POLARIS BIG FOUR 9CALVING 26-27 DAIRY 29-34FIELDAYS 40-53EDUCATION 60-61COUNTRY LIVING 62-65FORESTRY 67CLASSIFIEDS 68-69

INSIDEINSIDEJune 13June 13

Fruitful harvestaids Eua Island

Issue No. 154Bay of Plenty

& Waikato Farm, Orchard & Rural Lifestyle news

Ph 07 578 0030

INS IDE THIS MONTHS

ISSUEWelcome to

District 10-25

Fieldays

40-53

Rural Driver

Page 35-39

Call of the

Kokako 65

Call of the

Kokako 65

Sione Vaka of the Tongan island of Eua saves virtually all he earns during the New Zealand kiwifruit harvest to improve the lives of his family back home. Read his story on pages 4-5.

INS IDE THIS MONTHS

ISSUEWelcome to

District 10-25

GIVE YOURTRACTOR PAYMENTS

A HOLIDAYGIVE YOUR

TRACTOR PAYMENTS

A HOLIDAYGIVE YOUR

TRACTOR PAYMENTS

A HOLIDAYBuy a new tractor now and dont start payments until 2014*

Page 2 COAST & COUNTRY

The winner of the May Coast & Country book prize, The Alpine Chamois by Bruce Banwell and published by Halcyon Press is Reg Proffi t of Gisborne.

Call us 0800 800 880 www.tradetested.co.nz

All goods have a minimum 12 month warranty and 30 day right of return.

All prices include GST. Offers apply 30 May - 30 June 2013 or while stocks last.

$299was $379

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15HP Lifan engine 20 x 12cm Wedge Horizontal or vertical operation

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24 Bar CDI Ignition 2-Stroke petrol engine

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Call us 0800 800 880 www.tradetested.co.nz

All goods have a minimum 12 month warranty and 30 day right of return.

All prices include GST. Offers apply 30 May - 30 June 2013 or while stocks last.

$299was $379

tradetestedTRADE PRICES DELIVERED NATIONWIDE

SHOP FOR OUTDOOR EQUIPMENTWITHOUT EVEN LEAVING THE HOUSE.

MEDIUM CHICKEN COOP

72cc CHAINSAW

Top windows Silver Steel base and pegs 4mm Twinwall polycarbonate

GREENHOUSE 6 x 8ft

$699was $899

HOTPRICE!

TERRYS

PICK

$VEHICLE SHELTER

200 x 65 x 120cm House up to 5 hens Quality Fir timber

LARGE CHICKEN COOP

290 x 95 x 139cm House up to 8 Hens Quality Fir timber

6 x 6m 12 Year warranty Hot dipped galvanised steel

LARGE CHICKEN COOP

$399was $679

290 x 95 x 139cm House up to 8 Hens

42T LOG SPLITTER

$2999was $3995

15HP Lifan engine 20 x 12cm Wedge Horizontal or vertical operation

299was $379

$2999was $3995

15HP Lifan engine 20 x 12cm Wedge

INCLUDES

FREE CHAINS

AW52CC

24 Bar CDI Ignition 2-Stroke petrol engine

$1999was $2995

$

200 x 65 x 120cm House up to 5 hens

$399was $499

Nomadic life heart of industry success

By Elaine Fisher

Gypsy Day may sound romantic but theres nothing carefree or casual about moving family, pets, farm machinery, equipment

and cows in a tight 24 hours from one farm to another as many

dairy farmers well know.Gypsy Day is the term coined decades ago for June

1, the traditional day farms change hands or farm worker or sharemilkers move on.

Dairying in New Zealand is fairly unique in the career path it offers and climbing the sharemilking ladder has led many to eventual farm ownership.

To get there they have to be willing to lead some-thing of a nomadic life, spending a year or two on one farm before moving to another, sometimes just down the road, or maybe a whole island away.

Its an exercise in logistics; planning the transport of the dairy herd, farm equipment and machinery, the household items and if there are children, enrolling them in new schools.

In this months annual Welcome to the District feature Coast & Country has stories about people and places in districts farmers will be moving to.

Theres also some good advice about surviving Gypsy Days from two experienced share milking couples Jeff and Ryn Going (see page 15) and Daryl and

Christine Breen (page 20). This season will be Jeff s fourth move in as many years. Hes relocating from Te Puke to Paengaroa, not quite such a big upheaval as from Canterbury to Te Puke the year before.

Daryl and Christine are moving not only their children, pets and farm machinery but grandma too, from Raglan to Te Kauwhata. Christines mum Maria Payne helps look after the children while their parents run the farm and she has her own household to pack up. Its not only committing to move house and job. Sharemilkers also make a signifi cant fi nancial commitment to increase their herd size, or share with each new farm, servicing a mortgage which often far exceeds that needed to buy an urban home.

They back themselves, their new farm owner and their industry to service the loan and earn a living and thats a leap of faith many in paid employment wouldnt be willing to make.

While much is under their control, the weather and the milk price arent.

Many will have been hard hit by this summers drought and feed for the winter is still tight. Milk prices are good and Fonterra made an advance to its suppliers but some had already spent that money on supplementary feed.

Dairying is not for the faint hearted but its the resil-ience, talent and optimism of those who make it their

career which are at the heart of its success.

Page 3COAST & COUNTRY

Nitrogen inhibiting fertilisers, known as DCD, are unlikely to be used this spring following the discovery of traces of it in

export milk products.Earlier this year, both Ravensdown and Ballance

Agri-Nutrients withdrew Dicyandiamide-based nitrifi -cation inhibitors from the market.

DCDs are considered safe and there is no evidence to suggest otherwise, however, there is no internationally-agreed acceptable level and so the default is the level of detection, says Dr William Rolleston, Federated Farmers spokesperson on food safety.

However, humans have not been tested for effects of DCD other than studies of external exposure of workers applying the product, a spokesperson for the Ministry for Primary Industries has told Coast & Country.

The toxicity studies on DCD are mainly animal studies. Human exposure could only be to transient and very small levels of DCD which makes it extremely unlikely for concentrations reaching the human gut bacteria to be enough to have any effect at all. DCD is also unlikely to affect any human bacteria because of its selective reaction on only one enzyme system in soil bacteria.

The spokesperson says domestic maximum residue limits could be set in New Zealand within a few months.

International limits take much longer because they have to be agreed at meetings that take place only once per year. It is our guess that the international process could take up to four to fi ve years to complete.

Risk assessments are undertaken to determine both safe levels of application of the product to pasture, and maximum residue levels that will be allowed in foods.

Safety marginThese assessments take into account the fi ndings

from animal studies, designed to establish the high-est amount or dose of the chemical that does not cause any toxic effects. The spokesperson says this determines the No Observed Adverse Effect Level for the chemical. A safety margin is then applied to the NOAEL to establish a tolerable daily intake (TDI) in humans this is at least 100 times lower than the NOAEL.

Then, analysis occurs to work out what applica-tion rates to pasture would be required to achieve the desired effect, what residues in different foods would be expected from this use, and whether a withholding period would be effective in limiting human exposure to chemical residues. Finally, a dietary intake exposure assessment checks that, at the levels used legitimately,

the overall human dietary intake will be below the tolerable daily intake (TDI), and thus pose no health risk.

SyntheticDCD is described by

Warwick Cato of Bal-lance Agri-Nutrients as a synthetic chemical, not a biocide that does not inhibit bacteria. It

works to slow down bacteria in the soil, not kill them. Its specifi city is to pause the nitrifi cation process for a period of time allowing plants to take up ammonia and nitrate. DCD does not have lon-gevity. It is 67 per cent nitrogen and 46 per cent urea and can be used as a nitrogen fertiliser, says Warwick. DCD breaks down to carbon dioxide, water and ammo-nia, and lasts in the order of 10

days, depending on rainfall and temperature.

MeatMPI carried out a risk assessment on the likeli-

hood of residues in meat and concluded that there was no scientifi c value in carrying out tests. This is because the exposed animals (those that were grazing on particular dairy farms during the short window of application) were highly unlikely to be culled imme-diately after grazing. DCD breaks down very quickly in live animals likely to be less than two days. Dairy cows are not typically culled in spring, but months later after having been dried off.

Similarly, if any bobby calves had been exposed through drinking milk containing traces of DCD, any residues would have depleted to extremely low levels by the time they were culled because there is a with-holding period of four days. Finally, meat is generally not held for long periods at either processors or retail-ers, further reducing any value of testing.

MPI has confi rmed that DCD has not been used on dairy goat farms in New Zealand.

The spokesperson says a working group has been set up to look at future use of DCD and will continue to investigate this issue.

Nitrogen inhibiting fertilisers, known as Then, analysis occurs to work out what applica-

Humans not tested for DCD effectsThe Ministry says no other products achieve the three

DCD benefi ts of slightly increased pasture growth (3-5 per cent), reduced nitrate leaching (up to 20-30 per cent) and reduced nitrous oxide (GHG) emissions (up to 50 per cent) particularly for nitrogen deposited through animal urine under grazing situations.

This is the main source of nitrogen cycling in grazed pasture systems.

Page 4 COAST & COUNTRYPage 4 COAST & COUNTRY

Summers on Eua and winters in Katikati

From front cover

When Sione Vaka boards the fl ight home to Eua Island in

September it will be money, not a chainsaw or electronic goods,

hell be taking with him.I came here to earn money to help

my family back home, says Sione who for the past fi ve years has been among the Tongan RSE seasonal kiwifruit workers employed by Hume Pack-N-Cool of Katikati.

Other workers from the Pacifi c Islands often return home with lots of purchases made during their fi ve months in New Zealand, but for Sione saving money for his family is more important.

Working in New Zealand has ena-

bled him to support his mother and younger sister and improve the home they live in. This winters kiwifruit work will provide funds to extend their house.

CropsSione says there is little employment

opportunity on Eua, which has an area of 86.7square kilometres and a popula-tion of about 6000 people. The island is very fertile and it is easy to grow crops to feed the family, supplemented by fi sh from the sea.

Its a life in sharp contrast to New Zealand, but Sione has settled into the pattern of spending half his year in what most people would consider a tropical paradise, and the other half in New Zealand during winter.

Because of the time he has spent working for Hume and his ability and

experience as a picker and pruner, Sione is considered by fellow Tongan employees as something of a leader. They look to him for guidance and he helps keep the picking and pruning gangs on task in the orchards.

Benefi tsSiones half-brother Simione Vakasiuola has worked

for Hume since he was at school and is today the companys orchard sprayer and RSE supervisor.

He has clearly seen the difference the Registered Seasonal Employer scheme has made to Tongan workers and the country as a whole.

On Eua people can grow enough food for everyday living and sell some of their vegetables, but there is no money for extras. When they come to New Zealand to work they are able to do more for their families, such as pay for education, improve their houses, maybe buy a car and set some money aside for savings, says Simione.

Some people are able to save enough to start their own business like one lady who now has a service station in Tonga.

Simione says benefi ts are more than fi nancial. People from different parts of Tonga form friend-

ships while they are working in New Zealand, so it is good for the wider community. Some people even fall in love and marry.

FillipeSione stays with Simione and his wife Salome and

family when he is in New Zealand so his arrival each April is something of a family reunion.

During his seven months here, he and other Tongan and overseas workers at Hume have the opportunity to explore the country, including a trip to the snow at Mount Ruapehu and to a Rugby World Cup Match in 2011.

It was Sione and Simiones father Fillipe who began the Hume connection with Tonga. In 1987 there was a fi re in the packhouse and in an effort to fi nd enough staff to re-pack undamaged fruit, Mark Hume contracted a gang of Tongan workers from Auckland, which included Fillipe.

When the job was fi nished Fillipe said he enjoyed

Katikati so much he didnt want to go back to Auck-land so his wife and children joined him, says Jim Hume, Hume Pack-N-Cool accounts manager.

Through Fillipes contacts, each season Hume employed more Tongans who were residents in New Zealand to help with the harvest.

SiblingsTragically in 1997, both Fillipe and his wife died

within months of each other, leaving a large family including an 18 month old daughter without par-ents. Simione and his fi ancee Salome, then in their teens, married to look after the fi ve younger siblings.

Hume played a major role in the young familys life, offering employment, moral and practical support. The Katikati community rallied to their aid too, and local accountancy fi rm Young Oswald and Associates helped Simione and Salome buy a home.

The couple went on to have their own children and the family is now fi rmly part of the wider commu-nity, involved in sports, service organisations and the schools.

When the RSE scheme opened the opportunity to employ seasonal workers from the Pacifi c and with its existing strong links with the Tongan community in New Zealand, Humes decided to focus on Tonga as a source of additional labour. This season, 70 RSE workers from Tonga are part of the 350-strong Hume staff.

HumblingKate Krom, Hume human resources manager, says

today the postharvest company is one of the largest employers of people from Tonga.

It is quite humbling to go to Tonga and learn how important the kiwifruit work is to the people there. One of our staff is the only member of a very large family who has a regular income and he uses what he earns to help his family.

Because we have only one packhouse facility we operate round the clock at the height of the season. The RSE workers are a welcome addition to our valued local workforce and provide consistent num-bers for our dedicated night shift.

RSE workers from Tonga

harvesting the last crop of

Hort16A gold fruit from a Katikati orchard.

COMPUTER PROBLEMS?

want to take the

Page 5COAST & COUNTRY

Eua, a smaller but still major island in the kingdom of Tonga, is 11 kilometres off the south coast of Tongatapu, and unlike many

other Pacifi c islands, is not volcanic.The movement of the Tonga plate against the Pacifi c

plate pushed up the island, which is hilly, covered in rainforest and includes the largest area of virgin forest in Tonga, the Eua National Park.

This 450 hectare of pristine tropical rainforest park has become a major tourist attraction for the island and is home to exotic birds including the musk par-rots, lorikeets, pacifi c pigeons, kingfi shers and tropic sea birds.

The islands east coast, with its 120 metre cliffs, is virtually inaccessible but on the west coast there are beaches and a few small villages and family planta-tions.

From June and November, humpback whales pass close by the island on their migration and the east coast cliffs are a popular place to watch them cruise by.

Eua is a two-hour ferry ride from Tongatapu, or a seven minute fl ight, believed to be the worlds shortest commercial airline fl ight.

Page 5COAST & COUNTRY

Kiwifruit industry and islands benefit from RSE scheme

Eua tiny tropical island

Jim says life in Tonga is very different from New Zealand and he is impressed at how the Hume workers cope with the change in culture and climate.

They work very hard while they are here and those who have been here a few times are used to the contrast, but the fi rst time they come it must be a shock to step off the plane in Auckland and drive two hours through traffi c to Katikati.

RSE work is very important to the island because there is little employment and no social welfare.

Kate is always impressed at the number of New Zealand resident relations who greet the workers at the airport when they arrive.

They come armed with warm clothing because they know their relations from the islands wont have what they need to keep warm here.

The Recognised Seasonal Employer Work scheme is a government policy allowing the tem-porary entry of additional workers from overseas to plant, maintain, harvest and pack crops in the

horticulture and viticulture industries to meet labour shortages in those areas.

Every year employers must re-apply for the right to bring in workers from the Pacifi c, and the numbers allowed are dictated by New Zea-lands unemployment fi gures.

Jim says the entire industry has benefi ted from the scheme which at the same time has become an important part of the economy for many Pacifi c nations, including Tonga.

Sione Vaka and his brother Simione Vakasiuola fi nd wet weather work repairing kiwifruit bins

at Hume Pack-N-Cool in Katikati.

By Elaine Fisher

www.polaris.co.nz

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Page 6 COAST & COUNTRY

One person dies on a New Zealand farm every 18 days. Each day, 42 go onto Accident Compensation, and annually 25 farmers commit suicide

all of which illustrates most of this countrys health and safety in

employment policies arent working, says DArcy Palmer, director of Farmers for Farm Safety Ltd, an independent on-farm advisory

health and safety service company.The Health and Safety in Employment

Act came into force in 1992 but in the 21 years since, there has been little improve-ment in fatality and serious harm incidents

DArcy Palmer, director of Farmers for Farm Safety Ltd.

Safety policies arent working

ACC says unless safety on farms improves up to 20 agricultural workers a year will lose their lives in the workplace. Thats one death every 18 days.

Orchard tractOrs

sMaLL tractOrs & MOWErs

aG tractOrs

on farms. Too many people are still dying or suffering serious harm, all avoidable, and the approach has to change, says DArcy who is a farmer without a farm, because of a farm accident.

I was in a hurry to get to a rugby coach-ing school for the New Zealand Rugby Union and rolled my vehicle. It took me seven years to learn to walk properly again.

I dont want to see that happen to anyone else which is why I began this business, pro-moting the fi rst priority in farming which is to take all practicable steps to prevent farmers and farm employees from losing their career, lifestyle, family member, friend or fi nancial security.

DArcy spent two years gaining qualifi ca-tions in Health and Safety and a further 12 months of his recovery researching and documenting everything he knew about on-farm hazards including man management and staff interaction.

Farm policyHe wrote a farm policy, which now forms

the basis of a client commitment, and a comprehensive hazard register for all farm types, which also encompasses training.

Every farm is different which is why

I visit each farm personally to prepare a policy, talk to owners, employers and farm staff ensuring all contribute to the farms documented resource.

That service costs about the price of two truckloads of top soil. Not much really is it?

Keeping his services affordable (his accountant says in fact too cheap) is DArcys way of making sure all farmers can have in place a practical, effi cient policy everyone understands which meet the require-ments of the HSE Act 1992 and exceeds ACC audit standards. Lack of employer understanding and worker limitations do kill, he says.

Under coverTo further his understand-

ing of exactly what happens on a dairy farm, DArcy went under cover as an employee and found out, far too personally, how dan-gerous that role can be.

Within two months I was hit from behind, while stationary behind cows on a farm track, by a young worker on an ATV quad bike doing approximately 60 km/hr. I ended up in intensive care and at fi rst wasnt expected to live.

The farm employed a large staff and in 12 months there were fi ve serious harm incidents: DArcys injury, a PTO shaft

incident, a female milker who lost a fi nger in the dairy, another worker who fractured his arm pregnancy-testing a cow which collapsed, and a young worker who suf-fered severe head injuries from an ATV incident. It was an experience which served to intensify DArcys determination to do something positive to improve farm safety and stop the carnage.

Human costI regard what I do now

as a service which helps farmers implement poli-

cies to prevent injury and death on farm. Too often I see the impact of a farmer failing to

take safety seriously, [written] on the faces of wives whose husbands are confi ned to wheelchairs, or the father who has accidently run over his child or the family of a young man who has taken his own life.

All farm deaths and injuries are preventable, says DArcy, who believes suicides are a major but rarely-discussed statistic which warrants more publicity and advice on suicide awareness. If safety procedures around fi re arms [that they should be kept in locked cabinets], were adhered to, fewer men would take their own life. When things get too much and a fi re arm is handy in the ute, its too easy to act on impulse.

In DArcys 38 years of farm ownership, nine farm owners and three young people died in his district, two from suicide and the others from a varied mix of machinery accidents, but not one involving an ATV.

The farm environment is a dangerous place with a whole host of hazards waiting to injure or kill the un-wary and no amount of ACC pamphlets or safety manuals will make a difference unless everyone who lives and works on the farm understands task safe operating procedures and buys into safety implemen-tation, says Darcy.

A large percentage of farm workers, owners and managers are dyslexic 20 per cent of my clients or clients staff either cannot read written instructions or fi nd them diffi cult to read.

They are kinaesthetic or tactile learners who learn by doing, not reading. Thats why DArcy spends time with staff to ensure they do understand what is required of them. A nod is not confi rmation they understand.

TeamHe encourages the attitude of working as a team

where everyone recognises and understands their legal responsibility not only for their own safety

Page 7COAST & COUNTRY

By Elaine Fisher

but for that of others. They also need to realise, should they be injured or killed through their own negligence or attitude, that those actions put a fellow worker or employer in the likely position of prosecution.

Long hours, under-staffi ng and short cuts increase the risk of farmers being injured but so can a sense of social isolation. It is important workers and owners have interests, including sports, outside of work to achieve balance in their lives.

Farm owners/employers need to know about health issues of their staff such as epilepsy, colour blindness, diabetes and allergies. Fellow staff need to know what is required, in terms of aid, if a fellow worker becomes unwell on the job.

CPRToo few farm workers know enough about emergency

readiness [for example], how to perform CPR should a work mate collapse or be electrocuted, or know to ensure the safety of themselves fi rst.

DArcy believes undue attention has been focused on incidents involving quad bikes. They are not dangerous machines, how they are often operated is. They are an easy target for authorities to com-ment on. Every commentator appears to be an expert.

Most farmers and others arent aware, that since 1992, it has been a legal requirement under the H&SE Act to wear a helmet when operating a quad bike or motor bike on farm (Sections 10 and 19).

Many farmers are also

Short cuts increase risksunaware of the towing capacities of their machinery and a good example is towing calf milk tanks/feeders, PK trail-ers or portable sheep yards which are far heavier than is recommended for these machines. More than 80 per cent of farm staff ride on a public road unli-censed which raises other issues.

Under-resourced DArcy believes the Ministry of Busi-

ness, Innovation and Employment (formerly the Department of Labour) is under-resourced when it comes to industry-trained inspectors assisting farmers.

The ACC reliance on farmers self-assessing their work place safety [audit] to qualify for a 10 per cent reduction in their workplace levies with no follow up, gives a false sense of security that they are up to speed. Farmers would be well-advised that they more than likely do not meet standards required.

While the act is clear on what employer obliga-tions are how those obligations for safety are met on each individual farm is up to the owner/employer to work out.

Few have the time or knowledge to achieve this without qualifi ed and farm experienced assistance.

DArcy says the dynamics of farming have changed in recent years with 80 per cent of his clients staff not coming from a farming background.

DArcys aim is to partner with a large national company to standardise safety policies and procedures of implementa-tion, which will assist many farmers of all categories throughout the country. That approach will be effective in reducing New Zealands shocking farm fatality and seri-ous harm record.

Since 1992, it has been a legal requirement to wear a helmet when operating a quad bike or motor bike on farm.

Safety considerations are even more important when working around animals.

Page 8 COAST & COUNTRY

56%

10%

6%

Page 9POLARIS BIG FOUR

Hunters and fi shers are honing their skills and seeking out the best spots to fi nd their prey to be in with a chance to win a share of $80,000 worth of prizes in the Polaris Big

Four hunting and fi shing competition, run by the

Quarry Community Sports Club this month.

Entries are coming in and people need to hurry up if they dont want to miss out, as only the fi rst 100 teams to register will be accepted, says one of the event organisers Ken Griffi n.

Its a great event for people of all ages, and a number of teams include children who can fi sh for a trout.

The contest runs from Tuesday, June 25 to Saturday, June 29. Once people have registered and attended the brief-ing, they can go hunting and fi shing where ever they chose, so long as they are back by weigh-in time.

The aim for each four-person team is to bag a stag, boar, trout and pheas-ant, with team prizes based on average weights, and individual prizes for the heaviest animals and fi sh and the best

trout, best antlers and tusks, and

best pheasant.The annual event is growing in popu-larity, and this year

Australian teams are

also expected to take part. The

Discovery Channel will be fi lming competitors, and former All Black Rich-ard Loe will MC the prize giving at the Top Shot Pub at Te Puna.

The $80,000 worth of prizes include a Polaris Ranger 500, a free 12 month lease of a new Toyota Hilux, and a 2001 4X4 Mazda

Bounty donated by Pacifi c Toyota as a spot prize for all entrants present at the weigh-in. The weigh-in is popular, with spectators numbering 800 to 1000 people, including competitors, expected to watch the prize giving.

Page 9POLARIS BIG FOUR

Hunters and fi shers are honing The aim for each four-person team is

Hunt on for the big four

All Black Richard

Loe will MC the

prize giving at

the Top Shot Pub

at Te Puna.

Proud to support big contest

For the third year in a row, Taurangas award-winning Toyota dealership,

Pacifi c Toyota is getting in behind the Polaris Big Four Hunting

and Fishing Competition as a major sponsor.

This year, teams which come from throughout New Zealand to the Bay to compete in this awesome competition will have the chance to win the use of a brand new Hilux SR4 for a year.

Last years winners were an all-girls team, says Pacifi c Toyota sales manager Chris Churchward. It will be interesting to see how the boys react this year to turn that result around.

Were very proud to be associated with this com-petition and with the fantastic team of organisers, who work like trojans to make this event such a huge success. With Hunting Aotearoa also play-ing a key role this year, our local region should get some great exposure via national television cover-age, adds Chris.

Since the middle of last year, Pacifi c Toyota has maintained a connection with the outdoorsmen in the local market by giving away a Stoney Creek Apparel Package, valued at $700, to buyers of their uniquely branded Hilux SR4.

The SR4 is a standard turbo diesel hilux double cab manual ute that has been dressed up with a set

of custom 17inch alloy wheels and special decals to offer local

owners a ute with a bit of fl air. Buyers are also able to further accessorise their new SR4 ute with a tuff deck, towbar, sports bar, tonneau cover, bull bars or hard lid all at special dis-counted prices to go with the current nationwide Fieldays Deals on offer.

Weve experienced huge demand since we started to put the SR4 package together last year, says Chris, so much so, that this great looking ute is actually out-selling the standard Hilux SR5 in our area.

Of course, the fantastic price of the SR4 may have something to do with that. We sell it at $39,990 plus GST and on road costs, and with the Stoney Creek gear thrown into the package, it makes for an awesome deal.

The team at Pacifi c Toyota would like to wish all the competing teams the best of luck and look forward to seeing everyone at the prize giving.

WORTH

UP TO $80,000IN

PRIZES!

TO UP P

NZES!

INPRIZ

NZ

Page 10 WELCOME TO EASTERN BOP

Traditional and modern technologies in kiwi encounterPage 10

Traditional and modern technologies in kiwi encounterTraditional and modern technologies in kiwi encounterHigh on an ancient pa site, overlooked by a carving of his ancestor Toikairakau, William

Stewart blows a carved Pukaea (wooden trumpet) in welcome.

Theres a fl ax kete on his back but in his pocket is a sophisticated infra-red night vision monocular and close by are the antenna and receiver of a tracking device.

Traditional and modern technologies are essential to the experience William and the team from NATIVconnectionz offer those taking part in the night-time Po Kiwi encounter in the Kohi Point

Reserve above Whakatane.Its just one of four unique and

personal Maori experiences William, his cousins

Britain Williams, Mita Manuel and their extended

families offer visitors to the district.

Kiwi capitalWhakatane claims to

be the Kiwi Capital of the World because we have a population of kiwi living

right on the towns doorstep, but few visitors get to see them so we thought we should do

something about that, says Wil-liam, who moved to Whakatane from Auckland in 2010 with his

family after completing a Bachelors of Management Studies degree at Wai-kato University and having a successful career with Tourism New Zealand.

When our children were born my partner and I wanted to return to Whakatane to give them the kind of childhood I had enjoyed.

The idea of starting a boutique tourism venture grew and the Po Kiwi night time experience seemed an obvi-ous opportunity.

As far as we know no other tour operator in New Zealand is using night vision equipment to see wild kiwi at night. We cant guarantee we will have an encounter but we take people into the bush in an area where we know kiwi are living, using tracking equip-ment to fi nd them, and night vision gear to see them.

MagicEven if no kiwi are seen or heard, the

experience of being with a small group of people on the summit of Kputerangi the ancient strong hold of Toi as dusk falls and being welcomed in Maori, and listening to legends of the land when entering the bush, weaves a kind of magic.

The fi ve minute walk leads to a small clearing where the legend of how the kiwi lost its wings is told, and people have the chance to familiarise them-selves with the use of the night vision equipment. Mean-while, guides use the tracking gear to locate one of several kiwi fi tted with transmitters in the hope they may be near enough to see.

If we are lucky, we will get to see and hear a kiwi as we are at a spot which borders the territories of three kiwi breeding pairs.

Every effort is made to ensure the kiwi are not disturbed so those in the party are encouraged to stay still and quiet.

After a warming cup of kawakawa tea,

the party returns to the car park for the drive to NATIVconnectionz headquar-ters and a hangi meal.

A percentage of the price of each tour goes to the Whakatane Kiwi Project. NATIVconnectionz cant take any credit for the kiwi being here. All the hard work has been done by the trust and we have a good relationship with them as our aims are to protect the kiwi and their habitat while giving people the chance to see them in the wild.

In 1999, a few North Island brown kiwi were discovered in the reserve, southeast of Whakatane and south of Ohope. Miraculously, adult kiwi had survived without any predator control.

The discovery initiated the Whakatane Kiwi Project, at that time a partnership between Environment Bay of Plenty (now Bay of Plenty Regional Council) and Department of Conservation, in conjunction with Te Runanga o Ngati Awa.

Since then the Whakatane Kiwi Trust and the Whakatane District Coun-cil have also become partners in the project.

Today about 150 kiwi are under the management of the kiwi trust, which is rearing chicks in captivity until they are big enough to survive in the wild. While many of the birds are living in reserves, some are also on private land.

AuthenicThe Po Kiwi experience is one of

many offered by NATIVConnectioNZ and aimed at small groups of tourists, giving them an opportunity to spend time with local Maori enjoying what William describes as authentic and personal Maori cultural experiences.

It took William a while to convince his whanau that the ideas he was suggesting for tourists would work. They couldnt understand why visitors would want to do the kind of things we take for granted, like a walk in the bush, a hangi meal or watching a local rugby match.

Because of what he learned working for Tourism New Zealand and from travelling overseas, William knew quin-tessential Maori experiences do have appeal.

Eventually, he convinced the cousins and now NATIVconnectionz has put together a range of tour options which include playing golf at Ohope with

Maori golfers and gathering pipi from the beach afterwards for a meal; watching a local rugby match, meet-ing teams, choosing the player of the day and witnessing the after-match speeches and haka; a guided tour of the Te Kputu Gallery; an ancestral river walk; fi shing at traditional sweet spots and learning how to cook hangi food and enjoy the feast

afterwards.Whakatane is a great place to

live and bring up a family but employment opportunities are limited and we hope NATIV-ConnectioNZ will grow so we can employ more local people, and stop them heading off to Aussie for jobs, says William.

At the same time, the aim is to promote a pride in both ancient and modern Maori

culture and share it with people from all round the world.

To fi nd out more visit www.nativ.co.nz

By Elaine Fisher

A Pukaea carved to represent a tuna (eel) is blown by William Stewart of NATIVconnectionz to welcome tourists.

A carving of Toikairakau stands

on the summit of Kputerangi,

Whakatane.

Page 11WELCOME TO EASTERN BOP

Up and down the country, dairy farmers are settling into new homes, new jobs

and new communities this month following the longstanding traditions

of Gypsy Day on June 1.In the Welcome to the District Feature in this issue

of Coast & Country, we ask couples with more than a little experience about what its like to move not just themselves and their families, but their farming equipment and cows too see pages 18 and 20.

We also feature lists of useful contacts for Federated Farmers, Young Farmers and councils in each of the regions and stories about the districts and those who live there.

Getting to know your new

community

Independent school growing to meet demandExciting new developments are

ahead for Rangitaiki Independent School which now enrols

Year 11 student, says school director Gay West.

One for the few private schools in the Bay of Plenty to provide all round education for Years 1 to 10, Rangitaiki has, after many parental and student requests, enrolled Year 11 students and will progressively extend to Year 12 in 2014, and Year 13 in 2015.

Rangitaiki Independent School is a unique dynamic, place of high qual-ity learning. This is partly because of the spacious and peaceful classrooms and very small classes. At present, the largest class in the school is 16 students, and the learn-ing environment for these students is three

times the size of that provided by state or integrated schools, says Gay.

However, the true secret of the schools success is the relationships between staff and students. As you walk through this unique school you will see that there is a disciplined and academic focus, but eve-ryone is on fi rst name terms. The students see their teachers as mentors and guides, not some distant person at the front of the room.

The Education Review Offi ce recognised these attributes in the schools last two reviews.

Small class sizes, and high-quality assessment and planning practices, enable teachers to personalise student learning to cater for their diverse needs and abilities. Classrooms are spacious and comfortable. Learning interactions are based on mutually

respectful relationships among teachers, stu-dents and families, states an ERO review.

At Rangitaiki Independent School, all Year 5 -13 students are able to learn a sophisti-cated musical instrument. Research proves that learning music stimulates cognitive abilities, and this greatly improves progress in all subjects, says Gay. The performance music programme takes place in school time, and the school provides the tuition as part of the school fees. ERO also praised this aspect of the school. An emphasis on music and the arts, contributes to positive learning outcomes for students. The orches-tra, jazz and rock bands, and music tuition are a feature of the school.

The staff at Rangitaiki Independent School treat every parent as a customer not just a consumer of education, says Gay.

The Rangitaiki Schools Gold Medal Band caters for Year 4 to 11 students.

Page 12 WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

Every second Saturday during May to October, a group of neighbours in a

pocket of the Bay of Plenty come together to plant a healthy environment for the

future of their stream and the wide-ranging Rangataua Harbour.

The Waitao Kaiate Land Care Group, of about 12 die-hard resident volunteers complemented by locals who donate time infrequently, will plant more than 4000 native seedlings along Waitao Stream to help improve the water quality, and in turn, and reduce sediment to Rangataua Harbour near Welcome Bay.

But this is not a winter-only project volunteers work nearly year-round locally sourcing and germi-nating seeds, raising seedlings in the groups nursery, fencing land along the stream and planting during colder months.

Recently, the group was recognised for their commit-ment receiving a commendation in the Heritage and Environment Category of 2013s Trustpower Western Bay of Plenty Community Awards.

Benefi tsPresident Dave Hooker says the groups aim is to

clean up the Waitao Stream and maintain the natu-ral beauty of the Kaiate Falls, which will, in future, bring positive benefi ts to water quality of Rangataua Harbour.

The Waitao Stream is the main water source into the harbour and it has pressure from the Te Maunga Transfer Station, the marina and from the waste water treatment plant.

The group was born out of work by local hapu, with a marae at the bottom of the Waitao catchment. Assisted by NZ Landcare Trust and NIWA, local hapu had been working to enhance the lower reaches of the stream and share their knowledge through workshops.

They decided to get people up the river involved, and later on a small group agreed to become Waitao Kaiate Land Care Group in 2008 it planned to fence and plant further up river which is a huge project, says Dave.

Dave says while local hapu have successfully planted and fenced along a stream bank on their property,

Winter-long planting for catchment health

By Merle Foster

other Waitao Rd landowners are now working toward the same goal.

We fence river banks to keep stock out and reduce e-coli in the river. We put in native plantings to reduce sediment fl ow into river, which slows down water fl ow, so sediment is dropped on the land rather than being taken down to the harbour, says Dave.

We have potting days in summer this year were beginning our planting a bit later after waiting for the drought to subside.

Dave says farmers Bill Hayes and Kevin Jones have fenced off the stream on their properties to keep animals out. These properties are large and had previ-ously seen a lot of stock going into rivers so their involvement is very important.

SeedlingsThe nursery is on bushman Russell Nelsons prop-

erty, and neighbour Rob McGowan, an expert on NZ native plants, helps collect and raise seedlings with the other three men.

NIWA principal scientist Dr John Quinn is seeing improvements in the catchments water quality with NIWA monitoring it since 2003. It began by working with iwi from three local marae on a project called Te Awa O Waitao.

John led a programme on aquatic rehabilitation and picked Waitao Stream as a case study. Weve been monitoring water clarity, stream temperature, pH and conductivity at monthly intervals in 12 sites around the catchment throughout this time, says John.

ClarityJohn says improvement in water quality has been

noted at some places while other locations havent seen change. Upper sites, near Kaiate Falls, where a retire-ment and planting of the stream occurred, have seen signifi cant improvements in water clarity. Another part of a stream had a change of land ownership and practice and weve seen improvements there as well.

Spot measurements have shown water temperatures have reduced. We haven't had permanent temperature loggers, and its a little affected by climate, but there has been a trend of reduced temperatures at quite a few sites.

Riparian planting and developing shade, associated with water temperature, is important because many stream insects and fi sh are quite sensitive to high water temperatures.

Measuring health of Rangataua Harbour itself is a varied and diffi cult task which NIWA is not focussing on instead it concentrates on giving local communi-ties simple tools to help improve and measure health of the catchment, says John.

CrustaceansWe have relatively simple ways of measuring

insects, snails and crustaceans and using those as a sentinel of the Waitao Streams health shows there has been signs of improvements there too.

Up-stream, sites which previously had cattle in them and were badly impacted have seen improve-ment too in ecological health and water clarity.

To undertake their work, Waitao Kaiate Land Care Group receives support from Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Western Bay of Plenty District Council and the Land Care Trust.

ADDLINETRANSPORT LTD

My Name is Neil Woodward.I am a director of Z-Contracting- we are family runbusiness, our team consists of three, being myself, myson and my brother.

Our organisation has been established for over 18years. I have been involved in applying crop protectionprogrammes within the horticultal industry since 1966.

We specialise within the kiwi fruit industry, Wehave the equipment to spray orchards with our twoAtom sprayers and one recently purchased TracatomFormula tractor which is also available for mulchingand mowing.

Our Atoms are set up with radar speed sensors, thiscombined with fully automated sprayer controllers andthree nozzle rings enhances application efficiency andaccuracy.

We also use a quad bike for strip weed sprayapplications.

We hold all certificates needed to meet Globalgapcompliance.

We look at all challenges to help ensure we protectyour crop with excellence.

To contact us:Phone: 021 907 621

E-mail: zcl@zanadu.co.nz

216 Pongakawa Bush Road

Te Puke

Page 13WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

Western Bay Contracts

Federated Farmers

Bay of PlentyRick Powdrell07 573 7481 07 573 7481027 489 4075E: rrpow@xtra.co.nz

Young FarmersTe PukeNigel Gordon027 355 1527E: nigelgordon@live.com

Waihi:Amber Rodger027 812 9083E: bambi23@ihug.co.nz

Western Bay of Plenty District CouncilBarkes Corner, Greerton, Tauranga07 571 8008www.westernbay.govt.nz

Bay of Plenty Regional Council5 Quay St, Whakatane0800 884 880 www.boprc.govt.nz

Te Puke i-Site 130 Jellicoe St, Te Puke07 573 9172

Waihi i-SiteSeddon St, Waihi07 863 6715

Katikati i-Site36 Main Rd, Katikiati07 549 1658

Composting toilets growing in popularity

The low-fl ush pedestal is an increasingly popular

environmentally-friendly toilet.

A stylish, modern toilet which uses little or no water, is odour-fee and good for the environment, is an option many homeowners are choosing over

conventional systems.The Bioloo from Bio Systems are true composting toilets in

that the composting is completed within the system and eventu-ally produces a soil-like material called humus.

Mike Bennekom of Bioloo Systems says while the companys composting toilets are widely used by the Department of Conservation, in camping grounds and marae complexes and by city and regional councils, an increasing number of people are installing them in permanent or holiday homes.

Thats because they appreciate the environmental advantages of the system and their modern design features.

All Bio Systems Bioloos meet strict national and international building standards which mean they are fi t for purpose and safe to use in domestic and public situations. The most popular model is the non-fl ush dry pedestal which requires no water or electricity, just an air vent and drain. Also available is the low-fl ush pedestal, which is widely used in the USA. It requires about half a litre of water per fl ush and is designed so that the composting process and the worms, which aid that to happen, function just as well with the addition of a small amount of water.

Bioloos rely on worms and aerobic bacteria, so they dont produce the sulphur-type smells associated with long-drop type toilets. Bioloos may have a slight earthy-forest humus

kind of smell, but it is far from unpleasant.

Installing a Bioloo is relatively simple and even more so if provision for one or more of the toilets is made during the planning and design phase of a new home.

The systems have a long life too. Internationally, there are many composting toilets which have been in use for more than 60 years. In New Zealand, Bioloos produced by Bio Sys-tems when it fi rst began 14 years ago are continuing to func-tion well.

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Page 14 WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

ensuring those who bought animals understood how to care for them correctly.

Socialise Not, says Graeme, that they need

a lot of work. We call them the gentle timewasters, because you can waste a lot of time out in the pad-dock with them.

Unlike many livestock, alpaca appear to enjoy human company and will happily socialise with almost anyone, especially if they have food to offer. Their quiet nature means they are easy to handle, even for procedures such as toe nail trimming.

Alpaca have soft padded feet with toenails which need regu-lar trimming every two to three months. We put them in a pen and ask them to lift their foot, much as you would a horse, says Graeme.

ShearingShearing, however, is not quite

so straightforward. The animals are strapped to a pivoting table so

they can be held safely on their side. Graeme used to shear his own animals around November each year but now Dave Morrision of Katikati does it for him.

We shear them before summer to keep them cool, says Kay, who has found many innovative ways to use the fi bre, from felting tissue-fi ne evening wraps to hand-knitting baby booties and bonnets.

The herd at Ridgedale Alpacas has now reduced to around 20 as Graeme and Kay seek to slow down a little but they remain optimistic about the future of the industry, especially now younger people are farming the animals.

FleeceThe future they believe

lies largely in the high quality fl eece. It needs someone to develop it further as has happened with Merino wool, says Kay.

Alpaca have the potential to be farmed for fl eece and replacement stock, much as the sheep industry is today, and while there may be a market for the meat in high end restaurants, the ODeas dont see that as a main focus.

Given their very sociable nature, and the fact that most have names, its unlikely anyone farming a small herd of alpaca would consider serving up one of their animals for Christmas dinner.

Graeme and Kay ODea didnt set out to be pioneers in sustainable energy and alpaca farming when they bought 12 ha of land near Katikati

14 years ago, but thats what they became.

We wanted to farm an animal which was easy and pleasant to work with, more as a hobby than anything, says Kay. Alpaca fi tted that brief perfectly.

Installing a solar system, to power the home they built in Hot Springs Rd, solved the issue of the high cost of bringing in reticulated electricity and the couple became among the fi rst in the district to do so.

We had to do a lot of research to fi nd the systems we needed but prices have come back considerably and theres a lot

more choice now, says Graeme.The solar system provides electricity to

run the lights and electrical appliances, while gas is used for cooking and water heating. The couple dont have a land-line, instead relying on cellphones.

Their innovative approaches to both farming and energy provision meant others interested in alpaca and alterna-tive forms of energy often called on them for advice, something they have been happy to share.

Raising alpaca may have started as a hobby but it grew into quite a successful small business, thanks to the couples ability as breeders and animal handlers and Kays talents for turning the fi ne alpaca fi bre into garments.

At one stage, Ridgedale Alpacas had a herd of 60 animals and were sell-ing many off-spring to others keen to enter the industry. Graeme gained a reputation for his after sales service

Gentle timewasters sparked small businesses

Kay ODea has a talent for turning the fi ne alpaca fi bre into garments.

Jamie Harrison (13) of Omokoroa with Aspen, her 14 month old macho (male) alpaca bred from

animals bought from Ridgedale Alpacas.

EMILIOSTIMBERSEST1981

By Elaine Fisher

JORDAAN

Page 15WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

People who make a living from the land often have fl uctuations

in income because of a poor season, bad weather or the

performance of overseas markets. So being able to access investment

funds when they are needed is important, says fi nancial adviser Tanya Gilchrist of Decision Makers, in Tauranga.

Farmers and orchardists, because of the often uncertain nature of their incomes, require a degree of fl exibility from their investment portfolios, which enable them to draw on funds when they are most needed. Most of the funds in investments I arrange for my clients are available within three to fi ve days, not three to fi ve months.

Tanya says balancing the need to set funds aside for the future with those of operating a farming or orchard business takes careful planning and knowledge of the types of investments which are available. Having someone outside the

family, with an objective view point can help people be aware of options to enable informed decision making, she says.

I enjoy helping clients live the life they want and deserve and the investment vehicle I use is owned by ASB Bank, which provides a high level of security, which then enables people to invest in a diverse range of sectors from property to technology. Tanya says farmers and growers work very hard and it is impor-tant they can plan ahead for fi nancial security and for a holiday, to see the grandchildren, or for special purchases.

Good fi nancial planning should enable people to enjoy the benefi ts of all their hard work.

People who make a living from

Investment flexibility a must for sector

Bay farmer Jeff Going has moved to a different dairy farm each season for the last three and hes moving again for

the upcoming 2013/2014 term.Speaking to Coast & Country in May, Jeff says

he believes the biggest challenge, in moving to another area, is trying to overcome the fact that you are an unknown. No-one really knows you so youre trying to create a name for yourself, with a bit of hard work, says Jeff.

His fi rst move from Canterbury to Te Puke saw him fi nd helpful employers which made all the difference. Ive relied on my employers. Ive been lucky to have good ones over the last few years. Theyve been really helpful, giving advice they make a huge difference to your business, says Jeff.

After being 2IC at a Canterbury 150ha dairy farm with 600 cows in 2010/2011, Jeff moved to Doug Pamments 50ha farm in Te Puke for 2011/2012. With 250 cows, he was sole charge and luckily didnt bring farming gear from Canterbury as he had none.

Jeff s wife Ryn works for ANZ as regional manager for Rotorua/Taupo. So, it worked well for both of us I could keep farming and she could continue her job in Rotorua, says Jeff.

Currently on John and Margaret Scrimgeours Bush Rd dairy farm of 117ha with 380 cows, Jeff is 22 per cent sharemilking, with one employee.

For his efforts, he came third in 2013s NZ Dairy Industry Awards Bay of Plenty Sharemilker of the Year category.

Climbing the dairy ladder again, Jeff has three farm bikes, a quad bike and a lot of small farming equipment and tools that will see him make 10 ute-and-trailer trips to his new farm for 2013/2014.

Hell be 50:50 sharemilking John and Linda Fowlers farm at Allport Rd, Paengaroa.

Jeff has purchased 350 cows from the Waikato, and Galatea, dealing with a new kettle of fi sh stock agents

and transport fi rms to get the Friesian/Jersey cross herd to the farm on June 1.

This is an area where I used my past employers knowledge to help me.

Jeff and Ryns household goods will be picked up by a moving company.

The drought is not great but it saw the cows dry off early and that has taken the pressure off me in getting organised for next year Im not stuck in shed every day.

Jeff has enough stock feed for winter but will have to plan if he needs more. I will sort it out between now and June but it does make me nervous.

Jeff and Ryn say the Bay of Plenty is very welcoming. Weve made some good friends its a small enough

area that you can mingle but you dont get lost in a larger dairy region, like the Waikato.

For a successful move, Jeff advises that planning, working hard and having the right attitude are key.

When you work hard, and youre proud of what you do people tend to take notice and that creates opportu-nities for you in future its about taking opportunities when theyre offered to you.

Dig deep to make name

Te Puke sharemilkers Jeff and Ryn Going, 2013s Bay of Plenty sharemilker/equity farmer third place

getters, will move to a new farm this season.

By Merle Foster

and transport fi rms to get the Friesian/Jersey cross

Te Puke sharemilkers Jeff and Ryn Going, 2013s Bay of Plenty sharemilker/equity farmer third place

getters, will move to a new farm this season.

Page 16 WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

KW

Karcher is well known for its rugged, reliable, high-pressure

cleaners but those who visit the companys stand at the Fieldays

will discover far more.It is an opportunity for people to see

the extensive range of home, garden and professional equipment and machinery the company manufactures, says Kim McCa-rthy of Tauranga Karcher agent SMAC Electrical, which will have staff on the Fieldays stand too.

Some people think just of water blasters when they think of Karcher, but the range is much more than that, including the wet and dry vacuum cleaners.

SMAC Electrical has been in business in Tauranga for 27 years and for 23 years has been servicing Karcher machines. Karcher products are known for their reliability, and their equipment is backed by warranties and parts. We are still able to supply parts and service for equipment we sold 20 years ago and not many businesses can say that.

Because of SMACs experience and long association with Karcher, its staff is able to

recommend the best equipment for each clients task. We match the machine to the job.

Thats particularly the case with high-pressure cleaners, which are either electric or powered by petrol motors, meaning they can be used in areas where its not possible to plug into a power source.

The Karcher wet and dry vacuum cleaners are ideal for the home, garage, workshop, renovations, private construction sites and industry. Kim says buying Karcher qual-ity products that are backed by warranties, parts and service, always makes sense.

Beyond logs, kiwifruit and fertiliser a group of Western Bay businesspeople have

plans to add innovation to the regions reputation.

Longevity hallmark of brand

Adding innovation to reputation

Bay of Plenty Innovation

survey organisers Tina Jennen and Jo Allum want to hear ideas from business people on how to foster

innovation.

The group, of self-employed professionals, has launched a survey to learn what city busi-nesses believe is needed to foster innovation in the region.

Survey co-organiser Jo Allum, who produced the survey with Tina Jennen, says the research aims to fi nd out what is needed to create a supportive environment to foster innovation in Tauranga.

Jo, who runs Yojo Design from Priority One's 'Ignition' co-working space, says it

is all about discovering what Western Bay

innovators need to grow their ideas from seed to success.

"The Bay of Plenty Innovation Survey aims to collect data about the level of ambition and entrepreneurial activity of people here in the Bay. It's a way to reach out to entrepreneurs and fi nd out what they need to develop their business ideas."

Jo has been blown away by the diversity and determination of fellow local entrepreneurs since joining Ignition last year, and she says there are world-class ideas being created all around us.

People working on food-technology, public health innovations, hard-core science that improves farming practices, aquaculture initia-tives.

"These ideas will generate new jobs and new

industries by broadening the BOP economy selling and distributing crops of knowledge to the world.

Tina, who will analyse the results, is urging all entrepreneurs from those at school to successful investors to take part in the survey to help make the Bay the perfect place for innovative business people. To take part in the innovation survey, visit: www.bopin.co.nz.

By Hamish Carter

Photo by Bruce Barnard.

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Page 17WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

National Psa-V pest management plan now in force

SA

Page 18 WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP

Nathan does say it can help plants suppress disease and promote plant growth.

Nothing will ever cure Psa. We have to learn to live with it and help plants cope with it.

The lucrative gold variety known as Hort16A is par-ticularly susceptible to the disease and is progressively being removed in most areas, and replaced by the new gold G3 which is believed to be more tolerant of Psa-V.

Nathan says what the kiwifruit industry needs is ways to help growers produce suffi cient volumes of export quality fruit now. This will give them the fi nancial resources to convert to new varieties, and in turn, bring those into production quickly, so reducing the economic burden on growers and the industry.

Promising green crop despite PsaBruce and Barbara Abrahams Te

Puke orchard has a stunning green kiwifruit crop this season, despite

being close to the epicentre of the fi rst Psa-V outbreak and the infection being identifi ed

in some vines.Im really pleased with the count size

of 33, which is above the industry average and we are on track to meet the estimate of around 12,700 trays a hectare. Last year we picked 9000 trays a hectare, says Bruce, who has been growing kiwifruit for 32 years and packing with Trevelyan's Pack and Cool for 17 years.

It seems ironic that in the midst of Psa we should have one of our best crops yet. Two years ago the vines did produce 12,000 trays a hectare but the count size was smaller at 34.5.

Fruit size is assessed on how many pieces of fruit will fi t into an export tray fewer fruit mean they are larger in size.

Some vines on the orchard have been removed because they showed symptoms consistent with Psa-V, the bacterial infec-tion which was fi rst identifi ed in New Zealand on an orchard just one kilometre away as the crow fl ies in 2010. In the case of some plants that were not so seriously affected, infected canes have been cut back, the pruned areas painted with a sealant and the plants retained.

Most have appeared to recover, says Bruce, who is a former president of the Te Puke Fruitgrowers Association, a past member of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Inc forum, a former director of Kiwifruit New Zealand and chairman of the ginger group United Kiwi formed to defend Zespri as the kiwifruit industrys single point of entry exporter from efforts to deregulate the industry in 2000.

United Kiwi had a role that was more that of fi ghting the government of the day who were imbued with the ideology of de-regulating all producer boards. We had a strong desire to see the retention of SPE. We did act in support of Zespri, says Bruce.

The Abrahams orchard has received three copper treatments in September and October as part of Psa management and a conservative fertiliser programme which includes the use of gypsum. However, what has changed is two pre-blossom and two post-blossom applications of a product called Agrizest. I fi rmly believe the product has helped improve vine health, fruit num-bers and size and is a tool to help give the vines the ability to fi ght off disease.

Agrizest was invented in recent years by Nathan Balasingham.

Agrizest is a plant elicitor and its manufac-turer makes no claims for it regarding Psa, however,

Bruce Abrahams is delighted with the crop of green kiwifruit on his Te Puke orchard.

Nathan does say it can help plants suppress disease

Bruce Abrahams is delighted with the crop of green kiwifruit on his Te Puke orchard.

Trellis a versatile garden featureThe trellis is a versatile and enduring

feature for any garden, especially if it is made of quality timber.

Those produced by George Kuttel and his nephew Mike Terbit of Emilios Timber of Te Puke are so well made, those sold when the company was established 20 years ago are still in existence.

Theres a number of our trellis around which we made when we fi rst started. Thats because we use 12 mm battens milled from clean, treated pine with no knots.

Emilios Timber produces trellis for growing climb-ing plants up to larger components for fencing or garden screens. Each trellis is custom-made to order and clients buy direct from the manufacturer.

A trellis is a great way to create privacy, stop wind, or for gates.

It can be used as a screen for washing lines, or provide shelter for decks and barbecue areas or to bring a sense of the garden inside by creating a lattice for plants to grow up, or a light and airy structure to connect indoor and outdoor living.

Painted or in natural timber fi nish, trellis can also become a feature in a garden, around an arbour for seating, or a structure to support fl owering plants or vegetables.

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WELCOME TO WESTERN BOP Page 19Page 19

New mineral feed backed by scienceMagnesium oxide is an alkaliser, so in

certain situations you can raise the pH. However, overseas work has shown

that even if you use it at 90g (three times the dose of the Fertco product recommended per cow, per day) in the rumen environment, for that amount of magnesium oxide against the acid load of a normal 100 litre rumen, it is a minimal and temporary impact.

You have a very small amount of alkaliser in with literally kilos of rumen

acid. The idea that 30g of magnesium oxide feed a day will dramatically change the rumen or abomasal environ-ment is just plainly wrong.

Fertcos new MineralBoost G2 prod-ucts have been specifi cally designed as rumen dispersible granules and the quality assurance process is very stringent, says Warwick. The new products include MineralBoost Classic, MineralBoost+Rumensin and Mineral-Boost Max. (Source: Fertco).

Fertco chief executive Warwick Voyce says the new product, launched seven months after the withdrawal of its predecessor, has the tick of approval.

Although more than 20 mil-lion doses of Mineral Boost were administered in animals feed rations over two seasons, the small number of salmonella cases particularly in the Taranaki region during Spring 2011 resulted in the fi nger being pointed at Fertcos MineralBoost G1 product, he says.

He says the company has assessed the product and made improvements, but the science Dr Jim Gibbs undertook and the other bodies of work Fertco undertook dispelled all of the theory and allowed us to have confi dence to return to the market with the new product.

And thats what weve gone ahead and done. But we did so only with the blessing from the likes of Fonterra, Ministry of Primary Industries, our insur-ance company we had to tick a lot of boxes before we got there.

Warwick says when people were looking for answers to the salmonella outbreaks the easy answer was the new kid on the block.

It was only the second year Fertco had the product on the market and because it was fed in a unique physical form it made it easy for it to be singled out as the cause, he says.

The difference to other products was the Fertco supplement came in an integrated granule.

CautiousThe theory was that the granule was altering the

rumen or gut pH and that allowed salmonella to proliferate, says Warwick.

We decided to be hyper cautious and remove our product from the market until we could be certain there was no correlation between minerals and salmonella.

That decision cost the company millions of dollars and set it back years, he says.

Its certainly been a fairly tough time for Fertco.Wed invested a lot of money into supporting

the infrastructure around manufacturing it and had employed people specifi cally.

Not long after we withdrew the product from the

Fertcos new Mineral Boost supplement has gained approval from Ministry of Primary

Industries and Fonterra after speculation the original product was causing salmonella

outbreaks.

market we had to make people redundant, and lost fi ve staff as a direct result. It was unhappy times and caused a lot of stress for people.

Right thingWarwick says they had to put their customers fi rst.We certainly dont want in any shape or form

for our customers to be in the way of any potential harm.

Lincoln University ruminant nutrition scientist and veterinarian Jim Gibbs was shocked when he heard that low dose magnesium oxide was being blamed for raising the rumen pH to a point that it was causing salmonellosis.

I briefl y thought it was candid camera (a joke). From a rumen function, rumen physiology point of view, the hypothesis that magnesium oxide at indus-try doses could change the rumen or gut environment enough to grow salmonella, was plainly wrong. It fl ew in the face of the large amount of established literature in the fi eld.

The people who were saying this did not under-stand rumen function, says Jim.

In normal, healthy fully fed cows, even if you were to use enormous doses of magnesium oxide, and you were to artifi cially raise the rumen pH, its not the pH alone that grows the salmonella.

Fertco formed an R&D committee which contacted Jim to undertake research on the potential correlation between the product and rumen conditions.

ResearchHe took the work on immediately because he was

concerned with the associations being drawn and the risks to the industry if farmers withdrew magnesium oxide.

Jims study involved feeding cows at 30 per cent above the recommended dose of the 30g of Magne-sium Oxide in the product for milking cow rations.

In short, it was very clear that there was no func-tional signifi cant change in the cow in terms of the rumen environment and certainly no change in pH.

Page 20 WELCOME TO WAIKATO

Plan and preparation key to successful shiftTe Uku

sharemilkers Daryl and

Christine Breen know how to move farms this season is their seventh shift to climb up the dairy

ladder.

Well also have two trailers to pack anything we can fi t including motorbikes and tools. Well load bigger stuff onto a wagon and tow it with the tractor which will be a three hour trip.

StressThe Breen family is moving only 1 hour 15 minutes

up the road staying within the Auckland Hauraki district but planning, packing, cleaning, expense and stress are still involved.

Were pretty lucky we bought the cows on the Te Kauwhata farm, so weve saved a bit of money in that we dont have to transport them it also saves a bit of hassle because the cows know the farm and the shed and this reduces training involved and the stress on the animals, says Daryl.

The Breens contract states a specifi ed amount of feed will be on hand for winter any used for drought has to be replaced by the current sharemilker. When we move we have to leave the same amount, says Daryl.

Caleb and Jordan will enrol at Waerenga School which is good way for Daryl and Christine to meet their new community. Taking kids to school is a good way to meet people. We also like to play a bit of squash; and in the farming industry you meet people, by going to the vet, for example.

The Breens are veterans at moving farms. Daryl and Christine are from farming backgrounds in Zimbabwe. They immigrated to New Zealand in 2002 and stuck with it as Daryl cannot stand offi ce environments.

He began in Cambridge as a farm worker, went to Matamata as a herd assistant, settled in Morrinsville for seven years he was a farm manager for two years and a contract milker for a year and moved three times in the area, before the Raglan job.

Community Weve done a bit of moving but it has always been

for the better, to move up the ladder.His advice to farmers on the move this season is to

check out their prospective community fi rst to see if it suits their family, schooling and recreation needs.

When we look at the job we look at the schooling and town, and everything involved its a big thing moving so we walk round the school, meet the teach-ers, go to the town and see if it has sport clubs, says Daryl. This place [Te Kauwhata] looked good so we signed up.

Planning is also key for a good move. Most of the time you have one day June 1 when a guy is moving out of place that youre going to and youve got to be out of your place by 12 oclock, says Daryl. Its a stressful day, we try to have as much as we can packed ready to go we move the cows, come home and chuck everything in the truck. I dump it off at the new farm while my wife is cleaning in the old house ready for the next people.

ExcitementDaryl says a trip to talk to teachers adds excitement

for the kids but there is still apprehension. Any kids going to a new place and leaving friends behind feel it but they blend in pretty well mostly theyve no choice because we take them to school so we can unpack.

The Breens entered the NZ Dairy industry Awards for 2013 and were fi nalists in the Auckland/Hauraki Sharemilker/Equity Farmers of the Year section.

Two households, two children, two cats, a dog, farm machinery -

and grandma - are all part of Daryl and Christine Breens move from Raglan to Te Kauwhata for the upcoming 2013/2014 season.

Currently 22 per cent low-order share-milkers running a 135ha Te Uku farm with 400 cows for 2012/2013 the couple were busily packing for their upcoming move when Coast & Country rang last month.

Moving to a 50/50 sharemilking job at Te Kauwhata on 82ha will see Daryl and Christines son Caleb, 8, and daughter

Jordan, four and a half, join new schools and their grandmother Maria Payne has to move house too. She lives in the workers cottage at Te Uku to look after the children when Daryl and Christine are working.

The pair will move all their machinery, calving gear and tractor among household and backyard items. It is a big thing we are starting now by packing what we dont need and storing it in a barn at the new place because the sharemilker there is leaving too, says Daryl. Well leave the main house and whatever were still using on the farm until we go on June 1."

The couple will hire a 3 tonne truck for moving household items.

By Merle Foster

Te Uku sharemilkers Daryl and

Christine Breen know how to move farms this season is their seventh shift to climb up the dairy

ladder.

Page 21WELCOME TO WAIKATO

Electrico Pic & ed

Waikato ContactsFederated FarmersJames Houghton - PresidentT: 07 872 4560F: 07 872 4563M: 027 437 7632E: jchoughton@xtra.co.nz

Young Farmers CambridgeKayleigh Hatt027 847 6019daisey679@hotmail.com

FranklinRob Cashmore09 292 2671

Hamilton CityNatalie Watkins027 260 7667natalie.watkins@agresearch.co.nz

North WaikatoEthan Beattie021 206 3604

HaurakiJames Courtman027 341 6907jamescourtman14@gmail.com

Hamilton City CouncilGarden Place, Hamilton 07 838 6699 www.hamilton.co.nz

Waikato Regional Council401 Grey St, Hamilton 07 859 0999 www.waikatoregion.govt.nz

Waipa District Council101 Bank St, Te Awamutu 0800-924-723www.waipadc.govt.nz

Hamilton i-Site 5 Garden Place, Hamilton 07 958 5960

Te Awamutu i-Site 1 Gorst Ave, Te Awamutu 07 871 3259

Cambridge i-Site Cnr Queen & Victoria St, Cambridge07 823 3456

To some, a recession is a time to retrench and lay off staff but Lynne and Andrew Arts

of Electrico Matamata saw the impacts of the global fi nancial crisis as an opportunity, not an impediment, for their business.While others shut up shop

or downsized, the couple have grown their company and two months ago opened a brand new Waikato Milk-ing Systems dealership in Te Aroha.

We have completely renovated a former cafe in the main street and employed well-known local, Don Hunt, who is an experienced and respected milking machine and water pump technician to complement our team of electricians, says Lynne.

The bright new retail store aims to stock just about everything any farmer from dairying, to poultry to pigs and goats may need, including Waikato Milking Systems parts and a range of pumps for water, irrigation and effl uent as well as electric motors and parts.

Electrico has more than 35 years experience in the electrical industry and along with technician Don, has a team of electricians well-versed in all aspects of electrical contracting, including for dairy sheds. Those skills complement

the Waikato Milking Systems dealership as it means both technicians and electri-cians from the same company work together on new installations, upgrades or maintenance for dairy farmers.

We are delighted to have the Te Aroha dealership and Waikato Milk-ing Systems has been very supportive in helping us set up. It is great to be

associated with such a well-known and innovative company.

In Matamata, Electrico staff will con-tinue to concentrate on offering a wide range of electrical expertise for domestic, commercial, industrial and rural clients, with staff also available to support those working from the Te Aroha branch.

Electrico Ltd was formed in 1997, with the amalgamation of Romley Elec-trical & Electronics and Arts Electrical Ltd.

In 2007, Lynne and Andrew had just bought out their previous Electrico part-ners when the global fi nancial crisis hit.

Our Matamata business was being affected by the downturn so we took

Recession opportunity for growth

on a business coach, who helped us realise that recessions are a great time to build up a business and he helped us do just that, says Lynne.

Electricos work grew and staff numbers increased.

Aware of the need to plan ahead, Lynne and Andrew went on to employ a business con-sultant to help prepare a fi ve-year plan and as result of that advice, looked to diversify their business. This led to the decision to open a new branch and the Waikato Milking

Systems dealership in Te Aroha.Today, Electrico has the ability to provide services,

which range from electrical repairs through to new installations and large scale industrial contracts. They also have the ability to take care of all milking and pumping needs.

A 24-hour emergency breakdown service is provided,

enabling a quick and effi cient back-up response. Electrico is a member of the Electrical Contractors Association of New Zealand. ECANZ provides the company with up-to- date industry-related infor-mation and professional support. Electrico is also a member of the New Zealand Milking & Pumping Trade Association.

Andrew and Lynne Arts and Don Hunt of Electrico in Te Aroha.

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Per set +gst Ends 31st August 2013. Offer excludes Quadrant Square Liner.

A big welcome to the newest member of the Waikato Milking Systems Dealer Network. Andrew & Lynne Arts from Electrico Ltd have opened a new dealership at 181 Whitaker Street, Te Aroha.

100% Genuine Waikato Milking Systems Liners $19.95

Get in to see them today and pick up your Waikato Milking Systems liners at the special promotional price!

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Page 22 WELCOME TO WAIKATO

A major sponsor, 100% Heathcote Appliances, has been

secured for the 12th annual Morrinsville College Fun

Run/Walk in October, says Donna Arnold, chairperson

of the Morrinsville College PTA.

Organisation for the fun run/walk of 5km, 10km and half marathon on Sunday, October 20 is well underway. This is an annual event on the Mor-rinsville community calendar and is always well supported by locals and out of towners of all ages and abili-ties, says Donna.

The Morrinsville College is very fortunate to have a very supportive and enthusiastic PTA which has the daunting task of organising an event which attracts great numbers of

participants from all over the North Island.

The added attraction this year is that the organising committee is looking at a new course around the streets of Morrinsville to keep the event fresh and interesting especially for those tackling the half marathon.

Without the support of the local businesses this event could not be held. We are fortunate to have many busi-nesses and locals that help out in many ways and we are able to provide all the competitors with a fantastic event complete with a goodie bag fi lled with sponsors products, a certifi cate at the fi nish line and a chance to win some awesome prizes at the prize giving including prizes for best dressed.

It is very encouraging to see so many people doing something healthy and energetic and also supporting Morrins-ville College.

For more enquiries email Donna Arnold: donna.bruce@farmside.co.nz

Running or walking for funFun Run/Walk is a highlight for the community.

Farmers can now clean their feed pads with a giant squeegee mounted on the

front of a tractor, thanks to a device manufactured by Rural

Engineering of Waihou, in the Waikato.

The company, owned by father and son Neville and Brad Johnson, manu-

facture the cleaning device from used rubber digger tracks mounted on a steel frame with a quick hitch to attach to the vehicle of choice.

Once attached, its just a matter of driving up and down the pad, pushing the poo into the sump or where ever the farmer wants it to go, says Brad.

The used digger tracks are rugged and still have plenty of life left in them so they should, in most cases, last at least fi ve to six years before needing to

be turned over.We can make them to whatever

width is required. The smallest we make is 2.8 metres but some farmers want even wider ones so they can make fewer passes up and down the pad.

The scrapers are not only highly effective, but also an excellent use of rubber which might otherwise be dumped. The company has shipped them to South Island farms and farm-ers all over the North Island too.

Excellent squeegees by digger

Used digger tracks have been adapted to become feed pad scrapers.

son Neville and Brad Johnson, manu-

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Rural Engineering LtdRural Engineering Ltd

WELCOME

Page 23WELCOME TO CENTRAL PLATEAU

Central Plateau contactsFederated FarmersRotorua TaupoNeil Heather (President)T: 07 357 2142F: 07 357 2908E: neil-heather@xtra.co.nz

Young FarmersReporoaAlistair Neville021 366 873reporoayoungfarmers@gmail.com

Taupo District CouncilStory Place, Taupo 07 376 0070www.taupodc.govt.nz Taupo i-Site30 Tongariro St, Taupo 07 376 0027

Turangi i-Site Ngawaka Place, Turangi 07 386 8999

The countdown is on for pesky possums with Lake

Rerewhakaaitu Schools annual Possum Punishment.

The popular PTA fundraiser for the country school begins Thursday, June 13 and concludes on Sunday, June 16 with the fi nal tally and prize giving. Teams of up to fi ve adults, plus accom-panying children, may choose to hunt during the extended weekend or for just one night. More marsupials, however,

will mean a greater chance of scooping a fantastic prize from the estimated prize pool

of more than $5000.In addition to valued support from major spon-

sors Bay of Plenty Regional Council, Department of Conservation, Hunting & Fishing New Zealand, RD1, Ecolab, Bayer and TB Free New Zealand, a host of cash, merchandise and voucher prizes has been donated by the local business and tourism community.

We have had fantastic support for our event this year, says school PTA chairperson Angela Robinson. Further to our main cash prizes we are able to offer a range of exciting spot prizes including passes to local tourist destinations such as Skyline Rotorua,

Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Polynesian Spa, Tamaki Maori Village, River Rats Raft-ing, Zorb Rotorua, Rainbow Springs and Tauranga Marine Charters. Local rural providers have also really come to the party with heaps of merchandise up fo