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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
THE WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY RURAL MATTERS LTD, A PRIVATELY OWNED NZ COMPANY. Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@rml.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville
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Backing our schools is good for the country by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
For me, education in New Zealand has always been about far more than passing exams. It’s about every young person gaining the skills, confidence, and sense of belonging they need to succeed and give back to their communities.
Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Marnie Fuller | Daniel Foster | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@rml.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 Rural Matters Ltd. All inserts delivered with the publication are not produced by Rural Matters Ltd.
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From small rural schools in places like Piopio, Te Kūiti, and Ōpunake to our larger town schools in Hāwera and New Plymouth, I see teachers, families, communities and the government working together to make classrooms places students want to be, and where they get the support and encouragement they need to shape their future — and ours. A big part of this is going back to the basics: reading, writing and maths. When a child feels confident reading, can express themselves clearly, and is comfortable with numbers, everything else becomes easier. With those strong foundations in place, our young people can approach science, technology, the arts, farming and the trades with real self-belief — whether that’s on a dairy farm in South Taranaki, in an engineering workshop in Te Kūiti, or at a polytech in New Plymouth. Across our region, schools are putting extra energy into literacy and numeracy, using clear teaching methods and regular practice to help students lift their achievement. Going back to basics isn’t new — but sometimes we need to return to what works before we can move forward.
Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki-King Country Inglewood Office 80 Rata St, PO Box 124, Inglewood 4330 • 06 756 6032 Kuriger.Inglewood@parliament.govt.nz Te Awamutu Office 196 Alexandra Street Te Awamutu, 3800 • 07 870 1005 Kuriger.Teawamutu@parliament.govt.nz King Country Virtual Office 021 815 017 • Kuriger.Kingcountry@parliament.govt.nz Funded by the Parliamentary Service. Authorised by Barbara Kuriger, Parliament Buildings, Wgtn.
Improving school attendance is another crucial part of the picture. When students turn up regularly, they build stronger friendships, keep pace with their learning, and stay connected to the opportunities education provides, whether they stay local or move further afield. Here in Taranaki and the King Country, many schools are taking practical steps that make a real difference: flexible start times for older students who travel long distances by bus, breakfast clubs and school lunches, better transport options, and working with families. These changes recognise that every student’s situation is different, and that lifting attendance often means supporting the whole whānau. None of this happens by accident. It takes dedicated teachers, supportive parents and caregivers, and communities that stand behind their local schools. As the MP for Taranaki and the King Country, I’m determined that we keep backing student success and wellbeing. When we back our kids, we’re backing stronger communities here in Taranaki and the King Country — and a better future for all New Zealanders.
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
Talks begin on rural transport
3
by Paul Campbell
Rural contractors eagerly awaiting government action on transport rules crippling the industry are to begin talks with the government after citing the case of one contractor fined more than $12,000 for an overweight agricultural vehicle under outdated regulations. Contractors’ associations say the outdated New Zealand rules mean some agricultural equipment is regarded as overweight for local use before it even leaves the saleyard. Regulations as they stand are financially impossible for some members. “We have been advised that the Ministry of Transport and New Zealand Transport Agency want to engage in the week of August 24, so a further update after that,” says Rural Contractors of New Zealand chief executive, Andrew Olsen. RCNZ vice president Daryl Thompson says his organisation is hearing of numerous incidents. It has taken the issue to Regulations Minister David Seymour that regulations are years out of date and don’t reflect the size of agricultural machinery now being used. He says rural contractors face a maze of requirements to run agricultural machines on short road distances, including transport licences and meeting vehicle dimension and mass rules. “We are even supposed to train and register for BESS – Bridge Engineering Self Supervision. We are rural contractors, not bloody engineers.” Contractors, however, remain pessimistic that there’ll be rapid changes and suggest a review will take many months, particularly as the general election is now top of mind in Wellington.
members can get on with their work for our nation’s farmers. “The current weights could be shifted as a seasonal test by NZTA to reflect modern-day machinery’s capacities. Currently, rural contractors needing to carry heavier loads than the regs allow can apply for over-weight permits but that involves a multi-department rigamarole such as the BESS. The whole process needs an urgent fix.”
Andrew Olsen, Rural Contractors of New Zealand chief executive
They hope that police will be a bit more understanding rather than fines of thousands of dollars being imposed. In the interim RCNZ is asking for some discretion to be applied. “I’m a former police officer, and I know police often choose to apply the law as appropriate rather than how it’s written. That’s especially the case where a law is outdated.”
He says rural contractors generally have a very good relationship with their local police. “No contractor expects a blind eye to be turned where someone is shedding crop on a state highway or covering an intersection in grapes. The fines (for large vehicles) are disproportionate, and we need NZTA and the government to urgently address this weight issue so our
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August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES PART TWO
HORSES OF
THE ROUND TABLE BY AMY FIFITA We continue with Vikki Subritzky’s story of living her mediaeval dream, travelling the country with her horses to showcase jousting and other skills at events.
W
hile living out her passion is one thing, behind the scenes, there are hours of training to get her horses to a premium standard for show, and to have a good life, too. “With the training of a war horse, or any horse for that matter, it’s really about laying a good foundation. To train a horse well is the best thing you can do to ensure it has a good life,” Vikki said. “Ground work and dressage are the base for military training. A horse that is listening to its rider is supple, manoeuvrable, strong and athletic. Then we simply add layers to the horses’ education and give them miles.” Vikki favours a versatile horse, especially one that will spend its whole life with her. Vikki says as a horse develops and matures, its needs change. Her
horses are trained to adapt to various roles and disciplines. All her horses are used for stock work. “Cattle mustering is super for horses. They can have big days with tough country to get over and often have to deal with rank cattle. I school my horses for jumping and attend events as time allows. One of my horses recently returned from working with a Wellington company for a feature film production. “Building a trusting partnership with your horse is part and parcel, whatever your discipline. Four of my homebred horses have been trained for jousting as well as several project horses. “One in particular was Flag, who had Grand Prix dressage capabilities, and if I had that time again with him, I would have pursued it.
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While Vikki enjoys her small permaculture farm and family who visit, she says horse riding provides time for her to spend with her friends
“Advanced movements came easily to Flag, and at events he always stole the show, with his Spanish walk, terre-à-terre
(canter on the spot), levades and others. He was also very hot, super fun and fast, and gentle with his young riders.”
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Vikki says a horse used for jousting must be brave to complete the task of charging forward and having its rider potentially struck with a lance
While horses are a big part of the display, another integral part is the armour. While the garb adds to the theme of the day, it also serves a purpose : to protect the rider while jousting. “My armour is 14th century, so not too heavy. The kit I wear on a hot summer day is just under 30 kilograms, but I reckon I can drop a few kilos in body weight after a hard day’s jousting. “There are a lot of components to jousting. The shift of gravity from the armour, less physical freedom, limited vision, holding and placement of the lance, striking a moving target and not forgetting the target is striking back. The knight’s shield is the target, and the armour is there in case we miss a little.” With the armour and horses at displays piquing the interest of many, Vikki says
Jousting involves various components, from the shift of gravity from the armour to limitations of physical and visual freedom before striking or being struck by your opponent
she is happy to help people wanting to join the niche sport. “Squires wanting to joust need to help with events and be able to ride quite well on their own horse. They learn the skill at arms (lance, sword, spear with targets) and progress up the ranks if they choose. It is not for the fainthearted. “I’m happy to work with people who would like to find out more, and the Guild of the Hawk is a great training ground. We bring in our younger horses and have organised training days.” When not travelling and showing her armoured talents in mediaeval sports, you will find Vikki on her small permaculture farm in Pātaua North. “Given the abundance of horse manure, I’ve established a flourishing food forest with about 250 edibles. Over the years, ‘wwoofers’ have been a great
help here, in exchange for a significant learning curve for them. “As well as learning to milk a cow and make cheese, it’s not unusual to have them as ground crew at events. I prefer longerterm students, which enables us to give more depth to their learning, and give them opportunities to use their initiative and the satisfaction of seeing projects finish. “My family enjoy spending time here, and all the grandchildren love horses and riding. While I love working the property, time off the farm is important to me. Horse riding is a great way to spend time with friends, and being involved with the local Whangārei creative arts community events gives the balance needed.” Readers near and far can see Vikki at the Northland Renaissance Faire at 3338 Mititai Road, Arapohue, Northland on January 23 and 24 2027.
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August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
ECONOMIC GROWTH
A WAIKATO BENCHMARK “Recovery is an attitude, and our resilience stems from our attitude. The 2026 Fieldays showed that resilience attitude in spades.”
S
o said Waikato Chamber of Commerce CE Don Good, in a July appraisal of things economic in which he noted that at Mystery Creek “exhibitors spoke of increased turnover. Banks were entertaining their clients in fine fashion. “Most farmers had paid down debt and seen their balance sheets strengthen, so they came to Fieldays with cash to invest. The big Waikato companies, such as Gallagher, Power Farming, all the vehicle companies, as well as the smaller exhibitors spoke of big increases in turnover. “Nothing says recovery better than tills ringing with people spending; but — and it needs to be a big but — farmers and city folk were cautiously optimistic and prudent, not excessive.” Mr Good turned to governance reform saying the logic for just one Waikato unitary council would have a rural benefit,
noting that Hamilton is more accurately described as the urban centre of a highlydiversified, family-oriented economic catchment valley, with world-class rural and urban enterprises. Supporting chamber optimism is an ANZ Bank look at Waikato potential which shows the region has quietly become one of New Zealand’s strongest and mostresilient regional economies, driven by people, exports and a growing international profile. With its inland port at Ruakura servicing Auckland and Tauranga and exports exceeding $8.8 billion, Waikato now sits ahead of Canterbury at $8.7 billion and behind Auckland at $11 billion. The bank says Waikato remains vital to New Zealand’s trade economy and is well-positioned to seize new opportunities as it continues to grow, even as global conditions become more uncertain.
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
International interest in Fieldays boosted Waikato’s marketplace
“We were at the negotiating table for the recently-signed free trade agreement with India to secure outcomes for our food and fibre sector and will be heavily involved in leading its implementation,” said MPI head Ray Smith. “Our trade teams in New Zealand and in key offshore markets continue to build and strengthen trade relationships to open further doors for exporters. Farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and processors continue to demonstrate significant resilience and adaptability through tough global conditions and extreme weather events, and we will continue to stand beside them.” For the year to June 30, national export revenue is expected to increase six per cent to a record $64.3 billion, supported by solid demand, strong dairy and red meat prices, growth in apple and kiwifruit exports, and a favourable NZD/ USD exchange rate. Food and fibre sector export revenue continues to perform strongly despite geopolitical uncertainty and its flow-on impacts on global markets. Looking ahead to the year to June 30 2027, food and fibre sector export revenue
is forecast to dip one per cent to $63.9 billion, before bouncing back the following year. Easing export returns in the dairy and forestry sectors are expected to more than offset continued strength in meat and wool, horticulture, seafood, arable, and processed food and other product sectors. The longer-term outlook for the food and fibre sector is bright, with export revenue forecast to reach $70.1 billion in 2029/30. Growth over the remainder of the outlook period is set to be led by dairy and horticulture sectors. Strong fundamentals, growing global demand, and the sector’s adaptability position it well for continued growth and long-term success. Leading the way this year, dairy export revenue is forecast to increase five per cent to a record $28.6 billion in the year to June 30. This growth is supported by strong global prices, favourable exchange rates, and record milk production. Looking ahead in 2026/27, export revenue is forecast to ease slightly to $27.9 billion as global prices soften and domestic production normalises from record levels. While rising input costs will put some pressure on farmer margins, strong recent profitability and the Fonterra capital return
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leave the sector well positioned to absorb these pressures and maintain its trajectory. Meat and wool export revenue is expected to increase 14 per cent to $14.1 billion. In 2026/27, strong beef demand
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August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
THE WORLD
PART ONE
IN A PADDOCK BY AMY FIFITA Situated on a 20ha block in the foothills of the Kaimai Ranges in Katikati, Jules Minkhorst and Mike van der Wal share their Kiwi farming lifestyle with overseas travellers using Workaway and other WWOOF (Willing Worker On Organic Farms) sites.
“D
ad and mum were dairy and deer farmers in the Waikato between Matamata and Te Aroha. As children we grew up on the farm, bringing in the cows, helping with milking and rearing calves,” said Jules. “We grew up with the Kaimai Ranges dominating our view. My parents loved the bush, and we were always camping and tramping.” An upbringing immersed in agriculture, years on, in her adult life, Jules and her husband Mike would own their own farm themselves, but not without sailing the world first. “Before buying this farm, we lived offshore on a yacht for a decade, sailing around the Western South Pacific and Southeast Asia. We’d have carried on sailing, but Covid happened, and life changed.
“Moving through and between countries became much harder and more restrictive, so we decided to return home and start a new project. “Throughout the Pacific and Southeast Asia, we’ve seen a lot of devastation and exploitation of both the sea and land. We have travelled to many remote places, interacting with local communities and seeing first-hand the effects of these disasters.” With a heart for people, the duo fundraised and did a big village project in Fiji and other projects as they travelled through Fiji and Vanuatu. Having witnessed devastation and exploitation in their travels, it connected them to communities, but also showed them the recurring theme of the competition for land, resources and water.
“On our return to NZ, we wanted some land and a project with the underlying goal of leaving it better than we had found it.” Longing for the wonders her childhood brought with the bush backdrop and the Kaimai scenery, Jules wanted to recreate her memories on a smaller scale. Still in the Solomon Islands, Mike and Jules spotted a property with a boundary against the Kaimai Ranges, with bushland and streams. The farm is called Seven Streams. “The farm is hilly and undulating with seven streams and watercourses running through it, so it’s quite complex to farm. We run approximately 50 beef cattle that are a beef-dairy cross, and we also have three avocado orchards to look after. “Previously, most of the land was grazed, but we’ve fenced off bush, steep hills and lowlands and are re-establishing
Jules says planting days create happiness for volunteers from overseas who come from Workaway and other WWOOF sites like HelpX
natives and wetlands. Mike’s first building project was a greenhouse, as we could see we’d need a lot of trees.
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
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Joyce learned all about the Kiwi farming experience, from weeding to how to move cattle, and loved the experience
Esther, a Workaway guest from the UK, worked on a dairy farm before going to Jules and Mike on their 50-acre farm
“We collect native seeds and cuttings and propagate them. In winter, we plant about 2,000 annually. It’s inspiring, especially now, as we’re interplanting with specimen trees like kahikatea, miro and endangered swamp maire. “Building our own dream has been a lot of fun, but also a hard graft. We’ve incorporated many features, which we built by hand ourselves, such as a rammed earth wall and cast concrete fire stands. “We designed the house ourselves. Mike built the house himself with help
from a few good friends, and being a retired builder and a lover of wood, he also wanted to plant trees.” Splitting roles, Jules takes care of agriculture on the farm, including the natives’ nursery and orchards, while Mike focusses on infrastructure, handling fences, water and tracks. With a sound governance structure in place, Jules and Mike teach the volunteers about farm life, tasks, safety, how to use various tools and much more. “For our volunteers, the experience of planting trees that will mature in decades
to come blows them away. Every planting day is a happy day, and of course, in between the weeding is an ongoing cycle. “Being a small acreage, I can run a dairy farm-type rotational grazing system. It’s a lot of effort, running hotwire fences on hills, some of which are quite steep, during winter, but the pasture and soil are looking great. “It enables us to run the same number of cattle on a smaller area, having fenced off the marginal land for reforestation. Our volunteers join in the grazing cattle work, which they love. We handrear most of our calves, creating a rich volunteer experience. “We enjoy getting to know our volunteer s. They have diver se backgrounds and careers, and come from cities all over the world — Paris, Shanghai, Buenos Aires, Patagonia, California, Alaska and London.” Having traversed overseas waters themselves, they brought other cultures to their farm gate by becoming Workaway hosts. Join us in September for part two.
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August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
Tomorrow’s herd starts today: Why calf meal is more than just another cost By Simon Butler, Nutrition Extension Specialist, SealesWinslow. We know the calf is the future of our herd, but what does that actually mean? It can be challenging to consider expenses associated with calf rearing as investments when the return isn’t realised for another two years. However, recent research continues to strengthen our understanding of how achieving key developmental milestones directly influences lifetime productivity and farm profitability. Our long-standing industry liveweight targets are 30% of mature liveweight at six months of age, 60% at mating and 90% at first calving. This describes a growth trajectory that maximises the development of systems associated with milk production and fertility, while limiting the partitioning of energy during lactation towards growth that should have already occurred. The result is a two-year-old animal that produces milk at a rate that rivals its more mature peers and remains in the herd long enough to contribute efficiently to profitability. The cost of missing these targets is significant. A 2016 Massey University study suggested that a heifer reaching only 50% of mature liveweight at mating, instead of the 60% target produced, on average, 30 kgMS less over her first three lactations—assuming she is able to get in calf not just once, but at subsequent matings too. On the average New Zealand dairy farm milking 451 cows with a 22% replacement rate, that equates to $84,858.75 in lost annual revenue at a $9.50 milk payout. The growth trajectory of a calf is not a straight line. While seasonal challenges can impact growth rates in R1s and R2s, the first six months represent one of the greatest opportunities for effective management, as nutrients are utilised more efficiently and key systems are developing at an accelerated rate. Recent work from the Bioeconomy Science Institute found that every additional 100 g/day of pre-weaning average daily gain was associated with approximately 20 kgMS more milk production during the first lactation, highlighting the lasting value of early-life nutrition.
What is a calf meal for? A key process during calf rearing is transitioning calves off milk and onto forages while maintaining high average daily weight gain. The post-weaning period is particularly important because rumen microbes are developing, while pasture quality is often declining. To maintain growth, calves need a sufficiently developed rumen capable of supporting high dry matter intakes.
That process begins at birth. Carefully limited hay, water and starter meal all play distinct roles in developing the immature rumen. Hay stimulates rumination behaviour and mechanically develops the foregut, while grains and water create the environment needed for microbial fermentation to begin. Starter meal provides highly fermentable carbohydrates (starches) that fuel both microbial growth and the production of butyrate, the volatile fatty acid which is responsible for driving development of the lining of the rumen. As milk allowance decreases, the meal must also provide highly digestible, amino acid-rich protein sources such as soya bean meal to replace nutrients previously supplied through milk.
Looking beyond crude protein A common conversation I have with farmers is one around crude protein, because it’s one of the easiest things to get wrong when comparing calf meals and focusing on the crude protein percentage alone. While protein level is important, where that protein comes from is equally critical. Highly digestible protein sources rich in essential amino acids support the growing calf far more effectively than simply increasing crude protein through lower-quality ingredients. Likewise, calf meals should not contain high levels of plant fibre (NDF). Young calves digest fibre poorly, and unlike long hay, finely ground fibre provides little functional benefit for rumen development. Energy concentration also deserves careful consideration. While energy is important, it reflects the sum of the meal’s ingredients rather than any one nutrient. High fat inclusion can increase calculated energy values, but fat levels above around 5% can begin to negatively affect rumen function. When we’re formulating a calf meal, we’re constantly balancing starch, protein quality and fat inclusion. It’s possible to make a meal analyse well on paper by lifting fat or crude protein, but that doesn’t necessarily produce the rumen development or intake we’re trying to achieve.
The numbers worth asking for Specification
Targets
NDF (fibre)
Below 20%, ideally 15–18%
Fat
Under 4%
Starch
35% and above
Crude protein
Around 20%, from highly digestible sources such as soya bean meal or canola meal
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No single number determines the quality of a calf meal. The best formulations balance starch, digestible protein, fibre and fat to support rumen development while maintaining growth through the transition from milk to forage. Looking beyond the label and understanding how those nutrients work together is what separates a meal that simply analyses well from one that performs in the paddock.
Closing Calf meal is only one part of a successful rearing programme, but its role in transitioning calves from milk-fed pre-ruminants to fully functioning ruminants makes it one of the most important nutritional decisions a rearer will make. We only get one opportunity to develop that calf properly. If we can build a healthy rumen early and keep growth on track through weaning, we’ve given her the best chance of becoming the sort of cow every farmer wants in the herd. Those formulation principles are the reason SealesWinslow formulates CalfMax the way we do.
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
ADVERTORIAL
Farmers often develop sore joints (Part two)
by John Arts
Earlier this year, a farmer contacted me about severe osteoarthritis affecting his hands and shoulders. Joint pain is common among farmers; many experience it before age 50, often due to livestock accidents or years of demanding physical work. His hands were so painful that closing them was difficult, and the discomfort was constant. Shoulder arthritis is also common and can be especially troublesome, because pain often radiates through the ligaments, muscles and tendons that support the joint, making everyday tasks harder. Osteoarthritis usually develops in one of two ways: from direct injury or from gradual cartilage loss. As cartilage breaks down, bones can rub together, causing pain because bone contains many nerve endings. Cartilage degeneration may be driven by excessive destructive enzymes, free-radical damage to chondrocytes — the cells that produce healthy cartilage — and ongoing inflammation. To address these problems, I started the farmer on an intensive three-month programme. It included 1,600mg each of high-grade chondroitin sulphate and glucosamine sulphate, along with 400mg of water-soluble curcumin extract from turmeric.
After three months, the results were impressive. He reported major improvements in hand and wrist function, and his shoulder pain had eased enough to feel much more comfortable. His progress offers another reason to explore nutritional medicine as part of osteoarthritis management. For people with similar concerns, high-dose chondroitin combined with glucosamine and curcumin, supported by an anti-inflammatory diet, may provide meaningful benefits. To learn more, email me for a copy of my osteoarthritis programme and begin your journey toward better joint health. John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a qualified nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health. To read more articles by John and learn more about the Abundant Health products he has formulated, visit healthhouse.co.nz, call 0800 140 141, or email john@ healthhouse.co.nz.
by Paul Campbell
National polling is a general election standard and new information has also been released in a poll with particular interest for the average Kiwi dinner table. Whether they’re eaten straight from the paper, tucked into buttered bread or drowned in tomato sauce, hot chips remain one of New Zealand’s most-loved comfort foods. New nationwide research has revealed exactly how Kiwis like to enjoy them — with a simple sprinkle of salt coming out on top. Commissioned by Potatoes New Zealand, the poll surveyed more than 1,100 New Zealanders about the Kiwi favourite fish and chips, found 31 per cent prefer to ‘just add salt’ to their hot chips, closely followed by plenty of tomato sauce at 29 per cent. Others like to make a meal of it: 19 per cent enjoy hot chips in bread and butter as a classic ‘chip butty’, while 12 per cent prefer vinegar and 2 per cent reach for Worcestershire sauce. Hot chips also stand out in their own right, with 16 per cent saying they are the real stars and just 1 per cent saying they do not like them. Potatoes New Zealand chief executive Kate Trufitt said more than half the domestic potato harvest goes into processing for hot chips or fries. “We know there’s very strong demand for domestically-grown potatoes for processing for hot chips, so it’s interesting to see this research showing how people enjoy eating them. Long may that Friday night fish and chips tradition continue.
Kiwi favourite
“Potatoes make a significant contribution to New Zealander’s diets because of their valuable nutritional status. Most New Zealanders get around 30 per cent of their vitamin C requirement from potatoes and they are a very good source of potassium.” The research found 83 per cent of participants associated fish and chips strongly or fairly strongly with New Zealand culture or Kiwi identity. For many New Zealanders, Friday night fish and chips still evoke a classic Kiwi tradition (46%), paper-wrapped hot chips (40%) and the welcome relief of a night off cooking (38%). There are over 150 commercial potato growers in New Zealand with a growing area of about 10,000 hectares.
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
HOME&LANDSCAPING
13
Solar panels and easier installation
by Andy Bryenton
It’s a bold ambition: ACT leader David Seymour’s crusade against ‘red tape’ has seen an announcement last week that New Zealand might soon be the easiest place in the developed world to install solar panels. The coalition government has agreed to progress the recommendations of a report from the Ministry for Regulation, which blasted the consent process for photovoltaic solar in residential and small-scale applications, saying that some simple installs require up to six signoffs and visits from four inspectors. That’s too much, according to Mr Seymour and Energy Minister Simeon Brown, who say they’d like to see a raft of changes. “Kiwis need access to reliable and affordable energy, but approval for solar panels can take months. The report’s recommendations will make solar an easy option for Kiwi families,” Mr Seymour says. One of the ideas coming to these shores is plug-in solar, an easy method for getting the power of the sun into homes and into the grid. These portable panels are a perfect fit for those renting property, as they can be plugged in or out, moved, and set up with the same ease as a Starlink satellite modem, another piece of popular plug-in infrastructure gaining traction in rural New Zealand. “The government will legalise plug in solar because there was no good
them if they move house. The power of the sun is there to be harnessed. Implementing these recommendations will help people do that, and feel the benefits in their household budgets,” Mr Brown says.
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reason for preventing Kiwis using it,” said Seymour. “Plug-in systems can be used by renters and people living in apartments who can’t access traditional rooftop solar. If they’re good enough for Germany and the UK, they’re good enough for us.” The two ministers have embraced the recommendations of the Ministry for Regulation’s Sector Review Report, and focus on the figures, which tell a definitive story. “Once all the recommendations are implemented, installation approvals for residential solar will be reduced from about $640 and three months, down to $200 and six days,” says Mr Seymour. “For small–medium scale solar, such as a
farmer installing panels on a milking shed, it would reduce installation approvals from up to $11,000 and six months, down to $1,300 and one month.” Simeon Brown approaches the issue from the perspective of lower power bills and greater energy security. Power price rises have outstripped inflation by almost double in recent years, putting the squeeze on a population already burdened with a general cost-of-living crisis. Solar power is seen as a granular, personalised fix which can help ease this pressure. “Plug-in solar will also be a game-changer for people who rent, meaning people will be able to buy a plug-in solar kit and take it with
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
Sparky Multi-Fuel
Sparky Multi - Features & Benefits • Solid NZ Steel Chassis & Construction 5mm chassis for longevity & NZ Steel to
Leon Features & Benefits
keep his carbon footprint down and support local industry
• Solid NZ Steel Chassis & Construction 5mm chassis 5mm with additional
• Dual Air Controls Giving you precise control of the combustion & consumption rate
• Panels Fitted For lower wall clearances with two side& panel length options and Sparky Multi - Features Benefits colour upgrades to style him up
• Solid NZ Steel Chassis & Construction 5mm chassis for longevity & NZ Steel to • Brick Lined Firebox Refractory Brick lined to protect the inside steel chassis and
Sparky Small scale, with a big heart
• • • • •
keep his carbon footprint down and support local industry to help hold the heat in the fire • Dual Air Controls Giving you precise control of the combustion & Wetback Option 1.2kw to heat your hot water for power savings. Can be retro consumption rate fitted later • Panels Fitted For lower wall clearances with two side panel length options and Removable Steel Baffle 2 Piece Steel Baffle which is removable for chimney colour upgrades to style him up sweeping • Brick Lined Firebox Refractory Brick lined to protect the inside steel chassis and Cooking Surface With optional top rails fitted for safety if required to help hold the heat in the fire Multi Fuel Specifically designed to offer two fuel options. Wood and or Coal • Wetback Option 1.2kw to heat your hot water for power savings. Can be retro Two Base Options Log-box or Leg-base providing a comfortable 795mm fitted later cooking height • Removable Steel Baffle 2 Piece Steel Baffle which is removable for chimney Ash Pan For easy removal of ash build up sweeping
Leon
strengthening added due to his heat output & NZ Steel to keep his carbon footprint down and support local industry • Dual Air Controls Giving you precise control of the combustion & consumption rate Leon Features & Benefits • Panels Fitted For lower wall clearances with optional colour upgrades to style him up • Solid NZ Steel Chassis & Construction 5mm chassis 5mm w added to his heat outputsteel & NZchassis Steel toand ke • Brick Lined Fireboxstrengthening Refractory Brick lineddue to protect the inside footprint down and support local industry to help hold the heat in the fire Dual precisesavings. control of thebecombust • Wetback Option• 3kw to Air heatControls your hotGiving water you for power Can retro consumption rate fitted later. • Baffle Panels For lower clearances with optional colour • Removable Steel 2 Fitted Piece Steel Bafflewall which is removable for chimney him up sweeping • Large Brickcooking Lined Firebox Bricktop lined protect insid • Cooking Surface surfaceRefractory with optional railstofitted forthe safety i to help hold the heat in the fire required • Wetback Option 3kwtwo to heat your hotWood water and for power savin • Multi Fuel Specifically designed to offer fuel options. or Coal fitted later. • Integrated Log Base Wood storage below and provides a comfortable 900mm cooking height • Removable Steel Baffle 2 Piece Steel Baffle which is remova sweeping • Ash Pan For easy removal of ash build up Cooking Surface Large cooking Black surface with optional top ra • High Temp Paint•finish Premium quality in Metallic required • Ash Hearth Floor Protector Requires an ash hearth protector only (No • Multi Fuel Specifically designed to offer two fuel options. Wo insulation required) • Integrated Log Base Wood storage below and provides a co cooking height Colour Upgrade • Ash Pan For easy removal of ash build up Options 455 160 • High Temp Paint finish Premium quality410in Metallic Black 150 Screen • Ash Hearth Floor Protector Requires an ash hearth protecto insulation required)
Sparky Multi-Fuel
The Legend of Warmth, Built to Work Hard
• • High Temp Paint•finish Premium quality Metallictop Black Cooking Surface Withinoptional rails fitted for safety if required • Ash Hearth Floor an ash hearthto protector base Wood and or Coal • Protector Multi FuelRequires Specifically designed offer twoonly fuelwith options.
The Wagener Sparky is New Zealand’s ultimate compact multiThe Wagener Leon is the “big brother” to the Sparky, option (Insulated hearth without a base) • Two Base Options Log-box or Leg-base providing a comfortable 795mm cooking height fuel solution, handcrafted for tiny homes, cabins and even boats. designed for those who love compact styling but need • Ash Pan For easy removal of ash build up Despite its small footprint, the Sparky delivers an impressive massive 16–18kW heating power. Named after the family Colour Upgrade eg • High Temp Paint finish Premium quality in Metallic Black Options wL n 7–10kW output, featuring a heavy-duty 5mm steel chassis and a business founder, this handcrafted powerhouse features a Ne p t i o • Ash Hearth Floor Protector Requires an ash hearth protector only with base se O Ba option (Insulated hearth without a base) brick-lined firebox for maximum heat retention. deep firebox and a large glass window for a stunning view of the flames. Built from 5mm NZ steel, the Leon includes a This multi-fuel versatile performer isn’t just a heater; it featuresColour Upgrade built-in log box for convenience and a dedicated cooking Heat Output eg a dedicated top surface for cooking and an optional “Lion” Options wL n Ne pti o3kW wetback surface for self-sufficiency. With an optional O e swith The cute wee fire a big heart Colour Upgrade Ba * wetback to provide independent hot water. Available capable of heating a full household’s water, Heat theOutput Leon is a Options Meet the original Wagener Multi. Designed in 2012 to meet a Sparky in Clean Air and Rural models with hardworking, heart for any gap enduring in the market for a good looking, compact & strong wee fireplace, he’s customisable base and colour options, the a real crowd pleaser. Sparky can be found in many diverse locations & medium-to-large home. Heat Output House Size situations though out New Zealand from Tiny, Mobile and Holiday Homes to Sparky offers robust, long-lasting warmth Modern New Build Homes. With morecute than 2000 across NZ take The wee Sparky’s fire with a big heart * Heat Output wherever space is at a premium. him home with confidence. House Size 350
317
136 100
100
860
570
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100
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317
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435
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North m2 South m2 50-130
COLOUR UPGRADE OPTIONS
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320 / 310
290
WAGENE R
Sparky
300
Optional Rear Flue
100
860
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WAGENE R
Peak kw
Log Box Base (300) 505 795
17-19
Leon
Avg kw
455
14-17
Standard Side Panel
795 400 / 350 490 Ashlip to rear screen
Extended Side Panel
435
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452
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Handcrafted by WAGENER STOVES “LION” LTD 50-130
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WAGENE R
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situations though out New Zealand from Tiny, Mobile and Holiday Homes to Modern New Build Homes. With more than 2000 Sparky’s across NZ take him home with confidence. House Size 452 North m2 South m2 120-200 100-180
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COLOUR UPGRADEMeet OPTIONS PeakDesigned kw Avg kw the original Wagener in 2012 to meet a Door glass530to screen North m2 South m2 Multi. Sparky 605 17-19 &14-17 gap in the market for a good strong wee fireplace, he’s 120-200looking, 100-180 compact
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
HOME&LANDSCAPING
15
Smoke, grill and savour
by Andy Bryenton
If you’re keen to get into the wildly popular practice of smoking and low-and-slow barbecue this summer, spring is the time to head out and find the perfect tool for the job. By focussing on exactly the kind of cooking you’d like to do, you can deliver the delectable, smoky flavours you want without breaking the bank. The first and most important decision to make is between a kettle barbecue and an offset smoker. These work in slightly different ways, which produce variations on the theme of juicy, slow-cooked meat with an aromatic smoke. The kettle (otherwise called an acorn, beehive or dome) uses charcoal right inside its base, directly grilling your food but allowing for greater control over the temperature by varying the intensity of the burn. A kind of mild offset effect can be had by stoking up the heat on one side of the grill, while letting it die down on the other. Radiant heat reflected from inside the dome of the kettle helps evenly cook your meal. This layout is versatile, and can replace the gas barbecue for a sizzled sausage or quick steak on a summer night, as well as being tuned to slow cook more elaborate cuts. There’s a learning curve of skill to
manage the charcoal just right, but those who find that sweet spot swear by it. An offset smoker looks somewhat like the boiler and firebox of a steam locomotive, and that offset source of heat gives it its name. All that comes through into the main cooking chamber is hot smoke, meaning that you can burn carefully selected wood varieties to tune your smoke for flavour. There’s an art to getting it working to perfection, but this is a great way to deliver layers of subtle flavour. It’s a more time-intensive experience, but the finished result is a succulent reward. If you’re moving from a gas barbecue to smoking and grilling, perhaps the kettle is a good stepping stone, with an offset smoker reserved for your next-level foray into low-and-slow cuisine. Otherwise, you might wish to keep your existing ‘barbie’ for quick, easy outdoor eats, and delve right into the world of smoke craft. Either way, the most important thing to look for is durable, thick, well-built metal. A good kettle or offset smoker is robust, heavy and traps in both smoke
Kettle grill or offset smoker? Either choice delivers deliciousness, but in slightly different ways
and heat. Don’t be tempted by cheap, thin-walled imitations, because the hours you put into each cook, the brining, the rubs, the charcoal and wood
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16
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
HOME&LANDSCAPING Building brick by brick
by Andy Bryenton
There’s a solidity and beauty to brick construction, but there’s practicality, too. Brick buildings from the dawn of time have endured, as have whole castles and stately homes made of fired clay and ingenuity. The oldest bricks come from Tell Aswad, high up the Tigris river in modern Iraq. There, the thick river clay would harden in the sun, and locals took note that during the dry summer, the river banks became hard as stone. Shaping the clay and mud into squares, they made a building material which was easier to work with than rock, harder than timber, and in seemingly inexhaustible supply. The huge stepped pyramids of the Mesopotamians were built using these mud-bricks, and they worked amazingly well in a dry and arid land, but even better when treated with fire. The brick kiln allowed ancient kings to build walls that repelled armies, and legendary monuments too. The hanging gardens of Babylon used glazed and fired bricks that channelled water for this early hydroponic marvel. At about the same time, fired red-clay bricks were invented in China, of a surprisingly similar size to the ones we’d recognise from modern houses. If you were a Roman soldier, you might have spent more time making bricks than fighting barbarians. Each legion carried its own portable brick kiln, and gates, bath houses, aqueducts and forts stamped
with the seal of the emperor on each brick are found across Europe. Just before (and during) the industrial revolution, huge brick factories dominated the trade in England. Red bricks, of the kind we see in classical brick and tile houses, became the norm for an odd reason in the late 1600s. London was being rebuilt after the fire of 1666, and wood was no longer allowed. The novelty of trade with China had brought the bright red bricks mentioned earlier to British attention, and the colour was chosen to make buildings stand out in London fog, and to stop the new brick buildings appearing dark and soot-smeared, in an era when the great metropolis ran on wood and coal fires. Modern brickmaking might use traditional methods, but can also employ a so-called hyperpress. In this highpressure forming machine, a tiny amount of cement, about nine per cent of the brick and a tiny amount of pigment for aesthetics are combined with crushed waste rock. This recycled concrete is crushed up into powder, and added to waste products from smelting. Fly ash from burning waste to generate energy is
Herstmonceux Castle was built in the time of Shakespeare, when red brick, inspired by oriental and Indian techniques, was being embraced to replace Tudor wood-and-plaster construction
also sometimes used, sealing it up out of environmental cycles. This can make up 90 per cent of a modern brick, and it’s
hard to tell the difference. The other major oddity is that there’s no kiln at all, just the enormous pressure exerted by hydraulics.
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
17
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS Food for the bees
by Liz Clark
During the winter months, food scarcity for bees and other beneficial pollinating insects is thin on the ground; however, some plants provide sustenance. Throughout winter, bees and butterflies still need nectar to survive the cold days and nights. With the global issue of pollinator populations declining, especially in the case of bee numbers, providing a consistent food source is becoming a necessity in the garden. Fruit trees, flowers and vegetables are predominantly reliant on pollination by bees and other insects to set fruit and seed. Shrubs and trees You can’t go past the camellia for reliability when it comes to winter flowering. The flowers provide a rich source of high-quality protein-rich pollen — single flowering cultivars are the best option for bees to access. Kōwhai is a reliable late-winter flowering tree that provides not just food for bees but also for native birds such as tūī, which are also nectar-feeders. This native tree has also been developed by horticulturalists as a dwarf variety — Dragons Gold. It flowers in late winter and into early spring. Its compact growing habit makes it suitable for smaller urban gardens.
Mānuka Winter Cheer is another reliable flowering shrub suitable for smaller gardens reaching 1.5 metres in height at maturity. A fast-growing shrub, it puts out a profuse amount of bright deep-red flowers — mainly in late winter to early spring. Winter flowers Cornflowers top the list as favourite nectar sources for bees and butterflies. Flowering throughout winter, these plants can be easily grown from seed as an annual and planted in the garden or pots. Snapdragons flower well throughout the winter months. Another that is easily germinated from seed and grown as an annual. With a profusion of cultivars available in many shades, these will provide another reliable source for visiting pollinators. Calendula is always reliable. A great companion plant for winter vegetables, these plants are frost-hardy and also utilised by visiting bees. Easy to grow and selfseeding. These also come in various colours available from your local garden centre.
Other plant varieties The list is extensive; here are just a few of them. Flowering from autumn onwards borage is a good start.
Also, consider pineapple sage, rudbeckia, native hebes and lavender as options for keeping the pollinators catered for.
ANDREW NOLA
Contracting
BETTER LAI D T HAN S PR AY E D Sludge in your effluent pond? • We have the stirring power to lift sludge out of your We use a pond and spread it on your paddocks dribble bar rather • Umbilical system moves it up to 1.5km efficiently, no wear on races
than an irrigator, with 1.5km of lay-flat hose
• Cheaper than tankers or a digger and muckspreader • Minimal interruption to stock movement on races • Evenly spread your effluent the full width and length of your paddocks
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• Cultivation • Round baling • Undersowing • Engineering • General cartage PHONE ANDREW:
027 493 2079
Leaders in Commercial and Agricultural helicopter operations throughout New Zealand since 1997.
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18
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
RSS
REINFORCING STEEL SUPPLIES LTD 25 FOREMAN ROAD HAMILTON • RSS is a small family owned business. • 20 years of experience and service. • We deal with all sorts of customers from your typical DIY person to concrete layers, builders and other trade companies.
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INDFLO VS01 SPOT SPRAYER Available in 50L ($261) & 100L ($306)
• We pride ourselves on our customer service and our fast turnaround times. • We deliver to the wider Waikato area or beyond if required.
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WWW.COLLINGWOODSCROSSCOUNTRY.CO.NZ 125 NORTON ROAD, HAMILTON. 0800 847 2052 SERIOUS SPRAYING POWER S A L E S
P A R T S
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HARTY MECHANICAL Diesel Mechanical Repairs
Your One Stop Diesel Shop Our range of services will make your diesel devices run like new!
• Full diesel mechanical servicing bulk oil supply • • Welding & steel fabricator • COF precheck • COF repairs
Accurate, timely fertiliser application When you want it, where you want it
Office 07 871 8203
Fax 07 871 7998 admin@hartymech.co.nz 879 Factory Road, Te Awamutu Ph John 021 985 395
Waipa Water Delivery
We deliver certified water to the greater Waikato. We fill tanks and swimming pools. 14,000L capacity truck. Residential, rural and lifestyle delivery.
Te Awamutu Phone 07 871 8203 Mobile 021 985 395
Product placement tailored to fit in with the business operation Regular fertiliser spreading services throughout – Taranaki – Waikato Bay of Plenty – Coromandel Regions
0800 33 66 44 office@heli.co.nz www.heli.co.nz
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
19
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS Crop contamination danger by Paul Campbell
“As New Zealand farmers, growers and spray contractors increasingly rotate between herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, plant growth regulators and foliar fertilisers, the risk of spray tank contamination has never been greater.” That’s the warning message for the industry, in particular, where changing work venues can lead to inadvertent contamination from one to the other. A recent disaster involved a maize crop destroyed after tanks were reused from weed eradication to fertiliser application, despite the fact the tanks had been rinsed in water by the farmer involved. Thorough cleaning with a suitable cleansing agent added to the mix is recommended, Industry expert Pieter Van Der Westhuizen says even trace amounts of crop protection products left behind in tanks, hoses, filters, screens, booms and nozzles can cause significant damage when spraying subsequent crops. “Herbicide residues such as glyphosate, dicamba, 2,4-D, sulfonylureas and carfentrazone-ethyl can persist in spray systems and contaminate future spray loads, resulting in crop damage, reduced yields and quality, rejected produce, and costly resprays,” he says. “As farmers, growers and spray contractors increasingly rotate between herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, plant
growth regulators and foliar fertilisers, the risk of spray tank contamination has never been greater.” “Cleaning spray tanks with laundry powder or ammonia is not going to remove every trace of spray — that’s not what they’re formulated to do. You may think the tank is clean, but products can still be there, even in small amounts, and that’s where the risk lies. All Clear 2X is the insurance policy spray contractors can’t afford not to have.” Van Der Westhuizen says All Clear 2X will out-perform ordinary tank cleaners on the wide range of agricultural chemicals, even commonly used products which are notoriously ‘sticky’, or difficult to remove. All Clear 2X is a specifically formulated, non-corrosive spray tank cleaner and
We deliver water throughout the Waikato area to residential, farms and business customers. We can cart up to 28,000 lt with truck and trailer.
decontaminator, designed to remove any agrichemical residues from the entire spray system. By thoroughly cleaning tanks, pumps, hoses, filters, booms and nozzles, he says All Clear 2X reduces the risk of contamination, protects sensitive crops, preserves yield potential and gives contractors, farmers and growers complete confidence that every spray application starts with a clean system. New Zealand has hundreds of regional rural spraying contractors specialising in agricultural boom spraying, gorse/ noxious weed gun spraying, and advanced drone chemical application. You can
We can fill anything from your house water tank, through to swimming pools, and farm tanks. We also do water tank cleaning and sterilizing.
waikatowatersupplies.co.nz 027 417 9195 waikato@4water.co.nz
Shane Davis Bulk Spreading Ltd TRACMAP GPS PROOF OF PLACEMENT • Owner/Driver operated • Fertiliser spreading specialist • Cartage & spreading with loader available • Prompt, efficient service
24/7
Call for a obligation free quote today
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0800 TROUGH
We service… • Septic tanks • Grease traps • Portaloos
find certified professionals through RCNZ, which maintains a national directory of registered Growsafe-certified chemical applicators.
When we say we have a huge range, we mean it!
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20
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
STUMPCHIPPING & MULCHING
AGRICULTURAL FEED STORAGE SOLUTIONS
• Specialised 450hp stumpchipper/forestry mulcher • 20 ton excavator with rake • Specialising in cutover pine stump removal • All aspects of stumpchipping and heavy mulching
NATIONWIDE SERVICE CALL THE STUMPCHIPPING EXPERTS ANYTIME:
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End-to-End Tree Removal & Land Clearing
• Qualified Sawmen and mechanized felling machinery • Chip whole trees up to 800 Dia • 6x6 Trucks • Stump Grinding
Land Clearing - Stump Grinding - Orchard Removal Mulching - Waste Processing - Woodlots
PH: 0800 022 044 PH: 027 500 9878
.co.nz
EXCELLENCE CONTRACTORS BY EXPERIENCE Bax Contractors is a well established tree removal business working throughout the greater Waikato and Bay of Plenty region for the past 35 years. From land clearing to logging we offer a solution for even the most difficult sites.
www.baxcontractors.co.nz
accounts@baxcontractors.co.nz GIVE MARCUS A CALL 027 495 3108
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
21
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS Twin turbos and tuned for toughness
custom red accents and stitching in the well-appointed cabin. Creature comforts include a nine-inch infotainment screen, dual-zone climate control, heated seats and support for Apple and Android phones. Your local Nissan dealership has examples on display right now, and a test drive is well recommended to see just how far the Navara has advanced in this latest generation.
by Andy Bryenton
Nissan’s new Navara comes with a legendary name, a fresh, rugged style update, and nextgeneration power and handling. The Navara badge rose to prominence in the 1980s with the unbreakable D21, but refinement has been the byword for successive generations since. In this spirit, the current Navara comes with more technology and smarter engineering, making it both a more relaxed place to spend those highway hours, and a dependable coworker for farmers and tradies. Nissan, Mitsubishi and Renault share design and development know-how in this era of big-budget new-vehicle innovation, but to set the Navara apart there’s been some substantial man-hours of research put into the new ute’s suspension set-up. This took place in the gruelling proving grounds of Australia, and has resulted in a measured, substantial steering feel, transitioning from tarmac to unpaved surfaces. It’s an option on every one of the four grades of Navara, right up to the range-topping Pro-4X, and it’s one country drivers will appreciate. Under the hood you’ll find a 2.4-litre diesel producing a handy 201 horsepower, and an even more appreciable 470 Newtonmetres of torque. This engine comes with
Nissan Navara roars back on to Kiwi roads (and off them) with a new generation tuned for both work and recreation
not one but two turbochargers; one to build fast boost and another to feed the motor for maximum power. The upshot is smooth, motive force without any waiting around — this certainly adds to the Navara’s crisp on-road manners. Nissan knows a thing or two about turbos, especially when they come in pairs; just ask anyone who loves the legendary Skyline. While in this case it’s a ute that’s received the benefit of Nissan’s technical knowledge, the result is equally tuned for its specific niche. The Navara is designed to work, designed to haul tools and
DRIVE POSTS WITH POWER AND PRECISION! Power Postdrivers, proudly made in New Zealand, offers a range of high-quality post drivers built to last.
equipment, camping gear and materials. It’s designed to tow a hefty 3.5 tonnes, too, so your powerboat or your small excavator can come along for the ride. Better yet, this voluminous ute does it all while delivering fuel economy of just 8.8 litres for every 100 kilometres. Now we get to the impression, the looks, and the way in which form mirrors function in this new generation. While all of the Navara range comes with sleek new steel, it’s the flagship Pro-4X which wears it best, boasting lava-red exterior flashes, big, aggressively stanced alloy wheels,
STEEL FRAMED BUILDINGS
Supplied anywhere in New Zealand or the Pacific.
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BOOK IN NOW FOR SPRING PEAT CULTIVATION STUMP GRINDING
Starting from just
Our custom built high speed stump grinder can grind any size stump up to 500mm into the ground, then when we are finished we can bulldoze the wood chips into the hole where the stump once was.
$10,500 + gst.
STUMP AND TIMBER CLEARING Buried stumps and timber are our speciality, we can grind your waste wood/forestry slash into the ground up to 350mm deep all while cultivating your soil in one pass with our 2.5-metre Meri crushers developed in Finland for cultivating peat swamps.
SPECIALISTS IN: • Stump grinding • Peat cultivation with Meri Crushers • Grinding of subsoil timber before planting • Reclamation of forestry and shelter belts • Mulching of gorse and scrub
Visit www.powerpostdrivers.com or contact Jacob 027 829 5744 to explore our products and find out how we can help you get the job done right.
www.ecaa.co.nz muir@ecaa.co.nz 027 494 5002
22
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
RURAL CONTRACTORS & SUPPLIERS What future for organic produce? by Andy Bryenton
With more than $1 billion in revenue generated each year by organic produce, a plan to grow this sector of the rural economy is vital, and it’s a subject getting some scrutiny with a regulatory overhaul in the pipeline. Core to plans to update the rules surrounding organic farming is the possibility of boosting the limit on organic business turnover, above which a farmer would have to be approved as
S&S
Ag Contracting Ltd
• Muck Spreading • Ground Cultivation • Regrassing and undersowing • Round Baleage/Hay • Tip Trailer Services • Now selling Compost Check us out on TradeMe Services Listings #1968593208
Phone Ken
027 472 8672 email: shearer123ag@gmail.com
an operator. The suggestion of boosting this from $10,000 to $30,000 could be in line with the modern realities of being a small-scale organic producer for niche products, and avoid red tape. Additionally, there’s a call for New Zealand to consider a single, overarching organic mark. Those who qualify to use the mark would be certified organic, boosting customer confidence and allowing for a strong showing internationally. Unity and clear rules would encourage investment. Currently, five or more respected thirdparty organic certifiers exist across the nation. Associate Minister of Agriculture Mike Butterick announced public consultation on these and a number of smaller procedural changes in mid-August, calling for grassroots input from the organic farming community to shape how government agencies support the sector. “New Zealand’s wider organic sector is worth $1.18 billion, with exports of more than $606 million fuelled by global demand for premium and sustainablyproduced products,” Mr Butterick said. “We want to build on that strong
foundation and maximise opportunities for regional communities.” To qualify as organic, Kiwi produce must already meet strict ecological criteria, including no use of synthetic chemical weedkillers and insecticides, no artificial fertilisers, the deployment of natural pest management, natural compost and natural manures. Geneticallymodified organisms are prohibited from being deemed organic, and there’s an added level of scrutiny on the long-term protection of the soil, its microbiome and general health. Mr Butterick reinforced the fact that the Ministry for Primary Industries has worked closely with organic farmers throughout the development of previous legislation, such as the Organic Products and Production Act 2023. It’s reported that the MPI will be on schedule for a March 31 2028 deadline, beyond which it will be illegal to label any product as organic if it does not comply with the rules. Now, with regulations in place and standards close to completion, it’s time for feedback from those on the front lines of organic production. If you are involved
Mike Butterick, Associate Minister of Agriculture
with organic produce farming, or in the rural sector in general, please take a look and have your say via the MPI portal at mpi.govt.nz/consultations. Search ‘proposed changes to New Zealand’s organic regulations’ to read the proposals and submit your thoughts, through until September 22.
MOO-VING INTO THE COOL ZONE, THANKS BIOX!
THE COOLING SPECIALISTS! biOx are specialists in indoor and outdoor cooling solutions across NZ. Our high pressure (HP) / low volume fogging systems cool the air significantly through flash evaporation, and without wetting your cows. Having been in business for the past 25 years, our solutions are tailored for the toughest of industrial settings, and NZ farmers. Easy to install, use and maintain, our systems last. Efficient water (garden hose) and power usage (single phase) makes this a great option for NZ farmers in our peak summer and shoulder months. Indoor fixed lines for cow sheds or feed pads, and outdoor cannons for open grazing, we have it covered. Look after your business, and what makes you money – make your cows comfortable and increase your milk solid. Looking for the extra edge? Call biOx on 0800 NODUST – and mention this ad.
AND
0800 NODUST I enquiries@bioxenvironmental.com I www.bioxenvironmental.com
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
23
Retirement & Beyond by Liz Clark
Put up in a day?
Recently, I moved from Kaipara down to North Otago, after selling up and moving to be closer to my adult children, with the idea of a smaller block of land and home. The idea was great, and still is. However, there’s that thing they call Murphy’s law when it comes to building a home. You might have seen the advertisements popping up on your social media feed full of wonderful visions of expandable homes you can put up in a day. Watch out for it — buyer beware. Being more aware of how buildings are put together, I weighed up the cost of a new home versus an expandable one. Down here in North Otago, the cost for every square metre is around $3,900, thus making a home from the ground up expensive and, in my case, out of reach. So I went for an expandable home, choosing a company that was well established and had good reviews. It also had actual premises and the ‘built in one day’ catchphrase was firmly put as four months or more. Be warned — everything has to be upgraded to be compliant with the New Zealand Building Code, and that’s just for the building. Allow at least an extra $20,000 for upgrades to meet the standards. Then add in the requirement
to now have interlinked smoke alarms as well — but wait, there’s more. Before the process even began, I had to engage a surveyor to ensure the house site would comply with the strict district plan rules for a rural/residential site just out of Ōamaru. That was the first stage. Next was the geotechnical engineer going on-site, taking soil samples and sending technical reports to the housing company. Following that was paying a structural engineer to design the house foundations and provide the data such as load-bearing capacity, materials and so on. Currently, we’re now in the process of having the wastewater and stormwater systems designed by an engineer. The next stage is the provision of a compliant driveway plan, architect’s drawings and detailed information on framing, insulation ratings and so on. We’ll keep readers posted on progress. Before you go ahead with the big idea, visit the Building Performance website and use the keyword search ‘granny flats exemption’.
The granny flat exemption doesn’t mean being built in a day
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Travel by coach to New Plymouth. Stay 3 nights at the central NOVOTEL Hobson. We enjoy two full days of garden visits, some only open to the general public during the festival. We choose a variety of different types of gardens which feature fabulous displays of colourful perennials, herbaceous borders and of course the Rhododendrons that the area is famous for. Time to visit Len Lye Gallery, the incredible Tawhiti Museum and travel home via the Forgotten Highway with lunch at the Whangamomona Hotel before overnight in Taupo overlooking the Lake. Visit the renowned Hamilton Gardens before returning to Auckland. Including all breakfasts and dinners, quality coach. Passengers from other areas fly direct into New Plymouth and return to Auckland where they fly home. We add the cost of flights onto the tour cost
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Contact Megan on 07 280 0798 or visit bupa.co.nz/stkilda for more information. Bupa St Kilda Retirement Village | 91 Alan Livingston Drive, Cambridge *Bupa’s standard application terms and conditions apply. The offer is available to all new prospective residents entering an application for an ORA for a villa or serviced apartment at Bupa St Kilda Retirement Village. Promotional period ends 4 December 2026 and full settlement must occur on or before 18 December 2026. For full terms and conditions visit bupa.co.nz/promotions. ^Price is for a licence to occupy under an Occupation Right Agreement.
24
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
WHEELS
Special kei by Andy Bryenton
The Honda Super-ONE is not designed for farm work, dramatically unsealed roads, heavy construction haulage or mud-soaked wilderness excursions.
The Honda Super-ONE aims to make urban driving both easy and enjoyable
See us for all your upholstery needs • All Vehicle Trimming • Tonneau/Truck/Crate Covers • Motorbike and Truck Seats • Boat Covers & Canopies • Carpet Binding • Corporate Refurbishments
• Shade Sails & Awnings • Vehicle Branding • Graphic Design • Heat Pressing • Ziptrak Outdoor Blind System
Custom made products are one of our specialties and we are often creating and fabricating products specifically to our client’s needs and to individual designs.
142 Broadway, Matamata Ph/Fax: 07 888 5484 • E: autotrimmers@xtra.co.nz
Why feature it here, in the rural heartland of New Zealand, then? That’s because it’s the embodiment of an automotive movement which is as much a Japanese work of art as the hot rod is a US one. First some facts about Honda’s very new, very small, very cool little EV hatchback. The Super-ONE (it’s spelt like that, half in capitals) is touted as an ultimate city car, with a tiny parking footprint, low centre of gravity, massive interior space for its tiny size, and even a boost button to make driving more fun. Sir Alec Issigonis had a similar recipe when he invented the Mini back in the age of Cool Britannia, but this car represents a new chapter in a very Japanese microcar tradition — the world of the kei car. Pronounced like the letter ‘k’, these little cars exploit a loophole in strict urban Japanese driving rules dictating the exact dimensions of a car you can drive in the urban jungle without owning a parking space. Seeing as parking spaces sell for nearly as much as apartments, and the figure would make your eyes water more than the finest freshly-made wasabi, the story goes that carmakers innovated down to size. The Honda Beat is a classic of the genre. It’s a miniature cartoon supercar with a mid-mounted three-cylinder motorcycle-
sized engine. If you think Toyota’s subtonne MR-2 Spyder is a bit large (it’s not), then the Beat is just right for you. Kei vans like the Suzuki Super Carry and kei trucks also exist; the latter really do work on Kiwi farms, fitted with off-road tyres. Now, the Honda Super-ONE is not a classic kei, in that it’s a bit bigger and packs an electric punch, with up to 70 kilowatts on tap. However, it’s an example of kei thinking applied to the hot hatch, another avenue of Japanese automotive thought which has led to some true icons. Chief among them, when you look at the cheeky, angular presence of the Super-ONE, is that 80s hero, the Honda City Turbo. The Super-ONE’s got the same geek chic and obsessively focussed charm of the City Turbo, packaged for a world 40 years more advanced. It’s got individuality. It’s got practicality, certainly, but like the old original Mini, it wraps it up in neon, bantamweight swagger. Kei is the future. In a cyberpunk way, it might always have been, at least for urban drivers vexed by congestion charges, tiny parking spaces and gridlock. Making urban driving fun is harder by far than making a V12 to burn down the Autobahn at 2am. Honda has managed it again. That’s worth noting — even if your daily is a massive ute.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU DRIVE, OUR EXPERT TECHNICIANS HAVE YOU COVERED.
FROM ROUTINE SERVICING AND REPAIRS THROUGH TO TYRES.
YOUR AUTHORISED LOCAL MITSUBISHI & NISSAN SERVICE CENTRE
07 886 5299
|
tokoroa@piako.co.nz
|
18 Campbell Street, Tokoroa 3420
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
FARM MACHINERY
by Andy Bryenton
25
Award winner lands in New Zealand
Winner of the prestigious Red Dot Design Award, the new Case IH Puma range of tractors hit New Zealand shores ready to pile into spring tasks on the farm, loaded with new technology. The Case IH Puma now comes in 155, 165 and 185-horsepower models, with a common wheelbase and a suite of precision technology features designed to allow integration with a wider suite of implements. Increasingly, mid-sized tractors are being asked to utilise more complex, power-intensive implements in the field, and this is a subsector where versatility is key. Cue the Case IH development team, which focussed on ease of operation as well as fuel efficiency and engine advancements to make the new crop of Puma tractors stand out. They hearkened back to the heritage of the badge name, which originally came from Case IH’s 1980s acquisition of the Steiger brand, and crafted a new generation exemplifying the multi-role legacy of the Puma. A 20 per cent tighter turning radius has been achieved, and the geometry of the front axle and suspension has been modified with a new saddle layout, giving the Puma stability at higher speeds for on-road transit between jobs. Case IH engineers have also overhauled the braking system for more responsiveness, and refined what was already a highlyregarded transmission system to allow for even more precise implement control, as well as a smooth ride. Even more attention was given to the cab — now an even nicer place to spend a day’s work.
“These new Puma models now offer all of the technology that previously only the higher horsepower models delivered,” said Seamus McCarthy, Case IH’s product and portfolio manager for their medium-sized tractors in Australia and New Zealand. “Now customers can benefit from exceptional comfort, operational efficiency and performance in a smaller wheelbase machine. These next-generation Puma machines have also been independently tested by DLG for fuel consumption, with results of 243g/kWhr showing best-inclass performance. “Combined with the efficiencies of the technology package and extended service intervals, the operational savings and lower cost of ownership are significant for customers.” Versatility, as we’ve mentioned, is the heart and soul of the appeal for a medium-sized tractor, and the Puma range has hit a sweet spot which makes this machine a valuable companion for livestock and vegetable crop farmers in equal measure. It’s also a Swiss Army Knife option to add to a contractor’s fleet. With a Red Dot Design Award already in the cabinet, the Puma 155, 165 and 185 are available now in New Zealand, and ready to make an impact this spring.
Manufacture / Repair of Hydraulic Rams Cylinder Honing Agricultural Power Steering Repairs CNC Machining Wheel Machining Site Work
Kiwi Made in New Zealand There is nothing we can’t do with a hydraulic ram!
12 Peregrine Place, Frankton, Hamilton 07 847 1514 | www.completehydraulics.co.nz |
Address: 43-47 Hunua Road, Papakura, Auckland 1 Dundas Road, Sanson, Manawatu Landline: 09 298 1519 Mobile: Josh 027 299 5697 | Ken 022 131 8375 | Jayson 027 240 0178 Email: sales@olsencommercial.co.nz
AUGER PACKAGES
DEMOLITON GRABS
CARRIER WEIGHT PRODUCT CODE
RETAIL PRICE
CARRIER WEIGHT PRODUCT CODE
RETAIL PRICE
1-1.9 TON
OAAR-01-R2000
$4,010 + GST
1-1.9 TON
OAHG-01
$2,585 + GST
2-2.9 TON
OAAR-02-R2500
$4,200 + GST
2-2.9 TON
OAHG-02
$4,631 + GST
3-3.9 TON
OAAR-03-R3500
$4,800 + GST
3-3.9 TON
OAHG-03
$4,675 + GST
4-5.9 TON
OAAR-05-R4500
$5,100 + GST
4-5.9 TON
OAHG-05
$4,807 + GST
6-9.9 TON
OAAR-08-R7000
$7,050 + GST
6-9.9 TON
OAHG-08
$4,983 + GST
10-14.9 TON
OAAR-12-R12000
$11,280 + GST
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26
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
For growth and protection
by Amy Fifita
As the general election looms, DairyNZ is asking political parties to take action by committing to six policy priorities that promise growth for the sector.
With the dairy sector leading the way with $28.6 billion in revenue produced each year and producing about 51,800 jobs, DairyNZ is requesting parties focus on six priorities. “If New Zealand wants stronger economic growth, it needs policies that support the industries delivering it,” said DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown. The prac tic al and evidence based priorities intend to encourage investment and suppor t ongoing environmental development and continue NZ’s competitive edge in dairy. Resource management and freshwater, biosecurity, workforce capability, science and innovation, rural infrastructure, animal welfare and lowWRH filler ads Waikato Farming Lifestyles (100mm high x 63mm wide).indd 14/07/2026 1 1:01:25 pm emissions technology are the topics in question. “The election presents a critical opportunity for political parties to match their economic growth ambitions with is trusted as a news policies that give farmers the confidence source by only to invest.” No matter who wins, DairyNZ will work alongside any government for farmers to get favourable outcomes. Brown says farmers need clear, practical rules for resource management and freshwater systems, so they can invest in the environment and their businesses.
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“When farmers have confidence in the policy environment, they’re more willing to invest in new technology, improve environmental performance and build resilient businesses. A lack of certainty on policy settings means investment decisions become harder, slowing the pace of innovation and growth.” Brown said DairyNZ’s priorities focus on creating the conditions for farmers to continue improving while delivering benefits well beyond the farm gate. “Dairy farmers have consistently shown they ’re willing to invest i n p ro d u c t i v i t y, e nv i ro n m e n t a l i mp rove m e n t s a n d i n n ov at i o n . Moreover, continued investment depends on policy settings that are practical, predictable and grounded in evidence.” As a whole, the organisation is asking that the next government get resource management and freshwater systems right, build and fund a strong biosecurity system, and strengthen the dairy workforce. It is also asking for a boost in science funding and to accelerate technology uptake, promote lowemissions technology, rural infrastructure investment, and back strong animal welfare rules.
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown is advocating for the dairy farmers by appealing to political parties to focus on six particular policies
“Backing dairy isn’t just about supporting farmers. It’s about strengthening regional communities, growing export earnings and helping New Zealand build a more productive economy.”
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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES August 2026
DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
27
All in the plan by Amy Fifita
With the peak of calving season at our doorstep, Findex Accounting and Business Advisory partner Rachel Fraser offers advice on making this busy time easier to manage. A rural woman herself, Rachel spent her childhood on her family farm and knows the struggle that calving season can bring. “Thankfully I didn’t do the early morning; they were a killer, but even the late-night shift was tough,” Rachel said. “Sleep deprivation, a million things going on at the same time, ridiculously long days in pouring, freezing rain, sick animals, hungry calves, and what seemed like an endless series of stuff-ups.” With lived experience, Rachel is familiar with the early morning births, muddy paddocks, difficult calving, and all that goes with farming. Now in a position to advise farmers on how to make things run smoother, she says it is all in the plan. “The single habit that makes the biggest difference is the planning itself. For dairy farmers especially, the stretch from mid-July through to the end of September can feel like the universe has declared open season on rest. “That doesn’t just hit in the cowshed, but across all the many tasks facing every farmer. Start with the admin. Tax bills, employee obligations, health and safety briefings. Get these sorted before the calves start arriving in earnest.
Rachel Fraser is a partner for Findex Accounting and Business Advisory and, with a farming background, empathises with farmers this calving season
“Budgeting is important, including rostering that takes care of staffing, with leeway for inevitable sickness, and ensuring adequate time off for staff and
yourself. Be scrupulous about the hours your staff expect and how much they put in. “If those hours add up to more than contracted, stay on top of payments. Don’t average it out across the season. Budget in flexibility because, as every farmer knows, even the best plans are up for change at the last minute. There are all manner of life issues that crop up, so expect the unexpected.” Calving season is one of the most laborious times of year, and as important as it is to get the calves out safely, planning ahead for breaks and food preparation can ease farmers through. “Keep snacks handy, and of course, especially for those early mornings, plenty of coffee. Share with your staff and contractors, too. A bickie and a cuppa at the right time are good for morale. “A weekend away is pure gold if you can swing it, but make sure to leave a mini crisis plan so the person left in charge isn’t ringing you at midnight. If that’s too ambitious, just get off the farm for a couple of hours. Watch the kids’ sports, take a walk on the beach, go to your local or even play a board game.”
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28
August 2026
WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES
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