and put a lot of emphasis on strong, deep cow families and our bulls are graduating from that. We have had a significant fundamental shift in quality and we will continue to develop that for the good of our farmer-shareholders.”

“It was positive that so many new graduates are appearing on the RAS list because it confirms that LIC was focussing on the right things in its breeding programme.

“We are pleased our hard work in this area is paying off. The benefits of the quality of LIC’s top Jersey bulls will flow on to farmers who invest in inseminations from LIC Premier Sires Jerseys and confirm the Jersey breed’s status as a genuine parent breed with a great deal to offer the industry.”

Dairy farmers are encouraged to attend LIC’s Jersey field days. The Northland field days are on Tuesday, 26 April at 10.30am at Murray and Jodeen Cutforths, Hikurangi, and also on 26 April, 7.30pm at the Commercial Hotel, 75 River Road, Dargaville.

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The Ministry for Primary Industries has imposed tough new border restrictions to stop contaminated seed from entering New Zealand.

The move follows the discovery of velvetleaf in fodder beet seeds imported from Europe. MPI, industry bodies and regional councils are currently responding to an outbreak of the invasive weed in farm properties across the country.

“We already have strong border controls in place to stop contaminated seed from entering New Zealand. The new interim measures will provide another layer of biosecurity until we know exactly how the contaminated fodder beet seeds entered the country,” says MPI Manager Import and Export Plants, Stephen Butcher.

The new, strengthened interim measures are: • An import ban on all fodder beet seed lines known to be contaminated with velvetleaf; • The requirement for sign-off by one of MPI’s two chief technical officers before all other fodder beet seed can be released at the border; Subjecting all pelleted seed imports (not just fodder beet) to laboratory testing for contaminants, rather than solely using visual inspection by quarantine officers.

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“The measures will result in the increased scrutiny of seed imports, and they will ensure this scrutiny takes place at the highest level of MPI, based on specialist advice,” says Mr Butcher.

MPI will also visit fodder beetgrowing regions in Europe during the coming growing season to inform future decisions about New Zealand import requirements.

“We want to review the certification systems that countries use to assure New Zealand that imported seed is free of contaminants.”

He says that permanent changes to New Zealand’s seed importing requirements will be introduced following further investigation of the velvetleaf outbreak and consultation with industry.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

On the right path

by Ayla Miller

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Farming is often an isolated venture, so when Dennis and Rachelle O’Callaghan were named the Supreme winners of the 2016 Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards, it was verification that they were on the right track.

he Taipa sheep and beef farmers run the 610 hectare Temataa Station in Doubtless Bay, which they purchased off Rachelle’s father 16 years ago after moving from Dennis’ family farm in Taihape.

They run an intensive beef system that covers 400 hectares and utilises both Technosystem laneways and

cellular systems stocked with breeding cows, young bulls and two-year bulls.

“The award is an affirmation from our peers and the farming community that what we are working so hard to do is the right thing. A lot of the time farmers work in isolation and don’t really get feedback so we view the awards as a very positive thing,” says Rachelle.

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Dennis has been farming most of his life and is passionate about getting maximum return out of his pastures They were also presented with the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, the Beef and Lamb New Zealand Livestock Award and the WaterForce Integrated Management Award. Rachelle says part of their motivation to care for their land is to protect it for future generations and their son has indicated he may want to farm it too one day.

“It is about leaving the land better than when you found it. I think every generation that has lived here has done their bit,” she says.

In the future Dennis and Rachelle want to continue to learn about how to maximise efficient pastures and have been taking note of techniques used by dairy farmers.

“When dairy prices crashed Dairy NZ said the average farmer could improve their pasture production by one tonne per annum if they managed their pasture rotation length and pasture management better,” says Dennis.

“A lightbulb went on in my head. If they can improve their pasture production by a whole tonne, then there is potential for us to improve ours too, if we get things right. Of course we can’t transfer the processes straight across but some

of the skills dairy farmers have we can adapt to our system.

“There’s huge potential there for us to increase our production by learning from the lessons they have learnt instead of trying to reinvent the wheel.”

Dennis says being able to adapt your processes to suit your farm is a critical aspect of running a successful farm, along with being open to new ideas. When you enter the awards, every time you are judged you are

given feedback about what you can do to improve your business so it is very worthwhile entering.

“I like the challenges of farming. It is constantly changing and evolving, bringing up new challenges. Every season is different and no two seasons are the same. You can’t farm the same every year — you have to adapt.”

A BFEA Supreme-winner field day will be held on Temataa Station on May 5, 2016.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

THE TREASURE OF THE SEA

by Ann Morgan

In the early 1990s teachers, Jill Bradley and her husband Keith Atwood, spent long Summer holidays visiting organic farms across New Zealand.

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t was life changing for the couple for a number of reasons including tasting great food and discovering the value of seaweed.

“It was a hot, wet, fungal summer and most farms were having problems with issues such as botrytis in strawberries and facial eczema on cattle but one farm was not having trouble,” said Jill.

“This property belonged to a German couple and their farm was exceptional with no health problems with soil, plants, pasture or animals. Their major farm input was seaweed.”

After that trip Jill and Keith committed personally to investigating the value seaweed has and growing organic food for their family.

“In those days not one organic input was to be found in any garden store. We

were living in Auckland with a beautiful garden and large grounds, but were reliant on high chemical inputs.

“We researched seaweed internationally to discover who uses it, what it is good for and how it was used. Seaweed worldwide are loosely categorised by colour — red, green and brown. The brown category was the one widely used in agriculture and horticulture.”

In the 1940s in New Zealand 500 different seaweed species were known and over 65 per cent were native to the country.

“Today we know more than 800 species. We trialled different New Zealand brown species until we identified the premium one — Ecklonia radiata. Keith brewed and I grew — only

Tane Bradley with his parents Jill and Keith, the founders of Agrisea

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

then did we begin to learn the real value of seaweed.

“We were founding members of the Seaweed Association of New Zealand, an organisation set up in 1994 with two major aims — to protect the marine coastal eco-system, and to build a longterm sustainable seaweed industry for the country.

“Seaweed is the most complex material containing minerals, vitamins, growth promotants, trace elements, amino acids — it is a nutrient ‘feast’, a smorgasbord for soil biology, plant and animal health.

“Our own property was changing and thriving. We had eight Golden Queen peach trees that had leaf curl and brown rot so severe not one peach was edible.

We treated the drip lines with seaweed.

By season two the disease had halved and we treated them with soil and foliar.

In season three we had eight healthy trees with wonderful crops. The ‘secret’ to seaweed was and still is simply — high nutrition.

“We read that famous rosarian, Allen G Scott, was trying to save old roses around a church in Morrinsville.

We sent our seaweed to him and they thrived. Rose growers and gardeners started visiting and asking for liquid seaweed concentrates.

“Finally a Hawke’s Bay orchardist rang for two 200 litre drums for his apple orchard after his wife had used it on her garden. This compelled us to produce and sell to others.

“We registered a company called Ocean Organics Ltd in 1996 and our certified organic seaweed products were appreciated by gardeners.”

Moving to the Hauraki Plains they purchased the old butter factory in Paeroa where products including comfrey sprays to induce flowering, garlic spray and creams, and soaps with seaweed for humans were developed.

“Kiwifruit people began to make enquiries and we took this very seriously and commissioned three years of research across five kiwifruit orchards to assess the effects of AgriSea seaweed.

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longer storage capacity and 150 per cent increase in worms and larger fruit size,” said Jill.

“Avocado, vineyard and dairy farmers came to us and we felt a huge responsibility to growers who depended on their land.

“In 2003 our son, Tane, did market research on dairy farmers’ perception of the word ‘organic’. It was extremely negative so on advice from business experts we created AgriSea New Zealand Ltd. This removed the word ’organics’ from any company indicators.” Liquid seaweed concentrates for soil, foliar/ pasture, seaweed salt blocks, and seaweed pellets were then developed.

Jill and Keith have now handed over the reins to Tane and daughter-inlaw, Clare.

“One of their aims is to increase exports once a safe management framework for seaweed is in place. Tane and Clare are as committed to research as we were.”

In April, Dr. Christine Jones, an internationally renowned soil ecologist who works with innovative farmers world-wide, will move to Paeroa to take up the position of AgriSea Head of Research to develop a ‘Soils First Production System’.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Puketotara Landcare Group is one of many farming communities around New Zealand aiding in the protection and preservation of kiwi.

percent per year. They are especially vulnerable when they are juveniles, so our aim is to get them over one kilogram so they may have a better chance for survival.

“Stoats, ferrets, feral cats, weasels and dogs are the main predators of kiwi and other native bird species such as the kereru. Possums, rats and hedgehogs also present a threat as they compete for resources. An integrated pest management approach is what we use to reduce the numbers and the most effective way to accomplish this is by trapping” he says.

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ith a collaboration of 14 landowners between Kerikeri and Puketi Forest, the group has successfully increased the estimated number of kiwi within the area.

“We have dairy farms, sheep and beef farms and a number of lifestyle block owners making up 1,800 hectares of land and working together to promote the health of the kiwi population.

The main objective to achieve this is predator control,” says coordinator Andrew Mentor.

“Five years ago we started the initiative because of the rapidly declining numbers of brown kiwi with the population facing a reduction of four

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KIWI NUMBERS ARE ON THE RISE THANKS TO THE EFFORTS OF CONSCIENTIOUS FARMERS

interest in a kiwi. “Any dog can kill a kiwi day or night therefore owners keeping their dog under control is key to preventing this.”

Puketotara Landcare Group’s success can be observed by the number of pests removed from the area, and also by call monitoring every June.

“In the beginning, an average of eight kiwi calls per hour were recorded.

Now we are up to fourteen. We report trapping and call count monitoring results to the Northland Regional Council and Kiwis for Kiwi. Our group is also part of the Kiwi Coast initiative with up to 60 community groups doing predator control from Whangarei Heads up to Hihi.

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block owners running trap lines, and we are continually adding members from outside the original area who are beginning to take care of pest control on their own properties.

“We are currently looking at expanding to 6,000 hectares, bringing Landcorp, three more dairy farms, two sheep and beef farms and more lifestyle blocks onboard.

“Education is important for the preservation of kiwi. We run trappertraining days for interested landowners and every year we have visits from Auckland University’s environmental students. Some groups go into schools to teach children about conservation and the importance of pest control.

“Our hope for the future is to see kiwi not just survive, but thrive. Where

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there is no predator control we will see less and less of them, because as the adults die off, there will be no young to replace them.

“Many farmers feel that conservation is an important part of farming in New Zealand and that the two can go handin hand. We make an effort to plant up stream banks to improve water quality, keep stock out of waterways and remove pest plants to improve the health of the forest” says Andrew.

“Because of the impact they have on kiwi, it is important to keep the pest eradication movement going. As soon as you stop and the momentum is lost, it is the kiwi population that suffers.

After all, just because they are here today, it does not mean they will be here for future generations.”

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New markets new opportunities

In my last article I wrote about fixing free nitrogen from the atmosphere to help reduce your on farm cost factors. This nitrogen is completely natural, stores well in the soil for release on demand, has no cost factor, is environmentally friendly and promotes clover growth.

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Gaining all the benefits she provides like sunlight, rain, oxygen, hydrogen, carbon in the form of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, micro-organisms, worms, enzymes and the list goes on. In a live, living soil, your farm will attract more moisture, your healthy pasture and plants will absorb more sunlight (photosynthesis) and your soil will store more mineral and more water. This system transfers on into the environment, increasing the wildlife, bee populations and frog population, that’s when we really begin working with Mother Nature on a full time basis — it’s magic!

The biodiversity of nature is important to each and every one of us cohabitating on this planet. We need to preserve and look after the whole environment, where farms and production units are all part

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There is no need to stop farming; our planet is a great provider. However there is a real and urgent need to farm more sustainably with a natural production system like Agrissentials where our best on earth fertilisers do not cause erosion of top soil, nor water pollution. With only a minor change in food production methods, we can turn this whole situation around.

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11

New hope for long-term back pain sufferers

After over eight years in New Zealand, Inversion Therapy has now gained a reputation for success with long-term sufferers of back pain.

After over eight years in New Zealand, Teeter Hang-Ups have now gained a reputation for success with long-term sufferers of back pain. Inversion New Zealand was started eight years ago by Dave and Nancy Hare, Dave had suffered over twenty years of back pain from Degenerated Discs and had basically given up and decided to just live with it. "To me surgery was never an option" he said" as long as I still could walk, there was hope" Dave had tried everything; every time he was overseas he would search for anything that could possibly help. While on one of these overseas trips eight years ago, Dave discovered the Teeter Hang-Ups. "The first time I tried it the pain disappeared and I was completely pain free for about 30 minutes, nothing had done that" he told me. Dave never believed it would fix him, "as specialists had told me it was irreversible", "I now knew I had a place to go every time I wanted some serious relief".

To Dave's surprise the more he used the table the longer the pain stayed away, until after nearly three months he was completely pain free, "I couldn't believe it" he told me "I had spent large amounts of money on every form of treatment available and here was something I had never heard of sorting it out for me in a very short period of time" It was then Dave decided to introduce Teeter into New Zealand

and Inversion NZ was born.

Come along to either the Helensville Back Pain Expo at the War Memorial Hall, 49 Commercial Rd, Helensville; Saturday 7th & Sunday 8th May – 10am till 4pm OR the Hutchwilco Boat Show at the ASB Showgrounds, Greenlane, stand 512 – 12th to 15th May 2016

Over the years INZ have helped thousands of people get some serious relief and have seen results in not only backs, but necks, hips, knees, posture, circulation, increased height, blood pressure and lots more. "We have testimonials from people with over fifty years of back problems and even have them in a number of schools in New Zealand for their special needs children" he told me, "the blood to the brain helps these kids and the results are excellent".

What this means for the aging population is that it helps maintain the heath of the brain as we all get older.

TESTIMONIAL DEAR DAVE AND NANCY In 2008 I had been living with serious lower back pain for many years due to two discs with serious degeneration and was scheduled for a double spinal fusion at a cost of $48,000. The specialist had recommended many lifestyle changes including changing my profession, which was not practical as I own my own business.

At the Waikato Home Show I experienced a demonstration on a Teeter Inversion Table by Dave and Nancy Hare. To me the effect was amazing, I actually experienced some serious relief which lasted for an hour or two; I was told that the relief would last longer with time as long as I used the table regularly, so with the surgery scheduled for 12 weeks time, having nothing to lose and a lot to gain I purchased a Teeter. Four years on I still use my table on a daily basis, my back is as strong as ever with very little or completely no pain, I am still at my same profession and working as hard as ever and most importantly I did not have the surgery.

I consider the purchase of my Teeter has been one of my greatest investments, not only has it enabled me to avoid serious and costly surgery, it has kept me in my profession and it has brought my health back.

Dave and his son Tyler will be attending the show; Tyler (17) had been around the shows since he was 8 and has seen for himself the amazing transformations the table has given people. " Tyler loves doing the shows and has picked up a great understanding of how the Teeter works, it's a pleasure working with him".

Dave told me that he realised that, had he not tried the Teeter for himself he would still be suffering, "I would still be a miserable grumpy bugger, living with pain" that is why we do the shows, people need to try it for themselves" he told me "most people actually get off with the pain either gone or considerably less" he said "we let the tables do the talking".

Thank you very much for the opportunity.

Very best regards Frank Harwood (84) of Turangi using his Teeter, Frank has been inverting for seven years and has found it keeps him young

IT IS PURE LOGIC AS TO HOW THE TEETER INVERSION TABLE WORKS. The Teeter Inversion Table works on three levels: Discs, Muscles and Posture.

Discs: It uses Gravity to apply traction, the traction gently opens the discs and as they open up they create suction, this suction draws fluid from the surrounding tissue back into the discs, rehydrating them. This is the key! Discs do not have their own blood supply, the rely on transfer of fluid from the surrounding tissue to keep them healthy and hydrated and over the years as discs get thinner with age, they lose the ability to take on fluid (just like squeezing a sponge) and they start to dehydrate.

Dehydrated discs are less flexible, they are harder, more prone to injury, they interfere with nerve roots creating pain and ultimately the dehydration causes degeneration. The Teeter Inversion table slowly and gently brings the hydration back into the discs, plumping them up. This brings back lost height (most people will regain around 2 CM of height), it separates the nerve roots a lot more effectively and returns quality of life.

Muscles: A lot of Pain is Muscular, when muscles are stressed they become tight which restricts the flow of blood and lymph through the muscle so toxins build up, Co2 and Lactic Acid. A reverse stretch opens up the muscles and there is a treatment on the table, which is called Rhythmic traction, which is a gentle rocking motion. This stimulates circulation and encourages blood flow through the muscles, which clears the lactic acid into your lymph system where it stimulates lymph flow and deals with it. Most people with serious neck issues see a large improvement after only one treatment.

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Trying to correct posture is extremely difficult due to muscle memory as it constantly pulls the muscles to where they want to be. At a level of 40 degrees or more on the Teeter, the muscle groups open up and slowly come back into alignment, using the table daily, at least once a day, does not allow the memory to pull the muscles out of alignment and slowly the muscles start to lose their memory and go with the flow, allowing the body to slowly come back into correct posture. Then using the table once a day will ensure it is kept there.

This is not rocket science, it is just pure logic, if a machine is out of alignment it does not last long, the only difference between the body and a machine is the body is constantly repairing itself, however if the wear and tear on the body is greater than the body’s ability to repair itself, it is a slow decline.

The Teeter slowly brings the body out of its decline and allows the body to repair itself resulting in a far healthier life.

IF YOU SUFFER FROM BACK OR NECK PAIN THEN COME ALONG TO

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BACK or NECK PAIN?

Posture: Poor posture is one of the major cases of pain and is a major contributor to the deterioration of the body with age. A difference in leg length causes most of the hip and knee issues, as they continue to place uneven loads on the joints; much in the same way as the misalignment of your wheels on your car, they eventually wear away the wheel bearings.

If you are serious about health and really sorting come see us at one of have nothing to lose and a lot to gain.

Paul Gordon

your out, you are

Show Specials Bring this ad along for a free treatment

In 2006, a three and a half year medical study using the Teeter Hang-Ups was completed in the Regional Neuroscience Centre at Newcastle General Hospital. It was conducted by one of the UK’s leading Neurosurgeons and authorities on back care and it was found that Inversion Therapy reduced the need for spinal surgery for Sciatica by 77% compared to 22% with traditional methods of treatment.

We will set the table to the relaxing angle of 20 degrees, which gently relieves the pressure on your spine and leaves you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

Inversion helps to: • • • •

Relieve Back Pain Relieve Neck Pain Relieve Muscle Tension Stimulate Blood and Lymph Flow • Improve Posture • Increase Flexibility • Reduce the Effects of Aging caused by Gravity

After eight years in NZ there are now thousands of people using the Teeter Hang-Ups to dispel the last of any doubts that these really do work. If you suffer from Back or Neck Pain or simply just want to age healthily, bring this ad along for a free 10 minute treatment. “I promise that you will be pleasantly surprised!”

Inversion NZ Ltd

0800 62 62 83 www.inversionnz.co.nz

HELENSVILLE BACK PAIN EXPO War Memorial Hall, 49 Commercial Rd, Helensville Sat 7th - Sun 8th May 2016, 10am - 4pm

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12

April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

FOR A WARMER WINTER Simple ways to winter warmth While thousands of New Zealand homes have taken a step up in the living environment stakes, with government-subsidised insulation programmes, winter still means colder temperatures and higher heating costs.

But there are some simple steps towards more comfortable living in cooler weather and one to start with is closing curtains each night.

Radiant energy gathered through windows during the daylight hours can be held within during the early hours of darkness, before a warm bed and a hot water bottle or electric blanket fills the bill. Close your curtains and lower blinds immediately after dusk. They also add

insulation and reduce draughts. Walls are better insulators than glass but they still get cold and let out lots of heat. And believe it or not, you can reduce energy loss by covering them with pictures or mirrors. Even a simple poster adds an extra layer of insulating air, raising internal surface temperatures by around 1°C and cutting lost energy by a quarter.

It’s perhaps a modern twist on the tapestries that used to line the walls

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of stone castles to keep out the chill in ancient times.

And another hint — well stocked bookshelves are a great insulator. One interior designer quips that thermally at least, printed books are far superior to their electronic counterparts.

Doors can let in draughts, and being thin and sometimes glazed can be very poor insulators, falling to 10–15°C on cold nights. Covering your door and the surrounding wall with a thick, lined door curtain can eliminate pretty much all the heat loss. If you are warming up with a heater or fireplace, you can keep the heat in with the use of a screen — these

will reflect some warm air back, making it snug all round.

Another little known tip is that how warm you feel in a room depends on where you are, even though air temperature is the same throughout.

You will feel warmer if you position yourself closer to the inside of the house because the cold external walls are further away. So try and place your furniture next to an internal wall.

If the head of your bed is next to a cold external wall you can counter this somewhat by using a solid headboard.

Or just move the bed away from the wall for the winter.

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FOR A WARMER WINTER ADVERTORIAL

Home heating with solar To heat a home with solar was once a pipe dream, but advances in heat pumps, solar panel technology, solar electronics, and lower prices means it is now a serious option.

With some forethought put in at the design stage you can maximise production and minimise loss. It starts at the solar panels — and location is important — true north facing. If an existing property is not suitably located, a new shed or structure may host the panels.

The way you use power is the next consideration. Heat pumps, induction cooking, inverter fridge freezers — modern and efficient appliances are available on the market today.

Water heating used to be more efficiently done with thermal solar heating, but the low pricing of electric solar panels now brings the possibility of direct solar connection to your electric cylinder, with minor modifications to

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AA Solar can help you to work out your energy needs. If you are starting from bare land get advice even before getting plans drawn.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES Hive monitoring from home Trekking through paddocks to reach your hives has always been one of the downsides to beekeeping. Now beekeepers can monitor their hives with the click of a button thanks to a new industry-leading product — Hivemind.

This product allows beekeepers to keep track of how their hives are doing in remote locations and has been designed by taking on board feedback from actual beekeepers, equipment manufacturers and beekeeping organisations.

Behind Hivemind, is a team of engineers who will ensure the product grows with their customers’ needs.

Although the product is designed to last over five years and beyond, the team

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will continue to make developments and continue to broaden customers’ options.

How does it work? A few supers are stacked on the scales and the Hivemind satellite tracks and records the weight readings which are then sent to Hivemind web servers. This information can then be accessed via PC or smartphone.

Hivemind is designed as an outdoor product and needs to be able to survive in hot sun, cold winters, wind, rain, and all the other variations of New Zealand weather.

It requires no charging and has a built-in solar panel and battery which will operate for years without maintenance.

The electronics are enclosed in IP67 weatherproofing case and the satellite connectivity in the Iridium network means it can be used on even the most remote hives.

The scales are accurate and industrial standard so keepers can rest assured their readings are true and correct.

Multiple extra scales are available as an add-on to a single unit.

The latest development, the wireless scales, was funded by a Kickstarter campaign which saw supporters pool

together funds to help make the idea a reality.

Now that the campaign has finished, the new system is in full production and orders are available to be shipped within a few weeks.

For the small scale beekeepers and other niche areas, the full satellite system can be overkill, and as other options in the market are slim and

the team want everyone to be able to join in — this is now possible with the smartphone connected Wi-Fi scale which is a smaller version of the main product suitable for backyard projects.

While the core product is focussed on large-scale commercial beekeepers, the team have kept in mind the smaller beekeepers, being a small team themselves.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES

Seasonal changes in hive weights — Patutahi, Gisborne

by John McLean, Paul Badger and Peter Hair

Beekeepers seek to build up their hives in spring/early summer in order to have strong hives to undertake pollination and honey collection.

A lack of bee forage in October had been observed in the Lake Repongaere area and great effort has been made to add additional plants to provide early season support for the beehives as part of a Trees for Bees project. The detailed description of this area and project was reported in the June 2014 New Zealand Beekeeper. We have used Mark 1 Hivemind platform scales to monitor the weights of five individual hives on each

of two raised platforms — one in the Lake Repongaere area and the second 2.5km away to the east over a ridge in the Waituhi area where spring gorse flowering and citrus flowering provide early season nectar and pollen sources.

The scales are interrogated every three hours by a hub and the data transmitted daily via satellite to a ground station that can be interrogated via the internet.

In this way we are able to determine

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the weights of honey supers added to the hives and thus able to calculate the approximate yield of honey at the end of the season.

Our data allowed us to separate three aspects of the hive weights.

The basic hive unit — floor, two brood boxes plus frames with drawn comb, queen excluder, feeder, top board and lid were approximated at 41.8kg and are

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represented in the graph below as H/ WARE, coloured blue. We were able to determine the weights of honey supers, HW-Add coloured brown, from the three hour reading; i.e. before and after we had added them to the hives. The remaining weight is assigned to Colony — coloured green — which includes the bees, honey, stored pollen, additional wax and propolis.

We note that the Waituhi hives are able to build up at a faster rate which we attribute to the proximity to better forage sources. The October 3 and March 27 data give us an indication of the health of the brood boxes. In each location, the average March 27 weight indicated that hives were well stocked for the winter ahead.

We thank Beef and Lamb for their support of this research through a Farmer Initiated Technology Transfer programme grant to Peter Hair.

Reference Cited: J. McLean, P. Badger and P. Hair. 2014.

Trees for Bees Programme Update [First report on the use of Hivemind scales to monitor hives at two Trees for Bees study sites]. New Zealand Beekeeper 22(5): 15,17.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

THE BUZZ ABOUT BEES

17

Supporting a vital producer

by Paul Campbell

That the honey bee is under threat across New Zealand and indeed worldwide is an unpalatable fact, with the rise of the varroa mite, as well as a depletion of food sources due to modern agricultural practices, including toxic sprays.

The severe decline in floral resources creating a shortage of pollen for the bees in turn compromises the bees’ resistance to pests and diseases.

New Zealand farmers have a key role to play in a counter offensive that could carry the day for these tiny foragers that play a key role in agriculture.

The Internet is awash with advice but a good place to start would be to contact the National Beekeepers Association of NZ which is widely recognised as the peak body representing the industry. The association has some 700 members who are active in over 11 NBA branches across New Zealand. The increasing importance of agricultural sustainability and food security for New Zealand is common sense and so too is the importance of the bee in farm viability.

Bees consume pollen as a protein and vitamin source and nectar for energy. While gathering these resources, they move pollen from one plant to another — a critical element in spring when beekeepers are building up bee populations for pollination services.

Any shortfall leads to weakened bees

making them susceptible to pests and diseases. It also dramatically slows the queen’s breeding output and results in under performing pollination services.

The key for on farm assistance is to insure a good food supply for these insect dynamos — plenty of pollen and nectar from natural floral sources. Choosing what to plant in waterway margins, windbreaks, field edges, under pivots and along roadsides can be vital. Landowners should look to trees and shrubs that fulfil the insects needs.

About $3 billion of New Zealand’s GDP is directly attributable to pollination of horticultural and speciality agricultural crops by bees, which also contribute indirectly through the pollination of clover, sown as a nitrogen regeneration source for farmland. Of all the food we eat, about a third of the calories and threequarters of the diversity rely on bees for pollination.

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For a copy of the Regional Plant Guide appropriate for your farming area, contact ssluys@fedfarm.org.nz.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

ALL CREATURES

BY NICOLA SEHNERT

Helen Wiessing has spent her career committed to education, and is now retired from teaching at Dargaville High School and fulfilling a dream, running a 300-acre farm with a menagerie of animals.

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nitially trained as a veterinarian, Helen graduated in 1978 to find a lack of work positions in her chosen field. Then in 1979 she was offered a job at the Dargaville High School teaching science.

“I taught science for three years before I called it quits to have my four children. I then returned in 1997 to tutor maths until I was given a full-time position a year later,” said Helen.

“I did a diploma in teaching and also sat a university paper on calculus so that I could teach year thirteen.”

In 2001 she became head of the mathematics department.

But since the age of five, Helen had a dream of owning and managing a farm. In 1999 she bought 170 acres of coastal land at Baylys Beach and

Helen is happiest in the company of her small dairy herd

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

leased it out, keeping enough to graze her pedigree Saanen goats.

“I have raised goats for about 30 years. To start with, I bred them for house milk and they did well on the Northland show scene. Since then, I have exported kids to a number of countries around the world, including Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia.

“My herd has increased over the years to 60 goats and now I want to focus more on cattle. Eventually I would like to sell them and just keep a few.”

Helen has taken back management of the farm and increased it by another 130 acres of neighbouring property.

The main income is the rearing of beef and dairy calves. She has a small dairy herd of 20 to 28 cows all named after flowers, which can successfully raise around 200 calves in one season.

The original 14 aside herringbone shed has been converted to cater to both cows and goats. On one side is the standard cow bale while the other side is fully equipped with head bales, meal feeders and a system of double suction cups for the goats.

As well as calf rearing, other income comes from a beef herd containing an assortment of breeds.

“The main beef breed is Hereford, but I also put a Hereford bull over Charolais, Red Devons, Murray Greys, Ayrshires, and a Speckled Park which is a rare breed originating from Canada.

They all seem to raise good solid calves especially with this season’s incredible grass growth.”

Other animals include horses, Arapawa sheep, donkeys, pigs, chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys,

Clover the donkey and Caesar the horse are two of many different animals on Helen’s farm peacocks — and the household dogs and cats.

“I always wanted to do farming because I love the country lifestyle. I was determined from an early age not to live in the city. Having the location of the farm so near to the coast means as I work I can hear the sound of the sea and be close to the beach.

“There is always something to do and I am never bored. Everyday holds a new learning curve and I enjoy the challenge

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so keeping the farm manageable is my priority.

“Even though I am now living my dream, I will always appreciate my teaching years. I have seen a lot of students go from the high school and lead very successful lives.

“One thing I can say about them is that they are very adaptable and have a tremendous number of skills

outside of school life. I find the country background gives children the opportunity to gain a wide range of life experiences way beyond their city counterparts.

“It was never about just teaching the students the subject, it was also about learning to communicate with them and setting them up to take on the challenges of life.”

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Mineralised soil has a specific outcome — to produce nutrient-dense food and animal feed well-endowed with trace elements.

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grow quality food or animal feed. On the other hand many organic farmers suffer terribly in yield because their soil has inadequate energy.

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Typical products used to create soil energy are calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, urea, ammonium sulphate, potassium sulphate, MAP, super phosphate, liquid fertilisers and sea solids. For organics nothing beats high nitrogen fish and Chilean nitrate. Manures and compost will supply some soil energy as well.

While both calcium and phosphorous can be obtained in the form of commercial fertilisers, these do not build a proper foundation to construct a mineralised soil. Specific soil amendments include limestone, soft rock phosphate, and gypsum. Sadly, conventional agriculture almost entirely misses the need for foundational minerals. Instead they are content with a pH over 6.5 and a minimal amount of available phosphorous. Due to their strong focus

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Soil well supplied with available phosphorous allows greater uptake of phosphorous into the plant. When this happens it causes an increase in the cycling of energy and nutrients via ATP and the Krebs cycle. This results in a greater energy capture via photosynthesis and higher brix readings.

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DAIRY

Uncommon sense

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

Pond crust gone for 10th the cost?

True!

Don’t focus on things you cannot change The current dairy farming situation is a disaster. It is time to get serious.

There are some things happening around us which are outside our control: • The weather • The payout Although there is a lot of daily discussion about these two points, there is little we can do to change them. Anyone can allow themselves to be completely overwhelmed if they focus on the disaster itself and how it is affecting them.

One factor which is true in today’s payout is that there are many farmers feeling the same way.

It is of paramount importance to stop worrying about what can’t be changed and focus on the things that can.

During 35 years of farming, similar to many longer term farmers, I have been challenged by floods, droughts, earthquakes, family upheavals, and plenty of times when there is too much MONTH left at the end of the MONEY. What I have learned, is your family and friends are the most important units which will help you through so focus on a plan ahead, utilising help from experienced people willing to share it.

Never underestimate the counsel from the old boys who have long since put

their gumboots away. This is not a shortterm problem so we can not have a short-term plan.

There are times where drastic action can be taken which could be detrimental to long-term farm performance.

Signs of a short-term plan which can end up costing you include: • Long-term contracts and high use of palm kernel should be avoided. PK should be used strategically unless this can be proven to be cost efficient relative to your system; • High and regular use of urea nitrogen in any form. This practise over time will burn off the humus in your soil, strip out calcium and block copper — restricting the soil’s ability to grow nutrientrich grass; Analysing your complete system from and including; soil, grass, feed, stock, effluent, finance, and family are needed before a plan can be made.

Every aspect of the entire system needs efficient management. Every area of management needs to be measured, if you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it. The cheapest and most important asset you have is your grass, your most important investment is the fuel to grow it. There are several points which I have

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observed which can be applied for a long — term sustainable plan: • Soil audit and apply fertiliser custom blends prioritising where any deficiencies lie; • Don’t waste money on generic blends which will increase nutrients already adequate, • Don’t guess. A good soil audit will save you money.

Obviously this column does not allow coverage of the whole system, yet most problems related to feed quality, animal health, effluent, positive cashflow and profitability all originate from the soil.

Soil is the engine room of your entire farming operation. A balanced approach will not only increase quality grass growth, it will reduce reliance on buying in feed, improve animal health and reduce crusting problems in your effluent pond.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Gas & Tyre

brought to you by

Forestry Market Report Allan Laurie MNZIF, Laurie Forestry Ltd

Chugging along nicely Wood Fibre markets both nationally and internationally appear to be bucking the commodity trend at present. Indeed the log trade has been very settled since late December 2015 also holding at a very reasonable value position for NZ forest growers.

The Domestic log trade is chugging along with supply and demand very broadly in balance. Most sawmills are getting the logs they require and prices are stable at historically good levels.

In our key export market, China, consumption levels are starting to pick up. In the week beginning March 8, softwood log usage across the eastern seaboard was running at 53,400 cubic metres per day, an increase of 16,600 per day on the previous week.

Usage is obviously a function of demand, but is also a confidence determinant. And in China confidence determines mood and therefore the ongoing self fulfilling outcome.

Inventory can also be added to the pot of confidence. Again in the week of March 8, total softwood log inventory was 3.27 million cubic metres — a level that should see continuing stability.

Hence we can determine that at the current usage, the softwood inventory reflects 2.25–2.5 month’s supply in stock which is just about right for this time of the year. This level also reflects little change since last month.

On the not so good news side of the equation, the China domestic price for lumber fell $30RMB (China currency) per cubic metre which equates to close to NZ$7 in the same week. Thus suggests some weakness in the overall market

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Zealand. Meanwhile NZ as a whole is starting to lift harvest production to about the same levels as last year. Right now that production is running slightly ahead of usage levels in the market. We can only hope some bad weather and holiday breaks will be applied to curb this back a little. The consequences of this not happening would see the pendulum swing the wrong way log price-wise.

Shipping costs for NZ logs heading to China remain at very low levels, ensuring a good bottom line for suppliers to the wharf gate. Recent modest lifts in the US$/NZ$ FOREX rate is not what we wanted to see at present. Nor I suspect would those involved in the business of turning grass, fertiliser and water into milk want to see this right now. And so it is, wood fibre as a commodity continues to buck the trend, prices are stable and very good, and we are currently at peace with the world! Thus it has never been more timely to remember, the only way forward for climate, country and the planet, is to get out there and plant more trees.

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conditions although early days yet to be seeing any net impact. At present most commentators are reporting a pretty flat profile in export log settlements.

At present, CIF prices are hovering in a US$105–110 bracket, A grade basis, most agree US$110 is a good level.

There are, as always, exceptions to the rule but it can be a challenge to sort the bull from the bluster sometimes.

As expected, Pacific North West supply has been on the decline as their domestic market continues to provide better returns for forest owners. Over the last few weeks we have seen export volumes fall significantly. Some reports have suggested there is 15,000– 20,000 cubic metres per week less than compared to the same time last year. This equates to about two vessels per month which is good news for New

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23

Gas & Tyre

brought to you by ADVERTORIAL

Inaugural forestry awards open

LAND AND MILL OWNERS

Nominations for the inaugural Northland Forestry Awards have opened, driven by the Northland Forestry Health and Safety Group to recognise and applaud the efforts of the many people involved in the forest industry.

Group member Andrew Widdowson, who is also Northland’s regional manager for Hancock Forest Management says the awards are long overdue.

“This is an exciting time for the region’s forestry sector. Northland has a strong and vibrant forestry industry. Those who work in it are professional and highly skilled, and make a big contribution to the regional economy. It is about recognising our forestry people, the environment they work in and excellence across a range of forestry operations.”

Nominations close on June 1.

“We are encouraging all businesses within the forest industry to get involved,” says Mr Widdowson. “It is a chance to celebrate our high achievers and players that hold mana within our industry.”

There are 169,000 hectares of plantation radiata pine in Northland.

Forestry in Northland directly employs around 850 people, which accounts for 11% of the region’s primary industry

workforce. With a current harvest level of 3.7 to 4.0 million tonnes annually, it accounts for 13% of the national log harvest each year.

The industry pumps $255 million into the local economy, which is 4.5% of the region’s GDP. Each year there is around 2.89 million tonnes of wood products exported through Marsden Point.

“Those are figures worth celebrating,” says Mr Widdowson.

There are a raft of awards up for grabs, including for trainee of the year, contractor of the year, individual excellence across roading, forestry, harvesting and distribution excellence, wood processing, top forestry family, outstanding health and safety management, outstanding environmental management and, of course, the overall skilled professional of the year crown.

The awards dinner will be held on July 15 in Whangarei and feature former All Black and sevens’ superstar, Eric Rush,

FOREST & WOODLOT OWNERS

forestry specialists A family business with 40 years experience, we purchase, harvest and market private forests (specialising in private Radiata Pine woodlots).

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as the MC. Tickets are strictly limited to 200 and expected to sell out fast.

For more information and nomination form, head to www. northlandwoodcouncil.co.nz.

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2016

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Nominations Open

Forestry is a significant part of our region, providing a range of opportunities to our people.

The Northland Health & Safety Group celebrates the inaugural Northland Forestry Awards and look forward to recognising their top performers, the heroes of the industry in a range of sectors across the industry and the Northland Health & Safety Group - Skilled Professional of the Year.

Nominations are open now and close June 1 Winners take the stage at the Awards Dinner Friday July 15 at Toll Stadium.

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24

April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

FISHING, HUNTING & DUCK SHOOTING ADVERTORIAL

Bag limits reflect bird decline The 2016 game bird hunting season is just around the corner with opening weekend on May 7 and 8, and Northland Fish and Game Council has retained the bag limit for mallards and grey ducks to 12 birds per day as hunters had for the 2015 season.

This is due to the low numbers of mallards and grey ducks harvested over the past four years. Reasons for the reduction in duck numbers are uncertain, but loss of habitat has played a critical

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role in this decline. Research currently being undertaken by Fish and Game wildlife biologists suggests that predators are also having a considerable effect on waterfowl especially during nesting and post hatching of ducklings.

The season for mallard/grey and shoveler duck is: May 7 to July 3.

The bag limit for paradise shelducks has also been retained at 25 birds per day. With the population recovering from recent declines and the increase in the number of complaints about crop damage, the higher limit was justified.

There will be an increased opportunity to hunt black swans with a longer than traditional season and also a special summer season and the season for paradise shelducks and black swan is May 7 to August 7.

The cock pheasant and quail seasons north of the Maungataniwha Range also known as the Maungamukas continues until July 31 with a daily bag limit of three pheasants and 10 quail. South of the ranges the season continues for a further four weeks until August 28 and the daily bag limit is five cock pheasants

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Kumara Korner With Turiwiri Produce Ltd DUCK WITH KUMARA, BOK CHOY AND PLUM JUS Serves 2 Kumara Mash:

• Canned plums, 2, stone removed

• Orange Kumara, 400g peeled and chopped.

• Soy sauce, 2 teaspoons (GF if required)

• Butter, 1 small knob

• Rice vinegar, 1 teaspoon

• Milk, 2-3 tablespoons

• Brown sugar, 1 1/2 teaspoons

Duck and Plum Jus:

Bok Choy:

• Duck breast, 2 at room temperature

• Baby bok choy, 3 quartered lengthways

• Chinese five-spice, 1 teaspoon

• Sesame oil, 1 teaspoon

• Red wine, 1/4 cup

• Soy sauce, 1 teaspoon (GF if required)

The paradise shelduck

and 10 quail. The pukeko, and quail seasons go through to August 28.

Each year, rangers check game bird hunters to make sure that everyone is playing by the rules. Hunting without a licence is the most common offence followed by using lead shot.

Hunters must purchase a hunting licence and those caught without a licence may have their firearm confiscated and may be prosecuted.

Rangers will be carrying out regular compliance patrols this year.

In the past there has been a lot of confusion about land occupier rights when it comes to game bird shooting without a licence. The Wildlife Act 193 states that ‘only the occupier of any land, and the spouse and any one son Licence Agents in the Northland Region where hunters can purchase their 2016 Game bird hunting licences and obtain game season information…

Method: 1) Bring a medium-size pot of salted water to the boil. Bring a full kettle to the boil.

2) Cook kumara in pot of boiling water until soft, 10-12 minutes. Drain and mash with butter and milk. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Keep warm.

3) While kumara is cooking, trim duck breasts of excess overhanging fat. Rub in Chinese five-spice and season both sides with salt. Heat a dry fry-pan (no oil) on medium heat. Cook duck breasts, skin-side-down, for 4-5 minutes until most of the fat has rendered out and the skin is golden brown. Turn breasts over and continue to cook for 2-3 minutes until duck is cooked through medium (the flesh inside should be a pale rosy pink). Set aside and cover with foil to rest for 5-10 minutes.

4) Drain liquid fat from pan, wipe it out with paper towels and reheat to medium heat. Pour in red wine and allow it to bubble away for 30 seconds. Add plums, plum juice, soy sauce, vinegar and sugar. Mash plums in the sauce with a fork and simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce is slightly reduced.

5) Place bok choy in a dish and cover with boiling water. Leave to stand for 2-3 minutes until bright green and just tender.

Drain and toss with sesame oil and soy sauce. Slice duck breasts on an angle.

• To serve, spoon some kumara mash and bok choy onto each plate. Top with slices of duck breast and spoon over some plum jus.

Turiwiri Produce Ltd

Ph 09-439 7774 SH12 Dargaville

Unit A5 Nell Place, Whangarei PO Box 25003 Whangarei Mail Centre 0148 PHONE 09 438 4135 northland@fishandgame.org.nz

ANGLERS & HUNTERS FOR CONSERVATION

www.fishandgame.org.nz

or daughter, of the occupier may hunt on that land only without having to hold a game bird hunting licence’. The occupier is a person whose permanent and principal place of residence is on the land, including the owner, or manager or sharemilker. Where there are several such occupiers, one of these people must be appointed to be the occupier for game bird hunting purposes in a notice signed by all of the people involved, and appointed for the whole game bird season.

You can receive a copy of the game bird hunting regulations from your local sporting goods retailer, contacting Northland Fish and Game 09 438 1435, or online at www.fishandgame. org.nz.

AGENCY NAME Fish & Game Northland Birchall Auto Electrical Coopers Beach Marine Sports Farmlands Kamo Farmlands Kaitaia Top Catch McCoy & Thomas H&F Sports McCoy & Thomas H&F Sports McCoy & Thomas H&F Sports

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

FISHING, HUNTING & DUCK SHOOTING

25

ADVERTORIAL

New firearms regulations are likely to have to have a negative impact on Northland’s economy

by Alec Melville

There has recently been a spate of reported firearms crimes in the press. From shooting’s to guns in the hands of gang members they all have something in common — criminals.

Meanwhile calls for action in the media have revolved around ideas about registration, more secure mail order sales, increased security requirements for licence holders, and reducing the numbers and types of firearms in circulation. These all have something in common too — licenced firearms owners.

Coincidentally while all these firearms issues are happening the police are wanting to introduce new firearms regulations and yet another arms amendment bill. Remember the last bill passed December 2012 — but the police have said the last significant review of the Arms Act was in 1997.

Really? (Source Quarterly Update Firearms Community Advisory Forum FEB 2016).

So far the politicians have only agreed to an inquiry into where the criminal’s guns are coming from. But is more to follow? And is it really necessary given the obvious answer that the firearms are stolen from licenced firearms owners, come from existing stocks of illegal guns,

or are imported illegally? My personal view is that yes more is to follow. The police have already made noises about cost recovery for firearms licencing, charging for import permits, reviewing licence endorsement categories, and confirm that they are having issues around the distinction between MSSAs and other semi-automatic firearms. This could even result in semi-auto shotguns being E category, with the increased security costs and endorsement costs this entails.

Surely if firearms thefts were given a higher priority by police, and customs was better resourced to secure our borders, then perhaps firearms in criminal hands wouldn’t be such the issue it is portrayed to be. Perhaps we could better use the money from the inquiry and firearms law reviews to fund police and customs enforcement of the existing law?

Obviously there needs to be some discussion around criminal use of firearms. But this needs to be a discussion about punishment for criminal misuse not

a discussion about regulations that are going to cost licence holders and reduce lawful shooting activities.

If new regulations cost licenced firearms owners more, make it more difficult to own and participate in firearms related activities and thereby reduce the number of shooters. This will have a significant economic impact on the rural areas like Northland.

It is estimated 530,000 people shoot recreationally each year in New Zealand.

Think about how many lawful shooters you know that come to Northland during duck shooting season.

Think about what they spend on accommodation, food, fuel, ammunition and entertainment.

Best of luck for opening morning!

Sporting Shooters Association of New Zealand Northland committee member, Alec Melville

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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The importance of nutrition A four-day seminar for the NTS Certificate in Nutrition Farming is being presented by Nutri Tech Solutions, featuring internationally acclaimed nutrition specialist, Graeme Sait, and leading biological agronomist, Steve Capeness.

Organiser Guy Macindoe offers four days of “life changing discovery of strategies to improve the health of your farm, garden, planet and yourself.

“Graeme Sait is the CEO and cofounder of Nutri-Tech Solutions, a world leader in biological agriculture. He is also an author/educator responsible for over 300 published articles and a

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popular book, ‘Nutrition Rules!’, said Mr MacIndoe.

“He created the internationally acclaimed four-day course and authored the associated 360-page training manual. Graeme is a sought-after speaker, specialising in soil health, plant health and animal health.”

More recently, that emphasis has expanded to include planetary health, in recognition of the link between humus and carbon sequestration. He is also an expert in human nutrition and his fascinating presentations cover every aspect of wellness.

“Steve Capeness is Australia’s leading biological agronomist. He has helped thousands of farmers with strategies to improve their sustainability and profitability. He is a composting expert, a specialist in plant immunity, and has an unparalleled understanding of working with nature. He is an exceptional teacher with outstanding knowledge and a love for sharing,” said Mr Mcindoe “This a rare opportunity to hear two acclaimed, inspirational speakers. You will discover an array of profit building tools. NTS has identified multiple strategies to build yield and efficiency, to comprehend key ratios in the soil

and plant to build production and resilience.

“Learn to increase your crop and soil monitoring skills and improve yield and quality.

Understand the secrets of harnessing soil biology as your hidden workforce and you will be better equipped to handle the impact of peak oil, climate change and economic issues.”

An in-depth understanding of the relationship between nutrition and pest pressure will be gained and they will discuss 10 reasons to attend to soil and plant health including why there is no other alternative for the future.

“Understand the core inputs and why humates, kelp, inoculums and foliars are such important keys. The art and science of composting is explained along with how to create this ultimate fertility builder and bring back your earthworms. This course will help you understand that Nutrition Farming is the shape of the future.”

The seminar will be held at Counties Inn — Rata Room, 17 Paerata Road

CEO and co-founder of Nutri-Tech Solutions, Graeme Sait

Pukekohe, at 8am–5.15pm on April 26–29. Bookings are essential.

Standard $799. Morning tea and lunch is provided. Accommodation is available, phone 09 238 9319 or go to www. countiesinn.co.nz.

To register contact Guy Macindoe 021 931 182, 07 866 8682 email guy@ biologix.co.nz.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

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Membership Services: 09 439 5219 • 09 430 3758 www.farmersofnewzealand.com Email: newzealandfarmers@xtra.co.nz

Is it time to call time on CEO? Reports that Fonterra boss Theo Speirings, was abused while visiting the Northland Field Days is of concern, but one can understand the anger of many farmers who are questioning his judgement and his ongoing statements that Fonterra has got the fundamentals right in spite of low prices.

On January 20, Spierings told Bloomberg Fonterra would maintain its $4.60 per Kg forecast pay-out for the forthcoming season. On January 28 Fonterra lowered its forecast for the 2015–2016 season from $4.60 per kg milk solids to $4.15 per kg of milk solids. On March 9, Fonterra announced the current season forecast had been reduced to $3.90 per kg of milk solids.

It is my opinion it is time to question Theo Spierings’ judgement. After watching and listening to his message to farmers over the last 20 months it is my view that he over promises and under delivers and sends very mixed messages to milk suppliers.

His role as Fonterra chief executive is very important as New Zealand dairy farmers throughout their long history have placed a great trust in their dairy leaders that they have got it right. There has been the odd mistake particularly when Jim Graham of the then NZ Dairy Board had a meeting I once attended and told suppliers that the pay-out forecast for the coming season was going to be good and yet within months the NZ Dairy Board introduced a policy whereby it would pay dairy farmers to go out of milking because of an oversupply of milk affecting world markets. It was surprising the number of farmers who took this offer up at the time.

Spierings can’t use the excuse that he was overtaken by the speed of world events regarding milk supply. Fonterra has 6000 employees throughout the world. There would be no excuse for them not to comprehend the dramatic effects of the United States trade ban against Russia.

Even the Governor of the Reserve Bank acknowledged this when he lowered interest rates this month. As leader of

our company Spierings is obliged to manage not only results but expectations because if he fails to do so the consequences for the company shareholders are incomprehensible. It is apparent that 85% of Fonterra milk suppliers’ farming businesses are now at extreme risk. Fonterra is reported in the press that it is introducing a 90day delayed payment system for its trade suppliers. This will ruin many rural businesses that support Fonterra and the rural community.

Fonterra’s 2015 financial repor t shows that Theo Spierings had a salary band within $4.9 million representing a $770,000 increase on his 2014 remuneration package.

The statements also showed that the number of Fonterra employees who are paid more than $1 million per year rose from 17 to 22 last year.

Theo Spierings predecessor, Canadian Andrew Ferrier reportedly received an $8.2 million golden handshake when he left in 2011.

It is my view that Theo Spierings has lost the confidence and trustworthiness that he had with many milk suppliers.

It is time for the board to consider a change in company leadership. It could prove to be very worthwhile to offer an $8.2 million golden handshake to Theo Spierings to effect the change necessary and regain the confidence of farmer shareholders.

Fonterra needs to start winning again with the CEO and senior management getting a two — word sign on every desk — I’M RESPONSIBLE.

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

The Northland opportunity

by Nicky Reid

Contract saw-milling Also looking to purchase Macrocarpa, Leyland Cyprus & Japanese Cedar logs

www.portablesawmills.co.nz 021 791 457 • denis_clunie@yahoo.com.au

STOP MEANS

DON’T BREAK THE LAW

Since I began work as a dairy veterinarian in Northland a long time ago, I’ve seen a steady flow of young dairy farmers coming North — in fact many of Northland’s top farmers have come from other parts of New Zealand.

I’m a strong advocate of Northland and the opportunity it provides for farmers to secure their own farms.

Last season there were eleven dairy farms reported sold in Northland for under two million dollars. This wouldn’t buy much of a dairy farm anywhere else. These eleven farms averaged 104 hectares in size and about 60,000 kilograms of milk solids. They sold for an average of $15,000 per hectare — while dairy farms in the Waikato Region sold for an average of $45,000 per hectare during the same time period. (Sourced from REINZ sales data).

I talk to buyers from other areas and they tell me they like the fact that many of our dairy farms are versatile units comprising a milking platform and some support country — or at least the support blocks are not far away.

They like our favourable soil temperatures, giving grass growth through the Winter and a long maizegrowing season.

They also like the Northland lifestyle — there is usually a boat poked into a shed somewhere on most farms and access to good snapper fishing is never

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Ph Jason Williamson 09 439 4336, 027 499 2530 Blair Williamson 027 609 5157 Phil Williamson 09 439 6104, 027 477 0199 ure ? c e m s ed r far e u n ou yo on y o D age r sto

far away. I’m always looking for new ways to put our local farms in front of buyers in other areas because once they come up and have a look, they can appreciate the opportunity that Northland can provide them. For more information about the local real estate market you

can subscribe to my fortnightly Property Comment by emailing me on nicky.reid@ farmlands.co.nz or call me on 0800 100 027.

Have a great Autumn. Warm Regards, Nicky Reid, Real Estate Consultant, Farmlands Co-operative Society Limited.

Hello Northland

It’s great to be here We now have salespeople servicing your area.

Call 0800 200 600 for Nicky Reid | Tom Hackett | Ceilia Walker | Paul Yates Licensed under REAA 2008

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

RURAL WHEELS

29

Dealing a pair of aces

Back in the early 1980s, there would have been few people in the world who knew what a ‘sport utility vehicle’ actually was — let alone how to design and build one. The English gentry had their land rovers for grouse hunting, the army had their off-road vehicles for the pursuit of — at the time — communist militias, and Joe Citizen drove a sensible big saloon car or station wagon.

The change came at the start of that tumultuous decade of big hair and leg warmers. Toyota’s FJ, the original Range Rover, and Mitsubishi’s Pajero changed the way we looked at off-road travel.

Soon would come the leather seats, mini bars, school run specials and fauxwheel-drives. But in the springtime of the SUV, Pajero was a big name. Now it’s set to become so again.

This year sees the relaunch of the badge from Mitsubishi, replacing the outgoing Challenger with two variants, in much the same way that Mercedes has achieved with their GL-E class. The Pajero returns with a solid, angular look, backed up by the power of a 3.2 litre intercooled turbo diesel. Combine the over 400Nm of torque from this power plant with acres of grip, and you can appreciate how the Pajero achieves its rated three ton towing capacity. Inside, we are reminded that the modern driver demands more comforts than his 1980s counterpart — it’s all here, but so too, is a convenient space for a second battery under the hood, and everything in place for the fitting of bars, winches, lights and other off-road necessities.

This is the marque which monstered the Paris to Dakar for ten years. The only small complaint — the colour

palette doesn’t match the presence of the Pajero’s design, with only ‘high resale value’ neutrals and metallics available. One of these in hot orange would turn more heads than the second coming. Sitting next to the Pajero in the new Mitsubishi lineup is its slick and aerodynamic little brother, the Pajero Sport. If the big bruiser above is all about power and capability, then this offering is more of a crossover into the realm of comfort and connectivity.

Don’t get us wrong — the pair of Pajeros blur the line nicely, and the Sport is still no slouch when the going gets rough. But it puts style and sophistication to the fore, for the driver who will only rarely venture off the beaten track. And when you do need to test the mettle of the Sport, it proves it’s no show pony. A very clever off-road mode selector juggles power, grip and torque to handle everything from sand to ice.

So, a pair of competent and stylish new machines, worthy of their predecessor’s nametag. The hard part here will not be deciding if they are a contender against the likes of Toyota and Ford — but which one to pick. And where to find a suitable shade of candyorange paint.

Smooth operator — the Pajero Sport rounds out the hard lines of its bigger brother, but still conquers mud and snow

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April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL WHEELS

Technology reaching for the sky

by Andy Bryenton

Every new car and ute seems to have a fancy new badge these days, touting some electronic or engineering wizardry under the hood.

It almost harks back to the days of American luxury cars in the 50s, with their Torque-flite, Power-max marketing. But there’s one badge attached to Mazda bumpers which actually means more than most — the Skyactiv brand associated with their 21st century engine technology.

As early as 2008 the back-room boys at Mazda were on a quest to increase efficiency and power using what would become the Skyactiv method — increased compression and ideal combustion. A normal petrol engine only unlocks about 30 per cent of the chemical energy in its fuel — a terrible waste when seen in raw figures.

At the 40th Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda unveiled a gasoline engine they dubbed Skyactiv-G. With its high compression, the little 1.3 wowed spectators with its power output.

But they weren’t going to stop there.

You see, increasing compression was always going to be an answer to some of the problem of unlocking the power of fuel. But the traditional downside of doing this is ‘engine knock’ — a product of waste gases and inefficiency in the ignition cycle.

Tightening up design in the exhaust system, in the injectors, the air

induction system, and reducing the combustion duration to a short, sharp controlled detonation have allowed the Skyactiv engine to achieve a 14:1 compression ratio — unheard of in mass-produced cars.

The results were immediate and measurable — a 15 per cent increase in fuel efficiency and torque. A similar diesel engine was designed, delivering the same kind of advances. But the credo of the Skyactiv programme explains why Mazda engineers did not simply rush right into production at this point.

‘Stop at nothing to deliver the very best in everything about cars, be it their safety and fuel efficiency or simply how fun they are to drive’.

Consequently, before Skyactiv engine tech was unleashed on the road, a whole new series of transmissions had to be designed as well. Eschewing the trendy double-clutch layout as pioneered

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32

April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

RURAL WHEELS

Earle Tito Engineering Ltd

Blurring the white lines

Precision Machining

by Andy Bryenton

General Engineering

Back when the original GL-E Mercedes was formulated, the concept of a luxury 4x4 was a confusing one for many customers. Creature comforts in an off road machine? Only the very British Range Rover had even attempted such a thing.

Certified Welding Car Modifications

Then came the rise of the Escalade, the arrival of a range of BMW branded X-machines, and of course the transformation of Mercedes-Benz’s G-Wagon sports utility into an icon of hip-hop swagger and oil baron prestige.

We’ve even seen one of the ex-military Mercs kitted out with six-wheel drive.

So, in an era when even the more budget-conscious brands are rolling out crossover SUVs to replace the flagging station wagon platform, it’s no surprise that Mercedes are leading the way. And in a singular fashion, too.

The new 2016 GL-E range features not only a very well sorted sports utility, with crisp Teutonic lines and a variety of powerful engines, right up to the stratospheric horsepower offered by tuning arm AMG. It’s also the basis for a whole new kind of 4x4 — the GL-E Coupe. Combining the muscular stance, big wheels and road presence of the original G-Wagon with the smooth finish of one of the more slippery and aerodynamic SL grand tourers, this is a whole new look for the crossover market.

And what it may sacrifice in terms of bulk seating or sheer mud-churning ability, it more than makes up for in handling

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Hot steel — a stylish new look masks the solid 4x4 underpinnings of the Mercedes GL-E coupe

and looks. That’s not to say that the GL-E lacks for power, or poise. Under the hood drivers have the choice of either a three litre, 190 kilowatt diesel V6, or one of a pair of petrol mills — a compact, lightweight V6 producing 270kW, or the daddy — an AMG fettled V8 pushing 5-and-a-half litres and developing a phenomenal 430kW. In true Mercedes fashion all this power is delivered to the ground via an arcane and technical automatic transmission, either a machine-gun quick nine-speed automatic, or an even more advanced AMG Speedshift Plus unit. All-wheel drive with a battery of

stability and traction control subsystems delivers maximum grip even on the worst terrain.

Previous attempts at melding the sporty with the practical have met with mixed results for other carmakers.

Especially in the luxury bracket, many have had to make do with such compromises as the homely looks of the Porsche Cayenne, or with beautiful machines incapable of traversing a small puddle.

The team from Mercedes have definitely gotten the recipe right this time, creating something singular which stands out in a world of pale imitations.

BUYING AND SELLING sy Ea e USED VEHICLES Mad Phone (09) 430 3000 - 22 Maunu Road - Whangarei - www.freetosell.co.nz

2003 Ford Falcon XR8 Manual

$23,995 S/WAGONS from $30/week

HATCHBACKS from $40/week

SEDANS from $50/week

96 HONDA ODYSSEY 7 STR ��������������� $3,995

01 NISSAN MARCH ��������������������������� $4,995

00 HONDA ACCORD�������������������NOW $5,495

99 NISSAN LIBERTY 7 STR ��������������� $3,995

96 MAZDA ASTINA 2�0 V6 MAN �������� $5,995

98 NISSAN SERENA �������������������������� $5,495 01 VOLVO V40����������������������������������� $5,995

SUV’S from $40/week

00 HOLDEN RODEO D/CAB 4X4 ��������� $14,995

95 TOYOTA RAV4������������������������������� $4,995

10 NISSAN NAVARA 2WD MAN ��������� $16,995 06 HOLDEN COMMODORE ����������������� $19,995 06 HOLDEN RODEO D/CAB 4WD �������� $21,995 07 NISSAN NAVARA 4WD MAN ��������$25,995* 13 HOLDEN COMMODORE SV6 ���������� $29,995

*Finance payments are based on 20% Deposit Over a 3 year term * On Road Costs Apply

97 TOYOTA RAV4������������������������������� $5,995 97 FORD EXPLORER�������������������������� $8,995 02 FORD EXPLORER V8 4WD ������������ $9,995

97 SUBARU LEGACY RS MANUAL������ $5,995 04 NISSAN MAXIMA ������������������������� $6,995

02 BMW 318TI ��������������������������������� $6,995

04 FORD FALCON XR6 ���������������������� $7,995

98 SUBARU FORESTER AWD ������������� $5,995

04 TOYOTA COROLLA ������������������������ $6,995

03 HOLDEN COMMODORE SV6 ���������� $7,995

99 MERCEDES BENZ MAN����������������� $6,995

05 DAIHATSU BOON �������������������������� $6,995

97 SUBARU FORESTER AWD ������������� $5,995

UTES from $100/week

02 TOYOTA COROLLA MANUAL ���������� $6,495

00 HOLDEN COMMODORE ����������������� $5,995

04 HONDA ELYSION��������������������������� $8,995 04 TOYOTA WISH 7 STR �������������������� $8,995 05 SUBARU LEGACY ������������������������ $8,995 08 MAZDA PREMACY 7 STR�������������� $9,995

02 HOLDEN COMMODORE ����������������� $7,995 04 HONDA INSPIRE ��������������������������� $8,995

04 TOYOTA FUN CARGO ��������������������� $7,995

07 FORD FAIRMONT�������������������������� $9,995

06 NISSAN NOTE ������������������������������ $8,995

03 MAZDA 6 ���������������������������NOW $10,995

74 MORRIS MG BGT ������������������������� $9,995

02 MERCEDES BENZ CLK320 ���������� $11,995 04 NISSAN SKYLINE 250GT ������������ $11,995

07 VW TOURAN 7 STR����������������������� $9,995

04 TOYOTA COROLLA ������������������������ $9,995

05 FORD FALCON XR6 TURBO ��������� $15,995

07 HONDA STREAM 7 STR �������������� $10,995

09 FORD FIESTA MANUAL ����������������� $9,995

01 HOLDEN COMMODORE SS 6 SPD MAN ������������������������������������������������������� $18,995

11 HOLDEN CAPTIVA AWD �������������������SOLD

03 MITSUBISHI GRANDIS 7 STR 4WD ������������������������������������������������������� $10,995

09 MAZDA DEMIO ����������������������������� $9,995

03 FORD FALCON XR8 MAN ������������ $23,995

14 NISSAN QASHQAI ���������������������� $34,995

06 SUBARU OUTBACK ��������������������� $11,995

10 SUZUKI SX4 MANUAL ���������������� $12,995

11 FORD FALCON XR6 ������������������� $23,995

04 TOYOTA RAV4 4WD �������������������� $11,995 96 TOYOTA LANDCRUISER PRADO TX ������������������������������������������������������� $19,995

NO DEPOSIT FINANCE AVAILABLE, ALL TRADES CONSIDERED OR WE CAN SELL YOUR CAR FOR FREE OPEN 7 DAYS, SAT & SUN 9am–2.30pm A/H – Adam Campi 027 494 4145 - Peter Aukett 021 081 6666 - Arthur McKechnie 021 298 5858

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

RURAL WHEELS

33

ADVERTORIAL

Efficient corrosion control CorrosionX Marine is most probably new Zealand’s fastest penetrating lubricant and it’s finding a new market freeing up seized parts, like wheel nuts, flanges and hubs in commercial tyre shops around the country.

As preventative protection, CorrosionX Heavy Duty is applied between the wheel base and the rim making wheel changes simpler and faster.

Air tools and jacks are also protected from corrosive elements especially in work shops close to the sea — a cost saving boon for company accountants as well as keeping equipment on-line at all times.

Salt and sulphur can get into the tools with the air through the compressor and filters causing costly damage that may be further fuelled with condensation and heat.

Changing air tool lubrication to CorrosionX gives the workshop manager and the accountant a break at the same time.

CorrosionX stops rust and also provides a superior lubrication factor of 0.4 (about 3 times as slippery as engine oil), which is unmatched by current air

THE SIDE-BY-SIDE THAT’S GOT IT ALL 1100 EFI NEW UPGRADE MODEL!!

tool oil. Administer just a few drops of CorrosionX into the intake, plug the hose back on and pull the trigger and enjoy knowing the corrosion problems are solved.

CorrosionX is absolutely neutral on rubber, neoprene, insulation, and even monofilament, is MPI and aviation approved, and because of its naval and military specification, unfazed by sulphur or salt.

Contact your nearest stockist found on www.corrosionx.org or call Corrosion Control NZ Ltd. 09 438 8800 for more information.

FENDT TRACTORS

New styling and models Technology leaders 70hp to 396hp

MUFFLER SERVICES 62 CLYDE STREET

WE CAN

1. Fix any size exhaust system 2. Fit or supply all your exhaust requirements 3. Provide you with FREE NO-OBLIGATION QUOTES 4. Tube bending 5. TRUCK & CAMPERVAN REPAIRS 6. Small MIG welding repairs

BRYANT TRACTORS LTD

38 Rewa Rewa Road, Raumanga, Whangarei, Phone: 09 438 1319 Murray 027 490 9379 Ivo 027 368 3920 Rex 027 490 9826 E-mail: admin@bryanttractors.co.nz Web: www.bryanttractors.co.nz

WE SPECIALISE IN ALL TRUCKS, TRACTORS & HEAVY MACHINERY So for your cars, vans, utes, imports, light and heavy trucks, tractors and heavy machinery...

CALL US NOW

$15,650*

DEALERS

Phone 438 8960

NOW!

sales@mufflerservices.co.nz

WHANGAREI

WANTED

*100% finance available +GST to approved purchasers

www.mufflerservices.co.nz

SO MANY FEATURES 1100cc 4 cyl. 16 valve engine, 5 x speed transmission, hydraulic clutch, 2WD / 4WD, diff. lock front & rear, max speed 70kph, snorkel, hydraulic tipping rear deck, fully foldable windscreen, front mounted electric winch, roof mounted spotlights, all steel construction, disc brakes all round, amazing carrying capacity (front, roof, rear tray), road registrable, etc, etc.....

Lifestyle Tractors & Machinery Ltd BUY DIRECT FROM THE IMPORTER!

Mob. 0274 770 070 Email. tractors@lifestyletractors.co.nz w w w. l i f e s t y l e t r a c t o r s . c o . n z

FARM. N O E L B UNBEATA E. RM RANG A -WHEEL F 2 A D N O THE H

Pay attention!

around road works FOR ALL METALS, EVEN WET AND RUSTY

CorrosionX is a super fast penetrant on corroded parts. On reassembly it acts as long-lasting protection and stops electrolysis. Airtools live longer with CorrosionX !

CorrosionX mobile service applications for machinery, buildings and installations. Long lasting rust protection. Authorised applicators. Solid service.

CorrosionX waterproofs old and new electronics/electrics in all machinery, trucks and installations. Safe on rubber, insulation, neoprene and all plastics. Safe to 39.000 Volt.

CorrosionX Heavy Duty forms a dripless, dynamic, non-hardening, self-healing film that stubbornly resists erosion by splash or spray.

$3,999 INC GST

$6,399 INC GST

XR150L

CTX200

Find your Northland stockist on www.corrosionx.org

09 438 8800 tom@corrosionx.org

www.corrosionx.org

TALK TO US ABOUT FINANCE OPTIONS!* 2014 ATV Finance A4 Portrait.indd 4

2014 2-Wheel Farm Dealer Ads.indd 2

Honda has a proven 2-wheel farm bike range that is designed to work hard on-farm. Renowned for durable, reliable and economical running, there is a farm bike in the Honda range to suit every requirement. Talk to your Honda dealer today about which bike suits your needs, we’ll help you choose the best bike for you. *At participating Honda dealers only. Contact your local Honda Dealer for more information.

Whangarei Planet Honda, 20 Port Road, Whangarei, Ph 09 438 9780 Dargaville Dargaville Honda, Jervois St SH14, Ph 09 439 1089 Warkworth Honda Warkworth, 10 Morrison Drive, Ph 09 425 9498

*At participating Honda dealers only. Contact your local Honda Dealer for more information.

30/04/14 5:01 PM

24/06/14 12:09 PM

34

April 2016

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Businessman recognised for excellence

Whangarei businessman, Wayne Hill, director of Hill Construction, was presented a Distinction Award at the recent Coresteel Buildings national conference.

“Wayne has been an instrumental franchisee in terms of pushing the Coresteel product to its full capabilities.

His construction wisdom and passionate vision set him aside from many. Within the Coresteel group he continues to be a great advocate and mentor,” says general manager of Coresteel Buildings NZ, Haemish Reid.

Due to Wayne’s drive and determination, the Coresteel Buildings Northland operation has become a dominant player in the Northland construction market and has performed consistently for many years.

“I have no doubt that the systems and processes that Wayne applied in the earlier years of the business will certainly continue to be upheld and bring success for business partners, James Senescall and Simon Eilering,” says Haemish.

Coresteel Buildings Northland has continually featured highly in the National Coresteel Buildings Awards and won Franchise of the Year in 2013

and 2015, was runner-up in 2014, and took out the Overall Excellence Award in 2014. The franchise has also won the Highest Volume of Sales Award for six consecutive years.

Hill Construction was founded

by Wayne over 30 years ago as a construction company. In 1983 the company was incorporated as Hill Construction Ltd. In 2009 Hill Construction bought the Coresteel Northland franchise, adding to the breadth of projects that Hill Construction could take on.

In 2013 Hill Construction also purchased the Coresteel Buildings Bay of Plenty franchise, which is based in Tauranga.

“Whist it has been two years of hard slog breaking into a tight-knit, tightly held area, we are now starting to gain traction,” says Wayne Hill. “With the quality product we have, the future looks rosy for us in this area.

“Some years ago I saw the potential of cold formed steel structures and

realised that if we didn’t become involved, we would lose considerable work to this innovative new way of building.”

Hill Construction purchased The Barn Company’s, now Coresteel Buildings, Northland franchise and began competing in the small steel shed market.

“It wasn’t long before I realised that we needed to be in the larger commercial/industrial market, as the product was so innovative.”

At this time, local Donovan brothers, Brett and Kyle, purchased the national Barn Company franchise and shortly after rebranded to Coresteel Buildings, to encompass the new direction.

“Through their exper tise in engineering and forward thinking they redesigned the whole process to fit squarely in the larger commercial and industrial market. Hill Construction’s involvement with Coresteel has been a game changer and now accounts for 80 percent of our work. Coresteel Buildings

Pictured from left, Donovan Group NZ Ltd director Brett Donovan, Wayne Hill, and Coresteel Buildings NZ general manager,Haemish Reid

are recognised as a quality product and we are extremely pleased to be part of it.”

Northern Rural Marketplace Acraflex Dairy Wall Coatings New or existing walls

Able to be applied between milkings during summer months

Colourcrete Dairy Floor Resurfacing System Suitable for repairing damaged dairy floors or slippery areas Bruce Cameron 027 498 8412 / 09 235 8263

S T A

ty ce per nan Proainte air M Rep &

• Kitchen/Bathroom Fit Outs • Water Blasting & Chem Washes • Decks • Rental Repairs • Section Cleanups • Fences & Repairs • Concreting • Rubbish Removal • Hedge Trimming • House Renovations • Plus Much More

027 455 7750 / 09 439 8628

Andrew Turner

ats.maintenance@hotmail.com

ATJ

Harrison Water Ram Pumps Pump water on your farm or to your house 24/7 NO Electricity Bills.

Spec i Also Available 15-2 al Price f $850 5mm Mo or Solar Water Pumps del .0 (No Batteries) until 0 Inc .

31/0 G S 1/20 16. T Enquiries: harrisons@actrix.co.nz,

4 Models

SELF DRIVE MACHINERY HIRE

• Rollers 1.5 - 13 tonne • Diggers 1-20 tonne • Site dumpers 1-10 tonne • Loaders, Trailers, Plate Compactors etc

Call the team at ATJ for your hire needs

Warkworth 09 425 8845 or Aaron on 021 210 0493 4 Morrosion Drive, Warkworth

Ph 027 483 9996 John or 022 059 5166

Bouquets on Broadway Fresh Flower Bouquets and gift ideas • Flowering Plants • Cake and Wedding accessories • Balloons, cards & soft toys • Venue dressing • Daily deliveries

BRADLEY

TreeGuyz LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED IN WHANGAREI FOR 32 YEARS • • • •

Tree Felling/Trimming Dismantling/Removing Storm Damage/Chipping 13T Digger/4T Hiab/Grapples

• Shelter Belt Removal • Insurance Cover • Free Quote

“We just love your trees to bits!”

Don’t forget Mother’s Day Sun May 8

p. 09 401 1706 | bobflorist@xtra.co.nz 107 Broadway Kaikohe | www.bouquetsonbroadway.co.nz

Phone ALAN 09 435 0399 or 09 434 6946 Mobile 027 227 5095 Email: treeguyz@ihug.co.nz www.treeguyz.co.nz

NOW AVAILABLE – GRADER AND 12 TONNE DIGGER + 2 AXLE TIPPING TRAILER ALSO AVAILABLE – WOOD CHIP AND SAWDUST FOR ANIMAL BEDDING

• Patented Bridging system • Environmentally friendly • Aesthetically Pleasing • Low Impact • Robust • Cost Effective

More Milk

Kelly Wright Phone 021 437 684 kelly@clearwatercrossings.co.nz Steve Swann Phone 021 274 3831 steve@clearwatercrossings.co.nz www.clearwatercrossings.co.nz

Better Health

Less Metabolics

phone 0800 4 DOLOMITE 0800 436 566 Bio-Gro certified

110HP 4WD Tractor and Slasher.

Dempster Digger s Ltd

Phone now for pricing and bookings.

PH: 027 262 1848 A/H: 09 433 7325 www.dempsterdiggers.co.nz

Residential & Commercial Construction 17 Jackson Road, RD9, Whangarei Ph: 09 434 8178 • Mob: 022 126 9804 email: ezra@ezrabellconstruction.com web: www.ezrabellconstruction.com

Free parking and we don’t run late

Neil Johnson P: (09) 438 4273

BRIDGE BUILDING & PILING SPECIALISTS We offer design & build for bridges including plans, permits, consents and construction.

Or see us to strengthen and repair your existing bridge to ensure safe access on your property.

Contact: GHK Piling Phone: 09 435 4443

Address: 9-11 Hewlett St, Whangarei

Email: admin@ghk.co.nz Web: www.ghk.co.nz

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES April 2016

35

Northern Rural Marketplace IES CONSTRUCTION LTD.

• Minimum 7-10 day hang-on-the-bone

CONCRETE AND TILT SLAB CONSTRUCTION

• We guarantee all of your meat back • No mix ups!

• On-site killing service • Full yield calculation • Online slaughter request and ordering • Offal disposal service• Covering 60km radius (negotiable) • Inspection welcome • Weighed on site

Your meat - from paddock to freezer 1043 Whananaki North Road, RD1, Hikurangi Phone: 09 433 9833 | Fax: 09 433 9832 www.homekillservices.com | e: office@homekillservices.com

• • • •

Bridges Farm buildings Feed pads Bins

PO Box 448, Kerikeri, 0245 • PHONE: 09 407 8784 FAX: 09 407 8770 • EMAIL: ies@concrete.net.nz

Make Your Life easier! use our services now!

• Pipe & Steel Supplies • LTNZ Approved Workshop • General, Agricultural & Structural Engineering • Mobile Welding Services • General Repairs & Maintenance • 2 Ton Gantry Crane • Plate Roller, Profile Cutter & Press Brake • de-CRAP-it®, Landplane®, Serious Incinerator® • Field Rollers, Water Carts • Kumara Gear

Newman Engineering (2004) LTD Ph 09 439 5065 Dargaville www.newmanengineering.co.nz

www.animalherbs.co.nz

Northland Laser Drainage Ltd Neil Carter Trading as

Doug Wilson Manager Phone: Fax: Mobile: Email:

09 430 2934 09 430 2936 0274 302 934 dougw@nrh.co.nz

Specialising in Fertiliser and Metal cartage.

30 Tonne units available.

We cover your country!

MARGARET & JOHN BISHOP

Subsurface Drainage Specialists (Nth) All Services & Maintenance Available PO Box 1174, Whangarei Ph 09 434 7741 • Mobile 027 273 6865

We courier to your door!

A big range of Health Solutions for you, your family and animals

• Solutions for control of fleas, ticks • Consult with Pat for solutions and worms with WashBar products, to skin problems and other Diatomaceous Earth and Flee Flea health issues for your pet • Herbal and Homeopathic remedies • Orijen Organic Dog and Cat Food — no grains for you and your animals

Ph 09 432 0820

1279 S/H 14, MAUNGATAPERE

Email: homeopat@ubernet.co.nz Visit: www.animalherbs.co.nz to buy online

NORTHERN FARMING CLASSIFIEDS Reach 33,300 Rural Homes — Phone 0800 466 793

For Sale

For Sale

Sheep Shearing

ATV MATS from $89 — Come in & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz.

NEED NEW ATV TYRES? GET 20% OFF RRP & FREE FITTING at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi.

Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz.

ANY SIZE flock. Top quality job, good rates. Phone Rob 027 209 0942.

Animal Health Products

BACK 2 Wood Demolition. We buy & sell renovation materials. Servicing Northland — Auckland.

Specialising in Windows, Doors, Ranchsliders, Kitchens, Vanities, Roofing and More! Check out our website back2wood.co.nz or Phone 0800 10 98 77.

ATV SAFETY HELMETS — from $119 accessories from $15. The law has changed! Have you got yours? Come & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz. Subject to availability.

CHAIN & SPROCKET KITS DIRT OR FARM BIKE. SAVE 10% off RRP If you get them fitted at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Phone 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz.

GOT2GO PLANTS: Corokia $6, Rosemary $5, Bottlebrush $1 - $6, Portwine Magnolia $6, Pohutukawa Maori Princess $6 - $8, Vibrance $8, Spring Fire $8, Cordylines $1 - $8, Nikau $3 - $6, Psudopanae $1 - $8, Griselina $3 - $6, Pittosporum $3 - $6, Kowhai $3 - $6, Flaxes (10 types) $1 - $6, Coloured Manuka $6, Grasses $1, Coprosma $4 - $6, Puka $6 - $15. Friday to Sunday 9am - 4pm or Phone 09 439 5556, 55 West Coast Road, Te Kopuru.

HIGH CELL Count? Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic & Manuka Honey 20L $49.95, 200L $450 or 1000L $2,000 +GST with free delivery. Black Type Minerals Ltd. Phone 021 185 1501. blacktypeminerals.co.nz.

Nurseries & Plants HERITAGE APPLE Trees from $20.00 — Hardy root stocks — Diversify your farm with an Orchard tree pack. Ph 09 408 5443 — 027 346 7645 — www. tastytrees.co.nz.

SUBTROPICA NURSERY. A wide range of subtropical fruiting and ornamental plants by courier throughout NZ. Bananas, cherimoya, casimiroa, kava, lucuma, pineapples and much, much more. Visit www. subtropica.co.nz or catalogue $5 from Subtropica, Massey Rd, RD2, Waipu.

Firewood

Energy Efficiency WINDMILL WATER pumps by Ferguson Windmills Company. Phone 09 412 8655 or 027 282 7689. www.windmills.co.nz. sales@windmills.co.nz.

Calf Milk Powder APRIL RATE for Milk Powder. Brytec NZ Calf Milk Powder made in Matamata. $2875 included GST. N.I. delivery rate depends on location. S.I. add $150/tonne. 18% fat, 35% protein. No imported or poor quality milk used. Guaranteed to curd.

Ted 020 4061 9534. tedcharlton@gmx.com. www.facebook/calfmilkpowder.

Wanted

NZ SURPLUS TRUCKS NZ Wide Service

0800 33 33 98

WE PAY CASH!! MOTOR HOMES TRUCKS VANS UTES 4X4 EVEN CARS

Is Your Truck Surplus To Requirement Fleet Upgrade COF Issues Not Running then you have what we want!!

0800 33 33 98

OPEN 24/7

FELLING TREES?

THINK SAFE

36

April 2016 NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

HAWKEYE 3255 HD

$6,695 INC GST

00 0 1 $ E V SA

RANGER DIESEL 1000 HD

NO DEPOSIT

$22,495INC GST

NO

POLARIS M1400

00 0 2 $ E V SA

4.99%

REPAYMENTS FOR 6 MONTHS

$11,395 $11 395 5 INC GST

INTEREST FOR 24 MONTHS

RANGER 0% P.A. OVER 24 MONTHS

1/3 1/ UPFRONT UPF

1/3 IN 12 MONTHS

RANGER 570 HD

$19,495 $19

INC GST

1/3 IN 24 MONTHS 00 5 2 $ E V SA

RANGER ETX

$13,495

INC GST

SPORTSMAN SPORTSMAN ETX GST $7,895 INC $

SPORTSMAN 570 SP GST $12,995 INC

SAVE $1000

1/3

UPFRONT

1/3

IN 12 MONTHS

1/3 1 /3

IN 24 MONTHS

ROUSE MOTORCYCLES LTD 1 KING STREET, HIKURANGI, WHANGAREI. PH; 0800 96 36 36 MAUNGATUROTO MOTORCYCLES LTD 117 HURNDALL STREET, MAUNGATUROTO. PH: 09 431 8555 CA MOTORCYCLES LTD 725 POUTO ROAD, DARGAVILLE. PH: 09 439 0170 ADVENTURE POWERSPORTS 34 FORGE ROAD, SILVERDALE, 09 444 0636 KUMEU CHAINSAWS AND MOWERS LTD MAIN ROAD, HUAPAI. PH: 09 412 8109 Subject to credit approval, fees, terms and conditions apply. Based on a 24 month Hire Purchase Contract. To approved Registered GST No Holders for business purposes only on applications for Polaris Ranger Diesel, Ranger 570 HD, Ranger ETX and Sportsman 570 SP models. Offer expires 31/07/2016. Polaris Finance is a program operated by De Lage Landen Ltd Company No: 135515.

www.polaris.co.nz |

/PolarisNZ