Heritageseeds-thekeytoourfuture
ByChrysAyley
KotareRoadinWairoaishometo aremarkablecollectionofpeople dedicatedtotheprotectionand developmentofheritageseeds,food plantsandanimals,aswellasthe advancementofregenerativesystemsfor aregenerativefuture.
FoundersoftheKōangaInstitute KayBaxter,andherpartnerBobCorker, settledonthe50hasite15yearsago andresidetherewiththeirsonand grandchildren.Theyarejoinedbyastaff of13,mostofwhomliveonsite,some withchildren,whiletheirdaughterand severalsupportstaffworkremotely.
KayandBob,whohavefeaturedin twoCountryCalendarepisodes,started collectingheritagefruittreesbackin
the1980swhilelivinginKaiwaka.Kay realisedthatthefruittreesthathadbeen broughtinbyearlysettlersandwere mostlyneglectedanddyingout,werethe onesthatgrewthebestandtastedthe bestinNorthland.Shestartedcollecting them,andindoingsobegantorealise theimportanceoftheirstoriesand whakapapa.
AftermanyyearslivinginKaiwaka theydecidedformanyreasonstofinda moresuitableplacetooperatefrom.They travelledaroundNewZealand,expecting tofindabaseintheSouthIsland,but theysettledinTeKuraWhenuaonthe EastCoastandrealisedthat“Welovedit somuchwestartedlookingaroundand foundthisland,”Kaysays.“Weabsolutely loveitbecauseit’sliketraditionalrural NewZealandandcompletelydifferent frombigcities.“Peoplesmile,talkand supporteachother!”
Akeyfactorintheirdecisionmaking wasthephysicalisolationastheydidn’t wanttobetoonearanyhorticultural venturestoavoidcontamination byacropthathasbeengenetically engineeredoraccidentalcontamination bybees.Beescancrossmanyoftheir cropsegpumpkins,brassicas.
ItwasjustaftertheChernobylnuclear accidentinApril1986thatKay’slifetook anewturn.Therealisationthatthebulk ofNewZealand’sseedsweresourced fromEurope,muchofitthencoveredby nuclearfallout,highlightedthatwehad noseedsecurityandwerevulnerableto eventsinEurope.
Kay’smissionwastosaveseeds thatshecouldgrowthatweren’t contaminated.“We’vegottokeepthe seedsalive-heritageseedsarethekey toourfuture.Industrialfoodisn’tgoing tomaintainourhealththroughthe generations.”
Hergoalwastoconnectwithold gardenersandtosavetheirheritage seeds.Heritagevarietiesarefarmore nutritiousandhugelysuperiortohome grownfoodfromcommercialseed. “We’vegottobeabletogrowthemout sopeoplehaveaccesstothemagain.”
Theheritagevegetableseed collectionnumbersmorethan800and thereareover400varietiesofNew Zealandheritagefruitandberries.
OvertheyearsKayhasalsocollected anincrediblenumberofendangered
grainssuchasmillet,barleyfromKorea andEurope,JapanandAsia,wheat, sorghumandNewZealandheritage cornseedstonamebutafew.“Theold grainsusedtobequitedifferentgrown forhomegardeners-overtheyears they’vebeenchangedtosuitmodern productionmethods.Oldgrainsarefar morenutritiousandtastier.Everyyearit costsabout$1500togrowaseedline outandthisyearwewillbeholdinga specialGrainGrowOut.”Thegrowout willhappenthissummerandtheseeds ultimatelyofferedforsale.
Theinstitutehasstruggledwhat withCovidandninefloodsashasthe wholeEastCoast.Muchworkhasgone toimprovingdrainageandoffgridseed driers,andthegardensarelooking productiveagain.
Followtheprogressandlearnmore aboutseeds,plantsandtreesforsale, alongwithplentyofgardenessentials anddetailsofeducationalopportunities athttps://koanga.org.nz/andfindthem onfindthemonFacebook.
Foxtailmillet.
GisborneYoungFarmersenjoybark-up.
WhenGeorgeEllettmovedto GisbornethisJanuaryhewas surprisedtolearnthatthere wasn’taYoungFarmersClub.
OriginallyfromadairyfarminKaraka, justsouthofAuckland,theyoung shepherdhadpreviouslybeenamember oftheLincolnUniversityandTikokino YoungFarmersClubsandhadenjoyed thesocialinteraction,“havingachat,a fewdrinksandafeed.”
Heworksonasheepandbeef farmnearTinirotoaboutanhourfrom Gisborne.Here,on1300haGeorge andhismanagerfarm7,000ewesand 400-450cows.It’salifethatkeepshim healthyandduringthedayhe’snot botheredbylackofcellphonereception.
Itwasn’tlongbeforeGeorge contactedNewZealandYoungFarmers andworkedwiththemtoformtheclub. Theclubwasofficiallyestablishedin Aprilandalreadyhas13membersand about20peopleattendingthefortnightly meetings.Themeetingsareheldevery secondWednesdayattheRangatira TaverninTeKaraka.Someclubsonly meetonceamonthbuteveryonewas enjoyingmeetinguponceafortnightso theyhavecontinued,hesaid.
Georgeischairmanandheis supportedbyasecretaryandtreasurer. Membersareallintheir20’sandcome fromarangeofbackgrounds,although themajorityworkonsheepandbeef farms.Membersdon’tnecessarilyhave toworkonafarm,justbeinterestedin farming,Georgesays.Theaimistohave asocialatmosphereateachmeetingand
takepartinskillsworkshops,fundraisers andweekendtripsaroundfarms.
Theirfirsteventon27Julywasa “bark-up”thatwasahowlingsuccess. Membersbroughttheirdogswhowere judgedontheirbarkingabilityandhow loudtheycouldbark,theirstanceand howtheymovedonstage.Manylocal companiesdonatedgenerouslyforspot prizesandaraffle.
Thenextfewmonthswillsee membersattendingashearingcourse andaleadershipcourseorganisedby NZYF.Nextyeartheyaimtoincrease numbers,holdafewevents,dosome fundraisingactivities,holdaquizand visitafewfarms.
Georgeisstokedtohaveestablished “thisweeclub”intheGisborne communityandsaysifanyonebetween 16and31isinterestedtheyare encouragdetocomealongtothenext meeting.Inquiriescanbemadeonthe YoungFarmerswebsite.
NZYoungFarmers Membership
Connectingyoungpeopleaged between16and31inruralcommunities. Thereareover60clubsnationwide, eachwiththeirownidentityandnetwork ofmembersfromacrosstheindustry. https://www.youngfarmers.co.nz/ Photographscourtesyof RebeccaWilliamsPhotography.
GeorgeEllett
Seleniuminproductionanimals
ByEastCoastFarmVets
Seleniumisanessentialelementfor animalsandhaslowconcentrationsin mostNewZealandsoils.Overthelast fewyearswehaveseencasesofsevere seleniumdeficiencyinsheep,cattleand morerecentlyhorses.
Asforageisthemainnaturalsource ofseleniumformanyanimals,theytend tobecomeseleniumdeficientovertimeif notsupplementedappropriately.Selenium levelscandropingrass,hayandhaylageif notrectifiedbyfertiliser.
Pastureneedstohaveseleniumlevels ofatleast0.03mg/kgofdrymatterto meettheneedsofbothsheepandcattle. Theeffectsofaseleniumdeficiency areparticularlyevidentinsheep;the consequenceoflowseleniuminewes pre-tuppingcancauseembryoticdeath3-4 weeksafterconception.
Seleniumisatraceelementandplays animportantroleinthemaintenance ofcellintegrity,growth,reproduction, andimmuneresponse.Itisalsoavital componentforactivatingthyroidhormone, whichisnecessaryforoptimalneonatal lambsurvivalandultimatelygrowthand metabolicrate.
Asseleniumreadilycrossestheplacenta andintomilk,lambsmaybebornweakor dead(congenitalwhitemuscledisease), orshowsignsofdistressandimmobility, sometimesafterperiodsofexerciseat
3-6weeksofage.Asimilardelayedwhite musclediseasecanbeseenincalvesat1-4 months,thoughthisislesscommon.
Forcattle,illthriftandpoorgrowthof calvesisthemostcommonlyseenissue. Whilstretainedmembranesaftercalving haveanumberofcauses,Selenium deficiencyisaknownpredisposingfactor. Oncethemembraneshavebeenretained formorethan12hours,thereisamassive bacterialinvasion,thecow’sappetiteand milkyieldwillbereducedandthechance ofhergettingbackincalfdecreases significantly.Othersignsofdeficiency includesuboptimalmilkyield,kaleanaemia, abortion,prematurecalvesandperinatal death,withpossiblelinkstomastitisand infertility.
Theeffectsofaseleniumdeficiency canalsobeveryinsidious.Thingslikelow immunity,poorhoof/clawquality,illthrift, poorperformance,fertilityproblemsand lowgeneralhealthcanevolvegradually overtime.
Nutrientsarethebuildingblocksof thebodyandareanessentialpartofany animal’sdiet.Measuringyourherdor flock’sSeleniumlevelisbyasimpleblood test.Thisshouldbearoutinepartofyour pre-tuppingpreparationtomaximiselambs dockedperewewhilstpre-calvingwould beanidealtimetocheckthecattlestatus. Lambsandcalveswillshowagrowth responsetoseleniumsupplementationand breedingstockneedseleniumtoperform totheirfullpotentialwhenpasturesare deficient.
PāmupupsdotheirbitforMassey NZworkingdogs’project
Morethan200workingdogsfrom Pāmufarmsaroundthecountry arethefirsttoprovidetheirDNA toMasseyUniversityforaprojectto protectthefutureoftheNewZealand workingdogbreeds.
Theproject,ledbyProfessorMatt LittlejohnatMassey’sALRaeCentrefor GeneticsandBreeding,seekstolink workingdogs’DNAtotheirhealthand performance.Co-fundedbyMPIthrough theSustainableFoodandFibreFutures Fund,theprojectissupportedbyPāmu, FocusGenetics,andotherindustry partners.
Thefirstphaseofdecodingwhat NewZealandworkingdogsaremadeof isinthebag,withbloodsamples,cheek swabsanddetailedquestionnaireson eachdoggatheredforanalysis.While geneticworkhasbeencarriedouton manypetbreedsofdogsaroundthe world,it’sthefirsttimeNewZealand’s uniqueworkingdogshavebeen mapped.
DrMelissaStephen,SeniorResearch OfficeratMasseyUniversity,explains thattherearealreadyknownmedical conditionsshowingupinsomehuntaway andheadingdogs.Forexample,many shepherdshaveexpressedaninterestin conditionsliketwistedgutinhuntaways,
andifanimalsgeneticallysusceptible tosuchproblemscanbeidentified,this informationcanhelpbreedingdecisions inthefuture.
“Havingthegeneticinformation fromscreeningcanhelpfarmersbreed fromthebestofthepackandavoid passingonhealthconditionstothenext generationofpuppies,”shesays.
Therearetwopartstotheproject. Thefirstusesgenomesequencing andrequiresbloodsamplingofthe dogs.Thisapproachgivesaveryhigh resolutionofDNAwhichmeans“every singlerungontheDNAladder”canbe analysedforhiddenproblems.
“Thismeansthatbreedersofworking dogscanhavetheinformationtheyneed onadogthatlookshealthybutcarriesa recessivegene,tomakesuretheyaren’t bredwithanotherdogthatcarriesthe samerecessivegenethatwillthencause problemsintheiroffspring.
“Theotherthingthatwecanlookat withtheDNAsequencingresultsishow muchinbreedinghasbeengoingon,and toquantifytherisksassociatedwiththis,” DrStephensays.
ThirteenPāmufarmsofferedtheir dogsforbloodandcheekswabsamples fortheproject.Alongwiththesamples,
photosandmeasurementsofthedogs weretakenandshepherdswereasked tofilloutaquestionnaireforeachdog.
Overthenextcoupleofyears,the programmeaimstogetmorethan2,000
cheekswabsfrommoreworkingdogs. MasseyispartneringwithAncestry.com toprovidethegenotypesforthesedogs. Thisinformationwillbeusedtolookfor geneticlinkswithworkingperformance, theincidenceofknowngeneticdisease variants,aswellastobetterunderstand theheritageofourdogs.
“Wearekeentousethesetoolsnot onlytohelpensurehealthierpuppies, butalsotohelpwiththelong-term protectionofthesebreeds,”saidDr Stephen.
CourtesyPāmu
Henry getting measured by NS Vet Jill MacGibbon on Waipuna farm in Southland
GisborneSpringOutlook
ByJamesMillward ConsultantMeteorologistMetService–TeRatongaTirorangi
Awetwinter,andthecoolestforsometime
Since2020,NewZealandhasexperiencedfourofthefivewarmestwinterson record.Incontrast,thiswinterhasbeennotablychillier,withtemperaturesclocking inmuchnearertonormalinGisbornethisseason.ColdAugusttemperatureshave offsetanotablywarmJune.
Wehaveseenplentyofmonth-to-monthvarietyontheweathermapstoo,with prolongeddryspells(asourrecord-breakinghighpressurecellmid-July)setagainst somebigTasmanlows;themostnotableoftheseonJune25thsawGisborneairport recorditssecondwettestJuneday(9am-9am)sincerecordsbeganin1937.Overall, it’sbeenaslightlywetterthannormalwinterfortheGisborneregion,butnotaswet as2023.
GisborneAerodromerainfalldatafor2024(redline)showsslightlywetterthan normalconditionssofarthisyear,largelydrivenbywinterrainfallandonebig rainfalleventattheendofJune.
So,whyallthevariability?BigglobalclimatedriverssuchastheElNiñoSouthern OscillationandIndianOceanDipolehavebeenneutralthroughwinter,soshorter scale,localdrivershavetakenthewheel.Theseincludenear-normalseasurface temperaturesaroundourshores,arareandunpredictableSuddenStratospheric Warming(SSW)andassociatedstronglynegative(stormy)phaseoftheSouthern AnnularModesincemid-July.Inaddition,higherthannormalpressureshave prevailedovertheSouthIslandthiswinter,limitingthenumberofSouthernOcean weathersystems.
Avolatileearlyspring,butwarmthintheoutlook longerterm
Typicalwesterlyweatherlookssettoreturnwithabanginearlyspring (September),withmorelowsaffectingthewholecountry.OurSSWeventmaywellbe aidingthissignalandcouldwellthrowupsomeintermittentcoldweatheracrossthe regioninSeptember.
ExpectwindyconditionswithregularityacrossGisbornetoo,withtemperature spikingthencrashingasfrontalsystemsrapidlymovethrough,withthebestofthe
rainfallyieldinginsoutherlyflowsasfrontsexittotheeast.Allofthisshoulddelivera ‘fairlytypical’earlyspringtotheGisborneregion.
AsweheadthroughOctober,expectthesouthernhigh-pressurebiasofwinterto rearitsheadattimes,generallysettlingthingsdownascomparedwithearlyspring. DrieranomaliesmaystarttodevelopalongtheGisbornecoastalfringesandfoothills, andsoilsmaybegintodryoutwithstrong,warmfoehnwindsaregularvisitor. Beyondmid-October,expectwarmerthannormalconditionstobecomethenormfor Gisborne.
RawECMWFforecastmonthlyrainfallanomaly(mmdeviationfrom1993-2016 normal).Greenshadesindicatewetterthannormalconditions,andorangeshades drierthannormal.Dottedbluelinesshowmajorstatehighways.
WeakLaNiñadevelopinglatethisyear,asChatham high-pressuretakesshape
AsweheadtowardsNovember,thefingerprintsofaburgeoningweakLaNiña begintoestablishthemselvesonourweathermaps,asChathamhigh-pressure beginstosetup.ThisisaclassicresponsetoLaNiñainlatespring/summerand wouldtendtobringmildNEwindflowsacrosstheNorthIsland.
ExactlyhowthathighorientatesitselfwillmakeadifferenceforGisborne.Ifthe highspreadsrightacrossNewZealandattimes,asforecastbytheECMWFmodels forNovember,thiswouldbringadrierlilttotheGisborneregionforlatespring. Cautiononthisstoryfornow,asitwouldonlytakethatridgebeingalittleweaker, orfurthersouth,toletinoneheavyNEraineventanddriveamuchwetteroutlook. Muchwillultimatelydependonthestrength,andspeedofdevelopmentofthisLa Niñaevent.
ItiscrucialtosayherethatnotallLaNiñaeventslookthesame!Historically,La NiñaeventscandeliververywetyearsforGisborne(Summer2022/2023),butwe don’thavetolooktoofarbacktoanotablydrierthannormalLaNiña(2020/2021). WewaitandseehowtheChathamhighsetsupthistimeout.
Sheepandbeef farmingisinthe bloodforthisvet
ByChrysAyley
Asixthgenerationsheepandbeef farmerraisedatTheHauStation, AlexMeban,alongwithhiswife Tessaandyoungfamily,havereturned toGisborneandestablishedGisborne CountryVeterinaryServicesinMarch 2023.
AlexandTessaMeban,alongwith two-year-oldFinnandfour-month-old JackhavesettledwellinGisborneand say“It’sjustalovelycommunitywith greatpeople.Ithinkafterthecycloneit’s evenmoreso.Tessacanmakefriends withotheryoungmums,we’refeeling veryfortunate.”
TeHauStationnearWhatatutu isaboutfortyminutesnorthwestof GisborneandAlexsays.“Sheepand beeffarmingisintheblood.”Heleft thefarmtoattendboardingschoolin Hamiltonandthenwentontostudy veterinaryscienceatMasseyUniversity
whichiswherehemetTessawhoisa smallanimalvet.Tessaisonmaternity leaveandcurrentlythefocusatthe clinicisonlargeanimalssuchassheep, beef,horsesanddeer.Movingintosmall animalworkcouldbeonthecardsata laterdatewhenthechildrenareolder, saysAlex.
Havingabackgroundinsheepand beefcertainlywasanadvantageforAlex atuniversity.“IwasveryfortunateIwent throughvetschoolwithabitofaheads uponthecompetition,alreadyhaving stocksenseandtheabilitytohopinthe yardsandhandlestockinatelyrather thanhavingtofundamentallylearnabout theanimals.”
Askedifheknowsallthereistoknow aboutsheepandbeefhesays“I’vebeen givenalotofadvicefrommyfatherover theyearsbutit’sabittongueandcheek now,asherealisesthathisexperience isacoupleofgenerationsoldbynow.” Thescienceoffarminghaschanged significantlyoverthegenerations.
Aftergraudatingin2015and2016 respectivelythecoupleworkedin Gisborneforafewyearsbeforeheading downsouth.Theyspentthreeyearsinthe beautifulMackenzieCountryandmarried butafterthebirthoftheirsonFinnin 2022theydecidedtheywantedtomove backtotheplacetheylovedtoraise theirfamilyandsawanopportunityto establishaveterinaryserviceinGisborne.
TheystartedtradingasGisborne CountryVeterinaryServicesinMarch 2023Theyemployacoupleofsupport staffandwillbejoinedbyScott,another vetinOctober.
Establishingthebusinesscertainly haditschallengesespeciallygiven theaftermathofCycloneGabrielle. However,theyhelpedoutwithcleaning upandtouchedbasewithprospective customers.“Weareveryluckytohave loyalcustomers,whatwe’veachieved wouldn’tbepossiblewithouttheir support.”
Theclinicservicesclientsfrom WairoatopasttheEastCapewhichisa hugeareaforAlextocoveryetheenjoys thepersonalinteractionandproblem solving.“Iquitelikeapproachingthevet sideofthingsfromabusinessangle. I’mconsciousoftheadviceIgivebeing practical.Igivepeopleagoldstandard andapracticalstandardasoptions becauseattheendofthedayour pointofdiferenceisbeingrelatableand givingadvicethat’spractical.Themost rewardingthingisseeingmyclientsget goodoutcomes.Imaketheirbusiness betterandinturnthatmakesour businessbetter,that’sthejobsatisfaction forme.”
We’dliketogrowsteadily,getalittle bitbiggerbutstillmaintainourpoint ofdifference.Ifaclienthasaproblem theycanringthevetandspeaktohim directly.“Weprideourselvesonour tunraroundtimebecausewe’resmalland agile.”Iwanttomakesurewedon’tget toobigandprovidethatlevelofservice.”
FromleftHollieReidClinicadministrator,AlexMebanVeterinarian,TessaMeban Veterinarian,andClaudiaHumphreysPracticeManager.
Alexwithayoungstallion.
Integratedapproachoffersfresharsenalin battleagainstfallarmyworm
TheMinistryforPrimaryIndustries (MPI)isinvestinginthe developmentofanintegratedpest managementapproachtosafeguard NewZealand’smaizeandsweetcorn industriesagainstfallarmyworm.
“We’recollaboratingwiththe FoundationforArableResearch,Process VegetablesNZ,VegetablesNZInc,and growersonmanagementandmitigation strategiestohelpreduceproduction lossesandenhanceresiliencetothis invasivepest,”saysBiosecurityNew Zealanddeputydirector-generalStuart Anderson.
“Togetherwe’lldevelopsome reallygoodtoolsforgrowers,including establishingsurveillancenetworksona nationalscale.”
Fallarmywormisbelievedtohave blownovertoNewZealandfrom Australiaafteracycloneinearly2022. Afterayearofbattlingthepest,MPIand industrypartnersagreedtoclosethe responseandshiftthefocustolong-term managementofthepestbyindustry. Fallarmywormhasthepotentialto impact72,490hectaresofmaize,with anestimatedvalueofmorethan$480 millionand3,320hectaresofsweetcorn production,withanexportvalueof$36.9 million.
“Wedon’tknowwhatthefullimpact ofthefallarmywormincursionwillbe inthefutureasitdependslargelyon ourwintertemperaturesandsuitable hostplantsintheabsenceofmaizeand sweetcorn,”saysAshleyMills,biosecurity officer,FoundationforArableResearch (FAR).
“Forinstance,inareaswithwarmer wintertemperaturessuchasNorthland, theinsecthasthecapacitytooverwinter andsurviveallyearround.Withwarming temperatures,wemightexpectthe problemtogrowyearonyear.
“Partofourresearchwillbeto identifygapsofknowledgearoundthe wintergrowingseasonanddispersalof fallarmyworm.
“We’llproducemodelsandcomeup withearlywarningtoolsforagronomists andgrowers,sotheyunderstandwhen theyneedtoemploytheirmostintensive managementstrategies.
“There’snoone-size-fits-allsolution, andapproachesmayvaryaccording tofactorssuchasregion,climateor soiltype.Inmostcases,encouraging beneficialinsectswillwork,butin moreproblematicregionsorlocalities, insecticidesmightbeneeded,andthe timingofapplicationwillbeimportant.
“Overthenext3yearswe’llfocus onunderstandingfallarmyworm phenologyanddistribution,developing NewZealandspecificeconomic thresholdsandfindinglong-term solutionsthatreducereliance onagrichemicals,andpreserve soilhealth,waterqualityand biodiversity.”
FARandVegetablesNZInc willhostinformationandtools forfallarmywormmanagement ontheirwebsites.Thiswill includemodelling,distribution maps,guidelines,andtraining videos.FARwillalsohost workshopsoverwinter,tailored toeachregion.
StuartAndersonsays engagementwithgrowers willbeanessentialpartofthe programme.
“Ultimately,it’sthegrowers thatwillneedtoimplementthe strategiesandusethetools. Thisprojectaimstomakethese easilyavailableforeveryone touse.”MPIwillcontributeup to$300,000over3yearsto the$630,000projectthrough theSustainableFoodandFibre Futuresfund.
Forfurtherinformationandgeneral enquiries,callMPIon0800008333or emailinfo@mpi.govt.nz
Fallarmywormlarvaefeedanddamagethe epidermallayeroftheplant,whichistypically referredtoas“windowing”or“windowpane” injury.
Drinkingwaterrulechangeawin forfarmersandcommonsense
FederatedFarmerssayschanges todrinkingwaterrulesannounced earlierthismonthareamajorwinfor farmers,ruralcommunities,andcommon sense.
Thosesupplyingfewerthan25 peoplewithdrinkingwaterwillnolonger berequiredtocomplywithonerousnew rulesorregisterthedetailsoftheirwater supplyarrangementswithGovernment.
“Farmingfamiliesacrossthecountry willbebreathingasighofrelief,”says GisbornefarmerandFederatedFarmers localgovernmentspokespersonSandra Faulkner.
“Thedrinkingwaterrulesintroduced bythepreviousGovernmentwerea massiveregulatoryoverreachthatwould havemadelifeincrediblydifficultfor 80,000ruralandremotehouseholds.
“Theprocessofregistering,testing, andreportingontheirwatersupply wouldhaveaddedsignificantcost,risk andhassleforabsolutelynogain.”
FederatedFarmerssaytheserules wouldhavealsoappliedtomilkingsheds, woolsheds,oranywhereelsewhere drinkingwaterissuppliedonafarm.
“Whentheregulatorarrives,thegoodwill leaves,”Faulknersays.“Itnevermade anysensetotryandcapturethousands
ofverysmallshareddomesticsupplies offewerthan25peopleunderthese regulations.
“Peoplewouldhavebeenforcedto turnthetapoff,quiteliterally,ontheir staff,neighboursandcommunitiesto avoidunnecessarycostandtherisk attachedtopenaltieswithintheserules.”
Faulkner,aformerGisborneDistrict councillorwhofarmsatWairakaiaStation atMuriwai,southofGisborne,says thatruralfamilieshavebeensupplying safedrinkingwaterforgenerationsand thatprotectionsarealreadyinplace throughprocessorqualityassurance programmes.“Thereisnopracticalor realisticwaytheseobligationscouldhave beenenforced,”Faulknersays.
“Itwouldhavejustcreatedasituation whereverysmallsupplierswere reluctanttomakeuseofservicessuch asinformationandguidanceprovidedby TaumataArowai.”Faulknersaysthese changesshowthepowerofgrassroots advocacy.
“FederatedFarmershavebeen callingforthesechangesforanumber ofyearsandhaveworkedcollaboratively withlocaliwiandprimaryprocessors toachievethisresult,”Faulknersays. “Nowthatdetailed,comprehensive,and persistentworkhaspaidoff.”
GisbornefarmerandFederatedFarmerslocalgovernmentspokesperson SandraFaulkner.
Fromfarmtolifestyleblocktolifestylevillage
ByChrysAyley
MostfolksontheEastCoastwill knowthenameRossBuscke ashe’sbeeninvolvedwith farmingandthewiderruralcommunity formostofhislife.He’salmost83but stilloccasionallyworksclassingwool, presentingdogtrialinformationonthe radioandpickingpersimmons,toname butafewactivities.
RossandhiswifeLynhavebeen marriedfor56yearsandrecentlymade themovefromWisteriaCottagea10acre (4.9ha)propertyinWaerenga-A-Hikato BeethamLifestyleVillageinLyttonWest. TheyhavetwoadultchildrenMaree, whoisaMarketingManagerforSkeinzin Napierandwhoalsohostsaradioshow. TheirsonStuartisaconstructionproject managerinGisborne.
It’sbeenafullandbusylifeforthe
LynandRosswontheSupremeChampionfleeceatthe Hawke’sBayShowin2007.
couplewhorealiseditwasbetterto moveanddownsizewhiletheywere physicallyable.“Youcan’tstopgetting old,Ifeltifsomethinghappenedtomeat theotherpropertyLynwouldhavehad thejobofsellingupalotofstuff.Ididn’t wanttowaituntilI’vegotonefootinthe grave,”Rosssays.
TheirmovefromWisteriaCottage wasrelativelyeasyunlikethedistress RossandLynexperiencedwhenthey
movedfromMatawai,afarmthey’drun for25years,tothecottage.Rosshad turneditintoaviablefarm,tripledstock numbersandputinalotofhardworkfor theowners.SadlyforRosstheproperty wassold.”ItwashardtoleaveafarmI treatedasmyown.Iwasdedicatedto theproperty.”
ThemovetoWisteriaCottagetook himthreeyearstoadjusttobutwhenhe didtheylivedtherefor32years.
RossBusckegivingafleecejudgingtutorialtocompetitorsintheYoungJudgecompetitionatthe Hawke’sBayShow,23October2015.
RossestablishedaflockofMerino sheepanddidwellinvariousagricultural shows.Hewonplentyofprizesandit wasahobbythatpaidwell.Hewasin chargeoftheGisborneShowwoolroom for35yearsandstilldabblesinwool classing.OvertheyearsRossworkedfor EldersandCarrfieldsandasawoolrep Hebelievesthathehasphotographed nearlyeverywoolshedhe’sbeeninto fromHicksBaytoWairoa.Healsohad akeeninterestindogtrialsandwon severaltitles.
TheirpropertyatBeethamLifestyle Villageisatwobedroomvillaand Rosshasalreadyturnedonebedroom intoanoffice.“It’sabitlikegoingtoa nicemotel,”Rosssays.“Therearelovely homeshere,thevillageisgoodand there’sgreatsecurity.”
RossandLynhaveonegaragebut somepropertieshavetwogarages. TheyallhavealittlegardenandRoss hasplantedvegesandrecentlypicked hisbroccoli.“It’salovelyareaand you’resurroundedbylovelyhomes. There’sashoppingcentredownthe road,ahospitaljustacrosstheroadand thecrematoriumisjustdowntheroad. There’sahandymansoifanythinggoes wrong,suchasaleakytap,youcanget ontoMrFixitMan.”Thecouplehasa petandthedogTKwalksRossevery morning.
“Thereareafewlittledogsandquite afewcats.”Rosswasinitiallyabitworried aboutthedogbutthere’sabiglawnin frontofourunit.“Youfeelasifyou’re backinthecountry.That’swhatattracted ustothisvillabecauseit’sgotabiglawn infrontofit.”
Therearefourorfivegardenersand allthelawnsaredone.“Everythingislaid on.”Theirvillahasthreebeautifulcitrus trees,orangesandlemons.It’sveryquiet andpeacefulcomparedtotheircottage wheretheyhadnoiseofthelogging trucksandthedirt.
Everymonththecouplereceivea listofeventsplannedatthevillageand Rosssaysthere’salwayssomethingonswimming,bowling,indoorbowls,bingo and“everyThursdaynightit’shappyhour withtheboys,wetakesomebeerand sitaroundhandhavealaughandajoke. Onceamonththere’sareasonablyprices dinnerevening.It’srealgood.There’sno reasontosithereandbelonely.”
Lynhasalsofittedinwellandmeets withafriendacoupleoftimesaweek toplayRummy-Oorhasteawithother friends.“There’sagoodgroupofladies andtheyhaveafewlaughs.”
Beethamsalsohasa“beautifulfull sizebowlinggreen”thatwasrecently resurfaced.Rossattendedthereopening andhasneverplayedinhislifebuthe hadagoandplanstocarryon.There’s alsoahouseholdrecyclingprogramme thatRosshelpswith.Materialismulched anddistributedaroundthevillage.“This isoneofthebestretirementvillagesin NewZealand.Thepeoplearesofriendly, likemostpeopleinGisborne,”Rosssays.
Timber:Rough-sawn,H3.2orH4treatedfor durability.Thelargestrangeofpostsintown. Rounds,halves,quarters,strainers&poles. Comeandseeusfor:Wire•Netting•Permane e •Nails•Staples•BugleScre s•Gatesandhard are•Andmore
Thebowlinggreenhasrecentlybeenresurfaced.PhotobyCodyKeepa.
Lyn,RossandTKenjoytheirnew lifestyle.PhotobySandyRichmond.
Odetotheute:aKiwilovestory
Likeallgoodlovestories,thisonecomes withawarning–acursethathasbeen thenemesisofuteownerssincethe beginningoftimeandtray.GlennDwight explains.
Let’stalkaboutLOVE.Notjustanylove;thelove NewZealandhasforutes.TheFordRanger,the HoldenKingswood,Crumpy’sToyotaHilux,they allholdaspecialplaceinourhearts–withthestatsto backitup.
WhileIcan’tspeakforthewholecountry,Icantell youmyownstoryandhowIthinkthereisafondness fortheseflat-deckautomotiveartworksinallofus.For me,itstartedwithmydad;hehadayellow.(mostly paint,butsomerust)MorrisMinorute.Asakid,itreally wasthatoften-overusedcliché,‘businessupfrontand partyintheback’.
Wewouldsitforhoursinthecabpretendingto drive,butwhenitcametothetray,wellthatwasour stage…Wewouldperformpunishingshowstoany familyorneighbourwhowecouldconvincetobepart ofanaudience.
AndwhenmydadgotaKingswoodworkute intraditional‘HoldenGolden’thatwaslikemoving fromthecommunitytheatretoCarnegieHall.The performancesgotbiggerinthebackandthedriving turnedfromrecreatingmundanefamilytripsto pretendingwewerePeterBrockwindingourway throughMountPanoramainstyle.
Kiwi/Aussiebond
Butthereisfarmoretothehumbleutethanjust theexcitementitbringstoachild’simaginationand thepracticalityitbringstomovinglargeobjectsno
bootcouldeverhandle.ItisalsoabondbetweenNew ZealandandAustralia.Forjustlikethepavlova,the utebelongstobothsidesoftheTasman(butlet’sbe honest,wasprobablyinventedbyaNewZealander).
AccordingtothatfountofknowledgeGoogle,‘A ute(/ju:t/YOOT),originallyanabbreviationfor‘utility’ or‘coupéutility’,isatermusedinAustraliaandNew Zealandtodescribevehicleswithatraybehindthe passengercompartment,thatcanbedrivenwitha regulardriver’slicense.’
Asmallpartofmewishes,however,thatthere wassuchathingasa‘utelicence’.Obtainingitwould involvetheabilitytostackanentirehousehold’s furnitureJenga-styleonthetraywithonlyasingle tie-downandsomebailingtwine(andmaybeawhite hankyattachedtotheinevitableoverhangingobject).
Acautionarytale
Thisbringsmetothecautionarypartofthistale. Likeallgoodlovestories,thisonecomeswitha warning.Whilebeingtheownerofautebringsgreat joy,italsobringsacurse,acursethathasbeenthe nemesisofuteownerssincethebeginningoftimeand tray.Thatcurseisthe‘mate’whoismovingandneeds ahand,whichbasicallytranslatestoyouruteandyour liftingability.
Nonetheless,inthegrandschemeofthings,this isasmallpricetopay,Isay.ForasthatgreatNew ZealanderFredDaggwouldsaywhenitcomesto vehiculartransportandtheute:
“Wedon’tknowhowluckyweare.”Justfora second.imaginelivinginotherpartsoftheworldand havingtodrivea‘pickuptruck’.HereinAotearoawe useautetoactuallypickup,andthat’sthewayit shouldbe.
TheYearoftheUte?
SocomeonNewZealand,let’scelebratetheute andmake2024‘TheYearoftheUte’:theyearwhen thosefollicallyblessedgrowmulletstocelebratethe ute’ssimpleattitudeof‘businessupfrontandpartyin theback’.
Thenletthosemulletsblowinthewind,foryouare utedriversandyourforearmsarebrown,becauseyou alwaysdrivewiththewindowwounddown. CarenthusiastGlennDwightisacreativedirectorat NZMEWellington.
WithyourqualifyingpurchasesatEastlandVetClinics.
*T&C’sapply.Seeproductlabelsforfullclaimdetailsanddirectionsforuse. ACVMRegistrationNo.sA010131,A009270,A011151.NZ-BOV-0052-2023.
Source Gisborne Photo News, No 100, October 4, 1962/Creative Commons
Orangesandlemons
QuickWholeOrangeCake
Preparationtime20mins
Cooktime1hr
Serves8
QuickWholeOrangeCakeisatasty
treatforunexpectedguests.Thisquick andeasyrecipeusespantrystaples andmakesuseoftheentireorange, includingsyrupmadefromtheorange zestandjuice.
Ingredients
Oranges-2
Eggs-3
Sugar-1cup
Vanillapaste-1tsp
Self-raisingflour-13/4cups
Yoghurt-1/2cup
Butter,melted-100g
Extrayoghurttoserve
Syrup
Sugar-1/4cup
Zestandjuicefromorangeabove
Method
butter,mixingagainuntilsmooth.Fold intheorangepulp.Pourintothetinand smooththetop.
Hereareacoupleofquick,deliciousandeasyrecipes celebratingthegoodnessofGisborne’scitrusfruit
GlutenFreeGingernutLemonCheesecake
Preparationtime25mins Serves8
Thisdeliciouslemon cheesecakeuses ourFreeFrom GlutenGingernuts inthebase,soit’s theperfectgluten freedessertforany occasion!
Ingredients
FreeFromGluten GingernutBiscuits200g
Buttersalted,melted -85g
Creamcheese-400g Castersugar-60g Lemonjuice,pluszest of1/2alemon-2Tbsp Cream-200ml
Preheatanovento170˚C(150°Cfan forced).Greaseandlinea20cmcaketin withpaper.
Cutoneandahalforangesintosmall pieces,includingtheorangeskin. Removeanypips.Blitzinablenderto asmoothpulp.Zestandsqueezethe remaininghalforangeforthejuicetouse inthesyruplater.
Withanelectricbeater,placetheeggs, sugarandvanillapaste,beatinguntil lightandfluffy.Addtheflour,yoghurtand
Bakefor60minutesoruntilaskewer comesoutclean.
Whilethecakecooks,makethesyrup.In asmallpotcombinethezest,juiceand sugar,bringingtoasimmerfor4minutes. Coolslightlybeforepouringontothe warmcake.
PERSERVE
•Energy1678Kj•Protein7g• TotalFat13g•SaturatedFat8g•Carbohydrates 63g•Sugars42g•Sodium322mg
Dietaryandnutritionalinfosuppliedby NZNutritionFoundation
Method
Linethebaseofa20cmspringformtin withbakingpaper. Placethebiscuitsintofoodprocessor andblitzuntiltheyresemblefine breadcrumbsorplacethemintoaplastic bagandbashwitharollingpin.Addthe meltedbutter,mixwellandplaceinthe tin.Spreadevenlypressingdownwith thebackofaspoon.Placeintothefridge for10minuteswhileyoumakethefilling. Placethecreamcheese,sugar,lemon
juiceandzestintoabowlandbeatuntil smoothandwellblended. Addthecreamandcontinuetobeat untilthemixtureisthickandsmooth. Pouroverthebase,smooththetop andrefrigerateforatleast4hoursor overnight.
Recipesandphotoscourtesyof Woolworths
Areyouhelpingorhurtingyourself?
ByStJohnCraner
DrMartinSeligmanwasan Americanpsychologistwhocoined theterm“LearnedHelplessness”.
Fewpeopleknowthispsychological conceptbutit’sanimportantoneto knowinlife.
Seligmandidthisbyrunning experimentsusingGermanshepherd dogssubjectedtomildelectricalshocks (yesitwasthe70s!)inthefloorsection wheretheywerelying.
Thesesamedogshadthechoice tojumpoverasmalldividerinthepen totheothersidewherethefloorspace wasn’telectrified.
Somedogsstayedwheretheywere andcontinuedtogetshocked.Others leaptoverthedividingwalltothefloor spacewheretheydidn’tgetshocked.
Seligmanranthisexperiment-along withhundredsofotherresearchers whoreplicatedit-toteachyouandme somethingveryimportantabouthuman behaviour:
Weallhavechoicesonwhether wetakeactionandchangeour circumstancesorwhetherwestay stuckinthesameruttakingthepain andsufferingassociatedwiththat.
That’swhatLearnedHelplessnessis. Properlydefineditis:
“Apsychologicalstateinwhichan individual,afterrepeatedexposure touncontrollablenegativeevents, believestheyarepowerlesstochange theirsituation,evenwhenopportunities todosoarise.Thisleadstopassivity, decreasedmotivation,andasense ofhopelessness,whichcanpersist evenwhencircumstanceschangeand controlispossible.”
Likeadownwardspiralwhereyou keepmakingacompoundeffectofpoor decisionsratherthananupwardspiralof gooddecisionspushingyouup.
Iseesomefolkfallintothis depressed,self-esteemkillingdownward spiralwherethingsgetworseratherthan betterliketheirhealth,relationships, brokenmarriages,alcoholabuseandthe like.
Sowhatcanyouasafarmerorperson learnfromSegliman’swork?
Letmehelpyou:
Learnedhelplessnesscreates pessimismwhichistheenemyofa prosperousandfulfillinglifeifyouwant towinandsucceedatit.
Pessimismisamindset.Whichalso meansitisaconsciouschoice.
Andyourlevelofpessimism isdeterminedbythreefactors: Pervasiveness,Permanenceand Personalisation.
Pervasivenesssoundslike “Everythinginmylifeisgoingwrong”. Permanencesoundslike“I’mdonein, thiswillneverwork”.AndPersonalisation soundslike“I’llneverbegoodatthis thing/I’msostupid.”
Theexplanatorystyleyouchoosewill determineyouroutlookandoutcomein life.
StJohnCranerisownerandfounder ofwww.agrarian.co.nzwhohelp ruralbusinessesimprovetheirlead generationandsalesskillset(hetalks aboutmindsetalottoo).
Ashumanswearewiredtoexplain whathappenstoourselves.It’spart andparcelofhavingabigbrainand beingtopofthespecies.Thekeyisto re-attribute,oradjustandadaptyour explanatorystylebycatchingyourself whenyousaythesethingstoyourself.
Insteadofsaying“mylifesucks”or “Iamcrapatthis”or“Ihatemyjob”you
couldadjustyourexplanatorystyleand saythistoyourselfinstead:“Icanlearn andchangejobsbyup-skilling.”
“IcancontrolhowhardIworkand theeffortIputinsoothersotherthanmy bosscanseehowgoodIam.”
“Icanimprovemyselfbytakingsmall stepsandimprovingmyhabits,routines andrituals.”
Knowingyoucancontrolyourworld byfocussingonwhatyoucancontrol (action,coaching,self-care,discipline, attitude,workethic)ratherthanwhatyou can’t(economy,government,councils, badboss,weather,inputcosts,inflation, worldwars)improvesthingsforyou.
DuringCOVIDIstruggledmentally withisolationasI’magregarioussort wholovescompanyandgetsenergy frombeingaroundothers.
SoIwroteasignandhungitupinmy make-shiftgarage/office:“Whatisthis teachingme?WhatcanIlearnfromthis?”
Thisre-framinghelpedmymindset andwhatIwassayingtomyself.Nowlet mesharewithyoudearfriendthis:The oppositeofpessimismisoptimism.
Youcanchooseyourresponse, choosewhatyousaytoyourself,choose whatyoudowithyourtimeandchoose thecompanyyoukeep.Youarealways incontrol.
Youneedtorememberandbeaware ofthat.
Thisisn’tsomefluffy,happy-clappy poppsychologyI’msharingwithyou
here.Thisissolidscience-based researchthathasbeencitatedand replicatedtheworldover.
Themindsetyouchoosetoadaptwill definewhetheryousucceedorsufferin life.Themoreoptimistic(notpessimistic) youarethemorescienceshowsyou persevere.Thekeyisbeingawareofthis factandawareness-asIteachallmy students-isthegatewaytogrowth.
Ifyou’renotawareofwhatyoudo, youcannotchangewhatyoudo.Ibet you-likeme-havefriendsorfamily memberswhopromisedtheywoulddo greatthingslikestarttheirownbusiness, changecareers,study,getfit,restore thatcar,renovatethehouse,loseweight, writethatbook-andyettheystaystuck.
Everytimeyougohometoseethem doingthesameoldthings.Solearnfrom them.
Learnhowtotrainyourbrain.Notice whenyousaynegativethingstoyourself. Beawareofthatnegativenarrative-or negativepeopleforthatmatter(runa milefromthemoratleastminimiseyour contactwiththem!).Takecontrolofyour mindandyouwilltakecontrolofyour life.Beoptimistic.
Therearecountlessstoriesof millionairesandbillionaireswhohave conqueredadversity,poverty,trauma orabuseandmadeitinlife.Thereisso muchyoucancontrol.
AndlikeItellmykidsconstantly:you runyourbrain,yourbraindoesn’trun you.
