RADIATORS Keeping it local. Quality Replacement Radiators, Repairs, Re-cores, Rod & Flush, Pressure and Flow Tests.
THE ONLY PLACE TO GO IS CRAWFORDS RADIATORS
10,588 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in the Hawke’s Bay
Water restrictions set
84 Thames St, Pandora, Napier Phone: 06 835 8825 | Mobile: 027 480 8400 Email: crawfords.radiators@gmail.com
December 2019 Edition
A genetics and rugby passion
Inspiring straw change
P4
P3
P8
Fly fishing adventures Page 6–7
The only real choice - 6M
IT’S GO TIME SO LET US HELP YOU INCREASE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY WITH A GREAT SPRING DEAL.
Own a new John Deere 6110M & 623R MSL LOADER • • • • •
CONDITIONS APPLY: *Finance through John Deere Financial Ltd. Approved commercial applicants only. Offer based on 30% deposit, GST back and 36 month term. Fees and charges apply. Offer ends 31 Jan 2020. ^Price listed is GST exclusive. Image is for illustrative purposes only and features may not be available on NZ models.
110Hp, diesel engine PowerTech™ E, Tier 2/Stage 2 engine 24/24 PowrQuadTM Plus transmission Hydraulic Pump - 114 l/min 3 Mechanical SCVs Starting from:
PLUS 1.99% P.A. FINANCE*
110,000
$
^
across THE ENTIRE JOHN DEERE 6M SERIES TRACTOR RANGE
0800 333 734
CervusEquipment.co.nz
+GST
2
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
Merry Christmas from our team to yours
Integrity community media
Leanne Anania, the leading salesperson of your Hawke’s Bay Farming Lifestyles, says that this has been a big year, with more news, more farming challenges, and more stories about what makes rural New Zealand an extraordinary place to live and work. The publication has proven more popular than ever in 2019, with a record number of you calling us with feedback and story ideas.
The Hawkes Bay Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company. Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz General Manager: Deb Wright | deb.wright@integrity.nz | 021 639 696 Editorial: Ann van Engelen, Paul Campbell, Andy Bryenton Advertising: Leanne Anania Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Website: www.farminglifestyles.co.nz
BRANDERSON HOMES LTD PRE BUILT HOMES
FARMERS IT’S TIME TO START PLANNING YOUR 2020 SEASON HOUSING REQUIREMENTS
OFFICE LOCATED AT: 37 HAUTAPU RD, CAMBRIDGE � TELEPHONE: 07 827 3901 Email: branderson.homes@xtra.co.nz ������������������� Web: www.brandersonhomes.co.nz Please send us an information pack about your Transportable Pre-Built Homes Name Address Phone Style/Size Please mail to: Branderson Homes Ltd, PO Box 434, Cambridge, 3450
RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL
MOBILE CRUSHING PLANT NOW AVAILABLE
ALL EARTHWORKS QUARRY AGGREGATE SUPPLY
HAWKE’S BAY LOCALS, BORN AND BRED FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED 100 YEAR’S COMBINED EXPERIENCE DECORATIVE ROCKS and LANDSCAPING SUPPLIES CULVERTS/DRAINAGE • RETAINING WALLS • DRIVEWAYS HOUSE SECTIONS • SITE CLEARING
www.berkettearthmovers.co.nz • info@berkettearthmovers.co.nz Brendon Berkett 027 642 2265
Shane Berkett 021 416 448
Ray Berkett 021 416 470
Leanne Anania – Account Manager
Ann van Engelen – Journalist
“I’d like to thank all of our advertisers for their continuing support, and of course our readers, who have offered us so many great ideas in 2019 and who persist in telling us how much they enjoy the publication. We have so much positive feedback from you all, and we love to hear from you! If you know of someone doing amazing things in farming, someone achieving, innovating or preserving our history, please tell us. Chances are our other readers would love to hear about it too.” Meanwhile, lead journalist of the publication and a regular byline on our regional feature stories, Ann van Engelen, reflects on a year of news that has spanned the tumultuous and the quirky. “I grew up in rural New Zealand, with my dad being a share milker and dairy company union delegate. I have been writing for Hawke’s Bay Farming
Lifestyles for five years now. It has been an absolute pleasure to tell the stories of the different people in our farming and rural communities across the region and beyond. Connecting with clients and producing business profiles and promoting local businesses has also been a pleasure, and I look forward to working with past, present and new clients in the future. I do hope you all have a relaxing festive season.” Leanne and Ann also wish to take this opportunity, on behalf of the entire team behind the Hawke’s Bay Farming Lifestyles, to wish all our readers, advertisers, supporters and locals a very merry Christmas and a safe, happy holiday season. Your monthly farming publication will return in mid-January with a fresh harvest of news, views, feature stories and valuable information to start the new year right!
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, Commercial and Domestic CALL NOW ON 0800 BOSSHB or 0800 267 742 Email: leigh@bossrefrigeration.co.nz
Water restrictions set
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
With a long, hot and dry summer predicted for Central Hawke’s Bay, water restrictions were put in place across the district from midnight Friday, December 13. Water restrictions are set at level two, meaning outdoor watering can take place on alternate days, at limited times only. Residents of odd-numbered properties can water their gardens with a hose or sprinkler on odd days of the month, while those occupying even-numbered properties can water on even days. Sprinklers can be used for one hour each day only, before 9am and after 5pm. Hand-held hoses can be used before 10am and after 4pm but cannot be left running unattended. “It is only the start of summer, but already we are seeing residential water usage increasing steadily across the district, paired with low river levels,” says Monique Davidson, chief executive of Central Hawke’s Bay District Council. “The council is taking a proactive approach to water conservation, imposing level two restrictions at an early stage to protect our rivers and ensure we don’t reach critically low levels of water further into summer. “Hawke’s Bay Regional Council continuously monitor environmental water levels across the region and set the amount of water councils can draw from rivers and other water sources, accordingly. The amount of water that Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is
permitted to take from Tuki Tuki River has already been reduced this summer. We anticipate further reductions as the hot weather continues. Water accessibility is a key priority for the council. By setting water restrictions now — we are safeguarding water for everyone for the months to come.” Central Hawke’s Bay District Council is continuously working to conserve water across the district. Since the start of December, the council’s leak detection teams have identified both private and public leaks in Otane, Porongahau, Te Paerahi and Takapau with council leaks deemed high-priority to be repaired before Christmas. “The council’s waters team will continue to prioritise leaks in the Waipawa and Waipukurau townships based on water loss. If you have reported a leak and you notice it has worsened, please contact council so that the priority can be reassessed.” Otane has been in level two restrictions following extremely low water supply during the weekend. In a game-changing result, the highlyanticipated Otane Alternate Water Supply, a second water supply for the township as part of #thebigwaterstory capital works programme, was turned
ExperienceSuspension
06 879 6099 OR ELWYN 027 404 2535 Monique Davidson, chief executive of Central Hawke’s Bay District Council
on ahead of schedule. The $2.6 million build promises to ease the pressure on the system as demand for water picks up. “The Otane Alternate Water Supply was a key infrastructure project, and we are proud to be able to deliver this to the people of Otane. “We do ask people to remain diligent in their water conservation efforts however and thank them for their work in this so far.” For water restrictions details go to chbdc.govt.nz/services/water/ water-restrictions/.
S65Z COMFORT SUSPENSION MODEL From $8,599.00 RRP incl. GST
2+2 YEAR LIMITED
WARRANT ARRANT Y*
ASK ABOUT OUR NEW 400S MODEL
www.FerrisMowers.com
Distributed in New Zealand by Briggs & Stratton
See your local dealer for a test drive: Hawkes Bay Mowers
Hastings
06 878 2579
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER
HAWKE’S BAY FENCING CONTRACTORS
™
Ferris® Mowers with exclusive suspension technology will give you a noticeable improvement in your mowing productivity. These mowers are built to be the hardest working and smoothest riding. Ferris mowers tackle tough terrain and finish big jobs faster. IS® 600Z SUSPENSION MODEL From $12,999.00 RRP incl. GST
DRIVE SAFE
• Rural • Farms • Retaining Walls • Temporary • Security • Industrial • Tennis Courts • Electric Call Gordon Now! 027 450 5230 PO Box 1125, Napier 4110
www.thornhill.co.nz | 06 870 0803
3
4
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
A GENETICS AND RUGBY PASSION by Ann van Engelen Gordon Fullerton grew up on his parent’s dairy farm, is a dairy genetics expert, and is known as one of New Zealand’s most promising young cattle judges.
T
he 22-year-old recently signed a contract to play professional rugby for Old Glory DC in the United States until June 2020 and will relocate this month. “My parents own Woodcote Holsteins, one of the top producing Holstein Friesian herds in the country. I have spent the past two years working for LIC as a genetics specialist,” says Gordon. “It is a diverse role, which I have really enjoyed and I have travelled all over the country and visited some impressive dairy farms. Talking with passionate dairy farmers not just about their cows, but also their farming businesses has been a bonus.
“This is my first professional rugby gig, and I will be based near the White House. I have been playing premiergrade, and it will be great to focus on rugby and test the boundaries. However, it will be hard being away from the cows because they are my other passion.” Gordon will be playing against teams from Texas, California and New York in 2020 when his team competes in a national competition. “The closest dairy farms will be a couple of hours’ drive from Washington, or in the neighbouring state of Pennsylvania. I plan to visit a few and think it will be an interesting learning experience and good for the soul.”
0.6kW
4.4kg
$199
RRP$289
522L TRIMMER
22.5cc
0.8kW
4.2kg
TRIMMING WITH EASE
129C TRIMMER
122C TRIMMER
21.7cc
Gordon Fullerton is known as one of New Zealand’s up-and-coming show cattle judges
27.6cc
0.85kW
4.5kg
$329
RRP$359
525LST TRIMMER
$549
RRP$599
129R BRUSHCUTTER
25.4cc
1.0kW
4.7kg
$669
RRP$749
525RS BRUSHCUTTER
TRIMMERS FROM
199!*
$
*refers model 122c
Your local authorised Husqvarna Servicing Dealer:
27.6cc
0.85kW
5.4kg
$499
RRP$539
129LK COMBI
25.4cc
1.0kW
5.0kg
CONTACT RON
$799
RRP$869
J YOUNG MOTORS
525RJD COMBI
590 Main Rd, Bayview, Napier 06 836 6126 chainsaws@yml.co.nz
2 27.6cc
0.85kW 4.67kg
$419
RRP$439
25.4cc
1.0kW
4.9kg
$739
RRP$799
www.yml.co.nz WWW.HUSQVARNA.COM
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
Gordon is also gaining national recognition in the cattle show ring as a Holstein Friesian NZ member. He recently received the coveted Pitcairn’s Trophy after winning a junior judging competition in Christchurch. “I also took out the World Wide Sires all breeds junior judging competition at Stratford A&P Show. I have been judging cattle since I was a teenager and enjoy observing dairy cattle in the show ring. Judging takes skill as you have to be able to confidently articulate why you have placed one animal before another. We are looking for a functionally sound animal with a strong udder and sound feet and legs to help her live longer and be more productive. ”Speaking into a microphone in front of large crowds helps you gain confidence with public speaking and is a useful skill to have. Ever since I was little, I have been interested in cows, and after my first calf club — all I wanted to do was be with cattle. I got into reading bull catalogues and talking to people about cows wherever we went. “My family has a good Friesian herd, and some were contract mated to breeding companies, and that helped my interest. “We are generational dairy farmers and my uncle is really into the breeding side of things.” Gordon started breeding with guinea pigs and chickens when he was young. “Cows don’t breed as easily as guinea pigs — they are a bit more technical. At school, I always planned to be in the
dairy farming sector and went to Lincoln University — but study wasn’t really me. I then secured my job at LIC and have been able to carry on with my interest in bulls, cows and herd improvement. “I find nothing better than a cow that produces well. I got stuck into rugby seriously because working in the office limited my physical activity. My family has been farming for a good four or five generations. “My brother is on the home farm now, and I will return one day. The farm is 160 hectares with a 450 split calving herd. We use a reasonably intensive system to push the production of each cow. We grass feed with supplements and are 50 per cent autumn calving. “I think the dairy farming future will be all right because we will always need milk and New Zealand cattle are predominantly grass-fed. I travel with the sales team to various regions visiting farmers and I hope the general public open their eyes and protect our farmers more. “They need to realise that farmers and the whole agriculture sector are important for us as a nation because everyone is affected by it. “We are facing the same problems environmentally, and people need to be more positive and understand we are all in this together. Dairy farming is a positive aspect of New Zealand life. Simply ask people if they like milk in your coffee, those who drink normal milk need to realise it come from our cows.”
December 2019
Gordon is heading to the USA for a season to play professional rugby
DO YOU WANT TO
YOUR BUSINESS? Advertising that works for you.
09 439 6933 | 0800 466 793 • info@integrity.nz
Taking care of your trees 06 844 7777 www.greenscene.co.nz
A reputation for quality Built to a standard not a price, Firenzo woodfires are renowned for their excellent design and lasting quality. Made in Napier and hand assembled with care, these are the best woodfires you can buy. Contessa with leg base
· Commercial · Rural · Lifestyle · · Woodlots · Residential ·
FREEWAY FLOATS & TRAILERS WE DESIGN FLOATS AND TRAILERS TO YOUR NEEDS, ALL SIZES LARGE & SMALL
39 Johnston Way, Whakatu 06 877 9179 www.freewaytrailers.co.nz
Visit our website to see our full range of woodfires.
Visit our showroom at 98 Niven Street, Onekawa, Napier / Phone (06) 843 8260 / www.firenzo.co.nz
It's the dirtiest job on the farm!
Let us take care of your woolshed. Clean Sweep Woolsheds can quickly and efficiently remove all the manure from under your woolshed, count out pens and covered yards, giving you a cleaner and healthier shed. Less ammonia smell and faster drying sheep. • Fast • Cost effective • Operated from outside • Can reach the furthermost point
Phone Mark for a no obligation free quote 027 682 1186
cleansweepwoolsheds.nz
5
6
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
Fl� �shin� adventure� BY ANN VAN ENGELEN
Denise Fuentes grew up in Europe and attended university in Seattle before moving to New Zealand following her husband Robert’s passion for fly fishing.
“I
finished university and stayed in Seattle for 25 years. Robert and I came to New Zealand in 1996 for what was meant to be a two-year fly fishing OE. The country is world-famous for fly fishing and year three rolled around, and we didn’t want to leave so we are still here 23 years later,” says Denise. “We moved to Hawke’s Bay to be near better fishing opportunities such as Rurakituri, Tukituki and Ngaruroro. There are so many fly fishing spots to experience right across New Zealand — including Manawatu, Taranaki, Waikato and beyond. “We were catch and release people before we came here and still are
because we are conservationists at heart. We release the hook once the fish is caught and resuscitate when necessary by holding the fish under their belly and by the tail and moving them back and forth, so the water goes through the gills. You move them until they struggle a bit and then you let them swim away. It helps them recover because when they are tired from the fight, they are vulnerable to eels and other fish.” Robert was a fly fisherman when the couple met, and he asked if Denise would like to have a go. “I jumped at the chance as it was a big part of his life. We hired a casting coach to teach me, and I loved the experience.
Denise Fuentes believes many females would enjoy fly fishing if they experienced it
CALLING ALL LAND OWNERS Could parts of your land earn better returns? New government grants under the 1 Billion Trees scheme could make forestry an even more attractive investment.
Visit www.1btpfolsen.com or call 0508-1BTREE
Like us on Facebook
ATTENTION SEPTIC TANK OWNERS Septi-CureTM is:
Cost Effective Easy To use Improves Soakage Reduces Solids and Scums Eliminates Nasty Odours Reduces Costly Pump-outs
A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for over five years. He says this allows them to have an odour free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi-Cure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition. *Results may vary
Before*
Breakthrough Product Developed for your Septic Tank
0800 109 202 www.ecoworld.co.nz
After*
Also Available at:
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
You see amazing countryside, and it is a good sport. Most of the women I have met fishing are from overseas, which is a shame. When I was in Seattle, I was a member of the largest women’s fly fishing club in the USA with 150 members. I don’t know why I don’t see more women on the stream here. “Hiring a casting coach or attending classes at a fishing club will improve your casting technique. It is not about how strong you are — it is about what you do and maximising your equipment. We are firm believers in hiring a local professional guide when fishing in a new area. Their local knowledge is invaluable because they know what the fish eat and where they are eating it, whether on or under the water, are the insects coming up or flowing by. “Always fish in pairs at least as it can be dangerous. You are in waders up to your chest, and if you fall in, they can fill with water. It is not something to be taken lightly, as it is about safety, and after 30 years, I am still learning. “You have to find the individual rod for you because everybody has a different style and joining a fly fishing club means you make friends to go out with. Releasing keeps the cycle going and if you can’t get the fly out of their mouth just cut the line, and the hook will rust off. We clamp our hooks slightly, so it is not too harsh on the fish. It is a
✓ 20kg Hay Bales ✓ 30kg Wrapped Bales Ph: 06 858 8773 Mobile: 027 725 1306 www.minibaleshb.co.nz
Denise and Robert travel around the country to various fly fishing spots and hire local guides at new locations they visit real thrill to see a fish rise up from the river to take your fly — it is better than a sale at your favourite department store. If you catch a large fish, remember it has lived a long time to get to that size. We believe it is not our right to kill it — a photograph is our reward. “You don’t need to be super fit, but you do hike around a bit. We have seen blue ducks and amazing remote areas. If going on private property, you need to ask permission and shut gates you open and show respect. We have met
the most amazing, kind and generous people. We usually photograph our catch before releasing, and when we do keep fish, mainly if it can’t be revived, we smoke it. It is a good sport, and we enjoy going out on adventures together as a couple. “For many anglers, this is their time out and a great way to relax. “If there are any women who are interested in learning to fly fish, they can contact their local fishing club or email me at Denisefuentes53@gmail.com.”
100 IT’S NOT A TARGET
A
W O N D E R W O R L D
O F
C L O C K S
THE WAIPAWA CLOCK SHOP
09 443 5914
The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System
ERIES
S PRECISION
The indexed rotating clamping system 3 Angle adjustments 12°, 20°, 25° Your knife is always in the same place • High Grade Stainless Steel • Hygienic • Easy Care
Clock & Watch Restoration
Jewellery Repairs
Restringing of Pearls & Vintage Beads
High Quality Clocks & Watches
WAS $349 ‘LIMITED STOCK’
Buy directly from the manufacturer.
MADE IN NEW ZEALAND
nz made.
www.adagesocks.co.nz
7
✓ Farms, Lifestyle Blocks, Orchards, Vineyards
Remar Knitwear & Adage Socks
SOCKS, KNITWEAR & ACCESSORIES... WE HAVE FANTASTIC ADULT & CHILDRENS STYLES IN WOOL, MERINO & POSSUM
December 2019
Deluxe Precision Kit Pictured
See our website for the full range www.scarysharp.co.nz Talk to the manufacturer toll free 0800 175 720
Crafty’s Rods & Guns 108 Maraekakaho Road Stortford Lodge, Hastings
Phone: (06) 878 2800
www.craftys.co.nz
85A High St, WAIPAWA 06 857 8590 | waipawaclockshop@xtra.co.nz waipawaclockshop.com | @thewaipawaclockshop
Is it time for a change? We think so! Your farm accounting specialists. Call us now on 0508 787 252 | Email info@ruralaccountantshb.co.nz | Visit 45 Ruataniwha Street, Waipukurau
8
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
r a t w s g c n h i a r i n p g s e n I by Ann van Engelen
Nine-year-old Ruby Tauri has been on a quest to get plastic straws on school milk packs removed as a way to protect the environment.
R
uby lives in Russell and helped petition Fonterra to stop using straws in the Milk for Schools programme. Fonterra has now launched a strawless option for all New Zealand schools. “Living here is very nice, and the beach is lovely. I feel strongly about looking after the environment because I am kaitiaki — the future protector of
our land, waterways, air and everything Aotearoa. We need to lead the way for change,” says Ruby. “If we see any rubbish, we clean it up. Recently my mum, brother and I picked up half a bag full of rubbish on the beach. Animals, birds and fish are known to think plastic is food, and a seagull could feed it to its babies — fish eat it as well. It clogs their belly, and
Ruby Tauri with Carolyn Mortland, Fonterra’s head of sustainability
0.99% FINANCE *
INSIST ON GENUINE PARTS & LUBRICANTS
MF GC1700 COMPACT TRACTOR + LOADER & MOWER DECK FROM
$20,990 PLUS GST *
POWERFUL, AGILE AND TOUGH. MF GC1700 COMPACT RANGE 23-25 HP Just like Sam, the MF GC1700 Series tractors make light work of tough jobs. Their compact size and versatile handling mean they’re ideal for small acreage, commercial and residential owners. Tackle a range of tasks and get the job done with the MF GC1700 Series - the perfect on-field performer with all the best features of a Massey Ferguson tractor rolled into a compact size.
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL MASSEY FERGUSON DEALER
*Payments are based on finance with an interest rate of 0.99% p.a. on minimum 30% deposit, the equipment GST component repaid in the third month and monthly repayments in arrears over a 36 month term. Offer available until 31 December 2019 or while stocks last to approved purchasers, registered for GST, for hire purchase finance and business purposes only, made and subject to terms and conditions and credit approval by AGCO Finance Pty Ltd GST No: 88-831-861. Not to be used in conjunction with any other offer. Fees and charges may apply. ~Price based on standard specification GC1723 tractor, DL95 loader. & GC2300 mower deck. Image used for illustration purposes only.
MASSEYFERGUSON.CO.NZ
| FREECALL 0800 825 872
Sam Whitelock, Massey Ferguson ambassador. A world of experience. Working with you.
We take pride in knowing that the parts and lubricants we supply are to the manufacturer’s specification, ensuring the perfect fit and longevity of your precious farm equipment. All Fendt Parts come with a genuine 12 month warranty, giving you pure peace of mind. IF IT’S NOT LABELLED FENDT OR AGCO PARTS, CHANCES ARE IT’S NOT GENUINE!!
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
they starve to death because they think they are full. “Our teacher Mrs Young taught us about plastic. I got the idea of stopping plastic straws from the school milk cartons because we remove the straw from the cartons and most of us poke a finger through the hole to drink our milk. “We love that Fonterra provides us with milk. It is important to grow strong bones and stay healthy. Some families don’t have much food, so having milk helps fill their tummies. “We love drinking it after fitness, and some children have theirs when they are doing silent reading. “It can be expensive, so it is really kind that Fonterra gives us milk for free, we appreciate it so much. “I am thinking of creating something for the local wearable arts competition with the straws. “Last year I entered the Go Green Award with my little brother. I am trying to help people understand that you don’t need all the packaging. “I made a dress out of My Food Bag wool cool insulation packaging and repurposed cable ties. “We won a merit award in the Recycled Fashion category. Now the excess wool cool insulation gets used in our school garden to create a cosy bed for the chooks. “The Fonterra people thought not having straws is a good idea. Having less plastic is good for the environment, animals and people. The more we help animals and nature, the better because
they can’t look after themselves. Metal straws, coffee cups and reusable bags are much better.” Fonterra’s director of sustainability, Carolyn Mortland, says the company recognise the growing concern around plastic packaging. ”We are working really hard to make our packaging sustainable and know it is an issue schools have been worried about. “We took the opportunity to have Ruby come in and talk to us about her idea and have since had a lot of positive feedback from schools on making the change. “While our plastic straws and wrappers on our milk packs are recyclable, we appreciate some plastic straws don’t always end up in the recycling bins and are at risk of ending up as litter in the ocean. “One solution we have been exploring is to move away from the small 200ml single-serve milk packs towards a onelitre format, which is a really sustainable packaging choice. “The one-litre pack doesn’t use straws, or plastic wrapping and allows schools to minimise milk wastage by having more control over serving size.” Every one-litre pack removes the need for five single-serve packs. “It is great that Fonterra is making a difference and changing its packaging immediately. “They told me that they would be 100 per cent sustainable by 2025,” says Ruby.
STUMPCHIPPING & MULCHING
December 2019
9
Ruby with some of the plastic straws the Russell Students has collected from their milk cartons
Complete Home Decor Services 20%-50%
discount on all shop stock . TNC For all Dec
Specialised 450hp stumpchipper/forestry mulcher • 20 ton excavator with rake • Specialising in cutover pine stump removal • All aspects of stumpchipping and heavy mulching
•
NATIONWIDE SERVICE CALL THE STUMPCHIPPING EXPERTS ANYTIME:
STUMP BOSS LTD
MIKE TOLLEY | Owner/Operator | 021 208 6445
• Curtains • Upholstery • Cushions • Bed covers and much more WE ARE NOT JUST A CURTAIN SHOP Call us today for a measure and quote
SHOWROOM 906 Karamu Road, Hastings
06 878 9246 www.panachehb.co.nz
10
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
Welcoming new commission
DairyNZ says it is looking forward to engaging positively and constructively with the members of the Independent Climate Change Commission. “It has been a huge year for farmers and the development of our national climate change policy. There has been a great deal of debate. Now we are focussing on what must be done to deliver on the commitments. The announcement of the commission’s membership is another step on that journey,” says DairyNZ chief executive Dr Tim Mackle. “Certainty of the direction of travel is important, as is being able to have
confidence in the independence of the commission to deliver on their legislative commitments while continually assessing against the range of criteria set out in the act — including the constantly developing science.” DairyNZ welcomed the bipartisan support for the Zero Carbon Act, which included the framework and establishment of the commission. “There is a lot of weight sitting on their shoulders to get this right —
SIS BALL COCK VALVE Price $99.50+GST EACH Freight free anywhere in NZ • Buy 10 receive 12 and 2x service kits • 3 models available – all the one price • Nearly indestructible • Only NZ Manufacturer providing lifetime guarantee on the body of the ballcock
Dr Tim Mackle, DairyNZ chief executive
not only for our farmers but all New Zealanders. We are pleased to see a range of skills sitting around the table across academia, science, think-tanks, and those with knowledge of the sectors from energy, transport and agriculture. “The commission’s work programme during the coming years is going to be immense as they look to set emissions budgets, review targets, and put in place the right plans to bend our national emissions curve and achieve reductions
across all sectors and all gases.” The commission has been asked to recommend the first three carbon budgets, out to 2035, by early 2022. “Farmers need clarity on the methane targets before this is done, as the nature of the range remains problematic. “We will be supporting the commission with our DairyNZ experts and scientists as they face the complex and important challenges ahead,” said Dr Mackle.
www.sisballcock.co.nz | 0800 175 720 Only available direct from manufacturer
Remutaka Cycle Trail 3 Day Adventure from $599 per person
Bring your ideas to life Creating your dream floor has never been easier.
EXPLORE
OUR WORLD
www.greenjersey.co.nz tours@greenjersey.co.nz 0800 2 EXPLORE
43
We believe in stylish, quality flooring that doesn’t cost the earth. At Floormart we’re proud to deliver an affordable range of products and services to our clients; from carpet to tiles, we’ve got you covered. We invite you to visit our show room or contact us on 0800 78 98 70 for a no obligation free measure and quote for all your flooring needs.
FLOOR MART on your level
www.floormart.co.nz • 0800 78 98 70 sales@floormart.co.nz 1000 Omahu Road, Hastings, New Zealand
YEARS 1976-2019
Your award-winning, locally-owned, professional travel service provider. Celebrating 43 years helping Hawkes Bay kiwis experience the world differently.
Best Travel & Cruise
Experience the world differently
Best Travel House, 104 Market Street South, Hastings | T: 06 876 5111 | E: travel@besttravel.co.nz | W: www.besttravel.co.nz
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
WATER MATTERS
11
Turn sunshine into water by Andy Bryenton
A new generation of solar-powered deep-bore pumps is getting rid of the need for a generator in an old tin shed placed over far-flung wellheads. With improvements in battery and controller tech, there’s no reason why even the most out of the way water source can’t be utilised, reticulated and harnessed to help out in the dry weather when rain is not forthcoming. Here’s the scenario; you’ve located water in a deep aquifer, far out on the part of the farm where it would be great to have some troughs for the herd or a backup supply for irrigation. Mains power is so far away that rigging all that wire makes the job a cost to benefits nightmare. In the old days, the answer was to permanently relegate an old diesel or petrol generator to duties over the wellhead, powering a submersible pump with enough juice to bring water to the surface. The grim realities of hydrodynamics and physics meant that solar power was sometimes too weak a motive force to impel good clean H2O up a bore and into the pipe, troughs and tanks. There have been changes afoot. Now, there are plenty of places online and in your local area who will sell a solarpowered submersible pump system able to achieve a flow rate of more
than 10 litres a minute at a depth of up to 85 metres. That rate will, of course, increase from a trickle to a flood if the bore is shallower. The great thing with a solar pump is that, so long as the sun rises in the morning, it will work all day, pumping with better efficiency, these days than most windmills. Photovoltaic technology has few moving parts, so as long as the panels are pointed up, the pump will continue to work with the absolute minimum of maintenance. This fairly hefty pump example, which works in any bore more than three inches, takes only a single 1,100 watt panel to keep it turning over. The attached controller will turn it off when it fills an adjacent tank, and the whole system can be augmented with a secondary panel and batteries to work all night as well. The best part is, you can control such pumps by tablet or smartphone with the
When Corrosion Protection is MISSION CRITICAL
CorrosionX X is a super fast penetrant on corroded parts. On reassembly it acts as long-lasting protection and stops electrolysis. CorrosionX X proudly supplying New Zealand’s farmers on a daily basis. CorrosionX X waterproofs old and new electronics/ electrics in all machinery, trucks and installations. Safe on rubber, insulation,neoprene and all plastics. Safe to 39,000V.
Solar methods of rural bore water extraction have become more and more viable as technology, the same used in electric vehicles and solar power stations, improves
right adaptors, meaning that there’s no need to ride out to the boundaries with diesel and tools to ensure a drink for the livestock. Check the level, flip the switch and monitor flow from wherever you are. A combination of brushless motors, better photovoltaic efficiency and more compact batteries means that a complete solar pump system can cost less than the equivalent generator and pump, considering that well drilling costs will be the same for both units. Considerably less, if you factor in a lifetime of fuel.
Pay attention!
around road works
Meet Earle! You may have seen my friendly face driving around Central Hawkes Bay. I’m here to eliminate your liquid waste concerns, as nature waits for no one!
Give me a call on 06 858 7861 or 027 589 1490 chbtankcleanersltd@gmail.com chbtankcleanersltd.co.nz
ACE WASTEWATER SERVICES LTD
NEED HELP WITH YOUR WASTE WATER TREATMENT/SEPTIC SYSTEM?
STOP RUST NOW
CorrosionX X Heavy Duty forms a dripless, dynamic, non-hardening, self-healing film that stubbornly resists erosion by splash or spray. Find your nearest stockist at www.corrosionx.org
09 438 8800 | tom@corrosionx.org | www.corrosionx.org
DOES YOUR LAND NEED DRAINAGE? CALL THE EXPERTS TODAY! P: 06 8787567 | E: sales@awakeri.co.nz WEB: www.awakeridrainage.co.nz
WE SERVICE ALL MAKES AND MODELS: • ENVIROFLOW • BIOCYCLE • OASIS ETC
We service, maintain and repair domestic septic and waste water treatment systems throughout Hawke’s Bay and the North Island from Rotorua to Wellington. We are experienced with all brands and models. With over 30 years in the trade, we provide expert service you can trust.
CALL NOW ON 06 877 1448 | 021 810 223 PO Box 14, Clive 4148 Email us on acewwservices58@gmail.com
12
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
WATER MATTERS Drilling down into water issues by Andy Bryenton
∙ HOUSE & BUILDING WASHING ∙ MOSS, MOULD AND LICHEN TREATMENTS ∙ HIGH PRESSURE CLEANING ∙ GUTTER CLEANING & GUTTER PROTECTION ∙ EXTERIOR PEST CONTROL We service Hastings, Napier and Central Hawkes Bay in exterior cleaning for commercial and residential buildings. From low pressure cleaning to High pressure cleaning, Pest control and more.
CONTACT US TODAY:
027 738 9274 or 06 843 7677
100 IT’S NOT A TARGET
There are a few core inventions that have helped turn us, as a society, from nomadic hunters into civilised farmers and builders. The wheel isn’t even one of them; amazingly the Inca people got on well without it! Along with fire, pottery, language and grain storage, the well is one of those things which has taken us from caves to skyscrapers. The earliest cities, in places like Sumeria and Egypt, were built around wells. A well 5,000 years old is at the very centre of Cairo, for example. Water was scarce in these dry lands, and a well was an asset worth defending, as it was also a de facto trading post, army mustering point and hub for irrigation and animal breeding. Water makes farms, farms make wealth, and wealth, eventually, makes empires. However, today’s wells are very different from the hand-hewn stone-lined ones of antiquity. These days it’s not a dowser with a forked stick who seeks out underground water. Hydrologists can tell a lot from the shape of the land, as well as from the kind of rock that underlies it. These professionals can also use ground-penetrating waves to find water, acting like the sonar ‘ping’ a submarine uses to detect enemy vessels during wartime. Gravel, limestone, porous cracked-up rocks or underground sandstone can trap large
Even in arid landscapes, rainfall on hills and mountains eventually reaches underground aquifers, ready to be used as a managed resource
quantities of useful water. Once a likely spot is found, the trick is to drill down deep enough to establish a productive well that will last the distance through all seasons. More than just a hole in the ground, a modern well is usually a bore sheathed with long-lasting materials to prevent cave-ins and erosion. Deep in the underground water table, the bottom of the well is made of sturdy mesh or perforated pipe to allow water in but keep it flowing and stop it from clogging up. Now a suitable pump is needed to lift water to the surface.
Modern wells usually utilise electrical means of pumping, which vary in kilowatt power according to the depth of the bore and the volume required. When it’s dry above ground, water reserves replenished by rains months or even years past await beneath the surface. Finding such reser ves, and engineering the means to tap into them, is no longer a job or superstition and guesswork, but one conducted with satellite maps, specialist drilling trucks and advanced technology.
IS THE WATER LEVEL GETTING LOW IN YOUR TANK?
From all our team,, we wish you a happy and safe Christmas holiday!
NEED WATER DELIVERY AND CLEAN DRINKING WATER SUPPLY? RESIDENTIAL | COMMERCIAL | RURAL RELIABLE, PROFESSIONAL AND QUALITY EARTHWORKS BULK CARTAGE AND FRESH WATER DELIVERY IN THE HAWKE’S BAY.
www.harrispumps.co.nz 500 Omahu Road, Hastings Ι 06 878 8622
BOURKE CONTRACTORS | 176 Napier Road, Havelock North 06 877 7186 | bourkecontractorsltd.co.nz
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
WATER MATTERS
13
Summertime water-saving plan Summer long-range forecasts are promising lots of sunshine. As we all know, that means rising temperatures and potential rising water use in many households with extra showers, and a dry garden to water. While using water efficiently is important throughout the year, sometimes the timing can make a big difference for community water supplies. In most areas, the amount of water homeowners use to keep their lawns green or gardens lush spikes in the summer — two to four times as much than they use the rest of the year. Experts estimate that 50 per cent of the water we use outdoors goes to waste from evaporation, wind or run-off due to overwatering. It’s been established that automatic sprinkler systems can use about 50 per cent more water outdoors than those without them. Know how much water your landscape needs before you set your sprinkler. Generally, it’s best to water lawns and gardens in the early morning and evening, after the sun goes down. Significant amounts of water can be lost due to evaporation during the heat of the day. It’s time to troubleshoot now. Inspect irrigation systems and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying erratically. Raise your lawnmower blade. Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought-resistant lawn, reduced evaporation and fewer weeds. That’s for the towns, but good irrigation benefits farmers, as pastures grow better and provide stock with more feed, which is easier to manage. Fewer breakdowns occur, and systems are simpler to operate. Dairy New Zealand guidelines ensure good water flows in the right place at the right time. Apply the right amount of water at the right time to get maximum growth
FOR FARM, ORCHARD & LIFESTYLE BLOCK EARTHWORKS from your pasture. If there is too much water, it drains away below the pasture and leaches out expensive nutrients. Maintain and manage the irrigation system to minimise wastage and leaks. If you depend on irrigation, decide on priorities, for example, crops versus pastures or good pastures versus poor pastures and develop a plan to best minimise the impacts of water restrictions. Anyone responsible for the overall irrigation system must understand and work within the conditions or rules set by the irrigation scheme or regional council, which govern the supply of water. As new technology improves, the demand for water resources nationally and regionally also continues to grow, making water-efficient practices more relevant than ever.
WATER HARVESTING EXPERTS • Hydrological Data Collection • Environmental Monitoring • Consenting Assistance • Consent Monitoring • Irrigation Management Systems
NEW ZEALAND LTD
ACCREDITED SERVICE PROVIDER
MATT BROWN PH: 0800 HYDRO 1 • MOB: 021 243 7741 www.hydrologic.co.nz
• House Sites & Driveways • Farm Dams • Post Driving
17 years experience in the business
• Diggers • Loader • Truck • Stump grinder • Compactor/auger Contact Andrew Ward 021 502 361 amexcavating66@gmail.com
SWIM between THE FLAGS THIS SUMMER
HAWKE’S BAY’S MOST TRUSTED WATER RETICULATION COMPANY info@aqualinecontractors.co.nz | www.aqualinecontractors.co.nz
PH: 06 879 6238
14
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
WATER MATTERS When the levels run low
SAFETY FIRST
ON THE FARM
by Andy Bryenton
THE SHORT DROP LIMITED
There’s a hot, dry summer predicted, with less rain than usual in the North Island, and the chance that water tanks will drop to low levels even with careful conservation of the precious H2O.
Portable self contained unit No smell, Cost effective, Modular and Practical Perfect for cowsheds, orchards, bach etc... ...an eco way to deal with poo! Full house hold waste water systems also available swwsnz.co.nz
compostingtoilet.nz Anita Grant • 027 462 1339
It is the time of year to be vigilant when it comes to keeping drinking water safe, as the nasties from a whole year’s catchment can end up in those last few inches of water. The professionals will tell you that the best way to ensure a clean tank is to call them up, vacuum out this ‘soup’ of leaves, bird droppings and other contaminants, and then clean the interior of the tank as well. There’s a good reason to have this taken care of by those who know the trade. Dangers are inherent with working inside confined spaces, and it’s been known for bacteria in contaminated tank water to create an oxygen-poor environment in there, meaning caution must be taken. Poro tank cleaners work in teams, sometimes using ventilation
Portable Power Mini Trencher
Convenient Superfast Trench Digging at a Low
Cost
masks to prevent these effects. Summer is also the time when things can build up on your roof, only to be sluiced down into the tank when the rains finally appear. Installing leaf and bird-stopping mesh can cut out some of these issues, but particulate contaminants can still accrue. The change of seasons is a good reminder to change filter cartridges in particle filters and to check the efficiency of ultraviolet filter systems too. Water coming from dams, ponds and creeks may also display a drop in clarity this time of year. Good filtration can block out everything from nasty tastes to bacteria such as cryptosporidium, giardia and other algal contaminants. When the rain comes back, it’s a good idea to consider automatic ‘first flush’ diverters on your downpipes, which dump the first 40 to 50 litres of roof catchment to jettison debris and other unwanted substances, for example, overspray from crop-dusting planes,
pollen or dead leaves. The last word on tank water supplies comes from those who deliver whole tankfuls to homes in the countryside when the need is dire. Water carriers will also feel the pinch if the summer is long and hot, and their timetables become hectic. They ask their customer to please be prudent and call when water levels are low, not when the tap runs dry. Having water on hand is a vital part of life, and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Don’t hold out for rain that may not materialise and back yourself into a water crisis corner when deliveries may take a day or two to come through.
Terrasaw Industries Ltd 19A Andromeda Crescent, East Tamaki, Auckland
Phone 09 431 6400 Email: info@terrasaw.com www.terrasaw.com “TerraTrencher” is a registered trademark
• Tanks • Troughs • Pivot and Lateral Move Irrigation • Filtration • Plumbing • Pools and Sprayers
NOW OPEN
06 842 0047 www.thinkwaterhawkesbay.co.nz 1 Dunlop Road, Onekawa, Napier • 1203 Omahu Rd, Hastings
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
15
SHOP LOCAL Local knowledge tastes better We’ve all heard by now about the number of air miles certain exotic ingredients clock up between where they were grown and the kitchens they’re eaten in.
HAWKES BAY TRACTOR DISMANTLERS NO JOB IS TOO BIG OR SMALL!
• Design and advice • Home automation • Compliance certification and testing • Philips Greenswitch member Our dedicated team of technicians have the skills to complete your project. Call us Today!
06 876 9482
steve@best-forsyth.co.nz
Y TREE S A B
GEONS UR
WK HA E’S
However, while reducing that everlooming carbon footprint is one reason not to resort to stocking the pantry with far-flung foodstuffs, there’s a better one. Fresher, locally sourced food is simply better for you. It has a lot to do with the fact that our farming practices in New Zealand are world-leading, delivering a delicious taste that foreign chefs are known to demand. Moreover, there is also the subject of ripeness. Food destined for long-haul delivery is often picked too early, as those selling it know it could be past its best before it sees the inside of a trolley. Food picked for the farmer’s market or sold over the gate is picked by the grower when he or she knows it’s just right, not on a commercial schedule. It’s likely not to be processed, chilled, bumped about or pawed over either, just plucked, sent to the stall, then cooked up. That is not just conjecture or a matter of taste. When researchers at Montclair State University compared the vitamin C content of broccoli grown in season with broccoli imported out of season, they found the latter had only half the vitamin C. Another study,
LIM
published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, found that the healthy chemical anthocyanin, found in blackberries, was four times higher in berries straight from the bush than it was in processed ones. For those who avoid pesticide use, there’s also the bonus that many small growers are organic by choice or by proxy, in that they don’t use chemical sprays because of their small-scale operations. This philosophy doesn’t have to stop with vegetables, either. Locally sourced seafood tastes great fresh from the sea, we all enjoy the golden-orange yolks of free-range eggs, and of course, heritage and heirloom cultivars are kept alive by growers who specialise in local flavours. Cafes and restaurants are switching on to this trend, and dishes made with local delicacies and ingredients are a hot ticket for tourists. Living in rural New Zealand, we have at our disposal some of the best locally sourced ingredients in the world, the envy of chefs in New York, Tokyo and London. Have an explore of your local market day and find some new flavours; it could be healthier as well as more delicious.
• USED WHEEL TRACTOR PARTS • TRACTOR REPAIRS • DUAL WHEEL TYRES • TRACTOR ORCHARDISING
PH 06 879 7135 027 444 1732 6 BARNES PLACE, TWYFORD, HASTINGS
LOCALLY OWNED CURTAIN BOUTIQUE WE OFFER A GREAT RANGE OF SERVICES Free measure & quote on drapes, Roman blinds, tracks and rods, shutters, roller and venetian blinds Huge range or gorgeous fabrics and wallpaper books
18 Austin Street, Onekawa, Napier 06 843 5535 | kathysdrapes.co.nz
REMEMBER...
Slip, Slop, Slap
www.hbtree.co.nz
IT E D
PROFESSIONALLY QUALIFIED TO DELIVER A QUALITY SERVICE • All Tree Removals • Tree Reductions • Spider Life Platform • Formative Pruning • Fruit Tree Pruning • Total Tree & Shrub Management • Storm Damage • Stump Grinding Full Insurance, Quality Assured, council approved Arborist. Member of International Society of Arboriculture. SITEWISE GREEN APPROVED
06 877 5275 or 0800 902 901
16
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON Ace offal cookers for dog and pig food, also available as grain cookers for horses Available in 63Litre and 94Litre, stainless steel bin on a tipping frame. Plugs into standard 230v socket. Fitted with 2 hour timer and neon. Have been in the market for over 30 years.
293 Palmerston Rd, Gisborne M 027 294 6190 | F (06) 867 2774 E mike@aceproducts.co.nz W www.aceproducts.co.nz
Oi!
DON’T TXT & DRIVE
GISBORNE
First landings and lasting impressions by Andy Bryenton
Gisborne is famous as the place of two of the most important landings in New Zealand history, and from a maritime point of view, one can see why this place would attract the eye of navigators coming in from the expanse of the sea. The great statesman, Sir Apirana Ngata, stated in 1931 that this was the landing place of the great oceancrossing waka Horouta, captained by Paoa, reached Aotearoa during the first wave of Maori settlement from legendary Hawaiki. It overshadowed the preeminence of the waka Takitimu, which also landed in this area when its captain Kiwa sailed up the Turanganui river in those ancient days. He gave the place its name in te reo Maori — Turanganui-a-Kiwa, or the place where Kiwa waited. Some attest that what he was waiting for was, in fact, the waka Horouta. While the scholarly debate continues on this order of importance, similar signs from the tides and currents led James Cook to make first landfall here as well.
Woodrose furnishings offers fabrics, curtains, blinds, tracks and accessories for all rooms of your home Contact us now! • Restaurant • Bottle Store • Shop onsite
two and a half hours north east of Gisborne
CALL 06 864 4480
or BOOK ONLINE
Far from poverty, the principal town of Poverty Bay is bursting with commerce and culture and is famous for the annual Rhythm and Vines festival
On October 6 1769, cabin boy Nick Young spotted the landmass, which is today named for him — Young Nick’s Head. The Endeavour sent a party ashore on the east bank of the Turanganui on October 9. A misunderstanding became a skirmish, which left both Maori and Pakeha shaken. Unable to gain supplies as he had wished, Cook dubbed the area Poverty Bay. A name that stuck, even as traders settled the area in the 1830s and found natural resources in abundance. Gisborne itself was founded in 1870 when the name of the settlement was changed from Turanga to avoid confusion with the port of Tauranga in the north.
The new name was a tribute to William Gisborne, scion of a family so influential in England that they had provided every mayor of the town of Derby for two centuries. The naming may have been a gift from the prime minister to offset the tough job Gisborne was given. That of overseeing a complicated and expensive programme of civic works designed to boost New Zealand from a colony to a self-supporting nation. Modern Gisborne has an official friend status with the city of Cassino, Italy, a mark of reconciliation after Kiwi troops stormed the monastery there as part of the liberation of the country from fascism in the second world war.
hicksbaymotel.co.nz 43 Roebuck Road, Gisborne Ph: 06 868 4047 Email: info@woodrosefurnishings.nz Like us on
Hicks Bay Motel Lodge, 5198 Te Araroa Road, Hicks Bay 4054 stay@hicksbaymotel.co.nz
Hire a Gantry Skip Bin for a summer makeover
Trading as Paul Gordon contracting Ltd
• Overhead Crop Canopies • Vertical Wind Breaks • Orchard Development • Green House Construction • Post Banging • All Wire and Cable Work Phone Paul Gordon 027 282 9302
Gisborne, East Coast & Wairoa
• Choose between a 4m, 6m or 9m Gantry Skip Bin • Take your time to fill it with our five day hire • Suitable for mixed waste — no chemicals, hard fill or tyres • Need it quick? We can deliver within 24 hours of booking (subject to bin availability) • Ask about our Greenwaste and Hard Fill only rates EnviroWaste Services, 70 Innes St, Gisborne. Call us on 06 868 6007 or 0800 240 120
DRIVE SAFE On Rural Roads
YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT’S AROUND THE CORNER
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
17
C2001kwSheds4U
Liveable Sheds
0800 862 010
18
December 2019
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES
December 2019
RURAL WHEELS
19
Built into the bones by Andy Bryenton
Ask anyone who really knows automobiles, and they’ll tell you that the most important component is not the engine or the wheels, or even the gearbox that connects them. A well-sorted chassis is the underpinning of all the feel you’ll get back from the road, all the information that comes in via the steering wheel’s vibration and the seat of your pants. Get the chassis right, and it doesn’t matter if it’s a McLaren carbon-fibre tub or a Morgan’s stately beams of timber, it’ll pull the car together and give it a sense of completeness. That might be why the new Kia Seltos has achieved a lot of acclaim in a very short time. The company that surprised everyone with the powerful and sleek Stinger two years ago has done what so many have proven they could not; they’ve made a small SUV, which is both practical and fun. It’s been almost universally described as feeling responsive and planted on the road. Which brings us back to the concept of good bones, and what’s underneath the Seltos’ groovy two-tone paint and cheeky looks. The secret is in the super-tough advanced high strength steel that makes up the monocoque; the all-around cage and chassis, which cradles both the motor and, ultimately, the passengers.
Ever felt that a convertible was a bit wobbly or bent like a banana in the corners? That’s the lack of rigidity in the chassis caused by the absence of a roof. Now, imagine the opposite. That’s the effect of using this new material tech to create a light, yet firm and rigid skeleton for the Seltos. The effect is to create a machine that’s compact without being flighty and keeps tight to the road when the going gets interesting. In fact, ‘sharp, not soft’ is a term that could fit a lot of the features of this small SUV. The looks are pop culture without being pop-eyed, the interior has a touch of design whimsy and a lot of practicality. The IVT transmission has been praised for being neither vague nor slushy, but smart and smooth. Also, it’s named for the son of Hercules. So there’s not only a good heroic image but also a nod and a wink to this little crossover following in the path of the famous Sportage, its ‘daddy’. Look at all you get on the EX model for under $40,000, and you’ll see that it’s a lot of machine for your money.
Seltos is Kia’s latest small sports utility, and it’s got the recipe right for practical use and fun factor in balance
SWIM between We operate curtainsiders, tippers and flatdecks to meet all your general and bulk cartage requirements.
THE FLAGS THIS SUMMER
Earthworks Division For any commercial or rural work that requires excavators, graders & rollers etc. Transport, Ph Darren: 027 279 6681 Earthworks, Ph Shaun: 027 296 4833 Email: office@agnewtransport.co.nz
FROM
$25,990
*
Tyres & Mechanical 14 Puketapu Rd, Taradale
100
PHONE
IT’S NOT A TARGET
06 844 8361 QUAD – CAR – IMPLEMENT
QUADBAR
595
$
+GST Deliver
ed
“I have no doubt that if I did not have a Quadbar fitted, my accident would have been fatal!” — Rozel Farms “The Quadbar saved our employee from significant injuries.” — Colin van der Geest
* Plus On Road Costs of $990.00 Bayswater Suzuki 121 Carlyle Street, Napier Phone 06 833 5718 Email: hayden@bayswatervehicles.co.nz
RECOMMENDED BY WORK SAFE, ACC SUBSIDY AVAILABLE
For a Quadbar, call me, Stuart Davidson, owner of Quadbar NZ on 021 182 8115, Email sales@quadbar.co.nz or for more info go to www.quadbar.co.nz
20
December 2019 HAWKE’S BAY FARMING LIFESTYLES