rural lifestyle july 2010 issue 34

Visit us online at www.rurallifestyle.co.nz

www.rurallifestyle.co.nz Issue 34 July 2010www.rurallifestyle.co.nz Issue 34 July 2010

In this issue ...Landscaping for border control

Pitfalls to look out for when buying livestock

Interior design – Living with the light

Health FeatureNew technology for hearing

Gut wrenching fructose intolerance

Ride’n and relax’n in Woodhill

14

8

10

1819

20

– a lens for our local history 3 – a lens for our local history Community Halls

2 RURAL LIFESTYLE ISSUE 34

EDIT

OR

IAL

Letters or enquiries to Rodney’s Rural Lifestyle, RD Marketing Ltd, RD1,Kaukapakapa. Phone 09 420 4660.Email: [email protected] enquiries: Marlene Brown 021-854-946 Rodney’s Rural Lifestyle ©2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without permission of the publisher is prohibited. No responsibility accepted for any direct or indirect consequences arising from reliance on any content within Rodney’s Rural Lifestyle. Editor: Neville Walker. Sub Editor: Helen Martin. Writers this issue: Bev Trowbridge, Grant McKechnie, Helen Martin, Lesleigh Smith, Lynnette Third, Neville Walker and Vic McAnulty. Designer: Dan Stenhouse, Bgraphix.Printing: Alliance Print.

Neville Walker – Editor & Publisher

WE DELIVER!

Fencing • Retaining • Decking • Landscaping • Gates & Hardware

Fully Accredited Licenseeof the New ZealandTimber Preservation

Council.

RETAINING

SALEPOLES usually NOW TONGUE & GROOVE usually NOW

150mm H5 1.8m $16.00 $10.75 150 x 50 H4 $5.09 $3.75

150mm H5 2.1m $19.00 $12.95 200 x 50 H4 $6.79 $4.95

150mm H5 2.4m $22.00 $14.75 GALVANISED FLAT HEAD NAILS150mm H5 2.7m $26.00 $16.50 100mm 5kg $23.50 $19.00

150mm H5 3.0m $29.00 $19.00 125mm 5kg $42.25 $29.00

GENERAL PURPOSE CONCRETE 25kg usually $10.75 NOW $8.00

Prices exclude G.S.T. While stocks last

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED WITH A REPUTATION FOR QUALITY PRODUCTS,COMPETITIVE PRICES AND COMMITMENT TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.

MILLED FROM HIGH DENSITY

NORTHLANDRADIATA PINE

NATURALLYAIR DRIED

FOR STRENGTHWE DELIVER

from South Auckland to Cape Reinga

DIRECTfrom the mill to your door

Call us on Ph for a quote

or pay a visit to the mill for friendly advice

09 431 2855

Phone, Faxor Email your

ORDER DIRECT

Schiska Rd, Topuni, SH1, 10 Min North of Wellsford. Fax: 09 431 2856. Email: [email protected]. Mon-Fri 7am-5pm, Sat 8am -1pmTopuni Timber Products are Treated and Guaranteed to NZS3640 with commitment to Environmental Safety.

Thanks so much for your excellent feedback and letters since our last issue. Bruce Bond of Helensville wrote to share this photo of Georgia (Bond) holding the largest kumara I’ve ever seen at 3.2kg. Bruce also explains that “Grandpa’s Kumara Dig” is a yearly tradition and that highlights to me, aside from the fact that South Head

produces fantastic root crops, how we can retain a connectedness with the land and our families across the generations.

The heritage theme has been incubating for a while now since, inspired by a recent Radio New Zealand story, I mentioned to Helen Martin that it would be fantastic to run features on our local community halls. Since there seems to be little published information about community halls in New Zealand we thought they provide a wonderful lens through which to view our people and local heritage. Over the next few months we’ll be having a look at what the individual halls in the Rodney District have contributed to their communities. To get started, in this issue we look at Makarau Hall.

The other new topic we’re introducing is on interior design and Victoria McAnulty is an award winning interior designer who shares her expertise on the topic. I hope you enjoy these features and we’ll be guided by you

(as always) so if you have thoughts, questions or problems you would like us to tackle on the topic in coming issues please email or write to me. We hope you enjoy our stories this issue and remember to take a look at our website rurallifestyle.co.nz as we continue to add more content. Do let us know what you would like to read more of.

RURAL LIFESTYLE ISSUE 34 3

XXXXXXXXXXXX

STONE WOODH O M E S

d e s i g n s

UP

14 800

14 6

00

LIVING

mealsFAMILY

STUDY

LAUNDRY

PWD

KITCHEN

DOUBLEGARAGE

FR

PTY

WO

PORTICO

FOYERDINE

OPTIONALFIREPLACE

DN

VOIDBED 4

BED 3BED 1

BATH

ENSUITE

ROBE

RO

BE

RO

BE

BED 2

RO

BE

LINEN

bedroom/s: 4bathroom/s: 2study: 1w/c: 1living: 1family: 1dining: 2

THESE ARE CONCEPTDRAWINGS ONLY, FINAL

WORKING DRAWINGSMAY DIFFER

copyright archimanexclusive to

Stonewood Homes NZ

47 Waterloo rdP.O Box 11 036SockburnChristchurch+64 3 354 2344

Date 30-11-06

ESPLANADE237

INTERNAL 102.4m²GARAGE 37.4m²PORTICO 2.5m²UPPER FLOOR 94.6m²TOTAL 236.9m²

ARTIST'S IMPRESSION - LANDSCAPING FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY

GROUND FLOOR UPPER FLOOR

PH 0800 86 00 00

www.stonewood.co.nz

Stonewood Homes has two wonderful house

and land packages available in Millwater,

the new subdivision nestled in the northern

gateway between Silverdale and Orewa. These

amazing house and land packages are on flat

sites and have beautiful protected sea views.

Prices start at just $750,000.

Come and see for yourself, visit our site on

Portland Park Road or call our friendly team for

more information.

Stonewood Homes offer features that

no other housing companies offer

as standard.

Stand on tHe SectionS and See for yourSelf!

New Homes in Millwateresplanade 237

Paul:

021 270 5041

C

a

l

l

n

o

w

f

o

r

a

n

e

w

b

r

o

C

h

u

r

e

Winner of

Regional Award and

National Finalist

MAKARAU HALL

Pure Quality.

Blowers

HedgetrimmersHedgetrimmers

BlowersBlowers

Brushcutters

Chainsaws

www.oleo-mac.co.nz

Call 0800 807 333, or fi nd your local dealer online at

Generously loaned to me by Alison and Les Adams, respectively the Makarau Hall Committee Treasurer and Vice President, the fat folder is crammed with photos, reminiscences, legal documents, timelines, school rolls, maps and accounts of Hall reunions, telling as much about the history of Makarau post-colonisation as it does

Visiting a Makarau couple in the hope of learning a little about the history of Makarau Hall, I came away with a treasure trove of information and memories.

about the Hall itself. In the 1860’s Makarau, a land block owned by Maori and inhabited by Ngati Rongo, became home to its first European immigrants. From that time on, some Maori land purchased for the Crown by District Commissioner John Rogan was immediately on-sold to settlers, while in other land transactions

By Helen Martin


Proof Sheet for Ad Booking #

Attn: Date:

Company: No. of Pages:

Fax Number: From:

Planner: Phone:

Region: Fax Number:

Price: Size:

Advertisement is correct:

Signed: Date:mYes Alteration required m

PO Box 9203 Hamilton

Enlarged for proofing

• Advice on the best structure for you - Company, Trust, Partnership.

Withers & Co Ltd23 Neville StreetPO Box 113, Warkworth.Freephone: 0508 948 4377 Fax: (09) 425 7565Email: [email protected]

Serving Rural Clients (North & South Is.) Since1969

• We specialise in taxation advice and services to farmers and lifestyle block owners.

• Expert knowledge on the taxation of landsales and subdivisions.







Attn: Date:


Fax Number: From:

Planner: Phone:

Region: Fax Number:

Price: Size:
















Attn: Date:


Fax Number: From:

Planner: Phone:

Region: Fax Number:

Price: Size:
















Attn: Date:


Fax Number: From:

Planner: Phone:

Region: Fax Number:

Price: Size:















• We specialise in taxation advice and servicesto farmers and lifestyle block owners.• Expert knowledge on the taxation of

landsales and subdivisions.• Advice on the best structure for you -

Company, Trust, Partnership.

Withers & Co Ltd23 Neville Street, PO Box 113, Warkworth.Phone (09) 425 8599Fax (09) 425 7565Email: [email protected]

Call us now for a FREE initial consultation

“Quality Services for Quality Environments”

Would Your Wetland or Bush Block Qualify for Subdivision?

Call Myles, Mark or MichelleOrewa 09 427 0072Kumeu 09 412 9040www.catobolam.co.nz

35yrs experience in Rodney

■ Wetland Potential / Restoration■ Existing Native Bush Potential■ Bush Planting Proposals■ Potential from Boundary Relocations■ Countryside Living Subdivisions

Cato Bolam will assist you in maximising the development potential of your rural landholding through:

planners surveyors engineers

settlers purchased directly from Maori owners.

Among the early English arrivals were Ellen and Thomas Clinkard and Charles and Amelia Hooper. James and Hannah Adams settled in nearby Punganui. The folder has several accounts of how Ellen Clinkard, the first non-Maori woman to live in Makarau, sat on a bag of flour, covered her head with her apron and wept when she first saw the nikau whare that was to be her home, and of how Charles established a thriving commercial orchard from fruit tree cuttings Ellen brought from England.

Intermarriage between settler families was common and everyone’s goal was to break in the land. As one descendent

says, ”It was here that they set to and literally carved a life, a living and a farm out of bush and scrub.” According to one report, some of the biggest kauri logs in New Zealand were cut in Makarau. Pit sawn kauri homes were built and money was made from kauri gum and from the huge quantities of kauri that were felled and carted by bullock teams to the river.

Descendents of the early settlers remember: walking four miles to school on metal roads in bare feet; the pungent smell of burning kauri; beautiful draught horses breaking in the farms; the tinkle of the bullock bells and the squeak of brakes on the bullock wagon; sleeping top and tail; Maori families coming from nearby Kakanui to collect shellfish; no bathroom or running water; clear, clean air; school opening just 3 days a week as the teacher was shared with another district; the big floods; trips to Kakanui School to learn poi dancing; wild goats in the hills; sharing a party line run through the Post and Telegraph Office in Granny Hooper’s

Bullocks were the only way to clear kauri of this size.

Early days at Makarau School.Back row; Arthur Dunn, Ralph Adams, Robert Mathew, Ron Hooper, Edward (Ted) Dunn, Eion Smith. Middle; Judith Hooper, Coralie Clark, Fay Hooper, Leah Clark, Lios Hooper, Elaine Hooper. Front row Lorraine hooper, Jill Hooper, Barbara Hooper, Joy Smith, Ian Hooper. Teacher: Brendan Clark.

A DEAL YOU CAN TRUST

2008 Corolla GX Hatch. NZ-new auto and manual from $19,990 incl. GST

Contact us today.

.5570 ytiC erohS htroN ,egalliV ynablA ,daoR slliG & daoR niaM renroC - atoyoT ynablATel 09 415 7890 Toll Free 0800 657 755 Fax 09 415 7893 www.albany-toyota.co.nz

Wilmot Toyota - Corner Whitaker Road & Mill Lane, Warkworth 0910. Sales DDI 09 425 1093 Fax 09 425 7631 [email protected] www.wilmot.co.nz

Wilmot Toyota

Offer open until 31 July 2010 or while stocks last and conditions apply.

You have our word on it.

3 year unlimited km warranty | 3 years AA Roadservice | 3 years free WOF inspections

house; an influx of men living under canvas and working on the roads during the Great Depression; going to bed in candlelight; the taste of home churned butter; Grandfather’s stories of local Maori teaching him which food could be gathered from the bush.

All those whose memories are captured in the folder talk with pride and affection of the Hall, the heart and soul of communal life for the Makarau settlers and their descendents from the first years of the twentieth century.

The building began its life in 1905 when a committee of

locals called for tenders for timber to be cut for a community hall to be built on land purchased from committee member Charles Hooper (son of original settler Charles Hooper, husband of Clara Clinkard) for ten shillings. The tender was won by Charles’s brother Harry. The Hall was to be paid for and owned by a committee which numbered several Hoopers among its 13 members.

To think much of the land in the district was cleared this way.

95th Reunion, 2001.


Korimako HabitatsForest RestorationPh: 09 421 [email protected]

Palle Olsen021 255 091138 years experience

FREE CONSULTATION

k Bush Assessmentsk Council Reportsk Revegetationk Wetlands

k Plant Supplyk Plantingk Maintenancek Stream edges

WETLAND & BUSH BLOCKREVEGETATION EXPERTS

Clean your septic tank every three years.Remember your septic is connected to the environment!

Cleaning of Septic Tanks, Grease Traps,Car and Truck washes, Cesspits.

Ph: 09 411 5499www.septic-tank.co.nz

Call us beforeyou NEED to!

A small building with beautiful matai floors and rimu walls, the Hall was incorporated as the Makarau Public Hall and Athenaeum Society and opened on 2 November, 1906 with an all night fundraising social. Minutes of meetings over the years record many additions - a stage, a piano, a dressing room for the ladies, electricity, a metal road to replace the mud track - paid for by fundraising in the community.

People fondly recall community events held in the Hall: magic lantern shows; youth camps; political meetings; aerobics classes; barbecues; the annual Christmas party; games evenings; bonfires; adult education classes; weddings; Harvest Thanksgiving; and more. Most discussed are memories of the dances.

Before a dance the walls would be decorated with nikau palms and lycopodium. The floor would be polished by the big kids pulling the little kids around on sacks, then dusted with dancing powder. In the early days music was provided by the Hooper family orchestra, usually with the addition of spontaneous entertainment in the form of the removal of a gate crashing possum or two. The lads too young to drink sat around the walls on hard bench seats, desperately hoping

not to be dragooned into dancing a maxina, a polka or a three step polonaise. Outside the Hall, reputedly “as black as the inside of a cow”, the men, despite New Zealand’s ban on alcohol at dance halls, discussed politics, farming and the weather over a liberal supply of beer. Between dances, small children raced around the floor while the women called in vain to their partners outside to come in for a dance. Supper was a highlight, with tables laden with home made savouries, butterfly cakes, lamingtons and trifles. Dances went until late and once the children tired they were wrapped in rugs and put behind the piano on stage to sleep.

Visit the Hall now and you’ll see the hard benches have given way to comfortable chairs and the building itself considerably larger than its original 36’ by 20’ by 10’. Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth still have pride of place at each end, while photos on the walls tell of the years of service locals have given to the Hall.

The Hall is still owned by its committee members. The demographics of the area are rapidly changing, with lifestylers moving in who are keen to be part of the community but who, because they commute daily to the city, are not always available to take part in the working bees. Keeping the Hall active is a committee of stalwarts, including Alison and Les Adams, making sure the building is up to scratch and used at least two or three times a year for social events like barbecues, dances and the regular mid winter Christmas dinner. Les Adams still lives on the family farm in Makarau - he’s never wanted to live anywhere else - and he and Dale Woodcock are the only remaining descendents of the first European settlers still living in the valley. Les is determined to keep the Hall alive. As he puts it, “I’ve always maintained if you lose the Hall, you lose the identity of the district.”

Many thanks to Alison and Les Adams, Margaret Kawharu and Joyce Sands for their valuable contributions to this article.

95th Reunion, 2001.

*Available for selected Husqvarna Chainsaw models only – 440e, 445e, 450e, 455R, 460, 365, 570. Offer available from 1st June – 31st August 2010, Available only at participating dealers.


†The Chainsaw Kit includes: 1x Chain Filing Kit / 1x Clear Safety Glasses / 1x Garden Earmuffs / 1x 0.95ltr bar oil / 1x Chainsaw Case. Total RRP value $200 incl GST

FREEChainsaw KitValued at $200†

with the purchase of a selected Husqvarna chainsaw*

www.husqvarna.co.nz

YOUR LOCAL HUSQVARNA SPECIALISTS

KUMEU CHAINSAW & MOWER SERVICES377 SH 16 (Main Road), Huapai (1km past Huapai Tavern)

Phone: 09 412 8109

Kumeu

WarkworthWILMOT MOTORS LTD

Mill Lane, Warkworth. Phone: 09 425 8439. www.wilmot.co.nz308 State Highway 1, Te Hana. (2.5km north of Wellsford) Phone: 09 423 8558 - Fax: 094238568

Wellsford

ALBANY MOWERS & MACHINERYAlbany Village 09-415 9756www.albany-mowers.co.nz

Albany

MairangiBay

6-10 Parkway Dv (Off Constellation Dv) 09 443 2436 www.yrco.co.nz






www.husqvarna.co.nz



Phone: 09 412 8109

Kumeu



Wellsford


Albany

MairangiBay







www.husqvarna.co.nz



Phone: 09 412 8109

Kumeu



Wellsford


Albany

MairangiBay



STOCK O

PTION

S

25kg

“A convenient,versatile feed that is

safe enough tomeet the nutritional

demands of allruminant stock.”

V livestock

pregnancy orweight.

sales

stress

Suitable for: sheep, goats, deer, cattle, alpacas, llamas and pigs

25kg Nett

T

Versatile Nutrition

Multifeed®

VN

utrit

ion

Mul

tifee

d®

NR

M-R

W01

2

Convenient multi purpose ruminant feed.Balanced with vitamins and minerals.Nut form helps to limit wastage.

SHORT OF FEED?

Ask for it at your local rural retailer.

RW012 Multifeed+ Zinc Rodney Rural Life 120x90.indd 1 23/04/10 1:16 PM

With livestock it’s even harder as you can’t look under the bonnet or get an AA check. It helps to have a rudimentary understanding of genetics, but at the very least you must do your homework and know what it is you want and why, and then approach it with some important pointers in mind.

I won’t be discussing here buying livestock from saleyards or the internet, but the buying of breeding stock, that is animals that you are buying as a bit of an investment with the intention of breeding and selling their progeny, rather than just buying animals to

fatten up to sell or eat.

When setting out to buy breeding stock start with the decision of whether it’s a certain breed that you are interested in, or crossbred stock, or just a generic cow, sheep etc, and why. This article is mainly concerned with the pitfalls around the purchase of “pedigree” breeds of livestock, that is, animals whose ancestry is known (to some degree). This is where we need to delve a little into the world of genetics.

The purpose of buying and breeding from pedigree animals of known

provenance is that the traits and attributes of their offspring are then predetermined and predictable, because their genome (their DNA) is fixed. The analogy here is with pedigree dogs compared to mongrels or ‘bitzers’. Breeds of livestock are also analogous to ‘species’ in that they breed true and their offspring are exactly like their parents. It takes many generations (up to 30 or 40) to ‘fix’ the genome to get this stability in breeds, and historically this has been done deliberately in order to retain a certain desirable package of genetic attributes. When an animal of a certain breed is bred with one from a different breed or with a ‘bitzer’, the genome becomes unstable and we no longer have any control over what the offspring will be like.

When looking to buy a certain breed it is important to research beforehand the breed standard, that is the agreed traits and attributes of that breed that have been laid down by the breed society. You need to do a bit of research into the current asking/selling prices of that breed, and you need to be looking at the prices at the stud breeders, not what they may be selling for on Trade Me. Breeding and rearing stud livestock is a very labour intensive and expensive business and it is only from registered studs that you will get a choice of livestock of known and provable provenance. A good stud should only be selling you good quality stock.

Stud breeding animals may be classified as ‘graded-up’, full pedigree or purebred/pureblood. The first category means that there are genetics in there from other breeds, ie they are in fact cross-bred stock. Graded up stock are usually graded 1 up to 4 or 5, and the numeral depicts the number of generations that they have been bred to a purebred sire of that breed. It therefore gives an indication of the percentage of the genome that is typical to that breed, with grade 1 being 50% up to nearly 98% by grade 5, which is then considered to be the same as an animal that has never been crossbred. There is still a genetic component from the other breed(s), which may or may not be a good thing. A purebred or pureblood animal has no outcrossing in its genetic background, or at least has not had for a very long time.

I always liken buying livestock to buying a second-hand car, and we all know some of the pitfalls there!

LIVESTOCKPITFALLS

By Bev Trowbridge


Calf Milk PumpGreat quality! You won’t believe the prices!

The Bianco Q550B Pump is a stainless steel vortex pump with a flow rate of up to 160 litres per minute, with a stainless steel shaft.

Buy your pump now for $150 incl GST and go in the draw to

WINa Feeder and

Tank packageWorth over

$4500 RRP

Ph 00 000 0000 To purchase online visit www.biancocalfmilk.co.nz

Company Logo

$150incl GST RRP

BiancoQ550B Pump

believe the prices!

Calf Milk PumpGreat quality! You won’t believe the prices!

Buy your pump now for $150 incl GST and go in the draw to

WINnow

a Feeder and

Tank packageWorth over

$4500 RRP

a Feeder and

Tank packageTank packageTank package

Ph 00 000 0000 To purchase online visit www.biancocalfmilk.co.nz

Company Logo

$150incl GST RRP

BiancoQ550B Pump

Suitable for draining sumps and transferring fromone tank to another. Offer ends 30/09/10.

Visit us online at www.watertechplus.comor our showroom at 6 Worker Road, Wellsford.

Ph/fax 09 423 8061

We are the pump specialists!

Free quote on all aspects of Vegetation Management –Anywhere in the Country

For a FREE quote please contact:

Tree Felling / ChippingForest to Pasture Conversion

Shelter Belt RemovalTrimming / Transplanting

Mulch Sales / DeliveryWood-lot Purchase / LoggingConsultancy / Stump Grinding

Chris Sheffield. Ph 0276 108 540Or our office on 0800 TREEWORK (873396)

Take a look at what we do at www.treescape.co.nz

VEGETATionMAnAGEMEnT

Buy the best (genetic) quality animals that you can afford. It may be better to buy fewer of the full pedigree animals rather than more of the graded-up stock. It will work out more cost effective in the long run as there will be fewer rejects or surprises.

Look for those that are in really good health and body condition. Have some knowledge of conformation, that is, how that animal should be put together. Most people have a natural instinct for this but you’re looking for strong legs at each corner, a straight back, good length and depth of body, and muscling in all the right places. If you’re unsure a bit of research is a must. You also need to check out feet, mouth (teeth) and udder or scrotum, (those important working bits!).

Don’t be tempted to always go for the biggest. These may be the best if buying directly for the meat market, but they do not necessarily make the best breeding stock. This is

particularly true for dams, or breeding females, as those carrying the most weight often do not give so much milk to their offspring and that is why they look so good. Of course you don’t want the smallest either but something in the middle that is a good solid animal with the capability of rearing many generations of quality offspring without eating you out of house and home. With a sire you are looking for those with the potential to produce good sized meat animals, so look at his progeny or those of his father. Male and female traits seem to run quite closely down the gender lines.

And the last but maybe the best piece of advice: always take a more knowledgeable friend with you if you can, two opinions are always better than one!

Kunekune pig.

10 RURAL LIFESTYLE ISSUE 3409 425 7053

16-18 Morrison Drive [email protected]

HOMEPLUS RODNEY

151M

www.homeplus.co.nz

www.blinds.co.nz

CALL NOW

for FREE m

easure

and quote

Wardrobe Doors

Roller Blinds

Custom-made sliding or bi-folding Wardrobe Door System allows efficient access to

storage space

Warmer in Winter / Cool in Summer Sunscreen blinds can reduce energy consumption by up to 63% while also adding elegant, sophisticated and minimalistic appearance to windows,and come in a variety of colours to suit any home. 09 425 7053


HOMEPLUS RODNEY

151M

www.homeplus.co.nz

www.blinds.co.nz

CALL NOW

for FREE m

easure

and quote

Wardrobe Doors

Roller Blinds


storage space

Warmer in Winter / Cool in Summer Sunscreen blinds can reduce energy consumption by up to 63% while also adding elegant, sophisticated and minimalistic appearance to windows,and come in a variety of colours to suit any home.

09 425 7053


HOMEPLUS RODNEY

151M

www.homeplus.co.nz

www.blinds.co.nz

CALL NOW

for FREE m

easure

and quote

Wardrobe Doors

Roller Blinds


storage space


09 425 7053


HOMEPLUS RODNEY

151M

www.homeplus.co.nz

www.blinds.co.nz

CALL NOW

for FREE m

easure

and quote

Wardrobe Doors

Roller Blinds


storage space


Warmer in Winter/Cool in Summer. Sunscreen blinds can reduce energy consumption by up to 63% while also adding elegant, sophisticatedand minimalistic appearance to windows, and come in a variety of colours to suit any home.

16-18 Morrison [email protected]

www.blinds.co.nz

Roller Blinds

Insect Screens

CALL NOW

for FREE measure

and quote

www.homeplus.co.nz

30% OFFInsect Screens

this month only*

Buy now and Save BIg! *Conditions apply

We had finally found a suitable option in a window display – the vanity had a dark stained oak veneer with a gloss lacquer finish and sleek detailing. However, on closer inspection the vanity had suffered severe bleaching

from exposure to the westerly sun. I was surprised that the retailer was displaying what should have been considered reject sale goods and was stunned that the salesperson deflected the issue saying “oh but they (the

INTERIO

R DESIG

N

manufacturer) didn’t tell us it would fade”.

We’re bombarded with messages about the brutal effects of the sun on an almost daily basis. The sun-safe mantra is getting through on a personal level, but just as we enjoy the sun while outdoors, we also want to have the benefits of the sun’s warmth and natural light in our homes and workspaces. So, how to balance our desire for natural light indoors with the protection of our interiors?

In all seasons we track the path of the sun – rising in the east and setting in the west. We learn that north facing spaces are exposed to greater levels of light for longer, that south facing rooms beg for indirect light. Solar design tracks the effects of the higher position of the sun in summer, and the lower path in winter – a benefit we enjoy as the sun reaches deeper into our spaces. However, every time we can enjoy the sun, UV radiation (UVR) at varying intensity levels is finding us and our belongings.

Position of the sun is a key reference point in design. We prioritise warmth

Recently I was out with a client viewing vanity options for their rural Karapiro home renovation.

By Victoria McAnulty

LIVING WITHLIGHT

Semi-translucent blinds soften/filter natural light, reducing the damaging effects of UVR on internal surfaces.


20% OFF All Fabrics*

1 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth

09 425 0037Bernie Dave Barbara

Rodney’s largest curtain range and the very latest in fabrics.

You can visit our showroom or we can come to you with an extensive range of

fabrics to try in your home.

*This offer is EXCLUSIVE to Rodney’s Rural Lifestyle readers - just mention the ad. Conditions apply. Offer ends 31 July.

15% OFF Blinds.

Exclusive to Rodney's Rural Lifestyle – Hurry, offer ends 31 July!

15% OFF Blinds.15% OFF Blinds.

in our living spaces, prefer natural light in work areas and compromise with artificial or lesser light in secondary areas. Commercially, natural light and therefore windows translate as key display frontage to attract passers-by. The plumbing showroom had full height west facing windows receiving brutal UV exposure in all seasons. As with any exposed space the lesson is that regular (yet expensive!) product or furniture rotation, sun filtering solutions or external barriers are required to minimise the sun’s harsh UV rays.

At home we have the option of eaves with the roof design, UV treatments in the glazing or as a film application, and window dressings such as sunscreen blinds, venetians and sheers. To varying degrees these all filter natural light, reduce direct UVR damage and minimize view disturbance. However, sun damage is not only from above, we also need to consider reflection of light off external elements, for instance hard, troweled concrete surfaces bounce more UVR into spaces than soft ground surfaces such as grass would.

In assessing shade needs, consider if overhead, vertical or other shading elements are required, and further if these should be fixed or retractable in response to how spaces are used. The intention is to harness the benefits of solar gain, to reduce costs of heating or cooling and to minimise the damaging effects of UVR while enjoying a healthy home. More and more we see unique solutions of external UV screening as an integral part of good design, with the decorative bonus of exquisite shadow cast detail. Natural treatments also offer seasonal solar filtering. Deciduous trees for example provide shade and cooling effects in summer and access to heat and light from the winter sun. We’re fortunate

to live in a climate that fosters vegetation growth so why not consider landscaping as a contributing, functional element of design?

Once we have the ‘good’ light safely inside, then what? How do we maintain the vitality of our spaces and ensure the longevity of our interiors? In the Rodney region we are blessed with beautiful clear light bouncing around large open spaces. There’s no smog or other dense industrial effect that impacts on the light quality. I’ve been amazed at how ‘true’ colours appear and therefore how bold you could be with palette selection to create a unique environment – far from the dreary uniform greys of urban areas.

There are many ways to place your signature on an interior space, but keep in mind a few simple rules. Across the spectrum of colours, blues and reds in any tone or shade are susceptible to fading faster as they are affected by wider bands of light. The same rule – subject to the composition of the substrate – applies whether the colour is a feature detail in a textile or on a large painted wall. While some fade of any colour or surface is inevitable over time, consider the composition of materials too. For example don’t put natural materials such as linens or silks in direct light, similarly woodgrains will change colour subject to both the surface sealant used and level of exposure. UVR reflectance on internal painted surfaces is minimal (independent of colour) so in well lit rooms be bold with your choice and depth of colour on walls adjacent to direct light. Common sense does apply, in saying that I’d always recommend checking with your supplier or designer that a colour, surface finish or textile is suited for the proposed installation and use.


1 Elizabeth Street, Warkworth

When it comes to Curtains & Blindswe are the best in the field!

We’ll come to you! Let us show you our stunning range of fabrics in the comfort of your home or visit our showroom 1 Elizabeth St, Warkworth.

09 425 0037

Bernie Dave Barbara

This is Victoria’s debut with us as our Interiors features writer. Victoria is an award winning interior designer who has recently moved from the city to a rural block near Ahuroa. Feel free to email Victoria ([email protected]) with any questions you may have (her advert also appears in our directory pages). – Ed.

Of those spaces that have limited light penetration, including south facing rooms, there are many ‘tricks’ we can use to create a brighter interior. The use of tints (any colour + white) offers higher reflectance values allowing more light to be generated within that space. Low sheen or satin finishes on walls reflect more light than flat paint finishes which diffuse subtle light. High gloss finishes reflect the greatest amount of light but will show up any surface imperfections as a result – limit this finish to feature details such as architraves. You could consider mirror placement to bounce light and frame reflections. Where there is an opportunity to refurbish or start fresh, taller windows allows more light in.

The lack of light can affect mood. A dark room in winter is even more dreary so spice this up with a splash of white or a bold colour, even in cushion covers, while amplifying artificial lighting. If a luxurious, moody room is what you’re after, go for excess in colour and texture while introducing multiple light sources at a lower level such as candles, wall sconces and table lamps.

Ultimately you want to maximize the positive attributes of natural light in each space, enjoy your views and bring the warmth and light in while taking care of your interiors. When you configure your spaces with this in mind savings are achieved in artificial cooling and/or heating, you can protect your furniture, surfaces and artwork from fading and be rewarded with the best of all seasons – even on the most miserable day! While a textile gently worn over time becomes a comfortable family friend, a sun bleached ‘scar’ on your coffee table or carpet can only be an expensive exercise in balancing ideals with reality.

And the bathroom vanity? I’m going to customise a unit for the client, maximising design and storage potential in the master ensuite. The proposed new space is in the southwest corner of a villa conversion with high windows and deep eaves. I’ll be happy to stain the veneer surface a darker charcoal tone with a low sheen lacquer finish, knowing that it will look exquisite once installed in a pale coloured room filled with natural light – safe from any harmful sun exposure!

In well lit rooms you can be bold with your choice and depth of colour on walls adjacent to direct light.

The same room on dusk can take on a different mood. The inclusion of low level lamps soften the central artificial (and/or ceiling) light source, affecting the tone and richness of the bedroom.


Oikoumene FOREST LIMITED

1 West St, HelensvilleTel: 0800 833 399 Fax: 09 420 8476Email: [email protected]: www.oikoumene.co.nz

1484 Oikoumene Forest Letterhead.pdf 7/4/09 1:08:04 PM

Buy Better Build Better

Oikoumene FOREST LIMITED

1 West St, HelensvilleTel: 0800 833 399 Fax: 09 420 8476Email: [email protected]: www.oikoumene.co.nz

1484 Oikoumene Forest Letterhead.pdf 7/4/09 1:08:04 PM

Freephone 0800 8333 991 West St, Helensville. Fax 09 420 8476.

Email: [email protected] Web: www.oikoumene.co.nz

We can now arrange installation for roof, under-floor or whole house lots and

super deals on DIY packs.

INSULATION SERVICE

Makita 5740NB Circular saw.A versatile tool for all

those jobs around the farm.185mm blade.

Hitachi 18v Cordless Drill (13mm chuck, 2 batteries, 2 variable speeds, 45Nm torque for the tough jobs.

Hitachi 100mm grinderFor any metal worktrimming or grinding.

Hitachi 100mm grinder

Makita DCS4610 Chainsaw45.2cc, 4.7kg, 1.7kw. Great for

firewood or trimming rails etc where no power is available.

$223.88

$395.00

$80.00

Includes FREE TORCH!

$268.88

In past articles, I’ve talked about using mixed borders to provide wind protection or visual screening. This month’s column is about an actual layout I’ve just planted to provide our house with a visual screen from the road.

It’s in our fairly square front paddock that is probably going to become part of the garden one day, but in the meantime, all traffic looks in on us. Until a year or so ago, we were screened by a row of lemonwoods, planted about 25 years ago. But over the years, various horses and cattle had a good chew at the trees and they weren’t looking their best. Rather than replace them with another straight line of trees, we decided to go for a natural looking mixed border.

There were some limiting factors. At the eastern end we have a fence and cattle yards which we don’t want to take out yet in case we do get some stock again. And at the western end, we have a gateway through to the next paddock, which we can’t block. This makes the border at this end far narrower than I would like.

In the middle we have an existing puriri to include in the planting. It’s about 5m tall now, but it has been a bit of a battle to get it there. We protected it from stock and frosts when it was young; it grew nicely and was looking good until last year. The 26 or so frosts we had in our sheltered valley blackened it all over. It started to recover well then came last summer’s drought – and a naughty steer, which took a sudden liking to the bark and virtually ring-barked it overnight. Yes, life’s a struggle for it, but it is still alive, and hopefully it will one day take pride of place in our new border.

LAN

DSC

APIN

G

BORDERBORDERCONTROL

By Grant McKechnie


The lifesTyle block specialisTs

Robinson Rd, coatesville. ph/fax 09 415 8806. [email protected]

let Grant & Julie help you select the best plants for your place!

• Hedging • Shelter • Natives • Landscape plants• Bulk pricing available for most plants

• Lots of trees for autumn colour

HOURSMon–Fri - 8.30am - 5.00pmSaturday - 9.00am - 5.00pm

But I digress. In this border layout I needed 2m to 3m minimum height all the way along to create a visual block. But I didn’t want a wall, I wanted a colourful mix of evergreens that looked good from all angles, shorter plants on the edges, taller in the middle to give a layered look. I also wanted some big trees in it, and for demonstration purposes for our nursery customers, we decided to keep it all native. (But you could do the same sort of thing with a mix of non-natives and natives.)

My first step was to mark out some nice flowing curves with spray-on paint to define the inside edge. Next, I positioned the plants with, generally, the tallest-growing towards the middle, the medium sized (2 – 3m) next, with the lower growing species on the outside edges. I’ve used a couple of varieties of carex (native grasses) as a ground cover under the bigger trees.

My plant spacing should mean that, in about four years, the plants are touching and smothering most of the weed growth. I should have to mow only around the edge – well, that’s the theory anyway. Meantime, we can trim with a weed-eater. Or, if we really want to be efficient, mulch the area with 10cm to 15cm of bark. That will suppress grass and weed growth and keep moisture in the ground in summer. And yes, if we have stock, we’ll fence off the plants well! Setting out the plants. It's better to lay out all your plants before you start digging holes.

The blank canvas.


Hunting & Fishing Westgate 7 Cabernet Cres, Westgate, AucklandPh: 09 833 3019. Phone orders welcome.

the big annual hunting & fishing westgatethe big annual hunting & fishing westgate

hurry, ends 17 july!hurry, ends 17 july!hundreds of deals in-store

Hunting • FisHing • Camping • tramping

Win

tE

r 2

01

0

IMPORTANT NOTE: Offers in this publication expire 17 July 2010 – or while stocks last! Some conditions may apply.

HalF pRICe!

•Stylish – features staglogo embroidery

•Hydrophobic anti-pill Fleece

Big SmokeBig SmokeFleece ¼ Zip Sweatshirt Fleece ¼ Zip Sweatshirt

simon says . . .

salE!!!

$29.99

salE supEr spECial

EaCHaCHa

no misprint

rrp $59.99

Friday July 2 – Saturday July 17 2010 inclusive– The July School Holidays

cONDITIONSStockatthesepricesislimitedandhotitemswillselloutduringtheSALE–bequick!Someitemshavealimitpercustomer–seeadvertisement.In-storesaleswilltakepriorityoverinternetpurchases.Otherconditionsapply.

WHErE WHEnThirty Hunting & Fishing New Zealand stores nationwide – see directory page 6. Some Specials are available from our online store www.huntingandfishing.co.nz

Pikau Hunting Back PackS

simon says... “i’m kiCking tHings oFF WitH Four oF tHE BEst!”

Perfect casual wear if youmust visit the ‘big smoke’.

nnormally $69.99ormally $69.99ormally $69.99ormally $69.99ormally $69.99ormally $69.99

t FoR tWo! Best fleece t deal ever

Limit of 2 per Limit of 2 per Limit of 2 per Limit of 2 per Limit of 2 per Limit of 2 per customer customer customer

salE dEal

tWo For

ValuE $79.98

salE

Sleeping Bag

HalF priCE out tHEy go

Sell Out!

PluS

annual salE annual salE annual salE annual salE annual salE annual salE annual


Win

tE

r 2

01

0


HalF pRICe!

simon says . . .

salE!!!

salE supEr spECial

no misprint

rrp $59.99







salE dEal

tWo For

ValuE $79.98

$59.99

salE Multi ChannelQuatrothermOriginally $99.99Originally $99.99

Sleeping Bag

compact 300 Warm -5 RatingGenuine RRP $199.99

Sleeping BagSleeping BagSleeping BagSleeping BagSleeping Bag

RatingGenuine RRP $199.99

$99.99


Sell Out!

PluS ManagersManagersManagersManagersManagersManagersManagersManagersManagers sleepingsleeping bagbagspecialsspecialsspecials In-Store!



Win

tE

r 2

01

0


H5 Headlamp H5 Headlamp H5 Headlamp

HalF pRICe!• Focus Beam – FloodFlood to Spot• Lightweight & BrightBrightBright• Red safety light on rear• Neoprene Belt Pouch included LIMIT Of TwO PER cuSTOMER!

H5 Headlamp

simon says . . .

salE!!!

salE supEr spECial

f TwO PER cuSTOMER

$29.99

no misprint

rrp $59.99







salE dEal

tWo For

ValuE $79.98

salE

Sleeping Bag


Sell Out!

PluS



Win

tE

r 2

01

0


HalF pRICe!

simon says . . .

salE!!!

salE supEr spECial

no misprint

rrp $59.99






•Super Special - Sale Limited Edition!Edition!

•Stag logo embroidery– great looking T

•Hydrophobic MicroFleece - very warm!


No limitand sizescan bemixed

$29.99

salE dEal

tWo For

ValuE $79.98

salE

Sleeping Bag


Sell Out!

PluS


the big annual hunting & fishing westgatethe big annual hunting & fishing westgate

SALE!! !

PLANTING KEYa. Swamp flax @ 1.5m spacingb. Coprosma ‘Painters Palette’ @ 1.5m spacingc. Coprosma ‘Yvonne’ @ 1.5m spacingd. Hebe diosmifolia @ 1m spacinge. Kauri @ 5m spacingf. Coprosma ‘Roys Red’ @ 1.5m spacingg. Carex dipsacea @ 0.5m spacingh. Flax ‘Jester’ @ 1.5m spacingi. Hebe stricta @ 1m spacingj. Kowhai ‘Dragons Gold’ @ 1.5m spacingk. Coprosma ‘Green Rock’ @ 1.5m spacingl. Pseudopanax laetus @ 1.5m spacingm. Griselinia littoralis @ 4m spacingn. Flax ‘Black Rage’ @ 1.5m spacingo. Coprosma ‘Pink Splendour’ @ 1.5m spacingp. Wineberry ‘Jessie Cockburn’ @ 3m spacing

q. Manuka ‘Burgundy Queen’ @ 1.5m spacingr. Puriris. Coprosma ‘Plum Hussey’ @ 1.5m spacingt. Titoki @ 5m spacingu. Hebe ‘Inspiration’ @ 1m spacingv. Coprosma ‘Red Rock’ @ 1m spacingw. Manuka ‘Kea’ @ 1m spacingx. Kahikatea @ 5m spacingy. Pittosporum ‘Humpty Dumpty’ @ 1.5m spacingz. Corokia ‘Geenty’s Green’ @ 3m spacing1. Coprosma ‘Yvonne’ @ 1.5m spacing2. Wineberry ‘Thomas Lister’ @ 2m spacing3. Dianella (NZ blueberry) @ 0.5m spacing4. Astelia ‘Westland’ @ 1.5m spacing5. Flax ‘Dazzler’ @ 1.5m spacing6. Coprosma ‘Middlemore’ @ 1.5m spacing

40m

20m

Ent

ranc

e

Call Ken Borg0800 600 500 | 021 [email protected]

For an online video demonstrationvisit www.rurallifestyle.co.nz

Before...

After!

We’ll make quick work of the tallest gorse on steep, hard-to-reach sites.

Steep gullies and hillsides are often left for gorse to overtake because it’s too difficult to control. Spraying requires a lengthy die-off period and still leaves the problem of removal. Burning can promote rapid re-growth and can damage non-target vegetation. With our new 22.5tonne machine and its fixed tooth

mulching head we go where no others have before. We’ll turn gorse-ridden land into productive farm land quickly and efficiently. You’ll save on spraying costs and re-vegetation or re-sowing can start immediately. Any gorse regrowth can then be more easily managed and maintained.

Dams | Wetlands | Bridges | Timber Jetties | Culvert Crossings$5,000,000 Public Liability Insurance covering all fire risk

IS GORSE OR SCRUB ERODING YOUR LAND’S PRODUCTIVITY?


HEA

LTH &

WELLBEIN

G

9 Falls Street (opp Police station) Warkworth. PH 09 422 2550

HEARING LOSS?YOU DON’T HAVETO PUT UP WITH IT!

IS NOW

• Fully qualified audiologists• Professional and caring service• Independent hearing instrument specialists• ACC and War Pensions accredited• Obligation free trial of hearing aidsLesleigh Smith

BSc.,MSc Aud., M.N.Z.A.S. C.C.C AUDIOLOGIST

Kasia HamiltonB.Tech (Hons), M.Aud (Hons)C.C.C.,M.N.Z.A.S AUDIOLOGIST

A new name but the same caring professionals.

Shirley ParkerOffice administrator

Call us to make a time to come in –you’ll be so glad you did!

NORTHLAND

NORTHLAND

Recently, I was lucky enough to attend one of the largest hearing and hearing aid conferences in the world in San Diego, California where all the hearing aid manufacturers display their latest products and show off their research and development concepts.

At the end of last year I forecast that we would see a trend of hearing aids becoming smaller and more “in the ear” instead of behind the ear. We certainly have seen a trend in all hearing aids getting smaller as the technology improves how sound is processed and noise is reduced while keeping the power consumption very low to run off the tiny hearing aid batteries.

The most awe inspiring new hearing aid on the market that I saw was actually first advertised to the American public on talk show television. Dr Oz, celebrity doctor made famous by Oprah Winfrey, went on national TV talking about a new hearing aid called the Lyric. This hearing aid is medically inserted deep down into the ear canal where it is totally invisible. However, the aid does have to be inserted and removed by a trained professional (at some cost) every three months to change the battery. This aid wouldn’t be suitable to all people (mitigating factors include small or waxy ear canals, cost, level of hearing loss) but I can see that it would be appealing to some. It hasn’t yet been released in New

Zealand, but I expect we will see it on our shores in selected clinics in 2011.

Two companies, Unitron and Phonak NZ, have launched very tiny in-canal hearing aids (named Fuse and Zip) that are nearly invisible. These do not have to be implanted. The average person can insert and remove the hearing aids and change the batteries themselves.

In the area of wireless technologies and batteries, another couple of advances have been made since last year. Although Siemens have had rechargeable hearing aids Afor some time, they claim to have improved their hearing aid and charger design to maximize reliability. The battery life in the hearing aids last roughly 8 hours before needing to be recharged.

By Lesleigh Smith

LATEST ADVANCES INLATEST ADVANCES INHEARING TECHNOLOGY


Homespring wins taste test!

0800 pUre water

Over 1400 people who visited our stand during Fieldays and took the taste test picked the Homespring membrane filtered water over normal carbon filtered water by almost 2 to 1!

No other technology can give you the same degree No other technology can give you the same degree of confidence that your drinking water is safe for the family. Homespring is certified to filter to 0.02 micron, physically removing 99.99999% of bacteria, 99.999% of viruses, protozoan cysts, chlorine, cloudiness and smell from all water sources. Yet essential healthy salts and minerals remain in the water.

need replacement filter cartridges? We supply and service all makes of filters for domestic and commercial filtration systems.

0800 787 392

Your health

is worth a phone call...

Call Greg or Steve today!

Most people tend to store the aids on the charger dock every night to get maximum power the next day.

Several hearing aid companies have now integrated technologies that allow the listener to link wirelessly to a variety of sound sources (e.g. a direct link to the TV, Bluetooth hands-free car kit, even wireless mobile phone listening).

Finally, to treat tinnitus (ringing or buzzing sounds in your ears) hearing aid company Widex has launched a product that reduces the unwanted sound. Specially formulated music is tailored to the person’s individual hearing loss and is designed to stimulate the inner hair cells in a particular way. This special music is aptly named “Zen” listening as it allows the listener to relax and to hopefully not hear the annoying tinnitus as loudly. The research results have been very promising.

We can look forward to the next wave of technology in NZ to be launched in October following the largest international European convention. So, watch this space!

GUT WRENCHING

FOODS

HEA

LTH &

WELLBEIN

G

There is hope now for those who suffer pain, bloating, excessive wind, lethargy, constipation or diarrhoea (sometimes both) and even headaches after eating. Various gastrointestinal disorders (dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or other bowel disorders) are often cited as the cause. Research is showing that for a particular category of sufferers, a diet regime that eliminates a specific group of carbohydrates can eliminate the symptoms completely.

During a coffee catch-up recently, I asked a friend why he was about to pop a pill before his drinking his flat white. He explained that he had suffered for years with bloating and pain after eating and this now appeared to have had nothing to do with acid reflux. A gastroenterologist found that his condition was due entirely to food containing FODMAPs (an acronym for ‘Fermentable, Oligo-saccharides, Di-saccharides, Mono-saccharides and Polyols’).

While the pill he took effectively helped digest the lactose in the milk, many of his digestive problems stemmed from not just lactose intolerance but also a range of food containing FODMAPs. Quite simply, these are carbohydrate sugars that some people become intolerant to. This intolerance to either fructose or lactose often does not manifest itself until later in life - usually after age 50. If you do suffer from this condition, a fodmaps-free diet may eliminate the problem. Some people will be intolerant to fructose but not lactose – or vice versa. Some will be intolerant to both.

Fructans-rich foods: Wheat (white bread, pasta, pastries, cakes and biscuits), onions, leeks and artichokes.

Galactans-rich foods: Legumes (soy, beans, chickpeas, and lentils), cabbage and brussel sprouts.

Lactose (milk sugar): Chocolate, other sweets, beer, soups and sauces.

Fructose-rich foods: (Monosaccharides): honey, dried fruits, apples, pears, cherries, peaches, watermelon, papaya and high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Polyols (sugar alcohols): Sweeteners e.g. Sorbitol and and Xylitol. Some tone fruits: peaches, apricots, plums and in some berries. Saccharin or aspartame are usually not a problem.

There is ongoing research into FODMAPs but what is becoming clear is that if you have (or someone you know has) symptoms like those above after eating this could be an opportunity to try a FODMAPs diet. There are some simple tests to take before embarking on such a diet. We must stress it can be necessary to consult with a medical professional or registered dietician (preferably one familiar with FODMAPs-related conditions) before attempting to incorporate a FODMAPs-free diet. For a list of FODMAPs-free foods, and additional clinical research references on the topic visit our website.

By Neville Walker


The wonderful outdoor playground of Woodhill Forest is a prized local asset loved by many. How, I was curious to know, had it all come to be?

From the 1870's settlers attempting to convert coastal land into farms burned the manuka, flax and bracken scrub that grew up to the dunes. Unwittingly, they were taking away the natural defence from the relentless westerlies and opening up the land to the full force of nature. The loose sand constantly blew inland, creating sand hills that rolled eastwards – even on occasion covering the railway line some 6 miles from the coast.

A good westerly blowing straight off the Tasman Sea would cause a sandstorm severe enough to make Helensville shopkeepers 10km away shut their doors.

Settlers could not farm the land and in 1927 the Crown bought up much of the land and began a huge revegetation programme. Marram grass imported from France was planted by hand as cheap labour was plentiful during the

ARO

UN

D RO

DN

EY

Depression. The marram grass with its underground stems began to bind the sand and stabilise the ground. Next lupin was planted, providing the ground with nitrogen to enable trees to grow. Barrier fences constructed from manuka helped keep the sand at bay as the marram grass established, though they were often covered in as little as one day and new fences were constantly being built.

Eventually tree planting commenced. As this work was very experimental and success in no way assured, a variety of pinus as well as other exotics were trialed. Despite the lack of soil the success rate was high and the land was finally returned to productive use. Soon rabbits, deer and wandering stock became a threat to the vegetation so pest eradication was introduced and boundary fences erected.

During the war a Hudson bomber crashed and exploded on an area used by the air force for a bombing range, causing a large fire and necessitating substantial replanting. Fire prevention over summer became paramount and the ground beneath the trees needed to be kept clear and lower limbs pruned for fire safety.

The State Forest Service took over from the Ministry of Works and planting continued ever more rapidly as machinery took over from manual labour. The first milling, initially for on-site building projects, began in 1955. Since then the forest has been a steady producer of timber for local and export markets.

Over the years a network of roads was created.

In all, approx 35,000 acres were transformed from wasteland to productive land in a major reclamation project that came about often by trial and error. This working forest has now become a playground for activities ranging from white-knuckle bike racing to more sedate walking, picnicking and horse trekking.

The sand provides a free-draining year-round surface and a welcome escape from our interminable winter mud. Near the coast the land is mostly flat, becoming hillier as you head inland, allowing you to pick the terrain you wish to traverse.

Today the land is owned by Crown Forests and licensed to Hancock’s Forest Management N.Z. Ltd, a U.S. based company. A condition of the licensing agreement is that recreation activities are allowed. These are managed by different entities that pay rent to the forestry company. For safety, dedicated areas are set aside for different activities.

To go trekking with your horse you must register with the Woodhill Forest Equestrian Park, which is part of the Auckland Woodhill Endurance Club. Phone 09 420 9663 or check out their website for details and maps. There are many tracks to choose from and all are easy to follow and well sign-posted. Fees are $70 per annum plus a one-off cost of $20 for a key. Riding trails begin at Restall Road, Rimmers Road and Muriwai. The main Restall Road site has a cabin, campsites, shower, toilet and kitchen facilities available for a modest charge, and is a popular venue for many clubs.

The folly of the original settlers has culminated in a magnificent recreation facility right on our doorstep.

WOODHILLFOREST ADVENTURES

By Lynnette Third

R E G I S T E R E D V A L U E R SLifestyle Block Specialists for Southern Rodney.

BATLEYDAVIES

Telephone: 09 414 7170Facsimile: 09 414 7180Mobile: 0274 953 163A/H: 09 420 4776Email: [email protected]

William Pickering Offi ce Park,29 William Pickering Drive

PO Box 302 730North Harbour

North Shore City 0751

34 yearsexperienceAlan Davies Dip, URB Val, SPINZ

DIRECTORYDIRECTORYDIRECTORY

email: [email protected]

Septic and Water Tank CleaningHave your Water Tank or Septic tank cleaned for Summer

email: [email protected]

Summer

email: [email protected]: [email protected]

BurnettsBurnetts Ph 09 412 9210or 0274 924 494

Need Sales? Talk to us now... deadline for July issue is Friday 16 July. For rates and availability,email [email protected] or phone 09 420 4660 / 021 377580 or Marlene on 021 854946. Don’t delay – space is limited.

Property (Sales, Purchase, Lease) Trusts Litigation Commercial Family Company

Principal: Luke Kemp LLB, B.com, Dip. Hort.

cnr Matua & Oraha Road, HuapaiTel (09) 412 6000 | Fax (09) 412 6016

[email protected]

BARRISTERS & SOLICITORSKEMP

Farming and Rural Legal Specialists

BUILD QUALITYBBUILLDD TTHE AAAZTECH WAY

visit www.aztechfarmbuildings.co.nz or call 0800 454 873.AZTE

CH R

R50

Suppliers of quality kitset and erected farm buildings, at Aztech we work with you to deliver the design you’re after.

AZTE

CH R

R70

visit www.aztechbuildings.co.nz or call 0800 454 873.

Suppliers of quality kitset and erected farm buildings, atAztech we work with you to deliver the design you’re after.

COMPLETE ARBORICULTURAL

SERVICE Dangerous & large

tree removals

Pine/Macrocarpa shelter belts

High volume chipping

General pruning

Reports & tree contracts

ECO-FRIENDLYQUALIFIED

COMPLIANTINSURED

LINUS WOODARBORIST

021 84904009 423 9220

[email protected]

COMPLETE ARBORICULTURAL

SERVICE Dangerous & large

tree removals

Pine/Macrocarpa shelter belts

High volume chipping

General pruning

Reports & tree contracts

ECO-FRIENDLYQUALIFIED

COMPLIANTINSURED

LINUS WOODARBORIST

021 84904009 423 9220

[email protected]

2009 LTD

Land Clearing • Logging • Tree-work$5mil Public Liability • 32 Years Experience

Bulk Mulch & Chip for Landscape & Calf Sheds

Phone 09 426 9216 Fax 09 426 92180800 HOTWOOD Email offi [email protected]

FRIENDLY QUALIFIED ARBORIST – NO OBLIGATION FREE QUOTES

www.sadler09.co.nz

Call Toni 09-422 730790 Jones Road, Omahaemail: [email protected] www.libertypark.co.nz

NZ Native Plant SpecialistsLandscaping Revegetation/WetlandsConsultations • Design • Construction • Planting • Maintenance

Ph (09) 420 8181or 021 689 700

Unit B 103 Mill Road, Helensville

Mobile AutoElectrical & Batteries

Vehicles Trailers Horsefloats Agri-machinery Marine

DIRECTORY

For a full catalogue, phone, send S.A.E. or [email protected]

Native Revegetation & Wetland SpecialistsBulk Suppliers of RevegetationLandscape & Specimen Grades

Deciduous Trees • Shelter & Hedging • OrnamentalsOlives • Citrus • Fruit & Nut Trees • Avocados • Subtropicals

Everything you need at the one location!

Call Ian 0274 955 262offi ce phone/fax 09 422 9358

Water tanks and drainage systemsHouse sites – engineer-certifi ed cut and fi ll specialist

Subdivisions • Driveways • Lifestyle block and farm workMetal, sand and topsoil cartage • Diggers, roller, truck and trailer hire

Landscaping and retaining walls • Footings and fl oor preparation

Serving Albany to Ruakaka

www.blockbusters.co.nzFree call 0508 256-252

Help and advice is a phone call away

Ñ

Ñ

Ñ

Ñ

Ñ

Ñ

Ñ

Topping/Mowing/Mulching

Gorse Removal and Control

Weed Spraying (boom or gun)

Lime and Fertiliser Application

Pasture and Lawn Renewal

Paddock Smoothing

Facial Eczema Control

e c o w o r xLTD

bulk transport tree felling & land clearing

portable sawmilling landscaping

grounds maintenance forest management

ph 021 884 682 email [email protected]

we supply & deliver : compost farmers lime rock

garden mix aggregates

mulch sand

natural untreated timbers

ASK ABOUT WINTER DISCOUNTS ON TRANSPORT RATES

**macrocarpa and eucalyptus trees and logs wanted**

Contact: Jared Hyland Ph 021 884 682 PO Box 145, Kaukapakapa 0843

Bulk transport • tree felling & land clearingportable saw-milling • landscaping

grounds maintenance • forest management

we supply & deliver: compost • farmers lime rockgarden mix • aggregates • mulch • sand • natural untreated timbers

Ask what our new 4WD Tractor and 2m-wide Mulcher can do for you!

**macrocarpa and eucalyptus trees and logs wanted**

Contact Jared Hyland Ph 021 884 682email [email protected] Box 145, Kaukapakapa 0843

We Value YOUR PropertyFarms • Farm lease rentals • Horticulture Residential • Rural Lifestyle • Waterfront

Max RowsellPh 09 422 9254 or 0274 753 [email protected]

www.aucklandtreemasters.co.nz

24hr Emergency ServiceQualifi ed ArboristSpecialists in: Fine Pruning, Rose, Tree & Shrubs, Hedge Pruning, Tree Removal, Crown Reduction, Branch Chipping, Stump Grinding, Land Clearing. $5mil Public Liability.Pensioner Discounts • Free QuotesPhone Matt (09) 426 7912or 021 124 6478email: [email protected]

WHEN IT RAINS... IT POURSBook your drive or race resurfacing NOW!

Call us for a FREE quote

0800 4 SWALEor 09 420 8352. 103 Mill Road Helensville

DRIVEWAY REPAIR AND RE-SURFACINGFEATURE DAMS • WATERWAYS • CATTLE STOPS

CULVERTS • FARM DRAINAGE • WETLAND RESTORATION

Ph/Fax 09-422 0108 Mob: 0274-902 516email: [email protected]

Farms • Lifestyle Blocks • Domestic

Deer • Post & Rail • 7-Wire • Stock yards

• Property Fencing Plans

COLIN HAWKEN FENCING

Farms • Lifestyle Blocks • Domestic

Deer • Post & Rail • 7-Wire • Stock yards

D E S I G N A N D B U I L D

DIRECTORY

PROPERTY VALUATIONS• LifestyleProperties• Farms• Subdivisions• Residential• Commercial/Industrial/Retail

ServicingtheRodneyareafor30yearsandacceptedbyallmajorfinancialinstitutions.

• ProgressReports• ProposedBuildings• FamilyTrustTransfers• ReserveContributions• IRDPurposes

WestRodney(inclCoatesville): CushlaHoward021324965AlbanyOffice:094152125 RodneySouth

EastRodney: MikeMorse0274909211OrewaOffice:094279903 RodneyNorth

Need Sales? Talk to us now... deadline for July issue is Friday 16 July. For rates and availability,email [email protected] or phone 09 420 4660 / 021 377580 or Marlene on 021 854946. Don’t delay – space is limited.

Kaipara Coast Plant Centre - Best Plants & Prices 1481 Kaipara Coast Highway (SH16), Kaukapakapa. 4km North of Kaukapakapa Village Hotel & Café. Ph 09 420 5655. OPEN 7 DAYS 9am to 5pm. www.plantsnz.co.nz Huge range, including fruit trees, natives, garden shrubs, driveway trees, wetland plants. Wholesale direct to the public prices. FREE QUOTES. Established 1988

Specialists in plants, natives & fruit trees

suitable for the Auckland region

Established 1988

CLIP THIS COUPON FOR FREE FERTILISER WITH EACH PLANT PURCHASED!

• Beautiful plants at wholesale direct-to-the-public prices

• Book a FREE site assessment and quote

Ph 09 420 5655 • OPEN 7 DAYS 9am to 5pm • www.plantsnz.co.nz

1481 Kaipara Coast Highway (SH16), Kaukapakapa. 4km North of Kaukapakapa Village ph 0800 420 565

Best Garden Centre (N.Is.)

2008

Email:[email protected]

Composite Joinery Limited

• VANTAGE joinery• timber joinery• exterior and interior• residential & commercial

VISIT OUR SHOWROOM:7 Glenmore Dr, Warkworth

09 425 7510 or visit www.compositejoinery.co.nz

Email:[email protected]

You can rely on the team at Composite Joinery!

NEW COLOURS AVAILABLE

Memb:Window Assoc Of NZ Reg. Master Joiner

C o m p o s i t e J o i n e r yL i m i t e d .

• VANTAGE Joinery

• Timber Joinery

• Exterior and Interior

• Residential & Commercial VISIT OUR SHOWROOM:7 Glenmore Dr, Warkworth

09 425 7510

w w w . c o m p o s i t e j o i n e r y . c o . n zR e g i s t e r e d M a s t e r J o i n e r

STYLISH and MODERN Windows and Doors – Vantage Joinery!

Red Turtle Ltd

Victoria McAnulty BSD

t (09) 523 3250 m 021 280 3837 e [email protected]

For all your design needs call me today and be inspired

x

Award winning designer specialising in- Interior design and plan management- Colour, surface and product specification- Custom furniture, lighting and feature design- Art specification and supply

Selling Rural and Lifestyle Real Estate in Rodney & Kaipara since 1991. For an appraisalin today’s market phone:

Karen Phillips AREINZ

027 475 5509A/H 09 423 [email protected]

MREINZ

RuRal & lifestyle specialist

Mangawhai/Tomarata. 2.8ha. Organic. Pasture, bush, s/c cottage and 3brm faithfully recreated bungalow with native timbers and authentic fittings. Offers over $1,000,000 considered. UR5537

Whangaripo 1ha. Cute cottage, new: decks, long run roof, spouting, kitchen, bathroom, water pump and hot water cylinder. Yours to finish. $375,000 UR5513

Matakana 1ha. House site prepared, plans approved, section fenced. Elevated site, views over Omaha to sky tower. Balance of land in young trees $375,000neg UR5527

Mangawhai 1.7ha. 3brm home with big decks backing into bush, views over own near level natural landscaping with stream and boat shed. $490,000. UR5488

Warkworth 19ha. So close to town you can see it. Rolling country with big fertile flats. Yards and well fenced. Metal track to last paddock $745,000 UR5452

Wellsford 1.3ha. Gently sloping, north facing block on a sealed road. Approx 15 mins to Matakana. $250,000 UR5523

Pakiri 61ha. Homestead set in mature gardens, good range of sheds, bore,spring and stream water. Almost 50% cropping land ball rolling with 15yr old pines on steeper country. 2 titles. $1,820,000 plus gst. UR5496

Please visit www.unitedrealestate.co.nz for more information and photos using the "UR" number with 'Search Listings' or ‘QuickFind’.

Project management, New Builds, Light Commercial, Decks and Landscaping, Minor & Major Renovation Work from Basement

Excavation to Kitchens & Bathrooms

Placing the highest value on communication, budgets, quality of workmanship & materials

Justin Molloy 021 270 1388 • 09 425 0220

JustiN MoLLoyB U I L D E R S L t dSpecialising in Renovations & Restorations

Covering Rodney from Puhoi to Kaiwaka/Mangawhai and everywhere in between.

Now is a good time to call…

FIREWATCH RODNEY 2006 LTDMark Burnan (Wellsford based)Ph 09 423 7032 Mob 0274 906 166

FIREWATCH RODNEY 2006 LTD

Farmers • Lifestylers • Businesses• Fire Extinguishers (to suit ALL situations)• Fire Blankets • Smoke Detectors • Fixed Systems• Fire protection for your insurance obligations • Switchboard Protection 24-7 from as little as $180

WOODCOCKS ROAD

TO WELLSFORD

WE AREHERE! TO AUCKLAND

MO

RR

ISO

N D

r

GLEN

MO

RE D

r

CAM

PBELL D

rS

TATE HIG

HW

AY 1

2-4 Morrison Drive, PO Box 378, Warkworth. Ph 09 425 7754 Fax 09 425 7560 [email protected]

Your farm and lifestyle goods specialists. Local, convenient, passionate.“whilst stock lasts” Promotion offers valid until 20th Jan 2007

$79.00

$215.00

RX Plastics - A. 300ltr Rectanglular trough $215.00 B. 500Ltr Round $275.00 * small quanity of manufactureres seconds available still with 5 year warranty at heavily discounted prices - please enquire. C. Drainaway Pipe 65mm x 30mtrs $79.00 D. Alkathene polypipe 10m to 200m available. Large range of fittings available.

A. 2.5 kg Pestoff Possum Bait $29.50 B. Tunnel Trap $63.50 C. Timms Possum Trap $49.50 D. Rodent Bait Station $18.50

$29.50

Top quality AKUBRA Australian

hats for summer all 20% off

C.

A.

D.

A.

Tired of those pesky Pests?

$18.50

B.

D.

C.

$275.00

B.

WE ARE HERE!

2-4 Morrison Drive, PO Box 378, Warkworth. Ph 09 425 7754 Fax 09 425 7560 [email protected]

EUROFENCE Advanced Fencing Systems - A. Wire Chainlink 30m 50x2.5x900 $199 B. Euro wire coil 2.5mm HT wire $69.00 C. Treeguards with stakes $34.95 D. 8 wire Hinge Joint Netting - light - 2.0mm 50m roll $135, 100m roll $260

B.

C.

SILVAN - A.SILVAN - A.

A. Tux Energy 40kg bag $69.95 B. Tray of Whiskas cat food $29.95 C. Vita bites 2.5kg at $14.90 D. Proplan for cats and for dogs

$69.95

$29.95

$135.00$34.95$69.00

Under NewOwnership

A. D.

Full range for all your cat and dog requirements

2-4 Morrison Drive, Warkworth. Phone 09 425 7754

Call us to arrange delivery (09) 425 7754email: [email protected] PHONE ORDERS WELCOME!

Prices valid until Saturday 31 July 2010 or while stocks last. All prices include GST unless otherwise stated.

WE'VE SENT PRICES PLUMMETING!

PRICE $1695 PRICE $650

POWERPLUS GENERATORS

MONOWAY TRAILERS – TOUGH TRAILERS BUILT TO LAST

TECHNIFLEX RAINWEAR• 5.5KVA• Powered by 13.5Hp petrol motor.• Silent model – 78db level.• Recoil or electric start.• 25lt fuel tank capacity.

• 2.5KVA• Powered by 6.5Hp petrol motor.• Silent model – 69db level.• 15lt fuel tank capacity.• Lightweight for portability – 48kg.

• 100% Waterproof with lifetime seam guarantee. • Manufactured with light-weight 2-layer fabrics. • Superior fl exibility and stretch for comfort and safety.

Buy the Parka and Pants together and get a FREE companion tee worth up to $40!$99

SAVE$20

$185SAVE$20

Buy the Parka and Pants together and get a companion tee worth up to $40!$99

SAVE$20

$185SAVE$20

Buy the Parka and Pants together and get a companion tee worth up to $40!

$185SAVE$20

• Powered by 13.5Hp petrol motor.• Powered by 13.5Hp petrol motor.• Silent model – 78db level.

• Powered by 6.5Hp petrol motor.• Powered by 6.5Hp petrol motor.• Silent model – 69db level.• 15lt fuel tank capacity.• Lightweight for portability – 48kg.LIMITED

QUANTITIESBE QUICK

• NZ Manufactured and fully galvanised.• 100% fully guaranteed.

Ideal for ride-on mowers or quad bikes.

5’x4’ ATV trailer $1371 Crate for 5’x4’ trailer $511Great farm trailer!

Ideal for ride-on mowers or quad bikes.

7’x5’ trailer with tilt draw bar $2100 +ORC900mm crate for 7’x5’ trailer $730

Ideal for ride-on mowers or quad bikes.Ideal for ride-on mowers or quad bikes.

• Contains no artifi cial colours, fl avours or preservatives.

• Family dog formula is beef protein free and low in wheat gluten making it a good choice for dogs with allergies.good choice for dogs with allergies.

GREATVALUE!SAVE $5

INTRODUCTORYPRICE $49.95

COPRICE DOG FOOD 20KG

Steel Barred Gates

• 3.66m (12ft) from Hurricane.• 5 x 6mm horizontal bars.• Hot dipped galvanized.• Adjustable hinge clamps 20mm.

NOW ONLY $129 20KG ONLY $39.95

• Worlds premium geared reel with a 5-year U.V. guarantee.• True 3:1 gear ratio.• U.V. resistant wire with 6 stainless steel conductors.

ROK SOLID Bio-Gro certifi ed fertilser• Minerals-Microbes-Energy.• Full spectrum – loaded with minerals and energy.• Made of volcanic rock ground to a fi ne dust.• High silica content 43% helps plant formation.

Speedrite AN90Battery PoweredEnergiser• The AN90 is the most

powerful dedicated strip grazing unit available.

• Ideal for longer lengths of portable fencing.

• 4 “D” sizes batteries or external 12V battery.

steel conductors.

$159INCLUDING STAND

Speedrite geared fence reel with 500m poli-wire

ONLY$94.50SAVE $25

rural lifestyle july 2010 issue 34

Documents