Manawatu Farming Lifestyles, June 2024

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

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Journalists: Denise Gunn | Andy Bryenton | Amy Fifita

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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.

by Denise Gunn

Popular garden tour returns

A selection of gardens in northern Rangitīkei will be showcased during a one-day self-guided garden tour in November.

Up the Garden Path is making a return following the success of the inaugural event in 2021. All funds raised from the garden tour are earmarked for physical education projects, workshops and resources at St Joseph’s School in Taihape.

The first event, held in November 2021, followed a committee discussion about fundraising.

“We knew we had some amazing gardens around Taihape and we were looking for fundraising ideas,” said Up the Garden Path committee member Hannah Totman.

“A few garden owners suggested we organise a garden tour. Gardens tours are always such a good day out.

“It was really successful. We are lucky to have so many fantastic gardens in the area and people kind enough to open them up for us.”

Eight gardens are lined up this year. Five of those were in the previous garden tour and three new gardens.

“We have some of the old favourites which you never get tired of looking at. We’ve got two new country gardens and a town garden.”

Garden styles will cover expansive homestead gardens and smaller architectural styles.

Renowned gardener Gordon Collier will open his garden for the day. He was also involved in the previous tour.

Hannah said Gordon’s garden was only a year old during the last tour so it will be interesting for visitors to see the progress three years later.

His house will also be open for ticket holders to look through.

“It’s like a treasure trove of art and designs,” said Hannah.

Taihape farmers Andrew and Pam Peters will also open their garden. The Landcare Trust award winners are

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planning to hold an organised farm walk to discuss the work achieved on their property.

Gardens will feature stallholders, artists and local producers, too.

Picnic lunches, additional to the ticket price, will be available to pick up on the day from St Joseph’s School.

Hannah said feedback from people who attended the previous garden tour has been amazing.

This year’s Up the Garden Path will be held on Sunday, November 17.

Tickets are available now at upthegardenpath.net.nz/event-info or from Anna’s Homestore and Gifts in Taihape.

Eight gardens are included in this year’s one-day self-guided garden tour

This year’s Up the Garden Path follows the success of the previous event in 2021

TMARKET FOR MERINOS

BY DENISE GUNN

When Whanganui farmers Kerry and Julie Thompson closed their Merino stud in 2017, they began purchasing Poll Merino rams from Glen Orkney Merinos in Marlborough.

he decision to close after 20 years as the North Island’s only Merino stud, followed the completion of Horizons Regional Council’s tree planting programme.

“We found that with the smaller area we were now farming, we couldn’t justify the continued cost and the farm grazing area required, as we had to allow for grazing about 140 rams,” said Kerry.

“Since then, we have developed a relationship with Glen Orkney Merinos in Marlborough and purchase Poll Merino rams from them.”

A land swap with their neighbour in 2023 increased the farm’s effective area by around 30ha. The farm is situated on volcanic soils and receives an average annual rainfall of 1,300mls.

“Our current total land area is 900ha and our effective area is 450ha. All the tree planting planned with Horizons for forestry was completed in 2017.

“We currently plant about 100 erosion poles per year in the remaining steeper paddocks.”

Mangaiti Merinos was established by Kerry’s father Brian.

In 1989, Brian was involved in a Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries project running Merinos at Flock House near Bulls. This led to his purchase of 200 Merino hoggets with the aim of seeking new sources of income.

Brian and his wife Olive, together with Kerry and Julie, ran a stud flock of Merinos along with a commercial flock and Simmental cattle on their two

The latest Merino rams from Glen Orkney Station

adjoining land blocks, Tirohanga and Mangaiti. Brian and Olive retired from farming in 2015.

Kerry and Julie now do the majority of the farm work.

“We have a person help us part-time for one to two days per week.

“My parents are now 88 and 87 but still live on the farm. Dad still gets

around to help with keeping an eye on stock and checking we don’t have any water leaks.”

Currently the farm winters approximately 1,600 Merino ewes, 1,400 Perendale ewes, 80 Simmental breeding cows and replacements, 450 Perendale ewe hoggets, 450 Merino ewe hoggets, 15 R1Y heifers and 15 R2Y heifers.

“We also winter about 500 Merino wether hoggets which are shorn in August and then sold by Christmas.”

The farm’s Perendales start lambing from September 1, followed by the Merinos a week later. Most of the Thompson’s wether lambs and excess ewe lambs are sold on the store market.

“We finish about 50% of our Merino lambs ourselves and they are supplied to AFFCO.”

All wool from both Merinos and Perendales is sold through New Zealand Merino.

“We have ZQRX certification for supply of ethical wool and this enables us to sell the wool we produce on premium contacts.”

Kerry said they currently have a 10year supply contract with New Zealand

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clothing manufacturer Icebreaker taking most of their Merino ewe fleece wool.

The couple has found their main farming challenge is an ageing workforce in the sector.

“We are now in our early 60s and most of the contractors who work for us are our age or older. We have a farm worker who helps on a part-time basis with stockwork and she is in her 20s, and the youngest person doing work on the property by some margin.”

Kerry and Julie call on family members and people who have permission to hunt on the property to help with scanning and docking.

“We are currently about the only commercial farm operating on our road

with the rest of the road now being forestry and lifestyle blocks. This has meant we are also facing increasing pressure on the management of feral animals; deer, pigs and goats.

“Management of these pests is an ongoing issue.”

Since completing the sustainable land use programme with Horizons, Kerry and Julie have improved the overall profitability of the farm.

This has enabled them to invest in improving the dated farm infrastructure and subdivision.

“This in turn has helped us improve feed utilisation and is showing positive animal performance and health benefits,” said Kerry.

The Thompson’s are starting to consider how to position the farm over the next five to 10 years as they reach the later stages of their working lives.

Droving Merino two-tooth ewes to the shed

Julie and Kerry run Merinos, Perendales and Simmentals on their farm

After leaving her hometown of Tauranga, Isabella Panettiere graduated from Massey University with a Bachelor of Science majoring in animal science.

In June 2021, the 24-year-old thought dairy farming would provide good practical skills to the theory she had learned while studying towards her degree.

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TOWNIE TO TOP TRAINEE

“I came for the cows but I’ve stayed for the people,” she said.

Isabella’s first dairy farm position was in Maxwell, north of Whanganui. She then moved to Fonterra’s Longburn farms where she is now in her third season as herd manager of the dairy co-operative’s 255ha, 630-cow Thornton Park.

BY DENISE GUNN

The 2024 Manawatū Dairy Trainee of the Year grew up as a townie before pursuing a career in the dairy industry.

“I’m so fortunate to work for Fonterra. I’m provided with endless opportunities but I think having made herd manager in my third season, and then 2IC for the end of that season, has been a huge highlight.

“I was also fortunate enough to be put through AI training with LIC in June of 2023.”

Currently, Isabella is studying towards PrimaryITO Level 3 Livestock Feeding.

Dairy stock on Thornton Park

“I love how rewarding my role is. I get to see the benefits on a daily basis of feeding cows optimally, then seeing the milk go into the vat.

“Our staph herd screening has resulted in a huge decrease of mastitis which, from not only an animal welfare perspective, is huge.”

The farm receives an average annual rainfall of between 1,000-1,100mls per year. Around 16ha of maize is typically grown on the run-off, and the cut and carry farm.

“It can get very dry in summer which means grass growth definitely struggles resulting in supplemental feeding being required. Thankfully we are on quite freedraining soil so don’t get too wet with lots of rain.”

Autumn is Isabella’s favourite season on the farm.

“It’s not too hot, not too many flies, and autumn calving is drier than spring calving. It’s just a really good time on the farm.”

As a first-time entrant in the dairy industry awards, Isabella found the programme an excellent way to benchmark her current skills.

“I want to progress my skills and network so I can continue to move forward in my career and it’s an amazing opportunity to do so.”

She is also excited about new progressions and science behind improvements within the industry.

“I love being part of improving the farm I’m on to not just meet industry standards, but to exceed them and set new standards.”

In her spare time, Isabella is treasurer for Fitzherbert Young Farmers and is involved with Surfing for Farmers.

Her short term goals include moving into the 2IC position which she has already secured a contract for on the farm. Isabella has also set her sights on progressing to farm manager in a couple of seasons.

“I’m also going to purchase an investment house by May 2025. I plan on investing in property until I have the equity to purchase a farm suitable to be a berry farm open to the public with a cafe and shop.

“I plan on doing this by working as a farm manager while I am setting up until it’s financially sustainable.”

At the recent New Zealand Dairy Industry Awards, Isabella placed third in the Dairy Trainee of the Year category. She also won the DairyNZ Practical Skills merit award.

Judges described her as a surprise package who is new to the industry and farming life.

“It’s brilliant to see someone who wasn’t raised on a farm succeed in dairying,” said the judges.

“She has a thirst for knowledge and is supported by her farm employers.”

Head judge Mark Laurence said judges were impressed by Isabella’s enthusiasm, skills and knowledge, and her quiet confidence.

Backing our Regions with $1 2 billion for the Regional Infrastructure Fund to turbocharge rural communities.

Supporting young kiwis with $24 million to Gumboot Friday for free mental health counselling sessions

Getting tough on rising crime with $651 million for 500 more police officers and the tools they need to do their job.

Building our future workforce with $65 million for ‘Apprenticeship Boost’ to help tradies keep and take on new apprentices.

PLANTING THE SEEDS OF SUCCESSION

TGrowing quality, certified grafted grapevines for the wine industry is the Gibbs family’s main focus on their 28.5ha Te Horo property.

he family’s efforts were recognised recently when selected as finalists in the 2024 Greater Wellington Ballance Farm Environment Awards, run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust.

Kate and her husband Tim manage the property alongside their son Harry.

“I do the technical consulting.

“Tim does books and accounting. He’s actually an engineer so takes care of the technical aspects.

“Harry deals with orders, operation and staff.”

Kate’s parents originally ran a Hereford stud on the property. During the 1980s, it was converted to horticulture, growing berries, limes, kiwifruit and tamarillos.

The family started growing grapevines for supply to New Zealand’s vineyards in the 1990s.

“We started growing rootstock on this farm in 1989,” said Kate.

A viticulturist by trade, Kate previously worked with MAF then Corbans and Delegat Wines.

BY DENISE GUNN

Sunflowers are used to sequester carbon and are also available for sale

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Stanmore Farm’s location, facing northwest and tucked under the base of the Tararua foothills, provides a mild climate. The location and climate, combined with rich, fertile soils, offer ideal growing conditions.

Rootstock and scion wood is grown onsite which is harvested off trellis during the winter. It is then grafted in springtime to make the new vines.

The grapevines are lifted then sent to customers as dormant one-year-old vines, ready for spring planting between September and November.

All varieties are grown to order but predominantly Sauvignon Blanc at present due to international wine demand. Kate said 80% of New Zealand’s wine industry is Sauvignon Blanc.

“We supply growers throughout the country and because it’s all to order, we send out whatever combinations of scion and rootstock they want.”

A blackberry crop was first introduced as a management tool to keep staff permanently instead of on a seasonal basis. The blackberries are sold fresh and frozen to supermarkets and also on-site as pick-yourown in the farm shop in February and March.

“The blackberries are an off-season crop. That’s a very small part of our operation,” said Kate.

“This year we also grew sunflowers for people to walk through and buy.”

With each season comes a change of daily routine.

“Autumn is our quiet time and ideal for holidays, planning repairs and management. We are also currently virus testing all our vines.

“It all really starts in June when we start harvesting the rootstock and lifting last year’s vines out of the ground and packing for the clients.

“Farming has a lot of challenges. You are always up against the weather, market, staff issues and bureaucracy.”

“There are also specific challenges with pests and diseases,” said Kate.

“Most seasons we get something thrown at us. There is something to learn all the time.”

Kate’s father used regenerative farming practices on the property and the family continue this.

“We fallow the land to keep soils healthy,” said Kate.

Nurseries are rotated and planted in crops. A small herd of cattle have remained on the property and are also rotationally grazed

along with chickens to assist with fallow cropping.

“We really look after the soil by growing fallow crops in the off-time. We grow lupins for nitrogen and mustard to kill pathogens.

“Sunflowers and oats are used to sequester carbon.”

Additional diversification includes the introduction of five-star luxury accommodation for guests on the property.

“We are part of the PurePod group. It’s a five star luxury off-grid experience for guests to stay in a fully transparent glass box in private landscape.”

The farm’s commercial kitchen, currently leased to Barlovska Craft Liqueurs, provides another income stream.

With the aim of encouraging more birds to the area, the family have

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completely fenced a valley. More than 3,500 native trees have been planted through working alongside the Greater Wellington Council.

Active predator control is in place. Kate said the wine industry is great to work in.

“It’s collaborative and we’ve seen a lot of changes. The New Zealand wine industry is very innovative.

“We are at the forefront of it. We see the plantings going in and we’ve really improved things over the years.”

Stanmore Farm also won the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust soil management, agribusiness, and regeneration awards.

“It’s an ongoing challenge in agriculture and even long-term to be here. We want the seed of succession to thrive in the next generation,” said Kate.

Harry tending the vines

Planting preparation

The maturing Tuatara utility vehicle

by Geoff Hill

Tuatara Machinery has been manufacturing all-steel off-road utility vehicles for more than ten years. This time has allowed for a progression of signi cant upgrades to be undertaken, which continue to the present time. Many of the improvements have come at the recommendation of our customers, whose advice and opinions we value.

I think it would be a mistake to try to compare the Tuatara with the plastic, four-wheel motorbike “puttputts” with their limited carriage and towing capacity. The Tuatara is a genuine utility vehicle that is designed for towing and carrying substantial weights and to pretty much go wherever it is pointed. Tuatara owners will bear testimony to this.

Four years ago, saw the introduction of our all-electric eTuatara, which was based on the same platform as our petrol model. This allowed us to capitalise on the lessons learnt in the design of the petrol Tuatara, with the only significant change being the means of propulsion. The take-up of the eTuatara has exceeded our expectations, with sales in the region of 70% EV and 30% petrol. I believe

the reasons for this have been the low running costs (ie approximately 3 cents per km on electricity) as well as the reduced servicing costs due to the simplicity of EVs as compared with ICEs (ie internal combustion engines). Farming actually suits the EV option due to the fact that most farmers don’t exceed more than 40km a day and can charge the battery overnight.

Steady improvements have been made with our eTuatara in the past four years, with one of the major innovations being a remote diagnosis capability. This allows us to examine the battery health of the vehicle from literally anywhere and even to do software updates remotely.

Further groundbreaking upgrades, and new vehicle model additions will be introduced in coming months so please watch this space.

Helping the sector flourish

by New Zealand First

New Zealand First recognises the critical role of a thriving primary sector as the engine room of New Zealand’s economy.

Improving primary sector profitability is crucial for New Zealand to remain competitive internationally and to put value back behind the farm gate.

By developing our international connections and trade options, the government is planning to double New Zealand’s exports in the next ten years. A significant portion of this will be achieved through agriculture and forestry.

We are getting provincial New Zealand thriving again with $1.2 billion to establish the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF). This includes protecting our rural communities with an initial investment of $200 million into flood resilience infrastructure.

We know that investing in proactive strategies is more cost-effective than paying to rebuild after disastrous weather events. For every $1 invested in flood protection, it is estimated between $5–$8 in direct losses are avoided.

Rural communities are where our heartland industries thrive, and regional investment not only protects our primary productive base but also supports primary industry growth.

Changes to the Resource Management Act (RMA) and the introduction of Fasttrack Consenting legislation will also dramatically impact our rural sector.

Streamlining consenting and bureaucratic processes, and removing red and green tape for initiatives such as irrigation, water storage, and flood protection schemes is imperative. These measures are aimed at expediting the implementation of infrastructure projects, facilitating economic growth, strengthening community resilience against natural disasters, and ensuring that the communities surrounding these projects can prosper.

Previous investment through the Provincial Growth Fund has positively impacted our regions through projects such as water storage in Northland and Hawke’s Bay, and flood resilience infrastructure in Canterbury. Further investment through the RIF will continue to bolster these areas against future weather events and environmental planning burdens.

New Zealand First made clear commitments in our coalition agreement that will back farm environment plans, reduce regulatory hurdles for farmers, and solidify our dedication to a commonsense approach to agricultural sustainability.

We are deeply committed to championing our country’s hard-working rural sector and celebrating the unique kiwi industry that our export economy relies on.

Rt Hon Winston Peters

MANAWATU HOME & LIFESTYLE SHOW

Wide variety at Manawatū Home and Lifestyle Show

The annual Manawatū Home and Lifestyle Show returns to Palmerston North in July, with more than 230 businesses lined up to showcase their products and services.

A wide range of local and national exhibitors will feature the latest in kitchens, bathrooms, flooring, furniture, heating solutions, outdoor living, landscaping, homewares and appliances.

“Following the great success of last year’s event, we are thrilled to return to Palmerston North,” said New Zealand Media and Entertainment (NZME) event director Aingie Miller.

A show highlight is the unique variety of shopping available, showcasing luxurious items such as spa pools and bespoke fireplaces. The Artisan Zone will feature a collection of unique products, including stylish home decor, exquisite artwork and beautifully crafted furniture.

Selections of gourmet food, treats and beverages will give visitors opportunities to indulge in samples of artisan breads, meats, cooking rubs, condiments, handcrafted spirits, chocolate and more.

The Manawatū Home and Lifestyle Show will be held at Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North from Friday, July 19 to Sunday, July 21. Opening hours are 10am–5pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10am–4pm on Sunday.

Early-bird tickets can be purchased online from $3.50. Door sales are $6 for adults. Children 12 and under are free.

For further information and to buy tickets visit www.homeandlifestyleshow. co.nz/manawatu.

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Reduce your heating costs and come see us at the Manawatu home show

Home Owners

DO YOU WANT THE WARM WALL FEEL OF A NEW HOME?

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.

The Manawatū Home and Lifestyle Show will showcase a wide variety of products and services

From carpet to computers

by Andy Bryenton

In the early days of carpets, hand-woven masterpieces from the Middle East were transported huge distances to grace the stately homes of Europe.

However, it was the burgeoning colonies in America that changed the way we look at flooring, along with an invention from France, which would come close to kick-starting the information age a century too soon.

With more space to build, new money rolling in from trade, and new cities springing up, the US was fertile ground for builders and interior designers in the years following the Declaration of Independence. People wanted the luxuries of the crowned heads of Europe for the common man’s home.

The biggest show of wealth and prestige, combined with practicality, was woven carpets in every room. William Sprague made his fortune in selling machine-made carpets in 1791, but it was Erastus Bigelow who added steam power; his power loom is now kept in the Smithsonian Institute, as a US industry milestone.

Enter French inventor Joseph Jacquard, who developed a new kind of weaving loom, capable of being programmed to make intricate patterns and designs. He may have been inspired by the wooden cards punched with holes that were used to automate early pipe organs for music, but his innovation was to change flooring completely and take an unexpected turn.

Charles Babbage designed a machine, which used carpet-weaving technology to calculate sums. It couldn’t be built in the 1800s, but when it was assembled in modern times, it worked perfectly

The so-called Brussels Loom was invented in 1849, using Jacquard’s programmable technology. It was made to automatically replicate a famous Belgian carpet pattern, used in the fine old mediaeval palaces of that nation.

The Hartford Carpet Company and Clinton Company merged to afford such expensive new technology, but the ability to sell inexpensive patterned carpets made them wealthy. By 1876, rival carpet maker Halcyon Skinner had developed an automatic loom to make Royal Axminster,

still a popular choice today. Patterned carpets had become part of the furniture in most new urban builds.

Now comes the twist in the tale. Just as more and more complex carpet patterns were being programmed by bigger and bigger stacks of cards, an Englishman named Charles Babbage was becoming interested in machines that could do mathematical calculations. His plans for steam-powered computers running on brass gears were ahead of their time in the 1840s and 1850s, a century before the age of computers. However, he needed a means by which his analytical engines could be programmed. Jacquard’s punch cards were the solution, and it was only the lack of engineering precision which stopped his plans from giving the Victorian era ‘steampunk’ computers.

by Andy Bryenton

Cheer up your home with colour

Can the colours you use to decorate your home have a positive effect on your mental health during the cold, dark months of the year?

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Advocates of chromotherapy, or better health through visual stimulus, say yes. The association of colours with moods goes back so far that it is entwined in many cultures with religious practices. Certain colours were used to represent divinity, such as the deep purple of the Roman emperors and the bright orange and yellow tones used in Buddhist garb and temple design.

One of the important ways that colour can assist comes with the gloomy dark months of winter, when seasonal affective disorder can strike, leading to listlessness, poor sleep patterns, and a depressed mood. This is a very real problem, linked to a lack of vitamin D from natural sunlight, as well as, increasingly, an understanding of how the human brain processes colour stimulus.

Our pre-industrial past means that there’s a need in the human brain to see different shades of green. This deep neural ‘programming’ is said to come from the times when our ancestors lived in forested areas as hunters and, at the same time, near big predatory animals. We’re fine-tuned to see patterns in a visual landscape of green, white, blue and

a spectrum of yellows and browns. These can be missing completely from a modern, constructed environment in winter.

The introduction of natural colours, using lights, artwork or even just feature walls, has been shown by UCLA researchers to increase dopamine levels and serotonin in those feeling the effect of seasonal affective disorder. These ‘feel good’ brain chemicals are naturally occurring, and low levels can lead to anxiety and feelings of sadness and lethargy.

Conversely, it’s now well established that blue light, especially the artificial blue-white light of neon tubes and screens, can negatively impact the ability to sleep well. Blue-light-blocking glasses and devices like ebook readers that do not use blue light have been developed to stop this problem.

If you’re set on cheering up your home this winter, take a closer look at how colours can affect your mood and bring some bright, vibrant greens, golds, oranges and reds into the mix. There’s a surprising boost to be found in colouring your world while nature is grim and grey outdoors.

Paint, curtains, furniture, flooring and more can all burst free of neutral tones to bring colour to your world during winter

EDUCATION

We are an independent, co-educational, Anglican day school for students in Years 0 to 8. St George’s opened in 1927. We grow compassionate citizens who are determined to build positive communities.

We believe that nurturing happiness, hope, wellbeing, and engagement in each student are essential dispositions required for learning to ignite, and for citizenship to develop. At St George’s we encourage and challenge our students to be faithful and daring in all that they do.

Families choose St George’s because we encourage Discovery and nurture every child. Our facilities are state of the art and support the delivery of our Discovery curricula. We offer small class sizes and personalised learning for each student, and as an Anglican School we are strong and proud of our values and traditions. The relationship we build between home and School is essential to our success, so together we can provide an ‘arms wide round’ approach for our students.

Our offer to students from Years 1-8 is responsive and respectful to the individual, by supporting each child to learn in a wide range of values based, academic, sporting, community, and cultural areas. We embrace competition and promote fair play, whether it is on our many Sports exchanges or weekly interschool sports games, interhouse competitions like chess, music, performing arts and other inter-school and regional events.

The key to the success of our personalised learning vision is the arms wide round approach for each student. This involves building the vital partnership between home and school, with our teachers, parents and caregivers working together and building relationships, with the best interests of the child at the heart of all that we do.

Our teachers ignite and support student voice, choice, and agency to build character, citizenship, and community. Our teachers are highly skilled professionals who love working with and for our students. We are passionate about ‘Discovery’ teaching and learning. Discovery is a way of teaching and learning at St George’s in all curriculum areas. It springboards from essential foundations of daily, core curriculum subjects such as Mathematics and English. A Discovery curriculum requires inquiry, collaboration, problem solving, sustainability, awe and wonder in learning, and promotes community. This is our commitment to best practice teaching and learning for each student.

We encourage higher order thinking with all students, and because of this our students are more caring, critical, and creative thinkers. Our students are supported to be creators of digital solutions, to think generously to explore and to innovate, and to be agile thinkers. Discovery enables us to grow great citizens who can contribute to building caring and sustainable communities. Our students know it only takes one person to make a positive difference in our community.

You are warmly welcomed to make an appointment to visit our School and discuss your child’s ‘Discovery’ at St George’s

Individualised tuition builds con dence

Maths and English are foundational skills that must be mastered for students to achieve academic success.

These skills are complex and don’t come easily for many children who can get left behind in a classroom of 30.

For more than 35 years, NumberWorks’nWords has provided support for children’s learning with its specialist maths and English tuition services that help children of any ability get on track with their learning or extend children who aren’t being challenged.

The secret to NumberWorks’nWords’ success comes from world-class tuition software, tutors who are subject matter experts, and individual tuition programmes tailored to each child’s particular needs.

Every child who comes to NumberWorks’nWords Palmerston North receives an assessment to determine their strengths and weaknesses. Once Arthur, the centre manager, understands a child’s capabilities, he creates a learning plan in consultation with parents that focusses on closing learning gaps or extending their knowledge, not teaching them what they already know.

Faithful & Daring

Children receive one-on-one teaching from tutors who explain new concepts, and the students cement their understanding with practice using computer-based exercises. This combination of individual instruction plus independent practice is designed to create a con dent learner in the classroom.

NumberWorks’nWords is a fun, supportive environment that will help your child gain a love of learning. Many children who struggle academically suffer from a loss of learning con dence. Tutors at NumberWorks’nWords provide constant feedback on progress and award certi cates for achievements.

Based on success, children who attend NumberWorks’nWords experience a positive change in mindset about their capabilities.

You can help your child with maths or English by calling Arthur Yeo on 06 354 3211 for a no-obligation free assessment at Numberworks’nWords Palmerston North. It’s a great place to learn.

Left to right: Ally Lyons, Arthur Yeo, Amanda Dever-Tod and Myra Reitsma

SPOTLIGHT ON

Appreciating times gone past

by Amy Fifita

Celebrate the town’s rich European and Māori history by exploring the heritage trail and witnessing the different eras that have influenced modern Whanganui.

The trail will take travellers to 25 places of interest in the township with each spot on the way paying tribute to the town’s rich history.

Beginning at the former Thain’s Warehouse at the Whanganui i-Site Visitor Centre at 31A Taupo Quay, walkers can delve into some local history. Alongside the old warehouse is Mable, the restored number-12 tram and a reminder of the locality’s previous popular transport method.

A short walk along the river will take explorers to the third stop on the trail — PS Waimarie and Hatrick’s Wharf. Around the corner, you will find the Whanganui River Boat Centre.

These two attractions display the town’s connection to the river as does Pākaitore, a former fishing village to hapū, now known as the Moutoa Gardens. Continuing, the Whanganui Repertory Theatre awaits your gaze.

Before 1933 it was a library, but since then has been a place for entertainers to perform. Next up is the Meteor Printers, once the Waitōtara County Council offices.

Enjoy the Victorian and Edwardian architecture along Ridgway Street. People can admire the decorative building facades on the likes of the Number 32 Loyal Whanganui Lodge and the Empress Building. Travellers can marvel at and delight in the culinary creations at the Rutland Arms Inn situated at the Ridgway Street and Victoria Avenue intersection. In the centre of the roads, the Watt Fountain stands tall as a memorial to William Hogg Watt, the first Whanganui mayor.

Taking a left along Victoria Avenue is the BNZ Bank building opposite the Kitchen’s building, the first pharmacy in town and the Drew’s building. Retracing your steps to the Watt Fountain, visitors can view the old post and telegraph structure.

The Royal Whanganui Opera House is another drawing point to the town as is the 1930 National Bank structure, Williams Jewellers and Collier buildings. The last two focal points on the trail are Majestic Square and Queen’s Park.

The Watt Fountain stands before the Rutland Arms Inn and the Anderson building displaying the picturesque history of the town

by Andy Bryenton

Queens of the River

One of the unique historical aspects of Whanganui is the enduring appeal of its riverboats, which hearken back to the days when the river was the superhighway of trade and commerce.

The two most famous, the Motor Vessel (MV) Wairua and the larger, paddlewheel powered Waimarie, are a link to a vibrant era of freshwater navigation when smaller settlements on the sometimes treacherous upper reaches of the Whanganui River relied on skilled captains and crew to provide a lifeline to the wider world.

The MV Wairua was built in London in 1904 and was one of a fleet of 12 swift and sturdy conveyances maintained by Alexander Hatrick and Company. She served for more than three decades on the middle stretch of the river, but by 1938, this once proud working vessel had been decommissioned and tied up for good.

It was not until 1987 when a dedicated team of locals banded together to restore the Wairua, pouring hours of skill and determination into what was a labour of love. Today, she’s back on the river bringing joy to holidaymakers with scenic and picnic cruises.

Perhaps the most well-known vessel on the river, the Paddle Steamer (PS) Waimarie is a beloved icon on Whanganui

and a ‘destination tourism’ touchstone for many fans of steam power. New Zealand’s only coal-fired paddle steamer in operation, the Waimarie sails through time from 1899, when she was assembled from kit set in Whanganui and initially named the Aotea.

In 1902 she joined the Wairua in the employ of Alexander Hatrick and Company, adopting the name Waimarie, meaning good fortune. The side paddles of the Waimarie helped her to make her own good luck; their shallow draft was instrumental in avoiding

the many shallows and shoals of the Whanganui River.

Amazingly, this ‘queen of the river’ languished on the bottom for 40 years, after an accident in 1952. As in the case of the Wairua, it took a huge effort by a band of volunteers to raise her, and even more to restore her to a state of graceful sailing glory. More than 67,000 hours were volunteered to make the Waimarie the beloved symbol of Whanganui she is today. The Whanganui Riverboat Restoration and Navigation Trust are the people behind this sterling effort.

Another vintage vessel is now part of this legacy of restoration. Last year, the MV Waireka had a chance to rejoin her sister ships, all once part of Hatrick’s fleet. The Waireka was uplifted from disrepair in a reservoir near Ātiamuri and returned to Whanganui.

With this historic vessel now back in its home waters, and the Ōngarue on display at the local riverboat museum, Whanganui is almost certainly the historic riverboat capital of New Zealand.

Riverboats like this one were vital to the communities of the Whanganui River, and today, restored examples are the jewel in the town’s tourism crown

SPOTLIGHT ON

Accessing the stars

by Amy Fifita

Watch the sky come to life and gaze up at the universe through the refractor telescope at the Ward Observatory.

The telescope is more than 160 years old and continues to amaze stargazers with its view of the stars, planets and other astronomical observances. The observatory completed construction in 1903 and houses the largest in-use refractor telescope in the country.

The Whanganui Astronomical Society (WAS) look after the site and only charges the public a gold coin donation entry fee. The observatory itself was designed by the well-known architect Alfred Atkins and is named after the society’s first president Joseph Ward.

Ward was a pioneer telescope maker and astronomer who was instrumental in establishing the observatory and creating the WAS. After witnessing the Great Comet of 1901, Ward let locals witness the sight through a telescope he had installed behind his business, which gave him an idea.

He wanted to form an astronomical society. When professor Richard Maclaurin lectured at Victoria College weeks later,

Ward approached him asking to request interested parties to stay behind and the WAS was established.

After some minor hiccups, the society opted to buy the second-hand nine-anda-half-inch Cooke refractor that still calls the observatory home.

Ward is remembered to have made astronomy accessible to the general public through not only the society and observatory open nights, but also his weekly column in the Wanganui Herald. Ward is regarded as one of the most important New Zealand amateur astronomers of the 1900s.

More than 100 years on, people can visit the site to observe the wonders of space. The observatory is located in the Cook Gardens and is accessible from St Hill Street. It opens for public viewing every second Friday at 7pm or by appointment depending on the weather. Follow the society at facebook. com/WanganuiAstronomicalSociety for updates.

Visitors can witness the stars, comets and other astronomical events at the Ward Observatory

Moving to green pastures

by Andy Bryenton

June 1 was Gypsy Day or Moving Day for farmers all across New Zealand, a tradition, which has its origins in the very distant past, and its roots in the calendar of the seasons.

For many years, the traditional moving day for farmers has gone by the title of Gypsy Day. It’s a moniker with little to do with the real Roma people except its

name. The naming of the day is said to be no insult to Europe’s travellers but rather a favourable comparison. It is a gentle nudge at the farmers and sharemilkers themselves, taking their whole household to the open road to move farms in a way infinitely less graceful or ordered than the convoys of the travelling folk. Bystanders must have laughed to see whole herds and homesteads unsteadily hitting the highway.

In New Zealand, some opine that the selection of June 1 as a day for all rural transactions and contracts to take effect was decided when the State Advances Corporation came into being in 1894. Stories abound of clerks in Wellington spending a frantic week and an even more frantic June 1 making sure that manual paperwork for thousands of farms was put to rights in an era before computers.

Even earlier than the use of the term Gypsy Day, farms changed hands on June 1 in mediaeval England for a very important reason. In the world of livestock, the most important resource for a farmer was hay. The productivity of a farming area

was measured by how much hay could be mown to tide cattle over the cold winters.

June 1 was the traditional beginning of the hay harvest when peasants with scythes went into the fields to reap fodder for their animals. Before this harvest was the best time to buy a farm, and assess its worth. The date was kept by the local priest, who kept track of the calendar to observe important religious holidays and the phases of the farming cycle.

The move to the southern hemisphere turned this upside down, but there’s

another important factor in Kiwi farming, which comes at this time of year. Cows begin to dry off and calving looms, as winter turns colder. It’s a natural progression to see June 1 as the start of a different part of the cycle of the rural seasons.

This year, sharemilkers and new farm owners on the move for June 1 were echoing those days of yore. In modern times, the start of June also brings International Milk Appreciation Day, which fits in nicely with this old farming tradition.

Cattle hit the road on a traditional Gypsy Day move; while livestock trucks are more commonly used today, the image of the mobile farmstead remains in the popular imagination

Where farming meets education

by Amy Fifita

For many families, their local rural school is often the community hub doing things differently than city facilities with events like agricultural days and Enviroschool planting days.

Many rural schools and daycare centres work with Enviroschools. The kaupapa is designed to empower students to give back to their community sustainably while educating them. With initiatives like planting days on nearby farms and marine education, children can use this as a foundation if they want to become farmers or work rurally.

Enviroschools also has a network of partnerships that widen the perspective on education and how that looks practically. The organisation works on more than just the environment. There is also an interest in creating sustainability culturally, economically and socially.

School orchards or gardens are encouraged. It gives students a soil-totable understanding and a pathway to contribute to their community. Studies have shown that gardening has a positive effect on a child’s wellbeing and mental health. The hands-on approach also helps them see that diligence and care achieve

good outcomes. It also connects with nature and their environment.

Another benefit is agricultural days. Students get to showcase their skills with their farm animals. Children learn about responsibility and animal care leading up to the day. Students have the opportunity to bond, nurture and know their chosen animals, be it a calf, lamb or chicken.

The hard work pays off when students show their knowledge and skills, such as leading and calling at the agricultural day. The event also encourages families to get together to support their children and celebrate their successes.

Parents wanting to make a bigger impact can join the school Parent Teacher Association. The association helps drive positive changes through fundraising and resources, such as offering the family farm as a place for students to visit. Being part of the PTA puts parents in the position to help build the community and provide family activities for the area to enjoy.

Students contributed to their community by getting involved in ecological planting days

BY

PROFESSIONALS IN YOUR COMMUNITY NOT “EXPERTS” ONLINE

Camaraderie and community

by Denise Gunn

Menzshed Manawatū not only offers a place for retired men to work on hobbies while enjoying the company of others, but the group are also busy helping with community projects.

Sheds have sprung up throughout the country with a range of machinery for members to use on personal and community projects. With some retirees left wondering how to fill in each day when their jobs and careers come to an end, the organisation gives members a sense of purpose, friendship and opportunities to learn new skills.

Menzshed Manawatū chairperson John Bragg said an induction is held on how to use machinery.

“We have people who can transfer their skills to others.”

Members work on their own activities or can become involved in a variety of community projects.

“We do a lot for the city council and the Department of Conservation. We also build homes for tuatara at the wildlife base.”

John said the members have made a lot of sensory boxes and a time-out cube for special needs children at school.

“We’ve also been quite involved in making kitset bird feeders and then going to schools or cub groups with hammers and nails and helping assemble them. It’s a little project for the children to take home.

“The look on the children’s faces is priceless. It gives them a real sense of achievement.”

The Repair Café is another area welcoming the help of Menzshed Manawatū members.

“We are involved in that and it’s amazing what’s come in for repair. We’ve fixed everything from a jandal to a potato masher.”

A recent project has seen the men finish a story walk at Ahimate Reserve on Maxwells Line. This story walk is due to be officially launched on Monday, July 8 at 11am.

The group appreciates donated and recycled timber, which is all put to good use.

Menzshed Manawatū meets on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday each week from 9am to 2pm in their shed on Racecourse Road, Palmerston North.

Farming advocates back fast-track bill

by Andy Bryenton

Two influential farming advocacy groups have weighed in on the coalition government’s proposed fast-track legislation, broadly supporting its provisions.

DairyNZ and Federated Farmers have made formal submissions to the select committee, which is hearing views and opinions on the proposed legislation.

DairyNZ noted that while the fast-track legislation would have little impact on individual dairy farmers, many in the sector could benefit from big, regionallevel resource resilience works.

‘Projects in scope for fast-tracking could include those that increase the resilience of the agricultural sector through enabling infrastructure that assists adaptation such as water storage, irrigation or flood protection,’ wrote DNZ in its submission.

Federated Farmers was also on board with plans to speed up the implementation of major projects.

‘Federated Farmers supports the aim of the bill to enable faster approval of infrastructure and other projects that have significant regional or national benefits. We agree that consenting major infrastructure and other projects in New Zealand takes too long, costs too much and places insufficient value on the economic anAd social benefits of development relative to other considerations,’ it stated.

However, a notable piece of advice included by both organisations was

Support for Chris Bishop and Shane Jones’ fast-track legislation has come from rural sector advocates the insistence that a fast-track regime should not serve as a release valve for a poorly scripted replacement to the current, ungainly Resource Management Act. DairyNZ and Federated Farmers

“Projects in scope for fast-tracking includes those that increase the resilience of the agricultural sector.”

mentioned the recommendation of a sunset clause, which would usher out the fast-track process as a new, better RMA surrogate was phased in.

‘We believe that reform of the RMA should ultimately enable the development of infrastructure and other projects. Once the RMA has been replaced and regional councils have implemented new regional environmental frameworks, there should be no need for a stand-alone Fast-Track Approvals Act. We therefore recommend a sunset clause is inserted in the bill’, wrote Federated Farmers.

‘The Environment Select Committee should consider that this bill is required for a temporary term to meet its purpose of enabling delivery of infrastructure and development projects with significant regional or national benefits until the RMA has been replaced,’ stated DNZ.

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