Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, June 2022

June 2022 edition

Avocados on the horizon Pages 6–7

Plant Pass launched

Tree planting benefits farm operation

P3

Dedicated to dairying

P4

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

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

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Deb Wright 021 639 696 deb.wright@integrity.nz Journalists: Denise Gunn | Ann van Engelen Advertising: Braxton Epere 027 525 8217 Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Anna Fredericksen | Kelsey Hansen | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz Opinions expressed in this publication and in advertising inserts, by contributors or advertisers, are not necessarily those of Integrity Community Media. All inserts delivered with the publication are not produced by Integrity Community Media.

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Taranaki farms in line for smart cow collars

by Denise Gunn

A successful roll-out of solar-powered, GPS-enabled smart collars for dairy cows in Waikato and Canterbury, will now see farming technology company Halter expand into Taranaki, Southland, Otago and the Central Plateau.

Halter’s smart collars, fitted to each dairy cow and coupled with a simple app, allow farmers to remotely shift, virtually fence and proactively monitor their cows’ health, feed and behaviour. Instead of using traditional methods to move cows around the farm with fences, electric wires, motorbikes, gates and dogs, smart collars use sound and vibration sensory cues.

Halter business development manager Steve Crowhurst said the smart collars train cows to understand and respond to these cues.

“A sound indicates where a cow can’t go and vibration indicates when she is on the right path.

“Halter enables farmers to guide cows around the farm or keep them within a static boundary, unlocking a number of benefits for the farmers, the cows and the farm itself.”

Sensors monitor a cow’s every movement 24/7 right down to the most subtle changes in behaviour.

“The system uses this data to predict and alert farmers when a cow is on heat or showing signs of poor health.”

The company believes the smart collars will also help combat New Zealand’s labour shortage.

“We’ve been able to support farmers to run 750-cow, three-mob farms with just two people, and still manage to maintain normal output and sustainable hours,” said Steve.

Owl Farm, a 160ha demonstration farm in the Waikato, has trialled the smart collars. The farm runs as a joint venture between St Peter’s School in Cambridge and Lincoln University.

The farm’s demonstration manager Jo Sheridan said Halter has given them greater workplace flexibility.

“Halter has not only enabled us to reduce hours but it’s also empowered all team members to make informed decisions using the data provided.

Halter CEO and founder Craig Piggott

Through Halter, the entire team can see everything that’s happening on the farm.

“By no longer needing two people milking and getting cows in we have more options to carry out other work on farm and offer flexible, sustainable time off.”

Halter is currently commercially operated in Canterbury too.

Craigmore Group, one of the largest corporate farming operations in the country, has found Halter can offer farmers an improved work-life balance without compromising on production.

Matt Redmond is the farm business manager on a 147ha, 520-cow Craigmore farm in the Culverden Basin, North Canterbury.

“In a nutshell, having Halter has meant we’ve been able to offer staff a better working life. Rather than spending hours sitting behind cows, our workers can spend more time on high-value management and the big picture tasks.

“The human benefits are one thing, but Halter benefits the cows too. You can see it when they walk to the milking shed.

They are so much calmer without having the noise and pressure of a motorbike and dogs behind them. It’s a whole new world.”

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Plant Pass launched

June 2022

3

by Denise Gunn

The recent launch of Plant Pass, a new multi-sector plant production biosecurity scheme, has seen nearly 40 nurseries registered, with 10 of those fully certified.

Plant Pass is a voluntary certification scheme assisting plant producers in New Zealand to recognise quality biosecurity practice. The programme also provides assurance for plant buyers.

Three years of work has gone into Plant Pass, similar to industry certification schemes already operating in Australia, Great Britain, Europe and the United States. It is funded and organised jointly by the Ministry for Primary Industries and primary sector industry bodies through the Government Industry Agreement.

The GIA Operational Agreement partners include MPI, Forest Owners’ Association, NZ Avocado, Kiwi Vine Health, NZ Winegrowers, Citrus NZ and NZPPI. Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general Stuart Anderson said on behalf of the Ministry of Primary Industries, Biosecurity New Zealand is proud to be the lead signatory to the Plant Buyers’ Accord and support Plant Pass.

“It demonstrates our commitment to support New Zealand plant producers and aligns with Biosecurity New Zealand’s role in protecting Aotearoa from the harmful pests and diseases that can cause damage to our environment, economy and culture.

“Plant producers play a crucial role in New Zealand’s biosecurity system, and we value this opportunity to work in partnership with other agencies, councils and plant industry bodies on this proactive certification programme.”

The Plant Buyers’ Accord has been established as a mechanism for buyers to influence, encourage or require their plant producers to participate in Plant Pass. Alongside MPI, four other major groups have signed the accord, including New Zealand Avocado and Kiwifruit Vine Health, the Department of Conservation and Auckland Council.

New Zealand Avocado biosecurity and programme manager Brad Siebert said New Zealand Avocado encourages its growers to purchase avocado plants from Plant Pass certified nurseries.

New Zealand Avocado also requires avocado nurseries to meet the Plant Pass core standard as a prerequisite for the industry’s own standard Avocado High Health Scheme.

“We see Plant Pass covering everything required for biosecurity risk mitigation in nurseries, so now the AHHS is a module and complementary to Plant Pass. It streamlines the whole process right through to reduced

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Stuart Anderson — Biosecurity New Zealand deputy director-general

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A Plant Pass workshop for plant producers will be held at the Devon Hotel

in New Plymouth on Wednesday, June 22, from 9am–4pm.

Further information on Plant Pass is available at plantpass.org.nz.

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

TREE PLANTING BENEFITS

FARM OPERATION

BY DENISE GUNN

Developing a sustainable farm and forestry operation has been a lifelong passion for Dougal and Di McIntosh.

T

he couple’s 1,125ha Whanganui hill country farm, Rātāmarumaru, has been in the family for three generations. Dougal’s grandfather, Douglas Campbell, bought the farm in 1910 but never lived there.

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, Dougal and his wife, Di, bought the farm.

“When we first came to the farm, weeds were the biggest problem,” said Dougal.

“We had a huge clearance programme of gorse and scrub. We fought gorse forever.

“That was a huge economic and physical drain on the farm, but we were stuck with it.

If we didn’t, we would have lost or wasted the whole development programme.”

Erosion, mostly due to storms, is another ongoing issue. “Soil erosion is a big problem in this district.”

To mitigate this, Dougal and Di began planting trees.

With funding from a Forestry Encouragement grant, the first block of Radiata pine was planted in 1974.

Planting has been ongoing, and now, more than half of the property is in pine, Redwood and other species.

A joint forest partnership, formed after the financial crisis in the mid-1980s,

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A further 200ha of hard, marginal country was taken out of farm production and planted 22 years ago. With no weed control or fertiliser required in this part of the farm, the focus went to the more productive areas. Ewe numbers increased, along with the lambing percentage, which rose from 95% up to and above 120%.

The impact of erosion caused during a localised rainstorm in 2006 left the farm with up to 30% grass loss in some paddocks. Horizons Regional Council was approached for assistance and advice.

The council suggested a Whole Farm Plan, identifying a further 200ha that was highly eroded and would benefit from tree planting. Horizons became another forestry partner with the McIntoshs.

Forestry now covers 600ha of Rātāmarumaru with close to 400ha in pastoral farming. The McIntoshs have been able to increase fertiliser on the best of their

Di and Dougal McIntosh farm a 1,125ha Whanganui hill country property, Rātāmarumaru

land and subdivide paddocks, optimising their ability to farm that area. Water quality in streams running through the farm has also improved as the forestry filters the sediments.

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Dougal moving cattle to fresh pasture

Dougal said the best plan for the marginal country is to plant in trees.

Rātāmarumaru runs 3,000 ewes, 110 Angus cows and their progeny. Rams are bought from Mark Illston of Minda Hills near Taihape.

“We’ve enjoyed a relationship with our stock agent David Cotton. He sells our stock to Taylor Preston.”

Some crops are grown to renew pasture. “We try to do between 10–15ha a year. The contractor does that work.”

With parts of the farm’s altitude reaching moe than 400m, winters can be bleak. The average rainfall is around 1,390mls a year.

“Generally, we get a fall of snow a year, but we haven’t in the last two years. We have a very late spring, and we do get dry in summer. If we get dry, everybody else is.”

Dave Brosnahan handles the daily farm operation, and the forestry is overseen by Peter Lissington. Many of Rātāmarumaru’s paddocks are named after family members and those connected to the farm.

Dougal and Di have been dedicated members of the Middle Districts branch of the Farm Forestry Association for many years, gaining knowledge from others.

Di said one of the biggest things was discovering the importance of trees to the land and farm economy.

“We are also enthusiastic about the variety of trees that are available and economic to plant.”

The couple continues to plant trees, finding it satisfying and exciting.

“We hope to have a picnic in the shade of them,” said Dougal.

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

AVOCADOS

ON THE HORIZON

BY DENISE GUNN

A decision to grow avocados on their 10-acre property has seen Dane and Trudi Kendall make moves towards a lifestyle change.

D

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

Previously, the couple’s land was used to grow hay, which was sold as standing grass to a local farmer. They also ran a few cattle, but Dane found break-feeding after work in the rain and dark difficult.

While exploring options to produce income on their 10 acres and a lifestyle change, the couple became interested in avocados.

“Some investigation into climate was done and appeared to be right for growing in our area,” said Dane. “New Plymouth has a very good climate and soil for growing avocados.”

Last year, Dane and Trudi made the decision to forge ahead and establish an avocado orchard.

“I wanted to have a change in lifestyle and try to move away from building as it’s very hard on my body.

Also, in 2019, Trudi suffered a major stroke, which has left her with paralysis of her left arm and walking difficulty, along with fatigue.

Dane built shelters to protect each tree from wind

“After this, the priorities in our life changed somewhat. This ultimately led to the decision to try something else that

would be more long-term and allow more flexibility in our lifestyle; try to enjoy life a little more.”

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When planting is complete, the Kendall’s avocado orchard will cover close to eight acres of their lifestyle block

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

The Kendalls planted their first 200 Hass avocado trees in December. The Hass variety is well suited for frost-free areas of New Zealand Dane said since then; they have progressively set up infrastructure as needed. “Irrigation is via a 30,000-litre tank and pump system.”

The soil has been cultivated to a depth of around 800mm to allow improved root growth, and mulch applied around the trees. Dane built one-metre by onemetre shelters to protect each tree from the wind. Shelter trees were also planted around the perimeter of the property.

Branching Out, a project coordinated by Venture Taranaki, is actively undertaking several investigations, including avocado growing, to strengthen and diversify the region’s economy and value chains.

“Through this work, we’re identifying commercially viable opportunities for food and fibre enterprises in the region, with avocados being one of the feasible, high potential ventures identified,” said Venture Taranaki Branching Out project lead Michelle Bauer.

“We have established the Avo Growers Group, which connects growers with each other to share information and learnings,

as well as connecting them to industry bodies and contacts.

“In the coming months, we’ll be launching a series of investment-ready Venture Blueprints to serve as an informative and inspirational roadmap for interested growers to kickstart complementary farm-based activities.”

Michelle said it also includes any other associated value chain enterprises in Taranaki.

Establishing an orchard has been a learning process for Dane and Trudi, with plenty of research on best practices.

“There is a small amount of ongoing care with routine spraying and mowing,” said Dane.

“Also, just generally checking trees and moisture levels via moisture meter to tell when irrigation is needed. The trees like a warmer, sunny climate, so with Taranaki

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having the most sunshine hours for last year, it’s ideal.”

After three years, the trees will start producing fruit.

“They are a clonal type, meaning they have the best characteristics of Hass trees. They should be in full commercial production after five years.”

Dane and Trudi are now looking to find the best market.

“We will be looking into exporting to Australia if returns lift,” he said.

In October, a further 800 trees are arriving from Lynwood Nursery in Whangārei to be planted, irrigated and wrapped. With the additional trees, the avocado orchard will cover close to eight acres.

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

DEDICATED TO

DAIRYING

BY DENISE GUNN In the two years since taking on their current 50:50 sharemilking position, Kieran and Olivia Clough have exceeded the farm’s previous milk solids record by more than 19,000kg.

T

he couple sharemilk on Jenny Clarke’s 78ha-effective farm near Eltham and bought the herd of 250 predominantly Friesian cows from the previous sharemilkers. An additional 14ha effective is leased from neighbours.

Raised on dairy farms around Taranaki, Kieran always knew he wanted to work with animals. He studied a Diploma of Agriculture at Massey University and then returned to the family farm to work as a farm assistant in 2009. The following year, Kieran advanced to the farm manager position. After starting out sharemilking in 2011, following the purchase of 100 cows from Kieran’s parents and buying a run-off, the couple has clocked up extensive experience.

While on his parents’ farm, Kieran increased record production from

144,00kgMS to 194,000kgMS. It was achieved through using crops to mitigate higher soil nutrient levels on effluent paddocks and by utilising the run-off. He also secured some economical winter grazing to take the pressure off the milking platform during winter.

Olivia grew up in Ohawe Beach and worked in town until the couple took up their current sharemilking position on Jenny’s farm, Wilaily. The couple has an 11-month-old daughter, Evie.

The climate in the area is mild, and the farm receives an average annual rainfall, between 1,600mm to 1,800mm.

“Being positioned under the maunga, we are fairly summer-safe, but the soil can dry out quite fast during dry spells,” said Kieran.

“The most significant animal health issue this season was facial eczema due

Olivia with the couple’s daughter Evie out on the farm

to the warm nights throughout autumn.

This was managed by treating zinc and drying off affected cows early.”

Supplementary feed is grown on the farm, usually about 450 bales of silage and 150 hay bales each season.

The GMC Chiropractors with sponsored Junior Stock car racers: The Symes Family

Calving Season - Pre season training for your spine with GMC Chiropractors This time of year our local farmers are drying off cows, or preparing to do so. It is a time when you can look forward to tying up loose ends, getting to those jobs that never seem to get done during the season, and hopefully take a well earned break! It is a good time to get ready and organised for the winter and upcoming calving season.

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Every year at GMC Chiropractors we see an influx of new patients and returned patients who suffer an injury during calving season. Many farmers are carrying a degree of chronic issues on their lower backs and/or shoulders from years of heavy physical work that are significantly aggravated by lifting and carrying heavy buckets of milk, lifting and carrying the awkward and uncooperative loads of calves. This can lead to sprains, strains-and in the worst cases- injuries to the spinal discs which can lead to severe pain and dysfunction that can result in time off work (which is often not possible for farmers!).

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June 2022

The couple bought their 250-cow herd from the previous sharemilkers on Wilaily

“In our first year of our current 50:50 sharemilking position, we lowered inputs to become all grass all season and surpassed the previous production record by 19,000kgMS,” said Kieran.

“The average production since we’ve been here is 109,000 milk solids supplied to the factory.” This figure equates to 440 milk solids for each cow.

Olivia said about 100 cows are wintered at a neighbouring property.

The couple has also made improvements to almost every fenceline, laneway and building and the effluent system. They have also had success with soil nutrient monitoring, pasture management, business planning, waste minimisation, pest management and animal health improvements.

“Every day has different tasks and challenges, which create opportunities to develop multiple skills,” said Olivia.

Kieran and Olivia enjoy the lifestyle that comes with dairy farming.

“We work every day, but most of the time can be flexible and work around personal commitments.”

Studies continue, too, with Kieran adding to his Diploma in Agriculture with an AgITO Level 4 dairy farming.

This year, Kieran and Olivia entered the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

“A panel of judges did a farm visit and analysed different aspects of our business,” said Kieran.

“The main reason we entered was to gain knowledge around the environmental

A lot of effort has been put into improving many aspects of the farm operation

challenges of farming so that we can work towards a sustainable future.”

Purchasing a small dairy farm in the near future is one of the couple’s goals.

“We want to run a profitable and sustainable farming operation that can adapt to the changing environment and be helpful for the future generations.”

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

The bee’s knees of natives

by Liz Clark

When it comes to the idea of mānuka, most think of firewood or the superfood honey produced by domesticated bees.

Leptospermum scoparium is found throughout the country mainly as a pioneering species on cleared sites and regeneration projects around waterways.

However, the humble tea tree, as it is more commonly known, has been developed

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into a spectacular range of flowering cultivars by nurseries.

A versatile plant, mānuka, can be mass planted for hedging purposes and shelterbelts for gardens and largescale planting projects. It thrives in clay and difficult soils as long as there is sufficient drainage available to prevent root rot. Wind and salt tolerant, they are an excellent choice for exposed coastal sites where high winds are a constant issue and dry the ground out during the summer months.

The best time for planting is during the autumn and winter months. Traditionally, plants of any kind have been placed into round planting holes to match the pot shape. However, a recent conversation with a horticulturalist has that tradition cast to the wayside. The advice given was enlightening, to say the least. The planting hole should be square rather than circular in shape.

If planting in clay, ensure the soil isn’t too wet or too dry. Place some manure at the bottom of the hole, followed by high-quality compost from a reputable brand. Remove the plant from its pot, leave the roots undisturbed and then place it in position. Fill the rest of the hole with the original soil, then top with

more compost. A slow-release fertiliser pellet will also help the roots obtain essential nutrients required for robust growth.

Mānuka grows best on sites exposed to full sun. Soil conditions should lean towards being acidic pH4.5–6.5. The addition of mulch will conserve moisture during the dry summer months; ensure it is kept away from the trunk. Light pruning can be done to encourage further bushy growth or for training into a hedge.

While white flowers are more commonplace in naturally occurring habitats, the varieties developed by horticulturalists are available in varying shades of pink, red and cream. Available cultivars include Coral Candy, Cygnus, Electric Red, Magellan, Nanum Elizabeth Jane, Pink Cascade, Red Damask, Snow Flurry and Winter Cheer. For more information, talk to your local nursery or search online.

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Not feeling your best?

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One of the most rewarding things I do is to hear stories from clients. I have an older client who was healthy but had low energy and felt flat despite no medical reasons.

I had started her on a programme that involved three supplements: A winter Vitamin D booster to lift her immune responses, some Omega 3 fish oil to reduce inflammation and most importantly my multi-antioxidant, multimineral, multivitamin supplement. She reported her energy levels were steadily rising and felt so much better in herself.

My standard advice is that if you feel unwell you should get a medical checkup. If there is no particular medical reason for feeling low in energy we then turn our attention to micro-nutrients; the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants that are responsible for maintaining the health of our cells.

As I often repeat, ‘a healthy cell is a healthy body’.

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produce the energy our bodies need.

Firstly, we need to make sure that we have plenty of the vitamins and minerals that directly affect energy.

Secondly, we need to protect our energy systems with antioxidants.

The list of micronutrients needed for this is long. My multi-nutritional supplement has more than 50 ingredients, and most of these play some part in energy.

If you are low in energy and generally not at your best, I suggest you do what I recommended for my client for at least three months.

You may well be surprised with the benefits you can really feel.

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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12

June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

FARMERS HELPING

FAMILIES

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN Dairy farmer Wayne Langford came up with a plan to help supply the need for meat to families struggling across the country.

“I

live in Golden Bay at the top of the South Island and was blogging my way out of mental health troubles a few years ago on social media as the YOLOFarmerNZ,” says Wayne.

YOLO stands for You Only Live Once.

“The core idea was to do something every day for our family during my recovery. One day we took some minced meat to the local food bank, and I asked them how long it would last.

“The answer was two to three months.

We were shocked as it was a fraction of the amount of meat we had in our family freezer. I realised our freezer would feed the whole of Golden Bay for a year, and that got us thinking.

“As farmers, we don’t tend to live in food poverty. I thought if we donated one cow annually, no one in our area

would go hungry. Then I wondered what it would take to feed other places across New Zealand.

“I do public speaking through YOLO, and a guy from Silver Fern Farms heard me at an event. He thought they could get involved and help us out with our idea.

“I am so pleased he offered as we didn’t realise how many health and safety regulations there are around food quality if we tried processing the meat ourselves.

“We spent a year developing the initiative and brought Siobhan O’Malley on board, who is a West Coast dairy farmer, to help.

“We launched Meat the Need during the first lockdown in April 2020 and the rest is history. The project now reaches from Kaitaia to Invercargill, supplying 85 food banks, a few food kitchens and City Missions.

Men from Christchurch City Mission helped a local farmer during the Canterbury floods as a thank you for his donations of meat

“People donate a beast, sheep, deer or lamb through Silver Fern Farms, and we are given a value for the animal and the money goes into a food fund.”

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Wayne started blogging under the YOLO brand to work through mental health issues a few years ago, which lead him to helping others

In January last year, Miraka Milk Company in Taupō joined the Meat the Need and supplies milk in UHT packs

“The meat is Halal certified, and this is very helpful for food banks, which often work with refugees and their families. We send out the packs monthly to those we support, so they don’t need big freezers on-site.

“Knowing what they get means they can pre-plan their food parcels and add things like pasta and sauces. It also gives community services the ability to teach their clients how to cook nutritious meals with mince if they need to.”

In January 2021, Miraka Milk Company in Taupō joined the project supplying UHT milk packs.

“Farmers donate the milk, and Miraka package it into UHT parcels. This has helped us provide 92,000 milk meals such as breakfast to areas in Central Plateau, Waikato and down toward Masterton.

“Six litres of milk and a couple of mince packs provide a family with several meals a week. We are hoping to work with another nationwide milk processor too, so we can add mince and milk into every food parcel in New Zealand.

“We hear some amazing stories. One young mum recipient had dinner with her children for the first time in a very long time, not being embarrassed with the meal she made, instead a hearty meal with our mince.

“Last year during the Canterbury floods, men from the Christchurch City Mission helped a farmer who donated mince pull the flood debris off his fences.

One of those men was so inspired he now has a dairy farming job.

“Doing this has boosted my mental health, and I learned that giving is a

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massive part of who I am. I love the challenge of creating something that has so much impact.

“Farmers give, knowing it helps others, and businesses can get involved through our rural business campaign. Giving a little bit of what you can, when you can, helps.

“Even if it is once every three years, we will have more than enough meat to feed New Zealand.

“The value of one lamb can keep a rural food bank like Stratford going for a month, while other areas like Kataia receive the value of three to-four lambs, and it makes a massive difference to what they can do.

Imagine then what the donation of a cow could do.

“We also help Sir Michael Jones Food Bank and Dave Latele’s BBM Motivation and Food Bank in South Auckland.

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Wayne joined with Silver Fern Farms to start the Meat the Need initiative with other farmers across New Zealand

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“The volume we send goes far, and that is what keeps me going — we achieve that which is achievable.

“One farmer has donated 35 lambs, one on every couple of truckloads he sends out. Having a regular supply from farmers helps us take on more food banks and reach even more Kiwis that need our help right now.

“As farmers, we grow food. Our role in the community is to make sure everyone gets fed. It’s a powerful gift to be able to help someone with something as basic as food, especially when we grow so much.

“To get on board, talk to your Silver Fern Farms agent, or if you supply another processor, you can donate a virtual sheep, beast, lamb or deer by contacting us at meattheneed.org.”

14

June 2022 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

The day the motor car arrived

by Andy Bryenton

New Zealand was always one of the final frontiers for the automobile, as a nation surrounded by sea and covered in forests and farms.

It was 110 years ago that the car proved that it was here to stay, and overtook the horse as the ultimate form of land transport in what had been, up until then, a very maritime nation. In 1912 an expedition set out from Wellington to Auckland, attempting for the first time to forge a path north through the King Country by road in a Model T Ford.

The usual method for tackling New Zealand’s muddy roads and wild wilderness in those days was on horseback or even by a sledge pulled by bullocks. To go from city to city, a ship was usually the best way to travel. However, writer Arthur Chorlton, photographer Ernest Gilling and driver Harry Richards were determined to prove the worth of the motor car.

They set out from the Wellington post office and soon passed from the land of internal combustion.

‘Taihape was reached at 4.15pm that day, after an uneventful run of 1,412 miles at an average speed of 22 miles an hour, which was not bad with the old Paekakariki Hill and roads as they were then,’ wrote Chorlton.

‘From now on to Te Kuiti we were in totally un-motored country, except for a doctor’s single-cylinder De Dion in Taumarunui, landed by train and marooned there ever since. People, horses, cattle and dogs

The Model T Ford was often required to handle conditions that would stop modern SUVs in their tracks, especially in rural New Zealand

were scared at the sight of the horseless carriage, and outside Raetihi, a woman wheeling a pram upset it with the baby in a panic stampede.’

Mud, raging rivers, roads made of logs rolled into swamps, and the need for horses to pull the Model T from metredeep mires all taxed the expedition. Eight days and 13 hours later the vehicle rolled

down Queen Street, completing a road trip that can now be managed in a single day.

The trip caused a sensation, as people who had previously only heard of the automobile had now seen one in action, and those who had dismissed it as a sporting toy for the wealthy saw its utility.

Arthur Chorlton went on to design an amphibious Model T before the first world

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war and enlisted as a driver in that conflict, driving Model Ts in the Sinai Desert.

It would take many years before roads caught up with motoring technology.

Still, for an era between the world wars, the example set by the intrepid trio of Chorlton, Gillings and Richards inspired hundreds of other Kiwis to get behind the wheel.

TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

A steadfast legacy

June 2022

15

by Liz Clark

During the early 1890s, co-operative dairying was on the increase and the beginnings of a nationally important New Zealand industry — initially led by private enterprise.

In Stratford, the erection of a cheese factory in 1891 in Cloton Road, by the partnership of Robins and Pierard, came about after an attempt by local farmers to form a dairying co-operative failed. After negotiations with farmers, the pair were guaranteed a supply of milk from 400 cows for three years. The new factory was opened for operations in late October of the same year.

A news correspondent visiting the new factory wrote: ‘After considerable negotiating, satisfactory terms were come to, and preparations were at once made for the erection of the building and plant.

The proprietors decided that it should be a cheese factory. The advice and assistance of Mr Sawers, the government expert, were obtained, and he supplied the plans and specifications, so that the factory has been erected under his supervision, and should meet the requirements for which it was built. Everything being in readiness, a start was made; there being a supply of 500 gallons. This is expected to increase daily until it readies its full capacity, namely, 1,200 or 1,300 gallons. The factory is situated on the bank of the Patea River, a short distance from the railway station.’

The pair operated the factory until March 1894, when it was purchased by the Stratford Farmer’s Co-operative

The former Stratford Farmer’s Co-operative Association’s factory in its heydey

Association. In its first year of operation, the output was around 400,000 pounds of cheese and 37,000 pounds of butter.

However, in May 1898, the entire factory was destroyed by an outbreak of fire.

Workers managed to save some butter products and some new machinery that was yet to be installed on the site.

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company ordered a combined churn and butter worker. In 1910, J MacEwan & Co made an offer that the company could have a three-month trial of a motor lorry costing £850.

During the next few decades, after a series of mergers, the factory was closed in the 1990s.

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

SPOTLIGHT ON

by Denise Gunn

STRATFORD

Puanga celebrations for community

Colourful flags designed by local children will be flown along Stratford’s Broadway to mark the Māori New Year, Puanga.

It is the fourth year Stratford District Council has acknowledged Puanga, with a range of free activities lined up for the community.

Stratford District Council’s community services director Kate Whareaitu said this is a special time of year.

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“It’s when we can reflect on the past 12 months and look forward to the next.

“With it being the first year that the government has officially recognised the Māori New Year as a public holiday, we wanted to make sure that we gave our community an opportunity to learn and get involved with celebrations locally.

We’ve made some exciting additions to our annual events.”

Puanga is known as Matariki elsewhere around New Zealand.

The annual Puanga flag competition, open to primary and secondary school students, has steadily grown in support since it began. A record 159 entries were received this year.

“We were extremely impressed with the entries received,” said Kate.

Four or five winning designs are usually chosen each year to be made into street flags. These flags are flown down Broadway during the celebrations, along with previous years’ winning entries. Each winner is permitted to keep one of their street flags to fly at home or school for future Punga celebrations.

“Our flag competition asks tamariki and rangatahi to show us what Puanga means

Children listen as The Promise of Puanga is read to them

to them. All the entries will be on display at the library and visitor information centre in Prospero Place.”

Kate said the long weekend would kick off with a Starry Night event in Prospero Place on Thursday, June 23.

The event will include lighting displays, entertainment, kōrere and face-painting.

“Prospero Place will be turned into a wonderland for people of all ages, so you won’t want to miss it.

Library-based activities for children and their families will be held from Wednesday, June 22.

A new Puanga StoryWalk® is also planned in Victoria Park from Monday, June 20, using Kirsty Wadsworth’s book, The Promise of Puanga. Kirsty will be in Stratford on Saturday, June 25, for a reading of her book at the library.

On the same day, local Māori Women’s Welfare League representatives will share their knowledge teaching weaving and traditional Māori games at Prospero Market between 9am to noon.

A full list of Puanga celebrations can be found at stratford.govt.nz or on the Stratford District Council’s Facebook page.

TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

SPOTLIGHT ON

June 2022

17

STRATFORD

ADVERTORIAL

Stitch by stitch

by Denise Gunn

Since opening its doors in December 2019, Stratford Knit and Sew has become a colourful, cosy hub of creativity for the community.

Business owner Arnold Cox said it’s the only specialised store in the district.

For the past few years, Arnold has added to the original stock of wool, quality fabrics, haberdashery, embroidery cottons and patterns.

“Now I’ve built the shop up; the store also has organic wools and New Zealand wools ranging from two-ply to 14-ply and chunky. I also stock a large range of knitting needles, wooden, bamboo and aluminium.”

Arnold’s interest in fabric stems back decades. He and his late wife Stephanie used to quilt together, so his wealth of knowledge is a huge asset to customers.

“I can design quilts for people. I have a programme to design them, and I can show people ideas and work out how much material is required.”

Arnold also enjoys talking to people about their patterns. “I can help people to work the problem out,” he says.

“I also specialise in panels and children’s materials. If people want to make quilts for children — I have a huge range of suitable material.”

With a resurgence of interest in Tunisian crochet, Stratford Knit and Sew has Tunisian hooks and needles in store too.

“I can get needles, and bits and pieces, for people who want specialised stuff; sometimes overnight as I have a good rapport with suppliers.

“A lot of older people come in and browse around. People also bring in what they’ve made.”

A mending service is available. Drycleaning can be dropped off and picked up too.

“I’m there for a service and to please people, so they walk away satisfied.

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The store’s prices are very competitive compared to some of the other retail shops.”

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“My aim is to make it like one of those old-fashioned stores where you can browse your time away. Customers just love the shop.”

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June 2022 TARANAKI FARMInG LIFeSTYLeS

SPOTLIGHT ON

STRATFORD

Rotokare’s night tours return

by Denise Gunn

Rotokare Scenic Reserve’s night tour season opens next month, with six tour dates scheduled from July to September.

The night tours, introduced in 2014, offer the community an opportunity to experience Rotokare in a completely different way.

Rotokare’s environmental educator Ash Muralidhar said the tours are extremely popular, particularly during the past four years.

“Our tours are often booked out well in advance, often before the first tour has even begun. In the past, we’ve had to add extra tour dates to accommodate people who’ve missed out on the season. We’re delighted and humbled to see the value our community places on these tours.”

Ash said Rotokare is home to an amazing array of rare and endangered native wildlife, many of which are charismatically visible and bustling during the night.

“Nights at Rotokare may seem uneventful, but unbeknownst to most visitors, a whole new suite of creatures take over the forest

landscape as the sun goes down. Night tours allow the opportunity to discover and marvel at Rotokare’s unexpected nightlife and have uniquely wild and natural experiences with native species.”

A night tour begins with an information session to introduce the many creatures of the night residing at Rotokare.

“The session is full of knowledge and information and educates visitors on what sights and sounds to look out for before the tour. This empowers them to become explorers and create their own tour experiences with the skills to spot wildlife themselves.”

Groups of visitors then embark on guided tours. Each night tour is unique, depending on the types of wildlife seen and heard.

Most nights, morepork, kiwi and tree weta are heard. Eels may be spotted through the raupō at the edge of the lake and crayfish viewed, as they scuttle across muddy forest streambeds. The twinkle of glowworms is often seen on the sides of the track and

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A night tour group at Rotokare Scenic Reserve

various other native creatures may also pop up near the forest walkway.

Bookings for night tours are made exclusively online via Eventbrite

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E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G ADVERTORIAL

Get ahead at school NumberWorks’nWords New Plymouth specialises in providing individualised maths and English tuition to children ages 5–16.

Learning at NumberWorks’nWords is fun and rewarding, which is why students love it! After disruptions to schooling, catching up and closing gaps is more important than ever.

Tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords New Plymouth helps students build confidence and improve their school results. The tuition is personalised to each student, based on their learning goals, school curriculum, and the outcomes of their learning assessment.

NumberWorks’nWords offers free assessments in maths and English which identify gaps and weaknesses.

With this information, in conjunction with the parents and child, the team develops a personalised tutoring programme to meet the child’s learning needs.

The in-centre tuition is customised to each child and delivered by trained tutors who are experts in their subjects.

NumberWorks’nWords New Plymouth has a personalised approach to tuition, which caters to students of all abilities

“Tuitions are customised to each child and delivered by trained tutors.” and complements the work that students do at school.

NumberWorks’nWords tuition is computer-based, using bespoke tutoring software. Traditional learning methods are also incorporated into teaching practices. Maths and English tutoring with NumberWorks’nWords are beneficial for students who need extra support or are falling behind at school and those who require extension work that challenges them.

If you are interested in learning more about where your child is at with their learning, get in touch with Natalie at NumberWorks’nWords New Plymouth, and book a free assessment today.

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E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G

Green is the gold standard in schools

by Andy Bryenton

The Enviroschools programme is changing the way sustainable ecology, especially in rural areas, is taught to tamariki and rangatahi.

Enviroschools began as a small local Hamilton project in 1993. It has grown to encompass many schools around the country. The initial idea came from the 1992 Rio De Janeiro ecological summit meeting, which coined the phrase ‘think globally and act locally’. Three Hamilton primary schools trialled several projects to explore how to integrate environmental education into school life.

Now the concept is spreading, with examples across Taranaki, where there are 62 Enviroschools accredited, teaching in excess of 8,500 tamariki about the environment. This curriculum spans from preschool to high school.

Opunake Kindergar ten used Enviroschools as the impetus to help the community, and to study soil health and recycling, while also reaching out to the wider community.

“Opunake Kindergarten had a project vision to support our small rural town to learn more about the benefits of worm farms,” said Suzie Pentelow, discussing the construction of new worm

farms and plant swap stations in the coastal community.

“Our tamariki have been on such a learning journey while this project has been happening. Literacy has been developed through helping to write and deliver the letters to the schools, and numeracy through the maths strand of locating, as we discussed where the schools their siblings were at could place their donated worm farm.”

High school students were able to pitch in and help with the construction, as did many other generous locals, parents and the kindergarten team.

Another good example of this wide age group focus comes from Ruawai, a small town situated on the fertile plains south of Dargaville in Northland. All of the small community’s education providers are part of the Enviroschools programme from the kindergarten, a member of the top-tier Enviroschools Green-Gold club, to the high school, Ruawai College, which is utilising environmental learning in its new, nonNZCE based modular curriculum. Now all

Kindergartens across the nation are embracing the Enviroschools ethos, not just to boost ecological learning, but to engage across age groups with primary, intermediate and college students

three in conjunction are planting 4,000 trees for Matariki.

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for generations to come and involves nearly every student in the town, from preschoolers to teens. It’s a perfect example of the Enviroschools ethos at work.

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Students will tell you that their education house is more than where they stay — it quickly becomes a connection for life.

With four boys’ houses and two girls’ houses, Whanganui Collegiate School is the leading co-educational boarding and day school in the lower North Island.

“Boys and girls think, problem-solve, and react differently in social situations; therefore, they learn from each other’s differences,” says headmaster Wayne Brown.

“At this school, boys and girls learn to support each other, to work together, and as a result, are well equipped for life after college — it is a co-educational world.”

All students require quality and personalised teaching. At Whanganui Collegiate, celebrating diverse learning is at the forefront of what we do,

focussing on empowering students with the academic, social and personal skills required to study and achieve.

“More importantly, Whanganui Collegiate is where families are united,” says Brown.

Parents can support all their children, in the same weekend, at the same school.

Thus, the family structure is strengthened through the critical years of secondary schooling — developing a child of promise to a young adult of great character.

Learn more about Whanganui Collegiate School by joining us on Saturday, August 27, for our Term Three Tour Day and see first-hand our 168 years of custodial uniqueness partnered with 21st-century learning.

Register your attendance by visiting collegiate.school.nz.

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Today's boarders thrive on academic , sporting and cultural opportunities boarding makes possible and they love being with their friends all the time.

Boarding at Whanganui Collegiate School is not simply a place to live and learn but quickly becomes a connection for life.

Discover for yourself what sets Whanganui Collegiate School apart. Arrange a personal tour or join us at our next Tour Day.

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Wetland design improvement Fish and Game New Zealand welcomed the new NIWA—DairyNZ resource to help farmers with wetland design and performance.

“New Zealanders are becoming far more aware of the important role wetlands play in taking care of water, from recharging groundwater and augmenting flows, and filtering run-off pollution,” says Fish and Game New Zealand Council chair Ray Grubb.

“Wetlands are vital for wildlife because they provide valuable habitat for both native and valued introduced species.

Healthy wetlands are also crucial in helping to minimise the impact of weather events like floods and droughts, which too many New Zealand communities are unfortunately all too familiar with.

“Fish & Game, and game bird hunters, are proud to have played a leading role in wetland protection and conservation — managing and creating numerous wetlands in many parts of the country.

That is why Fish & Game has worked with DairyNZ in developing this guidance.”

The new guidelines highlight that as wetlands increase from one to five per cent of a catchment area, sediment removal typically increases from 50 to 90 per cent.

Nitrogen removal increases from 25 to 52 per cent in warmer zones of New Zealand, and increases from 18 to 38 per cent in cooler zones of New Zealand, while phosphorus removal increases from 25 to 48 per cent.

The National Environmental Standards for Freshwater also introduced a number of rules relating to wetlands in 2020.

Before undertaking any activity within or near an existing wetland, you should check these rules. You can also seek advice from your regional council.

The recent guidance is supported by 12 regional councils, Fish & Game NZ and the Waikato River Authority. It can be downloaded at dairynz.co.nz/wetlands.

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Ray Grubb, New Zealand Fish & Game New Zealand Council chair

Wetlands include anything from small on-farm swamps and seeps to large, regionally recognised areas.

New Zealand has lost 90 per cent of its wetland areas from drainage. Protecting even small wetlands on-farm adds a lot of value to the environment. They act as the kidneys of the environment and can remove significant amounts of nitrate from run-off through denitrifying

bacteria and uptake by plants, markedly improving the quality of water leaving the wetland.

They also trap sediment and phosphorus and reduce faecal bacteria.

As one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems, wetlands provide a valuable home for native plants and animals.

Your regional council may have requirements for works within wetlands.

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