19,200 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Waikato and King Country.
Earlier this month, I had the pleasure and privilege of chairing the 10th triennial Youth Parliament in my capacity as deputy speaker.
Youth Parliament is a unique youth development opportunity for 143 young people from around New Zealand to experience the political process, learn about how the government works and represent their communities as youth members of parliament (MPs) or as youth press gallery members.
It provides young people, 16–24 years old, with an opportunity to develop leadership skills, influence government decision-making, and have their voices heard. What voices they were! These young people spoke with passion and, on occasion, with fire about the issues that affected or concerned them.
They spoke eloquently, and with fervour. What struck me most, though, in observing this, was the level of detailed knowledge they possessed on the issues they were discussing. Most had done their research, and a lot of it.
Tamorangi Clayton-Lake, a 17-year-old student at Te Kūiti High School, represented Taranaki-King Country. She did so with quiet grace, dignity and confidence. She was, and is, a credit to our community. I see a lot of leadership qualities in Tamorangi and see her going far — hopefully, in some form of governance capacity.
That, I think, is the true value of the Youth Parliaments to our wider New Zealand society. It helps identify, support and nurture leaders, leaders of skill and dedication who will serve us well in the future, in industry, in education, in health, farming, finance and government — both local and central.
The 2025 Youth Parliament put our young people on show, and they acquitted themselves superbly. It also puts our future on show, because it is these young people who will manage that future, and from what I saw this month, they will be superb at doing that, as well.
by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country
by Paul Campbell
Seafood seizure a warning
The nation’s seafood resources have firm rules governing their harvest and there’s been a strong affirmation from the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) under the associated Fisheries Act.
A poacher found with 619 pāua he intended to sell, has been sent to prison for two years and six months. Ruteru Sufia, 63, was sentenced in the Porirua District Court on July 22 on four charges under the Fisheries Act and one charge under the Fisheries (Amateur Fishing) Regulations, following a successful prosecution by MPI. The court also banned him from all forms of fishing for three years.
Fishery Officers carried out a search warrant at Mr Sufia’s home and found 65 pāua in one freezer along with 554 shucked pāua in another.
“This was a large amount of pāua, more than 60 times the daily catch limit and more than 30 times the accumulation limit. Also, 45 of the pāua found were undersized.
While on bail on those charges, Mr Sufia was caught with a further 48 pāua, with 29 less than the minimum legal size.
“Mr Sufia intended to sell this seafood, which is also illegal. We have zero tolerance for poachers. They affect the sustainability of our shared fisheries, and they affect people who legitimately trade in seafood,” says Phil Tasker, Fisheries New Zealand regional manager, fisheries compliance.
“Mr Sufia claimed the pāua in his freezer was for a wedding in
Auckland, an explanation the court didn’t believe. Mr Sufia’s offending was deliberate.
“He wasn’t concerned with legal size and catch limits; he was driven by financial gain from poaching this pāua.
“When we find evidence of illegal fishing, you can be assured that we will investigate and, depending on the circumstances, place the matter before the court,” Mr Tasker said. Mr Sufia has a long record of breaking fisheries rules, with more than
35 offences dealt with by MPI over a number of years.
MPI encourages people to report suspected illegal activity through the ministry’s 0800 4 POACHER number on 0800 476 224.
The paua seized by fisheries officers
“IHIS HEART WAS ALWAYS COUNTRY
was raised on an 800-cow dairy farm just outside of Riverton, Southland. From a young age, I was involved on the farm — helping out on weekends and learning by doing,” said Alex.
“It was a great way to grow up, and being part of a rural community helped to shape who I am today.”
Despite branching out during his university years to carve his own pathway and pursue a Diploma in Audio Engineering, Alex’s rural upbringing called him back. Working in an office space left Alex wanting more, and he longed for the outdoors.
Being shaped by his rural upbringing, Alex Diprose found his love and purpose in dairy farming after exploring other career paths.
“Although I explored other career paths during university, I kept finding myself drawn back to the land. Dairy farming has a strong sense of purpose and progress — that’s what pulled me in.
“I realised I felt most fulfilled working outdoors, contributing to something tangible, and being part of a system where every day matters.”
While finding his own footing in life was important to him, his father played a pivotal role model in his farming career.
“My father has been a big inspiration. He’s encouraged me to experience different farms and ways of doing
BY AMY FIFITA
things, which has helped shape my own approach. He’s always reminded me that there’s more than one way to skin a
which taught me to stay open-minded.
cat,
Alex was raised on a farm and, despite studying a Diploma in Audio Engineering, found himself back in farming
“I’ve also had some great employers along the way who gave me the space to learn, grow, and take on more responsibility. I would encourage any young farmer to do the same. Gaining different perspectives on the same problem will help you grow into a wiser and resilient farmer.”
Returning to his farming roots, Alex’s passion was ignited, and with that, an eagerness to work as a team and care for the environment. Until recently, he was 2IC on Colin and Jackie Dixon’s Horotiu farm milking 460 cows.
“Kerrie and I are now contract milking 210 cows on a 70-hectare farm in Ngaruawahia. We run a pasture-based system-two operation, milking once a day all-year round.
“The focus is on maintaining consistent pasture quality while supporting the herd through seasonal
challenges with a bit of supplement when needed.
“It’s a team effort between my partner and me. Kerrie’s great at the financial side of business as she has an accounting background. However, she’s not afraid to roll up her sleeves and get stuck in.
“We don’t have any full-time staff, but we bring in relief milkers when needed. I’m also fortunate to have strong support from my family and friends. They’re always just a phone call away and ready to offer advice.”
With farming holding a big part of Alex’s life, he also holds passions in other areas. No stranger to the land, he enjoys outdoor experiences like hiking and also holds a flame for music.
“Music is a big passion of mine. I enjoy producing and creating songs in my spare time. It’s a creative outlet that gives me balance outside of farming.
“I also enjoy fitness and outdoor activities like hiking and triathlon training. It helps me stay sharp and is a good way to reset and come back to the farm refreshed.”
Recently, Alex took part in the 2025 Dairy Industry Awards. Winning the Waikato Region Dairy Trainee of the Year, he placed third in the national competition. He also took out the DairyNZ Practical Skills Award.
“The awards were an incredible experience and opportunity. The greater networking side of it was huge — it highlighted how supportive and encouraging the dairy community is.
“Meeting similarly aged farmers from around the country made it even more enjoyable. Everyone’s keen to share knowledge and back each other. The DIA process also gave me a real sense of where I’m at and helped build my confidence going forward.”
Alex Diprose on the farm with his work colleagues from last season
Alex celebrated his success with his former employers at the Dairy Industry Awards
SBY AMY FIFITA
pread across three small plots, totalling about half an acre, in the Pirongia township, the couple has spent a decade on their food growing journey. With a heart for community and a desire to help people understand where their food comes from, Dan and Ali are passionate about their produce and their community.
“I was raised on a conventional dairy farm, and Ali was raised on a drystock farm in Waitetuna by Raglan. We were both brought up on farms, but we both went into professional careers,” said Dan.
“After getting her PhD in molecular biology, Ali is a scientist, and I went
BACK TO A FARMING FUTURE
into the corporate world of IT and lean consulting.
“Interestingly enough, we use those skills of science and lean consulting on our farm every day. Ali is full-time on the farm, and I work on the farm whenever I can around my job commitments.”
Starting from Ali growing flowers for florists 10 years ago to growing food for her own family, a tradition that started with her mother.
“My mum was an avid gardener and we ate the produce that she grew. We also always grew food for our family, and my friend Robyn and I started a little market in Pirongia selling our extra produce,” said Ali.
Shane Davis Bulk Spreading Ltd
For market gardeners Dan Taylor and Ali Ruthe, Little Pirongia Farms is more than a garden — it’s a future for growers and consumers alike.
Ali Ruthe and Dan Taylor have been feeding their community for several years, and want to educate people about traditional ways of growing and where their food comes from
“When Covid happened, Robyn and I pooled all of our spray-free produce and put together veggie boxes for our community.
“We learned what we know from hands-on experience and observations. We learned a lot of lessons with flower farming because that was all done sprayfree, too. The biggest thing for us has been observing crops growing on the farm, and taking time to step back to see what did and didn’t work.”
Having both grown up on farms, with hands-on experience and research, Dan and Ali see their model as a viable one for the future.
“We are focussed on providing nutrientdense food, and do not use any pesticides or herbicides in our growing practices. Our customers enjoy and appreciate that they are getting home-grown food commercially,” said Dan.
“After Ali and Robyn began the veggie boxes, we started ramping up, and about two years ago, we began selling to local
“Our plots have permanent beds that we do fast turnarounds, with most crops doing four rotations annually. We are intensively farming all-year-round.
“We have a vision that our model of agri-ecology-focussed farming can be replicated in other communities. Little Pirongia Farms will never be bigger than us two, and we have more than enough land because we farm efficiently.”
While Ali and Dan say their business will get no bigger than them, the idea is far larger, and is focussed on the community they love and are a part of.
“We can feed a substantial amount of people already, and are intending on improving our processes and systems to be able to produce more from our existing crops. We are in a fortuitous
“The role our farm plays in the community is about resilience, education, food security and building strong relationships. For us, it is about how it is grown. We are very focussed on soil health because once that is taken care of, the veggies look after themselves.
“We see a future where this kind of model can be used everywhere else. If you look at some of the supply chain issues we are seeing, we see producing food closer to the consumers as a model for the future, or back to the future — this is how food was produced in the past.”
position because our customers seem to love our products, and we must get more efficient with our growth to service those customers.
“Growing seasonally allows us to make a veggie box, our customers can make a week’s worth of meals from, and know that they are grown locally. Our customers love how much we are part of the community.
“Our biggest plot is on the main road. It is visible, and whenever we are there, people often stop to say hi. For us, community is an important part of what we do.
“We have lived here for 20 years now, and Ali’s family has been in Pirongia for many years, so we like being embedded here.”
Championing their role within the town, Dan and Ali educate people about traditional ways of growing, making compost and creating a link between the garden to the table.
retail outlets in Te Awamutu, Pirongia and Cambridge.
However, Waikato Regional Council’s plan for the future is clear and with the elections forthcoming it’s helpful this sets out a decade of intention under planning already formulated.
The Long Term Plan (LTP) is developed every three years, and sets the projects, budget and financial strategy for 10 years as a roadmap for the future. It sets out the council’s vision, priorities, and how it will fund and deliver services and projects that matter most to communities.
As always, the plan is the result of public consultation and, in fact, this covers nine years because last year there was a oneoff government opportunity to complete an Enhanced Annual Plan and buy more time to gain greater certainty around the future delivery and funding of water services. Now, after feedback from over 550 people, the council adopted the 2025–2034 Long Term Plan that officially took effect on July 1.
The council heard from submitters and held 30 community sessions across the district and the feedback shaped the plan in big and small ways from where it spends to how key services are delivered.This focusses on the essential services that support daily life like water, roads, waste and community spaces while managing costs in a smart and balanced way.
Some of the key decisions include:
• Partnering with Hamilton City Council to create a joint water services organisation starting in July 2026
• Sticking to NZTA-funded roading maintenance only for the next two years, to help ease pressure on rates
• Updating targeted rates for some community halls, including expanding the catchment for Whatawhata Hall and deconstructing Ruawaro Hall into a community open space and war memorial
PLASTIC DISPOSAL ON FARMS NEEDS TO CHANGE
PLANNING IS KEY TO THE FUTURE
In uncertain times, it’s always good to have a plan, and that goes for our regional governments, although those administrations may have personnel changes in October as election candidates eye their own future.
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
dam upgrades secure power for the future
• Rubbish stickers and bin tag prices will increase from July 1 2025 to reflect the rising costs of waste disposal
• A new recycling crate for glass will roll out from July 1 2027 (excluding
in July 2026
Hydro
Raglan), with a $7 targeted rate beginning
• New and continued waste services for Te Aakau, Island Block Road and Tuakau
Flood control work is a regional priority
• A refreshed Development Contributions Policy, ensuring developers fairly contribute to infrastructure costs.
• An updated Fees and Charges Schedule for 2025–2027 that reflects actual delivery costs
From July 1, general rates will increase by 4.25% to keep essential services running. Targeted rates (for services like rubbish and halls) will vary by location, with increases between 4.5% and 11%.
There is a Rates Information Database to see how this might affect a property.
Rates fund about 66% of the overall budget. The rest comes from government subsidies, grants, development contributions and fees to provide the things including:
• Safe drinking water and wastewater services
• Rubbish and recycling
• Roads, parks, playgrounds and libraries
• Sports grounds, pools, and community halls
The council said it was committed to keeping rate increases as low as it could while investing in the things that make a community difference.
On the rural front, the Waikato region has 20 large rivers and about 1,400 small river systems, so flooding can be an issue and commonly happens when rivers and streams cannot cope with heavy rainfall. It’s something that is happening more frequently with climate change named as being responsible.
The council is responsible for flood protection under the Soil Conservation and Flood Protection Act to multimilliondollar systems that protect communities, schools, roads and farms keeping land draining freely in specific geographic areas where schemes have been agreed with communities.
Assets include stopbanks, floodgates, pump stations, spillways and channels, all linked and managed by computer monitoring of river levels and flows with more than 90 individual land drainage schemes. Each is locally funded through
Farming is the lifeblood of rural
targeted rating all with a replacement value of $1.2 billion
Land was acquired for the various flood protection schemes as far back as the 1920s, with the Waihou Ohinemuri River Improvement Scheme. Land acquisition and development of the flood protection schemes continues as required for stopbank design flood level maintenance in sinking soils, channels widening or pump upgrades in flood prone areas.
The land management team, part of the wider asset management team, manages the council’s interests in land and
ensures that the necessary agreements, easements and encumbrances are in place, and the portfolio is managed to the prescribed levels of service.
The council has five Joint Management Agreements (JMAs) and one Co-managed Lands agreement with Waikato rohe iwi. These derive from the provisions within the iwi-specific Treaty Settlement legislation. The land management team inspects the land portfolio and promotes best farm and property management practices liaising with council engineers.
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Waikato
by Amy Fifita
Empowering a fond goodbye
Standing on decades of experience in caring for families, Pellow and Hill Funerals provides excellent farewells to celebrate a loved one’s life with dignity and respect.
When two of Hamilton’s most-respected funeral homes partnered together last year, a bond was made to ensure customers got the care and services they needed.
“Pellows Funeral Directors and James R Hill Funeral Services are the two longest-serving funeral homes in Hamilton. We both started in the 1960s, and last year, a decision was made to combine the two brands into one powerhouse,” said location manager William Eagar-Savage.
The funeral home provides families with a personalised service and care package to farewell their loved ones with dignity and respect. The team works, knowing that celebrating a life must be done with a high standard of care.
“Every single family that we look after is different, and we work diligently to ensure every single farewell is personal and meaningful for that family,” said William.
“What I love the most about my job is the connections I make with those families. We are there for a very brief moment in their lives, but it is an important part of their lives. We are there to support and guide them and empower them to make their own decisions.
“If people want to talk to us about their funerals, we are always happy to sit down with them to prearrange that for them at no cost.”
From a simple cremation to a bespoke package, all options come equipped with a casket, transport, dignified mortuary care,
cremation documentation and authority and death registration and certificate.
With three locations across Hamilton, the newest facility, the James Hill Chapel, is at 97 Tuhikaramea Road in Dinsdale. William says it is a beautiful facility.
The company has two Hamilton East locations, the main hub at 138 Grey Street and the White Rose Chapel at 75 Cook Street.
“We offer every family impeccable service. We are a 24/7 service and always
available to answer any questions that families have or to spring into action at a moment’s notice.”
For more information, go to pellowandhillfunerals.co.nz or contact the team on 07 856 5129.
07 877 8106
Te Kuiti
“Together in hope, together in strength” piopiovets.co.nz
Piopio 07 878 8137
“With respect and support for the CSNZ and all their work for bringing hope”
John Riggir 027 251 2197 johnr@cambridgehomes.co.nz
“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day” 021 049 0138 the chookyard.co.nz
MARK GORRINGE LOGGING LIMITED
“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”
Mark: 027 442 6785
Pellow and Hill Funerals at 97 Tuhikaramea Road Dinsdale and 138 Grey Street Hamilton East offer families warm and inviting spaces to farewell their loved ones.
Our experienced and dedicated staff will guide you with compassion, integrity, and attention to detail to give you the funeral your loved one deserves.
Pellow and Hill Funerals is a union of the two longest-serving funeral homes in Hamilton
A unique book on autism
by Paul Campbell
Author Dee Jones has launched a new book on autism and neurodiversity, Neuro–WHAT?, to help support neurodivergent people or people associated with neurodivergents, with a particular focus on autism.
“For a couple of decades, autistic people have repeatedly asked me to explain how neurotypicals think and work, because autistic people are often confused by neurotypicals, and vice versa,” says Dee.
“My clients regularly ask how they can take home what’s in my head and whether there was an easy-to-read book on the subject, which there wasn’t, so I wrote what I believe is the only one of its kind in the world.”
Neuro–WHAT? is written in everyday language with an explanation of all things autistic, supported by numerous case studies and illustrations. It is said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so Dee has included plenty of images to help explain neurodiverse differences in perception and interpretation of social and personal situations.
“I recognise the words and terminology around neurodivergence have changed in recent years but to ensure this book can be understood by, and is within reach, of everyone, I have purposely included a mix of historical and modern words, descriptions and analogies.”
She says the easiest way to describe neurotypicals is that most of the population is typical, meaning that their brains are all wired the same way. A smaller group is wired differently and referred to as
neurodivergent, which includes autism, ADHD and Tourette’s, among other neurological or brain wiring differences.
Dee is an author, counsellor, autism consultant and public speaker, who has helped individuals and couples in relationships for over 25 years — much of that time based in Te Kamo until she took up a sabbatical to work in Brisbane in 2021.
She is a fully registered counsellor in New Zealand and Australia. While most of her clients are New Zealand-based, Dee also offers Australian and international consultations via telehealth apps due to her travelling schedule.
“I want to help people create safe work environment spaces for neurodivergent people, so we encourage employers, HR personnel and management to read Neuro–WHAT?.
“I believe it will help anyone in the workspace and places of education, particularly where autism is apparent, by giving people insight and understanding to help make the workplace more efficient and mutually accommodating, while creating a workspace that is more understanding and comfortable.”
Dee plans to hold workshops throughout Australia and New Zealand in the latter part of this year.
• Project management.
• Funding applications.
• Training, education and more.
than 25 knowledgeable and skilled ecologists, biodiversity rangers and restoration practitioners ready to help. Get in touch to arrange a free, no obligations site visit to talk about your restoration project.
Should I take coenzyme Q10? (Part two)
by John Arts, Abundant Health Ltd
We usually make all the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) we need. Some, however, should take extra as a supplement.
CoQ10 is mostly made in your liver from the same enzymes that make cholesterol. This is why drugs that reduce cholesterol can significantly reduce CoQ10 and can cause side effects that are so common that they are now diagnosable diseases. Many pharmacists recommend CoQ10 to people collecting statin prescriptions.
The main role of CoQ10 is to move hydrogen electrons within your cell mitochondria to produce energy. Inadequate CoQ10 levels reduce cell energy usually felt as tiredness and muscle weakness.
I have a client who had experienced significant muscle pain while on statins. After a few months taking a quality CoQ10 the pain had gone and they can now tolerate the medication without side effects. I generally find it takes one to two months to improve muscle function and energy.
Muscle issues from statin use is one of the most common reasons for muscle and tendon pain and weakness. I spoke to
someone yesterday whose muscles had started to break down while on statins. It is a shame that many suffer needlessly, as in most cases, it is quickly resolved with a high-quality CoQ10 without having to stop the medication. I recommend CoQ10 for those with health issues known to reduce energy especially those with autoimmune or neurodegenerative problems. While CoQ10 is not a cure, it can help to lift general energy and wellbeing.
I will add a quality, naturally-fermented, patented CoQ10 or my mitochondrial formula for those needing extra CoQ10, plus a lift in energy. This combines CoQ10 with a B vitamin complex plus other energy co-factors. Most people feel a real difference within one to two months.
John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.
DAFFODIL DAY
FRIDAY 29TH AUGUST 2025
A1 A1
“With our help there is hope!”
021 395 025 a1pumpit@xtra.co.nz
“With your help, there is hope! Sharing our full support with the CSNZ this Daffodil Day”
ANDREW NOLA Contracting
14 Waihou Street Matamata www.forsi.co.nz | sales@forsi.co.nz 07 880 9479
“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”
Phone Andrew: 027 493 2079
“With respect and support for the CSNZ and all their work for bringing hope”
0800 300 488 www.bigblocks.co.nz
“With respect and support for the CSNZ and all their work for bringing hope”
Ben Caldwell 027 339 6716 ben@lfs.net.nz
“Proud to support the search for a cure”
Ph: 027 857 8573 www.tls.co.nz
“Proud to support the search for a cure”
Ph: 07 871 4986
Waipa Water Delivery
“With our help there is hope!”
Te Awamutu
Phone 07 871 8203 Mobile 021 985 395
“Proud to support the search for a cure”
info@nzadventures.co.nz Ph: 03 218 8569 or 027 550 6727
“With our help there is hope!”
027 390 5810 www.scopeearthworks.co.nz
Wholesale Nursery & Planting
“Proud to support the search for a cure”
021 366 480 www.nznativeflora.co.nz
“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”
0800 121 316 sales@shedit.co.nz
“Sharing our full support with the NZCS this Daffodil Day”
07 827 7066 027 493 2076
www.blackwoodyamaha.co.nz
“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”
Ph: 027 473 0001
“There is hope!”
07 828 7240
www.rivertownelectrical.co.nz
rivertownelectrical@xtra.co.nz
30 William St, Huntly
“Once you choose hope, anything’s possible”
DAFFODIL DAY
FRIDAY 29TH AUGUST 2025
by Andy Bryenton
Yellow blooms in support of NZCS
Daffodil Day is coming again in August, with support for the hard work of the Cancer Society at the forefront of volunteers’ minds as they hit the streets, turning towns around New Zealand yellow.
By the time you receive your next edition of the Waikato Farming Lifestyles, it may already be time to paint the town yellow for the cause, so to boost involvement and visibility, we’ve decided to fly the flag a little early.
There are many reasons why Daffodil Day is one of the most supported and respected charity appeals on the Kiwi calendar. Nearly everyone in the nation has a friend, relative or colleague who has battled cancer. Statistically, 25,000 New Zealanders will receive that diagnosis each year. With medical science improving every day, thanks to funding for research, the chances of making a full recovery are getting better all the time.
Early detection, good care and solid support are the keys to success. To aid in this, the NZCS puts in more than one million kilometres of drive time to get patients to their medical appointments each year. It provides 50,000 nights of free accommodation to bring people closer to specialist medical services.
Add in their work promoting early detection and educating people on cancer risks, advocating for better healthcare and operating a full-time
telephone service for information. It’s easy to see why the people behind the daffodil appeal are so well-respected.
A further $5.2 million was granted to those researching lifesaving anti-cancer treatments last year, thanks to the generosity of average Kiwis.
The NZCS works closely with hospitals, doctors and other care service providers, and has the respect of all within the medical profession. Those who work for
Kaipara’s hospice are just some of those who benefit from this collaboration.
“They are simply wonderful,” says Hospice Kaipara spokesperson Annette Olsen. “Working to support families and patients, they are a dedicated team and very supportive. With us, with the hospital and in the wider community, they are doing a great job.”
The daffodil was chosen as the emblem for its annual appeal, symbolising
springtime, new life and hope. It’s been adopted by similar charitable organisations worldwide, becoming the international symbol of the fight for a cure and volunteers’ excellent work helping patients’ families.
Please give generously when you see the charity collectors out and about next month, or make a donation online via daffodilday.org.nz any time of the year.
A main street is often the scene of a big Daffodil Day bake sale and barbecue — a scene replicated across many rural towns
Rural Building/sheds & shelters
by Andy Bryenton
Solar power unleashed for small users
The government has unlocked new possibilities for homes with solar panels, expanding the permitted voltage range for electricity networks so more excess power can be sold back into the grid.
It’s part of a sweeping set of changes involving solar photovoltaic technology.
Building and energy ministers Simon Watts and Chris Penk have confirmed that changes are being made to ensure that a building consent is not needed to install solar panels on existing buildings, slashing through some of the red tape, which has made many homeowners question whether the move to solar is affordable.
There’s also the requirement from Wellington that local councils must process the resource consents of homes with planned solar arrays within 10 days, down from the previously acceptable 20. This means a faster, smoother process for buildings which will harvest the sun’s rays for electricity. It also represents about $400 in savings on paperwork alone.
“New Zealand’s residential uptake of rooftop solar is lower than many other countries. This government wants to change that, so more Kiwis can generate, store and send their own electricity back to the market. This will allow them to save on their power bills and contribute to a more secure electricity system,” Mr Watts says.
“Rooftop solar will play a crucial role in supporting energy security and reducing emissions. However, our networks need to
be able to better support the growing flow of electricity from consumers, while also dealing with growing demand for more electric vehicle charging.”
The government says that modelling it’s undertaken shows that expanding the voltage range of the network to plus or minus 10 per cent could push solar investment by home and business owners up, and pump an additional 507 gigawatthours into the grid from excess small solar array capacity. It’s the kind of voltage boost the nation needs.
“We need the right incentives in place to make rooftop solar a realistic option for Kiwis,” says Mr Penk.
“The government is focussed on getting people into safe, affordable homes faster, and we want those homes to be sustainable and future-ready. With the energy system preparing for a surge in residential solar, the consenting process needs to play its part to support the transition.”
“Delivering the best outcomes for New Zealanders is incredibly important to minister Penk and me,” says Mr Watts. “Expanding the voltage range could help avoid hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrade costs to accommodate rooftop solar and EV charging being passed on to Kiwi households.”
The ability to sell back excess solar energy into the national grid could be the deciding factor for thousands of Kiwis considering a home or farm solar installation
Rural Building/sheds & shelters
by Andy Bryenton
Best bang for your renovation bucks
If you’re renovating this winter to sell in spring, take a hint from a recent US survey of real estate agents as to which parts of a property really swing the decision to invest and settle down.
Better bathrooms
These areas are a focus for intense scrutiny during open homes and can be a dealbreaker for many buyers. Functional, spacious and easy to clean are the keywords real estate professionals hear a lot; and the number of bathrooms buyers desire is rising, too. For many, having experienced the joys of his and hers bathrooms means never going back. En suites are also very much in vogue, especially in family homes where the main bathroom area is likely to see serious use by the youngsters.
Comprehensive kitchens
Trends come and go when it comes to kitchen design and appliances, but functionality is king in this part of the home. Storage scores more points than people would imagine, and so does the ability to change out appliances. Nothing’s worse than having a gap too small for your new oven or fridge. Kitchens and bathrooms both also benefit hugely from fresh flooring that’s waterproof and easy to clean, and extractors that get rid of steam silently. Hit the decks
Outdoor entertainment is a big part of summer, and a lot of home buyers
don’t just think inside of the box when it comes to imagining their dream home. Resurfacing the decks is an inexpensive way to make a good first impression, and give a clear indication that attention has gone into maintaining your property. Increasingly, deck space out of line of sight to neighbours is sought for spa pools and stand-alone saunas.
Energy efficiency
It’s a new contender in the list of gamechanging factors that really motivate home buyers, but energy-smart ideas are now right up there with space, light and location.
Homes with solar hot water heating, solar panels for power, battery banks and heat pump systems are in demand. So, too, are homes with charging points for electric vehicles. If you’re renovating with an eye to potential medium-term sale, look at clever energy options that could deliver more than what they cost when it’s time to sell. Garage days revisited
There’s a tongue-in-cheek saying that ‘ladies buy a home, blokes buy a garage’. It’s actually truer than some might believe, and it’s not just the lads who want ample shed space. Anyone and everyone has
hobbies, and while the obvious shedfillers like hot-rodding, motorcycling, boating and carpentry are all popular, gardening, model-making, sewing and home brewing all need shed space, too.
What really makes a home stand out on sale? The answers may inform you on where to concentrate your renovation dollars
Rural Building/sheds & shelters
by Andy Bryenton
Insulation rules made more efficient
The government is making it less expensive to build houses by changing up the insulation rules, while still retaining standards for healthy homes.
“I’ve heard clearly from the industry that the current one-size-fits-all approach to insulation requirements is needlessly driving up costs,” said Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk, on the announcement of a raft of new rule changes.
“The most prescriptive compliance pathway currently available for insulation, known as the Schedule Method, doesn’t allow for design trade-offs that can affect a home’s energy efficiency, like adjusting window size.
“This has led to designers and homeowners having to over-insulate in certain areas to achieve Building Code compliance, offering little extra energy efficiency benefit at a significant cost.”
It was often a case of the rules being an impediment to progress, and still not delivering good outcomes. With smarter tools now available to calculate thermal retention, energy efficiency and overall insulation optimisation, builders should not need to apply the blunt tool of the old rules.
The upshot is a saving of an average $15,000 on every new home; not an inconsiderable sum. Also on the horizon is a possible change to the rules in Northland,
Rules around insulation, which builders described as a ‘blunt instrument’ and ‘unfit for purpose’ have been changed from a one-size-fitsnobody approach to a more tailored system
which has a more subtropical climate than other more southerly parts of the nation.
The changes represent a middleground approach to insulation law, with the plan laid out by Mr Penk, in early July, earning praise from builders and healthy housing advocates.
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That’s because the rhetoric from the coalition government, in 2024, was leaning towards the scrapping of insulation standards. At the time, it’s reported spokespeople for the building industry made claims that the cost of a home was being driven up by more than $50,000 by the Healthy Homes’ standards. However, investigation by Mr Penk’s ministry found these claims were contradicted by independent advice.
“I’m really proud to say that Certified Builders, Construction Industry Council, ADNZ (Architectural Designers New Zealand), BRANZ (Building Research Association of New Zealand) and others stepped in and said, no, you should not be taking out insulation, and it’s bad design that is to blame, not insulation, for overheating,” said Green Housing Council head Andrew Eagles.
The government listened, which is a good thing from the perspective of another department; that of health. It’s estimated that warmer, drier homes delivered by logical insulation and heating rules have already resulted in less stress on busy doctors and hospitals.
The new rules are likely to be published in their final form in November, meaning that building will be a cheaper and more flexible process in the new year.
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Rural Building/sheds & shelters
by Amy Fifita
Tackling the winter chill blues
As we are in the thick of winter, some of us may want to heat-proof our homes to make the most out of our wood and electricity bills, so — how do we do that?
Tackling the dampness and chill of winter can be a mission, and sometimes finding a balance is difficult. Knowing the house matters.
Condensation, damp patches, mildew or mould, and musty smells are all signs of a damp home. Not only is it bad for the house, but it is also detrimental to people’s health. Airing out the home when the weather is mild does help, as do venting systems, dehumidifiers and moisture absorbers.
Thermal curtains are a great option for keeping the heat in the home. They do more than keep the house warm, though, as they also help keep the summer heat out. Offering more than functionality, a curtain can make a great statement in the home, depending on the design and style you select.
Double glazing helps regulate temperature and insulate any home, but there are also cost-friendly options, such as window insulation kits. The kits consist of a clear film creating a layer of still air between the window and the film barrier. They can be bought at most hardware stores for a reasonable price.
Insulating floors, ceilings and walls ensures the home is warm and dry. Closing unused rooms and putting draught stoppers across doors also seals the warm air in, meaning less electricity or wood needs to be used to heat the home.
Having a look at the outside of the house can also provide telltale signs of potential issues. Assessing the spouting can help homeowners identify where extra moisture is coming in. If the drains or spouting are flowing on to or into the house, it can cause damage. With a dry and warm house established, you and your family can live in a healthy home.
Curtains not only keep the heat inside, but they also provide an opportunity to make a statement in the room
by Andy Bryenton
VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Call of duty
Ford has announced a Super Duty version of the Ranger for 2026; and like the Mustang badge, it’s revitalising a famous name from the company’s heritage.
The original Super Duty Fords were born in the 1950s, when fire departments, forest rangers, oil drillers and construction firms in a booming post-war US demanded a go-anywhere, haul-anything workhorse. Ford responded by creating the almighty 534 V8, one of the biggest and mostpowerful petrol engines ever fitted to a mass-produced truck. A whopping 7.3-litre diesel V8 followed in the 1980s, and Super Duty trucks became the goto machine for emergency services and tough jobs across the states.
Now Ford has brought back the nameplate, combining it with the winning formula that is the Ranger ute. While the serious petrolheads out there will be crestfallen to hear that a huge 8,700cc 534 does not lurk under the hood, this recently announced Ranger variant lives up to the name in many ways, and won’t lack for power.
The Super Duty has been toughened up from the ground up. A wider stance, more robust chassis, armoured drivetrain, upgraded axles and thicker driveshafts mean that this version of the Ranger is ready to take on the most arduous terrain and emergency situations.
Think of it as the conventional Ranger after a muscle-building stint at the kind of boot camp that makes Full Metal
Jacket look like a summer vacation. After talking to first responders, construction crews in remote locations, miners, farmers and more, Ford has also added eight-stud wheels, a bigger fuel capacity, and factory-fitted 33-inch tyres. Ground clearance is up, and during testing the unrelenting Ford engineers packed 600kg of mud up into the chassis during extreme durability trials designed to see if the Super Duty would break under pressure. It didn’t.
Under the hood, there’s a proven three-litre V6 turbo diesel engine, which has been fitted with an upgraded cooling system, made to survive the cruellest conditions in the red lands across the ditch. This cooling power is also useful to keep the Super Duty Ranger going strong under heavy loads. That’s important, because this Ranger is able to tow 4,500kg. Ford tested this by hauling an excavator behind with all its tools in the tray, and the Super Duty performed as planned.
Ford has not sacrificed safety features or comfort to get to this point of rugged capability. The Super Duty version of the Ranger will still have touch-screen infotainment, a 360-degree camera and that ‘drives like a car’ ease of use that made the original ute so popular.
by Andy Bryenton
VEHICLES, MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
Giant robots not just for anime
John Deere has unleashed one of the most powerful, and biggest, tracked tractors ever to till the soil, with the debut of the 9RX, and a surprising reveal at the CES cereal crop expo in the US; this monster of the fields can come as an advanced, driverless robot.
Everything about the 9RX is defined by huge numbers, including its massive four-tracked silhouette, reminiscent of the desert-crawling harvesters of Frank Herbert’s Dune novels. The big JD18, 18-litre diesel under the hood can deliver a maximum of 913 horsepower, but it also delivers this titanic amount of force, while achieving emissions standard compliance without any fuel fluids or additives.
Now, for the numbers. Start with hydraulic flow of up to 635 litres a minute, tracks 91 centimetres wide for floatation over soil, and 6.8 square metres of glass in the immense cab. The RX9 weighs 33 tonnes, stands an imposing 3.7 metres tall, and measures 8.8 metres in length, track-to-track.
All that power is designed to operate the biggest and most demanding of implements for massive fields and acres of crops. However, there’s finesse behind the brute force of the RX9, with more advanced computing technology on board than ever before in a tractor of this size. Some of this is the wizardry allowing this green giant to go fully autonomous.
“Our agriculture, construction, and commercial landscaping customers all have work that must get done at certain times of the day and year, yet there is
John Deere’s huge new RX9 is not just an exercise in superlatives; it’s an autonomous robot tractor on a whole new scale
not enough available and skilled labour to do the work,” says John Deere chief technology officer Jahmy Hindman.
“Autonomy can help address this challenge. That’s why we’re extending our technology stack to enable more machines to operate safely and autonomously in unique and complex environments. This will not only benefit our customers, but all of us who rely on them to provide the food,
fuel, fibre, infrastructure and landscaping care that we depend on every day.”
By adding 16 cameras and John Deere’s second-gen autonomy kit, the 9RX gains a 360-degree cybernetic view of its surroundings, with advanced depth perception to enable it to move with swift surety. Deere engineers say this gives farmers the option of stepping away from the RX9’s spacious cab and taking care
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of other things, while it deals with vast swathes of land all on its own.
While the RX9 might be too big for most Kiwi farms, made as it is for the US plains, it’s a halo product displaying the peak of engineering and automation as a snapshot in time. Lessons learned making this beast will soon be coming to a field near you.
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by Andy Bryenton
Rewards for environmental protection
An ambitious plan to reward landowners who protect biodiversity voluntarily has been tabled by the coalition government.
Associate Environment and Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard announced moves to start a pilot scheme for the trading of voluntary nature credits at National Fieldays, and has since elaborated on the idea in a speech to the New Zealand Farm Trust’s alumni.
Core to the concept is that landowners and conservation groups will be able to gain credits, similar in nature to those
used to denote sequestered CO 2, for areas of wilderness, bush and wetlands in their care. It’s a combination of an incentive to protect significant areas of natural importance, with fiscal pragmatism.
In 2024 New Zealand investors spent more than $20 million on voluntary nature and carbon credits. However, the bulk of this investment went offshore, due to a lack of available Kiwi projects ready to be invested in.
Mr Hoggard opined that New Zealand exports rely on the nation’s clean green environmental image, with 80 per cent of exports, worth $59.6 billion, headed to markets where environmental, social and governance reporting is required.
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An example is Te Toa Whenua Northland, led by Reconnecting Northland. This group is transitioning around 100ha from exotic forestry to native, including pest control on iwiowned land. Under the new scheme’s pilot programme, this will earn tradeable credits. Proponents of the plan see this as a much better way to engage in the carbon trade than planting pines on productive farmland, but it’s also voluntary, unlike the now-scrapped plan of mapping and enforcing Significant Natural Areas (SNAs) on private land.
This contentious policy was quickly done away with by the coalition government, and councils no longer have to identify and map SNAs, after the suspension of parts of the National Policy Statement on Indigenous Biodiversity.
While the pilot is seen as a positive step by many, opponents note that the idea of a credit system still remains debatable, in that companies are offsetting pollution rather than curtailing it. Nevertheless, for farmers who not long ago were concerned that areas of their privately-owned land could be locked down by SNA rulings, Mr Hoggard’s announcement is a breath of fresh air.
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“Farmers and other private landowners are doing their part to protect native biodiversity and want to do more. Supporting voluntary nature credit markets is a chance for the government to show them the carrot, not just the stick,” said Mr Hoggard.
The decision to push ahead with a tradeable scheme for voluntary protection of privately-owned areas of land comes following government plans to grant an extra $4.5 million to the QEII Trust. The trust has supported voluntary conservation efforts by landowners since its inception in 1977.
“Many of our most at-risk plants and animals are found on private land,” said
Conservation Minister Tama Potaka. “Landowners provide a significant contribution to conservation efforts through additional planting, pest control and fencing work.”
Andrew Hoggard is calling a new scheme for voluntary biodiversity protection “the carrot, not just the stick”
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LIVESTOCK, DAIRY & CALVING
Mycoplasma bovis compensation wraps up
After helping more than 1,300 farmers in the fight against M bovis the compensation assistance service has been wound up.
The DairyNZ Beef + Lamb New Zealand Compensation Assistance Team (DBCAT) was set up in 2018 to help farmers prepare compensation claims during the M bovis outbreak.
For the past seven years, 1,370 farmers have used the free service, with more than 2,310 claims being finalised. More than $161 million in claims were submitted by the service on behalf of farmers, including $88 million from dairy farmers and $40 million from beef farmers.
It is estimated that the service saved the M bovis eradication programme more than $10 million by finding smart farmsystems solutions that mitigated the need for a claim.
DairyNZ head of biosecurity, Fi Roberts, said the service played an important part in supporting farmers through a tough time.
“We know how hard it was for farmers, which is why we wanted to support those affected by getting them through the compensation claim process as quickly as we could,” she said.
“By having a dedicated team, claims could be processed faster and farmers compensated more quickly.”
DairyNZ chair Tracy Brown says eradicating the disease has been one of the most significant
biosecurity challenges the sector has ever faced.
“That’s why it was important that the service was operated independently
of the government so we could provide specific assistance and guidance to help farmers through.”
Beef + Lamb New Zealand chair Kate Acland said DBCAT played an important role in helping farmers navigate what was one of the toughest times in their farming careers.
“The service not only made the compensation process more accessible and efficient, but it also ensured farmers had someone in their corner who understood their operation and their stress.
“We’re proud of the partnership that delivered this support and of the legacy DBCAT leaves in showing how the sector can come together in a time of need.”
DairyNZ partnered with the Ministry for Primary Industries and Beef + Lamb New Zealand to lead the response phase of the M bovis eradication programme.
The DBCAT service closed on June 30 with MPI directly handling any new or unresolved claims.
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