Waikato Farming Lifestyles, December 2021

December 2021 Edition

Highlighting a farming future Pages 6–7

The natural alternative

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

by Liz Clark The Waikato Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company.

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz General Manager: Deb Wright | deb.wright@integrity.nz | 021 639 696

A garden of earthly delights

We all have a vision of how we would like our gardens to look, the views we want, the things we would like and the plants we want — we’re allowed to dream, right?

Editorial: Ann van Engelen, Paul Campbell, Andy Bryenton Advertising: Sonnie Teesdale 027 525 8223 Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz

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Of course we are. Imagine this; you have an unlimited budget and can have anything you want. The choices are limitless. The styles make the imagination run wild, and the thought of having the garden you want is so exciting.

How about an entertainer’s garden?

You’ve got the house, and now you must have that outdoor venue for all those dinner and pool parties with the setting to match. You’ve got the pool setting with all the mod cons and the glass panelling to show it off. Now you need a touch of Bali to bring it all together.

Balinese-style gardens use natural materials such as brushwood or bamboo panelling for screening, dark colour tones and a lot of tropical greenery. Make paths from wood or stone to take your guests through lush palms, bird of paradise, frangipani and hibiscus into a central entertainment area.

Perhaps you have a small water feature planted with lotus flowers to set it off.

Of course, you’ll need four or five eyecatching pots to set it all off. Don’t forget the shade pavilion, sun loungers and finally, the fire pit — that is a must-have.

If you’ve been inspired by the garden style of the classic English country

garden, you can be greedy. Create winding paths using pavers, gravel or even shells to guide your visitors around the garden.

Use tall plantings to provide a background setting and shelter for all the flowering plants put in to fill every possible space.

Use roses, flowering annuals, hollyhocks, snapdragons, sweet peas, alyssum, lobelia and many others to bring colours that look like something out of a Beatrix Potter illustration. If you have a sloping site, create a series of garden rooms with stones for steps and perhaps an iron gate leading into each one. Enclose them in with trellis for climbing roses to tumble over, keep some lawn and have a garden bench to sit on and have a relaxing read during the day.

Everywhere, plant flowers to enjoy.

You can be bold and go for an Italianate garden with grapevines on overhead providing shade during the heat of the day, citrus trees planted in large matching pots with sculptured gardens planted with lavender and other favourites — even an olive tree in the central courtyard to provide the renaissance touch.

If you’re inspired, cut out images from gardening magazines for ideas and paste them into a visual diary or look online for more ideas.

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Young grower of the year winner

DECEMBER 2021

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by Paul Campbell

The Young Grower of the Year, run by Horticulture New Zealand, is an annual competition comprising regional finals in major fruit and vegetable growing areas with a national final, won this year by 25-year-old Melissa van den Heuvel.

Melissa van den Heuvel, Young Grower of the Year

in hor ticulture and celebrate the success of young people in the industry.

This year’s finalists were: Heather Feetham, Pukekohe; Jamie McIntyre, Gisborne; Melissa van den Heuvel, Bay of Plenty; Bryce Morrison, Bay of Plenty; Regan Judd, Hawke’s Bay; Jonathan Bates, Nelson; and Jordan Carroll, Central Otago.

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Melissa is an avocado grower services representative at Apata Group Limited, based in the Bay of Plenty.

HortNZ president Barry O’Neil says supporting young people and encouraging more of them to join the industry is critical to its continued success and growth, in what is the new normal — life affected by Covid.

“At times like these, having a cause and taking time out to celebrate it is even more important than it was before.

“This year’s regional finals were oversubscribed, which shows the inherent optimism in our industry as well as the pride inherent in providing New Zealand and the world with tasty and healthy fruit and vegetables.”

The national final was held at the Lower Hutt Events on October 20–21, following all alert level two health and safety protocols.

“I am very proud to be in this industry. It is something I am very passionate about.

What we produce is very top-notch,” says Melissa.

“It was great to be part of this competition and get to know my fellow competitors. We’d all like to thank the sponsors and HortNZ for giving us this opportunity.”

The competition is to encourage young people to take up a career

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

THE NATURAL

ALTERNATIVE

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN Daniel Leishman and Amanda Brown are committed to educating people on the benefits of hemp while providing natural products made from the plant.

“W

e began Merkaba NZ as a way to bring knowledge, information and hemp products to people,” says Daniel.

“I am from Hamilton and moved to Raglan six years ago. Amanda joined me from Boston, USA, last year. The name Merkaba has sacred geometry origins, and the meaning corroborates our passion. Mer stands for light, ka spirit and ba body.

“We are trying to encourage people back to a lifestyle that benefits the body through nature. Over the years, hemp is something many humans have forgotten about. It was used for food and clothing but was outlawed through misconception.

“The more you explore, the more you find. Seeing the state the world is heading in, we believe we need a more eco-friendly product, and hemp will help that. It can replace many things, and production can start from a three-month growth period compared to 20 years for a tree.

“Last year, we trialled a crop working alongside a family trust in Taupo. It grew well but was unsuccessful as the crop was stressed and tested positive for Tetrahydrocannabinol, the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis known as THC. “New Zealand laws have a low threshold of THC, so we had to dispose of it. One of the factors was we rushed the

Hemp grows easily and Daniel believes has many good uses on farms such as helping to clean waterways

Daniel Leishman and Amanda Brown are advocates for the production of hemp as an alternative crop

trial and planted late. That has happened to many first-time farmers, which makes

it expensive for the development and growth of the industry.

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5

Using non-nano zinc, the sunscreen is one of the products Amanda has created, which she says is nice for farmers to use

“There is nothing scary about it, it is like a corn crop except it behaves better.

There are thousands of hectares of successful crops in the South Island. It is all timing and practice. Theoretically, hemp is like a weed and flourishes easily.

“I think it would be a perfect companion plant for farmers. You would sprinkle a few seeds, and the plant would help with runoff and nitrogen issues and help create cleaner waterways.

“We have had our shop for two years now and work a small table at the Raglan Markets. We make products such as perfumes, sunscreen, and a hemp textile range and Raglan Chocolate make our hemp chocolate bars, which is a crowd favourite.

“At present, we receive our oil in bulk from Uncle Joe’s in the South Island and use it in things like soap and lip balm. The

oil is cold-pressed and full of omega, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and proteins.

“You can make a substantial amount of oil compared to other plants. It holds nutrients that are good for the body, and topical application does wonder for the skin, and it would be great to see more farmers give it a go.

“We don’t understand why we don’t have mass production already. You can use the root, stem, leaf and seed to produce plastics, textiles, papers, food, medicine, cosmetics and building materials.

“It is a totally different plant to marijuana; it is a cousin. It looks and smells the same but is grown for different reasons and doesn’t have the strong THC molecule in the flower heads. It has under 0.3 per cent THC, not 20 per cent like marijuana, and it doesn’t have the psychoactive front.

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Daniel is a firm believer that hemp oil has many health benefits

“You can eat the leaves, and the seeds are so healthy. You sow the seed and water it for the first couple of months. Once you have the canopy, it takes off. The latest you should plant is in November, and harvesting can range from 90–120 days depending on the cultivar and cycle you use.

“There are 14 different cultivars in New Zealand, and we hope to do another trial crop in the near future. We are eager to work with others and are pushing for progress as product development of textiles will be the next step in the industry.

“It is quite a difficult process to make textiles. We have to see how they do things

overseas to make the materials they have.

Someone in Waikato is breaking the fibres down from scratch, which is exciting.

“Our sunblock was released last summer. The non-nano zinc oxide doesn’t block the pores; it is gentle and great for farmers and surfers. We also have a balm for surfers. The healing aspect helps with scarring, acne, and moisturises.

“Hopefully, the rules will start changing so the progression can speed up to help things be more accessible to start producing. Many people have spoken to us about our products, and we are humbled by the continuous positive feedback.”

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

HIGHLIGHTING A FARMING FUTURE

BY PAUL CAMPBELL

The Hawke’s Bay Future Farming Charitable Trust was founded to shine a light on the region’s existing and emerging farming expertise, creating a local hub of knowledge, research and education.

W

ith this come opportunities for profitable and resilient farming to ensure the health of the region’s soil and water, communities and farmers, into the future.

Current trustees are John van der Linden (chair), vice-chair Phil Schofield, treasurer Scott Lawson, Liz Krawczyk, Greg Hart, Tom Belford and Will Foley.

“Our mission is to promote, inspire and celebrate profitable farming systems that enrich the environment and the community,” says Phil Schofield. “We see our work as falling into two categories; communications and evidence-building, the former to receive roughly 25% of our resourcing, the latter, 75%.

“From a communications standpoint, we want to recognise and celebrate all sorts of initiatives Hawke’s Bay farmers and growers are making to have a positive

environmental footprint and regenerating the environment they are working with.

“Those could range from riparian planting or establishing wetlands to improving water efficiency or planting erosion-prone hillsides to overall farming systems change, for example, regenerative practices. We have begun to provide such examples on our website via case studies and videos, with the intention of stepping this up in the coming year.

“Over the last two years, we have sponsored a series of face-to-face forums to present alternative grazing and pasture management approaches to Hawke’s Bay farmers. Taken together, over 200 HB farmers have participated in these workshops that will become regularised in the coming year.”

The trust aims to establish to farmers and growers using evidence

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Checking crops during a trust field day

“We plan to work with leading-edge farmers and growers, documenting the success of their overall farming systems, and hopefully, making their practices irresistible to others who are watching expectantly or sceptically from the sidelines.

“Our trustees are united in the belief that our long-term focus must be on healthy soils and the land, plant and animal management practices, label them however you like, that yield healthier, carbon-enriched soils.”

The trust committed limited funding to preparing two major, multi-year demonstration project proposals to MPI and has completed an analysis of soil carbon potential on a set of dairy farms in the region. A project led by Phil Schofield is designed to measure the ability of farm practices to increase soil carbon.

“We have measured soil carbon across three properties at various stages of organic/regenerative development owned by farmer John Kamp in Patoka. These farms were formerly high chemical input dairy operations.

We Offer:

“Our carbon measurement methodology utilises the approach ‘blessed’ by MPI for nationwide application. In our view, soil carbon is a key indicator of overall soil health, which we regard as the prime driver of farming success.

“Additionally, as is well-known, the current government has an interest in assessing whether carbon sequestered in soil (and potentially increased) can eventually be factored into its carbon neutrality objectives.

“Our soil samples have been analysed

by Landcare Research and indeed provide strong evidence that alternative land management can build soil carbon (and better fix nitrogen) in the pastoral setting.

“The differences in soil carbon stocks between the three farms are large, with 64-tonnes per ha more soil carbon under the farm that has been managed under various components of regenerative farming for 10 years. This work will be published in the coming year.”

Another project is targeting 10 dairy and sheep and beef farms across Hawke’s Bay that want to improve both their environmental and economic performance.

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Phil Schofield (right) and John Kemp at work on carbon testing

interaction with regional, in particular, the Mangaone Catchment Group and LandWISE and national partners, as well as MPI. For full information and to contact the trust go to hbfuturefarming.org.

The trust has developed two major projects and funding proposals for MPI aimed at demonstrating the viability of alternative farming practices in the region.

Both of these have involved considerable substantive project development and

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DELIGHTING

CHOCOLATE LOVERS

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN Mike Renfree and Simone Downey entered into the chocolate-making business in Raglan four years ago using locally sourced milk.

“S

imone grew up in Hamilton, and she then moved to Wellington and became a punk activist,”

says Mike.

“I grew up in the South Island and Hawke’s Bay. I ran away from rural New Zealand, joined the military and became a chef. That led to a lifetime of working in the food industry.

“I spent a few years travelling overseas and tired of cooking. When I returned to Hawke’s Bay, I spent the next 20 years as a food technologist developing products at Watties.

“I was then involved in a company startup called Kawika Foods, and I met Simone. I started working for Prolife Foods in Hamilton.

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They supply bulk bins in the supermarkets and I designed new recipes for Mother Earth.

“Along the way they brought Donovans Chocolates, a privately owned traditional company, and eight years ago, I learned how to make chocolate. An old farmer told me I could do it for myself. We began our Bean to Bar chocolate business here four years ago. I quit my job two years ago to continue making chocolate, and we now live in Raglan and make chocolate.”

Mike says Bean to Bar is like a craft beer compared to other beer, or good coffee compared to an average.

“There is only 10 Bean to Bar chocolate makers in New Zealand. The style came about 20 years ago in the USA — it was real

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It takes four days to prepare the chocolate, which is finished to a hard, crisp and glossy bar

“After the bean is roasted and ground down, doing 20kg at a time, it takes four days to create chocolate with a smooth, glossy finish that hopefully tastes wonderful. It is as smooth as silk on your tongue due to the quality of ingredients.

“Each sack of beans’ flavour can vary depending on the season and what I do fractionally different while roasting. The percentage of shell you separate in the process or the temperature while grinding is all part of it.

“Cacao beans or nibs are very bitter because they are a seed from a fruit and have natural fruit acids and tannins. The roasting and grinding process releases the bitterness and harsh flavours and leaves you with pleasant, soft and subtle flavour notes.

“One of the beans from the Solomon Islands, when it is just right, has a lovely soft bright, fruity acid with flavours, which you don’t realise. The Peru bean has a dried apricot or raisin taste and the Dominican Republic has a caramel note to the dark chocolate. You often don’t need to put any flavours in at all.

“We use raw organic sugar and source our products from Trade Aid. We love that we use milk powder from the Waikato Organic Dairy Cooperative for our flavoured and milk chocolate. We also make a dark chocolate with coffee using locally roasted Raglan beans and a caramelised white chocolate that has the cacao mix in it.

“I have an Italian machine that takes 10kg of chocolate and makes six bars at

a time. It tempers, heats and cools and then you give it a shake and tap and put them in the fridge to set. It goes hard and stays crisp and glossy.

“Each bar is wrapped by hand in a foil paper made by a Hawke’s Bay company.

They are placed into a cardboard or paper wrapper. We used local artist Denise Fort to do the artwork, and she captured exactly what we wanted to describe where we are.

“Simone does all our social media, and people can follow our Raglan Chocolate Facebook page. We plan to be around for a long time selling our artisan products.

“I love making chocolate, it makes everyone smile, and I get to work in a beautiful place and am the master of my own destiny.”

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IMMIGRATION AND RECRUITMENT EXPERTS JOIN FORCES Recent changes to immigration processes and plans to reopen the border to migrant workers next year, along with mandatory employer accreditation from July 2022, made creating a partnership with an immigration specialist a natural progression for Rural People director Paula Hems.

Paula selected Visa Max owner Bevan O’Connor to provide specialised immigration services for her rural recruitment business based on their shared values of honesty, empathy, and professionalism.

“We deliver an exceptional service to our clients which puts people first. As a migrant myself, I understand what migrant workers are going through when moving to a new country and organising a job with a good employer.

“Bevan and I both believe in a business model based on integrity which provides employers with a competitively priced service while maintaining a proven record of exceptional service and care for the staff we recruit.”

The upcoming changes to immigration include a new one-off streamlined residency process which begins on 1st December. Residency applications will be open until 31st July 2022 and will enable over 100,000 migrants to obtain New Zealand residency.

Bevan says providing certainty to migrants via residency and allowing them to reconnect with their families is vital.

“It is really important to be able to offer migrant workers the chance to move forward with their lives. This also helps our rural clients who have been losing excellent workers to other countries due to New Zealand not being able to process new Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for residency during the pandemic.”

The gradual border reopening throughout 2022 will allow more vaccinated workers and family members of migrant workers to enter the country, which Paula says is vital for boosting our rural economy and the wellbeing Rural People of migrants.

growing bu director Paula Hems ha siness. s partnered wit

“It’s been really tough for our farmers. They have been crying out for workers and losing staff due to uncertainty over residency.

These changes will help to alleviate these issues.

“Being able to reunite with overseas family members will also ease a huge mental burden for many of the staff we have placed.”

Rural People client Sam Spencer-Bowers says Paula and her team are ex-

h Visa Max

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tremely helpful when it comes to working through the immigration process to secure the appropriate visas for migrant workers on their North Canterbury farm.

“We have been using Paula for five years, and we keep coming back to her because she is so helpful, down to earth and makes things happen for us.

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“Running a farm is a time-consuming business and we don’t want to be bogged down with paperwork for visas and immigration.

“It’s more cost-effective to let Paula take care of it and then we can get on with the things we need to be doing on the farm.”

Rural People are passionate about working with the Dairy Farmers of New Zealand www.ruralpeople.co.nz

PAULA@RURALPEOPLE.CO.NZ

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Standard Interest Rate, currently 25.99% p.a. applies to any outstanding balance at end of interest free period. Lending criteria, fees, T&Cs apply. Rate and fees correct as at date of publication, subject to change. Columbus Financial Services Limited or Consumer Finance Limited (as applicable) reserve the right to amend, suspend or terminate the offer and these terms and conditions at any time without notice. Mastercard is a registered trademark and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 2021

11

ADVERTORIAL

Strong and reliable on the farm Tuatara Machinery Limited is a New Zealand company that has been producing side-by-side vehicles under the Tuatara brand for more than eight years, creating a workhorse that is strong and reliable and built for commercial use on farms.

It has proved to be a challenging task, given the range of very demanding terrain presented on farms throughout New Zealand. Of course, many farmers push the capabilities of a side-by-side to the limit and beyond, and servicing is done when the vehicle breaks. These facts have to be taken into account with the design of a side-by-side, but the balance is in producing something that is very strong while at the same time does not have the characteristics of a tank.

In the case of the Tuatara side-by-side, our approach has been to produce a machine that is primarily constructed of steel for strength, as opposed to plastic, which becomes brittle and breaks easily when exposed to ultraviolet light, and is expensive to replace. We have also placed an emphasis on simple engineering and ease of access to

componentry so that our vehicles are easy to service, even by the customer, and the time spent in doing so is considerably reduced.

The process of introducing a new sideby-side to the market has come with its challenges in terms of selecting the best, most robust components for the vehicle.

However, the benefit that we have over the competing multinational companies is that if we have a component or design aspect that is failing regularly, we have free range to make changes and design improvements.

Our latest addition to the Tuatara range is the Tuatara fully-electric model, which uses the same tried and tested platform as the petrol model but enjoys the low running costs, low maintenance and quietness that fully-electric vehicles provide. View the full details on our website at tuatararatv.com.

ELECTRIC OR COMBUSTION?

ADVERTORIAL

Do I need a nutritional supplement?

by John Arts

It is not hard to motivate someone in pain to do things that will relieve pain. We make more of our Bettaflex joint support supplement than any other. It is harder to motivate healthy people to adopt measures that will keep them healthy.

Today, we look at the benefits of nutritional supplements. During the past 25 years, I have seen thousands improve their quality of life with high-grade nutritional supplements.

I consider a well-formulated multimineral/vitamin/antioxidant formula is one of the best health investments we can make.

Three words summarise the reasons to use nutritional supplements: deficiency, suboptimum and optimum. There are some nutrients lacking to the point where a deficiency causes disease.

For example, vitamin D deficiency will cause the bone disease rickets.

We thought rickets was a third world problem, but an excellent study (Wheeler et al., 2015) commented that vitamin D deficiencies in NZ children are again causing rickets.

Blood levels below 50 nmol/L are considered a deficiency.

We then move to sub-optimum nutrition. That is where nutrient levels are above deficiency levels

John Arts recommends

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Damage from free radicals causes many health problems. Cell-X contains some of nature’s most potent antioxidants to help build your antioxidant defences against free radical damage to body tissues. Try Cell-X for 3 months and see what you have been missing. Call me to see if Cell-X is right for you.”

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but below what is really needed.

The results are not so obvious, but over time, a range of health problems emerge. Again, choosing vitamin D, sub-optimum levels increase the risk of respiratory problems, immune system disorders, learning difficulties and mental health issues, and many cancers. I consider 50–100 nmol/L is sub-optimum.

Then, we have optimum levels. For vitamin D, I consider that above 100 nmol/L is ideal and means your body will have plenty of vitamin D. Adding a well-formulated multi-mineral/ vitamin/antioxidant will firstly prevent deficiencies. More importantly, it will lift nutrient levels to the point that our cells can function at their best. It is optimal function.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, 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 all-new newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

Protects joints against free radical damage

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INTERNAL COMBUSTION Powerful 1,000cc, 3cyl. Engine, 69HP; All steel construction; Manual 5 x speed transmission; Electophoresis anti-corrosion treatment; Equipped with 2WD/4WD, diff locks; Huge towing & carrying capacity; Equipped with a catalytic converter for low emission operation;

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Rice paper rolls

by Jessica Keesing

DECEMBER 2021

13

If you’re into something, a little different, here’s the thing for you. They’re not much on their own, but once you put them in the dipping sauce, it’s a taste sensation. If you don’t want to put all the ingredients into a rice paper wrapper, this just as a salad, works a treat. You can use any meat you want or make them vegetarian.

INGREDIENTS 500g chicken thigh/prawn/pork ½ cucumber cut into battens 1 capsicum cut into battens 1 carrot cut into battens Mint Basil Rice paper skins 1 packet vermicelli noodles 2 cups chicken broth 2 tbsp soy sauce 2 cloves garlic 1 onion 1 tsp coriander seeds 1 tsp whole peppercorns 1 chilli Dipping sauce: ¼ cup soy sauce ¼ cup fish sauce ¼ cup rice wine vinegar 1 tsp chilli and garlic paste 1 tsp sesame oil METHOD In a pot, add coriander and peppercorns and toast until aromatic. Once aromatic, add chicken broth, onion, soy, chilli and garlic and allow to simmer until flavours

have combined. Once combined, add the chicken and allow to poach until cooked through.

While the chicken is poaching, prepare capsicum, cucumber, pick mint and basil leaves and prepare vermicelli noodles following the instructions on the packet. Set aside.

Combine all dipping sauce ingredients and set aside.

Once the chicken has poached, pull apart and start the assembling process. Dip the rice paper roll into water (make sure you don’t make it completely sodden, otherwise it will be hard to roll), add vermicelli noodles, chicken, cucumber, capsicum and then the mint and basil leaves, then roll.

Then enjoy. The sauce is easy enough to tweak where you need to, I like it a bit tart and salty; however, do whatever works for you.

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14

DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVENTURE THROUGH

IMAGINATION

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

Artist Evan Heasman is inspired by the rural environment as he creates his anime artworks at the coastal township of Waipū.

“I

love the Brothers Grimm, classic fairy tales, nature and animation, and a lot of the theme of my work is fantasy or classic fairy tales,” says Evan.

“Anime is Japanese animation. I find it inspiring and exciting. The artists have many wonderful series and movies full of beautiful, rich, dense worlds that they create.”

Evan’s art comes under the Soju Shots logo, which has many followers on Facebook.

“I would draw for hours as a child, and I studied art through high school. I did a Bachelor in Applied Art majoring in illustration but found it difficult to find employment in the art world, so I did other jobs for a while.

“Twelve years ago, I began developing the style, which I have today. I joined HitRecord, an online collaborative media platform founded and owned by actor and director Joseph Gordon-Levitt.

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“The company uses a variety of media to produce projects such as short films, books and DVDs. A community of artists work together around the world on separate projects to create one finished piece. It may be music, animation or a book.

“HitRecord has shaped the way I work now, and I am loving it. People asked me if I could do various animated characters, and that got me started. I had to teach myself to use a computer as I resisted for many years because I wanted to create and paint my works by hand.

“Anime is time-consuming but very rewarding. I draw each part of the character or scene separately, such as its head, arms and legs, trees, branches and flowers so it can be manipulated on the computer by the animator.

“Each piece is hand-painted using watercolour paints that my cousin Stacey

Evan Heasman creates fairytale and fantasy characters to inspire people to develop their own stories through imagination

Dodd hand makes in Wellsford at Stakiwi Colours. She is one of the very few people

doing this in New Zealand. Her website is amazing.

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 2021

15

Using the Japanese character art form called anime, Evan uses individual parts to create a scene

“I then scan and collage the pieces together in Photoshop. Each finished picture is a whole lot of things scanned separately, creating the finished product.

It may be flowers, birds, trees and people.

“I can work all night playing around with my pieces, with my final style being a mix of handcrafted and digital.

“My work used to be a lot darker, but just before lockdown last year, my work brightened. I use all sorts of colour with moments of darkness, just like in fairy tales.

When I have completed a picture, I feel like I have done my part to allow people to come up with the storyline for their own fairytale.”

During the 2020 Covid lockdown, Evan created a series using a fox character.

“Fox went through the motions of what people were experiencing. The piece Stand

at Dawn is Fox standing in a field of Flanders poppies. The idea came from the nationwide call to make poppies and put them on our letterboxes acknowledging Anzac Day. “I love that people have their own interpretation of what could be going on.

I created a series called From the Wild Wild Wood. In The Clearing, a character is standing in a tree, and you don’t know what is passing by below — if there is anything at all.”

Evan’s Lush series showcases New Zealand native bush and birds, including the kea, moa, pūriri moth and kiwi.

“I am lucky to see a lot of beautiful nature here in Waipū. I include extinct things like the moa because it’s not around anymore, and it feels like a fairytale when you are told about it.

Robots, wolves, birds, foxes and native New Zealand wildlife are all subjects that Evan has developed through his unique creative ability

“I used to make originals, but this has thrown me more into fine art prints.

There is no original as it is a bag of tiny pieces that I paint, pace individually and scan. The original happens on the computer now.

“I do freelance illustration and sell my prints and cards at the Waipū market and in my studio, which is upstairs at 1 Rathbone Street, Whangārei on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

“I love that there are no rules to what I am doing, and I can make what I want. I love the concept of character creation and that the art doesn’t show anything scary. You can imagine what is happening, and I love creating each scene, trying new techniques.

“I love that people have their own interpretation of what could be going on and that the art doesn’t show anything scary. My works are illustrations of fairy tales that don’t exist.”

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16

DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

WATER MATTERS

by Andy Bryenton

Building better water systems

Most of the debate and discussion on the now-mandated Three Waters legislation change has centred around civic councils and how they will adjust to the future. However, there’s a whole other question for rural citizens.

It centres on the other side of the Three Waters coin. The new government agency Taumata Arowai, the water quality watchdog aims to monitor water health across the nation. It’s going to be one monumental job.

Federated Farmers, for instance, opined that close to 75,000 rural properties will be reclassified as water services providers under the new rules. Any water supply serving two or more households counts and must satisfy the new authority that they are up to a standard similar to town supply. It’s not just big farms; it’s lifestyle blocks which will be heavily affected.

“We asked for anyone supplying less than 50 people to be exempted, but in the end were not heard,” said Federated Farmers national president Andrew Hoggard.

“The government has jumped in at the deep end of this pool, and they are likely to drown their officials in the paperwork this decision is going to create.”

What does this mean for those building in rural areas, or even adding a granny flat for relatives and guests? The short answer

Changes to the rules about water supply mean that new builds and renovations this summer may well encompass an upgrade to tanks, reticulation and filters

is if this legislation goes through as read, it may be simpler and easier to structure in a separate tank and filter system for each

QUALITY WATER IS IMPORTANT

FORSI are specialists in customised treatment systems for all types of water quality issues.

WE OFFER CUSTOMISED SOLUTIONS FOR THE REMOVAL OF:

• Iron, Manganese, Arsenic, Turbidity Removal • Water Clarification systems • Car wash recycling systems • Irrigation Filtration • Solids Separation • Waste water recycling • Effluent Recycling Systems • pH Correction

dwelling. There are those talking about a retrofit to perfectly functional existing systems to avoid being caught in the dragnet and subjected to costly and timeconsuming compliance paperwork. Farmers familiar with the checklist needed to operate effluent storage and irrigation systems know all too well what this could mean.

The core upgrade indicated for those sticking with their existing system will be filtration, both physical and via ultraviolet exposure methods. With no precise dates set for the roll-out of enforcement and the rest of the Three Waters structure still

blocked by debate, groups like Federated Farmers may yet see a softening of the government’s stance and a reduction of that hardline insistence that a tank supplying two cottages constitutes a water supply system on a par with that of a small town.

In the meantime, it’s wise to book in advance for infrastructure like tanks, filters and pumps, as a surge in demand for these and the plumbers who install them may well come hard on the heels of a final decision.

We all agree that healthy water is a vital resource; it’s all about how it’s guaranteed, who decides, and who carries the cost.

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WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 2021

WAT ER M AT T ERS

by Andy Bryenton

Turn sunshine into water

TANK WATER SERVICES

A new generation of solar-powered deep-bore pumps is getting rid of the need for a generator in an old tin shed placed over far-flung wellheads.

A number of changes are being considered to the preferred option initially put forward in the consultation booklet in May, including adjusting the proposed minimum shareholding requirement for farmers and enabling sharemilkers and contract milkers to own shares.

“It’s a good time for the board to step back and reflect on the feedback as most farmers will now be busy with calving,” says chairman Peter McBride.

“Once they have come through this particularly busy time of the season, we will be ready to consult on the updated proposal.”

Consultation has been extensive to date. Since May 6, directors have held 90 farmer meetings, attended events such as the My Connect conference and Fieldays®, as well as leading seven online webinars and speaking with many farmers directly.

More than 5,000 farmers have directly engaged through feedback channels, in addition to discussing the options with each other.

Members of Fonterra’s board and management have also talked with other groups such as the Co-operative Council, formerly the Shareholders’ Council, the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund, the government, major banks and rural professionals. This engagement will continue as the consultation progresses.

“We would like to thank our farmer owners for getting involved and approaching the consultation with open minds.

17

PROFESSIONAL TANK SANITATION SERVICE: • We will store up to 10,000 litres of your water • Drain your tank and remove the sludge • Water blast the internal surfaces • Wash with a chlorine solution • The stored 10,000 litres of water is filtered and returned to your tank which means no expensive water cartage • The efficient process means your treated tank is back in service QUICKLY! “The Department of Health recommends for most tanks, yearly draining and scrubbing out.”

GIVE GLENN A CALL Solar methods of rural bore water extraction have become more and more viable as technology, the same used in electric vehicles and solar power stations, improves

“We also want to acknowled ge the uncertainty that comes along with us considering changes to our capital structure and the significant challenges that it’s creating for some farmers. The best way to give certainty is to ensure we have a full discussion as a co-op and get to a quality outcome.

“The board maintains its belief that, in a flat or potentially declining milk environment, making changes early will put us in the best position to provide farmers with more flexibility while protecting farmer ownership

and strengthening our co-op’s financial sustainability.”

Many farmers said that additional information on the co-op’s business strategy and future performance would help them form a clearer view of capital structure.

Further information is available at fonterra.com/capitalstructure.

07 824 8223 or 027 287 2395 to discuss your requirements

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18

DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

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DECEMBER 2021

WAT ER M AT T ERS

Water use on dairy farms has come under the microscope in recent years, and dry summers across much of the nation have done their part to make agricultural researchers seek a better method of managing water.

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Phone Wayne

07 886 6667 027 728 8482 The science of separating water from solids has led to a big advancement in dairy industry water saving, as well as helping manage slurry application and holding volumes

E Coli was slashed by 99%. Effectively, FDE was converted to settled, solid sediment and reusable water ready for further washdowns.

Ag company Ravensdown then asked a pertinent question about turning this science into a practical system. What if FDE water could be treated and reused without fear of contamination or risk to the environment? The difference would amount to a potential total reduction in freshwater use on dairy farms of up to 42 billion litres a year. Working alongside

Lincoln University, they developed a system called Clear Tech to make this technology available to farmers.

A field test at Greenpark dairy farm in the South Island delivered real-world figures; a Clear Tech system reduced freshwater consumption by 2,885,700 litres per year, recycling 66% of FDE. Could this breakthrough in science, converted to a practical system, be the future of water-saving for the dairy sector?

If so, it’s a home-grown idea that could change the world.

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AY

One core area where a breakthrough was needed was in the treatment of farm dairy effluent (FDE). Washing down yards and sheds is a large water cost; 70 litres per cow a day is the accepted average. The resulting FDE is 99% water, with a load of only one per cent solid waste material. If a way could be found to recycle the water while separating the waste, massive gains could be realised.

Enter a scholarly paper from 2018

by Keith C Cameron & Hong J Di. These researchers hit upon a solution; flocculation. This term means, in layman’s language, making the solid matter clump up and settle to the bottom of a tank via gravity. By using a coagulant, a substance that promotes this process, solid waste in FDE could be encouraged to ‘floc together’.

To say that experiments on this idea (using polyferric sulfate, safe for human consumption) was successful is an understatement.

“The new method of treating FDE was highly successful in removing the colloidal material and producing clarified water that can be recycled to wash the farmyard,” say Cameron and Di. Turbidity in the treated FDE was reduced by 97%, and the presence of

NATURAL SPREADERS

BU

by Andy Bryenton

From science to solution

19

LTD

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING LOCAL

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20

DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT LOCAL Shop local for better giving

by Deb Wright

Supporting local businesses is the most important thing we can do right now, both for the prospects of our region and for a merrier Christmas.

Give a gift that rewards everyone around you by making it a local, not a mass-produced Christmas

and

handles brass architectural hardware specialists

Suppliers of distinctive door handles and fittings • Consult us for hardware to enhance your home •

Visit our showroom: 12 Somerset Street, Hamilton

p. 07 846 1235 e. sales@handle.co.nz w. www.handlesandbrass.co.nz

• Vee Belts • Bearings • Nuts & Bolts • Power Tools • Safety Clothing • Hydraulic Hoses • Welding Supplies • Eziswap Gas Bottles • Steel Blue Work Boots • Endless Consumables • Protective equipment

Making our communities strong comes from employment; employment comes from strong business. Strong businesses come from us buying and thus generating wages that can be spent locally, too.

What doesn’t help local is a trend for chasing the cheap knock-offs online.

Where’s the fun, and indeed, the festivity, of buying everyone the same presents?

Ones that everyone knows the price tag and provenance of because they’ve seen them in the big-box megastores and clearance websites?

Face reality. December is here, Christmas is coming, and the likelihood of a globalised, possibly wrong-sized, almost definitely not-as-photographed parcel of imitation brand-name export goods turning up on time is dwindling by the hour. It’s time to make giving more fun than receiving again by hunting down things that reflect the personalities of your loved ones locally.

We’re spoiled for choice if you take a peek at what’s on offer; no need to visit the Internet, either, when the essence of what’s hot this Christmas is — unique and handmade. Now, some of us have the craft and art skills suitable for kindergarten, but this whole country is bursting with creative talent. Local art, local design, local fashion, handmade

“You’ll be giving yourself a more interesting shopping experience amid country scenery.

You might find a thing or two for yourself.” jewellery, delicious gourmet treats, wines, cheeses, chocolates, books and decor are everywhere, and no two items are the same.

If you’ve got people who (bless them anyway) are super hard to buy for, most of our little owner-operated stores will happily give you a voucher, as will places like restaurants and cinemas. Think of it this way. You’ll be giving yourself a more interesting shopping experience amid country scenery and just next door to some brilliant little cafes and eateries.

You might find a thing or two for yourself.

You’ll be able to give your family and friends something different that speaks about your understanding of their character. Last but not least, you’ll be doing a favour for the local economy, which is sure to repay you with the kind of karma that comes from strong communities.

“We Do it All In-store Retail, Repairs, Remodelling, CAD & Handmade Manufacturing”

MERRY CHRISTMAS! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING LOCAL.

STOCKISTS FOR:

336 Alexandra St, Te Awamutu | 07 871 8793

427 Victoria Street, Hamilton | 07 838 3418 Chartwell Shopping Centre, Hamilton | 07 852 5341 www.goldsmithsgallery.co.nz

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 2021

21

STOP

Have YOU protected your property to alert you when this type of thing happens?

Are your CCTV Cameras giving you the results you would really like to have?

Well now with the latest technology - Crystal Clear Cameras are available to everyone. See the face of that person of interest clearly, read the number plate of that vehicle or see what they put in their pocket like never before. one Call us today, and we will see how we can help you!

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Install a Gate Alert System so you know when someone enters your property.

Available as 1 to 4 Gate Systems.

Prices start at $750.00 + GST for a single gate.

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• Can improve insulation by up to 73% making your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

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• Less condensation for a healthier home • Environmentally friendly.

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For: Shopping Malls, Commercial, Residential, Farms/Rural Properties, Schools etc.

Turn your existing timber windows into Retro-fit Double Glazing. Designed to f it all window sizes.

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0800 847 322 276 Kahikatea Dr, Frankton, Hamilton

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Email: getglassnz@gmail.com

BEST SOLUTION FOR YOUR DAIRY FLOOR

THE

RESURFACING

Now there is an extremely cost effective and easy to use product that will bring back your damaged concrete floors to an approved standard.

COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER has been specially formulated for the repair of worn or damaged concrete in the dairy industry. Dairy Floor Resurfacer is a two pack system combining a Portland cement, fine aggregate based micro concrete and sophisticated binders that provide superior, compressive, tensile and flexural strength as well as a very high level of abrasion resistance and adhesion. This product is suitable for repairing worn or pitted areas or to provide a non-slip surface where necessary.

A two pot clear epoxy sealer can be supplied to reduce the wearing effects of milk and acid.

COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER can be supplied as a ‘do it yourself kit’ and delivered anywhere in New Zealand or applied, in most areas, by contractors.

COLOURCRETE DAIRY FLOOR RESURFACER Part A is supplied in 20kg bags and covers approximately 3m square. Part B modifier is supplied in both 10litre and 20litre containers and approximately 4litres per 20kg bag would be required. After trowelling, the surface can be broomed or sponge finished.

PHONE 07 849 3659 | Fax 07 849 2590 10 Karewa Place, Hamilton 3200

mike@troweltrades.co.nz

22

DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

SHOP LOCAL – SUPPORT LOCAL

by Andy Bryenton

The recipe for a thriving town

We now know that the shop local recipe works. Last year’s post lockdown surge didn’t just silence naysayers who predicted a lasting recession; it blew expectations of local tourism and local spending out of the water. Now we know; let’s do it again for summer.

It feels odd to thank Covid and its attendant lockdowns for anything. The nasty virus has few silver linings, but one of them has got to be the newfound realisation that we can create prosperity by shopping, dining and exploring locally.

The proof is in the fact that unemployment is down, tourism was up all last summer with only Kiwis able to visit, consumer spending swung back hard, and there’s a new appreciation for local enterprise’s contribution to society. Here’s the recipe.

Take a blend of vital local services and knowledge. That means a mix of trusted names who have served generations and who know their customers by name, blended with professionals who know the local conditions and what local people want and need. Supporting local business means keeping skills, service and success in town, cutting out long commutes for specialist help and making sure competent, qualified and trusty experts are just down the street.

Add a helping of community strength.

The names around the goalposts and on the kids’ uniforms at sports events. The raffle prize givers, the charity supporters,

the food bank shelf fillers and the names behind arts, crafts, culture and music in your town; many of them are local businesses. Supporting them helps them support the thing we love.

Stir through a generous amount of finance. We’d all heard that a dollar spent locally is worth ten that go out of the area. Now we know it’s true. The people you pay become your customers, and the people you support become your supporters, keeping jobs and cash local when we think local.

Put in the seeds for future success.

Who will train the next generation so that there’s always a plumber, an electrician, a mechanic or engineer at your grandchildrens’ service? The businesses you support today will, and they’ll make sure those jobs go to local youth, keeping families together.

Combine, and watch something exceptional rise. By supporting the people on these pages, you’re helping make your home town stronger. That makes them more capable of helping you. Start a positive spiral of mutual respect and growth, and the sky’s the limit.

The shop local message was always a good one, but it has taken the response to Covid to see the truth and power of how it works

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licensed tractor dismantler

SPECIALISING IN LATE MODEL QUALITY USED TRACTOR PARTS

42 Thames Street, Morrinsville p. 07 889 7107 m. 021 070 7081 e. steve@agparts.nz www.agparts.nz

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

DECEMBER 2021

23

ADVERTORIAL

Controlling weeds the natural way A happy accident with a spilt barrel of vinegar was one link in a chain leading to the creation of the Goulter family’s all-natural bio-herbicide, WeedX. In 2013, Charlie Goulter and his wife Trish were growing concerned about the impact of glyphosate-based herbicides on the soil life of their 10-acre block in Upper Moutere.

Charlie, who comes from a long line of New Zealand farmers, discussed the idea of a natural weed control product with his uncle, Timmy Goulter, a vinegar and winemaker of 44 years. It prompted Timmy to remember the spilt barrel. “He noticed that the vinegar really took out the weeds,” recalls Trish.

Research confirmed that the Goulters were onto something. “We found that vinegar has been used for all kinds of things — weeds, cleaning, health,” says Trish. “Our forebears have been using it for centuries.”

An extensive period of research and development followed. The Goulters worked with a local scientist, John Lloyd, to formulate a natural and effective weed treatment. After four years of hard work and testing, they gained EPA approval for WeedX, the

first product of its kind to be marketed in New Zealand.

Their focus throughout this journey was on developing a product that would be safe for people, animals and the environment. The product is effective on broadleaf weeds such as dandelion, small gorse, small broom, scarlet pimpernel, mosses, clover and grass. Though repeat spraying is necessary for larger and more resistant weeds, the Goulters believe this is a small price to pay for peace of mind. “We want to help people do right by their land, their animals and their kids.”

The company also makes a raw, organic ACV with health applications for farm and domestic animals. Farmers and pet lovers worldwide report numerous positive health outcomes after adding ACV to their animals’ diets, including worm prevention and improved disease resistance.

For more information, go to naturalherbicide.co.nz.

The team at Goulters in Nelson

Supply, Planting & Re-Vegetation

Sharon, Wayne & Brett Thompson 581 Pyes Pa Road, RD3, Tauranga Email: nznativeflora@gmail.com Web: www.nznativeflora.co.nz

Cell: 021 366 480 Ph: 07 543 4406

Waikato’s Gas Guys

Effective | Safe | Natural

QUICK TURN AROUND!

WeedX Herbicide

Oxygen • Argon • Argon Mixes • CO2

Made by Goulter’s The Vinegar People - Nelson

Organic

New Zealanders LOVE WeedX because THEY ARE SPRAYING WITH PEACE OF MIND Goulter’s WeedX weed controller is SAFE to use around your family and pets and in sensitive public areas.

• Vinegar Based • Fast Acting • Effective • Affordable • Won’t destroy the soil life • NO glyphosate

• NO lingering smells • Fantastic to remove moss build up on paths & roofs • NO pine oils which can build up in the soil & suffocate the soil life • Ready to spray & concentrate available

Find out more: Phone 03 546 5174 (NELSON) Email products@vinegarpower.co.nz

T, WORK, P EA L Y,

AY

BU

Keeping it Local - Orders online: www.naturalherbicide.co.nz

THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING LOCAL

Fill and Test Welding Bottles Fill and Test LPG Cylinders 134 Grey St, Hamilton East • 07 856 7022

SAVE TIME and MONEY with the ORIGINAL AUTOMATIC chicken and poultry feeder!

There are no substitutes when it comes to Grandpas Feeders. If you aren’t satisfied in both the workmanship and the effectiveness, we will refund your purchase price in full, up to 24 months following purchase.

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GRANDPAS DRINKER CUPS Clean water, no training. Go to our products page on our website for more info.

GRANDPAS ORIGINAL FEEDER Stop pests like sparrows and rodents from stealing your hens’ food. Our feeders are also weather proof, so no food is ever wasted or stolen.

Contact us today!

E: mark@grandpasfeeders.co.nz P: 07 552 5225 | M: 027 276 9794 www.grandpasfeeders.co.nz

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DECEMBER 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES