Waikato Farming Lifestyles, December 2025

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December 2025 edition

• Domestic • Alterations • Maintenance • Commercial

• Industrial • Solar Systems • Heat Pumps • 24 Hour Service

Rock n roll from the gravel roads Pages 4–5

Women shearers step up for records

P6

Regional governance restructure proposed

Balancing the scales of water

P8

P18

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Rural leading the way

by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country

THE WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY RURAL MATTERS LTD, A PRIVATELY OWNED NZ COMPANY. Phone: 0800 466 793

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New Zealand is on the path to recovery. Yes, it’s taking time and a fair bit of energy, but it is gaining momentum — tourism is growing, interest rates are dropping, and consumer and business confidence are at their highest levels in years.

Editor: Andy Bryenton Journalists: Amy Fifita | Andy Bryenton Advertising: Donna Eves 027 525 8223 Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Marnie Fuller | Daniel Foster | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@rml.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts

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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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Still, it is rural New Zealand that remains the beating heart of the nation’s economy; the backbone supporting New Zealand’s prosperity.

Dairy, meat and horticulture exports continue to generate billions in revenue, underpinning the standard of living for millions of Kiwis. These sectors not only fuel export earnings but also create vital employment opportunities and sustain regional towns.

In recent years, innovation has flourished on rural land. The integration of new technologies, precision agriculture, robotics and data-driven management, as well as political support, has allowed farmers and growers to extract more value from every hectare. Rural New Zealand has demonstrated resilience in the face of global disruptions, weathering challenges, such as the Trump tariffs and shifting international demand with remarkable adaptability.

However, rural New Zealand cannot afford complacency. Despite

Barbara Kuriger MP for Taranaki-King Country Backing Rural and Provincial New Zealand 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.

strong economic contributions, rural communities continue to grapple with falling populations, underinvestment in infrastructure, and rural-urban disparity in services such as healthcare, education and digital connectivity.

As we all know, the path to addressing a problem starts with first realising and accepting there is a problem, and I am proud to be part of a government that does just that.

There is still more to be done, of course. If New Zealand is to thrive, it must champion its rural heart — not only as a source of export dollars, but as a home to the people, innovation and traditions that define us. The work isn’t done, but the promise of rural New Zealand remains powerful and essential.

So that’s it, my final column for the year. My husband Louis and I, and my entire electorate team, wish you and yours a joyful and heartwarming Christmas.

Here’s to good health, happy memories and a wonderful new year ahead.

Merry Christmas!

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Plastic revolution on farms

December 2025

by Andy Bryenton

While the debate surrounding carbon credits, methane measurements and other environmental issues continues in the rural sector, there’s a broad consensus on one ecological measure that’s fundamental.

Recycling plastics used on farms is not a new concept, and it’s been supported by schemes such as Agrecovery and Plasback. Some have been in place and developing in tandem with farmers’ needs for two decades.

Now, these two initiatives will be rolled into one, forming the basis for a single, unified nationwide plastic recycling scheme on farms. Parliamentarian Penny Simmonds, speaking at the announcement of the new programme, said that this industry-led push for recycling will be free to use, simple and accessible.

“This initiative is about fixing the basics while building the future with practical solutions that protect the environment, support our farmers and ensure a productive, sustainable primary sector,” Ms Simmonds said.

The key to implementing a nationwide rural plastics recovery scheme is a new set of regulations covering agrichemical containers and farm plastics.

“We consulted on these regulations earlier this year and received strong support from the rural sector. Farmers and growers have been working towards this for a long time. Today, we’ve made it happen.

“Plastic products are essential to New Zealand’s world-leading agri-economy, but rural communities know that waste like

containers, plastic bags and bale wrap can pile up.”

The new scheme, announced in the first week of December, will share the responsibility for recovery and recycling between sellers, producers and end-users of farming products that use plastic for packaging. It won’t just benefit farmers.

Forestry, manufacturing, hospitality, tourism and local authorities will also have access to national take-back services, making safe disposal easier for all New Zealanders.

“Key industry stakeholders support the scheme because it offers a better alternative to burning or burying plastics, reducing environmental risk and supporting cleaner, safer rural communities.”

Nadine Tunley, CEO of Horticulture New Zealand, and DairyNZ general manager David Burger both expressed support for the initiative.

“It is a simple and efficient way for growers to optimise environmentally positive growing practices,” said Ms Tunley.

“New Zealand dairy farmers are committed to reducing their environmental footprint, including minimising plastic waste. The green farms product stewardship scheme offers a solution to enable our farmers to progress further along this journey,” said Dr Burger.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

ROCK N ROLL

FROM THE GRAVEL ROADS

PART TWO

BY AMY FIFITA

S

This month, we revisit Merv Pinny and his life of music and agriculture, following the release of his album, Hard Road, on November 28.

tarting his music career with his brothers in rural Waikato, they would have to balance their farm chores with gigs.

“Playing with my brothers was terrific.

There were drawbacks, because my father seemed to time haymaking when we had a gig, and we weren’t allowed to go until completion,” said Merv.

“Richard would milk, and I would pick up the hay, and sometimes, I’d have to do it alone so that we could do the gig. It was like a mad rush.”

Starting a cover band called Jailbreak with his brother George, they played AC/ DC, Angel and other heavy rock covers.

The band would play on a circuit, and was the resident band for the Hillcrest Tavern.

“I started writing songs once we got on the circuit band, and we started playing my songs at the gigs. We were such a busy band because we were playing six nights a week, and I was still milking the cows — so it was tough.

“The next day, we’d be doing that again, and it was hard-out like that for two or three years. I loved playing so much that I just wanted to do it.”

Already committed to dairy farming and music, Merv put his all into both passions.

After leaving school, Merv worked on a dairy farm before becoming a welder at an engineering shop, while continuing to play in bands.

“I even worked in a dairy company for a while before getting my own herd. You have

Since Merv Pinny released his recent album, Hard Road, it has gained international acclaim climbing the radio charts on college campuses in the US and Brazil

to be careful with owning a farm and being musical, because you can get a bit tied up with playing music and not working as much

as you should on the farm. Then everything on the farm gets rushed, so you can get carried away if you’re writing songs.”

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Merv says his favourite song on his Hard Road album is Bang Bang, a humorous song inspired by being told ‘you can go to hell’ and his curiosity about what would happen if he did

Merv recorded his first song after attending a music conference in Auckland.

Catapulting his career to a new high, it was the first of many wins for his lifetime of music-making.

“I wrote a song called Lonely Woman and recorded it in Auckland. I attended a music conference, and the artists were saying that they never play their music or even listen to it.

“The host said if we returned tomorrow, he’d listen to our songs, and I was the only one who turned up. He loved it and played it on the radio. That led to me recording my first album, Destiny, in Auckland at the Airforce Digital Recording Studios, where I got introduced to Mike Farrell, who ended up producing it.

“I had a little studio, and it surprised Mike that I played all the instruments

and the song had already been formed.

We had some of the best musos on that album — Mike, Pat Kuhtze, Peter Morgan, Max Hohepa, Karl Benton, Ben Gilgen and Bianco Walter.”

With a good start in the industry, Merv continued to farm in Waikato and produce music. It wasn’t until a motorcycle accident left him unable to walk again that he decided to move to Northland with hopes of financially and physically recovering.

“That crash changed everything.

Heading north gave me a new experience.

It felt good, I was creating a new start to rebuild, and I loved it in Dargaville.

“I bought a farm next to Glinks Gully.

It was a converted dairy farm. I could afford to be in Northland, and I was still doing my music, songwriting and had a recording studio.”

Merv began writing songs when he was in a circuit band in Waikato

After buying a farm in Glinks Gully, Merv made farming ventures in Mangakahia Valley on his 3,000-acre Ngatitara farm before buying a farm in Kerikeri. Eventually retiring from farming in 2016, Merv moved onto a lifestyle block closer to town and began fully focussing on music.

“I love to play live, but for me, it has always been about writing the songs.

My favourite song on Hard Road is Bang Bang. One of my old girlfriends would say, ‘I wish you were dead, you can go to hell’, when she was angry with me. I wondered what it would be like if I went to hell, so I wrote it in with a sense of humour.

“Rise On Up is about never giving up on what you believe and being able to conquer issues. If you really believe it — it’s possible. Never give up on the dream or what you believe in, because if you don’t believe it, no one else will.”

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

WOMEN SHEARERS

STEP UP FOR RECORDS In a long-past world in the nation’s shearing sheds the ladies were renowned for woolhandling with flair, but in the recent upsurge in shearing sports, the fairer sex has continued to make inroads and proven to be a match for the hard work with clippers on the Shearing Sports New Zealand competition boards, as well as the workplace venues across the country.

“T

wo world shearing record attempts are set to be shorn in New Zealand next month, both in the heat of an inland Otago summer with the first a four-stand women’s eighthour strongwool lambs record attempt on January 20,” says SSNZ spokesman, Doug Laing.

“The World Sheep Shearing Records Society currently recognises records in 45 eight and nine-hour categories, on strongwool or merino lambs, ewes and wethers, but there is none yet for the women’s four-stand eight-hours lambs category.”

The second attempt is a bid for the three-stand men’s strongwool lambs record for eight hours on January 31.

Those women out to get their names into the books will be Pagan Rimene, who in 2019 won the first women’s shearing final at the New Zealand Shears in Te Kūiti, three months before winning a world teams woolhandling title in France. The 2013 New Zealand Merino championships senior shearing final winner Te Atakura Crawford, along with grandmum Rose Lewis, and late addition Ariana Te Whata will also be on board.

“They all come from huge whānau histories in the woolshed, with both Rimene and Lewis being daughters of former record holders,” said Laing.

“In the men’s attempt Shane Ratima, Paerata Abraham and Leon Samuels have

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Whanganui shearer Simon Goss has a nine-hours’ challenge in store

They have come into at least 15 successful women’s record attempts since 2020 in New Zealand, Australia and England, starting with a four-stand strongwool tally of 2066 in eight hours in the Central North Island in January 2020.

Megan Whitehead topped the tallies with 608, followed by Sarah Higgins with 528, Natalya Rangiawha with 507 and Amy Silcock, with 423.

In December 2023, Whitehead set a solo eight-hours’ record of 686 during a two-stand record of 1,283 with cousin Hannah McColl (597). Whitehead’s record beat a tally of 601 set by Sacha Bond in February that year, and the pair beat a two-stand record held for 14 years by mother and daughter, Marg and Ingrid Baynes.

However, a nine-hour lambs’ record of 661 shorn by Whitehead in 2021,

was broken when Bond sheared 720 in December 2023.

Catherine Mullooly set an eight-hour ewes’ record of 465 in January 2024, breaking a record of 386 set by Amy Silcock three days earlier. A record of 370 was shorn by Marie Prebble, in England, in August 2022.

In August 2024, Scottish shearer Una Cameron sheared a nine-hours’ record of 517, in England. The three others were each set on merino sheep in Australia, where Nicki Guttler sheared 450 lambs in eight hours in December 2024, beating a mark of 395 shorn by Nikki Lyons the previous month.

Lexi Phillips sheared 367 ewes in eight hours in February this year, breaking a record of 358 set by Jeanine Kimm in Australia in May 2024, and Nikki Lyons established a nine hours’ record of 502 lambs in October.

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Pagan Rimene, pictured in 2019 winning the New Zealand Shears women’s final in Te Kūiti, three months before winning the world teams woolhandling title in France

Adding to the record attempts, one of the toughest of all is to be targeted by Whanganui shearer Simon Goss next month. The brother of former Black Ferns rugby captain Sarah Hirini, Goss, who turns 29 at the end of this month, will tackle the solo nine-hour strong wool ewes record of 731 set by New Zealander Matt Smith on the farm he runs in Cornwall, England, on July 26 2016. Goss will stake his claim at Te Pa Station, Waimarino, on January 5, In the competition world, all eyes are on the World Championships Gold Shears, in Masterton, in March 2026. This summer will see attempts to carve names into shearing legend and opening the way to a sports arena that now has world-wide opportunities. The worlds will feature all sectors of the wool industry, including woolhandling contests.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Regional governance restructure proposed

by Andy Bryenton

In a series of reform proposals touted as ‘simpler more cost-effective local government’, parliamentarians Chris Bishop and Simon Watts announced the possible end of the regional council system as we know it, last week.

The coalition government released information about proposals that could potentially see local mayors take over regional council powers and responsibilities.

“Councils and their elected members shape the places we live, the local services we rely on, and make decisions that affect our everyday lives,” said Mr Bishop. He noted the reforms, if adopted, would be the biggest change to civic governance since 1989.

“Local government is meant to serve communities, not confuse them. However, right now, the system is tangled in duplication, disagreements and decisions that defy common sense. The government does not think local government is serving New Zealanders well, and the time has come for reform.”

Core to the proposed changes appears to be the RMA reform package, set to be introduced to parliament before Christmas. With fewer plans, consenting categories and consents overall, regional councils will have less to take care of, meaning the abolition of regional councillors is an idea Mr Bishop and Mr Watts are ready to discuss.

Elected regional councils would be replaced by a Combined Territories Board under the new proposals; a coalition of mayors empowered to work together for

their wider region. Voting in such a system is the key to how this might work.

Population-based voting was mentioned by the ministers, which in rural regions could give added weight to the authority of the mayor of the largest local municipality. Voting based on land area would conversely favour rural districts with their large area but small population base. It’s a consideration that has large implications for local democracy and the representation of small towns.

“By removing regional councils, we can cut duplication, reduce costs and streamline decision-making,” Bishop said.

Part of that duplication, that has provoked extensive debate, is the dualtier rating system currently prevailing for many citizens, who pay district and regional council rates on the same bill. Will these be amalgamated, and will the efficiencies Chris Bishop and Simon Watts speak of equate to a rates reduction? There’s also the matter of assets held by regional councils; a prime example comes from Northland, where the regional council has a major stake in the largest deep-water port; now touted as a possible replacement for Auckland’s docks.

Similar assets of strategic significance could be ceded to civic councils — a major windfall. They could become Council Controlled Organisations, with

Prime minister Chris Luxon’s coalition has proposed council reforms, sending shockwaves through local governance

the potential for private partnerships.

Alternatively, they could be sold off to privatisers. A scenario already hinted at by those who oppose the

scrapping of regional councils, as this would potentially provide no dividend to the ratepayers who have built up those assets.

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SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT LOCAL Defiant in the dry

by Liz Clark

As summer moves in, gardens around the country will feel its bite; when water is at a premium, many gardeners will turn to droughtresilient plants as an alternative.

New Zealand natives have become the first-choice option amongst gardeners.

Chosen for their attractive form and colour, many species are available at local nurseries. Try out the attractive pohutukawa either as a shelterbelt or as a stand-alone specimen tree. Its deep crimson blooms in early summer provide a burst of colour and provide food for native birds, bees and butterflies.

Coprosma Cappuccino, with its compact growth and deep chocolate colouring, is another popular choice for containers and dry garden areas. Also try out low-growing flaxes, which come in a variety of colours and forms. These plants are especially resilient, requiring little maintenance other than the occasional fertiliser and small amount of watering to retain colour and vigour.

Astelia Silver Spear is another stronggrowing plant that can tolerate long dry periods. Growing to a height of 1.5 metres, it also provides a standout architectural focal point for fences and walls. Also consider Akeake, Carex, Griselinia, Knightia, Poor Knights Lily, Olearia and many more.

Members of the Salvia family, from the Mediterranean and drier climates of the Americas, are another alternative for gardeners. For a dash of spice try out Embers Wish, a clump-forming plant with bright red flowers and deep green leaves, and Red Velvet. Other perennials include Achillea, Dianthus, Gazania and Lavender.

Other plants that love the dry include proteas, waratahs, leucadendrons and many more. The most important thing of all is to give your plants a good start by planting in autumn. Lay down a deep layer of mulch after planting.

It will conserve moisture during the dry months.

Lavender is a reliable drought-proof plant that feeds the bees as well

In the perennial range, flower power comes to the fore. Echinacea is a hardy flowering plant available in a range of colours. It provides colour and food for the bees during the hotter months of summer. It also makes an excellent cut flower for the vase. Try out Echinacea Purple Coneflower with its rich, carmine-red eight-centimetre or more blooms, it flowers in late summer well into autumn.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT LOCAL Support builds communities

by Andy Bryenton

Statistics from a survey of small-town US retailers are borne out by personal experience when it comes to the support local businesses show for their communities.

A recent study conducted across several US states aimed to illustrate how ‘mum and dad’ retailers and tradespeople outperform big corporate chains when it comes to acts of charitable giving. What

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was discovered, however, is that there’s not just a small difference in this field. Locally owned companies on average commit 250% more to causes in their areas, and it doesn’t stop with payments of cash.

The finding of the study, conducted

by UCLA at Berkley, found that people employed by, or owning small businesses are the most likely to be volunteers for those same causes they donate too.

Sports coaches, volunteer firefighters, lifeguards, youth mentors and carers for the elderly, all come from the ranks of small local businesses.

While a study in the same depth has not been compiled in New Zealand, there’s a wealth of evidence that the main streets of regional towns are much the same when it comes to generosity.

Take the nation’s volunteer firefighters for example; a cadre of dedicated men and women who have to leave work when the siren sounds, and who must therefore have the full support of their employers, if they aren’t business owners themselves, giving up profit to save lives.

It dates back to the first firefighters who suited up to protect Kiwi towns more than

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Local businesses overwhelmingly support local emergency services such as volunteer firefighters — they also fund clubs, teams, charities, food banks and youth groups

a century ago. They, like their present-day counterparts, had to make their apologies to employers and foremen when the siren called, and all acknowledged that it was a very worthwhile thing to do. That survey we mentioned earlier proved that this spirit is alive and well among US small business owners; 42 per cent regularly give to their local first responders. Here, the figure may be even higher.

Added to the vital role of the fire brigade are other volunteers who can

help save lives thanks to the generosity of townsfolk. The ambulance service and surf lifesavers, for example, are largely made up of citizens who want to give back. They are backed up by donations from the business community, many of which go unseen and humbly unheralded.

That’s all worth thinking about next time you go shopping. Supporting your local retailers and tradespeople doesn’t just grow the economy — it also helps to build safer, more caring communities.

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

December 2025

11

SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT LOCAL Joy in vulnerable places

by Amy Fifita

Yes, Christmas is a time of gift-giving to our loved ones, but what about our local charities, which work hard to bring joy to people in need during this holiday season?

In 2023, 24.6% of people fell into the lowest decile quintile according to Infometrics, affecting 122,880 individuals. The average decile rating, with one being the most privileged throughout Waikato, was six.

So, next time you visit the neighbourhood store and see an appeal or find a local Christmas Shoebox or an alternative seeking support, think about the people you could impact.

Children who have been lifted up by their community in tough times will feel more connected, and more inclined to become engaged with those communities as they grow up. You could see Christmas kindness as planting seeds.

Christmas in a Shoebox, The Kindness Collective, Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal, the list goes on. For some, Christmas is easy. For others, it’s lonely, and for families on a tight budget, it can be a challenge.

Fortunately, many organisations want to give back, and to do that, they require donations or funds to make Christmas a joyous occasion for sick or vulnerable

people. Sometimes, it’s ensuring children at Starship Hospital are reunited with their families at home; other times, it’s about ensuring children aren’t left off of Santa’s list because of their socioeconomic status.

Other local causes to keep in mind are places like the Women’s Refuge. Often leaving in a rush, sometimes with just the clothes on their back, women, mothers and children spending Christmas away from what they used to call home. Toys, clothes, food and basics would go a long way for families starting anew.

Maybe, you’d prefer to be more personal? There is nothing stopping people from purchasing items at local stores and bringing presents to a senior person or child down the road or in the church. Sometimes, you don’t need a charity organisation to make a difference.

Some people can find Christmas a hard time, for whatever reason. It could be that they miss a loved one, or have a bad memory from a previous Christmas.

Supporting local this Christmas, could be taking them out to spend time at a local restaurant.

A simple act of giving can bring joy to families less fortunate this Christmas

So be merry, spread joy to all, as is the normal Christmas spirit and

remember that joy, peace and love is a gift for everyone.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Who are you going to call?

Space plumber’s record call-out

by Andy Bryenton

Allowing astronauts aboard the international space station to ‘boldly go where no one has gone before’ was the mission for the most high-flying plumber of all time, Canadian professional Robert Thirsk.

The call went out in 2009 when the space station was hosting its biggest crowd ever. The Russian-built toilet facilities of the station, known as the Waste Hygiene Compartment or WHC, failed at the

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worst possible time when crew members were busy installing new experimental equipment outside. Thirteen people needed that facility operational, fast.

The difficulties of using the bathroom in zero gravity will be apparent to anyone who gives the problem a little thought.

That’s why the WHC is not only one of the most complicated toilets in existence, but also one of the most expensive, at US$19 million. When an internal pump went wrong, astronauts were forced to use the even less convenient ‘convenience’ aboard the space shuttle Endeavour, which was docked to the station at the time.

Enter Dr Robert Thirsk, an engineer and physician who was and still is one of the leading authorities in zero-gravity medicine. He was just the right man for the job, with his engineering background setting him up perfectly for the role of high-tech space plumber. To get to the toilet in question, he’d had to travel from his native Canada to be launched in a Russian Soyuz space pod 400 kilometres into space. That represents the longest call-out for a plumber to get to the problem he needs to fix.

Canadian astronaut Dr Bob Thirsk became the world’s most long-distance plumber in 2009 when he was called upon to fix the bathroom aboard the international space station

Thankfully, Thirsk was on hand, and the tools needed to repair the pump could be sourced. He got to work and managed to repair humanity’s most isolated commode on the exact anniversary of the Apollo moon landings, a cause for celebration among astronauts.

“Copy, the WHC is go for nominal ops,” reported Thirsk to mission control, after a test flush.

With those words, the man who is perhaps the most overqualified plumber in history took the out-of-order sign off the door and returned to his other duties, centred on a detailed study of human physiology during spaceflight. There’s no word as to whether those studies included the effects of using a toilet which is travelling in orbit at a staggering 28,000 km/h, but we’re certain that his skills came as a great relief to his 12 crewmates.

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December 2025

Who are you going to call?

13

Just a phone call away

by Amy Fifita

It wasn’t that long ago that New Zealand was hit with a La Niña summer, and with the same weather pattern expected as that of 2023, it pays to be prepared.

While Cyclone Gabrielle is far behind us, it was a weather event that won’t be forgotten quickly. Paddocks flooded, roads blocked from water or fallen trees, power cut for days and families needing shelter, food and general care — the product of a so-called La Niña summer.

Data suggests that for the 2025–26 season, it is 65–70% likely for La Niña to develop, and one to two cyclones could be expected for the North Island. Some might miss, some might blow out to mere rainstorms, but nature is capricious. So, what numbers should you keep in your phone in case of an emergency?

Aside from the numbers we know off by heart, having contacts like your regional council (0800 800 401), and your district council in your phone is valuable. Take a look at waikatocivildefence.govt.nz too; there’s a lot of important information there to help you plan ahead.

The Rural Support Trust can offer support as well. The strong connection the trust has to regional Civil Defence and Rural Advisory Groups empowers the team to provide practical and financial

Having a spare landline handy may be beneficial if any mobile phone towers are affected. With your phone ready with the right people to call, you will be prepared for anything.

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support in an adverse event and for its effects.

Once linked with RST, a facilitator can come out and assess what support is needed. The organisation also offers many other services to support the rural community, including for health and wellbeing, biosecurity, employee and employer matters and animal welfare — Rural Support Trust — 0800 787 254.

Earth Sciences New Zealand, formerly NIWA, is another useful number to have in your phone contacts. Keep

track of expected weather and climate phenomena, and other environmental challenges affecting our atmosphere, coasts, freshwater and more — Earth Sciences — NZ 0800 RING NIWA. Another contact that often passes people by is the local marae. Marae often stand as evacuation centres for people needing basic shelter, food and assistance. Knowing where to go when you need to vacate your home will ensure your family are safe and cared for if trouble does strike. Do a quick Google search and save the contact.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Who are you going to call?

Avoiding the new build blues

by Liz Clark

The architectural plans are done, a builder is engaged, and then the bank hits with a bombshell that the mortgage will be available only as progress payments, or your builder goes under.

It’s something to always be prepared for when obtaining a mortgage for a new build from the ground up. Your bank must be reassured that its investment in a new home is secure. While it sounds tedious

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and frustrating, the process can be easier if you are clear about your plans with your mortgage adviser from the start.

It’s also important to note that in recent times, the news media have been full of the disastrous collapse of building companies nationwide and clients being left high and dry with either incomplete builds or none at all.

Many have been stuck with large mortgages and still have to pay them regardless. That’s something everyone wants to avoid when proceeding with new construction.

Choosing a builder can be made easier by asking for local recommendations, especially if you are new in the community you’ve chosen to live in. All builders are required to be licensed building practitioners under rules introduced several years ago.

They cannot proceed with construction unless they have that licence.

Never take your potential contractor’s word for it. Always check on the Licensed Building Practitioners website at www. lbp.govt.nz/for-homeowners/find-an-lbp.

The same applies to any subcontractors your builder may engage for work such as plumbing and electrical, which requires certification by a registered electrician.

Your builder and their subcontractors should all have public liability insurance — your bank will require verification of this and a copy of the building contract, especially if it is a fixed-price one.

At each stage of the building process, your bank will only release funds once each part of the project has been certified as completed by a registered valuer. Your budget should include this to cover all the inspections the valuer will make at each completed stage of the project. They will then furnish your mortgage lender with a report confirming completion. If your builder

asks for more funds for your build, then you should ask why. Fixed-price contracts are legally binding on the builder and client — any extra costs should be questioned.

Once the house is complete and the council inspector has done the final certification, if there are concerns, engage an independent building inspector to ensure your new home meets the required specifications. There is usually a grace period of two weeks for due diligence on your new home after moving in before the final settlement is made with your construction professional.

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

December 2025

Who are you going to call?

Hilux debuts evolution number nine

by Andy Bryenton

When farmers and tradies worldwide call on a ute for a hard day’s work, they’ve had a popular go-to choice since 1968.

The Toyota Hilux has developed more than a reputation across eight big iterations of the brand; it’s developed a personality. It may not always have been the best-selling ute in New Zealand, with contenders vying for the crown in a competitive market, but there are still plenty of examples on the road, which prove the popularity and durability of Toyota’s legendary workhorse.

A new Hilux has been in the works for four years, and anticipation runs high as the ninth evolution of the flagship Toyota ute gets ready to roll out. Whispers began in October and culminated in a big reveal in November, which surprised the world with the announcement of a batteryelectric Hilux — the first of its kind. This will sit beside a whopping 12 diesel and hybrid diesel options, all centred around the 1GD-FTV 2.8-litre turbo-diesel engine, delivering more usable torque at lower rpm. A hydrogen fuel cell variant is also said to be on its way.

Drivers will of course have the choice of two-wheel and four-wheel drive, three cab size options, and a wellside deck or the option to go flat or custom.

“For generations, Kiwis have trusted Hilux to deliver strength, reliability and near-

unbreakable performance through the toughest conditions this country can throw at it,” said Toyota New Zealand chief executive officer, Tatsuya Ishikawa on launch day. ”The new-generation proudly carries that legacy forward as we approach a milestone — 50 years of Hilux in New Zealand in 2026. This evolution is more than a celebration of heritage. It’s a statement of Toyota’s vision for the future, with a multi-pathway approach that includes a BEV and a hydrogen fuel cell Hilux variant scheduled for 2028.”

With plenty of the ‘indestructible’ Hilux utes of the 1980s, and plenty more of the ubiquitous Kiwi beachside Hilux Surf still out on the roads, there’s a benchmark for styling Toyota did not want to stray too far away from. Their radical designs for cars like the Supra and the CH-R have been dropped for the wildly-named, but factually quite reserved, ‘cyber sumo’ (their words) aesthetics of Hilux number nine.

That means a big, solid stance, boldly flared guards, slimline headlights and a hexmesh grille that’s a shout-back to 1980s design cues, brought into the modern era.

All in all it’s handsome yet a bit classically conservative; just how a lot of Kiwi blokes would like to think of themselves.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Who are you going to call?

Rates rise cap floated

by Andy Bryenton

The coalition government has proposed another hard-hitting change to local government this week; a rates rise cap, which has met with a mixed response.

“The bottom line is that councils need to be focussed on the must-do, not the niceto-do stuff,” said prime minister Christopher Luxon last week. “You can’t have inflation at three per cent and rates going up, up over 12 per cent. That’s just not acceptable.”

The nation’s lowest rates rises for 2025 sat at just over eight per cent, with many exceeding double digits, fuelled in part by the need to prepare for Local Waters Done Well. This would still be more than double the amount MP Simon Watts says could be the upper limit of the cap.

“Analysis suggests a target range of two to four per cent per capita, per year. This means rates increases would be limited to a maximum of four per cent,” Watts said.

“A minimum increase is necessary, so councils can continue to provide essential services like rubbish collection, council roads maintenance and the management of parks and libraries.”

The cap will apply to all sources of rates; general rates, targeted rates and uniform annual charges. However, it will exclude water charges and other non-rates revenue like fees and charges. Opponents of the scheme

Which services will be cut if rates rises are capped to four per cent, ask opponents of a new proposal suggested by prime minister Christopher Luxon

have pointed out that this could mean that user-pays fees and charges are on the way, or on the way up, for using amenities like boat ramps, sports fields, libraries and pools.

There’s also been a response from civic councils around the country saying that such a cap ignores the prime drivers of rising council costs. These are inflation, which heavily impacts the number one council expenses, roading and infrastructure maintenance, and regulatory changes imposed by the same government now proposing the rates cap scheme.

Tariff drop welcomed

by Andy Bryenton

The Minister for Trade and Investment and the Minister for Agriculture are, by coincidence, the same person in New Zealand, meaning that Todd McClay was in the perfect position to respond to a US tariff drop on key agricultural products.

The sudden imposition and repeal of tariffs by the Trump administration has been both baffling and challenging for global markets, including the domestic one in the US. Recent tariff rollbacks come as the public there expresses consternation about higher grocery prices, the inevitable consequence of commercial interests passing on costs to the consumer. The fact that this was predicted by some and denied by others in the fraught US political commentary sphere added to confusion.

It’s good news for New Zealand, though, with 25 per cent of Kiwi exports going to the US, a major trading partner worth $2.21 billion each year. Beef and kiwifruit, two of New Zealand’s cornerstone products, are now free of reciprocal tariffs, which were detrimental to trade.

“The US remains an important trade partner for New Zealand, and the decision to lift these tariffs is a step in the right direction, and will

Tariffs of up to 15 per cent had been levelled against New Zealand for no clear reason by the US administration; now, they are gone, freeing up trade

be welcomed by exporters who have faced months of uncertainty and higher costs,” Mr McClay said.

“Returning to the pre-reciprocal tariff access we had before April provides some much-needed stability for our farmers and processors. We estimate this is a saving of around $330 million in additional tariff duty.”

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

December 2025

WATER MATTERS

17

Machine learning for reticulation

by Andy Bryenton

They say electricity and water don’t mix, but AI learning, new data-harvesting tools and a smarter approach to water resources combine to offer new ways to maximise farming’s biggest liquid asset.

The cutting edge of water saving has been made possible by information technology, building a map of the entire farm and monitoring both internal and external factors to provide targeted irrigation, controlled entirely remotely. Learning-model AI works on swathes of data, and the more information you put in, the more this ‘thinking code’ can notice patterns and make predictions.

From monitoring levels in ponds, dams and tanks, through to probes in the soil or at the base of orchard trees amid the roots, a very detailed map can be built up of the underlying strata beneath the ground and the storage capacity above it.

Modern reticulated irrigation and livestock trough water management systems can crunch the numbers on soil health, weather patterns and biological needs to send the H2O where it needs to go.

Between knowing how much water is available and how much is needed in various areas, which can change according to topography, isolated rainfall, exposure to sun and wind, or even the type of grasses making up pasture content, it’s possible to work out exactly the best place to deploy those liquid

resources. Overseas, where the areas of land in cultivation tend to be larger for each property, we’ve even seen the deployment of drones to scan arable fields and report back using infra-red to gauge hydration, adding another level to the data set.

Weather monitoring sub-programs can spot incoming rain and, conversely, forthcoming hot spells; this sits above drones at the level of satellites. All this information can be plumbed into an AI analysis, making it possible for the farmer to call up a map of the entire area in cultivation or pasture and see machine learning managing water assets in real time.

It becomes even more interesting when the question of effluent is put into the mix.

Ponds can be monitored in terms not just of volume, but of pond health, sampling the gases broken down by hard-working microbes. Equally important, it’s possible to combine data with weather forecasts and soil hydration maps to deploy irrigators at the right place and time, keeping effluent in that active root zone. Once again, management via a tablet or smartphone means less time on the quad bike and more time taking care of other responsibilities around the farm.

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December 2025 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

WATER MATTERS Balancing the scales of water

by Andy Bryenton

Some years see rural Kiwis scanning the horizon for any chance of precipitation. Others have locals cursing persistent inundation.

By global standards we’re blessed with abundant water in most parts of the country and at most times of the year; it’s all about how it’s used. The construction of dams to balance water across winter and summer has seen attention in Northland, for example, where irrigating crops and orchards has turned around the fortunes of areas like Kerikeri. As temperatures rise, areas further south may benefit from similar forward planning.

You can do some of this on a small scale if you’re renovating or building this year. When planning a construction project, harvesting water from the rain,

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Water is the stuff of life both for us, our livestock and our gardens, so planning to store and purify large volumes is a great example of forethought. Tanks and their placement are a big part of this, with new designs able to be concealed alongside walls or used as dividing walls themselves. The general rule is to provide more carrying capacity than you think you might need, as there’s nothing worse than running out.

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Parliamentarian Shane Jones opens a new dam in Northland; the same principle of storing up water in winter for hot, dry summers works on a microscale at home

track, and it’s your local plumbers who carry such systems — folks who are likely to be on-site anyway. They are especially useful when heavy rain sluices detritus out of the gutters or stirs up silt in other water sources.

Grey water from kitchen and shower use can be separated out from fluids best consigned to the septic tank, with the use of a modern wastewater system, and used later for irrigation. These units can also completely replace old-fashioned concrete septic tanks and all the issues

they can cause. Some biologicallybased septic treatment systems pass their output through a cascade used to grow plants, in an eco-friendly and elegant option.

While winter is a time of torrential downpours for most of us, it’s all for the best if that water can be stored and made useful for hotter, drier times. A bit of forward-planning at the design stage will see your home made drought-resistant and more efficient with this valuable natural resource.

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19

Unlocking a gene puzzle

by Paul Campbell

The black-and-white coat of Holstein-Friesian cows is globally recognised as a symbol of dairy farming and a defining trait of domestic cattle, and now, Massey University has worked out just how genes are responsible for the Holstein’s spots.

Coat patterns are some of the oldest traits selected by humans, likely since the dawn of domestication, showing how farmers have long shaped cattle populations. The DNA variants behind unique patterns, such as the white face of Herefords or the belts of Galloways, are already known.

Now, a study involving Massey University’s Professor Matt Littlejohn has solved the mystery of the Holstein’s unique coat.

“These genes are well-known for controlling pigmentation in humans, mice, dogs, horses,birds and other species,” Professor Littlejohn said.

The KIT gene variant found in Holsteins is unusual because it doesn’t sit within the gene itself. Instead, it regulates the gene from a different position on the chromosome.

“Think of it like a light switch turning on a light in another room.”

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perform well in beef systems. The white face is important, since this marks the calf as a Hereford cross.

When splotchy-faced calves are born as a result of the MITF variant, these calves

Science solves the colour of Holstein-Friesian cows

The MITF variant is also unusual for its ability to create unique coat patterns when different breeds are crossbred.

“This variant can create black speckles in dairy crosses, ‘black socks’ in Belgian Blue cattle, or reversal of the white face expected from a Hereford cross. While these patterns are interesting to look at, they aren’t simply aesthetic.“ Many dairy farmers cross Holsteins with Herefords to produce calves that will

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are harder to recognise as beef crosses and are often less valuable.

“Genetic testing could help produce calves with more predictable coat patterns in the future.”

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20

December 2025 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

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