Waikato Farming Lifestyles, November 2023

November 2023 edition

Celebration time for strawberries Pages 16–17

An excellent family lifestyle

Pursuing a new path

P6

‘Clear direction’ for climate change

P8

P10

2

November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

QUICK INDEX

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New vessel for river work

November 2023

3

Flood protection and general Waikato River management will get a boost with a new vessel due to move to anchorage at Meremere when its construction currently underway in Whangārei is completed.

Waikato Regional Council had undertaken the work in the past, but the old 24-metre Tamahere 94 barge was eventually dismantled for scrap steel in 2019, 10 years after it was decommissioned. Work is now well underway on the purpose-built replacement vessel at Heron’s shipyard in Whangārei.

The new vessel is expected to be completed in the middle of 2024, when it will then make its way by sea to the Waikato River, entering at Port Waikato and going up the river to the council’s mooring site at Meremere, where its first job will be upgrading its own mooring.

The new vessel will be the same length as the old barge. Still, it’s quite a bit wider, capable of taking a greater weight loading and has a propulsion system to enable navigation along the river operating up to two diggers on its deck to maintain the stability and capacity of the Waikato River.

Once completed, the vessel will undertake work primarily to provide for the stability and capacity of river channels in the lower reaches of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. As well, it is available for lease to other parties, who have assets in or alongside river channels, such as roading, bridges and water intakes.

the rivers will require a resource consent application. Work will also start on construction of the mooring upgrade and dry-docking facility in the New Year, as will vessel resourcing, including skipper and deckhand requirements.

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November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

A LEGACY TO

ENCOURAGE The late Cynthia Collier was well known in her local farming community as a passionate supporter of Rural Women New Zealand.

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ynthia’s family has established a $5,000 grant in honour of her to assist projects and initiatives that support rural communities through RWNZ. “October was mum’s birthday month, and this year marks the 10th anniversary since her passing,” says daughter Jo Romanes.

“Sadly, my dad, Henry, passed away a couple of months ago, too. I think Mum would love to know that she’s being remembered through the continued work of people like her to build community connection and support.

“Mum and dad met as teenagers, and they married young. They were absolutely devoted to each other and had a very long, happy marriage. Mum supported everyone around her with kindness and generosity.

Dad was absolutely devastated when she died from pancreatic cancer at age 75, and suddenly, he was left alone.”

Henry managed the family farm in partnership with his brothers Gordon and Arthur in the earlier years, and he loved everything about the land.

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him to leave the farm, but later in life, mum and dad discovered international travel, which they both adored. Mum discovered a new side of dad as he met people all around the world and became quite outgoing.”

Cynthia was raised as a dairy farmer’s daughter in the Rangitikei and Manawatū districts. Farming was in her blood, and she took the transition from dairy to sheep and beef farming in her stride when she and Henry married and began a life together.

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Henry Collier enjoyed many years of farming the family land thanks to Cynthia’s support

“Mum played a huge support role in the family. She married dad when she was 19 and moved to the family farm, which was quite isolated — it’s 30 miles from Taihape. In the old days, it was all about letting the men folk get out to have the freedom to work the hours they needed to. It was certainly different back then to now in a sense. It was simpler, and roles were more defined.

“I don’t think it was easier for women then as there was a lot of hard toil, and it must have been also hard on mental health. You were expected to just get on with it, which mum and the women around her did, but there was isolation and expectation in performing those roles.

“I think that had a lot to do with the off-farm escapes mum had with Rural Women. She really enjoyed that fellowship

family is an old farming family in the area, dating back well over a century in the area.”

Cynthia was also a keen photographer.

“We have thousands of photos of other people, especially dad on the farm. He was a great model, and accustomed to mum always having her camera. Mum was a very keen and able gardener and took over the original family garden at the homestead, which adjoined her brother-in-law Gordon’s famous Titoki Point. The garden was open to the public for many years, and the Wakarua team provided hospitality and bus trips for people to come and view their work.

“She and dad also sang in his sister, Helen Gordon’s church choir, which they enjoyed immensely.

“Mum now has quite a number of great-grandchildren who never met her.

So, to us, the grant is one way to bring her memory to the fore, as she was such a kind person and a passionate supporter of women, children and good causes. She would love to know her memory is doing something to celebrate and help other women in similar circumstances.”

The Cynthia Collier grant will be awarded annually for the next three years, with the first grant being awarded in mid2024. Applications will open from the end of November and close on April 30 2024.

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Cynthia Collier is remembered well across the Rural Women’s Network and her farming community for her support of other people

Cynthia loved encouraging people of all ages, including children at the local school

with others who were going through the same thing and supporting each other.

“Most families had quite a few children.

Mum and dad had four, and life wasn’t always as glamorous or as easy as it may have been perceived to be. Running the house, bringing up the kids, and supporting the efforts on the farm, there was always a lot of understated toil going on in the background for the lady of the house.

“The school was the heart of our community, and a lot of the focus was centred around it. There was always much fabulous home baking done by the ladies whenever a community gathering was taking place or when someone needed to be supported in the district.

“Mum drove the school bus for decades on a roster system with other women, many of whom were related because the Collier

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November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

AN EXCELLENT

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BY AMY FIFITA

Maria and Jim Paterson have lived on their poultry farm for 23 years and are about to retire from the industry that has provided their children with a wonderful upbringing.

“I

grew up on a caged hen farm in Papakura that my parents owned.

My siblings and I had to collect eggs every day when we came home from school. During the weekends, we took turns working on the farm or going out with mum and dad,” said Maria.

“When I left school, I managed my parent’s poultry farm for four years, but when I was 20 years old, I vowed I would never collect eggs again. I wanted to work on a dairy farm instead.

“I found a job, but my parents, who also owned a dairy farm, were about to lose their manager, so they offered me the position. I did that for four years, and after travelling for six months, I met my husband, Jim.” Jim and Maria got married and had three children together. Maria was pulled back to her farming background during her motherhood years, working

on her brother’s Pukekohe poultry farm when needed.

“I was collecting eggs again. We were living in Pukekohe with our three children. Our youngest child was about to start school, and I was looking for a lifestyle block. I wanted to get back on the land. My brother lived on a Whangārei dairy farm, and I used to take our children up there during the school holidays so they could experience country life.”

While at her brother’s, Maria read a farming paper that advertised the Lichfield Poultry Farm property. It caught her interest.

“As Jim had lost his job, I suggested that we check it out because it incorporated a lifestyle block and an income. Owning our farm was different. It was ours, and I got to do it with my husband and children. It has been an awesome lifestyle to bring children up in, and we loved it.

Maria had a professional wood carver sculpt the chicken statue on-site with a redwood log, which took five hours to complete

“When we bought the farm, there were caged and free-range chickens, half and half. We had known about the government’s decision to get rid of cages a decade beforehand. The age of your

cages depended on when you needed them gone by. Our cages needed to be removed by 2020, but by 2018, we were struggling to sell our caged eggs, so we became solely free-range.

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Maria’s grandson Toby sometimes goes to the farm for a holiday to spend time with his grandparents and enjoy the farming lifestyle

“Unlike dairy farming, work was during school hours, so we were there to put our children on the school bus and there when they returned home. On the weekends, Jim was able to take our children to their sports events.”

Maria says that after alternating between the two commercial egg-laying breeds, Shaver and Hyline, they settled with Hyline brown chickens.

“We have a shop on the farm, which does well, being on the main state highway. As the supermarkets have been short on eggs, shop traffic has tripled. They keep coming back because they love the taste of our eggs and that they are fresh from the farm.

“Two days a week, we deliver eggs to Taupō, Putāruru and a butcher shop in Cambridge. I love talking to customers and going on deliveries. I am a people

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Maria showing her grandson Toby her free-range Hyline brown chickens

person, so I do the marketing if we need to find new customers. We’ve made many improvements along the way.

“Our children have all grown up, left home and are raising families of their own now.

“None of them wish to take it over, and I understand that because

I was at that point once in my life, too.

“We would now like to retire and spend more time with our grandchildren, so we have put the farm on the market. It is time for another young family to come and enjoy raising their children in the lifestyle that we have enjoyed so much.”

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November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

PURSUING A

NEW PATH

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

Anna Turner began her journey of working with sheep at Chamberlain Sheep near Te Awamutu in July this year.

“I

grew up on my parents’ dairy farm in Te Awamutu,” says Anna. “The farm is 64 hectares with 190 Jersey and Ayrshire cows. It’s been in our family for three generations.”

Three years ago, Anna watched a story on Country Calendar about dairy sheep.

“It caught my interest. It was a new industry and I thought it would be interesting to get involved in it, so I kept researching. Recently, a family friend heard about the job here, so I applied and was accepted for the position.

“It took me a while to get used to milking the sheep as it is a different technique to milking cows. You herd them into the shed like cows but there

are individual stalls with a flap. When the sheep goes in, the flap closes, and the next one opens for the next sheep. The shed has a rapid exit, and they head out when the unit lifts.”

Anna says the cups are left on each animal for three minutes.

“We have just had our herd tested, and our top ewe gave three litres of milk, with the average being just over a litre. Sheep milk is more nutritious than cow’s milk.

“I believe it has more protein, fat, vitamins and minerals. It is said to have almost twice the level of calcium and zinc compared to cow milk. In my opinion, it has a sweeter taste, too. The milk goes to Maui Milk Ltd to make milk powder.

Anna spending time with her father, Chris, and dog, Pedro, checking the stock at the family farm

“The farm has 920 Southern Cross ewes, which is a breed that Maui Milk Ltd developed from a genetics programme to enable world-class milk yields in an alloutdoor pastoral farm system.

“I enjoy that they are calm compared to cows, and they’re easy to deal with being a smaller animal. I had no idea how to milk sheep when I first arrived, so I’ve learned a lot.

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“With milking, there are certain techniques to be successful. You need to hold both cups in one hand and lift the udder up to put the cups on. Some have better udder structures than others.

“There are four staff, including the owner working on the farm, and we have a relief milker. My manager Barry did the lambing beat, and we helped get the ewes and lambs in. Then, I reared the lambs once they were in the shed.

“Our lambs stay on mum for two days to get the colostrum, and then they go straight on to the milk powder. It’s

important that they get the colostrum because it has the antibodies and gives them the best start.

“The mothers then went into the colostrum mob. They stayed there for two days because the colostrum couldn’t go into the vat, so they got milked separately, and that milk went to the calves.

“The lambs are reared with automatic feeders once they have left their mums.

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November 2023

Anna became interested in working with dairy sheep while watching a programme on Country Calendar

“The property is mainly flat land, with a few hill paddocks. The sheep are pretty friendly and mostly come when they’re called. There are similarities to dairy farming but the lambing I think is way more demanding than calves. Lambs like to feed up to eight times a day, whereas calves are fed twice.

“The way the feeder is set up means they can feed when they want to. Once they are weaned, they go out into the paddock and grow, then they go to the ram for breeding

around April and when they have lambed, they start being milked as well.

“It takes us approximately two hours to milk the mob with a 42-a-side shed. Barry has been a great teacher. He was also new to milking sheep, so we have been learning together.

“It has been a really good experience, and I recommend people who may have an interest in farming to approach jobs they hear about. I’m really lucky to have found a good farm to start out on.”

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November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

by Paul Campbell

‘Clear direction’ for climate change

A climate response plan setting clear objectives and targets for addressing climate change by reducing emissions and working with communities to take action has been approved by the Waikato District Council Sustainability and Wellbeing Committee.

“This is an important and timely strategy which provides the clear direction we need to plan and work with the community to deliver a sustainable future,” said WDC chief executive Gavin Ion. “In response to the central government’s directive for local government to prepare communities for the effects of climate change, the strategy brings together key council documents,

“Many communities are already feeling the effects of water restrictions on their business and domestic use.” policies and plans, as well as considering risk and community resilience.

“Next year, the council will collaborate with key groups in its community to develop a Climate Action Plan, addressing community needs and priorities to help prepare for the effects of climate change and help build a resilient future.”

Records show drought and extreme storm events increasingly affect the primary sector, upon which the Waikato economy depends. Dairying and agricultural biotechnology are key drivers of the regional economy, with aquaculture, forestry and horticulture also being important.

The Waikato Regional Council adds that change affecting primary production will impact the city and towns that have grown around these industries.

“There is a clear interdependency between the primary sector and those

Gavin Ion, Waikato District Council CEO

working in manufacturing, retail, transport, research, and professional and trade services.

“Many communities are already feeling the effects of water restrictions on their business and domestic use, and many will face increased fire risk. Low water flows during times of drought impact the ability to generate power through our hydro schemes and the health of our river ecosystems.

“More frequent and increasingly extreme storms, increased rainfall events and rising tides will test our coastal communities, infrastructure, roads, rail

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“Collectively, we need to adapt to these changes so we can continue to thrive economically and socially. More importantly, we need to tackle the root cause of the problem. We need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.”

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has posted a warning that global warming should be limited to 1.5C, with a small window in which to act before the effects of climate change become irreversible.

The past 10 years have been among the warmest on record, and extreme weather events have occurred four to five times more frequently.

The panel advises that “extreme weather events will become more frequent and severe, and we need to be better prepared. We are likely to experience more storms, floods and drought, warmer temperatures, increased health issues, and impacts on agriculture, horticulture, biodiversity, supply chains, and infrastructure, which in turn will impact inequality and hardship as the costs for food, petrol, gas and electricity will likely rise.”

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We wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Come in store and see how we are able to help you.

WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

11

ADVERTORIAL

Turning forests into furniture Black Dog has been turning NZ forests into furniture for the past 23 years, using macrocarpa and recycled native timbers from timber mills, farm wood lots and forestry farms from around the country.

Sandy and Andy from Black Dog use only New Zealand-grown timber for their furniture

Love of the Land Andy, the owner, grew up on farms in the Manawatu and Waikato. When he left school, Andy went on to work in the forest industry. He developed a love of all things forestry, from planting to felling to milling and now making furniture out of the finished product.

Rural History Nestled on the outskirts of Cambridge, Andy and Sandy are slowly bringing the Bruntwood Dairy factory back to life in the small rural village of Bruntwood.

The Black Dog factory and showroom are set up in the old Bruntwood Co-op Cheese Factory.

Inspired by the Wool Industry You may be familiar with the iconic Black Dog wool press leaner based on the original Donalds wool presses found in all NZ woolsheds.

In 1999, Andy sought permission from Donalds in Masterton to replicate the design and use their branding to recreate the wool presses into bar leaners. Bars, tables and leaners have all been inspired by the wool press.

The Bruntwood showroom has shearing memorabilia, and many pieces that Andy designs have a sheep industry theme.

Sustainable and carbon-friendly Black Dog’s use of only New Zealandgrown timber helps to sequester carbon and keep NZ timber in demand and valued.

Extensive range Black Dog can custom-make your own design or make different sizes to fit your space and lifestyle perfectly. You will be amazed at Black Dog’s extensive furniture range, from bars, leaners and outdoor tables; everything you need for Christmas and summer entertaining.

Pop into the showroom at 483 Peake Road Cambridge or check us out at blackdogfurniture.co.nz.

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ADVERTORIAL

Joint problems — dealing with the causes (Part one)

by John Arts

I have been helping people with knee osteoarthritis for over 25 years — I have been helping one client with this for nearly two years.

When we first spoke, he needed to take pain relief to walk for exercise.

After six months, he said the pain had completely gone and no longer needed pain medication.

Any successful programme to improve joints affected by OA should address the underlying disease process. OA is a disease that is characterised by cartilage loss due to both mechanical and biochemical processes. The major process is the loss of cartilage caused by progressive damage to specialised cells called chondrocytes. These cells live in the matrix of cartilage and are responsible for maintaining and repairing cartilage by secreting new cartilage where required.

However, these cells are vulnerable to destructive processes brought about by trauma, such as sports injury, or disease processes, especially oxidative damage. It means cells and cell structures have been damaged by free radicals. The body’s response to this is our antioxidant defence systems to neutralise free radicals before they can cause damage.

The greatest source of discomfort in OA is inflammation in the joint capsule, resulting in pain, swelling

The body’s response to this is our antioxidant defence systems to neutralise free radicals before they can cause damage. and, in some cases, heat and redness. While bone on bone can only be repaired by surgery, the discomfort from inflammation and cartilage loss can respond very well to nutritional therapy.

The most important joint support compound is high-grade chondroitin sulphate. Research suggests at least 800mg daily. I like to start most on an intensive programme delivering 1,600mg of both chondroitin and glucosamine and 400mg of a newgeneration 100% water-soluble curcumin extract.

That, combined with therapeutic doses of omega-3 fish oil, can make a real difference.

John Arts (Adv.Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@ abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

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John Arts comments: “My latest Bettaflex formula includes BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin for faster results. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend an initial higher dose for 1-3 bottles to saturate join tissue.”

(John Arts, Founder, Abundant Health)

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Cautions: Do not take with anti-coagulant/platelet medication. If in doubt please consult your healthcare professional. Not suitable during pregnancy or lactation.

TO ORDER PHONE: 0800 423 559 Or order online at www.abundant.co.nz Abundant Health Ltd, PO Box 8348, Cherrywood 3145

12

November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Fresh berries, PYO berries & real fruit ice creams

GET YOUR CHRISTMAS BERRIES FRESH FROM US! ruakuraberry.co.nz Ruakura Berry Farm 11 Davison Road Newstead Hamilton

stkildaberry.co.nz St Kilda Berry Farm 30 St Kilda Road Cambridge

WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

ADVERTORIAL

BU

Maintaining a rural property is more expensive than ever; Heybarn has the answer to creating easy, passive income from your available assets, and it’s free.

“The Heybarn online marketplace concept connects people together for storage, event, work or creative space.”

In an exciting world-first, Heybarn has developed an online marketplace connecting those with an available shed, garage or paddock directly with other Kiwis who need storage, event, work or creative space. After launching in 2022, Heybarn now has both rural and urban spaces available throughout New Zealand, and hundreds of potential renters are visiting the site every day.

By advertising for free on the Heybarn site, space owners can easily earn passive income from buildings and paddocks that would otherwise stand empty. Conversely, for those looking for space, it offers affordable and flexible space options of all shapes and sizes throughout New Zealand.

Kiwis need more space, with commercial self-storage occupancy rates consistently at more than 90% and the weekly cost of renting a unit doubling in the last two years alone. With the recent relaunch of their website heybarn.co.nz, Heybarn is proving that Kiwis prefer to rent directly from other Kiwis.

Described as a mix of Tinder and Airbnb, Heybarn focusses its attention on maximising the safety and privacy of its community. Both renters and space owners are asked to list on the site before a connection is made, and the specific location of the space is not disclosed on the site.

The Heybarn team has been rural property owners and understands

the importance of controlling when and who accesses your property. If a renter likes the look of an available space, they can contact the space owner via the website. The owner can then anonymously review the renter’s request before agreeing to a site visit or declining their interest. Heybarn also provides access to a free legal rental agreement template.

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14

November 2023 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

Monaco Win a trip to the F1 Grand Prix

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

15

ADVERTORIAL

Manure clean-up made easy

Clearing out the manure from under woolsheds has become easy work with Clean Sweep Woolsheds.

Mark Turton and his wife, Megan, have been servicing the Tararua area for more than 35 years with their fencing business. Wanting to assist their clients further with farm maintenance, seven years ago, they introduced their new business, Clean Sweep Woolsheds, to the farming sector. Mark has invented and built this specialised machine that goes under woolsheds and pulls out all the sheep manure.

He devised a hydraulic-driven rotary hoe system that goes under the shed by itself, digging along the pile line for up to 30 metres. When it is full, the machine is hauled out and emptied.

“Underneath the shed is a horrible place to be for obvious reasons, but by using the Clean Sweep machine, you don’t have to be amongst it.”

The system is highly versatile, being able to be used for any type of woolshed — it will even handle the lowest of sheds.

The Clean Sweep machine is also ideal for cleaning the hard count-out pens, and by using the Kanga and bucket setup they can clear away deposits on the under covered yards.

Moreover, because the bulk of the work is being done automatically from outside the shed, it is not labourintensive, so it is fast and cost-effective.

Mark points out that it is important for woolsheds to be clean.

Clean Sweep Woolsheds has made manure clean-up easy

“It creates a healthy space on many levels. The sheep have good airflow if penned overnight, and they dry faster. It also decreases wool staining, and most importantly, reduces the ammonia smell, which the shearers will appreciate.”

The end product is a great fertiliser that the client keeps. “Some people give it to the local school or club

Anything… Anywhere… Anytime!

to sell, or they can spread it on to their paddocks.”

There is a huge variety of woolsheds around, so Mark visits the farm first and gives a no-obligation quote.

If you have not cleaned out under your woolshed, count-out pens or covered

yards for a while, give Mark a call, and he will provide you with a free quote.

Phone 0800WOOLSHED or 0800 966 574, after hours 06 374 9242 or mobile 027 682 1186.

Email markturton@xtra.co.nz or visit cleansweepwoolsheds.nz.

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16

November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

CELEBRATION TIME

FOR STRAWBERRIES The time for Christmas fare is near, with seasonal fruits playing a major role on festive tables, with Waikato to the fore in providing the taste of summer as a significant berry growing area, producing strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and more.

S

trawberries are leading the way on berry farms, where you might pick your own, and farmers’ markets, various retail outlets, and cafe and restaurant menus.

Danielle and Kamal Dhillon run Ruakura Berry Farm, which began with just one field and a shop that soon became too busy, leading to expansion plans. They say the berry season is often appreciated by families who take advantage of PYO outings, where the odd taste sample while collecting your punnets is usually welcomed with a smile by growers.

“The season truly got underway at Labour Weekend, and St Kilda Berry Farm

in Cambridge celebrated its opening with thousands of visitors,” says Kamal.

“Ruakura is a 10-acre property, and we realised we needed more land to support it. We also have St Kilda Berry Farm in Cambridge, twice the size of Ruakura, and we’ve planted around 150,000 Camarosa strawberry plants at both farms. Later, there may be PYO watermelon days at St Kilda.”

Danielle said when they opened the picking season, they had a huge number of visitors keeping them busy. ”It’s strawberries through to Christmas, with the fruit going through until the end of March, after planting out around April and May. We’re open seven days a week and are closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. “On-site at Ruakura, we have PYO strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries and boysenberries, produced

Farm visitors picking their own berries in the field

at different times of the year. Currently, at St Kilda, we only have PYO strawberries.

“We also have the famous real-fruit ice creams available where we blend premium brand ice cream with homegrown berries for the perfect summer treat. PYO is a really fun family activity.

The kids can also learn where fruit grows,

how to pick it and, of course, the best part — eat it. There are playgrounds for the kids after an ice cream as well.

“We’re proudly New Zealand family owned and operated and still spend a lot of time in the businesses while strawberries have been grown in Kamal’s family for over 20 years.”

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

More PYO activity at the St Kilda farm

A particular value of the berry growing industry in Waikato is as a visitor attraction. Waikato Tourism devotes space for several local growers offering hospitality and PYO. “Many berry farms and orchards welcome visitors keen to pick their own, whether it’s strawberries, blueberries, apples, pears or persimmons or even flowers you’re after.”

Looking back, berry fruit growing was one of New Zealand’s first horticultural industries to be established in the pioneer days. It reached its peak in the early 1900s when, to meet a demand for jam fruit, large areas of raspberries and strawberries were grown in many parts of the country.

Between the two world wars, there was a decline, and interest was renewed after improved strawberry varieties were introduced in the middle of the last century. About 6,500 tonnes produced

by 125 growers were worth $24 million by 2005, and fresh strawberry exports earned $3.9 million in 2006.

Strawberry Growers New Zealand is the collective body for commercial strawberry growers.

“We under take strawberr yspecific activities such as research on integrated pest management and provide representation on issues of biosecurity, food safety, export market access and more recently, labour,” a spokesperson said.

“Strawberries are the first new season fruit to hit shop shelves and at key times can outsell bananas to be the biggest selling fruit retail line in the country. Sales channels vary, including farm gate sales/pick your own, farmers’ markets, supermarkets and retailers, and wholesale to food service and hospitality industries.

November 2023

17

A playground caters for strawberry picking families

“Supermarkets play a vital role in domestic sales, and this relationship is very important to the industry. Within stores, country labelling will become a future requirement, though the majority of supermarkets already clearly label produce origin as they recognise this information is important to customers.

“Things are all weather dependent.

There is an anticipated 30 per cent fewer strawberry plants and produce for the upcoming season, which will likely drive the price of strawberries up due to their scarcity.

“A part has to do with retirement for SGNZ’s larger propagators, coupled with the weather last season and also a labour shortage. Now the industry has new propagators starting, so this will not likely be an ongoing issue.”

From simple beginnings, the berrygrowing industry has burgeoned ever since.

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18

November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Empire Concrete Pumping LTD | Concrete Pumping Services in the Waikato Empire Concrete Pumping offers a professional, efficient, safe and reliable service. We operate within commercial, industrial, residential and domestic services in Waikato & surrounding areas.

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

November 2023

19

Christmas Messages Me

Me

Christm y r r AND A

Me

Me

Me Me

CLOSING: Dec 20 2023 REOPENING: Jan 8 2024

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Christm y r r AND A

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as

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arcoenviro.co.nz info@arcoenviro.co.nz

as

Christm y r r AND A

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22 Dec 7.30-1pm | 23 - 26 Dec CLOSED 27-29 Dec 8-2pm | 30-31 Dec & 1-2 Jan CLOSED 3 Jan Resume usual hrs 7.30-5pm

as

Ph: 027 473 0001

Me

!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from

Ph: 07 838 3928

13 Devon Road, Frankton, Hamilton

HAPPY NEW YEAR from

as

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Ph: 03 218 8569 • 027 550 6727 info@nzadventures.co.nz

Ph: 07 877 8106 | 07 878 8137 Piopio Clinic closed stat days only

A1 Concrete Pumping

Wholesale Nursery & Planting

Ph: 027 530 7279 CLOSING: 22 Dec 2023 REOPENING: 8 Jan 2024

Ph: 021 395 025 a1pumpit@xtra.co.nz CLOSING: Dec 23 2023 REOPENING: Jan 8 2024

Christm y rr AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR from

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On call duty vets available during closures

as

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Te Kuiti Clinic closed Fri 22nd Dec 5pm - Wed 3rd Jan 8am

as

CLOSING: Dec 21 2023 REOPENING: Jan 15 2024

Ph: 021 049 0138

Christm y r r AND A

WAIKATO LTD

CLOSING: Dec 22 2023 REOPENING: Jan 3 2024

HAPPY NEW YEAR from

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Ph: 07 827 7066 www.blackwoodyamaha.co.nz

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Closed on Statutory days only.

www.bigblocks.co.nz

as

CLOSING: Dec 22 2023 REOPENING: Jan 8 2024

herd.feed@gmail.com www.holisticfarmsolutions.co.nz CLOSING: Dec 20 2023 REOPENING: Jan 8 2024

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PIECING TOGETHER YOUR HEALTH & SAFETY

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Ph: 0800 300 488

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CLOSING: Dec 22 2023 REOPENING: Jan 8 2024

Ph: 07 850 6447 | 8am - 4.30pm

www.nznativeflora.co.nz

518 Te Rapa Rd, Hamilton Closed for Stats only over the Christmas period

20

November 2023 WAIKATO FARMING LIFESTYLES

CAMBRIDGE

The Honda Shop

07 823 5522 PUTARURU

The Honda Shop Putaruru

07 871 8838

HAMILTON

Action Equipment

07 957 9150 TAUMARUNUI

The Tool Shed

07 895 8582

HUNTLY

Peter Glidden Honda

07 828 9687 TE AROHA

AgPlus

07 884 9901

MORRINSVILLE

Peter Glidden Honda

07 889 6550 TE AWAMUTU

Lawnmower & Chainsaw Centre

07 871 8838

PIOPIO

King Country Honda

07 877 8054

WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Ranger gets electric boost

by Andy Bryenton

November 2023

21

The best-selling vehicle in New Zealand is set to get an electric option, with a hybrid plug-in Ranger ute on the horizon from Ford.

It comes just in time to wave goodbye to the so-called ‘ute tax’ which so vexed the rural public, but more on that elsewhere.

For now, tradespeople, farmers and those who love the original big Ford utility will be looking with interest at a machine that promises lower emissions and better economy and more torque than the alldiesel variant on sale today.

“We are very excited to soon be offering the Ranger Plug-In Hybrid to New Zealand customers,” said Ford New Zealand managing director Simon Rutherford.

“New Zealanders are rapidly transitioning to electrified vehicle solutions. The Ranger plug-In hybrid will play a key role not only in Ford’s global sustainability efforts to reduce emissions from transportation, but also in helping meet the varied needs of our valued customers here in New Zealand.

We anticipate that a more sustainable, low emissions solution will appeal across retail, business, rural and urban customers alike.”

Electricity combines with 2.3 litres of turbocharged petrol power to deliver a raked towing capacity of 3,500kg, fourwheel drive, and the claim of more torque than the big turbo diesel, which has become a favourite around New Zealand.

As a plug-in hybrid, the new Ranger will allow for approximately 45 kilometres of fuel-free driving in full electric mode.

The FT-Se is already being compared to the classic AW-11 MR-2 mid-engined sports car, based on this prototype from Tokyo’s Mobility Show

As far as looks go, Ford has resisted the urge to create a retro-futurist rocketship or an edgy design study like Tesla’s Cybertruck. The hybrid Ranger looks like a Ranger, which is smart thinking when you are already the topselling ute in a vicious market. The appeal of this machine may well be that it doesn’t wear its electric heart on its sleeve and instead presents itself as what it is intended to be — a stablemate of Ford’s great all-rounder.

One very handy addition to the mix is the inclusion of Pro Power Onboard, which effectively makes the whole ute into a large, quiet generator. Power outlets embedded in the tray and cabin will allow hybrid Ranger drivers to use electric equipment on the go, charge up the batteries of laptops and power tools, and never be far from a plug.

There’s a year to wait, until 2025, before Ford says the first of these utes

will hit the road locally, but it’s expected that they will make quite an impression when they arrive. Customers asked for a solution that would give them the best of both worlds, and this might well be it.

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22

November 2023 WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

by Andy Bryenton

Toyota’s future shocks

Toyota designers have rocked the Japan Mobility Show with six new models, each of which is a departure from tradition.

The mobility show is all about transport in all of its forms, and it’s an important fixture on the calendar for Japanese automakers. This year, Toyota ran a large stand with six prototype vehicles under the headline ‘find your future’. There was something for everyone among the machines crafted by the auto giant’s research and development team, including new incarnations of a pair of classics.

First up, a fully electric Land Cruiser was revealed, picking up the baton from

Warranty Plus

King Country Kiwispan

Hugh Lilley Owner/Operator

PO Box 415, Te Kuiti Ph: 07 878 8154 M: 027 215 1617 E: hugh.lilley@kiwispan.co.nz

www.kiwispannz.co.nz

The FT-Se is already being compared to the classic AW-11 MR-2 mid-engined sports car, based on this prototype from Tokyo’s Mobility Show

the recently released hybrid version of the venerable off-roader. Dubbed the Land Cruiser Se, its name means ‘sports electric’, and it will have big boots to fill, both here and across the Tasman. In both markets, the Land Cruiser has become the byword and benchmark for tough dependability, and the Se model looks

set to step up to the plate with similar capabilities to its petrol predecessors.

Right now, it’s just a concept, but it looks the part.

Also, turning heads was another good fit for the Kiwi market, a fully electric ute.

The EPU or Ecological Pickup looks like a Hilux from the near future, eschewing

the folded-steel aesthetic of Tesla’s Cybertruck in lieu of a more traditional appearance. However, it’s all battery power under the hood. There’s plenty of room in that double cab and on the large, wide, flat deck, unencumbered by the need to accommodate internal combustion drivetrain and exhaust components.

“It’s great to see the development focus is not just on vehicles but on a sustainable future. Toyota is accelerating product development, emphasising its serious dedication to next-gen battery-powered mobility. At the same time, there is a real commitment to building vehicles that meet customers’ demand for a vehicle that fits into their lifestyles,” said Toyota New Zealand chief executive Neeraj Lala.

The star of the show, however, was a car that had been long anticipated and often written off as a pipe dream by enthusiasts.

The sporty, low, MR-2-inspired FT-Se broke cover at the Mobility Show and immediately caught the imagination of sports car lovers worldwide. Just as the original MR-2 delivered luxury supercar performance and looks on an affordable budget, it’s hoped that the FT-Se will go into production to become a worthy successor. Certainly, there are exotic electric speedsters out there, but an FT-Se, which comes with an MR-2 style price tag, would put that kind of fun in the hands of the masses and win hearts and minds for Toyota.

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WAIKATO FArmING LIFeSTYLeS

Rural hearts support child

by Amy Fifita

November 2023

23

Ngātea business owner Krystle Norman and her three daughters are raising funds for a Waikato family to get their child to Germany for medical care.

“It is important for me to teach my children about the gift of giving. Every year, we do something special for somebody else for Christmas,” said Krystle.

“In 2022, they selected a family that we could supply with enough food for Christmas day and gifts for the parents and children. This fundraiser is a different type of giving this year for them.”

Krystle owns The Kai Can ice cream shop in Ngātea. The business allows her to spend time with her older daughters, Brooklyn, Maniyah and Jayden. Krystle’s chance meeting with Kim Callis, Sienna’s mother, inspired her daughter to do their current initiative.

“Kim was going to local Ngātea businesses with a flyer about her daughter’s illness and how she needs to get to Germany for medical testing.

Sienna can’t get the care in New Zealand.

She was asking for donations or prizes they could use for a fundraiser.

“I am a mother of seven, and if it was me in her position, I would do whatever I could to get my child there. I told my girls about Sienna. It has been my girls’ and my mission to raise all the proceeds to help.”

So far, 11-year-old Sienna has been diagnosed with Hypermobile EhlersDanlos, Nutcracker and May Thurner vascular syndromes. A specialist scan in Germany will help diagnose the other suspected vascular compressions.

“It has made me realise that you never know what is going on in someone’s life, and being able to help them, even

Maniyah, Krystle, Jayden and Brooklyn Norman are making a difference to Sienna Callis and her family by fundraising to get her to Germany for medical care

in a small way, makes us feel good,” Brooklyn says.

The girls asked for sponsorship from Future Post and were given a bench seat and a recycled garden bed made from recycled plastics. The team is doing one raffle at a time.

“We are going to do gift cards from The Kai Can as prizes, too. The girls are

trying to get more donations in and want to do a Christmas food hamper raffle,” Krystle says.

“If the community could get behind us, even if it is a canned item from The Kai Can, we are happy to take a dollar off of that item. We were dairy farmers for 13

years before moving to Waiuku, and being in Ngātea is starting to draw us back to farming. Since having a business there, the local people we have met have been incredibly welcoming. It is a tight-knit community, and it’s awesome to see them pull together for Sienna.”

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