Rural Advocate May 2014

RURAL

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WEDNESDAY, 21 May 2014

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Low prices beckon buyers Northland farms among the cheapest in the country

GOING, GOING: Bayleys auctioneer Gary Caldwell got the bidding for a 58.6ha Parua Bay farm off at $800,000 but had to take his jacket off to work it up to $1.2 million, which secured the property for first farm buyer Colin Logue of Tomarata.

PHOTO/JOHN STONE

By Mike Barrington Low-priced Northland dairy farms are luring buyers seeking bargains, according to Bayleys Real Estate, which claims to have sold more Northland dairy farms over the past 12 months than all other real estate companies in the region combined.

First farm owners, large corporate farmers and Waikato cockies downsizing to release capital without reducing production are eager to own Northland dairy units selling for sums seen as cheap as in the south, says a Bayleys review of 2013/14 sales.

Northland dairy farms were selling for the lowest prices in the country a year ago. Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (Reinz) figures show the median dairy farm sales price in the region for the three months to April 2013 was $15,395 a hectare.

The next lowest regional price for the same period was West Coast on $20,530 a hectare.

High fliers were Canterbury on $45,283, with Waikato and Bay of Plenty both around $40,500, and the national median was $34,819 a hectare.

Little has changed since then.

Reinz noted strong first farm purchase activity in Northland during the first quarter this year, when the the median sales price per hectare for the 102 dairy farms averaging 125ha sold around the country was $34,474.

Meanwhile, Bayleys says it has buyers looking at top-tier Northland dairy farms priced from $20,000 a hectare, including

some with high-producing soils which, by New Zealand standards, have been undervalued.

A 58.6ha dairy farm at Parua Bay was sold for $1.2 million, or $20,477 a hectare, at a Bayleys auction in Whangarei on May 9.

Bayleys’ salesman John Nelley said half a dozen sharemilkers from Waikato and Bay of Plenty either bid by telephone

or turned up on the day for the sale.

The farm, owned by Ean Brown and Margaret Galland trading as KVC Farms, is milking 120 cows and is on target to produce 30,000kgMS this season. It has a three-bedroom house with a self-contained flat attached, a 12-a-side herringbone milking shed and other barns. Its capital value

was $1.16 million.

Auctioneer Gary Caldwell took his jacket off to work the bidding up and briskly knocked the sale down to first farm buyer Colin Logue, 38, of Tomarata. He was working on the place at the weekend but does not officially take possession until June 1.

Mr Logue said he had looked at farms further south and considered he had got good value for money at Parua Bay. Northland Federated Farmers dairy section chairman Ashley Cullen of Maungaturoto said low Northland dairy farm prices were good because they gave young farmers somewhere to start. ‘‘There’s a saying that if you can farm in Northland you can farm anywhere,’’ he said.

A group of Canterbury farmers were investing in Ruawai, ‘‘buying up farms like it’s going out of fashion’’.

Mr Cullen said the southerners had acquired five farms so far and were thought to be considering housing dairy herds in sheds. ‘‘They paid good money, so that should help push the price for Northland dairy farms up a bit,’’ he said.

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Course helps keep on pace Fruit exporting has enough drama to give former Bay of Islands kiwifruit cool store manager Antony Jack the occasional adrenalin rush.

The 41-year-old logistics coordinator with Southern Produce in Tauranga enjoys the strategic thinking and logistical challenges involved with marketing produce, especially avocados. ‘‘It’s one of the most fastpaced industries around,’’ he said, explaining that avocados were more difficult than kiwifruit to pack and export because they didn’t have the same shelf-life.

Mr Jack emigrated to New Zealand from South Africa in 2008 and moved to Tauranga last September, after five years in the Bay of Islands. Three of those years were spent working at post-harvest and orchard management company Orangewood, in Kerikeri, where he started driving a pickingtractor and ended up managing a kiwifruit cool store.

While at Orangewood he studied with Primary Industry Training Organisation (Primary ITO) and completed two Level 4 advanced national certificates in post-harvest and fruit

Anthony Jack

production. In February he embarked on Primary ITO’s agribusiness management programme. He’s just completed the resource consent and planning module, the first of five required for a Level 5 National Diploma in Agribusiness Management, and he plans to tackle the human resources module in July.

The agribusiness diploma recently became available at Waiariki Institute of Technology and is supported by industry partners including HortNZ. There are plans to roll out the diploma to other areas across New Zealand.

■ For details, call 0800 20 80 20 or visit www.primaryito.ac.nz/ diploma.

Stay warm and dry with Farmlands

NZ an ‘agricultural goldmine’ Inspirational Marlborough farmer Doug Avery has his Beyond Reasonable Drought roadshow in Northland this week.

He’s telling farmers how in 1998, after successive prolonged droughts, he had just about given up on trying to make a living on his 1500ha Marlborough property.

In desperation, he attended a seminar about lucerne, sowed some and his farm’s production and profitability have since moved upwards annually. ‘‘Here in New Zealand we’re standing on an agricultural gold mine but many farms have hit the ‘ryegrass’ ceiling and there is no way through without change,’’ he said.

During the roadshow Mr Avery also explains how he recently started working closely with Sir John Kirwan and www.depression.org.nz. ‘‘In the drought years my head was a mess. ‘‘I was sick and tired of being sick and tired,’’ he said. ‘‘Getting my head around smart farming systems and adaptation has changed our family’s world.’’

The roadshow is being brought to Northland by Tauranga-based business consultancy Teaming Up and a group of independent accountancy firms in the respective regions.

Mr Avery was speaking in

ADVICE: Doug Avery says lucerne helped him beat drought.

Wellsford on Monday and at Toll Stadium in Whangarei yesterday.

He will be at Kingston House in Kerikeri at 4pm today and at the Kaitaia Volunteer Fire

Brigade station at the same time tomorrow.

The Northland section of the roadshow will end at the Dargaville Rugby Club rooms at 10.30am on Friday.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

3

Staff breaches in spotlight Thirty-one of 44 dairy farms around the country inspected by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) were found to be breaching employment laws.

Labour’s spokesman on labour issues, Andrew Little, said one farmer had underpaid wages by $6000. ‘‘New Zealand has one of the most liberal employment law regimes in the world, so it is disappointing a sector in our economy held up as hugely successful should be so lax at observing the basics,’’ he said. ‘‘Having a written employment agreement is not hard, and observing it should be seen not as a grudging chore but as showing respect for your farm workers. ‘‘Federated Farmers’ excuse that farmers are ‘poor’ at paperwork and that calculating wages can be ‘a bit confusing’ is just laughable.’’

A minimum code time recording employment breach in Northland/Auckland was among 22 faulty time recordings — the most numerous breach — identified around the country.

The only other Northland/ Auckland breach was a single inadequate employment agreement among eight

identified throughout the country.

Inspectors also found a total of six breaches of minimum wages, five seasonal averaging breaches, seven wage recording faults, 10 holiday and leave recording breaches, one holiday day pay fault and two public holiday entitlement breaches.

Some offending farmers were given 28 days to comply while other cases may bring more serious action.

Penalties of up to $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for companies can be imposed for breaching employment laws.

DairyNZ strategy and investment leader for people and business Mark Paine told the DairyNZ Farmers’ Forum this month that the industry needed to lift its game on employment practices to be considered world leaders.

DairyNZ has welcomed a MBIE revised position statement on the minimum wage and employment agreements in the agricultural sector which Mr Paine said would help provide clarity to farmers.

DairyNZ and Federated Farmers are putting information on their websites aimed at ensuring all dairy farmers are clear on what they need to do.

The Vet Centre

MULTI-TASKER: Freya Lynch will manage the CRV Ambreed sales team operating from Waipu to Helensville.

Lynch adds CRV role to list Oakleigh dairy farmer and pedigree Jersey breeder Freya Lynch has been appointed manager of the CRV Ambreed sales team in the Waipu to Helensville area.

Mrs Lynch, a first generation dairy farmer alongside husband Daniel, has been farming for 20 years.

The couple, who have four children, are proud they have been able to purchase their 110ha farm in Oakleigh.

This year will be the first season on the farm milking a mixed breed herd of 225 cows they expect will produce about

74,000kgMS. The couple also own a 400-cow pedigree Jersey herd in a 50/50 sharemilking partnership at Waipu producing about 127,000kgMS. Mrs Lynch said she had taken on the CRV Ambreed sales role because she believed she had to grab opportunities when they were presented. ‘‘I’m a dairy farmer so I have dealt with all the same situations as my customers.

Different farmers have different business drivers, and I will work with them to understand what those drivers are and can recommend the right genetics to

help their business grow, whether it’s longevity, type, Breeding Worth (BW) or high input driven,’’ she said.

Mrs Lynch is a trained AI technician.

She sits on the Whangarei Harbour Catchment Committee, hosts local discussion groups for DairyNZ, is the Waipu Primary School PTA secretary, and is a past convenor and current member of the Dairy Women’s Network.

She joins CRV Ambreed sales consultants John Kimberley and Roger Perry in the Northland area.

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4

Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Plenty of upside in keeping pond low Farmers urged to keep plenty of space for effluent storage as rain comes As ponds and dams around Northland start to refill after the dry weather, DairyNZ is encouraging farmers to keep one particular pond as low as possible.

The ‘‘keep it low’’ campaign is getting full support from Northland farmers, including Mark Croucher, who milks 320 cows on 112ha at Poroti.

He has been taking advantage of the one upside that has come with the dry weather by emptying his effluent pond before late autumn-winter rains arrive. ‘‘Our first pond in the twopond system gets done before Christmas by a contractor. We put that on our maize paddocks last year, and will probably do that again this year,’’ Mr Croucher says.

The second pond he uses to irrigate almost a quarter of the farm has proven a useful moisture source over the recent dry months and is now well down, ready for what he hopes will be some wetter months ahead. ‘‘We aim to get the levels down as low as we can going into winter, and then with water

Mark Croucher

diversion over winter when we are not milking we know it won’t fill up with water before we kick off the new season.’’

The ‘‘keep it low’’ campaign that Mr Croucher is happy to be part of has been developed after DairyNZ’s analysis of regional council data on dairy effluent non-compliance across the country.

That survey found more than half the reported cases of effluent ponding recorded by regional councils, including Northland, were attributed to a lack of sufficient storage space.

DairyNZ catchment engagement leader Helen Moodie says as grass growth finally starts to kick away through Northland after the dry period, irrigating paddocks with effluent from the ponds is a valuable means to add back nutrients to the farm system.

CARTOON/DAIRYNZ

‘‘Many Northland farmers have been using their effluent to try and keep grass growth up in some paddocks, and it’s important to continue keeping the ponds as empty as possible so when the rains do come they have plenty of storage there for the new season,’’ she said. ‘‘It’s not just a compliance issue, it’s good farming sense because it means they have a good reserve for those valuable

nutrients that they can apply late spring when application conditions are ideal, either on cropping ground or on pasture.’’

Northland Regional Council monitoring officer Dennis Wright says ponds that are full or near-full do not provide any contingency storage to allow for mechanical breakdown, one-off high rainfall events or an ongoing period of wet weather early in the season.

‘‘Ponds can be kept low by applying on land when the soils have a moisture deficit,’’ Mr Wright said. ‘‘Diverting as much rainfall as possible from ponds over winter and spring will keep them low.’’

DairyNZ staff have developed a range of guides to help Northland farmers better manage their effluent systems, available on line at: dairynz.co.nz/effluent.

App records info on the go LIC has launched a new app that allows farmers to record pasture covers on their smartphone.

Once the information is recorded in the MINDA Pasture app, it is automatically uploaded to the co-op’s pasture management software at www.MINDA.co.nz, to be viewed as a feed wedge.

LIC general manager farm systems Rob Ford said the app would replace the pen and paper previously required for many farmers on their farm walks and eliminate the need

to enter or convert data files into MINDA once they get back to the office. ‘‘Farmers have told us they want their information with them, on their smartphone. It makes sense to have that sort of functionality travelling with them, rather than stuck in the office and being another job to do later,’’ he said.

MINDA Pasture is now available to download free from the App Store and Google Play, and will work on the latest Apple and Android smartphones and mobile

devices. Its use is at no extra cost to farmers subscribed to LIC’s MINDApro software, no matter how many staff download it, but they will need to have their farm setup in MINDA Land & Feed, at www.MINDA.co.nz.

Future plans for apps from the co-op include updates to MINDA Calving and MINDA Lookup, based on farmer feedback received, and three new apps to record health treatments, matings, and animal taggings and movements.

CONNECTED: The new MINDA Pasture app records pasture cover on smartphones.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

Australia, NZ to co-operate over foot-and-mouth threat You ‘have to plan for worst’ when it comes to biosecurity

Briefly Women back fun day Rural Women NZ will support the UN International Year of Family Farming with a fun day starting at 9.30am on Sunday at the Kaipara Vintage Machinery Club on Mt Wesley Coast Rd at Dargaville.

■ Admission to the event, which will include many displays and competitions, will cost $5 for adults and $10 for families.

Baxter speaks at workshop Kay Baxter, director of the Koanga Institute, formerly based at Kaiwaka and now at Wairoa, will be at the Barge Showgrounds in Whangarei at 6.30pm today during her national speaking/ workshop tour to raise funds to buy a permanent home for the institute’s collection of heritage organic seeds.

Koanga needs to raise $705,000 by the end of June and a further $250,000 by the end of September to buy the land it is on and an adjacent hill block which supplies water for its plants.

By Mike Barrington Australia and New Zealand have agreed to work together to prepare for the unlikely event of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in either country.

Foot-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease which affects sheep, cattle and other cloven-hoofed animals. If it turned up in New Zealand its effects on the economy could be even more devastating than infestation by the Queensland fruit fly, which sparked two biosecurity alerts in Whangarei this year.

Australian Minister for Agriculture Barnaby Joyce and New Zealand Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy this month signed a memorandum of understanding to stress the importance of collaboration in combating FMD. ‘‘Our number one plan and focus of much of our biosecurity efforts is to keep FMD out of Australia and New Zealand — but you can’t stick your head in the sand about something this significant, you have to plan for the worst,’’ Mr Joyce said. ‘‘Recent research found the impact of an FMD outbreak in Australia could cost our economy up to $52 billion over 10 years, therefore we have more than 50 billion reasons to work together to continue Australia’s 100-year record of freedom from FMD.’’ Mr Guy said the two countries would share intelligence on risk, collaborate on training, share scarce skills in the event of an outbreak and influence international policy in the area of disease management.

5

Rural Contractors update Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ) will update its Northland members on the latest changes in health and safety, transport and employment laws as well as other topics at the Kamo Club in Whangarei at 7pm tonight.

The event will be among 12 staged by a RCNZ roadshow touring the country this month.

■ Registration for the roadshows is essential, email: office@ruralcontractors.org.nz

OUTBREAK: More than 10 million sheep and cattle were killed in an attempt to halt footand-mouth disease in Britain in 2001. The outbreak was estimated to have cost the country $16 billion.

‘‘New Zealand has now joined the well-established Australian FMD training programme in Nepal, which has engaged the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation to provide veterinarians and key livestock industry representatives the opportunity to experience FMD in the field,’’ he said.

New Zealand recently provided veterinary assistance to the successful New South Wales avian influenza eradication effort and continues to observe the Australian FMD simulation— Exercise Odysseus—a series of discussion and field-base exercises being held throughout 2014.

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Ngatiwai poised to take larger role in national biosecurity Dane Karapu’s attendance at a training workshop at Auckland Airport earlier this month confirmed Ngatiwai’s new status in the Ministry of Primary Industries (MPI) national biosecurity response unit.

It could lead to Ngatiwai setting insect traps and carrying out other monitoring for Queensland fruit flies.

Ngatiwai Trust Board resource management unit manager Clive Stone said the best part about Mr Karapu attending the workshop was that it signified Ngatiwai had moved from being stakeholders in national environmental issues to becoming participants.

Mr Karapu, a Ngatiwai resource management assistant, said individuals from other iwi had previously done the training, but this time Ngatiwai had been invited to participate at an iwi level. ‘‘It reflects the interest and involvement we constantly show in environmental issues like the recent Queensland fruit fly scare, the current problems around kauri dieback and other pests, like the sea squirt, Manchurian rice and the Mediterranean fan worm infestations,’’ he said.

The invitation came about

through Ngatiwai questioning MPI officials about the response to the two Queensland fruit fly scares in Whangarei this year. ‘‘From our point of view, Ngatiwai were ideally placed to carry out the trap-setting, monitoring and other functions during those incidents, rather than bringing in people from other cities who didn’t carry local knowledge or specific cultural values,’’ Mr Karapu said. ‘‘The MPI national biosecurity capability network manager Andrew Sanders agreed with us and he recommended Ngatiwai could in future fill all the required positions, which is how this invitation came about for Ngatiwai to join them.’’

Mr Karapu, who will be training as an operations manager, said the workshop provided a big opportunity for Ngatiwai to build capacity for biosecurity response in the Taitokerau region. ‘‘It is the starting point in what we hope will be a major opportunity for Ngatiwai to become involved in the multibillion dollar primary industries sector. ‘‘I’m really looking forward to this experience, and future possibilities,’’ he said.

TRAINING: Resource management assistant Dane Karapu.

‘Fat gene’ variations LIC scientists have discovered genetic variations which affect milk composition in dairy cows.

All cows have the ‘‘fat gene’’, named Agpat6, but LIC senior scientist Dr Matt Littlejohn says variations they’ve discovered provide a genetic explanation as to why some cows produce higher fat content in their milk than others. ‘‘If you think of milk production in the cow’s udder as a factory assembly line, this variation is one of a few workers in the ‘fat chain’, with that worker being very efficient in some cows, and a bit lazy in others,’’ Dr Littlejohn said. ‘‘The finding of Agpat6 helps us to better understand what goes on in a cow’s mammary gland and how milk composition is regulated by genes.’’

The discovery, published by the scientific journal PLOS ONE, will now be used to help improve the accuracy of the farmerowned co-operative’s genomic selection programme for AB sires and drive further genetic gain improvements of the NZ dairy herd.

The finding represents one of only a few cases worldwide where the underlying gene affecting differences in milk composition has been identified.

The variation was discovered as part of LIC’s DNA sequencing programme.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

7

Irrigation plan ‘would cripple’ Labour told policy doesn’t hold water Labour Party plans to axe the $400 million Crown Irrigation Fund to kick-start private irrigation schemes if it became the Government would cripple farmers and lead to food price increases, says Irrigation New Zealand (INZ).

After Labour deputy leader David Parker announced his party’s plans this month, INZ said it was not convinced Labour had fully considered the implications of a tax, or resource rent, for irrigation and how it would be implemented. ‘‘Many water takes involve combinations of irrigation, hydropower and domestic supply such as the Opuha dam or the Rangitata Diversion Race. ‘‘How will these complex takes be split apart to allow for irrigation-related resource rents?’’asked INZ, which is the national body representing irrigators and the irrigation industry. ‘‘More importantly it is not equitable to do so given that private energy companies, Trustpower for example, and commercial business connected to domestic water-supply

systems also prosper from the use of water. A resource rent will mean increased cost for domestic water supply and electricity alongside food price increases —such a tax would therefore impact upon lowincome earners the most.’’

Additionally, this increased cost to the farmer would impact production and importantly prevent farmer investment in improved environmental management to meet the waterquality limits now in place in a number of regions. ‘‘Ultimately it will see the demise of the traditional New Zealand family farm,’’ INZ predicted.

Mr Parker’s statement that irrigation was funded by subsidies was disputed. ‘‘The Crown Irrigation Investment Fund is an investment company receiving market returns — for example the recent $6.5 million loan to Central Plains Water,’’ INZ said.

Fairly funded and properly regulated irrigation was needed to achieve the next level of prosperity and sustainability in New Zealand, INZ said.

TOUGH: Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy surveys a drought-stricken Northland farm.

Water funding ‘obvious’ Drought around the country last year and again in Northland this year highlighted the need for better water storage, says Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy. He says $40 million funding for irrigation projects in last week’s Budget will help unlock the potential that water storage and irrigation can deliver, giving a boost to jobs and exports in regional economies. ‘‘This new capital funding of $40 million comes from the

Future Investment Fund and will be used to purchase shares in Crown Irrigation, enabling it to make further investments. It is in addition to $80 million allocated in last year’s Budget,’’ he said.

If current proposals were advanced there could be a further 420,000ha of irrigated land available for a variety of uses over time.Research suggested exports could be boosted by around $4 billion a year by 2026. ‘‘Irrigation often has real environmental benefits, with

more consistent river flows in summer and reduced pressure on ground water sources,’’ the minister said. ‘‘Only 2 per cent of rainfall in New Zealand is captured and used for irrigation. After the extreme drought most of the country suffered last year, and the one earlier this year in Northland, the need for better water storage is obvious.’’

Crown Irrigation makes targeted bridging investments in irrigation schemes that would not be established with private finance alone.

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Genetic boost for red deer Best stock used for embryo transfers New Zealand’s largest red meat genetics company is stepping up its red deer breeding programme by carrying out embryo transfers for the first time.

Focus Genetics red deer programme manager Richard Lee said embryo transfer produced a rapid genetic boost with the multiplication of greater numbers of offspring than natural mating.

The programme involved a lot of work to select the best hinds and source the best stags available in New Zealand. ‘‘Out of 2000 hinds, 13 were selected.

These superior hinds were then injected every 12 hours over three days before artificial insemination so they super ovulated,’’ Dr Lee said. ‘‘The results exceeded all expectation as 127 transferable embryos were produced with 102 embryos transferred and the other 25 were frozen. This is really exciting for us because it’s a first and to get outstanding results in the early stages is really rewarding.’’

International embryo transfer expert Mike Bringans travelled from Canada to help carry out the operations at Stuart Farm near Te Anau. ‘‘For the last year I have been doing deer embryo work in China, Spain, the US, Canada and Mexico. ‘‘The results from this programme were unbelievable. To get over 10 good quality embryos per donor exceeded our expectations,’’ Dr Bringans said.

FIRST: Richard Lee performs an embryo transfer while the hind has been anaesthetised.

Stuart Farm’s deer operation includes a 600-hind red stud herd and a commercial herd of 3800 red hinds Focus Genetics used its top sires as well as Deer Improvement Ltd genetics to ensure the best stags in the country were being used for the transfers.

Focus Genetics general manager Luke Wright said the red deer maternal traits breeding programme focussed on venison quality. ‘‘The embryo transfer programme will help us improve carcass weights

and growth rates which will shorten the time to deliver those carcass weights,’’ he said. ‘‘Selection is for traits that highlight growth, early fawning, medium hind size, and higher yields from the major primal regions. Velvet production is not a major focus of our objective.’’

■ More than a million deer were being farmed in New Zealand in June last year. For the year ended September 2013, total deer industry exports were worth $253 million.

Club success helps earn scholarship Aidan Hawker’s leading role in creating the Kamo High School TeenAg Club helped earn him a scholarship from rural insurer FMG which provides $4000 annually while he studies for a bachelor of agriculture degree at Lincoln University.

FMG general manager of advice and insurance Conrad Wilkshire said the scholarship was established to build and celebrate emerging leaders in the agriculture industry and Aidan (pictured) fitted the bill. ‘‘There’s a genuine passion for the agriculture industry in our younger generation, but they also have the smarts, the leadership skills and the drive to make a difference,’’ Mr Wilkshire said. ‘‘This much is evident in people like Aidan, who took the initiative to co-found and lead the local TeenAg Club in Kamo, Whangarei.’’

Aidan said he and his friend began the TeenAg Club after success at other agriculture events. ‘‘Previously we travelled quite far to be involved in youth agriculture events, but then I realised we actually had the expertise to do it at home ourselves,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s been a great experience to have the opportunity to network, better my communication skills and give me a bit of a leg up in the industry.’’

FMG agriculture scholarships support eight students at Massey and Lincoln universities.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

9

Conservation focus for us all DoC cuts means others must help tackle environmental degradation

By Sue Reed-Thomas

T

he Department of Conservation (DoC) has in the past year undergone the most significant restructure since it was formed in 1987.

The September 2013 restructure changed the way DoC works. We are committed to our core conservation work, what has changed is the way we work with people — our partners — and the focus on taking an ecosystem approach to the future.

People around the world are now facing the effects of a natural environment under pressure as a result of different generations exploiting nature rather than living in harmony with it. These challenges are becoming more pressing every year.

Here, in Northland, we are experiencing the effects of environmental degradation.

For example, issues with the quality of our water and its availability where needed are increasing, and we are losing our topsoil—the platform for our pastoral economy—to the air and sea at an alarming rate.

Conservation has an important role in addressing these issues. Over millions of years, native plants and animals evolved to form ecosystems that

"At DoC, we understand that nature is the foundation of our lives and lifestyles throughout New Zealand." keep nature in check and provide valuable services to people. Our indigenous ecosystems filter water, regulate our climate, minimise flooding, prevent erosion and ensure our soils stay fertile and intact. As we lose species and erode ecosystems, we lose the natural services they provide.

That there is an economic cost to losing these stocks of natural capital is clear.

The impacts will be long term and will affect the wellbeing of New Zealanders and the economy.

That is a new context in which to place the core work of DoC. Our work to protect New Zealand’s native species and the health of its special places is as much about restoring and

RESTRUCTURING: Sue Reed-Thomas, Conservation Partnerships manager for Kaimanatu Kahui Manutataki/Northland District.

the way it sees and does its work.

The change is aimed at engaging all New Zealanders— communities, landowners, local government, iwi and business— in managing nature sustainably.

protecting the country’s natural capital as it is about preserving these species and places for their own intangible worth.

In this light, DoC is undergoing a transformation in

It is not enough for conservation to occur only on the third of New Zealand that is public conservation land; all of New Zealand’s lands and waters need to be cared for.

To be a sustainable New Zealand, the country needs to be truly clean and green.

At DoC, we understand that nature is the foundation of our lives and lifestyles throughout New Zealand, and especially in Northland. We know healthy places and functioning ecosystems support our health and wellbeing and provide us with places to recreate, connect with our whanau, relax and reflect.

Today, DoC works to conserve and restore nature, but we recognise we need to engage more people in conservation; we can’t do it on our own.

We see ourselves as conservation leaders as well as conservation doers.

We want to inspire many others to play their part; and support and enable them to get involved.

This is not an abdication of conservation responsibilities, but a reflection of the fact that, to be successful, a mentality of conservation should ‘‘go beyond DoC land.’’

■ This is the first of a regular DoC column which will feature and share what we are up to, how you can get involved, what events are coming up, profile parts of Northland, and any important environmental news or activity.

Student Philip features in film promotion Philip Kopa of Kaikohe has made his way into a movie while studying at the Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Masterton.

An ASB Bank film crew recently visited the Wairarapa campus to interview Philip and other ASB and Poutamu Trust Scholarship students enrolled there.

Philip is in the Taratahi certificate in agriculture level 3 programme, specialising in a mix of sheep and beef and dairy strands.

The certificate course is 40 weeks long and provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary to start a career in either sheep and beef or dairy.

He and two other scholarship students spent the day being interviewed on camera, demonstrating the skills they have learned since they started living on the campus in January.

ASB has combined resources with Poutama Trust to provide four one-year scholarships annually to help Maori aged

17-25 undertake training at Taratahi.

ASB Rural general manager Mark Heer said: ‘‘In order to address the shortage of skilled workers in the agricultural industry, we need to promote agriculture as a credible employment option to youth and provide world class rural NCEA programmes at schools.’’

ASB plans to use the film to promote the agricultural industry and the bank’s involvement in the sector at field days and show days around New Zealand.

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Labour taxes my patience

By Willy Leferink, Federated Farmers dairy chairman Let me put my cards on the table — I am a swing voter but a recent speech by David Parker had me shaking my head in disbelief.

According to him, National is allowing ‘‘public rivers and estuaries to be spoiled by nutrient and faecal contaminants from agriculture’’ yadda yadda yadda. It read like something from Fish and Game’s head office.

Labour’s big idea seems to be about taxing farming into the sunset. That will see our costs explode but consumers will ultimately foot the bill. That’s not all.

Instead of giving more money to DoC to save kiwi, they’re going to save lawyers by toughening up the Resource Management Act (RMA) and DoC’s advocacy role.

The attack on water storage is odd when the climate boffins say New Zealand isn’t doing enough to adapt to climate change. In tandem with the world’s toughest Emissions Trading Scheme, Labour is going to scrap public support of irrigation.

Meanwhile, it will introduce a Resource Rental Tax on water but only that used by agriculture. I can only think Mr Parker believes there is zero pollution whenever he enters the littlest room. There’s got to be a Tui billboard in that.

When you put this together with a Capital Gains Tax (yep, targeting farms) you’ve the impression Labour wants to tax us into the sunset.

The sting in the tail means the price of food will skyrocket but I bet Labour has a

KiwiFarm policy up its sleeve. It will have collectivised state farms producing cheap bountiful food for the masses to be sold in nationalised KiwiSupermarkets. I think the Soviets tried that but it didn’t end too flash.

Mr Parker says we have great opportunities in clean energy like it’s the new dairy. He talks about LanzaTech but misses the point they left New Zealand because of tight regulations. Hydro must also be an in-joke given the last aborted attempt and Labour will tighten the RMA further. Meanwhile, any industry is welcome so long as it doesn’t emit a puff of greenhouse gas.

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worries me. At the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, the only MP present was Nathan Guy. The lack of an opposition MP surprised and disappointed me. One person said, ‘‘because the tickets weren’t free’’ and perhaps, that is sadly true. As a farming leader and as farmers, we get raspberries chucked at us and it makes you look in the mirror. Politicians, like Mr Parker, are surrounded by flunkies who reinforce ‘‘yes, sir, three bag full, sir’’.

Those people ought to be saying, ‘‘boss, shouldn’t we go and see?’’

While my farm gate is open to Mr Parker and Labour, can I suggest visiting the inspirational entrants of the 2014 New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, which Federated Farmers started 25 years ago?

Charlie and Jody McCaig have gone from being 2011 Taranaki farm management winners to 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/Equity farmer of the Year. Ruth Hone was named Dairy Trainee of the Year, the first women to lift that title. She is smart, capable and adaptable and these words sum up our dairy industry. Nick Bertram, a 27-yearold, came into dairy with a background in accounting thanks to his teacher dad, but no farming experience. He is Farm Manager of the Year.

These awards showcased others who’d joined dairying from fields as diverse as professional rugby, engineering and the police. As one in the eye for Kim DotCom’s party, it included an IT professional too.

Then again I suppose it shows why politicians are far less trusted than us farmers.

Briefly Angus farmers taste success Te Kopuru Angus beef farmers Chris and Karren Biddles — the sole Northland semifinalists in the Steak of Origin contest — took third place in the Best of British section of the competition final, judged at AgInnovation in Feilding last week. The Grand Champion title went to Colin Brown from Cambridge.

Shearing hopefuls on form New Zealand’s hopes for the shearing titles at the Golden Shears World Championships in Ireland this week wrapped up their home season in triumphant form last month. Machine shearers Rowland Smith, of Ruawai, and John Kirkpatrick, of Napier, were first and second respectively in the open final at the Easter Show in Auckland, where Kaeo teenager Marshall Guy had his fourth win of the season in the intermediate final. Meanwhile, blades representatives Tony Dobbs and Mike McConnell were first and second in the blades final at the MacKenzie Shears.

The 16th World Championships will be held in Ireland from tomorrow until Sunday.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

11

Don’t get between a man and his dog Indiscriminate doggie disdain runs rampant down on the family farm

T

HIS past month has been full-on; with the taking over the running of a large grazing block coinciding with me going away for a week.

Bruce coped admirably, even managing to host a sleepover for one of our sons and alarming me by posting scenes of the resulting disaster and chaos on Facebook.

Luckily it was all tidied up by the time I returned, no evidence remained and the house was almost unnaturally tidy.

This busyness will continue through winter — now that school has gone back every afternoon is sucked up by some activity or other — swim training, hockey practices, hockey games, ballet, after-school jobs — the taxi service is stretched to its limit and that’s even with one child driving herself around.

So glad we didn’t have any more children, four is more than enough when they reach this stage of life.

The runoff is keeping Bruce fully occupied all day nearly every day with moving stock, building races, re-fencing and picking mushrooms (it’s been a bumper mushroom season — although we’re not getting any on the home farm they’re still

Julie Paton popping up on the runoff and giving me plenty of chances to perfect my mushroom soup technique).

Bex the farm dog is loving all the trips to the runoff, mainly because she gets to spend plenty of time with her adored master either riding in the ute, on the motorbike or helping him move cattle.

She worships the ground Bruce treads on, but has very little time for me, or anyone else for that matter.

She apparently considers me a useless interloper and is quick to show her disdain for anyone who doesn’t operate at a sufficient level of skill for her liking.

The other week one of the vets was at the runoff to vaccinate calves.

Bex was guiding the young animals from the yard into the vetting race, keeping them flowing through steadily, just stepping in when a dithering calf held up the works. Then the vet’s

ONE LOVE: Bex the farm dog loves her master but has little time for the author, it seems.

vaccine ran out and he stopped to refill his syringe.

Bruce saw Bex notice the hold up and watching her, realised she

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the weak link and leapt in to sort it out — nipping the poor unsuspecting bloke on the back of the heel to get him going again.

There are two other farm dogs on the grazing block — Pat is a gentle giant of a dog, and Bex despises him.

The look on her face when she watches him work with stock speaks volumes.

This week, a new manager, Robert, started at the farm and brought with him his dog, Gus. Gus unwisely strutted confidently over to make friendly advances to Bex. After a brief but fierce scuffle she had him pinned to the ground whimpering in submission — he’ll know not to bother her again.

Bex does have a point about my uselessness — to illustrate, here at home in the kitchen we have two side by side ovens, and one hadn’t worked for a few weeks.

We made noises about getting an electrician in but as it was a minor inconvenience, we just put up with it — until this week when we had an electrician here wiring up the outside shed.

I showed him the oven and asked if he had any ideas where the problem might be. ‘‘Is it switched off at the wall?’’ he asked.

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northland Regional Council notes

Popular cuttings available again The Northland Regional Council is again offering subsidised supplies of willow and poplar cuttings for winter planting projects.

These trees have been planted for decades to reduce erosion and also help to control nutrient losses and decrease waterway pollution.

Their fast growth rate means they provide stability to land and streamsides far more quickly than other species.

Key to their value is the root systems of the two species.

Poplars produce a network of heavy roots that penetrate well down into the subsoil to hold hillsides together, while willows have fibrous roots that knit and bind together the beds and sides of drains, gullies and waterways.

The winter months of June, July and August are the best time to plant these trees.

They are usually supplied as cuttings — large poles, stakes or wands — that have been grown over two seasons.

Poles are usually 3m long, whereas stakes and wands are 1-1.5m long.

Some nurseries also sell rooted plants but research suggests that these often take longer to develop.

They need to be transported carefully to avoid damaging the bark (creating the risk of disease or the cutting drying out) and should ideally be soaked in fresh flowing water for 8-10 days before planting.

Like all plants, poplars and willows need to be managed to ensure good growth form — the smallest of cuttings can develop into large trees, so siting and placement is critical.

Unlike older varieties, the latest hybrid cultivars have been

WET START: Poplar and willow cuttings should ideally be soaked in fresh flowing water for 8-10 days before they are planted.

bred to remove undesirable characteristics such as heavy brittle limbs and vigorous suckering, and has instead promoted increased pest and disease resistance and improved timber values.

The regional council is subsidising up to 50 per cent of the cost of poplar and willow plant material for 2014.

Stock is limited and demand usually exceeds supply, so if you are considering planting poplars and willows, contact the council’s land management team.

Conditions do apply and orders close on May 29 or once this year’s supplies are fully allocated.

The regional council’s land management advisers can also assist with free advice on topics such as species selection, siting of plants and post-planting care.

■ For more information call us on 0800 002 004.

STABILISING: Willow and poplar plantings help reduce erosion.

Drop in lamb exports offset by increase in value Despite a smaller lamb crop contributing to a drop in total exports of lamb over the first half of the 2013-14 export season compared with same period last season, an increase in average value raised the value of lamb

exports by 11 per cent to $1.33 billion FOB, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand statistics.

Total exports of beef and veal were almost unchanged compared with the same period in 2012-13 — down only 0.4 per

cent — at 189,600 tonnes shipped weight. There was a decline in exports to North America, North Asia and the European Union, partly offset by an increase in exports to South Asia and the Middle East. Exports to

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The total value of beef and veal exports slightly increased

to $1.1 billion FOB in the six months to March 31.

Receipts for beef and veal averaged $5880 FOB a tonne in the first half of 2013-14, up 0.7 per cent on the same period last season.

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Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Northern Advocate

13

Briefly Urea prices fall Urea prices have dropped, reflecting the increasing number of urea production facilities coming on-stream internationally, combined with subdued demand outside of America.

Ravensdown last month reduced the cost of its urea from $693 to $645 a tonne direct debit from a port store and excluding GST. It charged $799 a tonne for urea in 2012.

At the same time Ballance Agri-Nutrients also dropped the price of its urea from $695 to $645 and SustaiN from $751 to $697 a tonne.

Ballance sales manager Andrew Reid said the imbalance between supply and demand that put upward pressure on urea prices earlier this year had now reversed. ‘‘Global supply is exceeding demand, which has resulted in international prices easing,’’ he said.

Premier breeders COMPLEX VENTURE: There’s more to a good bull than its hind legs.

No magic bullet for bull buying M Y GRANDFATHER always told me that that the hind legs are the most important part of a bull, as they are what they do all their work on.

So, when I went to the bull sales, it would be the first thing I would look at.

Not anymore. Over the years, I’ve worked out that there’s a bit more to it than that.

And a recent ‘‘Better Beef Cow Breeding’’ workshop at Waitangi reinforced the importance of knowing the bull’s estimated breeding values (EBVs).

So what exactly are EBVs? An animal’s breeding value is its genetic merit for each trait. It’s not possible to determine an animal’s true breeding value, but it is possible to estimate it — and it’s these estimates of an animal’s true breeding value which provide the EBVs. When purchasing a bull, it’s

Andrew Jolly

critical you know its genetic merit. After three years of using that bull over your herd, it can make up more than 80 per cent of the genetics in your herd.

Buying the wrong bull can cost you for many years, in terms of reduction in progeny growth rates or carcass composition.

Unfortunately, there is no silver bullet when buying a bull.

Buying the best bull is determined by what you are trying to achieve in your herd.

Do you want to increase weaning weights or eye muscle area or even just get better temperament in your herd?

You will know what your

"Buying the best bull is determined by what you are trying to achieve in your herd."

objectives are. Once you’ve identified which traits you are selecting for, it’s important to know how heritable those particular traits are.

You may find that you select heavily for a trait, but it does not get passed on to progeny as fast as you thought.

Also take the time to understand which traits compromise others.

You may select for one trait, which has a detrimental effect

on another.

A lot of the hard work around choosing a bull can be done before you step into the sale yards. A good place to start is on the Beef + Lamb New Zealand website, where you will find a useful four-page factsheet (search ‘‘bull+selection’’).

You can select bulls, based on the traits you are looking for and then narrow your list down, before heading off to the sale.

On the day, you can check the physical characteristics of the bulls you identified and their temperament.

And don’t forget to take a good look at those hind legs.

■ Andrew is the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Northern North Island Extension Manager. For more information on anything mentioned in this column, please visit www.beeflambnz.com or contact Andrew Jolly at andrew.jolly@beeflambnz.com

Three Hikurangi farming couples — Luke and Lyna Beehre, Evan and Shirleen Smeath and Murray and Jodeen Cutforth — were among about 120 breeders from all over the country who attended LIC’s Premier Sires Breeders’ Day at its Newstead headquarters.

All had supplied bull calves to the co-operative which went on to form part of the 2013/14 team of elite bulls for artificial breeding.

LIC director and Jersey breeder Murray Jagger, of Whangarei Heads, welcomed the breeders and expressed his envy of their achievement in producing elite animals. ‘‘I have strived for many years to breed a bull worthy of selection to premier sires so I am extremely envious that you have achieved that benchmark,’’ he said. ‘‘You can all take pride in knowing that your excellence in farming ability and animal breeding is making an enduring difference and improving the prosperity on the dairy farm, the industry as a whole and to the New Zealand economy.’’

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14

Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Dairy continues to drive success Farming is still an underrated engine of the Kiwi economy

By Nathan Guy Minister for Primary Industries A key message I always tell farmers, growers, fishers and foresters around the country is that we need to celebrate our success loudly and proudly.

If we don’t, no-one else will do it for us.

That’s why I was proud to attend the Dairy Industry Awards in Auckland recently, a black-tie event attended by nearly 1000 people.

Congratulations to all the winners on the night.

There were some inspiring winners on the night, like Ruth Hone, who became the first ever woman to win Dairy Trainee of the Year. Out of the 11 dairy trainee finalists, five were women.

Nick Bertram, 27, was named 2014 Farm Manager of the Year, which is a great achievement given he joined the industry with no family background or experience in farming.

Congratulations also to Charlie and Jody McCaig, 2014 New Zealand Sharemilker/ Equity Farmers of the Year.

In my speech I pointed out to the audience that every hour of every day, the dairy sector earns another $2 million in exports.

It’s the hard work of farmers that pays for our schools, roads and hospitals and I don’t believe you get thanked enough for that.

There is a lot to be proud of.

According to Dairy NZ, the productivity of dairy farmers

STRONG EFFORTS: Nathan Guy, Minister for Primary Industries, is proud of how New Zealand farmers have contributed to the country this year.

has doubled in the past 50 years.

I’m very proud of the efforts farmers have made to improve their environmental performance, with about 90 per cent of waterways now fenced off from stock.

We’ve also seen big strides forward in animal welfare.

Farmers realise they need to be proactive and take the lead on these issues, because there are plenty of critics out there who will take any chance to bash you.

I see part of my job to be an advocate in Parliament and I’ll keep fighting your corner. All of

Well fed ewes produce well grown lambs Feeding ewes to maintain body condition over winter ensures good lamb birth weights and colostrum production, improving lamb survival.

"It’s the hard work of farmers that pays for our schools, roads and hospitals and I don’t believe you get thanked enough for that." us need to keep talking to our urban cousins, reminding them of what we’ve achieved.

We’ve got some very exciting opportunities, and challenges, ahead of us.

The world population is going

to reach nine billion by 2050 and as they get wealthier, they will want more and more of the protein we produce.

To meet this challenge we need to encourage young people into this industry. By 2025 it’s

Zolvix®

Pyrimide®

Zolvix contains Monepantel, a broad spectrum anthelmintic not found in any other drench. This is a great choice for an exit drench following a long acting drench in ewes.

Remove any resistant worms with Zolvix.

Abamectin, albendazole, levamisole oral combination drench. Stable Suspension Technology for a consistent dose every time.

estimated we’ll need another 50,000 new positions filled and around half of those will require a tertiary qualification.

On that note, earlier this month I launched a new Young Enterprise programme happening in schools across New Zealand. Students are being asked to promote careers in the primary industries to their fellow students, which will really help raise awareness.

Congratulations to all the Dairy Industry Awards winners — with great people the future looks bright for this industry.

Cydectin® LA Injection for Sheep

Eweguard® Plain or Selenised

Long acting for times when you need a longer period of parasite protection.

112 days persistent activity against Ostertagia circumcincta and 42 days against Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

Combines two jobs in one shot with the worm protection and persistent activity of Cydectin Injection and the convenience of clostridial vaccine protection for the ewe and lambs.

Talk to the team at PGG Wrightson about your winter sheep requirements today.

Helping grow the country

Freephone 0800 10 22 76

www.pggwrightson.co.nz

Helping grow the country

Northern Advocate

Bayleys Northland rural manager Tony Grindle reports on the state of the country real estate market

W

hile the median price of a dairy farm land in Northland on a ‘‘land-only’’ basis remains in the vicinity of $15,000 per hectare, a number of units sold over the past year have been around the $12,000/ha level.

One spike was the ‘‘peak price’’ paid of more than $30,000/ha for land and buildings.

For that very reason it is no longer applicable to talk about dairy farm valuation on a per kilogram milk solids basis or to generalise about the worth of a Northland dairy farm.

Like residential property, productive rural land is very much now assessed on a listing-by-listing basis, with so many variables involved.

The underlying factor is that demand for dairy properties remains at high levels.

We expect competition for dairy farms to remain strong right through the year.

Meanwhile, the sheep and beef sector of Northland’s rural property market remains in a state of limbo.

Individual dairy farmers are not reentering the dry stock real estate market, and large commercial farms remain out of reach of new, first-time farmers.

The deposit and loan ratio requirements from the banks stipulate a healthy capital input — which of itself can be problematic for many new entrants into this sector.

We have experienced interest in the full range of sheep and beef properties right across Northland.

In the past few months, three commercial-sized dry stock units of 400-plus ha have sold in Northland.

Our experience and past premium sales achieved suggest that the best method of sale is to take the price out of the equation, and get buyers to focus on the benefits of the property.

Go to market with a view to getting and accepting the most achievable price by using the auction forum — with its total transparency and buying levels, which openly reflect where the market values any and every offering.

The benefits of getting the best buyer, as opposed to the first buyer, are completely in the vendor’s favour — and ultimately in their pockets.

Our agents are based in Warkworth, Wellsford, Whangarei, Dargaville and the Far North.

SO

Demand for dairy properties high

LD

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

SMALL DAIRY FARM - STRONG ENQUIRY - SOLD! Do you want to sell your dairy farm?

So do I! I have a list of cashed up buyers looking to purchase for now or next season.

Parua Bay, Whangarei

John Nelley M 0274 930 943 B 0800 80 20 40 john.nelley@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

Call me now for a confidential no commitment discussion on your property.

Bayleys 84 Walton Street, Whangarei, Northland 0800 802 040

NOFIN TI AL CE

www.bayleys.co.nz

PRODUCTIVE PORTLAND GRAZING/LIFESTYLE UNIT

14 Portland Road, Portland

Looking for that smaller grazing unit or perhaps a large lifestyle block then check this one out.16ha (40 acres more or less) all well set up with 20 paddocks, good water, well fertilised, plus good sheds and stockyards. Currently grazing dairy heifers but has been a very successful beef finishing unit. This property is complimented by a very tidy three bedroom home with office, sunroom/fourth bedroom, large decks and a two bay garage/workshop. Very privately situated in mature grounds. Located just seven kilometres south of Central City with good schooling options. In two titles with access in place. Genuine elderly vendor reluctantly having to give up his beloved home and farm.

Ideal property for the family or retiring farmer.

Auction 1pm,

Friday, 13 June 2014 (unles sold prior) 84 Walton Street, Whangarei, View Sun 1-2pm www.bayleys.co.nz/189167

Lin Norris M 021 959 166 B 0800 80 20 40 lin.norris@bayleys.co.nz MACKYS REAL ESTATE LIMITED, BAYLEYS, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008.

All companies within this composite are Members of Bayleys Realty Group

www.bayleysnorthland.co.nz

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Northern Advocate

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

MARSDEN COVE, Whangarei, 13 Fred Carr Place Grand Residence for the Family and the Boat

6

This opulent weekender or dream retirement home is 450 sq m of super high spec contemporary living with a private 13 metre dock, all less than two hours from Auckland.

PRICE: on Application

4

2

1009 sq m

No expense has been spared in the internal fit out to ensure large groups can reside luxuriously for extended periods.

VIEW: nzsothebysrealty.com/BSA10236 Please phone for an appointment to view.

Open plan, high stud, two lounges, media room, chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen and scullery, under floor heating, electric sun filter and blackout blinds, electric Louvrertec, dual zone air conditioning and polished concrete and hardwood flooring are just part of a three page specification list. All this combined with stunning water views from all the picture windows.

JOHN UPTON: M +64 21 518 816 D +64 9 360 7774

john.upton@sothebysrealty.com

If your family loves aquatic activity, boating, fishing, surfing etcetera, this is as good as it gets.

The European owners are returning home and this means there is a real value here, this will sell well below replacement cost and it is nearly new.

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated. Browns Real Estate Limited (licensed under the REAA 2008) MREINZ.

nzsothebysrealty.com