Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, July 2023

The Manawatu Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by Integrity Community Media, a privately owned NZ company.

Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@integrity.nz

Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville

Editor: Deb Wright 021 639 696 deb.wright@integrity.nz

Journalists: Denise Gunn | Andy Bryenton | Amy Fifita

Advertising: Monique McKenzie 027 525 8186

Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Anna Fredericksen | Kelsey Harrison | Liz Clark

Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz

Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME

Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz Opinions

11,495 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Manawatu.

Planting plantain reaps dividends

by Andy Bryenton

Farmers across New Zealand will be watching with interest the progress and success of a trial in the Tararua District, which has just won a major award for the environment.

The Tararua Plantain Project hits on several of the hot topics in farming and farm-related regulation and legislation right now, such as nitrogen leaching, reduced greenhouse gas emissions and water quality improvements. It’s all being achieved, to various levels, by the adoption of a grazing herb cultivar called plantain, which has been deployed and monitored on 11 farms. A further 77 have taken up plantain planting despite not undergoing rigorous monitoring.

The project, which scooped the Primary Industries New Zealand Award earlier this month, is a DairyNZ led initiative, in collaboration with Agricom, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Fonterra, and Nestlé. Delivery partners include AgResearch, Horizons and Massey University.

“The impact of the Tararua project as a blueprint for farmers to take up plantain in catchments nationwide cannot be understated,” says Dr David Burger, DairyNZ’s sustainable dairy manager.

“Research shows Ecotain plantain in pastures can reduce nitrogen leaching from dairy farms by 20 to 60 percent. Plantain also has potential to reduce on-farm greenhouse gas emissions. This game-changing project has community at its heart, with dairy farmers,

community members, iwi, DairyNZ and partners working together to reduce environmental footprint.”

Plantain’s effectiveness has proven potent. The national programme’s farm trial research at Massey University has shown that mixed pastures containing 30-50% plantain can achieve reductions in nitrate leaching from dairy farms of 20-60%, helping to reduce nitrogen losses to waterways. This is no anomaly; more than 560 monthly water quality monitoring samples have been taken by farmers across 21 sites to come up with these figures. The way this crop is digested also has an impact on greenhouse gas emissions, which is the metaphorical icing on the cake for researchers and farmers.

The use of the pasture herb to augment more conventional feed is predicted to save farmers in excess of $1 billion each decade if it is rolled out across the country. This is a distinct possibility, as plantain is able to thrive in many Kiwi biomes. The award-winning project has already inspired a nationwide Plantain Potency and Practice Programme, with industry leaders, government and farmers continuing to work together to research the effects of plantain and support farmers to successfully adopt it on farms.

The humble plantain herb has helped researchers earn a top environmental award, and could save farmers millions of dollars each year

Manawatū farmer to chair awards

by Denise Gunn

Manawatū dairy farmer and New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards (NZDIA) alumni Raewyn Hills has been selected as chair by the NZDIA national committee.

Raewyn has supported the New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards for many years. In 2013, Raewyn and her husband Michael won the Manawatū Farm Manager of the Year title. Four years ago, she joined the national committee.

“We were involved with the awards programme as entrants before progressing to hold various roles within the Manawatū regional committee. For the past three years, I have been the National Dairy Trainee team leader,” said Raewyn.

“The awards have been a journey of growth since first entering. Through the awards programme, you gain so much satisfaction watching others grow and go on their own journey of progression through the dairy industry.

“I have so much enthusiasm for the awards programme, working alongside many others who make the awards possible, and ensuring the programme remains relevant, creating connections, and providing value to our entrants throughout the various stages of their careers.”

Originally from Rongotea, Raewyn attended Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre in Masterton after leaving school, gaining a National Certificate in Agriculture (Dairy Farming) — Level Four. She later completed a Diploma

in Agri-business Management through AgITO.

Michael and Raewyn are currently equity partners, milking 850 cows plus drystock near Feilding. They are both hands-on in the daily farm operation. Raewyn said she loves how the awards programme offers so much to entrants, unique to stages in their dairy careers.

New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards Trust chair Richard McIntyre farewelled outgoing chair Amber Carpenter and thanked her for her dedication, time and passion for the awards over the years.

“Amber did a fantastic job leading the national committee through a period of change, and we are pleased she is staying on as a valued member of the committee.”

The New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards run the New Zealand Share Farmer of the Year, New Zealand Dairy Manager of the Year and New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year programmes.

Raewyn Hills, New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards national committee chair

“The awards have been a journey of growth since first entering.”

BY DENISE GUNN

Since picking up a handpiece when he was eight, Reuben Alabaster has gone on to notch up several shearing titles, set a world record and win the 2023 Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year award.

Rline of farmers, shearers and woolhandlers. His great-uncle, the late Ray Alabaster, shore at the inaugural Golden Shears and went on to compete nine times in the open final, twice finishing in second place. Reuben is also the cousin of world champion woolhandler Sheree Alabaster.

The 20-year-old grew up with his six sisters on the family farm, owned by his parents, Ricky and Evelyn, near Taihape. “We own about 3,600 acres and have three lease blocks. Two in the Taihape area and one in Wairoa,” said Reuben.

“I always loved the farm, but once I got

the blood for shearing, I was hooked.”

Within a year of his first introduction to shearing, under the guidance of Ricky, Reuben could shear 100 lambs in a day.

He recalls the greatest challenge when learning to shear was pushing through the pain. “The more shearing, it eased off.”

Over time, through the help of older shearers and gaining more experience, Reuben continued to improve his technique.

When he was 14, Reuben became the youngest winner of the New Zealand Shears Junior Championship. He took up shearing full-time two years later.

These are free phones direct to our mobiles. Office (06) 324 8135 Web www.mylivestock.co.nz

In 2021, alongside Jack Fagan, Delwyn Jones, Llion Jones and Kelly Brill, Reuben broke the nine-hour five-stand

strong wool lamb shearing world record. Reuben’s final tally was

774 lambs in nine hours.

In March, Reuben won the 2023 Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year award

Reuben after setting a new eight-hour solo world strong wool lamb shearing record with his final tally of 746 lambs

Last year, Reuben set a new solo eighthour strong wool lamb shearing world record. During four two-hour runs, Reuben shore 188, 183, 187 and 188 lambs, for a final tally of 746, averaging 93 lambs an hour. Reuben is the youngest shearer to break this world record, beating previous world record holder Irishman Ivan Scott’s total of 744 at Opepe near Taupō. Both of Reuben’s world records were set in the Te Pa Station woolshed near Ohakune. He said the success of breaking the first world record spurred him on to attempt another.

“I trained for about six and half months doing gym work, fitness and cardio. I felt a lot of pressure during the event, but it was a good feeling of relief when it finished.”

Breaking the two records have been career highlights. “They were pretty cool experiences for me. They are the two highlights of my career so far.”

Ivan’s solo world strong wool lamb shearing record stood for more than a decade before Reuben took the title. King Country shearer Jack Fagan has since shorn 754 lambs at Ingleby Farms’ Puketiti Station near Piopio to claim the title.

Another career highlight was winning the Fonterra Young New Zealand Rural Sportsperson of the Year during the 2023 Norwood New Zealand Rural Sports Awards.

“It was pretty cool that shearing was recognised, and winning it was pretty cool,” said Reuben.

When he’s not shearing, Reuben enjoys spending time on the family

farm, pig hunting, deerstalking and playing golf.

Working in the shearing industry has given Reuben opportunities to travel around New Zealand and Australia, along with meeting new people. He is currently travelling around the United Kingdom for a couple of months, followed by a two-month stint in Australia on the return trip home.

“I just plan to enjoy shearing for a bit.”

Surfatex specialise in ‘Acraflex’ Dairy Wall Coatings, Pit, Milk room and Yard repairs. Industrial coatings including anti-slip solutions and protective flooring. Our skilled team is based in the Manawatu and mobile across the lower North Island.

Huge towing & carrying capacity; Equipped with a catalytic converter for low emission operation;

Reuben has set two world records in the Te Pa Station woolshed near Ohakune

The family’s Poplar Partnership primarily focusses on a large dairy operation and a Hereford stud which runs alongside.

John and Karen McErlean bought their initial 43ha Horowhenua block in 1983. Although John’s grandfather had a Jersey stud and his father carried on with the breed, the couple settled on Friesians, with selling bull calves providing another avenue of income.

In 2002, the couple merged their property with the original family farm owned by John’s brother, Peter, to form the Poplar Partnership Limited. This

FARMING LEGACY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS

BY DENISE GUNN

partnership employs a team of 28 staff, including several family members. With additional property purchases in the Foxton and Shannon areas, the farm now totals 1,719ha.

The formation of another company, called 164 Partnership Limited, is a move by the McErleans to retain staff. Under this entity, eight employees and the McErleans share co-ownership of a 200-cow dairy unit.

At peak, the Poplar Partnership’s herd of 2,150 Friesian cows are milked year-round with split calving in autumn and spring. Embryo transplant and bull

breeding services have been utilised to develop strong genetic lines in the herd.

Since 2018, the herd’s A2 milk has been supplied to Fonterra.

Strong genetic lines have developed in the herd through utilising embryo transplant and bull breeding services

As the regional supreme winners of the Horizons Ballance Farm Environment Awards, the McErlean family is continuing to create a farming legacy for future generations.

Herefords were introduced to the farming system 10 years ago. Around that time, Karen said they were having problems getting bulls for their dairy cows.

“We wanted Ezicalve ones, so the opportunity came up to buy 20 cows, and we gradually bred them to Ezicalve bulls.”

The farm now runs a herd of 80 purebred Hereford cows. “We aim to get 40 bull calves a year to tail the cows once old enough. We keep the heifers to breed from.”

Environmental work on the farm began when the McErleans bought a support block in the early 2000s. “It was a bog hole originally. We dug it out a bit and planted natives.”

Since then, the family has worked alongside Horizons Regional Council to

create and enlarge several wetlands on their properties. Native trees have been planted, and the areas have been fenced for protection. “We aim to farm the good land and anything else we retire,” said Karen.

Horizons’ biodiversity team also works with the family to protect a rare endemic giant snail species found on the support blocks. The work involves restoring and protecting the ecosystems where these snails are found. Exotic trees are removed and replanted with natives. Weed control, along with trap and bait stations, keeps predator numbers down.

“When we bought the support block, we knew the snails were there. Horizons discovered more in another gully and have since discovered even more,” said Karen.

The McErlean’s farm is one of several properties used for a Massey University trial. Associate Professor in Environmental Hydrology and Soil Science Dr Ranvir Singh, and Associate Professor in Soil Science Dr David Horne, are looking at developing drainage systems to minimise nitrate losses from farmland. The project began in 2018.

“So that will be quite interesting going forward. Trials are running in Rangitīkei and Tararua,” said Karen.

Supplementary feed in the form of hay, grass and maize silage is grown and harvested on the farm. “We do a little bit for other people too.”

Karen said the family and staff enjoy working together. “We have some young

guys playing rugby for one team and others playing for another team. So there is a lot of banter around rugby.”

The BFEA judges commended the McErlean family’s commitment to people, livestock, land stewardship, biodiversity and habitat creation, which has all led to a highly successful and sustainable business.

For the past couple of years, the McErleans have been working on a succession plan. “In the next couple of years, we will probably have it completed,” said Karen.

They intend to carry on the farming traditions started by John and Peter’s grandfather and further improve the farm for the generations to follow.

On left: Peter, Karen, John McErlean (on right) with Karen and John’s daughter, Cara How

The McErlean family with some of the team

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

In part one, Dee discussed examples of difficulties people face, including one tradesman she worked with who was excellent at his job, providing his structure was perfect. His van was so well organised his workmates would get what they needed from his vehicle.

“They messed up his structure, even if it was just three open boxes, and he would get behind in his work because he could take two hours to sort his van again,” said Dee.

“I showed him a picture, and he said, ‘that’s me — you captured me completely’. It was such a precious ‘wow, you got me’ moment, and he understood himself better, and we were able to discuss how he could talk to his employer about his situation.

“There are a lot of misunderstandings. I have ASC people asking how neurotypicals work because they feel they keep stuffing things up, and neurotypical people ask me how neurodivergent work.

“My job became a translator between people, and my book explains each other to each other. One of ASC’s key features is called a social development disorder. A baby is born and appears like any other baby, but the social part of their brain doesn’t develop or develops poorly. They can learn social literal rules like ‘put your plate on the bench when finished’, but they miss social cues.

“In neurotypicals, only 10 per cent of our communication is actually words, while 90 per cent is tone of voice, body language, word choice, the

When well-known counsellor

Dee Jones launched her muchrequested book called The Aspie Book, written to help neurodivergent and neurotypical people better understand themselves and each other, Professor Tony Attwood wrote the foreword.

Our unique range of wheeled and hanging feeders protect feed from bad weather and ensure your stock have feed when they need it.

emphasis of where words land and so on. Neurodivergence, plus the common lack of eye contact, means that children have difficulty observing, learning and absorbing social cues.

“Neurodiverse ask me to teach them the neurotypical secret code because they just don’t understand. For example,

a child may be in the playground sitting on his own, having his lunch. A bigger boy, with his thumbs in a belt loop, walks across with a stare on his face and takes the child’s lunch. Then it happens repeatedly because the child doesn’t pick up the social behaviour and doesn’t know to run.

Raised Round Bale Feeder $850.00 + GST

Dee taking time out to complete a jigsaw puzzle

“The book is written so people can look at the pictures and read the case studies or explanations. It is very understandable, and there is very little reading between the lines. I don’t think anyone has ever written on neurotypical people, and those on the spectrum want to know how they work.

“Each chapter is self-contained with a little bit of criteria at the beginning of what to look for. There is a beautiful chapter at the end where Aspie people wanted to help others and give their stories. They have been raw, real and open in their personal experiences.

“I wrote a letter to one man’s boss explaining ASC. They knew he had it but

didn’t understand it, so I broke it down for them because Aspies are valuable workers. Their work capacity is phenomenal, but it isn’t understood when they are overwhelmed and not functioning. I have seen very professional people resign and be replaced by three people to do their job.”

ASC isn’t a mental health condition — the brain works differently. Autism is a social development disorder in which people on the spectrum operate differently from neurotypicals.

“Professor Tony Attwood wrote the foreword. He is one of the top three Aspie specialists in the world, and I am honoured

that he read the whole book and wrote the foreword. He recommends the book to his colleagues in all professional disciplines with autistic clients.

“My mum said when I was three, she often found me talking to people who were struggling. When I was five, someone explained what a counsellor was, and I knew then that that was what I wanted to do with my life.

“To have finally completed The Aspie Book doesn’t feel real. It certainly was a journey, and I hope that it will make a world of difference to everybody affected in one way or the other.”

The Aspie Book by Dee Jones can be ordered online at Amazon, The Nile and other websites or purchased from bookstores nationwide. To contact Dee — email deejoneswork@yahoo.com.

Author Dee Jones wrote The Aspie book to help neurotypical and neurodivergent people understand each other

Dee with her dog, Storm, who has been appreciated by many clients as a therapy dog

ADVERTORIAL

Prolan NZ lanolin protects underneath arches

There is a growing demand for Prolan, a natural environmentally product that stops vehicle chassis rust, whether it be a much-cherished Land Rover or a new vehicle showing surface rust on purchase.

Are you taking a joint supplement? (Part

One)

by John Arts

They say death and taxes are the only certainties, but osteoarthritis must be close to this list. The sales of worldwide joint and bone supplements are a staggering US$11.7 billion and are expected to grow by another 50% in the next ve years.

The majority use joint supplements to treat joint problems, most for osteoarthritis, with about 40% of developing knee osteoarthritis alone. Pain is a great motivator, and people turn to joint supplements for relief — but do they help?

To continue getting long-term protection out of any vehicle, it is important that TLC is received from time to time. Rust on vehicle chassis is common and is a complication when applying for a COF or WOF, causing failures often. That is where a coating of Prolan, a New Zealand-made lanolin rust protection product comes into its own.

Cleaning underneath the chassis thoroughly and then applying a coating of Prolan ensures it doesn’t rust away. In the past, chassis have been sprayed with used engine oil, among other things, inside the chassis rails and underneath. The Prolan’s main ingredient, lanolin (a natural product), adheres to metal surfaces blocking off air and moisture stopping rust in its tracks. Being a natural product Prolan is safe around electrical, electronics and rubbers; it will not break them down or cause perishing.

For chassis protection, Prolan’s Extreme or Heavy Grade are the products of choice. Prolan is best applied on a warm day or on cooler days; the product tin can be warmed in a bucket of hot water before application. These products are best applied with an airless spray gun or compressed air type system. Prolan sells an Airboy gun, which has a 900mm hose attached to it allowing penetration into hard-to-reach hidden areas — cavities, panels and doors.

By withdrawing through the aperture while still depressing the trigger, it coats internal surfaces. Attached to an air compressor with a minimum of 13cfm, the Prolan coating goes on extremely well. Alternatively, any paint-type spray gun works well too.

The beauty of Prolan being a natural product is it is safe and easy to apply. With minimal preparation required before coating, wash the chassis down and allow it to dry off before coating with Prolan. A coating can even be applied over existing rust — just a quick brush-off if aky rust is present.

A common question is: can we paint over Prolan? It is not recommended, as you are effectively putting a wax layer between the chassis and the paint. You can wipe it on with a rag, and this is very good treatment for winch ropes, radio antennas, alternators and even starter motors.

With a coverage rate of one litre for 8 to 10 square metres, Prolan is economically a winner protecting your assets and preventing expensive parts replacement down the track. It resists water blasting but can be cleaned off with a Prolan degreaser or hot steam cleaner should you need to do so — excellent for resale value.

The protection provided by Prolan is long-term and is ideal for protecting prized vehicles.

Natural Long-lasting Protection’

Environmentally Friendly

• Quadbike & vehicle chassis

• Fertiliser loaders & spreaders

• Motorhomes, caravans & buses

• Boat motors & trailers

• Machinery & tools

savedEwe-Phoric worrywork,time, &money.

There has been signi cant research into compounds found in joint supplements, especially glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric. It comes as no surprise that studies come to differing conclusions ranging from poor to excellent results.

While studies and research can be helpful, my criteria for assessing osteoarthritis supplements is simple. I assess the effectiveness of my supplements solely by whether they help. An important part of my discipline of nutritional medicine is regularly reviewing progress. When someone commences my joint supplements, I contact them after six weeks, then again at three months, to see how they are doing. The measure of assessment is again simple; is it working?

When someone purchases my joint products, I offer a joint health

assessment which the majority adopts. I ask questions about the problem, including its diagnosis, treatment and symptoms and a description of limitations in mobility. At the sixweekly review, we then compare progress to the initial assessment and modify the programme as needed.

One thing I can say for certain if people do not get a tangible bene t, they will stop taking them. Results are my sole measure whether a supplement is helping.

John Arts (B.Soc.Sci, Dip Tch, Adv. Dip.Nut.Med) is a nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health Ltd. For questions or advice, contact John on 0800 423 559 or email john@abundant.co.nz. Join his newsletter at abundant.co.nz.

Abundant Health

What is Bettaflex?

• Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function

• Bettaflex has 400mg (per capsule) of high-grade avian chondroitin, 400mg of glucosamine and 100mg of BioSolve® bioavailable Curcumin (from turmeric).

How can Bettaflex help?

• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.

$99.95 for 3 bottles freight-free or 1 bottle for $36.95 plus $5.99 postage 60 Capsules per Bottle

Abundant Health

• Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes.

• New BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin helps joint function while gentle on the stomach.

• Research indicates that chondroitin is highly effective at 800mg daily.

John Arts comments:

“My latest Bettaflex formula includes BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin for faster results. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I reccomend an intial higher dose for 1-3 bottles to saturate join tissue.”

Do not take with anti-coagulant/platelet medication. If in doubt please consult your healthcare professional. Not suitable during pregnancy or lactation.

Cautions:

Prolan being applied to a Land Rover chassis

“I assess the effectiveness of my supplements solely by whether they help.”

Don’t be one of the followers

by Jane Gray

Yellow is the colour of hope

by Andy Bryenton

Daffodil Day is coming again soon, with support for the hard work of the cancer society at the forefront of volunteers’ minds as they hit the streets, turning towns around New Zealand yellow.

There are many reasons why Daffodil Day is one of the most supported and respected charity appeals on the Kiwi calendar. Nearly everyone in the nation has a friend, relative or colleague who has battled cancer. Statistically, 25,000 New Zealanders will receive that diagnosis each year. With medical science improving every day thanks to funding for research, the chances of making a full recovery are getting better all the time.

Early detection, good care and solid support are the keys to success. To aid in this, the NZCS put in more than one million kilometres of drive time to get patients to their medical appointments each year. It provides 50,000 nights of free accommodation to bring people closer to specialist medical services.

Add in their work promoting early detection and educating people on cancer risks, advocating for better healthcare and operating a full-time telephone service for information, and it’s easy to see why the people behind the daffodil appeal are so well respected. A further $5.2 million was granted to those researching life-saving anti-cancer treatments last year, thanks to the generosity of average Kiwis.

The Cancer Society has played a big part in minimising the impact of cancer on New Zealand families since

1929 when the organisation was first established in Wellington. By 1963 the NZCS had grown to encompass six regional headquarters, while remaining independent. Today, they are the leading non-government organisation leading the fight against cancer in New Zealand.

The daffodil was chosen as the emblem for its annual appeal, symbolising springtime, new life, and hope. It’s been adopted by similar charitable organisations worldwide, becoming the international symbol of the fight for a cure and the excellent work volunteers perform in helping patients’ families.

This year’s slogan for the Daffodil Day appeal sums up the philosophy of the hard-working volunteers and staff working behind the scenes with the New Zealand Cancer Society: ‘Cancer doesn’t stop, so we won’t either’.

Please give generously when you see the charity collectors out and about this week. Alternatively, stop in at the ANZ to join in the raffle, cake stall and barbecue, or make a donation online via daffodilday.org.nz.

We should form our own opinions, not be led like sheep.

For example, co-governance, what is the problem with it? Having multicultural ideas can only benefit us all. Being a multicultural country makes us richer and more understanding of each other.

However, co-governance representatives not being duly elected; that is a problem. Handshakes and backroom deals to appoint members of boards are wrong. It doesn’t matter what ethnicity the members of a board governing a public amenity are; it does matter that they are democratically elected and accountable.

Social media may be the scourge of all that is good — according to some. That’s debatable, but the lack of controls in place is most certainly a problem. Social media platforms cannot be held accountable for carrying misinformation or very objectionable content. Conventional media can face big penalties. The amount of unsolicited marketing that appears across all platforms is alarming and very rarely correctly targeted. Still slamming the door shut and saying you can’t use it will not work either.

Differing opinions seem to hit the news on a regular basis. Arguments

about culture, race and gender identity are just a few. Most people just want to live their lives as they see fit and don’t want to get involved in politics that make the news or social media headlines. I agree that at times there needs to be a spotlight on certain issues, but when every issue is in the spotlight, then this tends to lessen empathy and increase opposition. Bigotry is only increased by bitter arguments.

Let’s all make sure that we are not buying into overactive reporting by those that have a personal agenda.

SERIES

The Constant Angle Knife Sharpening System

The indexed rotating clamping system 3 Angle adjustments • High Grade Stainless Steel • Hygienic

• Easy Care • x2 clamps included, 1x Wide Clamp & 1x Narrow Clamp

“Early detection, good care and solid support are the keys to success.”

DAFFODIL DAY FRIDAY 31ST AUGUST 2023

JOHN TURKINGTON FORESTRY

MAXIMISING

“With your help, there is hope! Sharing our full support with the CSNZ this Daffodil Day”

Office: 06 327 5263

John: 027 445 8410

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”

KiwiSpan Manawatu 06 353 8942

220 7869 sales.manawatu@kiwispan.co.nz

Standing with the NZCS this Daffodil Day

DARRAGHS

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day.”

44 KIMBOLTON RD, FEILDING 06 323 4054

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”

Ph: 06 358 9149

“With respect and support for the CSNZ and all their work for bringing hope”

06 323 8202

Te Kawa Poll Dorsets

Andrew & Naomi Clifton

With all our help, there is hope!

124 Keith Street, Palmerston North 06 357 1026

“With respect and support for the CSNZ and all their work for bringing hope”

Ph: 06 328 2818

“Proud

support the search for a cure” Steve: 021 720 779

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”

Ph:

“Proud to support the search for a cure” 4 Turners Road, Feilding 06 323 0309

Bulls Flooring Ltd

“With our help there is hope!”

“With respect and support for the NZCS and all their work bringing hope.”

“With our help there is hope!”

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”

Aaron Boyd: 027 323 2693

“Proud to stand beside our community and support Daffodil Day”

Ph: 06 358 9149

YOUR FORESTRY PROFITS

The ornithologist’s rest

by Andy Bryenton

When the pioneering ornithologist of New Zealand’s early years decided to settle down in his old age, he chose a place which, unsurprisingly, is a haven for birdlife.

After a career that saw him feted as one of the world’s leading experts on birds, Walter Buller hung up his binoculars at Lake Papaitonga, just outside Levin, settling there in 1897. It’s no coincidence that a scenic reserve was established there at the same time. It was expanded in 1991 to encompass the entire lake, with its picturesque islands and abundant birdlife.

In pre-European times the lake had attracted a population of hundreds. A thriving Māori settlement appreciated the fish and bird populations augmenting their food stocks and the defensible positions afforded by the islands in the lake. By the time Buller decided to settle there, he had already visited to catalogue the extensive wading and shorebird ecosystem before, making his observations part of his 1888 masterwork, A History of the Birds of New Zealand.

One of the few people to ever receive a knighthood from Britain and the Legion of Honour from France, Walter Buller made his name as a naturalist, introducing the Moa to the wider world, cataloguing species of bird unknown to European scientists, and

even helping to set up a large display of New Zealand flora and fauna for the Word’s Fair in Paris in 1889. Being one of the top dignitaries at this event, he was also one of the first to climb the Eiffel Tower.

With a pre-eminent record in science, Bullet could have chosen anywhere to settle down in his old age. The fact that out of all of New Zealand, he decided to live near Lake Papaitonga says a lot about its unique environment.

With the scenic lake now part of the Department of Conservation’s responsibility, it’s been identified as a hot spot for ornithology and valuable habitat for kiwi, with some memorable walking tracks now surrounding the lake. Until the programme wraps up this month, the area has been part of the Kiwi Guardians adventure trail, encouraging young people to visit outstanding natural areas and earn badges while learning about nature. Visitors can, like Walter Buller before them, marvel at the many species of birds surrounding Lake Papaitonga on the track to the Otumuri Lookout.

Wanting to sell your lifestyle or rural property?

Having lived here all her life, Raewyn is Horowhenua through and through and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge that can only be gained from a lifetime of living and working in the rural sector.

It is with much pride that Property Brokers welcomes Raewyn to the Levin team as a Lifestyle and Rural salesperson.

The real estate market is changing almost daily at the moment, so if you would like to know what this means for your property or if you are looking for your next dream property, talk to Raewyn Moody.

Raewyn Moody

Walter Buller, the famed ornithologist, made his home near Levin in his later years due to the extreme natural beauty of Lake Papaitonga

Business driven to expansion

For more than 20 years, PW Contracting and Nodlew Industrial Ltd have provided certi ed drainlaying and general contracting services in the Horowhenua and greater Wellington areas.

Director Paul Weldon initially traded as PW Contracting but switched from a sole trader to a limited company, establishing Nodlew Industrial Ltd in 2008.

With Paul’s extensive knowledge and experience as a drainlayer, the company has expanded to take on larger projects not only in the eld of drainlaying, but also roading, driveways and all areas of sub-divisional development.

“Nodlew Industrial Ltd has, for many years, worked on some of the biggest subdivisional and infrastructure projects on the Kapiti Coast and Horowhenua regions,” said Paul.

“Our drainlaying experience includes industrial, rural, residential and infrastructure projects,” he said.

Some of these projects include Te Horo Beach subdivision roading and services; Waikanae domain footpaths and landscaping; water main and stormwater installation at Trackside Village in Levin; Peka Peka subdivision roading,

Nodlew Industrial Ltd have provided certified drainlaying and general contracting services for many years

earthworks, water main and services; sewer realignment

and industrial subdivision in Porirua; Paraparaumu subdivision sewer, stormwater and services; and concrete wastewater outfall channels and skimmer installation at Shannon’s wastewater treatment plant.

As a certifying drainlayer, Paul keeps up with all the new products and techniques as they enter the market. The company is also a licensed installer of Hydrozone environmental systems. A wide range of equipment is available for hire, with diggers, trucks, graders, loaders and rollers available.

“We are a small company, but we have a large pool of resources and are able to call upon subcontractors with a large amount of experience in drainlaying, roading, earthmoving and most areas of general contracting,” said Paul. “We can help with any size job.”

For enquiries about services, free inspections and quotes, or to book equipment, phone Paul on 021 400 483.

Over 46 years of providing all properties from Kapiti Coast to Manawatu with a reliable, prompt and guaranteed service for all plumbing, drainlaying and gasfitting jobs.

& Kemp Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying team are large enough to take on industrial jobs, and small enough to care for small home plumbing services, you can consider them your one-stop-shop for everything plumbing.

PW Contracting and

Shop and win this winter

Honda Horowhenua has been operating in Levin since September 2019 and is owned by Pahiatuabased couple Bevan Bisset and Ingrid de Graaf, who also own Bisset Honda in Pahiatua.

The business is managed by Wayne McKinlay, a long-term veteran of the Honda and Stihl brands, with 42 years in the industry.

In March this year, the company was lucky to welcome Jason Denton and his apprentice Ryan Dray to the team. Many of you will know Jason from his time at Levin Motorcycles where he was a central cog of the operation. He is vastly experienced, with over 25 years in the industry and has a wealth of knowledge across a range of bike brands, including Harley Davidson, Ducati, BMW and, of course, Honda.

At Honda Horowhenua, Jason has joined the motorcycle workshop. He has extended the services on offer, which include servicing and revalving of suspension for both road and dirt bikes. He also has software to reprogram ignitions, remap CDIs and perform fault code diagnostics for most brands of bike.

The outdoor power equipment workshop can cater for your ride-on lawn mower, push mower, chainsaw, hedge trimmer, grass trimmer, brush

cutter, wood splitter, pump, generator, and many other petrol, electric or battery-powered tools.

These two workshops combine to make the servicing department. Each workshop is staffed by ve full-time technicians and is overseen by service

manager Natalie Scott. The workshops cater for various work, including routine servicing, repairs and warranty work. Workshop staff attend regular training sessions when available. The company currently also employs two MITO apprentices.

Now is the time to get your winter servicing and repairs done. To make a booking, contact Natalie on 06 367 9951 or service@hondahoro. co.nz today.

Make any retail purchase or book any workshop job during the months of August, September and October and receive an entry to WIN one of two $100 vouchers, per month, to spend on anything in store. Terms and conditions apply, see hondahoro.co.nz for details.

Honda Horowhenua and Stihl Shop Levin Service Department

Tranquillity and thrill

by Amy Fifita

Encounter the fun and culture that Levin holds amongst its stunning mountain views and scenic rural sights.

Whether you want to engage in an adventure or relax in its stunning nature, Levin has plenty of enjoyable experiences for families and individuals to discover. Traverse the beautiful Tararua Ranges and travel between regions by exploring the mountainous hills on one of the tracks.

If marksmanship holds your interest better, Heights Experience can provide guests with a thrill with its archery, clay bird shooting and axe throwing activities. It is located on a family farm at the foot of the Tararua Ranges.

Guns, ammunition and safety gear are provided, and the staff will train and supervise shooters. Booking and a minimum of a six-person group is required. The farm opens again in September if you want to engage in an exhilarating experience.

The Levin Adventure Park is a great place for families to revel in play equipment and sports activities. A miniature train that operates for free

Explore Levin and the surrounding areas and delve into what the place has to offer from 1pm to 3pm during weekends and holidays and is run by the Levin Adventure Park Trust. There is also an overnight caravan parking area for travellers to use. It is located at 93 Oxford Street along State Highway One.

Find tranquillity at the Waiopehu Scenic Reserve at 1154 Queen St East. It is an idyllic place to have a picnic or play games with your friends and children. Take a relaxing stroll through the native bush and marvel at the peaceful scenery alongside the stream. There is ongoing pest control at the reserve, so visitors are required to supervise their children diligently.

Levin also has various restaurants and eateries for you to indulge in. There is cuisine from different cultures, such as the Rangoli Indian Restaurant or the Kaffir Lime Cafe and Thai Cuisine. For a Turkish flavour, go to Cafe Anatolia Levin.

Enjoy the variety of the area and explore what Levin has to offer.

Cow & Horse Processing in Levin

No Moore Hassel Pet Food is an MPI approved and recognised primary meat processor. Based in Levin we offer local farmers a free and highly professional pick-up service for unwanted healthy cows and horses in the Manawatu-Wanganui region. If you would prefer to transport your animal yourself or have your horse or cow put down on the farm then we can arrange this with a No Hassell guarantee.

About Us

Our in-house processing plant enables us to guarantee the consistent quality and reliability of the process from the picking-up to the putting-down of the animal. As a recognised specialist you can rest assured that our years of expertise and close connection to the farming industry makes our service as convenient, respectful and professional as it can be.

Rural Building/sheds & shelters

The bathroom’s new associate

by Andy Bryenton

Better hygiene, a huge saving on your grocery bill and a boost for the environment combine to make the convenience of the bathroom’s ‘other convenience’ a serious consideration for renovators.

Since 1975 it’s been a mandatory part of bathrooms in places like Italy and Portugal. Despite being popular, since before the French Revolution, the concept of the bidet is only just becoming a bathroom trend in New Zealand. Whether it’s a stand-alone unit like those you may have seen in hotels or on your foreign travels, or a device replacing your usual lavatory seat, people are switching on to the benefits.

People from cultures which swear by the bidet, places like France, Italy, Argentina, Egypt and Spain, for example, insist that it’s just a matter of cleanliness. If you wash your hands with water, they would opine, washing elsewhere with water, especially if it’s warm and soothing, is common sense. They may have a point. Studies prove that the bidet does work better than the toilet paper it replaces.

Then there’s the impact on the environment. Each usage expends only about half a litre of water, less than the amount used to cultivate the amount of paper necessary for the same operation. Scientific American magazine crunched

Push button convenience — a bidet refit like this turns any lavatory into a Japanese-style auto-washing bidet with warm water on command the numbers and estimated that a switch to bidets by the majority of US citizens would save 15 million trees each year. Bidets would also get rid of wet wipe towelettes flushed into the sewers. Those who like the extra cleanliness and comfort of the wipes are natural bidet adopters in any case.

The big benefit of the bidet comes from its ease of use. Older folks, especially those with mobility or balance issues in later life, can be self-reliant for much longer with the assistance of this kind of technology.

Gerontologists recommend the fitment of an add-on bidet for many of their patients to enable them to live at home longer.

The French may have invented the bidet, but it’s the Japanese who have brought the device to the forefront of technology. While the option to install a heated replacement lavatory seat unit or a stand-alone porcelain fixture is the limit of your options in New Zealand, in Japan, bathroom science has delivered conveniences that play music, automatically perfume the air, and give options for cleansing sprays at different temperatures, with a range of scents, or even a follow-up puff of talcum powder.

WOODBURNERS

Free standing, inbuilt, stoves, outdoor fires

WOODBURNER PARTS

All fires - all parts. Instore selection or we order

WOODBURNER FLUE CLEANS AND INSPECTIONS

WOODBURNER REBUILDS

GAS

Free standing, inbuilt, instant hot water units, outdoor heaters, bayonet heaters, outdoor fires

CENTRAL HEATING

Underfloor, radiators

(Natural gas, LPG, Diesel, air to water heatpumps) PLUMBING

New homes, maintenance, alterations

DRAINAGE

New & existing

Rural Building/sheds & shelters

Washing your way

by Amy Fifita

It is often the smaller details that make a home which is why it is smart to consider styles of tapware in your design plans.

You can select various styles of tapware to add a splash of your desired style and give your home a personal feel. Fittings are often available in various colours, looks, design features and functions.

A dual showerhead could be a luxurious addition to your bathroom. There will be no rush to keep warm while you are hosing off the suds because the broader showerhead will have you covered. A similar feature is a rain head above your regular shower.

For those on tank water, conserving water and sustainability are often considerations. A low-flow showerhead offers efficiency; many of them work without sacrificing water pressure.

There are even options for the children, especially those who have an aversion to showering. Make washing fun by getting a light-up shower head. It offers a great distraction, and many come with various colours to choose from for each use.

Another consideration is tap fixtures. Some people prefer mixer taps, while others would rather have two separate taps and various other water fixture capabilities. There are also various taps depending on the water pressure in your home.

In the kitchen, it might be ideal to have a spring tap to create ease when washing fruits, vegetables and dishes. It is a functional addition to a workstation sink.

Once you have chosen the function of your tap, you can move on to selecting the style and aesthetic design you would

love in your home. It is something that you will constantly see, so decide what is appealing to you.

There are various styles trending for 2023. Mixed metals are popular at the moment, and it adds different pops of colour and adds ease to the deciding

Workshops, Farm and Lifestyle Buildings. Anyway you want them

process because you get to choose two. Matte blacks offer contrast for the other colours in your bathroom or kitchen.

Once you have a clear picture of what you want, you can put the steps into motion and have an end product that works and represents who you are and what you want.

Consider what you want from your taps, from the way they function to what style you like, such as a spring tap that adds ease to washing vegetables and dishes

People in glass houses

by Andy Bryenton

An ailing emperor, a king’s taste for oranges as a political statement, and a glass palace made for a queen all add up to the formula for the modern garden’s greenhouse.

A popular kitset for home gardeners all over New Zealand, the small garden greenhouse is a godsend for those who wish to cultivate crops and flowers in the changeable, sometimes chilly conditions of our maritime climate. With moneysaving home veggie gardens a fresh trend and composting food scraps for the garden a great way to reduce household waste, they are popping up in greater numbers, with new designs to fit into our generally smaller modern outdoor spaces.

The first ever greenhouses came from Rome, where emperor Tiberius was advised by his doctors to eat a cucumber a day to stave off sickness. The emperor demanded the seasonal veggies year-round, prompting his architects to build a structure with laminated cloth sails for a roof, like the great awnings over the Colosseum. Tiberius got his cukes, and an idea was born.

By the 1680s, wealthy lords in Europe had adapted the concept of the greenhouse to grow tropical and unseasonal fruits for their tables, a show of great power and wealth. Items like pineapples and bananas were seen as displays of excess when served to guests, especially in winter. This was because greenhouses required lots of maintenance and lots of very expensive hand-made glass.

King Louis of France popularised them by cultivating oranges year-round at the Palace

The invention of inexpensive glass panels brought a whole new aspect to home gardening of Versailles. His reason for eating the fruit was twofold; they came from Spain, his biggest Catholic ally, and they represented a political pun. Louis hated William of Orange, the prince of Holland and later king of England, and by slicing, chopping, juicing and devouring oranges he made a satirical point about his wishes for William.

Greenhouse design changed with the ability to mass-produce glass and with the iron-and-glass architecture movement of the middle Victorian age. This saw its height with the construction of the socalled Crystal Palace in 1851. Queen

Victoria’s showcase for science and culture was housed under a huge ironframed glass structure, which was to be replicated by other monarchs, botanical gardens, zoos and railway stations all over the world. In a smaller form, this method of attaching glass panels to a metal frame became the template for the much smaller greenhouses set up in ordinary gardens.

Rural Building/sheds & shelters

Is your home up to code?

by Andy Bryenton

There are strict rules in place to ensure that homes rented out to tenants meet certain health standards, but many privately owned homes may not stack up. How about yours?

Health department research shows a link between cold, damp and mouldy homes and adverse health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as asthma and cardiovascular conditions. It isn’t

PLUMBING LIMITED

Your local Master Plumbers/Drainlayers in the Waimarino area servicing Raetihi, Ohakune, National Park, Waiouru and Pipiriki.

For all of your Plumbing, Drainlaying, Septic Tanks, Pumps, Fires, Water Filters, UV lamps, Farm Water schemes and more.

5 Ton Digger with Auger & Truck Hire.

controversial or new science. It’s so well established that private landlords have been compelled to comply with specific standards since 2021. For the rest of us, those standards provide a good baseline to see if our own homes are ready to face winter.

Heating — The Healthy Homes standard states that every home must have one or more fixed heat sources, with a minimum of one in the living room. Portable heaters, or unhealthy or inefficient ones don’t count. For most homes, a heat pump is a common choice, though in rural areas, a wood-burning fire, gas fire or pellet heater is also popular. It means that primarily heating your home with small fan heaters, gas bottle heaters, electric fires or oil column heaters is not advised; save small heaters for smaller rooms.

Insulation — Rental homes must have underfloor insulation, if it can be installed, and ceiling insulation with a resistance value of at least 2.9. Even with advanced new materials, this usually means roof insulation at least 12cm thick or more. If your ceiling insulation has crumbled or shrunk below this limit, your home may

not be getting the protection it needs to be considered healthy.

Ventilation — The rules state that every room must have a window that opens to the outdoors, but, more importantly, all bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens must have a powerful fan extraction system.

Drainage and drips — There’s no tolerance for leaks, leaky gutters or lack of stormwater drainage in the Healthy Homes code. Water getting in can cause rot, mould, fungus and illness, and weathertightness is an

absolute dealbreaker for a home to be considered healthy.

Draughts — Understandably, any gap that produces a noticeable draught must be blocked, whether under a door, through a cracked window or even via a disused fireplace.

How does your home compare to these minimum standards for landlords? If there’s an area where your property needs attention, call the professionals in to help cure those winter ills. Doing so could save both your health and that of your home in the long run.

DO

Warm, healthy homes start with blown insulation. If cold or damp are words you’d use to describe your home or if you’re tired of high heating bills, insulation is a major part of the solution. While heating solutions seem like the answer, reducing the amount of heat escaping from your home is the most cost effective way to get an energy efficient, warm, dry home.

Second season discoveries

by Amy Fifita

Northland Agricultural Research Farm and the Northland Dairy Development Trust invited farmers to its annual field day recently to share year two of its findings for its current alternative pastures and low-emission farming systems.

“We are at the end of the second year of the trial. All farms we are researching have the same type of soil and experience the same weather,” says NDDT coordinator Kim Robinson.

The study compares alternative pastures and low-emissions farms with the ‘current farm’, which is used as the control in their experiments. No nitrogen fertiliser was used on the low-emission farm, and the system stabilised in the second year of the trial. Findings here will be useful for farmers across the nation, with science developed in these pastures informing decisions on new types of feed and the future of lowemissions dairying, for example.

After the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, the trial stopped and some information was modelled as a result. There was also an outbreak of tropical armyworm caterpillars.

“What sets us apart is that these farms are run by farmers who make the decisions and have a scientific overlay. This year we had a wetter summer and got to see how the pastures did with flooding. We got some good learnings, and it shows why it is important to do multiple years of the trial.”

The alternative pastures benefitted from the wetter summer compared

to the current farm system. The milk solids rose from 794 kilograms of milk solids a hectare to 910kgMS a hectare on the low emissions farmlet, which they think may be from the high clover content and a change in grazing strategies.

The 2022–2023 season showed promising results for the farming system compared to the current and alternative pasture farmlets. Last year, the results for the low-emission farmlet were poor regarding productivity and profitability.

In comparison to the current farming system, the low-emissions farm saw a 29% reduction in methane a hectare exceeding the target by four per cent. There was a 44% reduction in nitrous oxide emission and a reduction of

16% in methane for a kilogram of milk solids.

This year, the operating profit across all three farms was more balanced than the 2021–2022 season with the $8.20kgMS price. The current farm had the lowest of $1,912, alternative pastures profited at $2,707, and the low emissions farm received $2,282.

Chris Boom addressing the crowd about the pastures at the Northland Agricultural Research Farm