Northern Farming Lifestyles, June 2023

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I hope that everyone is coping OK, now that winter has truly come. Obviously, it wasn’t much of a summer, or even autumn for that matter, with all the heavy rain.

Even on the occasions when this didn’t cause catastrophic flooding, it seemed to have an unfortunate effect of making many of us (yes, myself included) feel less ‘sunny’ in disposition.

In terms of things we can control, it’s been an interesting time to reflect on the need for good decision-making in politics. Just going back briefly to the subject of storms and floods, it’s been very obvious that the short-term sugar hit of spending on interesting ‘nice to have’ projects should never have been allowed priority over stormwater infrastructure. Activities as mundane as clearing culverts are among the most important duties of government, whether local or central, and I really hope these lessons have been learned.

Thinking about short-termism has put me in mind of the recent Budget presented in parliament. While there are lots of little things that will please certain sectors of society, for example, the online gaming industry being granted subsidies, the overall picture is important across generations. Increasing the nation’s debt levels in the way we’ve seen in the past few years is risky at best.

The heightened possibility of a credit downgrade for New Zealand might sound like something that should concern only economists (and unusually dismal ones

at that!). In reality, though, we’ll all lose out if overseas lenders take a dim view of what’s happening with bookkeeping in the Beehive.

The rising interest rates many local households and businesses are getting whacked with, by their own banks, are a direct result of the Reserve Bank putting up the Official Cash Rate. Of course, that, in turn, has been happening because too much money has been pumped into an economy that remains relatively unproductive, causing inflation.

It’s sometimes not easy to sell ‘fiscal discipline’ as a philosophy that should guide political decision-making, and therefore, it’s easy to criticise those who urge caution. Politicians aren’t doing anyone any favours, however, if they pretend we can have it all.

So, why does any of this matter? Astute readers already instinctively know the answer. If we don’t worry about the pennies today, then the pounds will not take care of themselves tomorrow, to use the old proverb. We must not let the young people of this area get saddled with disastrous levels of debt for the country to repay or constrain the choices they want to make.

That’s my slightly bleak message this wintry month, but I promise a brighter one in the next edition.

Chris Penk, MP Kaipara ki Mahurangi Electorate

by Chris Penk, MP for the Kaipara ki Mahurangi Electorate

It’s a dog’s life

by Ann van Engelen

The farming world will discover who has the ultimate working dog on Monday, October 30, with the annual Cobber Challenge nominations open until Sunday, June 25.

From the snow-covered peaks of the Southern Alps to the blistering heat of the Australian outback, the hunt is on for the ultimate working dog, with Cobber beginning its search for the ultimate working dog.

“This year’s competition is a chance for farming communities to acknowledge the lifelong commitment of the working dog,” says Cobber’s marketing manager Kellie Savage.

“Working dogs are more than man’s best mate. They’re also a farmer’s colleague, partner-in-crime, and an extension of the family. They should be celebrated. In previous years, individual dogs have reached more than 50 kilometres in a single day, so we’re excited about what this year’s Cobber cohort will achieve.”

The Cobber Challenge recognises the unsung heroes who keep New Zealand’s $10 billion agricultural sector moving, known as the paws-itive champions of the industry — the working dog.

“With more than a quarter of a million stock-herding dogs in both Australia and New Zealand eligible to enter, this year’s competition has shaped up to be bigger and better than ever. It is in its eighth year, and the shortlist of 12 of the fastest and fiercest mustering champions will battle out in a gruelling trans-Tasman contest.

Farmers across New Zealand and Australia are encouraged to enter their working dogs in the Cobber Challenge

“Over three of their busiest weeks, the battle takes place between kelpies, collies and crosses, each fitted with a GPS tracker to record their performance. Canine competitors are required to demonstrate their finely honed skills, assessed on speed, duration and distance covered over the competition period.

“The dog that clocks up the most kilometres will take home honour, glory and a cash prize, while each participant will receive a year’s supply of Cobber Working Dog. Daniel Pumpa, a two-time Cobber Challenge competitor, says the contest is a great opportunity to bring some friendly rivalry onto the farm.

“Our farm, in Central West New South Wales, is a pretty big operation with sheep, cattle and crops,” said Daniel.

“I couldn’t imagine a day’s work without my dogs. They are the most valuable employees I have, and they are my best mates. I’ve competed in the challenge twice over the past eight years and have had an absolute blinder of a time doing it. I’d encourage any farmer out there to give it a crack.”

Cobber is encouraging all Kiwi farmers and their beloved working dogs to enter this year’s challenge to prove they are the best of the best. Nominations are open until 5pm on Sunday, June 25. If you are ready to show Aotearoa how hard your cobber works enter at www.cobberchallenge.com.au.

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A FLOCK OF MULTIPLE COLOURS

BY AMY FIFITA

“Iam originally from the Far North and have spent all of my career in the agriculture industry in the Waikato but was mainly surrounded by dairy cows,” says Angela.

“Other than the weather we have been experiencing, it has been good being back in Northland. I started breeding Damaras after deciding to move back to the area when Jamie and I bought a small block of land that was better suited to sheep than cattle.

“By chance, I came across the Damara flock on a friend’s farm and was taken by the unique colours and shedding traits of the breed. That created the opportunity for us to get involved in the Damara breed, and we were able to purchase six older ewes from a friend in the Waikato after moving.

“We are pleased we secured the sheep back then because Damara breeding ewes were difficult to get as there weren’t many around. The breed is a great option as they are a low-maintenance sheep that don’t require shearing, docking or crutching, and the fly strike risk is minimal due to the self-shedding.”

Angela says the animals are also easy to move due to their exceptionally strong flocking instinct.

“We don’t have a farm vehicle or dog, so we move them with a nut bucket, and they are happy to follow. The randomness of the wool colours is amazing. You can get a vast range of colour combinations and marking mixtures with black, brown or white.

“We look forward to lambing every year just to see what colours we are going to

get. We have had black and white lambs from a fawn-coloured ewe and black

lambs out of a mostly white ewe — you never know what you are going to get.

Angela says that this breed of sheep has a strong flocking instinct and is moved easily

Angela and Jamie Urwin returned to Northland five years ago, and their journey with Damara sheep began.

“Recording parentage and knowing the bloodlines are important in being able to maintain flock diversity and avoid inbreeding. We use a programme called Flock Filer, which makes keeping track of that information easy.”

The couple started with a low number of sheep and bred their flock to suit the Northland environment focussing on creating stock with good feet.

“Damaras are originally an African sheep breed and often don’t do well in wet conditions. We are on poor-draining clay soil, so we have worked hard on improving our flock through culling and selective

breeding and are now happy with our flock’s feet compared to what we started with five years ago.

“We also put an emphasis on breeding sheep with good wool shedding and temperament. If there are any issues with lameness, we don’t use the same ram the following season and only breed from the ewes with the best feet. We have done that continually and are seeing the positive gains now, and our lambing percentage is better than we had expected.

“Jamie and I put 22 ewes to the ram last year. Of those, we had only three singles,

and the rest were twins. We attribute that to strategic use of multimineral and salt blocks. There are 30 Damara breeding ewes now, and we recently added a handful of Dorper ewes to the flock, as they are also self-shedding.

“We had a few tried with Wiltshire sheep in the past, but in our experience, they didn’t seem to have the same flocking

instinct as the Damaras making them more difficult to shift around our block.

“Damara are good for lifestyle block owners who want something that is easy and don’t have shearing facilities. Their colours are amazing to look at on the land. They are a fantastic breed and a great option for those wanting a low-maintenance animal with a bit of difference.”

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Angela uses a nut bucket to assist her with moving the flock without the need for a bike or a dog

Angela and Jamie Urwin bought a block of land close to Kerikeri and relocated to Northland to begin the sheep farm

“We lived in Ahipara, and around 10 years ago, my mum Joanne joined the fire service there,” says Billie.

“Mum joined because she always heard the sirens going off and one day realised becoming a firefighter was a way she could give back to the community. She went to see what was involved and never looked back. I then moved back to Takahiwai to look after my nana, and mum followed and transferred to the Ruakākā brigade, and then I decided to do it too and help our community too.

“Mum has since retired from the service but is still a huge support to me and my amazing husband, Kurt. When I go to a callout, she helps with our family and is also

there when I attend training courses and events. I couldn’t do it without Kurt’s support, either. He is very integral in what I do.”

Billie is a mum to three children and works two jobs.

“I run the yard at Digger Mate. We hire out diggers and do digger work for people. My other job is at the port, where I do wood chip sampling and things.

“When I started at the brigade, I had to learn new skills and then attended the seven-day recruits course in Mt Wellington. The course refines the skills you have and determines if you can become a firefighter. They have a realistic fire building for live fire training, and the heat gets up to around 300 degrees inside.

GIVING BACK TO COMMUNITY

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

Growing up in Takahiwai, Ruakākā resident Billie Hopkins joined the local fire brigade in 2015 as a result of observing her mother enjoy her involvement in the service.

“There are things like confined space exercises and breathing apparatus work. Being able to work in confined spaces under extreme pressure is important,

and if you are claustrophobic, that is a problem. Some people don’t realise how claustrophobic they are until they face the training building fire.

It is with thanks to Billie’s husband Kurt that she can accomplish all she does

Billie chose to join the fire service after watching her mum Joanne dedicate her time to the brigade

“For me, it was a phenomenal experience. The training is very challenging, yet lots of fun, and I met some awesome people from across the country that I am still friends with. Your own brigade really becomes family and very tight-knit. We do things together outside of work and at the station, like sharing potluck dinners and having a midwinter Christmas with our families.

“Our crew has a lot of children now. I have been pregnant twice during my career here. If you are expecting a baby, you are pulled off the truck but can still attend training and help in other ways with light duties.

“We do so

much

more besides fighting fires. We respond to a wide variety of emergencies, including house or scrub fires, animal rescues, motor vehicle accidents, medical emergencies alongside St John and dealing with hazardous substances.

“Animal rescues can be interesting. One recent rescue was a dog that got its leg stuck in the hole of the barbecue table. Cats get stuck in trees, and years ago, a horse was stuck in mud. For that one, we wrapped our empty firehose in front of the hindquarters, and people pulled from each side, and it managed to pop out.

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Do you need to replace a door latch, or redo all the wiring and plumbing aboard? Are you planning a fishing trip or a holiday with the family? At Cater Marine, we stock a wide selection of products for leisure and commercial yachts and launches from Anchors to Zincs and everything in between. We also offer dive refills.

We’ll match their price and throw in a little thing called service!

“When you are a volunteer firefighter, you don’t have to attend every call. When the siren goes, we get a pager alert, text message and a cellphone alert. If you are available, we push ‘responding’ and make our way to the station, put on the appropriate structural or wildfire gear, and we hop on the truck.”

The rescue tender is for fires, medical or car crash-type incidents and has the cutting equipment on board. The other truck has the main waterway equipment.

“We leave the station with lights and sirens on. Sometimes drivers don’t realise

we are coming up behind them as they don’t look in the mirror or hear us for a variety of reasons, so we have to blast our horn to make them aware.

“We tell people to stay calm and pull over to the side if it is safe to do so. We don’t want motorists to put their lives or others in danger. If they can’t pull over, we will go around them when it is safe.

“I have loved my time so far, and really encourage others who are interested in joining their local brigade on their training night and see what we do. What can start as interest can end up becoming a career.”

Opua Marine Park Baffin Street, Opua Bay of Islands

BY PAUL CAMPBELL

The five-year battle to prevent a mega-landfill for Auckland’s future rubbish on a site in the Dome Valley that threatens the Kaipara Harbour has reached a milestone with the end of an appeal hearing in the Environment Court and has already produced a step forward for Northland.

While a court outcome is some months away, tip opposition has emerged as the genesis of a new look at refuse disposal in Northland, with our councils taking a serious look at the possibility of waste-to-energy plants.

The Kaipara District Council set the ball rolling in conjunction with Auckland Council via Mayor Brown’s office, Whangārei District Council via Mayor Cocurullo’s office, Far North District Council via Mayor Tepania’s office, Northland Inc, Te Uri o Hau and industry operators.

“Cyclone Gabrielle dramatically illustrated the fragility of our rural environment and flooding and slips, which showed how the planned Dome Valley dump could leach into the Kaipara,” says Fight the Tip executive member Sue

Flashback: Many demonstrations formed the fight against the Dome landfill plan

Crockett. “News that councils are now moving on this is heartening after our long fight against the Waste Management

landfill application. Weather caused major slips and billions of dollars across the north and of course, much further afield.”

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Kaipara District Council Deputy Mayor Larsen says staff can start investigating preliminary options for a modern solution for rubbish and waste disposal in the future.

“We do not want to leave a legacy of landfills or leachate going into groundwater for generations to come. We want to kickstart the conversation with our partners and see what options might be available.”

A report on the findings, including preliminary investigations on the viability of a waste-to-energy, known as WtE, plant, will be presented at a June council workshop. KDC mayor Craig Jepson said the council had fiercely opposed the proposed Dome Valley landfill because it believed there was a risk it could one day pollute the Hoteo River and the Kaipara Harbour. “There’s no point in objecting if we’re not going to come up with a viable alternative.”

The feasibility study would look at a proposed waste plant in the South Island where resource consent is sought to build a $350 million plant that would incinerate waste to produce 35 megawatts of electricity with ash converted into a substance that is used for aggregate.

Mr Jepson also suggested that a Northland plant could be placed near the railway between Helensville and Whangārei, avoiding the huge fleet of trucks which would otherwise be needed to service the Dome Valley tip if it was granted.

FTT executive member Michelle Carmichael says the effects of WtE can be monitored and remedied in real-time. “On the other hand, with landfill, there are many environmental effects which, even with monitoring, may not be detected for considerable

Storms have shown the fragility of rural landscapes

amounts of time, with environmental damage already being done in the time it may take to fix the problem, if it’s accessible.

“Waste Management has told us in person that recycling or WtE is not as financially viable as landfill. In my opinion that is why no real change has happened in New Zealand. It’s a commercial decision which our environment is paying the price for.”

Waste-to-energy plants burn municipal waste to produce steam in a boiler to power an electric generator turbine. Plants reduce 2,000 pounds of garbage to ash that weighs between 300 pounds and 600 pounds, and they reduce the volume of waste by about 87%. Ash and by-products can have commercial use.

WtE proponents cite Sweden as the ultimate example of the process, where

the country’s 34 plants show that four tons of rubbish contain energy equivalent to one tonne of oil, 1.6 tonnes of coal, or five of wood waste.

While WtE is in its infancy here, those who have fought the Dome Valley landfill say the door is open for progress, citing the government’s ‘work programme until 2023 to reduce waste’ as part of a transition to a low-carbon, circular economy. Two of the objectives are building the foundations for a transformed waste system and expanding investment in the sector.

Says the Fight the Tip movement: ‘Our fight is not over yet. The time for more action is now.’ It has a fundraising initiative to continue its work, with details on its Facebook page.

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Executive members of Fight the Tip: (from left) Michelle Carmichael and Sue Crockett

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Backing Northland farmers

by Grant McCullum, National Party Northland Electorate

Farming is the backbone of both the Northland and New Zealand economies, and our exports are how we pay our way in the world.

I’ve farmed here in Northland for decades. I know that when the farming sector struggles — all our communities suffer.

Still, try telling that to this Labour government. Labour sees farmers as the enemy or, at best, as stubborn polluters who won’t get with the times (despite all the evidence to the contrary).

Right when New Zealand is struggling with so many problems on so many fronts, not least the inflation like we haven’t seen since the 1980s, this government has targeted farmers with a raft of policies that would be difficult to deal with in good times.

The sheer quantity of new regulations this government has thrown at farmers and the rest of our primary sector is staggering, and farmers have had enough. So has National.

Which is why National has a plan to cut the red tape that has buried rural New Zealand.

Recently, in a farm shed outside Kerikeri, I joined Christopher Luxon and agriculture spokesperson Todd McClay to launch National’s Getting Back to Farming policy.

National has three principles for getting the government to support farmers rather than undermining them. They are:

1. smarter rules for the future;

2. supercharging the rural economy; and

3. getting Wellington out of farming

First, no one is proposing that we shouldn’t have regulations to look after the environment. However, they need to be smarter rules that focus on outcomes rather than setting fixed methods for achieving those outcomes.

The one-Wellington-size-fitsall-regions approach will be gone under National.

Second, we need to remove the roadblocks to the rural economy, such as allowing easier access to workers

through expanding and streamlining work visas and the RSE scheme while ending Labour’s Ute Tax.

Third, we’ll get the Wellington bureaucracy back in its lane and out of micromanaging individual farms.

National backs farmers to get on with what they do best — leading the world in farming innovation and driving New Zealand forward.

You can read the full policy at national. org.nz/getting_back_to_farming.

Grant and his three-legged huntaway, Lou, on the family farm in Maungatūroto

“National has a plan to cut the red tape that has buried rural New Zealand.”

The new Firearms Registry is coming

Register your firearms and help make New Zealand safer.

New Zealand will have a firearms registry from 24 June 2023. If you’re a firearms licence holder, you’ll be required to provide information about your firearms or arms items from this date.

The Registry will help us make New Zealand safer. It will give licence holders more confidence when buying or selling firearms, as the Registry will let you know if you’re

dealing with a current licence holder and if the firearm has been reported stolen.

The Registry is one of the ways we’re strengthening how we manage firearms in New Zealand. With responsible firearms licence holders doing the right thing and filling in the Registry, it will help keep track of legally owned firearms and help prevent their transfer to those who use them for criminal purposes.

You have 5 years until 24 June 2028 to register your firearms. However there are some circumstances where you are required to provide information for the Registry in a shorter time frame. These are referred to in the Arms Amendment Regulations as ‘activating circumstances’. It’s up to you to keep your information up to date. You can find information on these timeframes at: firearmssafetyauthority.govt.nz/registry

Examples of activating circumstances

Applying for or renewing a licence or endorsement

Notifying us of a change in circumstances, such as a change of address

What needs to be registered

Non-prohibited firearms including Specially Dangerous Airguns (PCPs)

Restricted weapons

Pistols

Loss, theft or destruction of a firearm

Registry goes live on 24 June 2023

You can register your firearms or arms items on our website at any time. Just click on MyFirearms, the private and secure portal that houses the Registry. Otherwise our Registry and Services team will be available by phone to help during business hours.

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Selling, hiring, purchasing or receiving a firearm

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Prohibited firearms and magazines

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Importing, exporting or manufacturing a firearm or ammunition

If you’re subject to any compliance or enforcement action under the Arms Act

There will be no charge for registering your firearms.

Details needed to register your firearms

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• Make

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• Identifying marking (serial number)

• A photograph of the firearm (if requested)

Do I need extra magnesium?

by John Arts

Magnesium is one of my most frequently prescribed supplements.

bedroom to unlock seized muscles.

Magnesium is involved in numerous body processes and can help problems in various body systems, especially muscles. I recommend it for cramps, restless legs, PMS, hypertension and heart rhythm problems. I usually recommend that magnesium be taken before bed for maximum impact on muscles, nerves and to help with sleep.

I have many clients now largely free of night cramps and restless legs. In stubborn cases, I also add an antioxidant complex or a multimineral complex to help with nighttime circulation and improve muscle function. It is rare that we cannot get improvements with these problems that can disrupt our sleep.

Unfortunately, many magnesium supplements are one a day, making dose experimentation almost impossible. In my experience, the required dosage differs a lot between people with similar problems. Additionally, many supplements use

cheaper low-grade ingredients, which are harsh on the digestive tract. The only real downside of magnesium supplements is they can cause temporary diarrhoea. However, this mild laxative effect can be helpful for those that tend towards constipation.

I prefer to use three different forms of magnesium. I combine bioavailable marine (seaweed) sourced magnesium with amino acid chelated magnesium di-glycinate with magnesium citrate. I deliberately formulated the capsules to have a dosage range. Normally two capsules before bed will suf ce, but short-term doses of four capsules can be used. Please contact me for personalised advice.

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.

Before I supplemented with magnesium, I remember getting cramps in my legs and having to get up and jump around the

SPOTLIGHT ON WARKWORTH

Adventures for all

by Amy Fifita

Whether you want to be enveloped by nature and take a stroll through the Parry Kauri Park or indulge in the local flavours on a food and wine tour, Warkworth has something for everyone.

Parry Kauri Park is down Tudor Collins Drive and has opportunities for people who enjoy an active encounter with wildlife and native trees. The loop track is just under a kilometre long and has many boardwalks for a leisurely stroll. Be sure to wash your footwear at one of the wash stations so bushlands remain protected from diseases.

At the park’s beginning is the Warkworth and Districts Museum, where you will discover some local history about the area. You will find tales and artefacts from the past that have built the town into what it

is today, with exhibits both outdoors and indoors.

For an extra fee, enjoy a specialised tour focussing on the archives, textiles or a look at history. If you are visiting as a group, contact the museum to discuss what you would like to explore so they can prepare the way for you.

Explore the Old Cement Works. The ruins have been fenced off due to structural damage, but you can still admire them from a safe distance. There is a deep swimming hole, too, that used to be the old quarry. The setting is covered with trees to relax under.

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The Old Cement Works is fenced off for safety reasons, but it still stands as a landmark to admire and remember its history in the town

Indulge your tastebuds in some local food and beverages. The area has various food tours that boast Warkworth’s and the surrounding localities’ delicacies. Experience the Matakana Food and Wine Tour that takes you to three local boutique vineyards, including artisan meals. As you savour what they offer, you will get a chance to meet two of the area’s local producers.

The Matakana Taste Tour might be more suited to someone focussing on food. Explore the ice cream creations and delectable chocolate from the local makers. You will have the choice to visit four or five producers during your exploration. Your options are a deer farm, chocolate maker, honey centre, cheese factory, smokehouse, oyster farm, gelato maker, farmer’s market or winery.

If you would prefer to explore without a guide, there are more than 10 vineyards for you to choose from for different palettes. Brick Bay Wines has a sculpture trail for visitors to admire, and Heron’s Flight has a tasting room to indulge in.

For something more family-friendly, particularly for animal lovers, find fun at Sheepworld and entice your mind on how to farm the woolly creatures. There are live demonstrations for you to enjoy and sheep dogs to showcase their skills. There is also a gift shop for anyone wanting to have some quality cosy wear for winter or rugs for your home. This attraction is located on State Highway One and has a cafe on-site. Explore the Shiloh Farm at Horse Riding Warkworth. The experience is suitable for ages three years old and upwards who can trek the scenic rural area that also features forest settings. No EFTPOS facilities are available, so bring cash or arrange to pay via Internet banking or cheque payment. It is located at 42 Kaipara Flats Road, Warkworth. A farm stay is also available for those who do not want to travel immediately. Leigh is a coastal town that is a 20-minute drive east of Warkworth. There are various bush walks and outdoor activities that you can enjoy, from kayaking to diving. Experience the scenic beaches at Pakiri Beach or Mathesons Bay.

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Take in the sea air at the Hauraki Gulf on a fishing charter, or take your boat out for an explore. Northside Adventure Fishing Charter can make your day at ease with the team’s knowledge of the local waters. They have fishing gear available and hot and cold beverages available. It takes up to six people on the boat.

Enjoy the idyllic scenery of where the coast meets country at Scotts Landing. The settlement has plenty of heritage and beachfront views. During low tide, explorers can travel across the causeway to Casnell Island.

Morrison and James Pottery at 48 Tongue Farm Road, Matakana, offers tours daily for people who enjoy the craft. The clay comes from its very own clay pit located on-site. There is a showroom for people to marvel at artistic creations or purchase a timeless piece.

The Parry Kauri Park and Warkworth and Districts Museum are down Tudor Collins Drive if you want to explore local history and nature

“It has opportunities for people who enjoy an active encounter with wildlife and native trees.”

A northbound wander

by Amy Fifita

Explore the wonders of the Far North, with various opportunities to experience the scenic locations and delve into what the district is all about.

The Hokianga holds cultural significance, and in legends, was where navigator Kupe departed Aotearoa. Opononi is within the area where the late Opo the Dolphin used to haunt. There is a statue there in the marine animal’s honour. If you continue travelling inland on State Highway 12, you’ll discover the relaxing Ngāwhā Springs.

If you’re making a road trip of the experience you could cut through to Rawene and look at the No 1 Parnell Rawene art gallery and cafe. Enjoy a hot beverage and snack while you wait for one of the car ferries that take you across to Kohukohu.

At the end of the road, you can turn left towards Ahipara and go for a beach drive along 90 Mile Beach or turn right

towards Kaitāia. Explore the vast histories and knowledge of the north at Te Ahu.

If you travel further, you will find Awanui, a small settlement that used to be the area’s hub when it was a main port. The Awanui Hotel is on State Highway One, and you can stop in for a beverage, hot meal or lodging for the night.

Approximately an hour north at the top of New Zealand is Cape Rēinga. Witness the boundaries of the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean and note the different colours of the bodies of water. Doubling back turn, left at the Awanui Junction and take the scenic East Coast drive.

There are various beaches, and, if you take a detour, you can witness the beauty of Mangōnui. Indulge in one of the many eateries on the waterfront. Continue along

Pioneer village is a journey into the Past. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore and discover a true hidden gem. Sitting in the heart of Kaikohe, it has something for everyone. At your leisure take a self-directed tour. Enjoy a trip down memory lane, with our extensive collection of heritage buildings, machinery, artefacts and displays whilst admiring the beauty of our gardens and welcoming atmosphere.

Experience the steam era during your travels at the Bay of Island Vintage Railway in Kawakawa State Highway 10 and stop off to gas up and enjoy the Kaeo Mutton Pie at the Allied Kaeo Farm and Fuel.

Head south to Kerikeri and explore the Stone Store, Mission Station and Rewa’s Village. Enjoy the natural beauty of the Rainbow Falls featuring a bush walk developed by the Department of Conservation for nature lovers.

Witness the art at the Kawakawa Hundertwasser toilets and the Hundertwasser Memorial Park and enjoy the Bay of Island Vintage Railway. Travelling to Hikurangi, you will find the spectacular rock formations at the Waro Limestone Scenic Reserve. You can stop in for a beverage and a night’s stay at the Hikurangi Hotel.

Tale of the twin coasts

by Andy Bryenton

If you’re new to Northland, there’s a lot to enjoy in the historic and beautiful stretch of land and sea coast bracketing the Kaipara Harbour and Bream Bay.

The mid-north centres on the metropolitan hub of Whangārei, with its distinctive art galleries, waterfront dining by the town basin, and picturesque quarry gardens. However, the small and sunny city is by far from the only attraction in this slice of New Zealand.

It is a place of legendary road trips and great walks, with some of the best scenic driving and hiking in the nation. Roads of renown include the trip from Onerahi out to Ocean Beach via the rugged landscape around Mt Manaia, the Kauri Coast Highway from Dargaville past Kai Iwi Lakes to the ancient Waipoua kauri forest, and the route across Bream Tail.

Head north, and the Tūtūkākā coast offers many stunning bays with great fishing and unexpected vistas. The long road which snakes up the coast all the way to Russell in the Bay of Islands is an adventure in itself.

From east to west, there are outdoor adventures to experience. Check out the Waipū Caves, walk the clifftop track at Mangawhai, acclaimed as one of the world’s best by Lonely Planet, visit waterfalls at Waipū Gorge and in the

Small historic towns, great food and some of the most scenic drives and walks anywhere in the world make the mid-north a great place to visit Brynderwyns, or climb Tokatoka’s stark volcanic peak by the Northern Wairoa River for an unbeatable view.

Waipoua Forest offers the chance to visit Tāne Mahuta, the great ancestral kauri tree, which is a global taonga, as well as numerous other walks through primaeval bushland. Trounson Kauri Park is another great spot to immerse oneself in the sights and sounds of the natural world. Meanwhile, the wild Ripiro coast offers a chance to drive close to 100 kilometres of beach by 4x4, all the way to the sentinel lighthouse at Poutō.

Heritage and history play a big part in the appeal of exploring the mid-north, so if you are new to the region or keen to delve into the tales of this place, a trip to some of the region’s award-winning museums can be very rewarding.

Whangārei has its own excellent museum with a kiwi sanctuary attached. In contrast, the museum in Waipū charts the incredible story of the Scots diaspora, and The Kauri Museum at Matakohe reveals the history of both preEuropean and pioneering times around the Kaipara Harbour.

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“The long road which snakes up the coast all the way to Russell in the

Islands is an adventure in itself.”

Out of the city limits

by Andy Bryenton

North of Auckland and to the west of the metropolis, the suburbs give way to farmland, and the view turns from terraced homes to scenic landscapes.

Some people find it odd to discover heartland-style Kiwi rural scenes so close to the towers and motorways of New Zealand’s biggest city, but a lot of the fresh produce which feeds the city

comes from these fields. If you’re new to the region and want to look beyond the attractions of Auckland central, there are some incredible natural spaces in the north and west of Auckland set aside for the enjoyment of the outdoors.

West, past Riverhead and the thriving town of Kumeu with its hinterland wineries, you’ll find a stretch of blacksand coast famous for big surf and dramatic views. The Waitakere Ranges are a protected, forested backdrop to beaches like Bethells and Muriwai, reaching all the way up to the south head of the Kaipara Harbour. Within the shelter of the harbour itself, it’s worth a trip to Shelly Beach, with a stop-off at the hot springs of Parakai.

Across on the east coast, you’ll find the oldest marine reserve. Established in 1975, the Goat Island reserve is now a thriving habitat for sea life, and many of them are well aware that visiting humans are friendly and may bring food. It’s a top spot for snorkelling and swimming, but it’s not the only preserved natural gem of the east coast above Auckland.

The walk along the Tāwharanui Peninsula to the lookout at Takatu Point is well worth the drive, passing by Matakana’s excellent cafes on the way. While in this neck of the woods, catch a ferry to Kawau Island, where wallabies and peacocks introduced by Governor Grey still roam free, and huge stingrays cruise the lagoon. There’s also an excellent reptile park at Ti Point, with many exotic species to see, including alligators, tuatara and iguanas.

Separated by only a small stretch of water, Wenderholm Regional Park and Mahurangi Regional Park bracket one of the most picturesque places in the north. A traditional road trip for the day is to visit one and then the other, with lunch at Puhoi’s historic tavern sandwiched in between. The little town also boasts a church, which is a copy of one in Bohemia, Germany, and an excellent small museum.

The old mansion house on Kawau Island was the home of Governor Grey, who stocked the grounds with exotic animals and birds

Environmental awards open

Applications are open for the fifth annual Northland Regional Council Whakamānawa ā Taiao — Environmental Awards, which recognise individuals, groups and organisations helping to protect and improve Northland’s environment.

“The awards recognise the people and organisations making a difference for Northland’s environment,” says NRC chair Tui Shortland.

“Their commitment and incredible contributions are helping our environment thrive. Our region has been through a lot over the past few months, and our community continues to show how strong and resilient it is by persevering with mahi and projects across Te Taitokerau despite these challenges.

“The work they are doing is so important, and we believe in recognising, celebrating, and sharing that. Entering the Environmental Awards helps tell the story of the environmental mahi happening in Northland and shows that collectively we are making a difference.”

An organisation that was recognised at last year’s awards was Te Kotahitanga e Mahi Kaha Trust, which won the ‘Environmental action in water quality improvement award’ and received the highest recognition of the night — the ‘Te Tohu Matua — Supreme Award’, which all category winners are eligible for.

The trust’s programme, Project Ngā Wai Ora o Ngāpuhi, is a communitybased approach that provides pathways for predominantly Māori youth to gain qualifications and a sense of connection to te taiao (the environment).

People can nominate themselves or others in up to two of the categories. Entries close Sunday, June 18. More information about the awards is available from www.awards.nrc.govt.nz.

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Tui Shortland, Northland Regional Council Council chair

NorthTec is leading up to our second semester.

We have over 50 courses that you could begin in the middle of the year and get a head start on your learning for 2024. You could complete a NZ Certificate by the end of the year or get learning on one of our Diplomas on offer, or even make a start on our degrees.

Wilton Weeks has years of experience in fencing and farming, enough that he felt confident setting out on his own and starting his own fencing business. However, he knew he would need more than just fencing know-how to make it work. That’s why he enrolled in the New Zealand Certificate in Fencing (Level 4) at NorthTec | Te Pūkenga.

“Everything in the course relates to what I’m doing and the running of my business,” says Wilton. “All the assessments are based around different types of fences, projects, and jobs that you do in the day-to-day. A lot of it is similar to what you would normally do anyway, but it’s just documenting it and presenting it.”

“I want to get certified with the fencing contractors association, and the course is one of the requirements for that. I am also using it as a means of upskilling myself and improving the business. For me personally, I think you go into it knowing what you do about fencing but not necessarily much about business and it’s been really good from that aspect.”

Despite working full-time, and living in Manawatu, Wilton hasn’t had any issues keeping up with study. “It first in perfectly around my life and it helps teach me further time management skills which is another bonus. We have weekly Zoom sessions, and the tutor David is great. He’s very easy to work with.”

“I highly recommend this course to people currently running their own fencing business or who want to run their own business, it teaches you all the skills you need to get going and grow your business.”

Interested in developing your business or are you just starting out? Check out fencing programmes at NorthTec | Te Pūkenga!

Wilton Weeks

New Zealand Certificate in Fencing (Level 4)

 0800 162 100

 study@northtec.ac.nz

 northtec.ac.nz

Kaitaia Kerikeri

Ngāwhā

Whangārei

Auckland

It is not to late to start your study journey in 2023.

The legend of ‘Long John’

by Liz Clark

Visit the townships of Helensville, just northwest of Auckland, or Kawakawa, north of Whangārei, and the name of their founder John McLeod comes to the fore.

John McLeod was born in New Brunswick, Canada, and grew up farming with his brother Isaac. However, the two brothers chose new adventures, boarding the vessel Seagull in 1862 for New Zealand. After a brief sojourn in the Coromandel region, the two brothers headed for a place then known as Te Awaroa or ‘the long path’ in te reo Māori. The area at the time belonged to Ngāti Whātua, which inhabited the shores of the Kaipara Harbour, near South Head and along the banks of the Kaipara River.

In the same year John and Isaac arrived from Canada, they established the first steam sawmill on the banks of the Kaipara River. John also built his wife Helen a home that became known as ‘Helen’s Villa’, which would soon become the name of a thriving township built up from the timber trade as Helensville. By 1863, the McLeod brothers had a successful business. In the same year they added the small steamer Dot and purchased the schooner Prince Consort. Dot was used as a ferry on the Kaipara River and the Prince Consort was used to transport sawn timber and other cargo.

While Isaac remained in Helensville, John had restless feet and embarked on a new venture further north, when, in 1867, he entered the coal trade. Three years earlier, at what a newspaper account described as ‘a barren uncultivated piece, and of a very poor description’, named Kawakawa — coal was discovered. However, the coalfield many settlers pinned their hopes upon languished until John McLeod, then a member of the Auckland Provincial Council, offered to lease the site from the government.

The offer was accepted. Within a short period, the development of the Kawakawa coal seam had been undertaken. A horsedrawn coal tramline was in operation by 1868, and the coal wagons were taken down to specially-built barges on the Kawakawa River. In the same year, McLeod and several other investors formed the Bay of Islands Coal Company Ltd. By 1871, the first coal railway in Northland had been established. Today, the townships of Helensville and Kawakawa remain as John McLeod’s legacy of entrepreneurship and business acumen.

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The McLeod brothers’ sawmill at Helensville was the first steam-powered milling operation on the Kaipara River

John McLeod and his wife Helen — Helensville township was named after their home ‘Helen’s Villa’

Masters of Metal & wood

The discovery of iron

by Andy Bryenton

Materials technology has advanced in recent years to the point where new, laboratory-forged substances are put to work in everything from supercars to medical prosthetics, but despite this, we still live in the age of iron and steel.

Most of our technology, from transportation to appliances to weapons of war and tools of farming and construction, rely on iron. However, in terms of humanity’s tool-using past, iron is a recent invention, coming out of Egypt some 6,000 years ago.

Gold has always entranced humans, and copper and bronze made fine weapons and tools to supplant the technology of the stone age. Iron is more elusive and requires more knowledge, labour and skill to extract from ore and work into useful things.

That is unless it literally falls from the sky.

The Sumerians and Hittites knew of iron and ascribed it magical properties. Many of the stories of magical swords and impenetrable shields from the age of myth and legend really refer to war gear made of iron at a time when other warriors were armed and armoured with much softer bronze. The interesting and mystical part of this myth-making is all of the iron these early cultures found came from space in the form of meteors.

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The Sumerian word for iron was anbar, meaning ‘fire from heaven’, and the ancient Egyptians called it bia-en, the thunderbolt made solid. The metal found in fallen meteors was extremely rare, and only a few smiths ever got the chance to work with it. Items made from iron were reserved for kings and their mightiest generals. A similar story played out in more recent history when a meteor struck the land of the Nama people in South Africa in the 1820s. Boer settlers living nearby reported that the core of the rock was made into assegai fighting spears and pots used for rituals.

The Hittites became obsessed with iron, coveting it the way other nations lusted for gold. By 1,200 BCE, their smiths and priests (there was a lot of crossover in that culture between these professions) had developed a process for smelting iron. The realisation that meteors fell to the ground in a red-hot state led them to the conclusion that stone could become iron if it was heated hot enough. This is,

of course, somewhat true of iron ore, and so the Hittites’ religious assumption was proven right.

PETER

The late Sir Terry Pratchett, a British author, was knighted using a sword he had hand-forged from the core of a meteor, just like the ‘magic swords’ out of legends

The reality of mince farming

by Colin Hannah, Federated Farmers Northland president

I now describe myself as a mince farmer to bring some reality to my business and how I am paid.

The schedule price, which I receive for my cattle, is based on the 95% lean in US dollars converted to New Zealand dollars, of which I get a percentage. This product is described as grinding beef. In other words, mince.

Our beef mince is used to lift the standard of US beef to reduce its fat content to meet the 95% lean legal requirement in the USA. Kiwi farmers are essential to supplying the world food, and food is essential for world peace.

When I looked to see what the price of mince was in our major markets that we supply, it was sad to note that my farmer colleagues and I have been on a steady decline as a percentage of what is received from those markets for quite some time.

The facts that I found looking at the USD received for 95% lean over time are as follows. On March 11 2011, I received 74.6% of that USD return. On April 6 2023, I received 59% of that USD return. Meat companies are

posting fantastic profits that should have been in the pockets of myself and my farmer colleagues.

What is in it for us now? We have been promised increased returns for years if we just fence all our waterways and plant all our riparian strips, and on it goes.

Recently, we have had our farm returns eaten up by increases in expenses from interest rates increasing 45%, fuel 33% and fertiliser 28%, and overall inflation of 17% plus in Northland.

Consider the businesses integral to the continued existence of farmers — banks, meat companies and other larger corporations making exceptional profits in some cases.

So, to the many organisations living off farmers, remember, without us, you don’t have a business. To many of the farmer directors, the off-farm income you receive is hiding the reality that the rest of New Zealand farmers face. It is time you faced our reality.

To our levy body directors, you need to up your game and deliver some value to those who pay you, and we need some honesty.

Please don’t come around saying you want to listen when you haven’t previously. Step down before farmers vote your organisations out of existence.

Pressure is building on us, and we don’t feel valued. Why do we feel like this? Drops in income with organisations not addressing their underlying costs. Poorly thought-out legislation upon legislation. Rising costs we can’t control and income diversion that we desperately need to farm and feed our families.

Colin Hannah — Federated Farmers Northland president

Fun is the new efficiency

by Andy Bryenton

Hybridisation, fuel economy, extra range, practical storage space and lots of safety; these are all check-boxes that must be ticked when it’s time to choose a new car.

However, despite the best efforts of some manufacturers to convince us that a car is basically a large appliance that lives outside the kitchen there’s still another factor which beats all, when it’s really time to get into the driver’s seat and live with a car long-term. That factor is fun, and it’s the difference between a dreary chore of a drive and a road trip that puts a smile on your face.

We’ve reached a point with hybrid and even electric vehicles where safety, range and economy of operation are all superb. So where is the next horizon for innovation? How do you beat the competition when it seems that everything has become a smooth-cornered five-seat SUV with Scandinavian levels of safety and comfort and the running costs of a small hamster?

Honda has the answer because it agrees that fun is what’s missing from many otherwise superb modern cars. Hence, its latest offering, the ZR-V.

“I am so excited with Honda’s brand new SUV with new powertrain and e:HEV technology. I am also very proud that Honda has never given up on driving joy,” says Honda New Zealand managing director Nobuya Sonoda.

“The ride is smooth and comfortable while the interior boasts beautiful styling, leading-edge connectivity and generous space for families, including weekday practicalities and sporty weekend fun.”

Yes, it’s an SUV, and yes, it’s available as a hybrid. But then again, it’s also available with a turbocharged VTEC engine, like those wonderful peppy CR-X and Prelude models we remember and love. The press materials talk about race-bred success, about Honda smashing Nurburgring records and providing the engines for F1 Aston-Martins. Certainly, this cute but purposeful-looking little family car will do school runs and grocery load-outs with frugal, fully connected, safety-assisted aplomb, says Honda. Still, what are the first words that Mr Sonoda’s press corps published about the pair of ZR-Vs?

“Both will handle and drive like a dream.”

So, the interior has been made sleek and plush enough to rattle Lexus, with Honda stating an aim to become Japan’s most prestigious carmaker. The appbased control and command system puts pure Tesla-style electro-wizardry at your fingertips. However, this is simply

That’s good fun, and it’s no surprise that the first 100 cars to land, sold out the morning they were made available.

Honda’s new ZR-V offers a feature many motorists prize above even fuel economy and boot space; it’s simply good fun to drive the icing

on the cake when the ZR-V is being routinely compared to the Civic hot hatch.

Thunder in the dirt

by Andy Bryenton

The world’s most powerful motorsport doesn’t take place on tarmac or involve sleek racing cars with millionaire drivers.

With its origins in the good-natured boasting and rivalry of wagoneers and ploughmen in the early days of farming in the US, the sport of tractor-pulling has a big following worldwide. It also boasts some of the biggest figures when it comes to horsepower.

Originally, it was literal horse-power which drove the sport. The strongest teams got more than just a celebratory beer or two. Each victory was well-watched by local farmers, and winning was the best form of advertising. As motorised tractors began to take over in the 1920s, many traditional horse-drawn plough teams took on the new machines in contests between animal muscle and internal combustion. While the writing was on the wall for the horses, eventually, they paved the way for contests between tractors.

Horse pulling is still a big drawcard at many US A&P shows. Still, its offspring, the tractor pull, has advanced to levels almost absurd in their power and noise. The very first competitions used normal tractors and the same rules employed for horses; records state that the first time mechanised tractors went head-to-head was in Vaughnsville, Ohio, in 1929.

The National Tractor Pullers Association was founded in 1969, as tractors got increasingly powerful, and a set of rules

The 1970s and 1980s saw tractor pull machines become absolute monsters; some with multiple 1,000 horsepower engines working at once covering the entire US was needed. The organisation supported mainly stock tractors and had the motto ‘pull on Sunday, plough on Monday’. Then, in the mid-1970s, something happened that changed the sport forever.

Back in 1963, hot rod maverick Ed ‘Big Daddy’ Roth had crafted a car called the Mysterion with two Oldsmobile big-block V8s. Inspired by this feat of engineering, the Bosse Brothers from Ohio created a high-power ‘crossbox’ gear train which could pump the torque

from more than one tractor engine out through the back wheels. Carl and Paul deployed a twin-mill tractor and smashed the competition. Then Bruce Hutcherson upped the ante with a triple-V8 tractor called Makin’ Bacon. Tim Engler put the capstone on this mad brilliance with his Mission Impossible machine, mounted with no less than seven alcohol-powered big blocks.

Things only got more brutal in the race for power. Tractor builders took the motors from Russian military helicopters,

navy torpedo boats, the giant V-12s from vintage warplanes, and more. One tractor packed the engine from an M103 battle tank. Another used a 54-litre, 18-cylinder bomber engine. Rules were reframed to prevent literal rocket and jet tractors from being fielded.

Today, there are multiple classes of tractor, from vintage and stock machines to absolute monsters with multiple turbochargers and methanol fuel. In New Zealand, most tractor pulls use the kind of machines farmers use, though watching the mad spectacle of the US championships is an eardrum-shattering thrill ride.

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