Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, November 2023

November 2023 edition

Environmental heroes Pages 3

Scanning a successful career move

Giving back to the community

P6

Collating a century of stories

P9

P12

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November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

QUICK INDEX

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Environmental heroes announced

November 2023

3

This year’s Taranaki Regional Council environmental award-winners were honoured for their achievements in a recent awards ceremony in New Plymouth.

The revamped awards featured the addition of new categories. These included Youth Environmental Leader, Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement and Environmental Action in Biodiversity, and the realignment of others such as Environmental Leadership in Farming.

Eight winners and 13 highlycommended recipients received awards for the work they have put into protecting and caring for the region.

The Environmental Action in the Community award went to Rāhui Tima for working collaboratively to take action to protect or enhance the environment or increase understanding of environmental issues. This project is protecting shellfish along 70km of Taranaki coastline. Ōpunake Community Kindergarten received the Environmental Action in Education award for empowering tamariki to take action to protect and restore the environment.

Two joint winners, Arabella Barber and Amber Cayley, won the Youth Environmental Leader award. This award recognises leadership, support of others and willingness to share ideas in making a significant contribution to the Taranaki environment.

Glenn and Lynda Howatson won the Environmental Leadership in Farming award. The couple have planted more than 7,000 riparian plants, fenced hundreds of

Glenn and Lynda Howatson won the Environmental Leadership in Farming award

metres of waterways and taken steps to protect six wetlands.

The Environmental Leadership in Climate Action award went to Nova Energy.

This New Zealand company created the first grid-scale solar farm in the country, located in Kapuni.

Taranaki Catchment Communities took out the Environmental Action in Water Quality Improvement category.

Sharing a passion for a sustainable future, this group of farmers work on a range of initiatives around Taranaki, raising awareness of how fundamental freshwater is to the environment.

The Environmental Action in Biodiversity award was won by The 800

Trust for working with others to return kiwi to the eastern Taranaki hill country.

Taranaki Regional Council chair Charlotte Littlewood praised the work by the winners and highly commended recipients who were leading by example in improving freshwater and native biodiversity, cutting carbon emissions, reducing waste and protecting wetlands.

“I was blown away by the quality of this year’s environmental award winners.

From protecting our coastline and native biodiversity to helping decarbonise our economy and safeguard our precious

freshwater, their work is vital and deserves our recognition.

“The judging was particularly hard this year as the quality of the entrants was extremely high. The winners and highly commended all demonstrated an amazing commitment to caring for Taranaki, and it was a privilege to listen to their stories.

“We hope their stories will inspire others, too. It’s through the dedication and commitment of our environmental heroes and those countless others who strive to enhance the environment that we can all work together to care for our amazing region.”

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November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

O T Y C A G E AL

E G A R U O ENC GELEN

BY ANN VAN EN

ia Collier was The late Cynth g her local farmin well known in ter or pp su a passionate community as d. an al New Ze of Rural Women

C

ynthia’s family has established a $5,000 grant in honour of her to assist projects and initiatives that support rural communities through RWNZ. “October was mum’s birthday month, and this year marks the 10th anniversary since her passing,” says daughter Jo Romanes.

“Sadly, my dad, Henry, passed away a couple of months ago, too. I think Mum would love to know that she’s being remembered through the continued work of people like her to build community connection and support.

“Mum and dad met as teenagers, and they married young. They were

absolutely devoted to each other and had a very long, happy marriage. Mum supported everyone around her with kindness and generosity. Dad was absolutely devastated when she died from pancreatic cancer at age 75, and suddenly, he was left alone.”

Henry managed the family farm in partnership with his brothers Gordon and Arthur in the earlier years, and he loved everything about the land.

“Dad lived and breathed farming, and it had always been hard to get him to leave the farm, but later in life, mum and dad discovered international travel, which they both adored. Mum

discovered a new side of dad as he met people all around the world and became quite outgoing.”

Cynthia was raised as a dairy farmer’s daughter in the Rangitikei and Manawatū districts. Farming was in her blood, and she took the transition from dairy to sheep and beef farming in her stride when she and Henry married and began a life together.

“Mum played a huge support role in the family. She married dad when she was 19 and moved to the family farm, which was quite isolated — it’s 30 miles from Taihape. In the old days, it was all about letting the men folk get out to have the

freedom to work the hours they needed to. It was certainly different back then to now in a sense. It was simpler, and roles were more defined.

“I don’t think it was easier for women then as there was a lot of hard toil, and it must have been also hard on mental health. You were expected to just get on with it, which mum and the women around her did, but there was isolation and expectation in performing those roles.

“I think that had a lot to do with the off-farm escapes mum had with Rural Women. She really enjoyed that fellowship with others who were going through the same thing and supporting each other.

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Henry Collier enjoyed many years of farming the family land thanks to Cynthia’s support

“Most families had quite a few children.

Mum and dad had four, and life wasn’t always as glamorous or as easy as it may have been perceived to be. Running the house, bringing up the kids, and supporting the efforts on the farm, there was always a lot of understated toil going on in the background for the lady of the house.

“The school was the heart of our community, and a lot of the focus was centred around it. There was always much fabulous home baking done by the ladies whenever a community gathering was

was a very keen and able gardener and took over the original family garden at the homestead, which adjoined her brotherin-law Gordon’s famous Titoki Point. The garden was open to the public for many years, and the Wakarua team provided hospitality and bus trips for people to come and view their work.

“She and dad also sang in his sister, Helen Gordon’s church choir, which they enjoyed immensely.

“Mum now has quite a number of greatgrandchildren who never met her. So, to us,

the grant is one way to bring her memory to the fore, as she was such a kind person and a passionate supporter of women, children and good causes. She would love to know her memory is doing something to celebrate and help other women in similar circumstances.”

The Cynthia Collier grant will be awarded annually for the next three years, with the first grant being awarded in mid2024. Applications will open from the end of November and close on April 30 2024.

For more information, go to ruralwomennz. nz/our-funds-and-grants.

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Henry and Cynthia married at a young age and were devoted to each other their whole lives

Cynthia loved encouraging people of all ages, including children at the local school

taking place or when someone needed to be supported in the district.

“Mum drove the school bus for decades on a roster system with other women, many of whom were related because the Collier family is an old farming family in the area, dating back well over a century in the area.”

Cynthia was also a keen photographer.

“We have thousands of photos of other people, especially dad on the farm. He was a great model, and accustomed to mum always having her camera. Mum

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November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

SCANNING A

SUCCESSFUL CAREER MOVE

BY DENISE GUNN With a background growing up on dairy farms around coastal Taranaki, Nick Trethewey always wanted to be involved in the dairy industry.

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T

he first step on Nick’s career path was as a 22-year-old, working on a dairy farm in County Galway, Ireland, for 12 months. He said this job further cemented his love for the industry.

“When I came home, I spent 18 months working as a farm manager for my stepfather in Opunake before getting my first job as a variable order sharemilker just outside of Hāwera.

“I sharemilked for nine years on various farms, ranging in size from 200 cows springcalving on an all-grass system to 800 cows split-calving on a high input system.”

Nick’s goal was always to achieve farm ownership. However, he and his wife, Anna, found that opportunities for young people to move into herd or farm ownership were getting few and far between. “So we decided to change paths.”

Up until five years ago, Nick hadn’t considered livestock scanning as a career.

Company director Kevin Westbury pregnancy scanning a herd

“When we gave up farming six years ago, I wasn’t sure what path my career would take. I was lucky enough to get a job working

for the vets in Hāwera as a technician for 18 months, doing everything that I am doing now except for the scanning.”

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As we are all aware, times are a little tough at the moment due to the current economic climate. We are all feeling the pinch and in particular, the crew that keeps the country afloat, the FARMERS. Poor buggers have had a bit of a bum steer of late so the team here at Mountain Motors, Taranaki’s Home of IRONMAN 4X4 are going to throw them a small, but I’m sure, welcome, lifeline. For ALL BOOKINGS and PARTS between now and the new Financial Year, ALL FARMERS will get an automatic 10% DISCOUNT across the board. It’s just a small way for us to say a BIG thank you and we hope the struggle ends soon.

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Calves in a crate being prepared for dehorning

Although Nick enjoyed the work, he still had a desire to work for himself and be involved in the agriculture industry, particularly dairy. When the opportunity to purchase an existing Ultra-Scan franchise area came up, Nick jumped at it. “I never looked back,” he said.

Nick travelled to Waikato, learning under the guidance of one of the company directors for a few weeks. On his return to Taranaki, another company director spent a week with Nick to observe his work and ensure he was correctly calling foetus age as well as non-pregnant animals.

As Nick’s job is seasonal, he also takes on relief milking and scanning of beef cattle.

“For 10–12 weeks from the start of August, we work up to seven days a week and 70– 80 hours a week to disbud around 12,000

Calves after dehorning

calves. Again, from the start of February for 10–12 weeks, it’s up to seven days a week, with some mornings leaving home at 4am to scan around 31,000 animals.

“In between seasons, I fill in my time with some relief milkings and scanning beef animals, which can go into June. I love the seasonal side of the job as it allows me to get involved with my children and their sports.”

Nick’s work takes him from Eltham across to Opunake, and covers the region up to Awakino.

“The biggest challenge I’ve found is juggling my days to maximise daily numbers when flat out. This was hardest when I first took over the business as I was still learning and that every farm has different set-ups. Four years in, and I think I’ve finally got it sorted.”

He enjoys the travel that comes with the job and working with different people.

“I’ve got to see some spectacular countryside that normally you wouldn’t get to see, and I get to have some amazing conversations,” said Nick.

“I’m always up to having a laugh with clients, who, after four years, a lot of them are no longer considered clients but friends.”

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Pregnancy scanning heifers outdoors

Nick plans to continue growing his business, particularly the beef scanning side.

“Long-term I want to get to where numbers are at the point I can sell some of my area and provide the same opportunities given to me,to someone else.”

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November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL

Joint problems — dealing with the causes (Part one)

by John Arts

I have been helping people with knee osteoarthritis for over 25 years — I have been helping one client with this for nearly two years.

When we first spoke, he needed to take pain relief to walk for exercise.

After six months, he said the pain had completely gone and no longer needed pain medication.

Any successful programme to improve joints affected by OA should address the underlying disease process. OA is a disease that is characterised by cartilage loss due to both mechanical and biochemical processes. The major process is the loss of cartilage caused by progressive damage to specialised cells called chondrocytes. These cells live in the matrix of cartilage and are responsible for maintaining and repairing cartilage by secreting new cartilage where required.

However, these cells are vulnerable to destructive processes brought about by trauma, such as sports injury, or disease processes, especially oxidative damage. It means cells and cell structures have been damaged by free radicals. The body’s response to this is our antioxidant defence systems to neutralise free radicals before they can cause damage.

The greatest source of discomfort in OA is inflammation in the joint capsule, resulting in pain, swelling

The body’s response to this is our antioxidant defence systems to neutralise free radicals before they can cause damage. and, in some cases, heat and redness. While bone on bone can only be repaired by surgery, the discomfort from inflammation and cartilage loss can respond very well to nutritional therapy.

The most important joint support compound is high-grade chondroitin sulphate. Research suggests at least 800mg daily. I like to start most on an intensive programme delivering 1,600mg of both chondroitin and glucosamine and 400mg of a newgeneration 100% water-soluble curcumin extract.

That, combined with therapeutic doses of omega-3 fish oil, can make a real difference.

John Arts (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 newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

Abundant Health Bettaflex New Super Joint Formula What is Bettaflex?

A new approach to an old problem

by Andy Bryenton

Cow race maintenance can be a costly exercise. Many are built with material off the farm, and many more have oversized rock mixed in for expediency.

As time passes, these big rocks can come to the surface, and the only option is to keep applying more screened fines to bury them. Farmers across the country have noticed that this is getting progressively more expensive.

Darryll from DGP Contracting in Inglewood had faced this conundrum across many customers’ farms, and he decided to fix it.

“Having spent some years dealing with this issue myself repairing races with a digger, I figured there must be a better way,” he says. “It turns out there is!”

Darryll purchased the largest tracked loader he and the DGP team could find and set out to build a custom race mill specifically designed for the job. When fabricated, the finished machine was impressive to behold.

“This thing is a race-eating monster,” says Darryll. “The speed at which it can mill a race and lay it back down is surprising. On one recent job, it milled and dressed up 1.3km of race in less than three hours.”

“Areas we thought would require several truck loads of new metal did not

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need any at all. The milled race packs back down nicely, and the cows no longer pick their way along the race, avoiding rocks protruding through the surface.”

In operation, the powerful mill effortlessly removes rocks up to 300mm and leaves behind a surface made of fines. It can be set to any depth, right down to 150mm deep, allowing Darryll to resurface a race in good condition and cut deep to remove badly rutted areas. As well as removing the larger stones, it levels the surface.

“You will be able to run the tractor at a decent pace,” he says. “We also have a digger to make any race alterations and clean your water tables.

Before we run the mill, we clean the race surface and edges to keep the race material clean. The tracked loader is considerably faster than the digger for this job.”

If you are looking for a beautifully finished race for a fraction of the cost give us a call. Look at our Facebook page, DGP Contracting or phone Darryll at 027 223 6699.

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

9

Christmas Preparation

by Denise Gunn

Giving back to the community

Growing premium-shaped Christmas trees has added another branch to the business for the team at Cedar Lodge Nurseries.

Qualified horticulturist Pip Webster began working for Cedar Lodge Nurseries 18 years ago. In 2011, she and her late husband, Luke Webster, bought the nursery. Pip said working in an established business helped her to learn the ropes before purchasing.

“Initially, the business was on Egmont Road, but five years ago, we moved to Paraite Road.”

More than 3,000 special Christmas tree pines are planted on the property each year. This variety of trees, with a pine fragrance, takes between three and a half to eight years to reach a suitable Christmas tree height.

“We also have 50 hypo-allergenic trees, Sequoia sempervirens, which look a little different and don’t have the same smell. Still, it’s an excellent opportunity for people to have the same tree-cutting experience, even if they have allergies.”

At any one time, there are around 10,000 trees growing on 10 acres.

When Pip and Luke purchased the business, they decided to develop a scheme to give back to the community.

The Christmas trees provided an ideal

“Around 10,000 trees, at any one time, are growing on the property.”

Luke and Pip Webster developed a scheme to support worthy causes and organisations through the sale of their Christmas trees

opportunity to support worthy causes and organisations.

“We have given $1 per tree sold since then. We have managed to help out many local people and charities.”

The Taranaki Cancer Society and Gabby’s Starlit HOPE have been recent recipients. Earlier this year, Luke passed away. “This year, since Luke’s passing, this has become the Luke Webster Memorial Fundraiser. This year’s charity is still to be confirmed.”

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Caring for the Christmas trees is a fulltime job involving spraying, mowing and hand-trimming to keep their shape. Pip said there are many challenges growing the trees. “Every season is different. That’s where being experienced in horticulture is a must.”

The trees, sold under the Santa’s Christmas Trees label, range in size from six feett up to 12 feet. Prices vary

according to size. “They are largely sold on-site at 123 Paraite Road. People are given a handsaw, and off they go to select their perfect family tree.”

Trees can also be pre-ordered and delivered. Pip ensures a tree is planted each year and grown specifically to donate to Christmas at the Bowl — Taranaki, too.

This event, held at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth, draws thousands of people.

“This tree is eight years old and in excess of three metres high. It takes a whole team to install it.”

In addition to the nursery, garden centre and growing Christmas trees, a family Christmas store has been established on-site, stocking Christmas decorations.

Pip said she plans to continue providing Taranaki with top-quality Christmas trees.

Whether you envision your wedding reception, a family reunion, a productive work function, an inspiring workshop, or any special occasion, our venue offers the perfect setting to bring your vision to life. Immerse your guests in a seamless audiovisual experience with our quality AV equipment for presentations, music, and entertainment.

Our flexible layout allows for various event configurations, with a seating capacity of 250 and a standing capacity of 400. Additionally, our thoughtfully designed facilities feature a fully equipped kitchen and bar, ensuring that your catering needs are met.

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10

November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Christmas Preparation With Christmas in mind

by Ann van Engelen

Next month sees many households celebrating the Christmas season, visiting friends and family and taking a few days out of their daily routines.

For those living in rural communities, it can mean preparing stock and other animals in your care to be looked after while you are away, even if for one night.

For lifestyle block owners, it’s just as important to ensure your animals have a good water supply and food source for the time you are away.

Don’t forget your dogs, cats, birds and fish need care too. If possible, have a friend check in daily — it is far easier for stock to have a mishap than some people realise. Now is a good time to check your boundary fences to ensure your stock stays within your property boundary. Stock wandering on railway tracks and roads is a major safety hazard.

LTD

If you own straying stock which damages the roads or its roadsides, or if they contribute to an accident on the road, you will be liable for the costs associated with repairing any damage, and you may face criminal charges. If you find wandering stock, it is suggested to call the local animal control or, in an emergency, the police.

With the country expecting a drought this summer, be mindful of checking water lines, troughs and your water tanks. If they are low now, it may be a good time to order a load from the local water carrier. Once summer holidays hit and people begin visiting coastal and rural areas, water usage is known to rise dramatically and it’s not always easy to get a load on the day you need.

It’s also a good idea to remind any urban visitor of the importance of limiting water

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usage. Things such as turning the taps off when brushing your teeth, not having toys that need a sprinkler attached for children and taking short showers all help.

A rural life means we have commitments that may keep us close to home. If that is the case, there’s no reason we can’t have

friends over for a simple meal, a day of games or an on-farm adventure for our urban friends.

Ultimately, the Christmas season is to be enjoyed, no matter your beliefs, it’s a time to have guests, visit friends or spend quality time together.

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

11

Christmas Preparation Avoiding the grumps

by Liz Clark

As the reminders start filling up the advertising spaces heading towards that day of joy for the nation and it draws nearer, the rush will be on to get those last-minute things done.

It’s a matter of ‘calm the farm’, so to speak. Stop a moment and clear your head before going like a bull in a headlong charge and ending up with a pickle of a problem in the process. Of course, this is being written somewhat tongue-incheek, knowing what it is with children in tow, unprepared and forgetting just about everything on the list for the big Christmas shop.

Rural living usually involves a long trip into town to pick up everything needed for the big day, when the family all come together for a great time. Coming from a rather large family myself, when you add in the additions, such as nieces and nephews and possibly grandchildren, it becomes an exercise in patience, especially when shopping time comes and there are younger children in tow.

On the day before the big trip into town after the necessary jobs are done on-farm, organising the things the little ones will

A child’s smiling face makes all the difference if you plan your Christmas shopping day right

need for a long day is better than leaving things to the following morning. Get the water bottles filled and put them into the fridge, along with lunchboxes filled with snacks and other goodies to keep the tummies filled throughout the day. These can be put into a small chilly bin or cooler bag with a chiller pad to keep things cool and fresh on a hot summer’s day.

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Ensure there are hats, sunblock, extra nappies, wipes and some bags to store

any used nappies until they can be sorted out at home and disposed of. Favourite toys are another must-take which will keep a little person amused. For babies sitting up, something as simple as a brown paper bag can keep them amused while going around the supermarket or store.

Take frequent breaks throughout the day, such as at a playground where the children can run around and release some energy. Taking plenty to eat is an essential part of preventing grumpy children and harried adults, too. Using a list, too, will help you get through the day, and before you know it — it’s back home, everything done and no grumps to be seen.

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November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Christmas Preparation COLLATING

A CENTURY OF STORIES

T

he origins of Flock House trace back to New Zealand’s wool industry. During the second world war all wool was classed as a war commodity and sold at a fixed price to the Imperial Government.

Towards the end of the war, the wool surplus was sold on the open market, fetching higher prices. It was then specified that until one year after the war ended, New Zealand wool growers would receive a fixed average amount for their wool. Growers and the government would equally share the profits.

N

N

BY DENISE GU

In 1924, the first intake of Flock House cadets sailed from Great Britain, arriving on New Zealand shores several weeks later to begin agricultural training.

In 1918, the late Rangitikei MP Edward Newman, proposed that the surplus profits be used in a fund, acknowledging the sacrifices made by the British Royal and Mercantile Navy during the war.

The New Zealand Sheepowners’ Acknowledgement of Debt to British Seamen Fund was created. Part of the fund was used to support the widows and children of sailors in Great Britain. The remainder funded the passage of children of British sailors who had been killed or disabled during the war and their subsequent agricultural training in New Zealand.

The 6,000-acre Flock House near Bulls, along with the adjoining 4,800acre Waitatapia Estate, was purchased to train male cadets; a further 2,000 acres were leased.

In 1925, the first intake of girls, mostly sisters of the young men training at Flock House, arrived and accommodated at Girls Flock House, formerly named Shalimar, in Palmerston North. Here, the girls learnt various agricultural, horticultural and domestic skills until the centre closed in 1930.

Alasdair Bettles-Hall is gathering information on Flock House’s early cadets

Hundreds of dependents trained at Flock House between 1924 and 1937 before being placed on farms. Alasdair Bettles-Hall’s father, Victor Richard Charles Hall, was one of Flock House’s cadets who travelled to New Zealand in 1929. In an endeavour to collate a shared history of Flock House, Alasdair wants to hear from other descendants of Flock House trainees with stories and information.

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

13

Christmas Preparation

Cadets carting at Flock House in 1925

“My grandfather was a Royal Marine, and his job was playing a violin or cornet.

My father’s mother died in 1923. My grandfather was involved in Royal Marine commitments, so the children were put into a military orphanage.

“When my grandfather came out of the Royal Marines in 1923, he worked in the pit in a cinema at the local theatre.

He fell in love with the pianist, and they married. They had two children but didn’t

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take the children from the first marriage into the second. So, my father and his brother basically languished in the military orphanage.

“My dad was born in 1914, so when old enough to leave the orphanage at 15, Flock House was then looking for orphans.

My father loosely fitted the description.”

Victor’s first placement after training at Flock House was on an Eketahuna farm followed by another in Pohangina.

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“My dad basically stayed in the Manawatū apart from a stint in the Wairarapa. My parents remained as farm labourers.”

Gail Dryland’s father, Albert Redvers Northard Briggs, and uncle Francis Edward Briggs, both trained at Flock House.

“Their father drowned at sea when dad was two, and his brother was four. They were sponsored to come to New Zealand and put on the boat around 1929. Dad was only 14,” she said.

Both men were placed on farms after training. “Then their mother came out from England, and together, the three of them applied for a 150-acre ballot farm at Te Teko near Whakatane. Uncle Ted got married, and dad went to the war, then came back, met mum, and got married.”

Gail’s parents settled on the farm, milking 50 cows on 120 acres in a sixaside walk-through cowshed. She and her five siblings were all born at Te Teko and helped on the farm.

“They farmed there until 1965. From their children, two daughters married farmers. I have three sons farming, and my sister has two sons farming. So it’s passed down the generations, which is really nice to see. Dad spoke highly of Flock House.”

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A 100th commemoration is planned for 2024, and a coffee table book containing the cadet’s stories will follow — further information, stories and enquiries to flockhouse.nz.

“There are some lovely stories,” said Alasdair.

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14

November 2023 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

15

Christmas Preparation

by Ann van Engelen

A time for memories

While Christmas can be a time of joy, it can also be a time of pressure for many people; therefore, it’s important to know that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to have a memorable day.

Don’t forget, some people don’t have friends or family nearby, so if possible, consider who may be in your world and include them in some part of the season.

A picnic, a BBQ or a simple lunch, it’s the small things that make big impressions.

Many families now have a limit of maybe $5 a gift, allowing more for the little people in our lives if they need something in particular.

Planning food and trips away can be made easier by visiting friends or family in one area on the same day, saving on fuel costs. Many hosts enjoy receiving home-baked gifts. Things as simple as biscuits, cake or homemade jams are often heart-warming.

Many people now give each other upcycled items as a fun way to show appreciation to loved ones. They pass on special blankets, books, pre-loved toys and clothes that are in good condition.

Taking advantage of sales and discounts helps when you have a specific list to avoid impulse buys. If you can, plan ahead and buy gifts gradually throughout the year rather than rushing at the last minute.

a time, whether in person or by phone.

It’s about people stopping, even if for an hour, to appreciate what they have in life, whether it is other people, animals or doing things they love. It’s about creating memories, whether big or small.

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Christmas is about spending time with loved ones when possible

If you’re hosting a Christmas lunch or dinner, ask your guests to bring a contribution. If you tell them what you’d like, a vegetable dish, salad, or fresh fruit, it helps and enables everyone to keep their costs down. It will make them feel good to be able to bring something and save you time in the kitchen.

Don’t forget that using children’s artwork for wrapping paper is fun. Family and friends also enjoy receiving framed pieces of art created by the small and notso-small people in their lives. Wrapping a gift inside a tea towel, scarf or pillowcase makes a fun experience, too.

Families often do Secret Santa, with each person buying one present for a selected person. With a price limit on the gift, many a laugh can be had. The rules are up to you. Some people have a list of what they would like to give their Santa ideas, and others class it as a random act of fun.

At the end of the day, Christmas is a time to enjoy each other and check on people you may not have seen for

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16

NOVEMBER 2023 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES

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TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

RURAL WHEELS

by Ann van Engelen

17

Being vehicle safe

Coming into summer, and with the worst of the wet weather hopefully over, now is the time to consider having all farm or lifestyle block vehicles safety checked and serviced.

Whether you have a small property or are in the business of growing fruit and produce, sheep and beef or are in the dairy industry, vehicle maintenance is paramount. All types of tractors, bikes, trailers, harvest equipment and 4x4 type vehicles, including the old variety that keeps going, still appreciate attention from time to time. You never know what is hiding under the mud, beneath the carriage and, at times, under the hood.

Decisions you make in an instant on the farm can be the difference between life and death. When someone dies from a farm accident, there’s almost always a farm vehicle involved.

With the recent weather events, it is in the best interest of everybody to ensure a mechanic checks things are OK. Leaving such chores until it is too late often ends up costing more due to downtime, vehicle damage or injury if you have a tyre blowout or other issues.

There are some simple things that can be done to help vehicle users go home safely at the end of the day because safety is about eliminating risk. Helpful checks include choosing the right vehicle for the job and ensuring it and its driver are up to the job at hand.

Always read the vehicle owner’s manual.

Remember, WorkSafe recommends

B.J. Bishop Transport

Having vehicles safety checked and maintained needs to be a priority on rural properties

businesses make sure people wear seatbelts if one is fitted when using vehicles or mobile plants to reduce the chances of being injured should an accident occur.

Wear a helmet when required, and even if you have used the road, track or gone through the property thousands of times, stay focussed on the job at hand and watch where you are going.

Before starting a task with a vehicle you haven’t used in a while, or has been used by someone else, check it has fuel, oil and

coolant. Ensure that the wheel nuts are firmly secured, the tyres have the correct pressure and enough tread, the brakes work, and any active safety system, such as traction control, is operational.

Rust can affect the safety of the vehicle, so it is never a good thing, and a clean engine, lights that work and tight steering are also factors that help reduce risks. No matter what time of year we are in, make vehicle safety a priority to help keep your workers and loved ones safe.

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Merry Christmas!

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18

November 2023 TARANAKI FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

RURAL WHEELS

Ranger gets electric boost

by Andy Bryenton

The best-selling vehicle in New Zealand is set to get an electric option, with a hybrid plug-in Ranger ute on the horizon from Ford.

It comes just in time to wave goodbye to the so-called ‘ute tax’ which so vexed the rural public, but more on that elsewhere. For now, tradespeople, farmers and those who love the original big Ford utility will be looking with interest at a machine that promises lower emissions and better economy and more torque than the all-diesel variant on sale today.

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The FT-Se is already being compared to the classic AW-11 MR-2 mid-engined sports car, based on this prototype from Tokyo’s Mobility Show

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“We are very excited to soon be offering the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid to New Zealand customers,” said Ford New Zealand managing director Simon Rutherford.

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in helping meet the varied needs of our valued customers here in New Zealand.

We anticipate that a more sustainable, low emissions solution will appeal across retail, business, rural and urban customers alike.”

Electricity combines with 2.3 litres of turbocharged petrol power to deliver a raked towing capacity of 3,500kg, fourwheel drive, and the claim of more torque

than the big turbo diesel, which has become a favourite around New Zealand.

As a plug-in hybrid, the new Ranger will allow for approximately 45 kilometres of fuel-free driving in full electric mode.

As far as looks go, Ford has resisted the urge to create a retro-futurist rocketship or an edgy design study like Tesla’s Cybertruck. The hybrid Ranger looks like a Ranger, which is smart thinking when you are already the top-selling ute in a vicious market. The appeal of this machine may well be that it doesn’t wear its electric heart on its sleeve and instead presents itself as what it is intended to be — a stablemate of Ford’s great all-rounder.

One very handy addition to the mix is the inclusion of Pro Power Onboard, which effectively makes the whole ute into a large, quiet generator. Power outlets embedded in the tray and cabin will allow hybrid Ranger drivers to use electric equipment on the go, charge up the batteries of laptops and power tools, and never be far from a plug.

There’s a year to wait, until 2025, before Ford says the first of these utes will hit the road locally, but it’s expected that they will make quite an impression when they arrive. Customers asked for a solution that would give them the best of both worlds, and this might well be it.

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19

Toyota’s future shocks

by Andy Bryenton

Toyota designers have rocked the Japan Mobility Show with six new models, each of which is a departure from tradition.

The mobility show is all about transport in all of its forms, and it’s an important fixture on the calendar for Japanese automakers. This year, Toyota ran a large stand with six prototype vehicles under the headline ‘find your future’.

First up, a fully electric Land Cruiser was revealed, picking up the baton from the recently released hybrid version of the venerable off-roader. Dubbed the Land Cruiser Se, its name means ‘sports electric’, and it will have big boots to fill, both here and across the Tasman. In both markets, the Land Cruiser has become the byword and benchmark for tough dependability, and the Se model looks set to step up to the plate with similar capabilities to its petrol predecessors.

Right now, it’s just a concept, but it looks the part.

Also, turning heads was another good fit for the Kiwi market, a fully electric ute. The EPU or Ecological Pickup looks like a Hilux from the near future, eschewing the foldedsteel aesthetic of Tesla’s Cybertruck in lieu

The FT-Se is already being compared to the classic AW-11 MR-2 mid-engined sports car, based on this prototype from Tokyo’s Mobility Show

future. Toyota is accelerating product development, emphasising its serious dedication to next-gen battery-powered

of a more traditional appearance. However, it’s all battery power under the hood. There’s plenty of room in that double cab and on the large, wide, flat deck, unencumbered by the need to accommodate internal combustion drivetrain and exhaust components.

“It’s great to see the development focus is not just on vehicles but on a sustainable

mobility,” said Toyota New Zealand chief executive Neeraj Lala.

The star of the show, however, was a car that had been long anticipated and often written off as a pipe dream by enthusiasts. The sporty, low, MR2-inspired FT-Se broke cover at the Mobility Show and immediately caught the imagination of sports car lovers worldwide. Just as the original MR-2 delivered luxury supercar performance and looks on an affordable budget, it’s hoped that the FT-Se will go into production to become a worthy successor. Certainly, there are exotic electric speedsters out there, but an FT-Se, which comes with an MR-2 style price tag, would put that kind of fun in the hands of the masses and win hearts and minds for Toyota.

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