Waikato Farming Lifestyle July 2021

July 2021 Edition

Establishing the blue Pages 6–7

Treatment plant upgrade

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A jockey’s life

Tragic Kiwi link to UK farming story

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

Recruiting halal butchers

Integrity community media

New Zealand’s red meat sector has launched a recruitment drive to attract halal butchers to the industry.

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

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The sector requires around 250 halal processing people every year, with approximately 100 of the roles typically filled by New Zealand residents or those with open work visas.

However, the closure of New Zealand’s borders due to the Covid-19 pandemic means migrant halal butchers and boners are unavailable, and the industry is encouraging Muslim New Zealanders to consider a career in the sector.

Chief executive of the Meat Industry Association, Sirma Karapeeva, said halal butchers are critical to supporting the meat processing industry, especially in regional communities where many plants are located.

“Halal processing is a core part of the New Zealand meat processing industry with approximately 43 per cent of New Zealand total red meat exports halal certified for Muslim consumers.

These contribute approximately $3.3

billion in export earnings. Without halal butchers, there is a real potential that the overall value of each animal processed is reduced, meaning less revenue for companies, farmers and the New Zealand economy.

“Our red meat industry has invested in developing this expertise and prides itself in consistently being able to produce halal-certified product for millions of consumers around the world.

“Processing companies offer competitive wages and training for successful candidates. We encourage anyone considering a move or a step into a highly-valued new career to get in touch and talk to us about the opportunities available.”

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Treatment plant upgrade

WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

July 2021

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Wastewater discharge issues into Lake Waikare are expected to be addressed with the upgrading to Te Kauwhata’s wastewater treatment plant.

Waikato District Council has consent to discharge treated wastewater to the lake from its treatment plant that services the surrounding urban area. The quality of the discharge varies throughout the year, and although it will be compliant for much of the year, at times, it is failing.

“Council’s current discharge consent was issued in July 2013 when the population of Te Kauwhata was lower,” said Special Infrastructure projects manager Ian Cathcart.

“The current discharge consent does not expire until 2028, but the population of Te Kauwhata has now increased. We have much more wastewater to process through the plant. Yet, we still have to keep within limits that were set when the population and the wastewater generated was much lower.”

Mr Cathcart said that the amount of treated wastewater from the plant entering the lake is incredibly small compared to the overall contribution of water from waterways entering the lake.

“With urgency, we are putting in place the upgrades of the wastewater treatment plant to reduce the overall impact on the lake and meet its targets in the discharge consent.”

The council is rebuilding the treatment plant to include a new UV unit, to be

commissioned in December 2021, and a Membrane Aerated Biofilm-Reactor plant, which is scheduled to be commissioned

by April 2022.

This technology is expected to bring the treated wastewater discharge back into compliance with the consent.

The upgraded facilities are partly funded by a $16.2 million loan from the government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund that was put in place to assist local authorities in areas of significant projected population growth.

“We have been working on the current upgrade of the plant since 2019 when it became apparent we were not able to keep within the current consents for nitrogen, phosphorus and E coli.

“The new design will process the wastewater to a better quality so we can process higher amounts of wastewater but remain within consent levels. However, since the new designs were agreed, and since early last year with the onset of Covid-19, we have run into international supply chain difficulties that have held up the parts that we have ordered.”

Aside from upgrading and maintaining the wastewater treatment processes collaboratively with mana whenua and key stakeholders, the council also works closely with partners, landowners

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

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y e k ’ s c li f e o j

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

Danielle Johnson grew up on her parents’ Peter and Annabelle Johnson’s 80-acre farm in Pukekohe, where working with horses was an everyday part of life.

“M

y dad was a jockey, and mum pre-trains horses.

Me working with horses was always going to be inevitable for me.

I had my first pony before I could walk,” says Danielle.

“My mum and I attended shows every weekend while dad was at the races. I am now 30 years old and did show riding from 8–16 years old and went straight into being a jockey from there.

“I didn’t enjoy school, and people said I would regret leaving and not continuing study, but I haven’t regretted it at all.

No week is ever the same, and during summer, we can have six or more race meetings per week.

“Track work can be every day, but I go two to three times a week. On the days I am not riding horses, I try to go to the gym

to maintain my fitness. My partner Jamie Richards is New Zealand’s top trainer. He trains for David Ellis at Te Akau.

“I have a 50-acre farm myself that dad manages for me, and we run sheep and beef. It was a bit run down when we brought it, and we have since made a lot of improvements to the property.

“I am based in Cambridge, and on a Saturday morning when I am racing, I carry out a bit of track work to get the horses up to racing and to help loosen me up.

“I come home, have breakfast and get on the road to the event.

“At times, I travel all over the North Island. The races are half an hour apart, and some days, I can have 10 rides.

Before the start, I look at the form book on how the race is going to be run. Horses

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Danielle Johnson has been involved with horses since she was born and is now one of New Zealand’s leading jockeys have all different weights, so you have to prepare your weights for each ride. You walk around the barriers for a little bit, and when you are in the starting position, you have to try to be as relaxed as possible.

You can’t overthink things too much and always hope the race pans out best suited for your horse.

“It is an everyday job for me. When racing you check the form, and look at

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IF YOU ARE CONSIDERING THE HARVEST OF ANY: Winning a number of races, Danielle says winning the Karaka Million in 2018 was one of her most memorable how the other horses are ridden. We watch to see if they are going forward, back or further afield.

“If you know one of the favourites is going back and you can make it a slow pace it makes it harder for them to come from the back.

“I am a contractor and don’t have a huge amount to do with the horses I ride.

The trainers work from 3.30am to 10am and can start back up at 2pm. They want the best jockeys on their horses, and they are smart animals and trained athletes that know their job.

“You need to ride them to the best of their ability to help them win. To win is always pleasing for me and the

owners. One of my bigger wins was the Karaka Million in 2018. It was a phenomenal feeling.

“This season, I had two Group One wins with a horse called Avantage. I have won four Group Ones on her. It is hard enough to win one, and she has won nine in total so far.

“I love coming into spring and summer racing as it is the best time of year. You see all the top horses come out is exhilarating.

Some people’s concept of racing isn’t what it should be. Racehorses actually love their job. I think they are better cared for than humans. The strappers who look after them in the stable treat them as their own. Being a member of the Cambridge

Jockey Club is great. The club now has the new synthetic track, which means winter meetings don’t have to be cancelled. It is made with piping underneath, so the water drains away and stops the surface from being waterlogged.

“The track stays stable and dry as it can handle a lot of rain. It is the first in New Zealand, and we are racing on it every two weeks.

“The second synthetic track is underway in Riccarton.

“Being a jockey is a risky sport, and I love the animals. It is not a nine to five job that gets tedious and boring. Ultimately, I live a great life and get to ride horses as a job, which I love.”

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

ESTABLISHING

THE BLUE

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN Samen NZ managing director Cees van Baar moved from the Netherlands 36 years ago as an opportunity to have a go at farming.

PART ONE

“M

y grandfather was a farmer but not my dad, so at 20 years old, I moved out to New Zealand after attending agricultural college to be able to go farming,” says Cees.

“I went into the contract and sharemilking system. It was easy to get into back then as not many people wanted to sharemilk. After eight years of being single and alone on the farm, I returned to the Netherlands and got a job with KI Samen, an artificial breeding company.

“I was in the export department and set up markets in the UK, Ireland and Scandinavian countries. I then worked in India, Pakistan and other places and travelled a lot, learning about the breeding business. My partner and I got married and returned to New Zealand, where we

established Samen NZ in 1997. Since then, 11 other international breeding companies who wanted to bring their breeds here have joined us.

“We select specific genetics for New Zealand, and we have tough selection criteria on the traits that are important to New Zealand farmers. This gives us a good assortment of different genetics designed primarily for pastoral farming and New Zealand conditions.

“I don’t have a favourite breed because, for me, it is not about pushing a specific animal.

“I believe New Zealand should be proud of itself for having one of the lowest environmental footprints as far as methane emissions go per kilogram of meat and milk solids. We use fewer antibiotics, we are reducing bobby calf

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Cees van Baar has been working with the genetics of Belgian Blue and other breeds of cattle from many years

WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

The white Belgian Blue bulls provide easy birthing calves, which are colour marked for easy identification

numbers, and where we can lower methane emissions and improve water quality, yet we are told by our politicians that we need to reduce cow numbers. I ask, but why would you when you are the best in the world? It doesn’t make sense.

“Logically, you think we should be supplying more and producing more.

Other countries are getting rid of intensive farming systems.

“Food production will reduce rather than increase, so agricultural countries will still need to feed an extra two billion people in the future.

“In the breeding industry, you need to look at where we will go in 20 years time. In the beef industry, we see that the traditional way of beef farming in New Zealand, where a cow has a calf sucking on it, isn’t as sustainable as raising a beef animal out of a dairy cow.

“For the dairy farmer, it is important that beef breeds are easy calving, shorter gestation and colour mark the calves for

easy recognition. The Belgian Blue, as we have bred them over the past 25 years, meet all these criteria.

“When you see the ‘White’ Belgian Blue’s offspring, the white colour marks with white and speckly stands out, whether the calf is from a Jersey, Friesian or crossbreed cow.

“The beauty of the breed is it carries the double muscling gene. That gives you much quicker finishing, growing more meat economically. Traditional beef breeds generally dress out at 50 to 54 per cent.

“Our own data indicates that we are achieving dress out at 56–65 per cent or higher, depending on age but between 15 and 22 months.

“We are growing animals that utilise most of the feed or protein they eat to lay down meat rather than fat.

“The beef finishers who raise them into beef can kill anywhere from 15–22 months, which is before the second winter

July 2021

Trudy Bensted works with farmers such as Jeanna and provides information and advice on the various breeds Cees brings into the country through Samen NZ

for animals out of the dairy industry. It means people carry the animals for less time and produce young tender beef. This eliminates the second winter, which is the costliest time.

“We have found young Chinese consumers want to introduce beef to their pork and chicken diets. Young tender beef for stir-frying and clay pot cooking is the ideal meat. Belgian Blue works perfectly for this.

“American and European high-end customers want a marbled piece of steak with a little fat on the outside. Although that section of the market will always be a niche, during Covid, that market suffered badly.

“If we are to produce increasing numbers of dairy beef, to reduce our bobby calf numbers, we are better off with a young tender carcass that we can fully utilise.”

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

TRAGIC KIWI LINK TO UK FARMING STORY

by Paul Campbell The tragic deaths of New Zealand soldiers en route to war at a lonely railway station stop in England has been recorded in the story of a farming family in the county of Devon that cements a link with rural New Zealand.

T

he rail deaths, two world wars, foot and mouth disease and the constant battle of farming life are graphically recounted in Larksong, a novel detailing the history of a rural property and its occupants during the years, by Devon farmer and author Trish Dugmore.

“On Monday, September 24 1917, 10 New Zealand soldiers were killed, and two were injured when they alighted from a troop train at the Bere Ferrers station, near Plymouth in South Devon, but on the wrong side they stepped onto the adjacent rail line to be hit by a passing express train,” says Trish.

“Some were farmers, some from Kiwi towns and cities and they lie today in a UK war graves cemetery.

“Their troopships had arrived at Plymouth Sound, and they were headed

by train to Sling Camp on the Salisbury Plains. Inquest evidence showed the troop train pulled up at the station when the line ahead was blocked.

“The soldiers had been told that on arrival at Exeter, which was expected to be the first stop, two men from each compartment were to get out and draw rations from the brake van. It was midafternoon, and they would have been tired and hungry — not having eaten since breakfast. When the train halted, men jumped on to the line, thinking they had arrived as expected.

“Almost immediately an express train from Waterloo to Plymouth dashed through the station, and the men on the line were struck down,” the inquest found.

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At the nearby war memorial, the train tragedy is remembered

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July 2021

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76% of New Zealanders are concerned about “fake news” and its implications

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Devon author and farmer Trish Dugmore recalls a wartime Kiwi tragedy at a memorial service in the village church, built in 1333.

“A New Zealand flag hangs in the church, and a plaque was erected at the railway station.

“A permanent war memorial was also built nearby, with the names of the victims inscribed.

“Even today, villagers gather each year to commemorate the tragedy.”

Larksong is available in New Zealand from amazon.co.uk. The book contains an ‘eyewitness’ account from one of Trish’s characters that reflects the community’s shock as the effects of war came so close to home.

“This parish is almost an island,” she said.

“The people of Bere Ferrers must have felt quite removed from the slaughter in Europe, and then suddenly they no longer felt isolated. It affected them greatly and still does.

“There are memorials in the church, the war memorial and on the station platform — such a waste of those young lives. It is strange, too, that many people have stood outside my farmhouse and looked down at the estuary and said how like the North Island of New Zealand it is.”

Elsewhere in her book, she writes of the UK foot and mouth outbreak in sobering detail that will perhaps resonate with Kiwi farmers affected by the M bovis outbreak.

“It was when we were in Devon that the foot and mouth epidemic overwhelmed

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An annual memorial, often with New Zealanders present, is held at the station this farming parish. We watched the disease follow the contours down towards us.

“We listened to every news bulletin. I wrote as it was happening; the pyres, the burning carcases and the dreadful smell, the lorries rattling along the roads loaded with railway sleepers to light the fires.”

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Shaping capital structure A revised proposal that aims to reflect farmer’s views is being drawn up with the first phase of Fonterra’s capital structure consultation now complete.

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.

“We also want to acknowledge 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.

WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

July 2021

11

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OFF THE GRID ADVERTORIAL

Going off-grid with Ecopod Going off-grid can be complicated, involving multiple systems, specialists and technical details. Working with a modular building supplier like Ecopod can simplify matters so that the right solution for the best price can be achieved.

Through a transparent process, Ecopod works alongside their clients to establish requirements for energy, water and wastewater, depending on the case. That allows end-users peace of mind that their building and services will work in unison to make living off-grid harmonious as it should be.

The Mahakirau Forest Estate conservation society created an offgrid field base and education hub with support from Ecopod. They used containers and Ecopods to provide the storage, teaching and amenity space necessary to promote their conservation activities. The community hub enables volunteers, researchers and local children to train, organise and educate on their monitoring, research and predator control across the 600ha of covenanted land.

The relocatable project incorporates solar power, an array of six 335W panels stored through a 3kVA inverter into a 445Ahrs battery bank, with backup generator provision, a continuous flow gas hot water califont and hobs, a dehydrating compost toilet and greywater filtration system.

Tim Hooson, the project leader, said: “Partnering with Ecopod to coordinate the off-grid systems made it easy to ensure the amenities and the services were appropriate for our needs.

“Prefabricated building, with a company like Ecopod, also means there’s less contractor time on-site, less programme uncertainty and site disturbance, assured quality, and most importantly known and lower cost especially in remote and rural areas.

Defining the project parameters and goals at the outset helped to ensure pricing and timelines are adhered to before finalising the specifications.”

Here are some lessons Ecopod have learnt from going off-the-grid: • Solar systems should allow for three to four days without sunlight, and

if using a backup generator, check that the inverter can work with it • Applying good insulation, glass shading and cross-ventilation will reduce energy requirements for heating and cooling • Design the roof slope for solar PV arrays or coordinate the design of a tilt frame early (25–33 degrees facing north is best around upper North Island) • A dry, insulated and ventilated storage box required for batteries adjacent to the inverter • Consider site access for trucks delivering buildings, and later for water refills or septic tank maintenance • If using a composting toilet, ensuring greywater is safely managed and legal for consenting purposes • Carefully calculate energy needs of kitchen appliances, heating, small power and water pump and check the maximum throughput for the inverter before turning it all on at once For further advice or to get a free quote, get in touch with the team at Ecopod on 0800 ECOPOD or sales@ecopod.co.nz.

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

Your rights come first

by Andy Bryenton

Choosing a professional tradesperson is all about peace of mind, and the law surrounding what a competent tradie should provide hinges on them being educated and qualified.

Here’s what the Consumer Guarantees Act (CGA) says about the levels of expertise and care a tradesperson should display when working on your project.

You’re covered for these whether there’s a written contract or not. Remember, most of the time, you can spot ‘cowboys’ a mile away as they won’t be affiliated with the oversight body for their trade and might be cagey about sharing their qualifications.

For example, they may not have a card identifying them as a proper plumber or a logo on their ute identifying them as a Licensed Building Practitioner if they’re not legitimate. The CGA says that no matter who you hire, you’re entitled to expect five things. The first is called reasonable skill. It means that the job must be at least as good as the work of a competent person with average skills and experience for that type of work. That average is determined by the standards set down by each trade’s governing body or as defined in the apprenticeship course for learning the trade.

The second is called reasonable care.

It means that care and attention to details

have been used. An otherwise technically competent job might not pass the ‘reasonable care’ test if it’s been finished off in a sloppy, unsightly or messy fashion.

The third key part of the CGA says that a job must be fit for use — that it does what you need it to do. A plumber who installs a non-flushing toilet has not made it fit for use; neither has an electrician who installs an air conditioner that doesn’t heat or cool.

The most important thing to note here is that for all of these factors, there’s no defence of lack of competence. If a tradesperson warns you in advance that they can’t guarantee reasonable skill, reasonable care or fitness for use as they are ‘not very good’ at a particular kind of job, it’s best to not hire them.

Real professionals know their stuff under the CGA. Fourth and fifth, even if there’s no quote or timeframe in place when the work starts, you’re entitled to have your job completed in a reasonable time and for a reasonable cost. Reasonable time is judged on the time it takes a competent

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Saving time and money Do it yourself, aka DIY, is the Kiwi benchmark when it comes to home improvements and the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has released learning modules to help those who are new to the building code and carrying out work in the building and construction sector.

Homeowners are now saving up to $18 million a year. The number of consents has reduced by about 9,000 if lodged separately for new types of building work that no longer requires building consent.

Additional building consent exemptions have been added to the Building Act. Consents are no longer needed for a number of new or expanded types of lowrisk work, like sleep-outs, sheds, carports, outdoor fireplaces and ground-mounted solar panels.

The new exemptions will save time and money by not having to go to their local council for consent. This reduction in building consents allows councils to focus on work that is higher-risk, helping to boost productivity.

The new exemptions add to the work that can already be done without building consent, outlined in Schedule 1 of the Building Act. Some can be done without the help of a professional, while others require the involvement of a Chartered Professional Engineer or Licensed Building Practitioner.

Work that does not require building consent must still comply with the Building Code and other legislative requirements,

such as those under the Resource Management Act 1991, the Electricity Act 1992 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015. Any issues related to planning or resource management or any projects with district planning implications will still need to be discussed with your local council.

Before carrying out exempt work, it’s important you follow the MBIE guidance correctly.

If you are unsure what legislation may apply and what the requirements are, it’s best to consult a professional. Singlestorey pole sheds or hay barns in a rural zone with a maximum floor area of 110 square metres can be built without a building consent if the design has been carried out or reviewed by a Chartered Professional Engineer, or a Licensed Building Practitioner has carried out or supervised design and construction. The new exemption also means you can place flexible water storage bladders supported on the ground for irrigation or firefighting purposes up to 200,000 litres in storage capacity without building consent.

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B U I L D I N G S , S H E D S & S H E LT E R S

Your vision, their expertise

by Andy Bryenton

To obtain the best possible build or renovation outcome, you’ll need to end up with both a personalised aesthetic vision and a fully compliant home under Code Compliance Certificate rules.

That means ensuring that every step of the process is in line with best practice in the building industry while not compromising your decor and design choices. A true professional will help you find a way to tackle problems and make your grand design live within the framework of what will last the test of time.

A large part of this is ensuring that every professional who takes care of each individual job is the right one to hire. Sometimes a Licensed Building Practitioner can act as a project manager, bringing in trusted fellow tradespeople from their network of contacts. In other cases, the home or landowner may decide to supervise the hiring of different tradies for different tasks. Either way, communication is crucial. Be clear from the start, and use sketches, plans and visual art to ensure that you’re all on the same page.

If the route you take is to manage things personally, it might be because you have some skill and ability on the tools yourself or know others who can ably assist with certain aspects of the build. The thing to know, if you’re going to take this approach, is that certain building tasks are considered restricted, in that

A major construction project needs to comply with building standards, but there’s no reason why it can’t also be an expression of your personality; bring on board tradespeople who can help

only a qualified and credential-carrying professional is allowed to undertake them. That’s not to say that you can’t have what you’ve envisioned; just that input from experts can avoid putting form over function.

The government takes this seriously following the leaky buildings crisis and the spate of unqualified pretenders who preyed on families in the aftermath of the Canterbury earthquakes. It’s an offence

to knowingly hire someone to undertake a restricted building task when they aren’t qualified to do it, and the fine is $20,000. There’s an even heftier penalty for masquerading as a qualified tradesperson when you’re not.

If you’re hiring people in to take care of work like flooring, foundations, roofing, damp-proofing, erecting load-bearing columns or bracing, putting up external walls, electrical, plumbing or gasfitting

work or installing fire safety systems, it’s best to check their credentials thoroughly to ensure both a job well done, and the paperwork at the end of the day to fulfil those Code Compliance Certificate criteria.

When in doubt, delegate it out. As they say, if a job is beyond your expertise, call in those with the tools, training and experience to get it done right the first time.

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When will we print a new home?

by Andy Bryenton

In October 2017, a special ribbon-cutting happened in the Russian town of Yaroslavl. For the first time, an entire building had been completed using 3D printer technology.

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The method of printing out pre-formed concrete and extruded plastic shapes had been in development for more than a decade by the time the Russians were confident enough to develop their large, turret-roofed mansion. Initial experiments at the United Kingdom’s Loughborough University were conducted by 3D printer pioneer Rupert Soar in 2003, aiming to upscale the plastic-filament-extrusion type printers of that era into machines big and precise enough to render whole houses.

By 2008, Richard Buswell, also of the Loughborough University faculty, was involved in turning this tech into a commercial reality. However, it would not be until 2016, eight years later, that the first commercial office building using 3D printer technology was constructed as part of Dubai’s Museum of the Future.

At roughly the same time, the United States Army’s Corps of Engineers took to the idea. It developed tracked, robotic machines that could rapidly deploy to

forward combat positions and print out barriers, bunkers, trench reinforcement structures and simple buildings.

While this kind of brutal and blunt architecture is perfect for a concreteextruding robot, what about more elegant forms or even a fully AI fix to our housing crisis? Mainstream architects remain unconvinced that 3D printing can currently outperform traditional builders in terms of flexibility of design, handson safety assurance and the use of mixed materials.

They opine that conventional buildings are not made by extrusion or casting or any other single manufacturing process.

They are accretions of dozens of different techniques, from cast-and-pour concrete to spot-welded steel extrusions to laminated glass. How could one process replace the dozens of others that we currently use?

The answer may lie in the future, with 3D printers coming online, which can

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even as traditional builders continue to oversee the way they are put together for the assurance of safe, human-designed buildings that are nevertheless quicker to build and possibly cheaper too.

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

B U I L D I N G S , S H E D S & S H E LT E R S

What’s in a qualification?

by Andy Bryenton

This past week, an unexpected milestone was passed in NZ’s Covid recovery. Certain pundits and experts in the press claimed that New Zealand had not just avoided an unemployment surge, but was in fact, near ‘peak employment’.

At the same time, the new normal across nearly all of the trades is a necessary waiting list for service, as professionals from plumbers to mechanics, electricians to builders report an inability to source skilled staff. Apprenticeships are up after an uncertain period a decade ago when those numbers slumped under pressure for all students to seek tertiary academic honours. Demand is high for all of the trades involved in the construction industry as we attempt to build our way clear of a housing crisis.

The point is this; it takes times like these to appreciate just what’s in a qualification for professionals. Retreading the old adage that ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s not there’, the need for skilled tradespeople highlights just how much knowledge and expertise resides in the parallel industries which rely on qualified workers.

An example, amid these pages, you’ll often see the advertisements for respected companies of plumbers, a trade that often has crossover into the realms

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of drainlaying, roofing, gasfitting and heating. Most would consider the trade of plumbing to be a down-to-earth and humble role, working with one’s hands and practically constructing the means of sanitation and ablutions. However, it takes five years to learn all the intricacies of the trade. That’s as long as a master’s degree at university, and it’s added to by the possible need to specialise. There’s more to delve into when it comes to installing fireplaces, sweeping chimneys, mastering solar water heating or tackling gas installs.

Qualifications also display immense variety, even within specific fields. Some builders excel at earthworks and retaining walls, tricky foundations and structures of immense size. Others are masters of intricate detail, liaising with architects and designers to create spaces of beauty as well as functionality. Yet others focus in on modern techniques to apply ecological principles to building, storing the energy of the sun and aligning homes and structures to work with the landscape.

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Here’s the kicker; many combine all three of these examples and more.

Construction professionals don’t just train until they get their official title, then rest on their laurels. Keeping up with technology is equally important, and new developments in the machinery or practices of a trade are literal game-changers.

Consider materials and how their use has changed during the years. Not only

does a modern construction professional have to be able to handle timber and steel with their new layered composites and structural applications, but they must also have a working knowledge of how to incorporate glass, concrete, and possibly even 3D printed materials. In parallel, many make their living meticulously restoring older buildings, replicating the style of the past with guarantees that must attain modern standards.

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Professional skill comes from years of training, and a qualification is worth far more than its weight in gold

This knowledge base is built upon, both literally and figuratively, by professional organisations such as this nation’s Certified Builders, Master Plumbers and Master Builders, to name but a few. These organisations exist to ensure that their members are kept right up to date with the latest in best practice and regulations.

It’s a challenging time right now, for example, as the old Resource Management Act enters its twilight and a new framework for building is on the way.

Keeping abreast of the best ways to ensure a quality outcome is one facet of these organisations.

Another is the constant upskilling of members through regular symposia and meetings, while yet another is a

professional code of conduct and the provision of guarantees to give customers peace of mind.

Therefore, a qualification is worth much more to many tradespeople than a university degree is to some who have achieved academic success, only to forge a career in a completely different discipline.

That is reflected by the weight that correct qualifications carry in the law; only those who are fully qualified may complete specific jobs in a construction project, for example.

Fines are steep not just for those who masquerade as trained professionals but also for those who willingly hire such impostors.

The real penalty, however, is that it’s all but impossible to sell a house that’s not able to be signed off as properly certified.

Similar issues arise in other professions if trained experts haven’t certified the work.

When you support your local professionals, you’re keeping skills in your town and, via those with apprenticeship programmes of their own, boosting local employment and ensuring a healthy workforce for the future.

More than this, you’re acknowledging the hard work that went into becoming a qualified expert, a status you can trust.

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Tips for calving Knowing the signs and stages of labour, how to calve a cow and the immediate care needed after calving will create the best outcome for you, the cow and her calf.

DairyNZ advises that cows close to calving, or springers, must be inspected frequently. Most farms arrange at least every six hours, checks and more often in poor weather.

Check for signs of labour quietly and thoroughly while recording your observations. Early signs include swelling of the udder, milk dripping from teats, mucus string from the vulva and restlessness.

Calving will progress at different rates for different cows. Some may show many signs, whereas others may show very few signs. Generally, labour can be broken into three stages — preparation, delivery and cleaning.

Look for signs such as isolation from the herd and reduced appetite, relaxed pelvic ligaments, swollen and flabby vulva, a dip between tail head and pin-bones.

The stomach may be less full as the calf moves into birth canal/birthing position, the cow may mother other cows’ calves or show discomfort — swishing tail, arched back, restless, urinating, kicking and nosing at her side, tail raising, straining/contractions and the water bag may be protruding. Cows should take 30 minutes to one hour to calve — no more

than two hours. Heifers should take two to three hours to calve — no more than four hours. Progress should be made every 20 minutes. If she is not making progress, intervention may be needed.

The cleaning process is where the cow’s uterus sheds all material related to pregnancy. That is necessary for the cow to return to normal cycling behaviour and improve her chances of becoming pregnant again in the future.

The placenta will normally be shed within six hours of birth, and the uterus begins to shrink back to normal size. If only a small part of the placenta comes away, record this and let your manager know.

Don’t pull on the placenta as this can damage the uterus and is painful for the cow.

Assess the calf presentation and look at the way the joints move. The front leg fetlock and knee bend in the same direction. The back leg fetlock and hock bend in opposite directions.

Normal presentation is when the two front feet and head move through the pelvis first.

The feet and head of the calf create a wedge, which assists in opening the birthing canal.

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Cows need to be checked regularly when close to calving

Even if a calf is in the right position, assistance may be needed if the calf is too big for the cow. The calf may need to be rotated to fit through the pelvis.

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WAIKATO FARMING lIFESTylES

July 2021

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Milk and scours DairyNZ solutions and development specialist Katherine DeWitt has discussed if the common belief that feeding a high volume of milk to calves causes scours is true.

“A high volume of milk feeding is considered at least 20 per cent of a calf’s body weight in milk, or 8 to 12 litres per day. However, does this cause diarrhoea (scours) in calves? Recent studies tell us the answer is no,” she says.

“Feeding calves a greater volume of liquid feed does create more faeces overall, but offering consistently high volumes of milk should not result in scours. Scours episodes are commonly caused by viruses, bacteria and protozoa, and the volume of milk fed should have little effect on their spread.

“Calves are more likely to be exposed to these bugs through things like poor hygiene, primarily associated with milk feeding equipment, housing conditions, especially bedding conditions and insufficient colostrum intake, leading to a poorly developed immune system.

“Several studies have shown that not only does feeding higher volumes of milk not cause scours, but it actually promotes a better immune system in calves. High milk intake also leads to an increase in calves’ pre-weaning growth rates, which is linked to better lactation performance and earlier age at first breeding.

“Other benefits include reduced cross-sucking behaviour and fewer vocalisations. Southland farm owner Amy Johnston decided to try ad-lib milk feeding

Farm owner Amy Johnston tried ad-lib milk feeding 10 years ago after having trouble with scours

10 years ago after having trouble with scours. She trialled one pen of calves, then quickly switched to rearing her 250 replacement calves this way.”

Amy fills the drums with milk once or twice a day, depending on the temperature outside.

She estimates that each calf drinks at least eight litres of milk daily.

“Sometimes we will get the odd scours if it gets cold, but I definitely notice less scours than our previous system. The

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biggest surprise was actually that the pen is silent. I didn’t realise that they only holler when they’re hungry or stressed.

“Watching the behaviour and playfulness in the pen, you can see that they are happier and just as friendly. The main motivator for me is labour saving, but more than that, I know my calves are getting a good start and that they are happy and not hungry.”

For best results, feed calves at least twice a day or ad-lib because they can’t

drink high volumes in one feeding. It also satisfies their natural need to suckle and drink milk in multiple meals.

“It is a myth that feeding calves high milk volumes causes scours.

“Scours is more likely to be caused by bugs or poor hygiene and housing conditions.

“Feeding high milk volumes can actually improve calves’ future health.”

Find out more about rearing calves at dairynz.co.nz/calves.

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July 2021 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

CA LV I N G /DA I RY

Securing skilled workers DairyNZ says the government decision to extend Essential Skills visas provides some welcome certainty for farmers and employees who have their futures at stake.

Many workers and their employers have been living under a cloud of uncertainty since the Covid-19 border closures, and the announcement should provide some relief to some of those affected.

DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle said the changes would help resolve short-term pressure on some farms.

“It is great to see the government is listening and recognises the pressures dairy farmers and other sectors are under.

It is important to note this decision doesn’t add more workers into our workforce, so there is still a gap between what we have and what we actually need.

“It is about helping us hold on to the valuable migrant workers we already have.”

Since the closure of the border due to Covid-19, farmers have been crying out for dairy farm staff, with almost 50 per cent of farmers reporting unfilled vacancies on farms.

“There are plenty of jobs on farms for Kiwis and migrants, but at this time, the reality is, not enough Kiwis are applying for jobs. This is despite a recent survey showing 87 per cent of farmers had made changes to make their business more attractive to staff, so we need our valued workers from overseas as well.”

From July 19, Essential Skills visa holders can apply for a longer visa, enabling them to remain in their current role.

The application process for Essential Skills visas will also be simplified for workers remaining in current roles.

Dr Mackle said while that is a positive step, more needs to be done to ensure sufficient staffing on farms throughout the country for the wellbeing of staff and farmers and animal welfare.

“This is where our wonderful migrant workers come in.

“Dairy farmers highly value our overseas workers who become part of our local communities, and many help train Kiwis to work on farms.”

DairyNZ and Federated Farmers are working together with the government to seek further solutions to the staff shortages, which have become desperate on some farms.

“We still have a significant shortage of skilled workers to fill the many vacancies on dairy farms up and down the country.

We look forward to continuing our conversations with the government on longer-term solutions.”

A key solution would be to enable the many migrants waiting for residency to

Dr Tim Mackle, DairyNZ chief executive

have that status confirmed, giving their families and employers a solid base to build on.

“We are also calling on the government to enable dairy farming families who have been split because of Covid-19 to reunite in New Zealand.”

The government also announced the new Accredited Employer Work Visa, due

to come into effect on November 1, will be delayed until the middle of next year due to the new arrangements.

Applications are now being taken

by DairyNZ at dairynz.co.nz/border for dairy farmers applying for border class exception, which could see 200 dairy farm workers and their families come into the country.

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CA LV I N G /DA I RY

WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES July 2021

Howl of Protest heard through Waikato

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Dairy farmers were well represented in the area known as New Zealand’s dairy heartland when farming advocacy movement Groundswell NZ mobilised for protests this month.

More than 50 towns and centres around the nation were inundated with a peaceful procession of tractors and utes, including Morrinsville, Cambridge, Taupō and Ngātea. The coordinated events were a chance for Groundswell to highlight what their prepared statement called ‘an avalanche of poorly thought out policies’ from the incumbent Labour government.

Participants carried banners highlighting aspects of legislation, which they oppose, from carbon taxation to a new levy on utes and diesel and the issue of Significant Natural Area mapping.

In Auckland, tractors drove through Queen Street, the heart of the financial district, while others took to the southern motorway. However, ground zero for Waikato protests was Morrinsville, the home town of prime minister Jacinda Ardern. Tractors, cattle trucks and utes supported a crowd of approximately 1,000 Groundswell supporters there, including the classic 1953 Myrtle tractor, which shot to fame in 2003, scaling parliament’s steps in Wellington to help quash a ruminant ‘fart tax’ on methane emissions.

Groundswell gave the government a month to address the following issues or face further protest action. They would like to see freshwater regulation and

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The dairy industry was well represented in Waikato as Groundswell’s Howl of Protest took to the streets in towns like Morrinsville

control handed back to local, not central authorities, the scrapping of the SNA programme, and the end of the planned programme to tax utes and diesel to subsidise the purchase of electric vehicles by a largely urban demographic.

These core issues, and that of general over-regulation of the farming industry,

have led to widespread support for Groundswell’s message, as evidenced by large numbers of non-farmers turning out in solidarity at marches around the nation on Friday, July 16. Their message for the immediate future is ‘watch this space’; in the meantime, farmers await the government’s response.

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