Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, January 2023

January 2023 Edition

A new year begins

Welcome to Taranaki Farming Lifestyles 2023. In this, our first edition for the year, we are sharing historical stories from across Taranaki, as well as reminiscing through articles that we shared with our readers last year. Here we have Daniel and Rachel Simons with three of their children and some Ayrshire calves. The couple is building up their Mossy Ayrshire herd and enjoying all that dairy farming has to offer.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Farmers raise funds for hospice

by Denise Gunn

Farming Friends of Hospice Whanganui has raised close to $1 million since the scheme began, providing vital funding for the facility.

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Farming Friends of Hospice Whanganui Trust chairman Brian Doughty

Eric Weir (QSM) of Waverley came up with the initial cattle raising fundraising concept to support the hospice. The scheme was established in 2005, just three years after the hospice building was opened by Dame Catherine Tizard.

Six trustees manage the project.

Farming Friends Trust chairman Brian Doughty became involved in the scheme around 2006. The former Brunswick dairy farmer also had a

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by Denise Gunn

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Dairying an ideal lifestyle

In early 2022, we chatted to Ngaiana Millar who began dairy farming after meeting her former partner, Dylan.

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lengthy involvement with Federated Farmers before retirement. Cattle are purchased through stock agents and then distributed to willing participants for grazing.

Farmers and lifestyle block owners can take on cattle to graze, donate cattle for sale or make a monetary donation to Farming Friends of Hospice Whanganui.

Some farmers prefer to supply the scheme with their own cattle.

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Ngaiana grew up in Auckland city before moving to Taranaki with her family. She later moved to Raglan to take up dairy farming, milking 1,000 cows with Dylan.

“We were there for about six years,” said Ngaiana. “Then Dylan took his life in 2017, and I took a few years off farming after that.”

After moving back to Taranaki, Ngaiana began working as a farm assistant for Stephen and Deborah Clough. The 169ha farm, near Eltham, milks a herd of 440 cows at peak.

“I started as farm assistant and then a year and a half in, I was moved to assistant herd manager. I’ve been herd manager for one season.”

Ngaiana also helps out farmers in need through her volunteer work as a facilitator for the Taranaki Rural Support Trust.

Ngaiana Millar has found working in the dairy industry to be an ideal lifestyle

TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Five generations on family farm

Leap to dairy clinches career

Logan Stevenson shared how his passion for the dairy industry was sparked in his teens, helping his brother on a dairy farm during school holidays.

Fifth-generation farmers Chris and Lindsey Blair told us the history of their farm, the challenges and highlights.

The couple owns and manages Pukatea Estate near Kai Iwi. The 249ha property was originally bought by Chris’s great-great-uncle in 1910.

Growing up on the farm, Chris helped his parents from an early age. “My passion was hunting. So for over a decade I was a full-time, big-game hunting guide in New Zealand for six months and Alaska for two months,” said Chris.

Lindsey grew up helping out on her grandfather’s dairy farm in Alfred, upstate New York. They met during a hunting trip to Alaska. For the next 10 years, Chris and Lindsey divided their time between working in Alaska and the family farm in New Zealand.

Chris and Lindsey Blair with their children Cooper and Belle on Pukatea Estate

Following the death of Chris’s father in 2013, the couple stopped travelling and have since worked full-time on the farm.

Along with farming sheep and cattle on the property, a B&B provides additional income.

The family also produces garden mulch under the Ma’s Mulch label.

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Logan won Most Promising Dairy Trainee of the Year at the Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards in his first season

Oakura farm, milking 280 cows. After a season there, Logan moved to his current job to work for Shane and Jayne Stevenson, who are part owners of a 195ha farm. At peak, 520 crossbred cows are milked.

“Learning new things every day is a highlight of going to work every day,” he said.

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by Denise Gunn

by Denise Gunn

Although a relief milking position followed when Logan was 15, his career path took a different turn when he left school. He drove heavy machinery for several years until the age of 23 when he took the leap and applied for jobs.

Logan’s leap landed him in a farm assistant position, working for Matt and Sophie Thomas on their 85ha

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Scraps to sculptures

by Denise Gunn

We looked at Nathan and Destine Hull’s sculptures as they repurpose any and all metals to create works of art.

Tree planting benefits farm operation

by Denise Gunn

In June, we looked at Dougal and Di McIntosh’s farm and forestry operation on Whanganui’s hill country.

Nathan Hull with one of his sculptures

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The Uruti couple is often found in the workshops on their lifestyle property and draw their main inspiration nature.

“There are interesting animals, objects and things around us all the time,” said Nathan.

Nathan’s life-sized horse sculpture, created from engine parts and farm scrap, earned him a top prize at the National Agricultural Fieldays. A long-held interest in metal soon led to Destine creating her own sculptures too.

Always on the lookout for materials to use in their sculptures, the couple visit second-hand shops, search Trade Me, salvage scrap metal found on farms and even on the side of the road. They also use bits and pieces given to them from friends, family, plumbers and clients.

“More farm contacts would be great.

There’s some amazing treasures out there that unfortunately just get buried,” said Nathan.

Developing their 1,125ha farm and planting trees has been a lifelong passion for Di and Dougal McIntosh

Developing the farm and planting trees has been a lifelong passion for the couple.

The 1,125ha farm, Rātāmarumaru, has been in the family for three generations.

Dougal’s grandfather, Douglas Campbell, bought the farm in 1910. Four decades on, Dougal and his brother Cam McIntosh moved on to the farm, spending years clearing the land of scrub and gorse.

In 1970, Dougal and Cam took over Rātāmarumaru. Ten years later,

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Dougal and his wife, Di, bought the farm.

With funding from a Forestry Encouragement grant, the first block of Radiata pine was planted. Planting is ongoing and now more than half of the property is in pine, redwood and other species. “We hope to have a picnic in the shade of them,” said Dougal.

The farm runs 3,000 ewes, 110 Angus cows and their progeny.

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JANuARY 2023

Cycle of Hope for Daffodil Day

Growing medicinal herbs

by Denise Gunn

by Denise Gunn

In July, we spoke to Cycle of Hope coordinator Kevin Taylor as a group of cyclists were gearing up to ride around Mount Taranaki on Daffodil Day.

We discovered that a project assessing the feasibility of growing medicinal herbs on a commercial scale is gathering momentum in Taranaki.

funds raised locally are used within the region. A small amount goes towards research.

The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System Cycle of Hope cyclists raising funds for the Taranaki Cancer Society

Shonagh Hopkirk among some of her herb gardens

As one of several opportunities in the region evaluated by Branching Out, medicinal herb production could potentially create a new industry.

“We have a supportive community including the Stratford Herb Society, the Herb Federation of New Zealand, and other enthusiastic and engaged growers.

So, it made sense for us to work together and investigate the commercial potential and viability in Taranaki,” said Branching Out project lead Michelle Bauer.

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Zealand vice-president Shonagh Hopkirk collected information from Taranaki herb growers.

“I would like to see various people being able to grow whatever quantities they can of their chosen herb or herbs. We will have contracts with supplement producers to grow a specific quantity of each herb at a specified quality.”

Herb growers interested in further information can contact Shonagh on 021 255 6390 or email stratfordherbs@gmail.com.

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Cycle of Hope cyclists covered a distance of 185km as they circumnavigated the mountain. “The ride normally takes about 10 hours to complete. This includes the stops along the way to give the legs a rest and talk with the community and volunteers helping out on Daffodil Day.” Kevin said it is expected that every participant raises or donates a minimum of $200 to participate as they are catered for the entire trip and at the conclusion of the event.

Taranaki Cancer Society fundraising and events coordinator Lisa Grigg said money raised goes towards the society’s support services for clients and their families. The majority of

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

Historic track record

by Denise Gunn

The Inglewood Railway Station, built around 1876, is New Zealand’s oldest railway station still on its original site.

Founded in 1873 with settlers mostly from England, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Poland, Inglewood’s site was cleared from dense bush. The settlement underwent a couple of name changes from its original Moatown, then Milton, before being renamed Inglewood in 1875.

When the railway connecting Inglewood with New Plymouth was opened in September 1877, the line became a crucial link for transporting freight and passengers. The railway was the first section of what was to become the Marton-New Plymouth line, linking Taranaki, Manawatū and Whanganui.

The track was later extended southwards to join at Hāwera, then further on to connect to the main Wellington line at Foxton. Land purchased from Puketapu hapū was set aside specifically for building the Inglewood railway station.

Constructed with timber and iron, the Inglewood Railway Station included a stationmaster’s office, ticket lobby, passenger area and a ladies’ waiting room. In 1896, the weatherboard station underwent extensions, and a verandah was erected over the platform. Further additions to the site included engine and goods sheds. In keeping with most other railway stations around New Zealand at the time, the building was painted brown and orange.

Photo: New Zealand, by Muir and Moodie. Te Papa (C.013483)

Inglewood circa 1905

In 1878, a Post and Telegraph Office was opened in the station building. By 1902, to meet the needs of Inglewood’s growing population, these services were placed in a separate building opposite the railway reserve. The following year, a daily passenger service was established between New Plymouth and Wanganui.

Horse-drawn transport carried passengers between Stratford and Wanganui until the line was completed.

Townspeople gathered for a meeting in 1898 to discuss the beautification of

the reserves leased by Inglewood’s town board from the Railway Department.

Several months later, the railway line was fenced with gates on each side. Unfortunately, consent from the Railway Department wasn’t sought before construction and the fencing was removed.

Along with passengers and freight, the railway line transported soldiers heading to war. Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh also passed through Inglewood Railway Station on their way to New

Plymouth during a royal tour in 1953–54.

By the early 1980s, passenger services to Inglewood came to an end.

During the next decade, the Inglewood Railway Station was closed and began to fall into disrepair.

However, the community banded together some years later, and with donated funds and materials, restored this historic building. The Inglewood Railway Station and yard were listed as a Historic Place Category 1 with Heritage New Zealand in 2009.

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JANuARY 2023

Shaping the district’s dairy industry

7

by Denise Gunn

The Stratford Co-operative Dairy Factory, established by a group of early settlers, was purchased by the Stratford Farmer’s Co-operative Association in 1894.

The following year, with Mr HDC Marr as manager, an inaugural report stated that the company had become ‘the most complete factory on the coast’.

However, five years later, the company suffered a major setback when a fire completely destroyed the building. The company directors decided to rebuild the factory on a site further to the east.

When Mr Marr left the company in 1901, the directors appointed skilled buttermaker Mr Batey as manager. For the next 10 years the company’s successful manufacturing operations received recognition further afield.

Expansions began in 1899 with the company building a creamery at Skinner Road. In 1902, shareholders acquired the Toko Dairy Factory. Towards the end of that year, another fire burnt down the Skinner Road creamery. Rebuilding commenced immediately. Further growth followed with the addition of the Makuri Road Creamery and the building of a creamery on Robson Road.

In the early 1900s, dairy classes at Stratford Technical School began with 96 students. Mr Batey was an instructor along with chief government chemist Mr Aston who lectured on fertilisers.

The company’s progress saw the addition of a combined churn and butter-worker in

1907. Three years later, a pasteurising plant was purchased. Casein manufacturing began at the Toko factory in 1913, followed by the Skinner Road branch in 1924. The casein was originally dried in Wanganui until the Midhirst Dairy Company installed a casein drying plant. During the first world war, the scarcity of casein sent prices soaring, but it wasn’t until decades later a plant was fitted at Toko.

In 1917, when additional cheese manufacture was requested by the government, cheese plants were installed at Robson Road, Stratford, Toko and Huinga. The company also placed an application for its whey butter to be labelled under the brand name Amber.

When the company began to accept first-class home separated cream in 1912, farmers had to deliver their supplies to the Stratford Railway Station.

The last creamery, at Makuri, closed as the 1923–24 season came to an end.

In 1929, another fire destroyed the company’s butter factory. Once again, rebuilding began almost immediately and a new factory was officially opened nine months later.

The depression years took its toll, and as costs increased and produce prices decreased, factory workers took a 10% cut in wages. Prices

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eventually began to slowly improve and by the 1950s had stabilised. The company then modernised the plant and machinery.

Amalgamations began in 1958 when the Pembroke factory merged with Stratford.

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Seven years later, Stratford, Cardiff, Eltham and Normanby amalgamated to form the Taranaki Co-operative Dairy Company.

Mangatoki, Kaponga, Ngaere and Midhirst joined later. In the 1990s, the factory closed its doors for the last time.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

SP OT LIG H T ON S T R AT FORD

Farm opened to opportunities

by Denise Gunn

Ideal career for keen cadet

by Denise Gunn

In September we looked beyond the farm gate of the Pease family’s east Taranaki hill country farm.

The Pease family on their Whangamōmona farm

Walter, Glennis and their four children farm the property, which covers more than 2,000ha near Whangamōmona.

Half of their farm is in native bush, 250ha is easier fattening country, and the rest is rugged and steep. The family share their piece of paradise with horse trekkers, mountain bikers, trail bike riders and hikers.

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“Our daughter Kate came up with the idea of running a horse-trekking business after some visitors kept saying how awesome the tracks and scenery were,” said Glennis.

After completing more tracks through the property, the family set up Forgotten Ridge Trails. “We love to have people coming out to do the trails, and it gives us great pleasure to share what we have,” she said.

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We chatted with Shawn Rowe, whose love for the land and livestock steered him into a cadetship as a livestock agent.

Shaun’s interest in pursuing a career as a livestock agent began at a young age selling his lambs through the Stratford saleyards

Growing up on his parents’ 25-acre lifestyle block near Stratford generated Shaun’s enthusiasm for farming from a young age. The family raised dairy heifers, and Shawn always helped out with the stock.

“When I was around six years old, I started my own small flock of half a dozen ewes and would take the lambs to the Stratford saleyards,” said Shaun.

Shaun’s interest in pursuing a career as a livestock agent stemmed from

those early years selling his lambs.

Since taking up the cadetship, Shaun has learnt about sheep and beef genetics. As he’s progressed through the cadetship, Shaun has been given more responsibility and the opportunity to develop a client base. He’s developing auctioneering skills too.

Shaun finds working with a range of livestock, and knowledgeable people on a daily basis helps him gain insights into many different farming systems.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

JANuARY 2023

SPOTLIGHT ON INGLEWOOD

Donkey dedication

by Denise Gunn

In October we chatted to Barbara Jones, who is a trustee for The Donkey and Mule Protection Trust.

9

Hands-on approach at Enviroschool

by Denise Gunn

We learned about the numerous Enviroschool projects that pupils and staff at Ratapiko School are involved in. been a really challenging year for schools, the community and everybody,” Lisa said.

Ratapiko School has been an Enviroschool since 2016

Barbara Jones is a trustee for The Donkey and Mule Protection Trust

Horses have featured throughout Barbara Jones’ life, but it wasn’t until she was living in the United Kingdom that she became acquainted with donkeys. Later, after moving to Australia, Barbara found a solitary donkey at an auction and bought her.

Another donkey soon followed.

Donkeys have become highly sought after in Australia as livestock owners use them to protect their stock. When Barbara returned to New Zealand in

2004, her horses and dogs came too.

She bought a lifestyle block out the back of Inglewood and soon afterwards acquired a mule to join her herd.

In 2005, Barbara became a member of The Donkey and Mule Society of New Zealand and an area representative for the society. She was offered a position as trustee for The Donkey and Mule Protection Trust in 2011. Since becoming a trustee, Barbara has rehomed 80 donkeys in the last 10 years.

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Principal Lisa Hill originally introduced the programme to the school when she started in 2016. Enviroschool practices are woven into the school’s curriculum, with many projects extending into the community.

“It’s all practical learning, and pupils are engaged the whole time. They see the benefit of what they do. There’s been a real shift in the ownership as they see what they put in and what they get out. They see tangible evidence of their hard work,” said Lisa.

The efforts of pupils, staff and the wider school community’s efforts were recognised with a Taranaki Regional Council environmental education award. “We are still achieving success through what has

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

S P O T L I G H T O N N E W P LY M O U T H

The jewel in New Plymouth’s crown

by Denise Gunn

Nestled in the heart of New Plymouth lies Pukekura Park; the area was a treeless, swampy valley when viewed by lawyer Robert Clinton Hughes in 1876.

Mr Hughes could see the site’s potential, considering it an ideal area to create a recreational reserve and botanical garden.

After persuading the Taranaki Provincial Government to buy the land, a trust was formed to develop a park. The first trees were planted by Jane Carrington during an opening day. Jane was the daughter of New Plymouth’s chief surveyor and planner, Frederick Alonzo Carrington.

Two years later, the main lake was formed. In 1884, the much-photographed Poet’s Bridge was opened, followed by the bandstand and drinking fountain.

New features continued to be added to the park with The Fernery, the Tea House, waterfall and the waterwheel.

The park, which takes its name Pukekura from the stream running through it, is now one of New Zealand’s premier botanical gardens. It is also listed as a Garden of Significance by the New Zealand Garden Trust.

With additional land purchased and gifted over the years, the park has steadily grown in size to 52ha. Landscaped areas,

Photo: George Fuller Collection, Pukekura Park curator 1965–1990

The main lake at Pukekura Park in the early 1900s

formal gardens, children’s playgrounds and sports areas are linked through paths meandering through the park.

The adjoining Brooklands, formerly a family estate, was gifted to the people of New Plymouth in 1934. This area, developed to incorporate The Bowl of Brooklands and Brooklands Zoo, is

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managed as part of Pukekura Park.

Several concerts are held at The Bowl of Brooklands during the year.

Pukekura Park has become a popular outdoor venue for events and sports with main regular events, including the Taranaki Garden Spectacular from late October to early November, the Festival of Lights during summer and the World of Music, Arts and Dance (WOMAD) in mid-March. Just inside the north-western entrance to the park is a cricket ground,

established in the 1880s. The first cricket game was held there in 1882.

The Friends of Pukekura Park has played an important role in maintaining the special nature of the park since the society’s formation in 1996. The group conducts guided walks and buggy tours through the park.

Close to half a million people are estimated to visit the park each year, and around 120,000 visit the zoo.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

S P O T L I G H T O N N E W P LY M O U T H

Diversification key for family farm

by Denise Gunn

In May, we looked at Highfields Farm in Tikorangi, which has developed into a diverse operation.

Sixth-generation farmer Kurt Vickery said his family bought the farm in 1862.

Each generation has added their own touches to the property. Kurt’s parents now own the farm. He and his partner Elly Pearson are 50:50 sharemilkers on the property. Kurt and Elly’s young son is the seventh generation family member on the farm.

In 2016, Kurt and Elly bought a 332ha (163ha effective) drystock block up the road. All calves from the dairy unit are reared for the block. The couple has diversified the farming operation further, branching out into selling hay, baleage and supplementary feeds.

“Our aim is to be a one-stop shop for all stock feed. Each year it’s getting harder and harder to find quality hay and silage, so we want to make it easy,” said Kurt.

Clydesdales prove strength and versatility

by Denise Gunn

Clydesdale breeder Gareth Pryce told us about his lifelong association with Clydesdale horses, which began as a child, accompanying his uncle on a horse-drawn milk run.

The Pryces enjoy sharing their passion for Clydesdales with other people

Kurt and Elly on Highfields Farm in Tikorangi

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“I remember going on the milk wagon and delivering milk with him. He just loved the horses and had the milk run for 26 years. It was one of the last horse-drawn milk runs in New Zealand, continuing until the 1980s,” said Gareth.

Around 20 years ago, while living in Waikato, Gareth and his wife Jacqueline bought their first Clydesdale. “Once we got the Clydesdale bug, we started acquiring them.”

The couple moved their Blackwood Clydesdale Stud to a property just north of Tongapōrutu seven years ago.

They enjoy demonstrating the breed’s versatility, using their horses for wagon treks, competition ploughing, sledge work, haymaking, riding, showing and breeding.

Gareth is the New Zealand Clydesdale Horse Society secretary, a councillor and also a senior judge.

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JANuARY 2023

S P O T L I G H T O N N E W P LY M O U T H

Keeping it country

Avocados on the horizon

by Denise Gunn

We chatted with Lynn Crawford-Putt about her love for country music, which developed from a young age.

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by Denise Gunn

In June, we looked at Dane and Trudi Kendall’s avocado growing operation on their 10-acre property.

Dane and Trudi with their children in the newly-established avocado orchard.

Lynn Crawford-Putts has recorded and released three country music CDs

Lynn was the youngest girl growing up in a musical family with nine siblings.

Whenever possible, Lynn’s mother would sit outside with her ukulele and roll out songs. Occasionally a yodel could also be heard echoing across the paddocks.

Some of Lynn’s sisters played piano, piano accordion and guitar. A couple of her brothers sang, but only one performed in public. “He and I would attend music

clubs and sing together. I never mastered the yodelling, but my brother did,” said Lynn.

Lynn has recorded and released three country music CDs. The most recent included a song she wrote about her life on the farm with her parents, schooling, marriage and her own family. She said if her singing can make one person smile that makes her day.

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Dane and Trudi both grew up on farms, and for the past several years, have lived on their lifestyle block north of New Plymouth. Dane works in the construction industry, and Trudi is employed in administration.

Their decision to grow avocados on their property has seen the couple make moves towards a lifestyle change.

“Some investigation into climate was done and appeared to be right for

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growing in our area,” said Dane. “New Plymouth has a very good climate and soil for growing avocados.”

The Kendalls planted their first 200 Hass avocado in December 2021. Dane said since then, they’ve progressively set up infrastructure as needed. In October, a further 800 trees were to be planted, irrigated and wrapped. With the additional trees, the avocado orchard will cover close to eight acres.

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

SPOTLIGHT ON HAWERA

Water tower is regional landmark

by Denise Gunn

For more than 100 years, the 54-metre-high Hāwera water tower has stood like a sentry overlooking the town and surrounding district. department would likely never require that area.

Borough engineer JC Cameron designed the tower, which was completed in 1914. Mayor Gillies laid the foundation stone. When the tower’s construction was almost completed, an earthquake in January 1914 loosened the foundation. It caused the reinforced concrete structure to tilt 76cm in a southward direction.

Mr Cameron proceeded to rectify the problem with the assistance of a gang of workmen.

The councillors called in an Auckland engineer, Mr C Suggate, to assess the tower’s safety. Following his inspection, he assured councillors that the tower was safe. In March 1914, testing of the water tower’s capabilities was carried out under the supervision of the fire inspector of the Dominion, Captain

Three destructive fires in Hāwera’s CBD in the late 1880s and early 1990s, coupled with inadequate water pressure from the town’s mains to fight fires, led to requests by the borough’s insurance underwriters for the construction of a water tower.

During a monthly meeting of the Hāwera Borough Council in 1912, Mayor Arthur Gillies submitted a written statement proposing a water tower to be constructed. The councillors agreed, and the corner of High and Albion Streets site was chosen.

This selected site was on the highest land in the area, opposite the fire station, close to the baths with the availability of 110,000 gallons of water and near the High Street main. The Post and Telegraph Department held the site, and it was considered that the

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The tower became a landmark and a unique memorial to pioneers in south Taranaki. In 1932, Hāwera’s jubilee celebrations included switching on a series of neon lighting tubes circling the top of the tower. At that time, the lights on the tower were considered to be New Zealand’s highest sky sign. The lights were also officially recognised as navigational aids for ships and aircraft.

With the eventual development of other, more efficient water supplies for Hāwera, the tower was no longer used for its original purpose. When large pieces of concrete fell off the tower in March 2000, the structure was declared unsafe and closed.

The following year, after public consultation on the tower’s future, a decision was made to restore the historic landmark. Restoration work was completed in 2004. The structure has also undergone earthquake strengthening.

Heritage New Zealand listed the tower as a category one structure. The Hāwera water tower is open to the public. A climb up 215 spiral steps to reach the top balcony provides expansive views across the region.

Photo: Aotea Utanganui Museum of South Taranaki

Hāwera’s water tower is a landmark in the town

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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

JANuARY 2023

SPOTLIGHT ON HAWERA

Sustainable farming for future

by Denise Gunn

Last year, David and Samantha Turner were named the regional supreme winners of the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environmental Awards.

The 2022 Taranaki Ballance Farm Environmental Award winners David and Samantha Turner

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The farm is owned by a family trust, with David managing the day-to-day running of the sheep, beef and dairy support operation. His father, George regularly visits to keep up with what’s happening on the property.

Samantha said seeing their children, George and Sarah, who are fifth generation on the farm, showing interest is one of the farming highlights.

“The long-term goal is to farm this intergenerational asset in a sustainable manner well into the future,” she said.

From setbacks to success

We celebrated when Murray and Rachel Perks won the Taranaki Sharefarmers of the Year title.

Murray and Rachel are 24% variable order sharemilking for Murray’s relations, Alistair and Imelda Abbot, on their Abbott Trusts Partnership 134.45ha, 445-cow property near Hāwera. Murray has come full circle as he grew up on this farm.

In 2014, after two seasons of lower order sharemilking in Taranaki, Murray and Rachel took up an opportunity to go into an equity partnership near Hokitika.

“We bought in when the payout peaked last time, then crashed $3.50 during the following season,” said Murray.

With costs higher than expected, Murray and Rachel soon started heading into negative equity. They decided to sell out at a loss and return to Taranaki.

“Going into our first year 50:50, we have been more conservative with our budgeting and risk mitigation. We’ve fixed a proportion of our milk income to ensure our budget still works if the milk payout drops.”

Murray said winning the Taranaki Sharefarmer of the Year was a career

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David’s great-grandfather, George Casterton Turner, bought the original 64ha family property, known as the home farm, in 1890. George cleared the bush-covered land, and in 1900, built the homestead and sheds. He established the Eltham Stud, breeding beef shorthorns until 1925. He also farmed Lincoln sheep, switching to Romney in 1923.

Additional land has been purchased over the years. In 2003, dairy heifers were added to the farming operation.

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