Northern Farming Lifestyles, October 2019

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33,144 copies DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga

Valuing working dogs

P6

October 2019 Edition

0800 466 793

Sixty years on for groundspread

Female forester champ

P16

P26

Through a child’s eyes Pages 4–5

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Talk to us, for goodness sake

Integrity community media

The Northern Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company.

by Matt King, Member of Parliament for Northland

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz General Manager: Deb Wright | deb.wright@integrity.nz | 021 639 696

Let’s start with an unassailable fact: the people who know New Zealand farming best are farmers.

Editorial: Ann van Engelen, Paul Campbell, Andy Bryenton Advertising: Betty Willetts, Lorraine Allardyce Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

Distribution details Print run 33,144. ABC audited circulation 32,975, audited Jan–Dec 2014. DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga.

Matt King Northland MP Meet Matt your local MP I’m here to help you I’m here to represent you in the electorate and in Parliament.

Please phone my office to make an appointment.

09 407 7219 @ Northland@parliament.govt.nz fb.com/mattkingmp

Authorised by Matt King, Parliament Buildings, Wellington.

It is therefore logical that before introducing any measures impacting on the viability of farming — a government would want to first go to farmers for feedback. Then they would, I suggest, want to talk to those rural towns and communities who largely depend on farming — asking them what they think.

However, this is a government in which logic doesn’t have much sway, and those who espouse it — generally have no say.

The government is promulgating some policies that whilst laudable, reducing carbon emissions, cleaning up our waterways, etc, could, if not implemented carefully and expertly, have a crippling effect on farming; an industry, incidentally, that accounts for 70 per cent of our exports.

Yet, who are they talking to about these measures? Not us, it seems.

The Ministry of the Environment’s consultation with farmers over the Action on Agricultural Emissions document lasted just five weeks.

The government then released their

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Freshwater Proposals and associated reports, all 2,000 pages of them, and gave farmers just six weeks and then, under pressure, a further two weeks to react.

Really? At farming’s busiest time of the year!

It is also interesting that for all the reams of scientific data, the government is managing to find any data on the economic impact on farming is curiously missing.

It is hard for me not to feel cynical about what appears to a deliberate attempt by the government to shut farmers out or at least limit their input into measures that vitally affect them.

In my experience, New Zealand farmers, lifestylers and the rural communities that support them and are supported by them, are pretty good at getting the job done.

That the government is not tapping into that huge amount of knowledge we have is not only illogical (some may say stupid), it is disrespectful and dangerous.

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Young Grower of the Year Nelson’s Jono Sutton was announced as this year’s Young Grower of the Year at the awards dinner in Tauranga.

“The Young Grower of the Year is important because it highlights horticulture as a vibrant career for young people,” said HortNZ chief executive Mike Chapman.

“Our $6 billion industry continues to grow in response to worldwide and domestic demand for fresh, healthy food. At the same time, our industry is responding to new requirements, particularly in the areas of freshwater, land use, food safety, and health and safety.

“These areas offer young people many and varied career opportunities. I am positive that all entrants in 2019’s Young Grower competition have benefitted from the experience and will continue to grow and support horticulture.”

Jono proved his impressive skills and knowledge throughout the competition.

As the regional Nelson finalist, the 26-year-old was up against six other contestants from around New Zealand.

“This is one of horticulture’s highest achievements for a young person, so winning it is massive,” said Jono.

“Some of the past winners have gone on to do amazing things in horticulture, so to have my name next to theirs is

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overwhelming.” Jono’s grandparents, who are berry and apple growers in Nelson, came to support him.

“It is really great to have genuine support where win or lose — they think you are the best anyway,” says Jono.

“They have been in the industry since the 80s when they transferred from

agriculture to horticulture with the help of my father. For them to be able to pass the baton on to me is a real blessing.”

The annual Young Grower of the Year competition is run by Horticulture New Zealand and supported by platinum sponsor, the Horticentre Charitable Trust.

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Through a child’s eyes

by Ann van Engelen

Madison Macmillan helps on the family farm, is an ambassador for the Northland Rescue Helicopter, an accomplished author and a rescuer of Kauri snails.

“I

help my granddad and dad and love working with the animals.

During winter giant kauri land snails called pupurangi in maori end up washed onto the track that goes through our manuka block. We carefully collect the live ones and rehome them in our native blocks around the farm to protect them,” says eight year old Madison.

“They eat worms, and rehoming them means they can breed in other areas otherwise they die on the tracks, predators get them or they drown because they can’t swim. Pupurangi has to contend with habitat destruction, and predators such as rats, pigs and things.

“We have lots of fern birds, a black tit bird, a native orchid, native crabs and mussels. I have learned about native trees because we have kauri, matai,

puriri, rimu, totara, manuka, karaka and kawakawa on our farm. Kawakawa is a well known maori medicine and dad and I make balms and tea out of it.”

At seven years old Madison published her first book, The Good Baby and The Bad Hippo, which she wrote on her way home from school one day.

“The story is about a friendship that develops after a difference of opinion and an agreement to be truthful and eat healthily,” says Madison.

“My teacher read a story and I got an idea to write about being kind and don’t lie. I have just finished my second book called The Good Baby and The Hairy Monster. It is about a cat who’s shadow looks like a monster and the baby had nightmares but discovers it is a cat and takes him home.

Madison Macmillan saves Kauri snails when they are washed up on the farm tracks after heavy rain

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An accomplished author, Madison also cares for her calves and lambs on a daily basis “I donated $750 from my first book sales to the Northland Rescue Helicopter Service because they do very important work helping save people’s lives. My dad works for them so I know they work very hard. It is important to teach your children and grandchildren to call 111 if anyone has an accident because not all children know how to do this and living on a farm means you are far away from help.”

Madison’s grandparents have put some areas of the property into native reserve.

“It is important to care for animals and living things because the species may die out and people might not be able

to experience the unique opportunities of seeing them in the future. We have paradise ducks and one day dad and I climbed up an old macrocarpa tree and one was sitting on a whole lot of eggs in the tree.

“We were surprised but it nests there every year so we keep an eye on it and have the adventure of finding the ducklings on the farm when they hatch.

“I have three calves which I care for.

They are a Simmental, Black Wagyu and Red Wagyu called Caramel, Speckle and Panda. I bottle feed them a special milk powder because their mums were sent to another farm and one had to be put down due to illness. They also have

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Madison helps on the family farm and has an interest in all things native extra grain and cattle nuts and feed once a day on one of the breeding cows.

I got some Dorset Horn lambs from my granddad and grandma that I look after. I watch the sheep get shorn and help with anything I can including feeding out hay to the animals.

“When you live on a farm it is important everyone is careful around machinery, and make sure people know where you are. We have walkie talkies to stay in contact and I never go to the waterways alone.

“We do a lot of exploring and have found Moa gizzard stones that we got carbon dated by using a piece of kauri gum we found next to them. They

dated to around five thousand years old. Moa didn’t have teeth so they swallowed stones and these ended up in their gizzard and ground up the food. When the stones got too smooth they would spit them out and they could have hundreds.

“They look different to a normal stone and we have found a few crops of them.

They are bright and shiny and I have a massive green one and one is about three inches long.

“When I get older I want to run the farm with my best friend Lilly-May and we are going to get chickens to sell the eggs, sheep to milk, dogs and horses and get a ram to continue breeding.”

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

VALUING WORKING DOGS

by Ann van Engelen

Bex Hughes-Baynes is one of New Zealand’s winning dog trialists, a hunter and a shepherd, who has spent many hours upskilling her dog handling abilities.

“I

grew up in Waverley on a dairy grazing and sheep and beef unit. I always had a love for animals and was involved in horse and hound hunting with my mum when I was younger,” says Bex. “I am now on horseback every day as a shepherd mustering sheep, docking and any other farm work that comes my way.”

Bex generally works between Tukemokihi and Paparatu Stations with other clients in between assignments.

“Most places I work are big sheep and beef farms. At present, I am helping with docking. I have been shepherding since I was 19 years old and ended up in Gisborne where I met my partner

David Scragg, he manages Tukemokihi Station. I got into dog trialling when I started working at Paparatu as we would go to our friend Allen Irwin’s and train our dogs with him. Being involved with dog trials is a good way to upskill yourself and learn from the older guys.

I love it as it is a time to socialise and see what new dogs are out there. Every dog is different and training them isn’t really hard, you just need to spend a lot of time with them. It is great to see what other people do and you take what you learn and turn it into your own style.”

Bex says all of her dogs are very well looked after with each having their own beds and coats. “Ultimately treating my dogs with respect and spoiling them

Bex enjoys competitions as a way to upskill her ability as a dog handler and interact with others

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When mustering, Bex works on horseback bringing the sheep into the yards and transferring them into new paddocks

saves me money, and I get more years out of them. They are my work tools, and work extremely hard and deserve nothing but the best. I always have pups coming and going as I breed and rear a lot. I pick what I think is going to be the best that will suit me.

“Younger people would find the dog trials really interesting, and we need more people to come through and train as judges, and helpers because if they don’t turn up the sport will die out.

These days we are so lucky because in the past no one would pass on their training information. Now if you are willing to learn — people are more than happy to help.

“It is about having good dogs for work. Good dogs are important for me,

as my income relies on them. You are paid to do a job mustering, and if you can’t do it efficiently, people won’t get you back.

“Training a dog is like breaking in a horse. You need to be able to direct each dog and have it listen to you. It takes many hours and travelling to get advice, but it is worth it, and I do it because I love them and my job being outside every day.

“Mustering other people’s stock is a huge responsibility, and they need to be able to trust their staff. I bring the stock down on horseback, and depending what time of year it is, depends on the chores. With docking, I transfer animals from paddocks to the required yards, from one beat to the next. Some

Bex Hughes-Baynes, Jo Waugh and Steph Tweed are all successful dog trial place-getters and believe it is a rewarding sport for females to participate in

stations are huge, so you need to be organised and confident.

“I have been shepherding for 11 years and confidence comes with experience.

You need to back yourself because you are more capable than you think.”

Bex placed second in the New Zealand Dog Trials in 2018, and sixth in the South Island Championships.

“I won the first round and then got into a run-off with contestants from across the South Island.

I run heading dogs, but I enjoy the huntaways a lot more due to the countryside I work on. In the last 12

months, the girls within dog trialling have done phenomenally well.

“In 2018, when I placed second in the country — it was the highest placing a woman ever got.

“This year myself and two other women were in the run-off. Out of 300 competitors, there were only 10 women, and my friend Jo Waugh won that round in the South Island.

“In the New Zealand competition, Steph Tweed won. It is a good sport that girls are excelling at and the best part is we are all very good friends, and that makes it extra special.”

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

AN EQUESTRIAN

VISION

by Ann van Engelen

Laura Macnab has grown up with horses on her parent’s beef and sheep farm on the rugged West Coast, and this has led her into an equestrian interest resulting in overseas travel.

“I

have been wearing gumboots my whole life. Mum breeds Welsh ponies and Dad is also from a horsey family — so a love of horses is in my blood. My two sisters and I learnt to ride from a very young age, but I am the only one that stuck with it and gave it a crack professionally,” says Laura.

Laura’s passion for horses has seen her represent New Zealand through the NZ Horse Council at the Australasian Grand National Championships in Australia. She placed third in the 21 to under 30-year-old age group and was also a team member in the Royal Agricultural Society Equestrian TriNations team in England placing second.

“Riding is mostly a solo sport, so competing as part of a team is an awesome experience.” Laura is in her last year of an ag science degree

majoring in equine and would like to become a bloodstock agent, for racehorses and buy and sell on behalf.

She also received a scholarship through Thoroughbred NZ, which will see her travel to the Irish National Stud in Ireland next year.

“I am extremely humbled and excited to have been chosen as one of this year’s recipients of the Irish National Stud Scholarship put up by the Taylor Family. This scholarship is extra special to me as Faith Taylor is my late grandmother Margaret Macnab’s sister.

I am incredibly proud to be heading to Ireland in January 2019 has been a really great year for me, and this might just top it all off. To be involved with horses, you must be prepared to work hard, and take all the advice you can get from experienced people — every

Laura Macnab has been involved with horses since she was a child and is passionate about the animals

single day I learn something new. We have cliffs and hills on the farm, which is home to Hereford Angus Cross beef cattle and a mix of sheep breeds. My

sisters get the motorbike, and I grab the horse to muster the stock. We help where we can such as docking, drenching and shifting stock.

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Back from the brink For the past four and a half years, Monique Bradley has spent every day being reminded she is lucky to be alive.

Nearly five years ago the carefree teenager was riding a horse on the beach at Whananaki South with a group of girls when her horse suddenly suffered the anguish of two broken front legs, throwing her from its back and rolling on her as it hit the ground.

The pain would have been unimaginable for Monique – however she was knocked unconscious and to this day, remembers nothing from her accident.

The memories have been filled in by those who were there, who called for help, and kept her still on the sand while they waited for help to arrive – and help came in the form of the Northland Rescue Helicopter.

Due to the horse’s condition and the possibility of it getting a fright from the landing helicopter, the chopper landed further down the beach.

The horse was lying just beside where Monique had landed and the risk of it hurting Monique further was a real one, especially if it got a fright from the chopper.

All safety precautions were taken, and Monique was soon loaded onto a board and taken in the chopper to Whangarei Hospital. Once she was safely off the beach, her horse had to be euthanised to end its suffering.

On arrival, medical staff determined she had a fractured spine and a brain bleed.

She remained unconscious and to this day, her memory only resurfaces about four to five days after the accident.

After one week at Whangarei Hospital, Monique was transferred to ABI Brain Rehabilitation in Auckland where she stayed for a month before being finally able to return home.

Back in 2015, Monique had already started university, studying to be a teacher, while also riding horses, doing a bit of modelling and coaching horse-riding at a pony club.

Following her accident, Monique suffered from the effects of having a traumatic brain injury. This meant initially having to learn to walk, communicate and eat again and saw her struggle with her studies and general wellbeing – each day bringing a reminder of what had happened and what was now a “new normal”.

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“I show competitively and have worked in the thoroughbred industry for the last five years. Before university, I worked at Te Akau Stud during the summer. Now I do track work at the Awapuni Racecourse in the morning before uni.

“I started competing because mum competed in the UK — she is English.

I wanted to ride in the ring with the big kids, so she took me to a few shows when I was seven and 14 years later here I am. I have met the most incredible horsemen and women.

“As soon as we were tall enough to get on a pony, we had to saddle, bridle, brush and care for our horses. Mum and dad gave us a really good start in life. My mum breeds our horses so she didn’t have to buy ponies for us and she breeds the perfect children’s ponies. If I am available, I help with the foaling, mares and stallion.

“We hard feed our show animals, ensuring they get all the nutrients and supplements to perform at their best.

Whether it is adding salt or a toxin binder into their feed, make sure you can provide for them, especially if you want your animal to perform like an athlete. Even saddles and bridles have to fit correctly — you wouldn’t send a runner out with ill-fitting shoes or clothes. My horses get saddles fitted every six months to a year to ensure they can perform at their very best.”

Laura says if you want to purchase a horse and you are new to owning

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Ensuring you have the ability to feed and care for your horse properly is of high importance to Laura who grew up on a beef and sheep farm

one ask someone you know who has a horse, or contact your local riding school and make sure you are ready for the commitment.

“They are not like a dog or cat — it is a much bigger animal. Get lessons and ask lots of questions — don’t be afraid to fall off and get your hands dirty. They are social, and interaction is important.

Everyone starts somewhere and it is not going to be an instant success story.

They are animals, and you have to treat them like animals but enjoy them as they can change your life.

“I am lucky to have the support of my family as often weekends in summer are spent at horse shows. I am sure sometimes they would rather be somewhere else, but they understand my commitment to the sport, and I can’t thank them enough. I was always the horse girl at school. I can’t imagine life without them. I help others when I can and give younger or beginner riders advice as a way to give back to help those who have helped me. Horses are where my heart lies, but I will always return to the family farm.”

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES ADVERTORIAL

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Muscle stiffness and pain can be a side effect of statin cholesterol-lowering drugs. Statins slow the rate of the enzyme responsible for cholesterol production. However, this same enzyme is responsible for producing coenzyme Q10. A high-quality coenzyme Q10 like the US-patented CoQsol can help.

Some diseases cause muscle pain.

Two more common problems are the inflammatory condition PMR and FM, a non-inflammatory muscle problem.

With PMR we target overproduction of inflammatory immune system chemicals (cytokines and prostaglandins) and help restore immune function.

With FM we focus on adding compounds like magnesium and

MSM (sulphur) to relax and oxygenate muscles. Once we know the cause of the pain, my role is to identify the healing processes damaged or affected by the problem. For example, cramp and restless leg syndrome can be an indication of mineral deficiencies or poor peripheral circulation.

As an example, people with cramp generally respond very well to magnesium therapy. The best magnesium supplements use expensive, but better-absorbed amino acid chelated forms.

While magnesium can be very effective, some people need to be careful with magnesium therapy, especially those with digestive issues or on some medications.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

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Jacob Darling, GM Group Sales and Marketing for Darling Group, says there is an issue with the common perception that export per tray OGR is the primary indicator for determining the profitability of an orchard.

“It is clear that the current perception of a profitable orchard is determined through OGR and the corresponding dollar amount that is presented to each grower at the end of the export season, but it’s time we started discussing the truth about OGR,” says Darling.

“This is a widely accepted perception but not one that is entirely accurate for determining your orchard’s profitability or potential.”

Darling believes that this perception is flawed, especially when combined with the popular export strategy of hanging fruit late in the export season to take advantage of high prices in Australia post-Christmas.

“Leaving fruit to hang late to take advantage of market opportunities reduces your pack out, increases the chance of quality issues, and reduces the ability to produce consistent crops year-on-year.”

He explains that it is the dollars returned per hectare is what really matters.

“Production is a far bigger contributor to profit than return in trays.”

When looking at growers that have productivity of 20 to 22 tonnes per hectare consistently, Darling says there are a few key things they have in common, harvesting at the same time every year (in September/ October) and pruning at the same time every year.

“Their export OGR per tray might be less then someone who harvested after Christmas, but if you looked at their return per hectare — it would be more.

“When 55% of the industry crop last season went export, it’s worth considering the contributors here and what the other 45% of the orchard’s income could have looked like if the growers were able to take actions — pick and prune, etc, at the optimal times.”

Just Avocados is keen to talk to growers about what they are calling the ‘OGR equation’, which takes a holistic approach to charting a course for orchard profitability and also for analysing previous seasons’ results.

THE TRUTH ABOUT OGR.

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John Arts comments: “Abundant Health rapid absorption Magnesium can really help tight or stressed muscles and for a good night’s ’’s sleep. The 3 different forms of Magnesium mean you get fast results. The normal dose is 2 before bed.” (John Arts, Founder,r,r Abundant Health Ltd)

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DRIVE SAFE On Rural Roads

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027 476 9087 john@justavocados.co.nz @justavocados www.justavocados.co.nz

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

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Albany Mowers & Machinery 09 415 9756 Farrand & Mason Ltd 09 439 7335 Kaikohe Lawnmowers & Chainsaws Ltd 09 401 0151 Kaitaia Tractors Ltd 09 408 0670 Kaiwaka Motorcycles Ltd 09 431 2127 Kumeu Chainsaw & Mower Services 09 412 8109

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12

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Scottish Winds — Avant Garde, Merit Award

Te Ikaroa – The Milky Way — Avant Garde, Merit Award Thrive — Construction Ingenuity/ Technique Award

Earth Mother — Our Natural Environment, Winner

The Bone Collectors Daughter — Our Natural Environment, Merit Award

Calling Kaipara Home — Our Natural Environment, Merit Award

Travel Italy in Style The best of

+ Opera & markets!

Friday September 11th – Thursday October 1st 2020 (21 days) This unique itinerary is designed for 20 discerning travellers.

Bathe in the Mediterranean Sea; visit seaside villages and ancient gardens with stunning views! Meet our friends in Tuscany for lunch on the farm, enjoying their deliciously fresh produce and wines. You will not be bored by lots of facts and figures! No standing in long queues, because we make appointments and book suitable times well ahead. You will be immersed in the daily lives of Italians because you are travelling with an

Italian!! Most tourists do not have this opportunity!!

Accommodation in 4 and 5 star quality small family run hotels for 3 and 4 nights in the historic centres, so you can be immersed in the daily lives of the locals! We will introduce you to our Italian friends who accompany us during parts of our daily programme!! Daily ‘a la carte’ dining in local restaurants, including wine and beverages of your choice.

Entry fees and all tipping included. Your luggage will be handled by porters during your travels with us! You will NOT be coach bound – we only travel short distances – refreshments en route included!

Also available are itineraries for 14 travellers to Sicily; Italian Lakes & Cinque Terre; Italian Opera in Verona; Corsica & Sardinia 2020.

P.O. BOX 556, WAIHEKE ISLAND, AUCKLAND 1840, NEW ZEALAND. Tel 0800 387 872 or Email susan@etruscan.co.nz • www.travelitalyinstyle.com • Directors: Susan Williamson and John Percy

Our regular clients choose to travel with us because “quality is better than quantity”!! They thank us for immersing them in the real culture that the average traveller would never see.

The age group of our ‘discerning’ travellers is generally 40’s to mid 70’s, professional and like minded people – all wanting to experience something new, have fun, relax and travel hassle– free and at a gentle pace!

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

Ano — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Merit Award

13

Tuatara — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Merit Award

Te Haerenga: The Journey — Youth Award Cosmopolitian Ties — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Winner

Reuse — Toi Toru, Model catwalk presence, flair, audience engagement award

Dandelion Wishes took out the Dargaville Ford Avant Garde winner award, the Kaipara Lifestyler Supreme Award and Tailored Legal Solutions People’s Choice

Wearable Arts 2019 Dargaville

official results Dargaville Ford Avant Garde Dandelion Wishes - Jackie Butterworth�������������������������������������������������������������������������Winner Scottish Winds - Aimee Tomes ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Merit Te Ikaroa- The Milky Way - Mayhla Howells ����������������������������������������������������������������������� Merit Grant’s Gas & Plumbing Our Natural Environment Earth Mother - Mayhla Howells �������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������Winner The Bone Collectors Daughter - Paula Guy-Stuve ���������������������������������������������������������� Merit Calling Kaipara Home - Sarah Bird ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Merit Dargaville Community Development Board Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Cosmopolitan Ties - Jessica McEwing �����������������������������������������������������������������������������Winner Ano - Shelly Matiu�������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� Merit Tuatara - Robyn Mitchell ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ Merit Ritchies Transport Youth Award Te Haerenga: The Journey - Dargaville Kindergarten Tamariki My Accountants Best Construction Thrive - Yvette Gilchrist Dargaville Northern Wairoa Hotel Best Model Toi Toru Kaipara Lifestyler Supreme Award Dandelion Wishes - Jackie Butterworth Tailored Legal Solutions Ltd People’s Choice Dandelion Wishes - Jackie Butterworth

GET INSPIRED FOR 2020 Are you interested in being the centrepiece of Dargaville Wearable Arts for 2020?

Do you have an idea, or a creative vision to share? Do you think you have what it takes to bring home the supreme award or do you just want to have a fun way to show your artistic talent to the world?

We invite you to get involved!

CONTACT US NOW! John 027 525 8189 | info@dargavillearts.co.nz

Join the Dargaville Wearable Arts for 2020

Watertech Plus We have got you covered ...!

Pumps - supply and maintain New & reconditioned, household pumps, farm, irrigation, 12V, bore pumps, diesel pumps Filtration - supply and maintain Cartridge filters, UV, Water softening. We stock a full range of Puretec filter housings, replacement cartridges, UV lamps & Quartz tubes.

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14

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

AG CONTRACTORS

The gypsy B

y

Lifestyle An n van Eng

e el

n

Wayne and Sharon George have moved from working in stable careers to travelling in their bus taking on various roles such as fruit picking, relief milking and creating possibilities for others to enjoy a lifestyle while travelling.

W

ayne was working in forestry and truck driving and Sharon, a former bank manager was employed at a geotech surveying company when she had an accident which encouraged them to re-evaluate their lifestyle.

“I love how life gives people the ability to think about what they are doing. I lost

my first husband at 23 years old and life wasn’t easy. Just when we got to a point where things were going great I tripped over a shoe at work and smashed my head into a wall,” says Sharon.

“When I tripped I had my handbag in one hand and laptop in the other and didn’t want to drop either so broke my fall with my head. The doctors thought

Wayne and Sharon George have chosen a lifestyle which allows them flexibility and workplace options as they travel

I had broken my neck. It was the worst phone call I had to make to Wayne who was in the forest with hardly any cellphone reception.”

Sharon ended up in a neck brace but didn’t realise she had concussion.

“I flew to Wellington in an unpressurised plane two days later for work. This ended with me being very unwell and we went from hoping to travel one day to making it happen.”

Wayne said it left him with a hollow feeling and he was helpless being so far away.

“Who knows if you have six days, six months or six years left to live. We decided to do what makes us happy as we had been constantly putting off our plans to travel the country in our bus.”

Wayne and Sharon have been keeping a record of places where they had previously found work while on

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

AG CONTRACTORS

Milking cows, painting and picking fruit are some of the opportunities the George’s have embarked upon

adventures. We have been up to Russell and worked in a holiday park. We have packed kiwifruit in Katikati, milked cows, and painted houses to name a few things mixing with completely different types of people.

“We went to Fiji with toys and books for schools and kindergartens in outback villages.

“There was no power, we slept on planks and washed with minimal water in a bucket due to the water shortage.

We learnt what was really important as we helped and socialised with the locals who don’t have a lot but are happy.”

Wayne and Sharon put photos and videos on a website to show others what they were doing in life and out of this came Seasonal Staff.

“Our blog created interest from employers and job seekers as we don’t just pick apples. There are opportunities for cleaners, restaurant staff, strawberry

and cherry pickers, ski season and tractor operations. Every employer has to give their permanent staff four weeks annual leave per year and we can now help reduce pressure as we have engineers, builders, teachers, nurses, accountants, IT people, and unskilled people who just want to get the odd job as they travel around. Our Seasonal Staff website allows people to look at the profiles available.

“We never had the intention of building a seasonal work business but there was a huge need as employers couldn’t find staff and travellers we met couldn’t find jobs.

“We would send emails to the businesses in areas we were travelling to and prebooked a years work. We thought everyone did this, but they don’t.

“The older generation have skills and want to travel and we help facilitate their opportunities. We have given people

Spraying out for Crops?

Call your local guys TEAM Vegetation.

15

Creating Seasonal Staff was not part of the original plan for Wayne and Sharon as they moved to a gyspy type lifestyle

wings to follow their dream by pointing them in the right direction and giving them the ability to connect and do so much more.

“We have some 700 workers registered and had more than one million website hits since June 7. It has taken off like a rocket — we are having 50 people join per day.

Farmers who need a break can register and see who is available. They come up on a map around New Zealand and most are mobile and will travel to you. We have fencing contractors, and painters — there are so many CV’s with different skills.

“We have travelled the country from the Far North, to Hawke’s Bay, Wellington, Taranaki, Taupo, Whakatane, Canterbury and Southland looking at farming, market

gardeners and the ski lodges. We have picked avocados, milked and done odd jobs on farms. We have people who can relief milk for people, harvest kumaras, a photographer and administrator.

“The variety is amazing with beekeepers and vet clinic helpers for debudding.

“We even met up with a structural engineer. It is not the same as being a contractor so people can step right into jobs and this is fantastic with the staffing shortage we have at present across the country.

“The NZ Motorhome Association love the idea and the most amazing part is we inspire others.

“We are loving the shift to the gypsy lifestyle and helping people in the various rural community roles.”

LANCE KEAY C O N T R A C T I N G LT D

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 Topdressing  Orchard Spreading  Fertiliser & Lime Kaikohe/Kerikeri 09 405 2229 • Kaitaia 09 408 6666 • Whangarei 09 437 1116 • Wellsford 09 423 8372 • Helensville 09 420 7079

16

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

AG CONTRACTORS

SIXTY YEARS ON FOR GROUNDSPREAD

by Bill Hilliam Developers of Northland land saw an early need for plenty of fertiliser and lime, and in terms of global history, the transformation of Northland virgin bushland to gum fields then to farming pastures has not taken very long — a mere 120 years or so.

M

oreover, the Northland farming pioneers who faced the arduous task of breaking in and burning off gum lands and peat swamps would be envious if they could see the province today. As the land was developed, it quickly became evident that the soils of Northland required large toppings of superphosphate-potash and lime.

Much of the overall transformation has taken place during the last 60 years, and the general improvement of fertility in the land is now obvious to all.

For this, I feel privileged to thank and congratulate the Northland Groundspreading contractors who,

for the past six decades, have played a major part in the development and prosperity of Northland.

The Whangarei Northland Fertiliser works annually produced a quarter of a million tonnes and together with 29 millers in those days who crushed lime, our Groundspread companies played a major role in cartage and spreading along with, in those days — 23 topdressing planes. The annual lime output was more than two hundred thousand tonnes in 1964. There are only three planes operating in Northland now.

So on October 19, 1959 a group of spreading and bulk store owners formed the Northland branch of the Bulk

The Team at

K P Dreadon Ltd Ag Contracting

TYRES

Specialising in

STEVE TAYLOR

Congratulates The Northland Groundspread Association on their 60th Anniversary Ph 09 435 2276 Fax 09 435 2344 email robynstevetaylor@xtra.co.nz

Opened in February 1965 – closed down November 2017

Fertiliser Association of New Zealand to promote efficiency in the distribution and application of fertiliser and lime in the agricultural sector of the north.

Today the New Zealand Groundspread Association has become a major servicing organisation to New Zealand’s main export earner, agriculture, the only

McLENNAN

• Bulk cartage • Groundspreading • Fertiliser cartage and spreading

GROUNDSPREAD Bulk Cartage & Spreading Specialists Pastoral | Orchard | Lifestyle

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Call Kevin on

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Alex McLennan

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Ph: 09 432 2251 | 021 727 700

Northland Groundspreaders Association FOR THE PAST

Sowing fertiliser on Omamari Govt. Block

Phone: 09 433 5720 | Email: sales@avocagroup.co.nz | www.avocagroup.co.nz

60

years

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

AG CONTRACTORS

17

Celebrating 60 YEARS of NZGFA Northland Branch NEW MEMBERS ALWAYS

WELCOME To join us call Mike on

021 857 341 Find out more about the NZGFA at

Bill’s Trucks

basis for real growth in the economy. It is acknowledged that New Zealand leads the world in ground spread topdressing.

During the past 60 years, our industries have grown-up together and faced and solved many common problems to mutual benefit.

To members and trucking companies, it has been an amazing achievement to have progressed from a limited number of small bulk stores and inadequate off-loading gear as a lot of tonnage of fertiliser was freighted around Northland by rail and old-fashioned spreaders, to a nationwide coverage of modern bulk stores, large bulk trucks and efficient spreading equipment now in use around Northland.

The movers and shakers to form the branch in 1959 were: Sid Penny of Kaikohe, Jack Penny Okaihu, G Small Mangonui, RF Cotton , JE Mc Donald Mangakaramea, Jim Manderson Tangowahine, Dave Dunlop KA McCardle Whapara, Tony Viteli Moerewa; Ray Hampton, Ted Griffin, Ray Meyers

Whangarei, Jim Sommer Waipu, Greville Thurston Ruawai and Noel Kelly Wellsford. Ron Fletcher from Kawakawa served as secretary for 45 years.

The branch has had 21 presidents during those 60 years with Bill Hilliam becoming a national president in 1982 when the name was changed to New Zealand Groundspread.

Up to the middle eighties the branch had 32 members.

Fertiliser was supplied from three manufacturing works in Auckland and railed up as far as Okaihau in the north and scows took bags to the Far North and later came Bulk Barges landing at Awanui with 250 ton and then superseded by 550 and 1,200-tonne barges when the works at Whangarei opened in February 1965.

Interesting to note in 1961 there were 11 manufacturing fertiliser works in New Zealand producing 1,270,000 tonnes — only five left today. Now at this milestone in our history it gives me great pleasure on behalf of the members of Northland

• Lime & Fertiliser Cartage • Metal Cartage • Conventional Haybaling • Digger Hire • Sawdust • Calf Pen Shavings • Palm Kernel

Contact Gibbo

09 4322814

021 857 341

mjpjgibson@gmail.com

www.nzgfa.co.nz

Branch to acknowledge with gratitude the support and assistance so readily given by members of the farming community ,fertiliser manufacturers, lime millers, fertiliser merchants, dairy companies, ministers of the Crown, government officers and all bodies allied with the industry. At this time also let us not forget those in our industry, especially those who have passed on, who had the foresight to realise the benefits of establishing the Northland association.

In conclusion, I congratulate the Northland Groundspread on reaching its 60-year jubilee.

Pay attention!

around road works

“Time to get growing” CALL US TODAY

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PETER MCQUINN

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NORTHLAND

18

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

REMEMBER It is ILLEGAL to use a hand held cellphone while driving a motor vehicle

DRIVE PHONE FREE!

small digger and truck work tractor slashing small digger and fork lift hire 09 435 2888

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The products are safe on electronics, rubber, vinyl, neoprene, monofilament, paint and all plastics. As a lubricant, CorrosionX is approximately three times better than good engine oil. Nonflammable and the same NZ MPI Class C11 as lanolin, it never goes hard or gunky. Its unlimited life span means it is always ready when you need it. Here is what Murray Jagger of Mania View Farms wrote to us: “We have been using a range of CorrosionX products for a number of years in our farming operation. The products used range from aerosol

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

AG CONTRACTORS

19

Time to tender for business Spring will soon turn to summer and the farm contracting business will be warming up along with the temperatures and with that comes time to get equipment out of the shed and ready for balage or any number of farm contract jobs.

As always is the case, idle machinery is not going to add to the income and for many farmers who also make up membership of the Rural Contractors Association of New Zealand, summer is an opportunity to get a welcome earner off the actual home farm, The Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment has some good advice on how to get into the paperwork that involves tendering for contracts, an activity that may be time consuming but it can also lead to substantial rewards, and an aid in planning work schedules and perhaps taking on additional seasonal staff.

“You should think carefully before, during and after the process. Finding the right opportunities, doing the prep work and being vigorous during the tendering process will increase your chances of winning contracts,’’ a ministry spokesman says.

“Tendering is the process involved in responding to an RFx a catch-all term meaning Request for information, a quote, a proposal, or tender. An RFx can come in many shapes and forms.

If it’s for a small amount of work, it will be fairly straight forward. But applying for larger and/or long-term contracts will require a significant amount of time, thinking and resources to complete.

You will need to be strategic when you

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decide which tenders to respond to.

Going for every RFx you come across is a waste of time and energy. Your probability of success will increase if you only respond to ones in the area of your existing services and expertise.

“Even if the contract is relevant to your business, you should first consider how much preparation will need to go into the application process, and whether your business is able to sustain that effort — especially as winning the contract isn’t guaranteed.

“Losing a tender can be disappointing, but it can be an important business opportunity. Always ask for feedback from the buyer on why your application

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wasn’t successful. You can use that information to help you learn what to do, and what not to do, the next time you apply.

“You will need to think about the day-to-day and long-term effects on your business.

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20

October 2019 NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

AG CONTRACTORS

GPS — the contractors friend From top dressing aircraft to tractors and any number of mobile machines in between, GPS has become just another tool that can make farming, the agricultural services and contractors serving the rural industry more efficient — and thus more profitable.

Once the stuff of mystery and imagination, and used to guide US military manoeuvres and missiles, today GPS is — as the Chase TV chap would say “just another day at the office”.

GPS-based applications in precision farming are being used for farm planning, field mapping, soil sampling, tractor guidance, crop scouting, variable rate applications, and yield mapping.

GPS allows farmers and their contractors to work during low visibility field conditions such as rain, dust, fog, and darkness.

In the past, it was difficult for farmers to correlate production techniques and crop yields with land variability.

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This limited their ability to develop the most effective soil/plant treatment strategies that could have enhanced their production.

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Precision agriculture is changing the way farmers and agribusinesses view the land from which they reap their profits. It is about collecting timely geospatial information on soil-plantanimal requirements and prescribing and applying site-specific treatments to increase agricultural production and protect the environment. Where farmers may have once treated their fields uniformly, they are now seeing benefits from micromanaging.

Many of the new innovations rely on the integration of on-board computers, data collection sensors, and GPS time and position reference systems.

Some people believe that the benefits of precision agriculture can only be

realised on large farms with huge capital investments and experience with information technologies. There are inexpensive and easy-to-use methods and techniques that can be developed for use by all. farmers.

Through the use of GPS, GIS, and remote sensing, information needed for improving land and water use can be collected. Farmers can achieve

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additional benefits by combining better utilisation of fertilisers and other soil amendments, determining the economic threshold for treating pest and weed infestations, and protecting the natural resources for future use.

Location information is collected

by GPS receivers for mapping field boundaries, roads, irrigation systems, and problem areas in crops such as weeds or disease. The accuracy of GPS allows farmers to create farm maps with precise acreage for field areas, road locations and distances between points of interest.

They can accurately navigate to specific locations in the field, year after year, to collect soil samples or monitor crop conditions.

Crop advisors use rugged data collection devices with GPS for accurate positioning to map pest, insect, and weed infestations in the field. Pest problem areas in crops can be pinpointed and mapped for future management decisions. and input recommendations.

The same field data can also be used by aircraft sprayers, enabling accurate swathing of fields without use of human ‘flaggers’ to guide them.

Crop dusters equipped with GPS are able to fly accurate swaths over the field, applying chemicals only where needed, minimising chemical drift, reducing the amount of chemicals needed, thereby benefiting the environment.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

AG CONTRACTORS

21

Pay attention!

ADVERTORIAL

Stockade for fencing action With a 340-hectare beef block to run single-handedly, Kaiwaka farmer Marty Roest has to manage his time carefully. The farm currently has around 23km of wire and batten fences and 32km of four-wire electric fences, so the hours he spends on fence building and maintenance can add up significantly.

After seeing the Stockade ST400i Cordless Fencing Stapler in action at last year’s Fieldays, Marty says the decision to purchase one was easy. “One of the biggest benefits of the ST400i is that it is very fast and easy to use,” he says. “A farm this size is a one-man operation, so anything I can do that saves me time is very worthwhile.”

Marty explains another benefit of the machine is its ability to use barbed staples, which have longer holding power — saving time restapling further down the track.

The most powerful cordless stapler on the market, the ST400i can drive nine-gauge (4mm) staples into hardwood and treated pine posts with ease. “It’s very quick and easy to adjust the depth for different types of fencing,” says Marty.

“The stapler also has an insulator attachment, which lets you quickly and easily mount insulators for electric fencing.

Free from compressors and hoses, the ST400i is easy to transport and use, and with the limestone terrain on Marty’s farm, that’s a big bonus. “Much of the farmland here gets quite pugged, so you wouldn’t want to drive over it with a compressor in tow because you’d end up damaging it,” he says.

“I also like the fact that the stapler has battery and gas level gauges so you can

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The ST400i is neatly packaged in a sturdy, compact case, which also houses dual batteries, an AC charger, the instruction manual and safety glasses. “The rugged case means I can just tie it on the back of the farm bike and keep it with me whenever I need to do repairs. Moreover, because it has a belt clip, you can attach it to your belt or a fence to keep it handy. Anything I can

do that saves me time is very worthwhile.”

At around four kilograms in weight, the stapler is easily manageable, comfortable to use and can be operated with one hand, allowing you to keep your second hand safely out of harm’s way.

“I’m really pleased with the performance of the new stapler — definitely a very valuable investment for any farmer who spends time on fencing.”

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22

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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AG CONTRACTORS

Keep farm workers safe Farmers, lifestyle block owners, and contractors alike must make sure everyone is safe when on a property and that any risks from farm work are reasonably managed, eliminated or minimised.

Worksafe says farmers must ensure risks from any previous work carried out on the farm such as spraying hazardous substances, are reasonably managed to protect the health and safety of contractors. Farm buildings and any area where work is being carried out, apart from the farm house must be safe for everyone.

Contractors must also keep farmers healthy and safe by ensuring any risks from their work that could affect the farmer, farm workers or other contractors on the farm are reasonably managed.

If a risk can’t be eliminated then it must be minimised, so far as is reasonably practicable. Farmers and contractors should consult, cooperate and coordinate activities with each other. They must work together to meet their overlapping duties every time a contractor comes on farm.

Having a face-to-face or over the phone meeting before work starts can help to reach a common understanding and establish clear roles, responsibilities and actions. It will also prevent any gaps in managing health and safety risks. The more influence and control a farmer or contractor has over a health and safety matter, the more responsibility they are likely to have.

Checklists and possible questions for both parties include knowing where each will be working, having contact details and informing each other of expected or unexpected risks and other work activity on the farm that could pose a risk to them and how to manage and communicate those risks.

Contractors must be informed of farm rules such as speed limits, alcohol or drug use and any expectations of their behaviour on farm. Ensure all parties know relevant emergency procedures and determine appropriate time in/ time out reporting. Have a back-up plan, especially if there is no phone coverage and keep a record of what you

have discussed. Printing and markingup a farm map to show hazards is also a helpful idea and have visitors call in at the farmhouse, or phone before starting work. If necessary help them across rough terrain using an appropriate vehicle.

The contractor should advise the farmer where the team will be working on the property should there be various destinations or projects being taken care of and check for hazards themselves as well and inform all concerned of any extra emergency procedures that may need to be known.

In all environments, safety must always come first.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

Advantages of contractors Employing a rural contractor has many bonuses to achieving a task and being a contractor adds to work variety on a daily basis.

Primary ITO has courses available such as the National Certificate in Fencing — level two or three both electric and non-electric. The courses cover every position in every primary industry, so you can find the course that is right for you and where you want to be including the dairy, horticulture, meat and fibre, seafood industry and primary services.

Learning the skills to drive farm machinery, and adding to your knowledge base in a specialised way, means opportunities can open up here in New Zealand and across the world.

As most people know there is a demand for New Zealand shearers but the same applies to operating rural contracting equipment, and you can work your way around the world, season by season in countries where there is work available for skilled operators.

Rural Contractors New Zealand is the national association and the leading advocate for rural contractors in the country.

The association represents the interests of contractors engaged in a wide range of activities such as land development, drainage, fencing,

23

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RCNZ monitors central and local government policies, plans and proposals on behalf of their members.

They maintain close relations and lobby on behalf of members with a wide number of organisations, government departments and other national bodies. The focus on training is administered by industry training

organisation Connexis New Zealand.

They supply training to the infrastructure sector of which rural contracting is a part.

Details and advice on training options can be found on the Connexis website or through Rural Contractors NZ.

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October 2019 NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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RURAL CONTRACTORS

Rural contracting shows growth Rural contracting in New Zealand is now a $1.5b industry, accounting for nearly one percent of the national employment figures and it is growing by 5.8 percent a year, according to an Infometrics survey conducted for the Rural Contractors Association.

“Our 500-plus association members are sprinkled from Northland to Southland,” says RCNZ president David Kean.

“Much of that growth is due to our relationship with, and work for, the farming community. We regard that as of primary importance, many of us contractors are farmers ourselves and most of us live in rural communities.

Like you, our growth is tied to the health of the rural sector and the ability to secure good workers to help us run our businesses.”

RCNZ has been cautiously welcoming of the proposals from Immigration Minister Iain Lees-Galloway to introduce a simpler, employer-led system for temporary work visas for skilled regional workers.

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“We have been pleased to engage with Federated Farmers in putting a case for rural contracting to sit alongside the dairy farming, forestry and meat industries in the first sectorwide agreements. Our members help farmers get in enough winter feed, stay on top of weeds and a host of other tasks which allow your farms to remain productive. We need a steady reliable supply of skilled operators to drive our machinery from spring to autumn; getting approval to employ such people from overseas through the current hoops of WINZ and Immigration is an annual and frustrating nightmare.

“That said, we were again able to secure a reasonable supply of skilled overseas machinery operators, with 149 coming in spring through the existing Approval in Principle process, to work with 46 of our members. While we do all we can to employ New Zealanders, there simply aren’t enough with the skills or aptitude.

“With industry challenges including the M. Bovis outbreak, which we collectively appear to have managed relatively well, contractors appreciate the cooperation of farmers in providing water and appropriate washing areas.

“We also appreciate your assistance as we remain vigilant as contractors on noxious weeds including Velvetleaf and Noogoora burr. We have to advise the authorities if we see any of these weeds, otherwise we can face huge fines as well as the risk of spreading the weeds to other farms.

“Chemical spraying remains a core part of our work for farmers and I have to say the new Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, regulations are making things very complicated. I’d suggest farmers take note here, because while you do not currently have to meet such baffling, bureaucratic requirements, such extensions are always a possibility.

“RCNZ continues to run its annual Agrichemical roadshows around regional centres to provide a convenient way for our members — farmers welcome too — to stay up to date with the regulations and requirements. Our Infometrics report confirms just how important rural contractors are with our sector now employing nearly 23,000 people — about the same population as Masterton.

That number has more than doubled in the last 20 years as farmers and others look for efficiencies.”

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

RURAL CONTRACTORS

25

BUSINESS PROFILE

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“We have the only remote-controlled land clearing capability of its type in Northland. We can mulch and mow where others can’t access, and there is no need for spray. We clear anything from lifestyle blocks, small sections to large developments. We are able to clear vegetation up to five metres tall down to ground level, which will increase the nutritional value of your soil,” says owner-operator Andy.

We also offer a tractor mulching service, and we can tackle steep areas with our remote mulcher and larger areas with the tractor. Essentially, they are a one-stop-mulching service, so you won’t have to have multiple contractors.

“We take complimentary before and after footage with a drone, which is great for absentee owners and provide a wide range of services to the rural sector, including industrial and residential owners. We also work on heritage sites, waterways and flood protection areas.”

The unique remote-control system makes the machinery safe for all terrain.

“Our remote mulching capability is really manoeuvrable and allows us to work around native trees and plants.

We can easily clear around manuka and kanuka plantings and avoid sensitive areas. Our unique remote-controlled mulcher won’t cause the damage other machinery can make. We can work in rain and mud — not a lot stops us doing our work.

WE

Andy Murdoch and Robotech Contractors is based in Kerikeri and serve Northland providing an innovative one-stop mulching and mowing service.

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“Robotech mulches gorse, tobacco plants, thistle, blackberry, pest plants, kikuyu, clears scrub and mondo grass.

Our machinery works safely on all types of challenging terrain up to 55 degrees; however, it does have the capability to work in steeper situations if it doesn’t compromise safety.

“This is a unique advantage to our equipment, and it is an environmentally friendly way to reclaim your land without the use of chemicals and provides immediate results.”

Being low impact, it leaves a small footprint and uses less fuel than other machinery, and it is up to 25 times more efficient and safer than manual cutting.

“There is no need for multiple heavy machines because we cut and mulch at the same time. We

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26

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

FORESTRY

by Ann van Engelen

Michelle Harrison is considered the backbone of her family business Wise on Wood, and has been crowned the Northland Forestry Skilled Professional of the Year at the fourth annual NFA Northland Forestry Awards.

K

nown as camp mum to her crew and a team member who will step into any position, Michelle owns Wise on Wood with her husband Nigel. She has also won the inaugural PF Olsen Woman in Forestry crown.

Michelle married into a wellestablished logging family 18 years ago and worked in the business before she and Nigel started their own ground based harvesting crew in late 2015.

“We started small with just two in the crew. I was initially the log maker and skiddie. The company has grown to a team of seven and I can process more than 350 tonnes a day,” says Michelle.

“This year the company notched a record month of in excess of 10,000

tonnes. I also do the office work and the health and safety side of Wise on Wood,” She does this while being a mum, wife, chair of the Okaihau College board of trustees and helping with school and sport activities.

“I am passionate about the environment and am always looking for ways the company can improve its impact on the environment and to protect wildlife within their harvest areas. This year I was involved in the relocation of the protected Kauri snails which I discovered while helping to prepare an area for harvest.

“We have also worked with kiwi during and post-harvest, taking on the

Michelle Harrison owns Wise on Wood with her husband Nigel and is known as camp mum by their crew

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If you have a farm or private block give Will a call to discuss today.

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• A range of hauler & ground based contractor harvesting options available • Access to domestic sawmills in the region • Export sales through NZ’s largest log export company • Options of managed or graded sales, and/or lump sum purchase, where appropriate, to provide a solution that suits each individual forest owner • Followup re-establishment and forest management advice

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

FORESTRY

Michelle also won the inaugural PF Olsen Woman in Forestry crown responsibility of monitoring the birds during harvest. I am hoping to get my kiwi handling licence this year, to be followed by my own kiwi tracking dog.

“Our company has an excellent reputation for its health and safety practices, environmental awareness, producing good returns for forest owners, and keeping our harvest managers and staff happy.”

Those who have worked alongside Michelle, a mother of two, have high praise for her and say “she is always willing to share her knowledge with others. She is a very talented and capable woman and is considered a great role model for the industry.”

Wise on Wood also claimed the Competenz Trainee of the Year with

Kiesten-Breeze Repia receiving the certificate.

Skipps Logging claimed the Blackburne Group Char tered Accountants Contractor of the Year Trophy and both the Gough Individual Breaker Out Excellence Award, which went to Caleb Skipps, and Chase Corkery walking away with the Forest Industry Contractors Association Emerging Talent of the Year Certificate.

Rosewarne Cable Loggers picked up two awards, with the company taking out the UDC Training Company/Contractor of the Year crown and Dave Paton winning

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YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER

the AB Equipment Individual Harvesting Excellence Award.

“I have been involved with the event since its inception four years ago and each year the standard of entries rise,” says Judge Mike Goodison.

“It is brave to stand up and allow yourselves to be judged. I am chuffed to see that the integral part health and safety played in the industry also continues to track higher with everyone — not just something imposed and only done when someone was watching.”

Judges Mike, Jacqui Apiata-Coyne and Brett Gilmore had debated long and hard over who would win some of the categories with ‘the proverbial cigarette’ paper in play when trying to separate some nominees. Mike encouraged everyone to continue to stand up and showcase the industry through professionalism, innovation and hard work.

Association Emerging Talent of the Year — Mark Lavakeiaho, Wise on Wood. Woman in Forestry Excellence: Michelle Harrison, Wise on Wood.

Trophies: Northern Forest Products Ltd Forestry Family of the Year — Lloyd

27

FORESTRY AND CONTRACTING SPECIALISTS Providing specialist solutions to forestry contracting for 30 years including • Harvesting • Trucking • Roading • Silviculture Our experienced team can assist with: • Management Reporting • KPI analysis • Sourcing finance • Logging costings • Asset Protection • Succession Planning • Review contract terms • Financial reporting • Tax compliance and planning • ACC and insurance solutions • Industry specific employment and subcontractor packages

Give us a call for our FREE 30 point ‘Financial Warrant of Fitness’ Freephone 0508 376 0092 info@blackburnegroup.co.nz www.blackburnegroup.co.nz NORTHLAND MANAGER: Kristy Kewene 09 974 8800 or 027 556 6674 OTHER CONTACTS: Mark Blackburne 0508 376 0092 (ext 821) or 021 288 6662 Sonya Elmiger 0508 376 0092 (ext 835) or 027 373 0910

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Locally Owned and Operated with over 30 Years Experience Bulldozing, compaction, drainage, forest roading, site development and wetland development.

Bulldozers (D6K & D6R), Diggers (12T & 21T) and vib roller (8 ton) for hire Shaun 027 445 3218 | John 027 492 0211 | A/H 09 438 8008

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Boom & Handgun Application of Herbicide Trusted by Northlanders for over 30 years Book your roadside and farm spraying now!

SHELTER BELT CHIPPING & REMOVAL MULCHING & STUMP CHIPPING Call Neil Abbott 0800 023 767 or email neilabbott@xtra.co.nz

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Office: 09 407 6623 Guy Forbes: 027 483 7209 guyandtrace@xtra.co.nz

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28

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

SPRING LIFESTYLE BLOCK SERVICES See our advert on Page 32

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Act now with maintenance If you are on a lifestyle block, farm or in a family home, now is the time to check what maintenance and repairs need to be dealt with as the weather is clearing in time for summer.

With the workload many tradespeople have, it is important to book them in advance to ensure the projects you require to be done can be completed in sufficient time. If you leave urgent requests to the last minute, you may find it difficult to find a tradesperson available. Make sure you get an ‘all inclusive’ written quote for any work requested so there are no shocks when the job is completed. Request ‘unforseen extra’s’ to be discussed prior to work being done.

Washing down the outside of your house will help not just maintain a fresh well cared for look, but it will also present the opportunity to check if any weatherboards or bricks need replacing.

Are the window seals still working fine and do you need to repaint the house this season to prevent loss of value.

The roof is as important as any other part of the house, if not more so, as we cannot see what is going on above us.

Consulting a qualified tradesperson to check over your roof is a good idea as they will see if fixings need reinstating, gutters and spoutings are clear of debris

and check for broken tiles and roofing iron, which are something that allows a lot of water into your ceiling.

Your local fencing contractor can check your fencing, particularly boundary fences. Every property owner needs to ensure fencing is up to standard as it is their responsibility if the stock gets onto the road and cause an accident or damage other property.

The same goes for your cowsheds, water tanks and animal housing. Now is the time to ensure maintenance and thorough cleaning is done after a busy winter season. With calving and

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lambing out of the way, preventing a breeding ground for bacteria should still be a priority. Having your milking shed or animal housing professionally cleaned will help reduce possible sources of contamination of milk, remove bad odours and bacteria to help protect the general health conditions for humans and animals.

It is good practice to maintain good maintenance, general hygiene and sanitation on your farm and often getting in the professionals not only saves you time — they have the equipment required for the specific jobs at hand.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

SPRING LIFESTYLE BLOCK SERVICES

29

ADVERTORIAL

Providing the best outdoors

Whangarei Chainsaw and Mower Services proprietor Martin Luff has a goal to be a leading supplier of outdoor equipment ranging through chainsaws to mowers to tillers and all services between them.

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“Our goal is to be the leading provider of all things outdoor power equipment related in the Northland area,” he says.

“With full workshop facilities and experienced small engine technicians, you can trust us to get your equipment back up and running.

“We have a full showroom of products, with a great team who are passionate about the products we sell, all backed up with full-service facilities. We are confident you will have years of troublefree use. Come and see why we are the preferred agents for so many brands.”

Martin grew up in Taranaki, where he qualified as a fitter and turner after his

schooling years. He ventured to Papua New Guinea to work for Webster Drilling and Exploration as a seismic drilling and supervisor for a couple of years and also in his travels worked in Dubai for McDermott International before heading to England to work as a fitter and turner for HMD Sealless Pumps Ltd. To follow was three years of working for Able Cook Ltd, Auckland as an engineering supervisor after which he was an assistant dive Instructor for Scuba Experience, Auckland.

He followed this as a production manager for Astron Plastics before setting up his own business in early 2000,

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

Colin Hawken

SPRING LIFESTYLE BLOCK SERVICES

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With spring here, it is time to arrange chores such as cleaning the gutters and touching up paint whether you live on a lifestyle block, smaller or larger property.

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100 IT’S NOT A TARGET

A task checklist will help you stay on top of all the maintenance jobs throughout the year. Often, engaging the relevant contractor can avoid a lot of stress, particularly if you are not an expert at the job involved.

Taking the time to make repairs to decks and fences, whether it be fixing, painting or cleaning will help not just with the appearance of your property but also the longevity of your belongings.

Regardless of who does it, make sure a good clean and light sand is done before painting or varnishing.

Heading toward summer is a good time to plan any home improvements you may be considering. Get in early to lock in contractors and start researching your options for new outdoor entertaining areas if you are trying to have them completed in time for Christmas entertaining.

Painting the outside, or inside of your building can look like a straight-forward job but can end up a daunting task for some. A professional can save time and frustration, and they should take the opportunity to patch up any holes or scratches in your walls, leaving you with a new look.

While you are tackling small projects around the home, check your smoke alarms and replace batteries if needed

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areas of the moss and lichen that have built-up during the winter months with the help of your trusty water blaster.

Ensure you know how to safely work any equipment you are using.

When water blasting, soften surfaces with the right spray before you scrub, hose or pressure-blast them. Again, getting in the experts will get the job done in no time, freeing you up for other important farming chores or better still, giving you time to have a break away while someone else takes care of these small but important projects.

and get appliances checked that have run all winter. Gas fires, DVS systems, heat pumps and chimneys should all be checked and cleaned annually.

Paddocks are not the only area that needs care, spraying for weeds and applying the correct fertiliser to your lawn makes a big difference to the area around your personal space. Don’t forget, checking your water tanks are clean, and there are no leaks will save a lot of summer stress. Local contractors are available for these important inspections if need be. Rid your outdoor

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

31

FISHING & OUTDOORS

Enjoying the outdoors Across the country with the summer season approaching there will be many heading to ‘catch the big one’ on the water, while others ‘head for the bush’ to spend time outdoors.

New Zealanders are known to be great hunter-gatherers, but it is important to ensure safety first and also be aware of local regulations regarding catch limits, licensing laws and fishing methods.

Make sure you check the weather forecast and give someone responsible the location you intend to go to and time you expect to be home.

Ensure you have a basic first-aid kit and fully charged cell phone, an emergency locator beacon and GPS in case of emergency.

Before going bush or utilising tramping tracks or cycleways, check everyone knows the rules and have safety measures in place. Remember to plan accordingly as the terrain and conditions will vary widely depending on the weather and location of your trip and get permission before crossing over private land.

Be aware of the potential danger in crossing bodies of water. Riverbanks and gorges provide some natural accessways to our mountainous areas,

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so it is vital to respect them and understand why they are a potential hazard on your adventures. If in doubt, stay out.

Cycle and walking tracks are there for everyone’s use so it is important to remove the rubbish we may take in with us. Check the cycle network maps and research your route before heading off.

Helmets must be worn at all times. Rear and front lights on cycles are required at night, and it is a good idea to wear brightly coloured or reflective clothing when cycling to be seen easier.

Many lakes, rivers, and country streams offer opportunities to fish for brown and rainbow trout. Most waters are in the public domain and easily accessed via a public right of way and the Queen’s Chain whilst others can usually be visited through landowner permission.

Fishing in New Zealand is administered by local Fish & Game Councils.

Each region has a section on the website that will keep you up to date with

local news, regulations, fishing licence agents and more. Take a moment to visit the local section of this website for the area you are headed as you need a current Sports Fishing Licence for all waters.

Now is a good time to join the coastguard in case you need help out on the water.

If you are out on a boat, no matter where you go, ensure you have a correct size life jacket for every person on board.

Do your safety checks in advance and make sure there is enough fuel and a charged battery.

Help sustainability and only take the amount you need.

Harrisons Cape Runner The world famous Cape Reinga Tour along 90 mile Beach

• Departs Kaitaia 9 am daily & returns 5 pm • Fun Day with local friendly driver/guides • Travel along 90 Mile Beach • Meeting of the oceans at Cape Reinga • Sand Tobogganing on Giant Dunes • Many stops including visits to East Coast beaches & we have purpose built 4x4 buses

Adults $60.00 Child $30.00 (includes picnic lunch)

Phone 0800 22 73 73 capetours@xtra.co.nz www.harrisonscapereingatours.co.nz www.ahipara.co.nz/caperunner

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Wildcat Fishing Ahipara NZ Ph: 09 409 4623 Andy: 027 447 1138 or

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245 Dairy Flat Highway, Albany Village • Phone: 415 9456 • www.rogersboatshop.co.nz After hours • Nigel Arkell 029 993 3007 • John Pounder 021 0223 2195

32

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

make it easy! with RAT Barrow

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$50 Petrol Voucher when purchased before end of October 2019 - limited stock

Lighten the load around the home, farm, orchard and stables. Amazingly versatile, giving the user a safe and stable ride with incredible maneuverability.

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FEATURES: • Electric start • Hydro-static transmission • Articulated - access into small spaces • 8.75HP Briggs and Stratton engine • Galvanised steel frame • Easy forward tipping bucket • 200kg carrying capacity • 3.5m turning circle • Suitable for inclines up to 15 degrees • Designed & built in Australia • 12 month factory warranty

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

DAIRY

DRIVE SAFE

New chairperson for awards

On Rural Roads

Natasha Tere has been a supporter of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards since becoming involved via the national sponsor family in 2009 and has been chosen as the new Chair.

She has been a member of the Trust since 2017 and has held several senior management roles within the New Zealand agriculture industry and has recently been consulting in a vast array of projects including the EV Car sharing project for Christchurch City Council.

Mrs Tere feels privileged and delighted to be the new Chair and acknowledges previous Trust Chair, Woodville farmer Ben Allomes, who has guided the Trust through a time of change with technology, introduced the Recognition of Prior Learning Diploma and transitioned to a new general manager.

“We are woven into the DNA of the New Zealand dairy industry. We are an industry voice with over 7000 people directly engaging with the programme each year,” says Mr Allomes.

Mrs Tere says her goal for the future of the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards is to continue to evolve with the needs of the industry, to celebrate continued diversity and the changing landscape.

“What we focus on and judge educates our entrants and volunteers and drives change through sharing and taking those best practices back to the farm and on to the next farm as they develop their careers and move on,” she says.

“The Awards give dairy farmers the opportunity to independently benchmark themselves against their peers, and to be part of a network who cares about the wellbeing of our people, our land and our communities. The Awards inspire growth and leadership within our Industry and at all levels from dairy trainees through to equity owners.”

In 2016 Mrs Tere was a finalist for the Woman of Influence Awards in the rural category and was awarded a Nuffield Scholarship in 2013.

She holds tertiary qualifications in Agribusiness management and Livestock Production Management and a Masters in Project management.

“I value both formal and informal education and believe entrants, team leaders, regional managers, executive members and the board of trustees all learn from their journey with the NZDIA. Having introduced Diploma RPL this year, our vision is that all entrants in the future will have the opportunity to become qualified.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards are supported by national sponsors Westpac, DeLaval, Ecolab, Federated Farmers, Fonterra, Honda,

33

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER

DR & BA

GRANT ENGINEERING • Milking Machinery • Cowshed Pipework • Lathe & Milling Machining • Milking Machinery testing & quality control (same day repairs) • Aluminium & Stainless welding

Natasha Tere the new New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards chair

LIC, Meridian, and Ravensdown, along with industry partners Dairy NZ and Primary ITO. Entries for the 2020 Awards programme are open until November 16. Information can be found at dairyindustryawards.co.nz.

Ph 09 439 8248 Beach Rd, Dargaville

What we haven’t got we can get!

FERTCO DICAL 12

A GOOD OPTION FOR NORTHLAND Spring is upon us and with that comes spring fertiliser applications. Phosphate is the most important nutrient in our farming system as it is the plants energy source and helps develop healthy roots.

Northland soils, however, are very vulnerable to Phosphate loss. These soils often have a low anion storage capacity which means that the soil has low phosphate binding sites increasing the risk of phosphate fertiliser loss by leaching and runoff.

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The ‘leaky’ northland soils can potentially lose significant amounts of soluble phosphate. The best way to reduce this risk is by applying a less water – soluble phosphate fertiliser such as Dicalcic or RPR which slowly releases, remaining in the root zone longer therefore reducing the risk of phosphate loss.

Traditionally dicalcic has been made by blending 50% Superphosphate with 50% limestone, this results in a phosphate content of 4.5%. This low phosphate content has resulted in a higher application and transportation cost. Together these costs have been the fertiliser co-operative’s biggest bone of contention for its use and probably fair enough.

Over the years, Fertco have designed systems to overcome this issue while retaining the unique features of Dicalcic phosphate and pH neutrality. Fertco produce high analysis Dicalcic products containing either 8% or 12% phosphate therefore dramatically reducing costs of transport and application benefiting both the farm and the environment.

Fertco’s high analysis Dicalcic is a great choice as a maintenance fertiliser as it is pH neutral, contains calcium and sulphur, safe to apply with seed and provides a slow, continuous release to better match plant requirements while reducing the impact on the environment.

For more information contact your local fertco consultant or visit our website:

Angela Urwin 027 665 5480 @fertco.co.nz fertco.co.nz

34

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

DAIRY AND EFFLUENT

Safety with effluent • Irrigation

Effluent ponds are a known risk on farms, and there are several ways to manage this risk.

• Fertigation • Water Supply • Drainage • Water Treatment • Effluent and Wastewater Dispersal Agwaters is an agent for most common brands.

We can provide you with a competitive design quote for all your Agricultural water needs. We have local service support and installation crews in the Far North backed by our fabrication workshop and engineering offices in the Bay of Plenty.

Come and see us at our Pukenui Store this summer

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During pond construction, supervising engineers, construction companies, contractors and the person running the project must communicate and collaborate to ensure risks are identified, and safety is well managed during the construction project.

Construction should be undertaken with competent advice, so it is a good idea to research the companies and ask questions to make sure you’re confident they will act safely.

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Recommended pond safety features include fencing all ponds off with a netting fence to prevent stock and children from accidentally falling into the pond. Locked gates are essential and electric fences can also be used.

All ponds should have at least one permanently placed ladder or alternative escape means in case a person falls into the pond. You can have a lifebuoy available in the area as well, as extra protection, and pontoons should have anchor points to improve stability.

Having warning signs in place to warn people to keep out of the area is a good idea, but direct communication with people is important too. Discuss effluent pond risks with all farm staff, contractors and visitors.

Rules for effluent pond safety control should include who is allowed in the

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pond area, and it should be stipulated that no one is to enter the area alone.

That way, you can keep non-swimmers out of the area and ensure there is always at least two people inside the fence if work is needed to be done.

It is important to identify any risks on farms or lifestyle blocks such as effluent ponds and have a plan in place to avoid accidents.

Make sure anyone coming on the farm knows these risks, especially people who will be going into these areas. Ensure you know how you will communicate the safety issues with children, farm visitors, contractors and family in a way to each individual will understand.

Further information about how to get health and safety sorted on the farm is available on the DairyNZ website.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

LIVESTOCK

35

Record exports expected China’s demand for New Zealand’s beef, lamb and mutton is forecast to propel both sheepmeat and beef exports past the $4 billion mark for the first time.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s New Season Outlook 2019–20 report forecasts beef, lamb and mutton prices to lift from historically high levels, helped by continuing strong export demand and an expected weakening of the New Zealand dollar.

“We have forecast increases in farmgate prices for beef, lamb and mutton in 2019-20, because small increases in in-market prices are expected to be further assisted by an easing of the New Zealand dollar,” says B+LNZ chief economist Andrew Burtt.

Beef and veal exports are expected to be up 5.9 percent to $4.17 billion and sheepmeat up by 4.9 percent to $4.23 billion.

“This would add another $430 million in export earnings for red meat and offal following an extra $228 million and $1.23 billion in the two seasons prior — excluding fibres and other products.

It follows the exceptionally strong farmgate prices for lamb and mutton since the 2016 17 season.”

Beef prices have been steady since farmgate prices jumped in 2014-15 but are expected to be up in 2019-20.

“The value of the New Zealand dollar has a large bearing on the sector’s

outlook. The New Zealand dollar is expected to ease, partly due to the Reserve Bank of New Zealand lowering the official cash rate.

“African Swine Fever will have significant ramifications for global meat supplies and consumption. China is the world’s largest consumer of pork — making up around 63 percent of consumption.”

New Zealand’s growth in the export value of red meat and volume began before the Chinese ASF epidemic.

“The growth in China’s red meat import demand is built on genuine demand growth as consumption has out-paced domestic production growth.

They are the end consumer, not the manufacturer of raw product to supply other markets.”

The average farmgate lamb price is forecast to rise 3.5 percent in 2019-20 to 773 cents per kilogram and mutton is forecast to be up 4.5 percent to 473 cents per kilogram.

Mutton export production in 2019-20 is expected to be up 8.7 percent and the farm gate price across all cattle classes is forecast to increase 4.9 percent to 517 cents per kilogram. The growth of Chinese demand underlies this increase,

Andrew Burtt, B+LNZ chief economist

creating competition particularly for New Zealand processing cuts — drawing volume away from the US. ASF in China is most likely to benefit New Zealand’s beef processing cuts, which are a more apparent substitute for pork. Sheepmeat and other beef cuts

are generally in the premium segment of the Chinese animal protein market.

New Zealand has a longer, deeper and more favourable trade relationship with China than the four larger beef trading countries — India, Brazil, US and Australia.

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

LIVESTOCK

Dehorning rules updated New rules requiring local anaesthetic to be used when dehorning and disbudding cattle are now in place.

Failure to abide by the requirements from October 1, 2019 is a criminal offence. A prosecution could result in a criminal conviction and fine under the regulations.

Dehorning and disbudding are painful for animals. Veterinarians and industry organisations have been encouraging the use of pain relief for many years, and a lot of people are already using it. The new rules will bring everyone up to the same standard, and improve the welfare of cattle, by making it clear that local anaesthetic, prescribed by a New Zealand veterinarian must be used and applied correctly.

The Animal Welfare (Care and Procedures) Regulations 2018 took effect on October 1, 2018. Check the regulations and MPI guidance to make

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sure you are complying with these laws.

Most of the animal welfare regulations are based on existing minimum standards in the codes of welfare, so if you are already doing it right, you won’t see a lot of change.

However, some people may need to change farm policies, provide additional staff training and make other changes to the way they care for their animals.

There is an online tool, Ask Reg, to find all the requirements for your animal or activity. Selecting an animal or activity

such as goats or transporting in Ask Reg will provide you with applicable regulations, guidance on those regulations and the minimum standards and recommended best practices from across the codes of welfare.

MPI has also grouped its guidance on the regulations on this web page by animal type or activity. There are no regulations relating solely to deer — check the regulations under ‘Stock transport’ and ‘Regulations for all animals’. Information on the page is

guidance only. You can check the full regulation by clicking its numbered title — this will take you to the regulation on the NZ Legislation website. You can also download leaflets on different animals and activities.

Information on collars and tethers, use of electric prodders, and prodding animals in sensitive areas is also available. These regulations apply to all cattle regardless of age, or whether they’re on a farm or lifestyle block. Find out more at bit.ly/2nXnuvu.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

WHEELS

37

An experiment in evolution

by Andy Bryenton

Ford have long had an association with creating compact and powerful cars. Just look at the forthcoming movie in which Henry Ford’s son matches wits with the formidable Enzo Ferrari, leading to the creation of a vehicle only 40 inches tall that wipes the Le Mans racetrack with Italian oil, thanks to a couple of Kiwis, naturally.

In more recent years, the blue oval has enlisted some heavyweight help to keep its compact and sporty offerings right at the edge of the curve.

From the famous little Cosworth — tuned hot hatches of the late 20th century, through to the recent Focus ST with its input from legendary auto maestro Ken Block, there’s been a willingness to experiment, to let some fresh air and a whiff of punk rock attitude into the design studio and factory. 2020 has proven no different.

Let’s begin with the juicy numbers — 276 horsepower. That’s more than you’d get from a sporting Mercedes not so long ago, for the kind of money which billionaires find down the back of the couch.

Now it’s crammed into the 2.3 litre engine of the most powerful Focus ever and it hasn’t stopped the Focus from being, well focussed. From the first run of these cars people have been impressed by how they handle and carving through the curves has not been neglected with the 2020 model. There’s also a handy 420 Nm of torque so you can go deep into the corners and power out with a wave of g-force smashing you

back into the racing seats like a polite but firm doorman.

This is all fine and good, but purists will insist that the inspired insanity of the previous model carries over.

It does, with little touches that mean Ford have consulted the tyre-smoke and burning octane brigade comprehensively.

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OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Always wear protective gear & approved helmet. BRP reserves the right to change the promotion at any time. *Terms and conditions apply. Free safety key not available on Outlander 450 Base.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

WHEELS

Kodo philosophy class

Ian

Wayne

EDMONDS & MASON

Mazda are big on their philosophies, with a lot of column inches of advertising copy devoted to the very Zen-like deep thought behind their engineering. All this could be written off as the equivalent of Audi’s vorsprung dursch technik or BMW’s claims to ultimate driving prowess, if it wasn’t proven to deliver nice results.

Take the MX-5 for example.

A car which did away with a lot of the extraneous bits and delivered the philosophy of ‘horse and rider in balance and harmony’. That sounds a bit high-brow for a small sports drop top, until you drive one (one of the original, late 80s models) and see that they knew what they were on about. Which is why, when Mazda say that their new Mazda3 represents the high point of their evolving Kodo — Soul of Motion philosophy by stripping away the needless bells and whistles and delivering a smart, engaging little sedan, it’s time to take notice.

The fact that they have a sedan at all is fantastic in this era of the cross over SUV. People used to buy those to be different; now having a tidy four door car makes you the rebel at the edge of the bell curve. It looks good, too.

Mazda describe the exterior styling as a ‘single brush stroke’, and it’s quite the opposite of the fussy futurism of cars like the Civic Type R or the Toyota

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CR-R with their fins, blades, vents and slashes. Here’s how they describe it; “Every element of All-New Mazda3 Sedan has been created with the intention to further strengthen the connection between car and driver. A less is more approach has been followed to develop a cabin that’s as beautiful as it is functional.” What you get is black leather and chrome functionality, like something Darth Vader would design if he was an upscale architect.

Power in the Limited and GTX specs is provided by the superior Skyactiv 2.5

litre inline four engine, delivering over 180hp and yet still cracking down on fuel economy with auto-stop features and Mazda’s finely tuned fuel injection for 6.5l per 100ks. Those who want a hot version will have to wait to see if Mazdaspeed will sprinkle chili flakes on this latest offering, perhaps also shoehorning in AWD. Until then, the GTX strikes a nice balance between features and cost, and really does have that paredback purity of purpose which Mazda’s philosophy advertises.

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*Payments are based on finance with an interest rate of 0.99% p.a. on minimum 30% deposit, the equipment GST component repaid in the third month and monthly repayments in arrears over a 36 month term. Offer available until 31 October 2019 or while stocks last to approved purchasers, registered for GST, for hire purchase finance and business purposes only, made and subject to terms and conditions and credit approval by AGCO Finance Pty Ltd GST No: 88-831-861.

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40

October 2019 NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

WHEELS

Defeat was not an option As a young boy growing up in Hamamatsu, Japan, Soichiro Honda was not the young academic his parents (a blacksmith and a weaver) hoped for. Instead, he meticulously copied the official stamp he needed to say he’d shown his parents his grades, forging it from a bicycle pedal’s rubber.

This escapade taught the young Soichiro two things; reliance on his own skills with his hands, and the value of never giving up. He left school with no qualifications but with an affinity for machinery and engineering. He went to Tokyo as a teenager and begged to be allowed to work as a mechanic, a position he enjoyed until the age of 22 when he returned home to open his own garage. He drove a turbocharged Ford in one of Japan’s first auto races in 1936, at a time when turbocharging was all but unknown outside of aircraft.

The experimental car crashed, and Soichiro badly injured his left eye. But while he gave up racing from that point, he saw a future in powerful internal combustion machines.

His next step was to forge piston rings for Toyota corporation. Through a process of gruelling trial and error, which saw Honda lose the contract at one point, Soichiro persevered and managed to fully automate the manufacturing, in the style of Henry Ford (a man he’d be compared to in later life). Just as things were taking off, with new factories opening and new components hitting the production line, the war effort crumbled and Allied bombs destroyed one of Soichiro’s factories. Just as the Imperial army surrendered, an earthquake leveled the other. Honda sold the scrap metal and debris to Toyota at a huge loss, but moved on.

Next came the idea of converting bicycles with 50cc generator motors,

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making Japan’s first motorbikes. In the rationed, fuel-scarce postwar reconstruction they sold like hot cakes, and soon Honda were making their own engines, frames, gas tanks, wheels; whole bikes, which formed the basis for the best selling 50cc of all time, the

Cub. Just 14 years after losing it all, Honda established his first motorcycle dealership in the United States. The nation which was once Japan’s wartime rival became one of his biggest markets, in which he would go on to outsell Harley Davidson.

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

WHEELS

41

Balanced for work and play

by Andy Bryenton

Kawasaki have established some fine off road credentials with their Mule range of farm-ready side by side all terrain vehicles.

However, many of their competitors in the market are making a meal out of being fast and exciting on the recreational trails. Can the people who delivered up generations of Ninja branded sports bikes create something that’s the best of both worlds?

The answer to that question from the folks in black and green is the Teryx, and despite having a name reminiscent of a huge and vicious lizard, it’s neither heavy on its feet or in any way a ‘dinosaur’. The emphasis here has been on creating a light (713 kilo) and nimble (5.1 metre turning circle) machine which can easily switch it up between rural work and weekend enjoyment. It would have been easy to simply make a Mule with a spicy name and some coloured panel work,. but the Teryx is different from top to bottom, from its Fox podium shocks to its rollcage and seating. There’s only room for two, but there’s ample storage space and towing capacity.

Under the hood there’s a powerful v-twin with 58 hp and Mikuni fuel injection, and every effort has been made to ensure that it’s easy to clean and service despite being mid-mounted to superior stability.

Mud is the bane of every off-road technician and mechanic, and keeping it clear has been made simpler with a flip-top arrangement that allows easier hosing and blasting. Add in a very responsive power steering system, and the Teryx definitely delivers on the

‘work’ part of the equation. When it comes to sheer flat-out speed, there are other machines with turbochargers and more sheer displacement; the Teryx has an ample 783 cubic centimetres.

But fun is not measured by straight line performance alone. Being nimble and

easy to throw into the turns counts for a lot, as does the confidence inspired by the Kawasaki’s planted stance and well thought out suspension system.

For those who want a machine that can deliver on tasks around the farm or lifestyle block, but will also put a

smile on your face in the weekends or on these long daylight saving evenings, then the good news is that you don;t need two very separate side by sides.

This one might just strike the balance you are after. Take a test drive soon and find out.

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42

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

WHEELS

The man who conquered the snow

by Andy Bryenton

Growing up in Quebec, the French-speaking part of Canada, the young Joseph-Armand Bombardier was no stranger to harsh winters. His home town of Valcourt was isolated to motor cars during the winter, as modern snow ploughs had not been invented; this was back in the 1920s, after all.

Bombardier (his family name came from the French military, meaning one who tended mortars and cannons) was a keen adopter of modern technology, reading books on cars and internal combustion engines, following developments during the first world war, and opening his own motor garage at the age of 19. Contemporaries say he was frustrated by the need to pack away cars and motorbikes in winter; he considered it a lost season for his business and his passion.

However, it was a personal tragedy, which turned his seasonal irritation into a crusade to defeat ice and snow.

When Bombardier’s young son fell ill with peritonitis, deep snowbanks and a lack of fast transportation meant that he did not reach a hospital in time to save his life. Joseph-Armand set to work with a vengeance, channelling his grief and his mechanical genius together. The result was the B7, released in 1937; a machine with skis at the front and tracks at the back, demonstrably able to traverse the worst that the Canadian winter could offer. During the second world war, Bombardier designed arctic combat machines for the Allies, taking the war to the Nazis aggressively in the snow all across Europe. He came back to invent the recreational snowmobile, cementing his place in history.

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you’ll find Can-Am vehicles tackling every kind of terrain on Earth, not just ice and snow.

Nevertheless, their beginnings, with one man taking on the harsh Canadian winter and winning, show the kind of attitude, which informs their design choices to this day.

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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES OctOber 2019

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ROTARY HOE 2.5 metres, good condition, $2,000 ono, Ph 027 439 6345.

Pop’s Chainsaws and Mowers, Napier

SEED POTATOES, New Seasons, FERTILISER – Organic Blood & Bone, Citrus, General plus more from Northland Seed, Okara Drive, Whangarei. Ph 09 438 0884.

Garden

Farming & Lifestyle LAWN SEED / PASTURE SEED / FENCING Reels and Standards from Northland Seed, Okara Drive, Whangarei. Ph 09 438 0884.

Livestock

www.popschainsaws.co.nz * House Wash * Concrete Clean * Gutter Clean * Roof Treatments aaron@washrite.co.nz

* Cowshed Wash

022 438 8838

Specialising in Fertiliser and Metal cartage.

30 Tonne units available.

We cover your country!

NORTHERN FARMING CLASSIFIEDS

Ph 09 432 0820

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

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

FREE-FLOW FROZEN DOG CHUNKS / MINCE. DOG / PUPPY BISCUITS — no artificial colour or preservatives, CHICKEN FEED / BIRDSEED / RAT BAIT from Northland Seed, Okara Drive, Whangarei. Ph 09 438 0884.

LUCERNE CHAFF plus more HORSE FEED, CALF REARERS get your Milk Powder and Meal from Northland Seed, Okara Drive, Whangarei. Ph 09 438 0884.

SAFETY FIRST ON THE FARM

Public Notices

NGATI HINE FORESTRY TRUST ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Trust’s Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 16 November 2019 at Te Rito Marae, Moerewa.

AGENDA: 8.30am Owner registration commences 9.30am Karakia, Mihi and AGM 1.00pm AGM concludes and Lunch Matters to be considered will include the presentation of the Trust’s annual report, annual accounts, auditor’s report, the appointment of an auditor for 2019/2020 and an election for Trustees if required.

Trustee Nomination Forms must be received by the Trust by 1 November 2019 and Proxy Forms must be received by the Trust by 8 November 2019.

Nominations for Trustee or Proxy Forms received late or at the AGM will not be accepted.

Please refer to the Trust’s web site www.ngatihine.maori.nz for proxy and nomination forms or further information or contact the Trust at the address below.

Nau mai, Haere mai, Piki mai Pita Tipene – Chairman Ngati Hine Forestry Trust PO Box 108, Whangarei 0140 Phone 09 459 6425 www.ngatihine.maori.nz

44

OctOber 2019

NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES

BACKED BY 2-YEAR WARRANTY 4X4 WITH LOCK DIFF AND TURF MODE FULL DOWNHILL ENGINE BRAKING

TIGHT TURNING RADIUS - 4.2M

The ALL-NEW Mule Pro-MX’s 700cc powerplant features a quiet roller rocker valve-train for reliability and ease of maintainence. Combine this with a constantly tensioned CVT providing full engine braking and unparalleled stability through an advanced Shinari-tuned chassis. Add operator comforts such as contoured seating, speed sensitive electronic power-steering and quad headlights with LEDs and you have the most capable mid-sized Mule ever built.

$17,995

+GST

BACKED BY 2-YEAR WARRANTY 4X4 WITH LOCK DIFF AND TURF MODE DURABLE U.S.A QUALITY

TIGHT TURNING RADIUS

The Mule SX Bigfoot’s reputation for robust American quality and precision Japanese engineering makes the Bigfoot the 1st choice for New Zealand farmers who demand a Side x Side that goes the distance long after the cows come home.

Experience the Kawasaki Farm range at www.kawasaki.co.nz/farm Not in conjunction with any other offers. Offer available at participating Kawasaki dealers nationwide.

Offer ends 31st October 2019. Model shown may not be model available.

DARGAVILLE

KAIWAKA

HIKURANGI

KAIKOHE

WARKWORTH

WHANGAREI

C A Motorcycles - 725 Pouto Rd | 09 439 0170 Rouse Motorcycles - 1 King St | 09 433 8471 Warkworth Motorcycles - 22 Whitaker Rd | 09 425 8535

$13,909

+GST

BIGFOOT. BIG VALUE.

NOW WITH FREE CAB KIT

Warkworth Motorcycles Kaiwaka - 1916 SH 1 | 09 431 2123 Rob Titter Farm Services - 55 Station Rd E | 09 401 1774

Shaw Motorcycles - 111 Cameron Street | 09 438 1183