Tuesday 14 September 2021
Seeing the wood and the trees Chris Valli The forestry industry is in good hands. A Marlborough man nominated by his colleagues for a top national award has been named as New Zealand Forester of the Year. The New Zealand Institute of Forestry (NZIF) has recognised Paul Millen in its 2021 awards, held in Wairarapa recently. NZIF Forester of the Year is a highly coveted prize, which rewards a person for their outstanding contribution to the forestry sector throughout the year. The nomination certainly came as a surprise to the 62-year-old who says it is a real privilege to be recognised in this way. “The award was unexpected. It is certainly a privilege to be recognised by the institute and to be recognised by my peers. In some ways, it is an indication that the institution is diversifying New Zealand forestry which is great to see.” Paul studied through the University of Canterbury’s School of Forestry (Kura Ngahere) and graduated in 1980. The University of Canterbury is the only university in New Zealand to offer professional forestry degree programmes, including undergraduate programmes run through the School of Forestry and the College of Engineering. It was here that Paul attained scientific knowledge, drive and passion for all things trees which
Paul Millen receives the NZIF Forester of the Year from Minister Stuart Nash. Photo: Supplied. opened many doors for him over the years, he says. His skillset has allowed him to work on numerous projects and with a diverse range of people from professional foresters to tree enthusiasts. The award is testimony to the high standard of research work Paul has done into eucalyptus. He established trials in various parts of the country, initially to develop durable untreated posts for and
around Marlborough’s vineyards. In 2004, Paul then teamed up with his former Canterbury University School of Forestry friend Shaf van Ballekom, CEO at Proseed, owned by Ngāi Tahu, the largest forest seed producer in Australasia. They linked to the School of Forestry to establish the New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative (NZDFI) which is a eucalypt tree improvement and forest research
programme with wood quality a major component. NZDF has attracted internationally renowned researchers. Paul has been involved in the Marlborough community since arriving in the 1980s, working in various roles for the local authority and environmental and community projects. These included a major role in developing the Wither Hills Farm Park as a working farm and public recrea-
tion area for the Marlborough District Council. Such involvement he says has been a real pleasure and he is thankful for the opportunities that have come his way. “I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to have been involved in the Wither Hills Farm Park (when he was in his 20s) and the work with local government. “People have benefited greatly from the trees that have been planted. Trees and forests have a wide range of benefits for the whole community.” Paul says one of the great connections and work he has been involved with in recent years has been with the Marlborough Significant Natural Areas Project. The project involves Marlborough District Council collecting information about natural areas on private land, with the aim of working in partnership with landowners to help protect these areas. “I still have a lot of enjoyment with the Marlborough Significant Natural Area Project (underway since 2000) - working with private landowners who have areas of native forests, and restoration planting.” The Marlborough Significant Natural Areas Project involves three main types of work: Carrying out an ecological survey of areas on private properties to identify the sites and issues. CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
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Rural News
TUESDAY 14 September 2021
Seeing the wood and the trees Farmers urged to enable vaccinations FROM PAGE 1
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An assistance programme to encourage and help landowners to protect these identified sites was established in 2003 and since this time more than 80 significant natural areas have been protected. Sites that have been protected are revisited every two to three years to check that management objectives are being met. Paul says his ethos and vision for New Zealand forestry is primarily about being self-sufficient. Having the foresight and the knowledge to plant early allows such reliance. “I’ve always been about the practical application of forestry and what types of wood benefit various sectors according to their needs. What is practical and going to work in the forestry sector?” Paul’s tree breeding programme to improve ground durable eucalyptus is testament to the theory versus practical component of his work. Paul had identified a group of durable eucalypt species
that he had planted in his own research trials and in trials planted by other local landowners who were interested in testing these species. Within four years of starting that, he was planning a genetic research programme, and that research programme was supported by the Marlborough Research Centre Trust as well as the School of Forestry (University of Canterbury) Proseed NZ Ltd, the Marlborough District Council, Marlborough Lines and the NZ Farm Forestry Association. In 2008 he got funding from The Agricultural and Marketing Research and Development Trust, which launched the NZ Dryland Forests Initiative tree breeding programme with the first 20,000 trees planted in 2009. In 2010 the NZDFI got Sustainable Farming Fund money. Paul lives on Queen Charlotte Drive in Picton and has planted an extensive range of trees on the property over the past 37 years. His work with his enterprise Marlborough Timbers,
now a reputable, specialised timber merchants’ business, has given him a great deal of confidence from a ‘wood business model’. They source timber from Tai Tane Forest (Havelock) with the business owned by Paul and his brother Ash. Tai Tane is sustainably managed to produce high quality hardwood and softwood timbers. Seedlings have been planted regularly since 1984, with over 5,000 trees now maturing. Marlborough Research Centre Chief Executive, Gerald Hope, says Paul recognised early on that regional communities needed to build resilient, diverse economies with newly planted eucalypt forests now located from Canterbury to Northland. “Paul successfully sought funding from many sources - government, local authorities, industry and farmers – resulting in $9 million being raised to date,” says Gerald Hope. “It has expanded beyond Marlborough to include 36 sites in eastern and northern NZ, breeding durable eucalypts with high wood quality.”
Farmers should do all they can to enable and encourage their staff to get their COVID vaccinations, Federated Farmers employment spokesperson Chris Lewis says. “I know dairy farms are flat tack with calving and workforce shortages have never been worse. “But there’s nothing more important than your family’s health, and that of your staff and their families.” It would certainly help if District Health Boards booked a hall in some smaller towns for well-advertised-in-advance day clinics. “If it’s possible to combine getting a jab with a trip into town for the next supermarket shop, or to pick up supplies from Farmlands or Wrightsons, try to make it happen. It’s part of being a good boss,” Chris says. “If your nearest urban centre has a walk-in vaccination centre, or a GP clinic is willing to take a short-notice booking, you might even send in a staff member with a few dollars to pick up a morning or afternoon tea shout for the rest of the team.” The sooner we get everyone double-vaccinated, the sooner we might safely take steps to getting back to where we were with travel, events, farmers’ markets and all the rest, Chris says.
Rural News
TUESDAY 14 September 2021
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Stock trucks back on track For the first time since Marlborough’s July 17 storm, stock truck and trailers have been able to navigate the flood-damaged Awatere Valley Road south of Blenheim. Allowed under very strict conditions, this week’s controlled truck access has come at a very welcome time for farmers in the Upper Awatere Valley. “We need to be clear – the road is not open to the public. This controlled access has only been made possible to protect the welfare of animals on farms in the Upper Awatere Valley,” says Marlborough Roads Recovery Manager, Steve Murrin. “Our road crews have secured sufficient safe access to allow a limited number of trucks with trailers through and these are also being piloted to ensure safety. The road is still in a very fragile state.” “Weather events like we had earlier in the week created some additional challenges and repair work on the road is continuing. The access we have managed to secure is restricted to residents only and is only available at certain times of the day.” More support for the Awatere Valley is also coming soon in
Controlled truck access has started today on the flood damaged Awatere Valley Road near Blenheim. Photo: Supplied. the form of a pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinic for anyone over 12 years of age. Thanks to the support of locals providing a venue and communicating with the community, Marlborough Primary Health (the PHO) are hoping to run the clinic in late September. Community Partnerships Advisor Jodie Griffiths says the council had helped “connect the par-
ties” to make the most of an offer from a valley resident to host the clinic to allow locals to get their vaccination. “It’s great to see people taking such initiative to help one another at this time,” she said. If anyone would like to get a vaccination and hasn’t been contacted please email recovery@marlborough.govt.nz Financial help from the Mayoral
Relief Fund, set up in early August by Marlborough Mayor John Leggett, continues to be provided across the district with a further $7,200 this week confirmed for distribution. The fund is for residents in the Marlborough District Council area who have suffered personal financial or emotional hardship as a result of the July storm event. Jodie says the latest round of
funds went to 10 different households. That takes the total tally distributed to assist Marlborough residents to $66,490, with 52 households benefitting from this support. The first funds tagged for Primary Industry Businesses were also approved this week for farmers in the Marlborough Sounds and Wairau Valley. “Five applications for the Ministry for Primary Industry fund were considered. These included a farm from the Wairau Valley and famers and producers in the Marlborough Sounds. It is hoped that groups of Primary Industry Businesses will coordinate to put a joint application for support which will benefit multiple farms and producers,”Jodie says. The Ministry for Primary Industries contributed $35,000 - part of $200,000 in recovery funding unlocked in July to support flood-affected farmers and growers across Marlborough, Tasman and West Coast regions. The special committee set up to administer the mayoral fund was also looking at allocating some special transport funding for this sector,” says Jodie. People wishing to apply can do so via bit.ly/MayoralReliefFund
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Rural News
TUESDAY 14 September 2021
Overseas investment branching out Chris Valli
A UK company has snapped up a 230 hectare forestry block in Marlborough. The sale of the land at an undisclosed location, has been approved by the Overseas Investment Office under the special forestry test. Designed to encourage tree planting, the move is prompting concern for some farming groups who say jobs and productive farmlands are being lost. It is a decision that will have an impact on sheep and beef farms and production too, says a local farmer. Retired farmer Doug Avery says the concept of carbon forestry is commendable
from an emissions sustainable model. However, there seems to be no back up viable solution from the government with the latest round of Overseas Investment decisions, he says. There is a wider issue at stake as a result he says. “Most forestry companies are looking for wetter areas. Carbon unit prices are now so high the government has run out of money to bid against its own top limit of $50 per tonne. “So that market is now in the hands of overseas speculators.” To compete farmers will need $20 per kg for lamb. Lamb is currently at an all time high of $10 per kg so expect lots of pine trees and not much meat as farmers
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make the change. “Brazil has Mad Cow in addressing climate change, we are calldisease. China has stopped imports from ing for urgent discussions and government there, and all other meat exporting coun- action on mechanisms to ensure that not tries have record and rising prices. We are too much productive land is turned into about to see a food crisis that will make the carbon farms. housing crisis look like a pup,” Doug says. “They’ve repeated a mantra of ‘right tree, “It means higher prices and ultimately right purpose, right place’ but frankly the huge competition to get our evidence shows that’s not meat.” happening - it’s threatening rural communities and unIronically, Doug says his son in Western Australia is dermining New Zealand’s We are about to getting record prices for all future economic viability.” his grain, despite China no enter a whole new The Overseas Investment longer buying there. “We are time in food supply Office is the New Zealand government agency responabout to enter a whole new and food demand. sible for regulating foreign time in food supply and food demand.” direct investment into New Doug’s comments come after Indus- Zealand. The Office is responsible for high try group Beef and Lamb NZ is asking value investments and investments in senthe government to crack down on the sitive land (non-urban rural land) more amount of farmland being turned into than five hectares in area. carbon forestry. Carbon forestry covers new opportunities An independent report commissioned and policies in carbon planting, investby Beef and Lamb NZ found in the past ment and the growing carbon emissions four years nearly 140, 000 hectares of offset markets land has been earmarked for forestry. The latest round of Overseas Investment It found significant increases in the Office decisions show five more overseas amount of farmland sold into forestry, companies have been allowed to buy fordriven largely by an increase in the car- estry land or farm land for conversion. Doug says he doesn’t see an alternative bon price, and Government subsidies. Agriculture Minister Damien O’Connor or a solution around overseas companies has previously said the government purchasing land for forestry and carbon may intervene if land conversions reach alternatives. “It’s a great time to live in New Zealand at the moment, and to farm, but 40,000 hectares a year. Beef and Lamb chief executive Sam consumers should be aware. Food supply McIvor says rural communities have is tipping over with Covid in poorer counbeen concerned about this for some tries and global logistics hampering distritime. “While we see a role for forestry bution - it’s a perfect storm.”
Rural News
TUESDAY 14 September 2021
h g u o r o b l Mar
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RURAL & LI FE STY LE Northbank
1005 Onamalutu Road
For Sale 4 2 By Negotiation (plus GST if any) View By Appointment marlborough.harcourts.co.nz/BL9700 & BL9699
WORDS BY MIKE INSLEY So winter pruning is completed and it’s time for a rest? Just before you sit down and relax, maybe run through some of those other jobs on the to-do list for the socalled quiet times in the vineyard year. Soil tests should have already been completed and any calcium, phosphorous and potassium containing fertilisers should be being applied around now. The nutritional status of a vineyard changes over time with essential elements been taken away with harvest or washed / leached through the rootzone by rainfall. Nutrient requirements for a vineyard are going to vary according to the variety, rootstock, vine age and yields and applications also need to take into account soil type. There is no single ‘recipe’ but a good rule of thumb is that every 1 tonne of grapes harvested removes around 2kg of Potassium and 0.2 Kg of phosphorous. While some of this will be replenished from soil reserves, at some point it will need to be replaced, to avoid depleting or mining the soil. Ideally these base dressing fertilisers are applied while we still have a reasonable likelihood of some “good” rains to move them from the soil surface. Your trellis is going to be supporting a hopefully healthy weight of fruit over the coming season so it needs to be in good condition. Broken posts need to be removed, replaced and wires re-nailed. Remember that treated wood cannot be burnt and must be disposed of appropriately (ie land fill). Post replacement can become time consuming and expensive with a number of passes through the vineyard required to find the broken ones, remove them, dig out the stump, drop off and drive the replacement post and re-clip or nail it. Maybe it’s time to look at some of the non-wood alternatives which may have better longevity and potentially easier handling and disposal characteristics. There are increasing areas of the steel Eco Trellis® popping up around Marlborough along with smaller areas of the recycled plastic Future Post™. As vineyards age, not all vines survive for the next growing season, especially with Grapevine Trunk Disease starting to affect many older Sauvignon Blanc blocks. Best guess these days is to work on a productive life of 30 – 40 years for a vineyard.
Considering the modern era of Marlborough grapegrowing only started not quite 50 years ago and those initial plantings have all been replaced due to Phylloxera (a blessing in hindsight, allowing the dramatic transformation of the Marlborough wine industry from Muller Thurgau, Cabernet sauvignon and others to Sauvignon Blanc), there aren’t many blocks in this age bracket yet. The presence of this complex of fungal diseases isn’t cause for panic, but it does pay to have a plan. Initially replanting the few affected vines is likely the best solution, along with filling those gaps left behind by “Tractor or Trimmer Blight”. If not already done, you had better get cracking and get those replacement vines in before the new season really gets underway.
11.499ha Lifestyle
Much like posts, there are now a range of alternative young vine that will give your replants the best start possible if being planted in rows of established vines. Taller and with a well-established root system, the earlier these get planted into the ground the better.
Rhonda Stewart
This 11.499ha holding contains grazing land, a small forestry block plus good infrastructure including internet and a domestic and stock bore. Line your ducks up and enjoy this very tidy rural / lifestyle property on the Onamalutu Road. • 3 bay implement shed/workshop, tack shed, 10m x 10m hayshed & pump shed • 8 small paddocks, four large paddocks all with water troughs & fenced • 2.83ha hill block of radiata pine & douglas fir • 269m2 2003 build, double living areas, large deck • Dual living areas, fully insulated, partially double glazed, impressive closed woodfire M 021 736 922 P 03 578 0888 rhonda.stewart@harcourts.co.nz
William Harris
M 027 756 7798 P 03 578 0888 william.harris@harcourts.co.nz Marlborough Real Estate 2008 Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Springlands
Wine Review: Celebrating Sauvignon Blanc
18 St Leonards Road
Sauvignon Blanc is the wine that put Marlborough and NZ on the world’s wine map. Time for an unashamedly parochial view on why.
Enchanting St Leonards Vineyard Cottages Sells to Delighted New Owners The new owners are excited about leaving the hustle and bustle of city life for an improved lifestyle on this 16,900m2 park-like property situated in the heart of wine country. The ‘Homestead’ built in 1886 and originally the focal point of a large Marlborough sheep station now shares the native birdsong and vineyard landscapes with upmarket boutique accommodation. A magical semi-rural spot in postcard-perfect Marlborough.
My first 2021 Sauvignon Blanc! Vintage 2021 is challenging for growers and wine companies alike with low yields requiring careful market management. For consumers though, if my first wine from this vintage is anything to go by, it’s going to be a ripper. Lawsons Dry Hills Marlbough Sauvignon Blanc 2021 is a rich, weighty, supple wine, full of typical Sauvignon character. While the nose was a little closed to start (my fault, I over chilled the wine), it soon opened up, bringing back memories of summer’s past and thoughts of those to come. That’s the joy of Marlborough Sauvignon. The slippery-silky texture of this wine is enhanced with a touch of oak (only a sliver) and a mouth watering finish. More please.
Paul Jackson
M 027 256 1101 P 03 578 0888 paul.jackson@harcourts.co.nz Marlborough Real Estate 2008 Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Wairau Valley
9.2ha
6273 State Highway 63 Getting Away From It All Are you an outdoor enthusiast or disillusioned urbanist looking for that perfect ‘time-out’ location? We can help! Beyond the Wairau Valley township heading west on SH63 is this private spot perfect for all ages and stages.
Enquire for chattel list and to make an appointment to view with the listing agents
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William Harris
Mike Insley
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William Harris
M 027 756 7798 P 03 578 0888 william.harris@harcourts.co.nz Marlborough Real Estate 2008 Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Donella Harris
Sales & Marketing Consultant
Paul Jackson
Rhonda Stewart
Martin Summerscales
M 027 277 6686 P 03 578 0888 paul.jackson@harcourts.co.nz
M 021 736 922 P 03 578 0888 rhonda.stewart@harcourts.co.nz
M 021 030 4974 P 03 578 0888 martin.summerscales@harcourts.co.nz
Sales & Marketing Consultant
Sales & Marketing Consultant
M 0274 110 429 P 03 578 0888 donella.harris@harcourts.co.nz Sales & Marketing Consultant
Hannah Burns
David Searle
Vicki Harrison Jones
M 027 332 5050 P 03 578 0888 hannah.burns@harcourts.co.nz
M 021 565 950 P 03 578 0888 david.searle@harcourts.co.nz
vicki.harrisonjones@harcourts.co.nz
Sales & Marketing Consultant
Sales & Marketing Consultant
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M 021 736 922 P 03 578 0888 rhonda.stewart@harcourts.co.nz
Sales & Marketing Consultant
M 021 229 8157 P 03 578 0888 mike.insley@harcourts.co.nz
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Rhonda Stewart
Rural & Lifestyle Manager
M 027 756 7798 P 03 578 0888 william.harris@harcourts.co.nz
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For Sale By Negotiation View By Appointment marlborough.harcourts.co.nz/BL9712 & BL9713
• 9.2 flat to steep land with panoramic views • Approx 20 minutes’ from the Nelson Lakes and skifield entrance • Renovated home with new bathroom & fixtures • Modern kitchen, gas hobs, closed logfire & wetback • New guttering, solar panels in place (not connected) • 4 x 30,000 litre water tanks, good internet
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Looking for a property where your ‘eggs aren’t all in one basket?’.
Fertilisers on, tick; trellis ready, tick; gaps filled, tick; only irrigation and frost fan maintenance, cover crop preparation, SWNZ audits etc to go. Then you might get a chance to relax before having to scan weather reports for impending frosts…
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Marlborough Real Estate 2008 Licensed Agent REAA 2008
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TUESDAY 14 September 2021
Rural News
It takes a community Chris Valli
As Nelson and Marlborough farmers prepare for spring and adjust to life under Lockdown Alert Levels and Covid protocols, Chris Valli talks to farmers about how they’re coping. A return to older style farming methods is helping farmers in the Marlborough Sounds carry on rural life post flood and during a pandemic.
At a Titirangi farm, life goes on, but with the July storm taking out the access road, around 600 livestock were barged out to Havelock before being loaded on to trucks. Testing times means farmers are having to think outside the box, says Seddon farmer Warwick Lissaman. It is a tumultuous time which is pushing some to the brink, he says. Warwick, who runs Breach Oak Farm along with wife
Lisa, wants to see the government taking more action. “There are cases of real despair, there are cases where this excretion of population control has tipped people over the edge. “However, rural New Zealand has a culture of looking after their neighbours and themselves...sometimes the former to the detriment of themselves.” Warwick says on his farm
the mantra ‘slow down, think first’ has a yarn. been the catch cry especially in the cur- “Mental health is a tough one. Most farmers tend to put their head down and rent economic climate. just get on with it. Normally “On my farm I am in charge of the lambing and my genhaving a chat with other eral contractor support perfarmers in town when pickson has his own calf rearing ing up supplies is ideal but with Covid it has been taken business in separate facilities.” away from us. It’s something Keeping two metres apart, I miss.” using separate equipment, Brian says having a team having masks, and good hyto support one another is a giene practices for any times no brainer. He is fortunate that can’t be achieved makes to have a wonderful wife in things possible. Hannah and a farm hand in Warwick says if Covid vacJamal who are integral to the cinations continue with Brian Dineen - Dairy business, he says. their respective rollouts and Farmer, Murchison. “We have a good team and a good thing going. We try to everybody takes some responsibility as an individual, then South have a lot of fun - smile in the face of Island farmers should be able to get on adversity. with life, albeit under whatever alert lev- “Once you’ve had a few knock downs you start to become stronger. You’re alels. For Brian Dineen, an Irish Dairy farmer ways going to hit a wall; it’s part of what from Maruia, (60kms from Murchison) we do and the nature of farming. As long the impact of Covid-19 on rural com- as they [Helen and Jamal] are laughing munities is more holistic. I’m happy!” Mental health is a priority, he says, now, Brian says at the end of the day, the more than ever before, and Covid has more pressure put on farmers from the Government with regards to regulations brought its own unique issues. “The rural support trust (connecting (winter grazing and how to combat that) through farming or business advice, the more difficult it becomes. mental health and counselling services) He adds those in the Beehive and the does a great job but because of where decision makers need to provide realwe are in Maruia, we rely on our neigh- istic solutions and not just give advice bours for a chat and connection. To have through social media platforms.
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TUESDAY 14 September 2021
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Sustaining change win for Yealands Chris Valli
Yealands Wine Group has been named the silver trophy winner in the Best in Biz International Awards 2021. The Seddon winery was recognised in two categories; Most Environmentally Responsible Company of the Year and Environmental Program of the Year. The Best in Biz Awards International, is the only independent global business awards program judged each year by prominent editors and reporters from toptier publications from around the world. Yealands’ submissions in both
categories highlighted specific, practical, and measurable sustainability goals that focus on reducing carbon emissions, increasing biodiversity, restoring native vegetation and watercourses, and reducing and minimising waste. Yealands sustainability and strategic projects general manager Michael Wentworth says the sustainable model has been a journey and one that is ongoing with a long-term focus. “What we have learnt is that you can’t do this by yourself, networking with all parties makes a difference; from packaging to freight to bottling.
“The biggest change is everyone playing their part in the sustainable model. We are making a difference. “We launched our sustainability model in 2008 and continue to see carbon emissions reduced by 35 per cent, which is pleasing. We can continue to improve.” In January 2020 Yealands made a commitment to lower its carbon emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 and to be carbon positive by 2050, after joining International Wineries for Climate Action (IWCA), a collective working group committed to tackling the sever-
ity of climate change by creating climate leadership in the wine industry. Examples of their work in practice include extensive inter-row planting to reduce tractor use, and therefore carbon emissions; a purpose-built composting facility, a large scale intergenerational ecological plan for their Seaview Vineyard, and the introduction of the Yealands Wines Marlborough Sustainability Initiative (YSI), which offers funding to local environmental not-for-profit groups.
Locally, there are a total of 18 not-for profit groups including; Picton Dawn Chorus, Waipupu Wildlife Sanctuary, Tui Nature Reserve Wildlife Trust and the Rainbow Skifield. Winners in the 9th annual program were determined based on scoring from an independent panel of judges hailing from a wide spectrum of top-tier publications and media outlets from ten countries including outlets from Brazil, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Canada, Isreal and the United Kingdom.
Yealands has been named the silver trophy winner at the Best in Biz International Awards. Photo: Supplied.
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