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Dyslexia: a difference — not a disability
by Barbara Kuriger, MP for
It is my pleasure this month to share a column written for me for sharing by Mike Styles. I first met Mike when I was on the board of primary ITO before entering parliament. Mike inspires those who live with dyslexia — this value is worth sharing with you.
The ultimate paradox. People who are clever, but struggle with text.
How many of you know somebody, or perhaps you know several people who are clever but struggle to read, write or spell? Many such people are clever at their jobs, and many own their own businesses. Often the explanation to this conundrum is dyslexia. Dyslexia is best thought of as a condition where intelligent people have an unexpected and, otherwise, unexplained difficulty engaging with reading, writing and spelling.
Sadly the New Zealand education sector does not serve dyslexic learners well. Governments of all colours have continued to ignore this group of Kiwis. The Ministry of Education denied the existence of dyslexia until 2007. We should not blame the teachers. They are doing their best, but they have not been trained or resourced to help children with dyslexia. Children with dyslexia grow up to be adults with dyslexia. Unsupported dyslexia impacts a significant number of New Zealanders. Worldwide at least 10 per cent of people have dyslexia; that is at least 500,000 Kiwis.
The main feature of dyslexia is literacy difficulties, but it is much more than
that. Dyslexia is genetic in origin, affects males and females equally, and lasts a lifetime. It affects all languages, cultures and ethnicities, although anecdotally we believe that te reo is an easier language to master than English, because it follows the rules in its spelt and written form. English, as we all know, is filled with contradictions and contrary rules. There is an exciting part to the dyslexia story. Dyslexia comes with a long list of positive features, including creativity, innovation, visual spatial and threedimensional strengths, as well as great problem-solving skills. Many people with dyslexia have strong kinaesthetic skills and many are very entrepreneurial. There are some highly-achieved Kiwis with dyslexia, including Richard Taylor of Weta workshops, the All Blacks coach Scott Robinson and John Britten of the Britten motorcycle. Technology is helping. There are many different assistive technology devices that make a big difference and level the playing field for people with dyslexia.
Article by Mike Styles MNZM, dyslexia consultant and author of the book, Congratulations, you have dyslexia: Great minds think differently. More information visit dyslexia-consulting.com.
Taranaki-King Country
Solar project sets benchmark
Construction on New Zealand’s largest solar farm project officially began at Te Aroha earlier this month, marking a significant milestone for the nation’s renewable energy future.
Minister for Energy and Climate Change, Simon Watts, joined guests on site for a soil-turning ceremony for the project, a joint venture between Harmony Energy Limited and Clarus company, First Renewables.
The solar farm, expected to be commissioned by late 2026, will cover 182 hectares and generate 280 gigawatt hours of electricity a year, supplying the equivalent of approximately 35,000 New Zealand homes and businesses.
“We are pleased to have reached this major milestone in a project that heralds a significant step forward in New Zealand’s pursuit of providing cleaner, home-grown energy,” said Clarus general manager future fuels James Irvine.
“At the time of commissioning, it is expected to be New Zealand’s largest solar farm at 202 megawatt-peak (MWp).
“It sets a benchmark for large-scale solar projects, reinforcing the growing role of solar in New Zealand’s renewable energy landscape.”
Harmony director Pete Grogan said the solar farm project is supported by a power purchase arrangement with Meridian Energy, which will purchase 100% of the output for the first 10 years of operation.
“The project demonstrates how government, industry and financial
institutions can work together to meet New Zealand’s energy security and climate goals.
“The government’s Fast-Track Approval Act plays a key role in enabling renewable energy development and accelerating the transition to a lowcarbon economy.”
Energy and Climate Change Minister Simon Watts said New Zealand needed more abundant and affordable renewable energy to power households and keep businesses running.
“Solar power presents a real opportunity to strengthen our energy supply, lower power prices, and boost the economy by creating more jobs in the Waikato. I look forward to seeing this project come to fruition and contribute to the Government’s goal to double renewable energy by 2050.”
Mr Grogan said the construction of the solar farm will create up to 350 full-time equivalent jobs at peak, along with permanent roles once construction is completed.
“The project will enhance the biodiversity of the farm with the planting of 100,000 native plants and the restoration of a wetland.
“Sheep will be farmed on the site, with the solar panels offering shelter and showcasing how agriculture and renewable energy can work together.”
From left: Clarus chairman Mark Ratcliffe, Hon Simon Watts and Harmony director Pete Grogan after the sod-turning ceremony near Te Aroha
BY AMY FIFITA
PA HOMECOMING SUCCESSION
rovided with a rural upbringing with his parents, John and Jenny, and siblings, Charlie and Sarah, Hugh is no stranger to farming. For him, it was a foundation that led him on various paths before returning home to the family farm — a place that will one day be his.
“I grew up on the family farm in Te Ākau, just north of Raglan, and the farm was running bulls mostly, and breeding ewes,” said Hugh.
“I boarded at St Paul’s Collegiate School for my secondary years, and studied agricommerce at Massey University, in Palmerston North, before working for DairyNZ on the graduate programme.
“Working for DairyNZ, I was based in Invercargill for one year and then full-time in Ashburton in 2021. In 2022, I went dairy farming between Invercargill and Riverton for a sharemilking couple with whom I became good friends.”
Hugh’s time away from home allowed him to explore his farming passion and build on the foundations of his rural youth. With his parents needing help on the family farm, Hugh returned.
“Since being home and spending some time away, I have developed a greater appreciation for the family farm and want to see it continue.
“In mid-2023, wanting to give it a go and carry on our family operation, I went home to help my dad on the family farm.
“I am enjoying it so far, and will be here in the long term, getting my head around it and improving the farm. We aim to winter around 2,000 bulls and 2,400 ewes.”
Having joined Young Farmers in his university years, Hugh hopes to take out the title of Young Farmer of the Year, this year. Drawn to the social aspect of the club, it is not the first time he has competed.
From growing up on the family sheep and beef farm to working in the South Island and returning home, Hugh Jackson wants to continue his family’s legacy.
“I first joined the Massey University Young Farmers Club in 2017. I enjoyed the social aspect. Getting to interact with a large group of people, I have been a member since then.
Hugh Jackson joined the Massey University Young Farmers
has competed in the Young Farmer of the Year competition for many years now, and hopes to win in 2025
“Currently, I am part of the Hamilton City Young Farmers Club and have been competing in the Young Farmer of the Year competition since I became a member. I love competing, learning new things, testing myself against others and having fun.”
Knowing the competition relies on people willing to donate their time, Hugh has helped with organising the event in the past.
“I have also been involved in the organising side of it. With seven different regions across the country, and each region having two qualifying rounds, it is heavily reliant on volunteers.
“You have to stay in the top eight to make it to the regional competition, before you have to win the regional competition
to qualify for the grand final. I have been competing for a fair few years now, and I hope to win this year.
“It is an awesome competition, and it takes a lot of my time studying to improve my knowledge. I want to improve my knowledge around what I think the competition will be testing, which is hard, because it is all kept secret until the day.”
While Hugh finds the competition endearing, he looks to the future with hope and focus. One day, he wants to continue the family operation to improve the operations and performance.
“Being on the family farm now, we are going through the succession process, and we are well on the way. My siblings decided not to farm at home. Charlie works
in Auckland pursuing a different career, and Sarah is still involved in farming and taking a different approach to it.
“It is exciting. I plan to give my mum and dad a good retirement and run our farm, while looking after Charlie and Sarah.
“My goal is to go through the succession process, help the farm perform and move forward. We have a few ideas on ways I can enhance the current performance, and it shows an exciting future.”
Hugh
Hugh is currently part of the Hamilton City Young Farmers Club, and is the Waikato regional winner for the competition this year
by Paul Campbell
Kiwi shears team for Europe
Te Kūiti shearing son Jack Fagan is off to Europe for a six-match test series in four countries for the Wools of New Zealand Shearing tour, along with Northland gun Toa Henderson.
Earning his place with his win in the New Zealand Open Shearing Championship in Te Kūiti, it will be Henderson’s first time in the black singlet and silver fern, but the third test series in a row for Fagan, after a UK tour last year and a trans-Tasman series in the summer.
Fagan makes the trip as third placegetter in the New Zealand Shears Circuit final. Winner and New Zealandbased Scots international Gavin Mutch is ineligible for New Zealand team selection, and runner-up Mark Grainger, of Te Kūiti, who, with drought-ravaged King Country, is unable to spare the six weeks away from his farm.
His father Paul Grainger, who won the Golden Shears Open in 1985 and managed the team to the UK in 2015–2016, said: “It’s a shame. He was really torn about what to do. He’s taken on the farm, and the season, it’s the worst I’ve ever seen in King Country, has just made it too hard.”
The team, this year, will be managed by shearing judge Neil Fagan, who had several seasons shearing in the UK, including a senior win.
It will open the tour with tests against Scotland at the Lochearnhead Shears on June 28 and England at the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate on July 9.
They will then cross the English Channel to face France at the French Shears in Boussac on July 13, and return to the UK for a three-match series against Wales, with tests at Cothi on July 19, the Royal Welsh Show on July 23 and the Corwen Shears on July 26.
New Zealand teams have shorn shearing tests in the UK almost annually for more than 30 years, with reciprocal series against Wales in New Zealand now held each year.
At Te Kūiti, Jack Fagan and Wairarapa shearer David Buick completed a 3–0 home-series win over Welsh shearers, Llyr Jones and Gethin Lewis, avenging a 2–1 defeat in Wales last July.
Home sheep and conditions have been a significant factor, with Wales having had just one test match win in New Zealand, scored by Jones and Lewis at Te Kūiti in 2024, while New Zealand last won a series in Wales in 2019, the first such win since 2011.
Toa Henderson will wear his first Silver Fern singlet
by Paul Campbell
Fieldays’ volunteer drive
More than 150 volunteers are being signed up to help run Fieldays at the Mystery Creek Events Centre from June 11 to 14.
“Fieldays was started by volunteers in 1969, and they are part of the fabric of the event,” says Taryn Storey for the New Zealand National Fieldays Society. “Volunteers are integral to the society as a charitable organisation, and to Fieldays, supporting all aspects of the event operations.”
Roles include event support, ticketing, hosting, administration, customer engagement, parking and more. “We need to cover more than 500 shifts across the four-day event, with options ranging from half-day to full-day commitments,” says Storey.
“Volunteering provides a unique opportunity to not only contribute to a world-class event, but also gain valuable experience and make lifelong connections. For many volunteers, it’s the sense of community and shared experiences that make it special.”
Te Kowhai farmer, Colin Dixon, has dedicated over 50 years to volunteering with Fieldays, many of those in the property team. He began his tenure in 1972, at the fourth Fieldays helping to run machinery demonstrations.
He loves meeting and working with a group of genuinely nice people from a variety of backgrounds and places and said: “There is nothing better than coming in for a hot breakfast after an early start and catching up with the team and hearing about everyone’s morning.”
The society is always looking for ways to engage and retain volunteers. However, like national data from the State of Volunteering in Aotearoa New Zealand Report 2024, Volunteering New Zealand’s
biennial report suggests, barriers to volunteering include the challenge of people having less time and disposable income. Volunteering requires time, and often means one foregoes paid work.
The volunteer programme extends beyond the lead-up and the four days of Fieldays, with opportunities to contribute to other aspects of the society’s operations undertaken throughout the year, including sustainability initiatives, pest control, riparian planting and helping with other events.
Fieldays welcomes volunteers of all backgrounds and experience levels, with training and support provided. Applications are open at fieldays.co.nz/ attend-fieldays/volunteer-with-us.
Arawata Street, Te Awamutu Ph:
Colin Dixon is a veteran volunteer
NA POWER LAKE WITH A LEGEND
Most recently the venue for the NZ Secondary Schools Rowing Association’s national championship regatta for The Maadi Cup, Lake Karāpiro has been called the ‘jewel’ for its prominent place in the Waikato River story.
ew Zealand’s longest river, has eight hydroelectric stations producing over 1,000 megawatts into the national grid as a result of the high and stable water flow. Horahora, built between 1910 and 1913, was the first but it now lies deep beneath Lake Karāpiro where rowers from around the world have competed from Olympic Games standard to training outings. In place of its watery grave is the current hydroelectric station that is undergoing an extensive refurbishment programme. When the upgrade is complete, it will extend the power station’s life span by another 50 years and make it more efficient, according to Mercury Energy, which succeeded Mighty River Power as operator.
It is the latest step in a power generation saga that has its roots back in the 19th century. Engineering New Zealand records show that the first attempt to build a hydroelectric power station on the Waikato River at Huka Falls was blocked by the Seddon government in 1886. Still, the mining industry was becoming an important leader in developing New Zealand’s hydroelectric power potential. In 1897, the Waihi Gold Mining Company utilised water from the Ohinemuri and Waitekauri rivers to power turbines directly driving stamping batteries that crushed the gold bearing ore.
The original survey of the hydroelectricity potential of the Horahora rapids on the Waikato River, about 80 kilometres from Waihi, was completed in 1905. The company applied for a licence to develop the Horahora site, but like the earlier attempt this too was declined.
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
Lake Karāpiro contained by its dam under an upgrade
At that time, the government had a firm view that it should develop New Zealand’s hydro potential in the national interest rather than allowing private interests to benefit.
In 1910 it was finally agreed that the company be given approval to build a station up to 10,000 horsepower with the government having the right to buy at any time at an agreed valuation.
Horahora provided the only substantial hydro generation for the northern part of the North Island until Mangahao and Waikaremoana were connected to that area in 1932, and Arapuni was commissioned and operating reliably in the same year.
Electricity was supplied to the public of the Thames district in 1925 after the formation of the Thames Valley Electric Power Board. Power supplies in 1925 were provided to 1,000 milking machines and six dairy factories in the region.
Horahora and its headworks were submerged with the filling of Lake Karāpiro in 1947, the generators still turning as the lake level rose to drown them over the next few days.
One of the original Siemens generator rotors now sits on a terrace above the power station site, marking the location of the former Horahora settlement. This
was salvaged, along with other generator equipment, in the 1970s.
Hydro stations on the Waikato River were constructed from the late 1920s to the 1970s and have worked hard to keep the country powered.
Meridian Energy has a long-term hydro refurbishment programme to protect these assets to ensure it can manage water flow that looks after the environment but also can optimise energy from the awa.
“We’re presently working on the upgrade to our Karāpiro Hydro Power Station. Maraetai Hydro Power Station will be upgraded next, with the site works planned for 2027. All its turbines, generators and governors will be replaced. The upgrades will add about 32GWh annual output to the station.
“At the Ātiamuri Hydro Power Station, work is scheduled for 2028 to upgrade all
four of its generators. These upgrades will add an estimated 2–4MW per unit and 18GWh of additional generation.”
On the lake surface, of course, another piece of history has unfolded with the 1949 Dominion rowing championships held there, and Karāpiro was chosen as the site for the rowing events at the 1950 Empire Games — despite being 150km from games headquarters in Auckland.
Athletes, officials and support staff bunked down in army huts and more than 20,000 spectators arrived to see New Zealand repeat its success at the first Empire Games in 1930 by triumphing in the coxed fours.
New Zealand hosted the seventh world championships in 1978. A
public appeal raised $3,000 equivalent to more than $200,000 in 2022, but every seat in the ‘grandstand’ was sold and the regatta made a profit of $155,000, more than $1 million, which was used to set up a rowing foundation. Nearly 100,000 spectators attended the four days of racing. Since then, Karāpiro has become a byword for rowing champions, with the recent Maadi cup adding the latest chapter to a long legend.
Rowing attracted a massive crowd for the Empire Games in 1950
Smooth water for top rowing sports
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Equine traceability programme announced
The health and wellbeing of New Zealand’s horses are set to take a leap forward with the launch of the New Zealand Equine Health Association’s (NZEHA) new biosecurity initiative in August.
Following years of research and collaboration, the National Equine Identification and Traceability (NEIT) project has developed into a comprehensive system designed to strengthen biosecurity across the country.
The NEIT system will build a nationwide database of horse locations and ownership, enabling faster, more efficient responses during equine disease outbreaks.
“It’s been a long journey to reach this point,” said NZEHA executive adviser Dr Trish Pearce. “While some may view the new requirements as an added cost, the truth is that a robust system is essential for us to undertake any disease response efforts.
“Over 23 exotic diseases pose a threat to New Zealand horses, and some of these affect people or other livestock as well. The NEIT system is a simplified traceability tool designed to meet these challenges effectively. It only tracks ownership changes — not the movement of horses throughout their lives.”
The NEIT system aligns with the Government Industry Agreement (GIA), which requires industries to share the costs of managing post-border disease outbreaks. It will ensure a rapid, coordinated response in the event of
a disease outbreak by identifying and locating equines quickly and accurately.
From August 2025, all foals born in New Zealand will be required to have a microchip. This will be a straightforward procedure, which can be combined with other regular farm visits, such as ram palpation, to minimise costs. Once a foal is microchipped and the vet records the relevant information, the farmer will receive an email confirming ownership details for review.
The system is designed to be simple: movement tracking is only necessary if the horse is sold or dies. Horses born before August 2025 will not require microchipping, but owners may voluntarily chip and register these at any time.
There will be a one-time registration fee, but NZEHA will cover all subsequent costs over the horse’s lifetime.
As this is an industry-wide initiative, the system will apply to stationbred horses, including foals that are bred on farms in a managed herd with low levels of human contact.
“As the system continues to grow, the database will become more populated, and we will have a clearer picture of where horses are located, who owns them, and how we can protect the national herd.”
For more information, visit neit.org.nz.
Farming is tough on hand joints
by John Arts, Abundant Health Ltd
A farmer contacted me almost a year ago with significant pain from osteoarthritis. He had severe wrist, thumb and shoulder issues.
This sort of discomfort is quite debilitating for farmers who use their hands constantly in a variety of often heavy farm tasks. The bottom thumb joint, the carpometacarpal joint (CMC), is highly susceptible to osteoarthritis, which is worsened by heavy hand use.
Research studies have shown that farmers are particularly susceptible to osteoarthritis due to the physical demands of their work. The constant and repetitive use of hands for heavy tasks, such as lifting, gripping and manipulating tools, contributes to the wear and tear on joints. Furthermore, outdoor conditions can exacerbate the pain and progression of osteoarthritis, impacting farmers’ health and productivity.
Osteoarthritis is primarily caused by the death of chondrocytes, the cells responsible for maintaining healthy cartilage. When chondrocytes die, the cartilage deteriorates, leading to joint pain, stiffness and decreased function. The processes that cause loss of chondrocytes are worsened by joint trauma of which farmers are at greater risk.
I started my client on intensive nutritional therapy for three months. This involved adding chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine sulphate at 1,600mg daily and a 100% water soluble curcumin (from turmeric) extract. Of these, chondroitin sulphate is by far the most important, as chondroitin is an actual constituent of cartilage.
After three months, he reported significant reduction in pain. He still had some discomfort in his thumbs and one finger but could now close his hands without too much trouble. He now reports that he has no pain at all and is doing well on the lower maintenance doses. This again testifies to our wonderful healing processes once we add what our body really needs.
Contact me if you need help.
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.
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• Try Bettaflex for 3 months and see for yourself.
How can Bettaflex help?
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John Arts comments:
“My latest Bettaflex formula includes BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin for faster results. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend an initial higher dose for 1-3 bottles to saturate join tissue.”
Identify your target beyond all doubt. Whether you’re using optical or thermal imaging devices, if in doubt, don’t shoot!
Image courtesy of Matt Winter Photography
by Andy Bryenton
Two changes to boost access for hunters
Next month will see the launch of a new hunting permit system across New Zealand, improving access to public conservation land, while health and safety changes promise friendlier relations with landowners.
“Longer permits, automatic reminders and better navigation are part of a significant upgrade that will make life easier for 34,000 hunters that hunt on open conservation land,” says Hunting and Fishing Minister James Meager.
“The underlying technology of the current hunting permit system is outdated and in need of an update, and is being improved based on the direct feedback of hunters. This upgrade will support more hunters, both domestic and international, getting out and doing what they love.”
Permits jump up in their utility, going from a four-month span to a full year.
Two weeks before a permit expires, its holder will be sent an automatic message so they can renew it, if they so choose.
The whole system has been optimised for mobile devices and phones to make things even easier.
“The upgraded system will also make selecting hunting areas easier. Instead of the 54 hunting areas that hunters currently choose from, the system will be
“The current hunting permit system is outdated and it is being improved based on the direct feedback of hunters.”
simplified so hunters choose from eight regions, four in the North Island and four in the South Island, including Stewart Island,” says Mr Meager. “All existing hunting areas within the broader region will automatically be included on the permit, and hunters can also select all hunting areas within New Zealand at the press of a single button.
“These may be simple changes, but they reflect a government, which is committed to making it easier for New Zealanders to go hunting and fishing on
Additionally, there’s a significant change coming as part of the coalition government’s efforts to reform health and safety rules. Under the new proposal, landowners will not be responsible if someone is injured on their land while undertaking recreational activities. Health and safety responsibilities will sit unequivocally with the people or the group organising those activities.
“For many Kiwis, outdoor recreational activities are a way of life that has been enjoyed for generations. Unfortunately, New Zealand’s work health and safety settings have reduced the appetite to allow these activities, inadvertently creating a culture of fear amongst landowners, who are now worried about their legal liability if someone gets hurt,” said Safety Minister Brooke van Velden.
so.”
The changes will apply to public and private land, covering farms, forests, school grounds, council properties, parks, national parks and more.
“I want Kiwis to be able to hunt, fish, hike, climb, mountain bike, kayak and so much more without being caught up in health and safety red tape,” says Brooke van Velden
conservation land, and is willing to listen to the feedback of the hunting community to do
Health & Wellbeing
Feels like home
Bupa resident Marni has just returned home after renewing her driver’s licence in town. Eighty-one years young, she’s lived at Bupa St Kilda Retirement Village for the past seven years.
Originally from Ireland, Marni and her husband Jeff emigrated to New Zealand 25 years ago.
“We came on holiday to visit our daughter Sally, and never went back!” says Marni. The couple’s decision to make the move from their home in Raglan to retirement village living at Bupa St Kilda was triggered by Jeff’s ill health, with St Kilda’s offering of an on-site care home giving them both the peace of mind and independence they desired.
Marni and Jeff were married for 57 years, before Jeff passed away in 2019.
“When my husband died, I decided to sell my villa at St Kilda and move to a little cottage on my daughter’s farm — it was time out for me to grieve,” says Marni.
A keen gardener, Marni created a greenfingered haven in one of the fields on the farm. “I love gardens, they’ve always meant something really special to me.”
After a year at the cottage, Marni felt the time was right to return to retirement village living. “I thought ‘I’m ready to talk to people again now’,” she says. “My daughter said ‘Right, let’s look at everything’, so we went and looked everywhere!
“We went around every retirement village in the area and my daughter would say ‘Oh
these apartments are lovely’, and I’d say ‘No, there’s no garden’. She smiled at me, and said, ‘OK, let’s go and see what they’ve got at St Kilda!’
“I liked it here at St Kilda, and I still had friends here. So, I bought a villa, with a lovely outdoor area where I could garden. It was like coming home,” Marnie says. “I remember saying that to people. I felt like I was coming back where I belong.”
Marni recently moved from her villa at St Kilda Retirement Village to one of the new serviced apartments, which she says has
given her a sense of community as well as support when she needs it.
“Your meals are done, your vacuuming, you can have your bed changed for you — things people can find harder as they grow older.
“As a widow, cooking for one just isn’t quite the same,” says Marni. “I meet three friends for lunch every day and we talk about all sorts. Dinnertime is the same. We have a lovely communal lounge where we chat over meals, which is great when you live on your own. I didn’t realise how important that was
until I came here — it’s nice not to have to eat on your own.
“I’m still very independent,” says Marni. “I enjoy doing my own thing, and I’ll pop down to the community centre once a week to see what’s going on. We have a marvellous village manager, lots of lawns and trees, and it’s just lovely here.”
According to Marni, staying active is easy at St Kilda Retirement Village. “We have Keep Fit here three times a week. Some of it involves sitting on chairs. So yes, you can still exercise sitting on a chair.”
A keen walker, Marni clocks around 10,000 steps each day “with a bit of luck!” she says. “Walking is so important. Even if it’s just a walk around the village to see friends and have a cup of tea together, I just like to know that I can keep fit and keep walking.”
With the annual family holiday to Rarotonga already locked in for later this year, Marni will be the first to put her hand up for the tropical morning stroll.
For more information about Bupa St Kilda Retirement Village, or to find out if retirement village living is right for you, visit bupa.co.nz.
Better home and living
New level of trust for licensed builders
by Andy Bryenton
The government is giving qualified builders with a proven track record the rights to do away with red tape, while cracking down on unlicensed and unscrupulous ‘cowboys’ for their corner-cutting in a new suite of rules for the construction industry.
“Most tradies are highly skilled and trustworthy, but the industry tells me highprofile examples of poor workmanship are tarring the good with the bad,” said Building Minister Chris Penk. “I have also heard that Kiwis want assurances that the government’s work to unblock the building consent system won’t lead to corners being cut.
“There is an urgent need to strip back the layers of regulation choking productivity in the building system. Builders are waiting too long for the necessary paperwork to get on with the job, and this adds costs for homeowners.
“That’s why we are hammering away at an ambitious programme of reforms, including a proposal that will enable trusted tradespeople to sign off their own work.”
So, what’s being proposed? Mr Penk has indicated that the government will give the Licensed Building Practitioners Registrar, the official who oversees building accreditation, the power to have more tools to censure and punish cowboys. They’d also be able to publish,
name and shame builders who had been suspended for dodgy practices.
Then there’s the suggestion of a new licence, which would add on to the current LBP accreditation; a specialist qualification in wet area waterproofing. This would give a new higher ranking to builders who were trained to construct and finish modern bathrooms, for example.
Mr Penk also noted the investigation process would become more robust for plumbers, gasfitters, electricians and drainlayers, giving the registrars of those trades more scope to handle complaints and get to the bottom of why faults or errors might have occurred on a job.
Those who are licensed, who know and deploy best practices, and use quality materials will be able to circumvent time-consuming paperwork and check their own team’s workmanship.
“This will make it easier and more affordable to deliver new homes, but it’s important that there are checks in the system to protect against shoddy
Changes proposed by the government will come into force during 2026, and there’s a comprehensive breakdown available at building.govt.nz.
work. New rules announced will help increase accountability and give consumers a clear path forward if things go wrong.”
Builders with the LBP accreditation and tradespeople backed by their relevant professional organisations will soon be able to work more efficiently, cutting back on red tape
by Liz Clark
Gardens never sleep
Winter is on its chilly way, and it’s time to put away the tools and pack up for the season — right?
While the not-so-keen might be leaving the garden to do its own thing until next spring, those wanting winter produce will be getting on with the job. Usually, the vegetable list that comes to mind is a relatively narrow one, or it used to be. Gone are the days of cabbages, turnips and a few other restrictive vegetable crops — there’s a lot more than can be grown beyond root crops and brassicas.
Now is the time to get the soil preparation done if you haven’t already. Raised beds are ideal for keeping the soil temperature a few degrees warmer than planting directly into the ground. For clay-based soils, getting the soil raised by adding compost and organic matter will improve your plants’ chances of survival. It will encourage earthworm activity and avoid the poor drainage issues associated with clay.
There’s still plenty of opportunity for starting vegetable seeds in trays or pots if you’re planning to have some of the smaller carrot varieties, cool weather lettuce and herbs available from seed suppliers. If you’re in an area where frosts
are prevalent, use a cloche to protect your seedlings from damage. Slugs and snails will also be out in force at this time of the year, so use an appropriate bait to protect the plants.
Earlier, I mentioned carrots could be planted in pots. Use a 30cm deep container with good quality soil or potting mix. Sprinkle a small amount of carrot seed on the surface, then gently cover. Do several pots the same to give a constant supply. Mesclun lettuce will grow happily in a pot on the doorstep or the deck. Plant one or two seeds into each pot and cover. Ensure the emerging seedlings are protected from slugs and snails. You can also plant mini cauliflower, dill, lavender, basil, sage, chives and edible flower varieties to keep the supply going through winter.
In the garden, once all the soil preparation is done — it’s planting time. Plant cool-season broccoli, kale, cabbage, mizuna, onions, leeks, winter peas and celery. There’s more, of course; use an online planting guide for more information.
by Paul Campbell
Check the house and relax
The cold and wet days of winter are not far away and while the drought days are with us, now is a good time to check that all will be well, when it’s time to spend more time inside the home.
and cooler weather takes hold. It’s a good plan to have a list of things to do. While it is still a fine time outside, a first
job would be to guard against possible draughts or water leaks, and check for any cracks or gaps that might fall foul in heavy rain and high winds.
Water ingress can soon develop into mould and a commercial gap-stopping compound can guard against this. Mould is a no-no, and if it appears, seek professional advice, as it can affect household health.
A check on the chimney will be timely, too — check online for a local chimney sweep service. However, we are concentrating on outside tasks for the present, and a major pre-winter check has to be the roof and guttering.
Be aware, too, that the roof involves working at height, and there are new rules regarding scaffolding requirements.
Check Worksafe New Zealand to be sure, and you will learn that preventing falls from roofs is a priority. Investigations by WorkSafe into falls while working at height show that more than 50 per cent of falls are from less than three metres. Most of these falls are from ladders and roofs, and the cost of these falls is estimated to be $24 million a year — to say nothing of the human cost as a result of these falls.
Thus, it might be an idea to contract out roof and guttering inspection. Cleaning out your gutters will stave off any leaking problems as well as ensure, if you are rurally located and rely on tank supply, that your water source is clean. It will also help to prevent water damage to your roof and other parts of your house.
Get the brackets that secure the gutters and spouts checked when you have them cleaned. They may have become
unclipped over time, and can fall down in a storm when you need them most.
It is also a good time in autumn to take a look at the garden and guard against anything that might be a winter problem, in particular, trees and bushes that might need trimming back, if close to the house. By pruning overgrown branches near electrical wires or your roof, you can ensure high winds don’t become a danger.
It’s a fine time to prepare the home
A breath of dry air
by Amy Fifita
While snuggling in blankets in a heated house is often a winter comfort, ensuring that some fresh air is ventilated throughout the house is a must.
While opening doors and windows is a common summertime trend, it is also necessary in winter. Yes, finding refuge in the comfort of a warm home by the fireplace is a leisurely time, but so is maintaining good air quality, respiratory health and a moisture-free environment.
Ventilation ensures stale air and moisture are released from the home and deters mould growth, especially in laundries, bathrooms and kitchens. Shower domes are another solution to controlling dampness in the home.
Move air by opening a door or window on either side of the house and in wet areas, even if it’s only for 15 minutes a day.
Exhaust fans are useful above the stovetop or shower, allowing damp air to be extracted.
Consider installing or maintaining a ventilation system. Ventilation systems are preferably installed if you have floor and ceiling insulation and a heat source, like a pump or fireplace.
There are different types of systems. More suitable for houses with wooden
joinery, positive pressure ventilation circulates drier air from the roof space or outdoors. With dry, and normally cooler air, being shifted into the home space, having a heat source is a must to maintain warmth.
Whereas positive pressure systems introduce dry air, balanced pressure ventilation extracts damp air and replaces it with heated dry air using heat exchanger technology. This system works well in modern-built and wellsealed homes.
These systems allow houses to maintain a balanced temperature and humidity for healthier home environments. If a dryer is in the home, this, too, can be utilised, by using a ducting kit.
Leaving a gap between walls and furniture creates a space for air to move freely, decreasing the risks of mould. Another great device to use is a dehumidifier, or for something more power-efficient, enlist a few moisture absorbers to soak up the dampness.
How you ventilate your home affects the air quality for the inhabitants
Shane Davis Bulk Spreading Ltd
THE BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACING
Now there is an extremely cost effective and easy to use product that will bring back your damaged concrete floors to an approved standard.
COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER has been specially formulated for the repair of worn or damaged concrete in the dairy industry. Dairy Floor Resurfacer is a two pack system combining a Portland cement, fine aggregate based micro concrete and sophisticated binders that provide superior, compressive, tensile and flexural strength as well as a very high level of abrasion resistance and adhesion. This product is suitable for repairing worn or pitted areas or to provide a non-slip surface where necessary.
A two pot clear epoxy sealer can be supplied to reduce the wearing effects of milk and acid.
COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER can be supplied as a ‘do it yourself kit’ and delivered anywhere in New Zealand or applied, in most areas, by contractors.
COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER
Part A is supplied in 20kg bags and covers approximately 3m square. Part B modifier is supplied in both 10litre and 20litre containers and approximately 4litres per 20kg bag would be required. After trowelling, the surface can be broomed or sponge finished.
WINTER FOCUS
by Amy Fifita
Keeping well this winter
Boost your immunity with natural remedies and bolster your medicine cabinet before winter fully sets in by stocking up and refreshing medicines and ingredients.
It can be surprising how many products we can store up within a year. Have a look through the cupboard and fridge to find any expired bottles of cough syrup and paracetamol to assess what needs to be replaced.
Throat lozenges and nasal sprays are other handy items to have. Having all your winter medications on hand avoids the nuisance of running to the shop with a nasty cough and sore throat.
Once medical supplies have been restocked, take a look at any natural products that are useful during flu season. Lemon juice, ginger, garlic, honey, and fruit and green teas work wonders when facing congestion and a sore throat.
Whether battling with the flu or feeling fatigued, natural remedies offer the body comfort and help boost the immune system. Diluting honey, lemon and ginger in hot water also provides hydration during winter, whereas tea and coffee have a diuretic effect.
Vitamin C is a wonderful supplement, especially since research suggests that it reduces the length of a cold. Vitamin D, zinc and echinacea also promote a
healthy immune system not just during the cold winter months, but all year round.
To combat seasonal affective disorder, vitamin D and light therapy are two of the treatments available. Vitamin D is available in capsules, tablets, drops and sachets; however, consult with your doctor first.
With medications sorted, living a healthy lifestyle with nutritious food and exercise also helps strengthen the immune system. Eating citrus fruits, vegetables and proteins provides your body with the nutrients it needs to function properly.
Sticking to seasonal fruits and vegetables ensures that our bodies receive the minerals and vitamins needed during winter. Seasonal produce has more nutritional value than out-of-season vegetables and fruits.
While the weather may get wetter, exercise can be done inside. Taking classes at the local gym is a great way to not only maintain fitness indoors, but also connect with friends. Alternatively, sometimes getting on a yoga mat in front of a fitness video does the job.
Adding winter vegetables into soups is great for families wanting a hearty and hot meal
WINTER FOCUS
by Andy Bryenton
More power, less wait
Two clutches, front and rear double-arched A-arm suspension with a front sway bar, 101 horsepower and a tiny weight footprint of just 455kg; it sounds like a track-day race car, but in fact, it’s a new and mighty ATV quad.
Can-Am didn’t want to simply add a little more power to their 2025 1000R quad bike. Their designers’ intention was to offer more horses than you used to get under the bonnet of a VW Golf GTI, all wrapped up in a durable off-roadready body.
Let’s do the maths, so that you can see just how much grunt this machine really has. The grandaddy of performance, the 16-cylinder, quad-turbocharged Bugatti Veyron, packed in 1,001 horsepower and tipped the scales at 1,950kg, resulting in a figure of 0.51 horsepower for each
AGRICULTURAL
STORAGE
kilogram of weight. More power for every kilogram means more speed and pick-up.
The Can-Am 1000R gets approximately 0.22 horsepower for every kilogram, and that’s in the ballpark of some quick and powerful cars, too. The Mustang five-litre V8, Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW M3 and Bentley Continental are all in the same bracket as this new offering from Can-Am’s engineers, and none of them is designed to let rip off-road.
The power comes from a new 999cc v-twin with dual overhead camshafts like a modern sports car, a high compression ratio and a reimagined and very efficient exhaust and intake manifold to help it breathe. With great power also comes the need for great control. That’s why Can-Am has added intelligent throttle control, intelligent engine braking, and a reworked suspension and handling set-up to ensure the 1000R is more than just a straight-line dragster.
The company’s new pDrive clutch system is part of the equation as well. It’s really a two-in-one, with a secondary dual-roller clutch backing up the first pDrive unit to deliver precise and smooth gear changes, even in tough conditions.
Between these improvements, and a full set of rubber bushings throughout the suspension system, Can-Am reckon that its new 999cc beast is easily tamed, with less noise and more durability.
It wasn’t long ago that 101 horsepower was a benchmark for sports cars. A seriously hot Mini in the 1970s could buzz past big V8s on the racetrack with less. Now that kind of power is available to those who need an off-road quad for work or play, and its best feature is this. With all that power on tap, you’ll spend less time waiting to get to your destination, and more time getting things done while you’re there.
Fertco offers the New Zealand agricultural industry some of the most effective soil and plant nutrient products on the market today. Fertilisers that can deliver you a better return and often are kinder to our environment at the same time.
The Can-Am 1000R leads the ATV industry in an off-road version of the autobahn power wars of the early 2000s
by Andy Bryenton
Counting down the hits
Kia is on a roll with awards and accolades filling its trophy cabinet, and its EV range surging in popularity — now, there’s a new member of the family.
Kia’s EV6 won the 2022 European Car of the Year, and the GT version scooped the 2023 World Performance Car of the Year title. The EV9 was 2024 World Electric Vehicle and World Car of the Year. The EV5 took home three What Car? Awards in early 2025 after just being released. Now, there’s a new member of the family, with a lower number but high expectations.
The EV3 is, as you’d expect, a more compact size and shape than its bigger brothers, but it’s a miracle of packaging. Behind the design language of the brand, which translates here into a retro-futurist angular charm, you’ll find a cabin that’s almost impossibly large considering the car’s external measurements.
Part of this comes down to the lack of a central drive tunnel, unnecessary on an electric car, and part comes down to the gears being mounted to the right of the steering wheel on a stalk.
It’s weirdly intuitive, this chunky control arm, which replaces a turn-key ignition and the gear lever, too. For those who love control on the open road, there are paddle shifters mounted to the wheel as well. It’s a neat little thing, slightly flattened off like that of a race car, with chunky grips and a nice, tactile feel.
That tactile feel comes through on the road, with the EV3 responding with a
smooth delivery of electric torque and a smooth, comfortable ride. Despite being smaller than the EV6, it’s not designed to be zippy and charging, instead offering the comfort of a big ICE era-luxury sedan, and the promise that you’ll finish long drives feeling fresh, not worn out. There’s still a handy 210 horses driving the front
wheels of the EV3, and that allows a quiet and swift journey up to the speed limit with just a tap of the toe. Gladly, it’s a smart enough car to read the road signs and gently remind you if you’re being too vigorous.
There’s the option of a one-pedal driving mode, which amps up the
regenerative braking power of the EV3, but driving normally is once again intuitive and smooth. This is a consummate family cruiser, good for more than 430 kilometres on a charge and offering sharp looks, top safety and the kind of comfort that takes away the stress of the school run or commute.
The Kia EV3 is a new figure in a winning formula, with the comfort and technology of a luxury sedan in an all-electric, cleverly-designed package
