Northern Farming Lifestyles, November 2022

National wants to see agricultural emissions come down. We are committed to Net Zero by 2050 and the Paris Climate Agreement. We back farmers to deliver methane targets with the plan they wrote.

The government’s proposal threatens the consensus built by He Waka Eke Noa during the past three years. Broad support is crucial for any enduring solution to agricultural emissions.

Kiwi farmers are the most carbonefficient in the world. If there is a large fall of sheep production in New Zealand, it risks sending that production overseas. The government’s own analysis shows this will raise global emissions as production moves overseas to less-efficient farms.

We are also concerned that the government estimates its policy could

shut down 20 per cent of sheep and beef farms by 2030. Another five per cent of dairy could also disappear. These are material losses, given agriculture is responsible for half this country’s exports.

Part of the reason farms will close is the government’s plan does not allow farmers to earn extra income from some forms of on-farm planting and carbon capture.

National backs our farmers. We have always said the agriculture sector should decide how it should deliver emissions targets. Instead of closing farms, the government should accept the sector’s He Waka Eke Noa plan. It was written by farmers, for farmers. It is backed by an industry consensus, and it delivers emissions targets.

by Dr Shane Reti, National List MP

Dr Shane Reti, MP

Taking action on climate change

by Paul Campbell

“Heatwaves,

“The days of arguing about whether climate change is real or not are long gone. It’s unequivocal and happening now. One thing we can do is prepare for it by becoming more adaptable and resilient. That’s what I’m interested in helping our communities with.”

On the back of one of the wettest and warmest winters ever recorded in Northland, Tom says the region will start to witness more serious weather events unfold, whether they be flooding-related or, conversely, drought.

“Northland communities are particularly exposed to climate change with many settlements, town centres, roads and other critical infrastructure sitting on coastal floodplains, exposed to sea level rise and increased flooding.

“For us, adapting to the impacts of a changing climate is a key focus. We’re doing this in places like Kaitaia, where the $15 million upgrade to the Awanui River flood scheme has made the system more resilient and able to cope with the predicted larger flooding events we’re going to get. We saw this

in action with the recent flood event in the Far North.”

In April, a regional adaptation strategy was adopted — the first adopted in the country.

One place where this community-led response is being piloted is the low-lying Ruawai-Raupō area in Kaipara, with work now getting underway. CoastCare Te Tai Tokerau has planted 188,000 plants as of 2021 since the initiative began 16 years ago, maintaining and enhancing sand dunes to provide a buffer from coastal erosion.

National numbers up, as candidates await

by Andy Bryenton

Northland’s branch of the National Party will not announce a candidate to contest the ‘battleground’ constituency until early in 2023, as membership numbers swell.

“We have seen a tremendous increase in membership,” says local National Party chairperson Iain Huddleston. “This year, we have been very active, and we have seen new members coming in from across the social spectrum. It is a total mix; urban and rural, young and old.”

Membership numbers, in the high 600s earlier this year, have now surpassed 1,500, in what Mr Huddleston says is a swell of people wanting change.

“I think, also, that our two main leaders are very attractive to the public, as there is a huge sense of disillusionment out there,” he says. “People do not like the ‘dictatorship’ the current government is presenting.”

While Mr Huddleston’s use of ‘dictatorship’ is colloquial, dissatisfaction has been palpable on social media and in real-life meetings and protests regarding issues as varied as Three Waters, the replacement to the Resource Management Act, and the Emissions Trading Scheme. As the primary oppostion party, National has been ready with tactically released policy statements to refute the tone of unilateralism from Wellington.

Northland is currently held by Labour’s Willow-Jean Prime and is also the home

territory of Matt King, former National incumbent and leader of the current DemocracyNZ party. Prior member of parliament for Northland, Winston Peters, has also made headlines recently with a return to the public spotlight at the New Zealand First nationwide conference.

A strong contender for this swing seat may have to face up to all three of the above, along with ACT’s farming and rural spokesperson and Ruawai local Mark Cameron.

drought, wildfires, flooding, water shortage and sea level rise are all around us, and the data tells us it’s becoming more severe and more frequent,” says the Northland Regional Council’s climate change manager, Tom FitzGerald.

NRC climate change manager, Tom FitGerald — supporting solar power

Iain Huddleston

THE JOURNEY NORTH

BY AMY FIFITA

industry in about 1992 began to import Wagyu genetics into New Zealand. You couldn’t import animals; you could only import embryos,” Malcom says.

“We’re seeing more interest in Wagyu than five or 10 years ago. My late friend, Michael McCool, was one of the original pioneers of the Wagyu breed in New Zealand. He and others like him imported embryos, which were implanted into surrogate cows.

“Those involved in that process put themselves on the line in a very big way. The cost involved was enormous at the time, but Michael went on to create one of New Zealand largest Wagyu herds running upwards of 1,000 head. He stuck with the breed until his death in 2019.”

Malcom was born and raised in the Taihape farming district, where he lived for most of his life. There are five classes of Wagyu; F1 for the first cross, F2 for the second, F3 for the third and F4 or purebreds for the fourth and full-blood are made from 100% Wagyu dams and sires of Japanese origin.

“Whilst these embryos brought into New Zealand had a high percentage of Wagyu, they probably weren’t full-bloods because they were so scarce. People used the semen they imported from Japan to produce cross animals.

“My herd was bred up from a Friesian base using AI. In 1994, we first acquired Wagyu-Friesian cross heifers. They were black, and they looked like Wagyu. Apart from a few full-bloods dotted around the world, exported from Japan as embryos,

the only full-blood Wagyu cattle existed in Japan.”

In 2008, he ventured out to Snells Beach with his family and a herd of Wagyu cows relocated when he became the property facility manager at Lifeway College, a private tertiary college. He farmed the herd on leased land at Snells Beach and Matakana.

“We had a major change in our lives, and we sold half of the land and leased the rest. We had our three daughters with us, and we lived and worked on the campus there.

“A lot has happened between 2008 to now. My first wife, Binky, passed away in 2013 from cancer. Shortly after, the owners of Lifeway sold the land, and it all changed — the role that I had disappeared.”

In 2014 Malcom began to build houses and continued Wagyu breeding as a side project with between 100–150 cattle. In 2015 he married his current wife, Chari, who created the website for the NZ Wagyu Breeding Association Incorporated (NZWBA). Malcom is the NZWBA Inc president.

Malcom says since relocating to the new farm in Northland he couldn’t ask for a better canvas to paint his picture on

Malcom Collier started breeding Wagyu in 1994, something he became interested in after his family got involved in the early years of the breed coming into New Zealand.

“The initial coronavirus quarantine saw my building work disappear. I was farming but wasn’t doing anything else and decided to up my game. I expanded things and decided to do it full-time. I increased the scope of my herd and leased more land.

“Up to that point, we had been running purebreds, which is peculiar to the Wagyu industry. The original imports had a higher percentage of Wagyu genetics in the embryos, but they were not full-bloods. I decided to upgrade our herd.”

Malcom used AI and later full-blood bulls and started an embryo transfer programme where he gained access to full-blood heifers.

“We employed a breeding specialist to produce multiple embryos from each heifer, and then the embryos were taken from them and implanted into other cows. You end up with recipients that carry the

embryo for you. The embryo origin is from a full-blood bull and mated with a fullblood heifer.

“We began the process three years ago, and we decided to buy this place in Pakaraka. We wanted to get out of Auckland, but despite living in Leigh, it felt more like Auckland. We had to get ourselves into a farming area, and we embarked on a search.”

Malcolm and Chari sold their house in Leigh and purchased a farm in Pakaraka. With five unit loads of cattle and their worldly belongings, they relocated to their new farm in late March.

“This land is around the base of the Pouērua volcanic cone. It is the local spiritual mountain for local Ngāpuhi people. Some of it is rocky, but a lot of it is flat to rolling and it has deep topsoil. I could go down half a metre in some places before I hit the subsoil or clay underneath.

but once we got

the property was beautiful. There are lots of things to do when doing a venture like this, but we couldn’t ask for a better canvas to paint our picture.”

Malcom’s farm wraps around part of Pouērua behind him in

photo,

Malcom decided to expand his Wagyu breeding from a side project to full-time about three years ago

TRAINING TO SAVE LIVES

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

live on the family farm at Waipū Cove and love helping my grandfather with the farm chores. There is no place I would rather be than living the farm life and being involved in surf life saving,” says Ava.

“I help heaps on the farm with jobs like rounding up the cows, and I enjoy having my friends over and helping pop, even though we probably aren’t much help.

“The country and ocean life is an amazing lifestyle. I would choose this over the city any day. My dad Clark helps poppa, and my mum Rowan and I are both involved in surf life saving. Mum used to be a qualified lifeguard and is looking at getting back into it with me, and dad loves that I am a part of the club because he used to do it as a child.

“My sister Nyria and brother Baxter both did Nippers too when they were younger, but I am the only one who carried it on.”

Nippers is the junior surf life saving programme aimed at 5–13-year-olds, and children gain confidence, knowledge and skills in the beach environment.

“I joined a few years ago with my friends because we want to become lifeguards. My best friend Laura Manning’s mum Kath is our coach, and I have watched my mum as well.

Waipū Cove farm girl, 13-year-old Ava Pullan, has a dream to one day be like her surf life saving coach, Kath Manning, and help other young people into the surf life saving community.

Ava with club captain Kath Manning, Laura and Tim Manning at the Waipū Surf Club midwinter swim

“Laura and I are rookies, which means we are in Nippers training to be a lifeguard. Rookies are 12–14 years old, and you sit the lifeguard tests when you turn 14, so I will sit mine next year.

“Nippers really helped build my water confidence, and I made lots of friends. I still remember the first time I went into the surf, I was really nervous, but one of the older lifeguards came and stuck by my side the whole time to make sure I was OK.

“Being a rookie means we are learning to become lifeguards. We do roaming patrols with the older guards and interact with people on the beach. We do

everything we can to prevent things from going wrong, like telling people to swim between the flags if there’s danger or alerting them if there are things like blue bottle jellyfish in the water.

“At our recent rookie camp, one of our key phrases was ‘if in doubt, don’t go out’. If you have to save someone, don’t panic, and take a tube with you.

“We are taught how to be safe in the water and help ourselves if we get caught in a rip. A rip looks like where the waves aren’t breaking, and it will be choppy. If you are caught in a rip, you float on your back and put your hand up until someone can come and save you, or you ride the

wave and go sideways with it until you are able to swim out of it.

“We were also taught that if we fall off a boat to immediately float on our back and never panic, that is the number one rule.

“As rookies, we don’t do rescues, but we practise rescues on other lifeguards, so we know what we are doing to become fully qualified. If I was on my own and someone needed help, I would check if there were any lifeguards on duty, and if there weren’t, I’d yell to see if anyone could help and get someone to call 111 to ask for the police, who will contact our call-out squad.

“I would then call to the person to see if they are OK. If they weren’t, then

I’d grab a tube and swim out, but you need to put your safety first. The tubes help you float and are now located at Waipū, Langs and Ding Bay and some other unpatrolled beaches up north like Cable Bay and Tauranga Bay. Always check if there are Operation Flotation tubes when you arrive at a beach so you know if you need one.

“I always tell other people to join because it is an amazing experience. I enjoy learning from the older club members and hope to be on patrol most weekends and be there with my friends as I get older. Surf club really is amazing — it is a family affair.”

The Kaipara Moana Remediation programme is New Zealand’s largest harbour restoration programme, aiming to revitalise the health and mauri (life force) of the harbour through its globally significant environmental programme.

“I am one of a number of people who feel privileged to be involved in the progress of KMR and want to encourage others to join in and make a positive difference to the environment and future wellbeing of the Kaipara Moana,” says David.

David is leading the nursery team to continue expanding and increasing the profitability of the businesses to allow for more employment of tangata whenua — local people.

“This project is providing the opportunity to potentially restore, recreate and preserve the environment for

tamariki and rangitahi (youth) to enjoy and prosper in the future,” says David.

“More than 20,000 native trees have been distributed for KMR-funded planting projects. My objective over the next few years is to grow treasured taonga and rongoā (medicine) species for the project. Hopefully, it will also encourage generations of mana whenua (landowners) to become true kaitiaki (caretakers) and live sustainably on the land.

“I teamed up with KMR in 2020 and, until late 2021, was a part of the KMR Nursery Strategy Team, which was charged with engaging with nurseries in the rohe (district), who expressed interest in becoming suppliers to the programme roll-out.

“I took the helm at Te Arai Native Nursery to build the business to enable it to substantially contribute to the good

of the mauri of the Kaipara moana. I remain focussed on earning the respect of the community and landowners whose properties flow into the Kaipara

Harbour and encourage them to help restore the health of the Kaipara Harbour catchment and the harbour/ moana itself.

Te Arai Native Nursery Limited business manager David King has big plans for the company, which include growing millions of native trees to contribute to the Kaipara Moana Remediation Project for the next decade.

The Te Arai Native Nursery team Frances Perkinson, Jaiya Skipper, David King, Natasha Rogers, Danae Parker and Kathleen Armstead

“We work with central and local government, along with private enterprise to help financially underwrite the programme, which is also important.

“Getting mānuka, harakeke (flax) and other species established in the ground now will give participating nurseries time to grow those bigger native species before they are planted out under the protection of cover species that will become the Mahuta — leader of the forest.

“Part of that means growing over one million native plants in 2023, including mānuka, harakeke, oioi, kānuka, tōtara, mataī, kahikatea, kohekohe and many more.

“My primary responsibility as nursery business manager for Te Arai Native

Nursery is improving the infrastructure at the existing nursery so that it can act as the hub for three or four satellite nurseries around Kaipara. That will help the KMR programme grow and create employment opportunities for those around the rohe.

“Our nursery is also charged with growing taonga and rongoā species for inclusion in KMR Sediment Reduction Plans and setting up seed libraries to ensure continuity of seed availability. It is important to remember that the native plants need to be truly endemic to where they will go in the ground.”

The investment objectives set out in the KMR Memorandum of Understanding are David’s environmental ‘bible’ because they set out the kaupapa of the project —

something everyone involved should keep in mind.

“These include Tiaki taiao (Natural Capital), the primary objective being to restore mauri to the moana and enable it to be healthy, self-sustaining and naturally productive.

“Ohanga (Physical and Financial Capital). To create sustainable, resilient and optimised primary production in the Kaipara catchment and harbour.

“Manaaki Tangata (Human Capital). To improve Kaipara Uri and local skills and capability to support innovation, effective land management and community resilience and Tatai Hononga (Social Capital) to enable kotahitanga by empowering Kaipara uri and local community participation, including hapū and marae, in local solutions.”

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The Kaipara Moana Remediation team

Jaiya Skipper is a supervisor at the nursery

David encourages other farmers and interested parties to become involved in the Kaipara Moana Remediation Programme

FRESHWATER IN TE TAITOKERAU

Changes to freshwater

The government has set a new national direction for how we must all look after freshwater.

It’s designed to start making immediate improvements to the health of freshwater so that waterways are restored to a healthy state within a generation. It’s a huge task as many of the streams, rivers and lakes in Te Taitokerau are in a poor state. If our wai (water) is unhealthy, then our harbours and estuaries are unhealthy, what happens on the whenua (land) impacts our moana (sea).

As a council, we have to implement the government’s plans and as a result we’re preparing a new Freshwater Plan. It’s basically a set of new targets, policies and rules which will enable us to improve the health of freshwater as directed by government.

What you’ve told us

We asked Northlanders what freshwater spots are important to them and what they use them for. The locations were spread across the region. Here’s what you said.

HOW WE USE FRESHWATER

management

The Freshwater Plan is focused on improving the health of our rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater while Three Waters is about funding and managing water related infrastructure like wastewater treatment plants and drinking water supply pipelines.

What we know about freshwater

We can’t measure the improvements we’re making to the state of freshwater without knowing where we are starting from and collecting data that gives us this information is one of the key things we do. Here’s some of what we know:

• Most rivers (about 95%) are graded poor or very poor for E. coli (a measure of faecal contamination from humans or animals).

• Sediment is impacting fresh waterbodies, harbours and estuaries.

• About 70% of rivers and streams are in poor condition for freshwater insects (macroinvertebrates).

• Most rivers score either excellent or good against measures of nitrogen and ammonia. They also score well on measures of fish diversity and abundance.

• Some lakes have elevated nutrients. This increases the risk of algal blooms which then affects the health of native plants and animals.

mid 2023.

You can use our online mapping tool to tell us what you think needs to be done differently to improve fresh water. This is a really great place to find out more up-to-date detail about everything to do with freshwater in Te Taitokerau.

The message is simple - It’s going to take time and laRGE-scale change to how we currently do many things to achieve the improvements in freshwater we need to achieve.

What happens next?

It’s now our job to work with communities to prepare a plan for how we start to improve freshwater. We’re already talking with various advisory groups, iwi authorities and hapū representatives to get different views. We’ll be asking for feedback on a draft of the freshwater plan

... about what values Northlanders hold for freshwater and what people think is impacting those values.

It’s important to understand that this is not the same kaupapa as the Three Waters Reforms.

Securing brand New Zealand and economic growth

by Dr Emily Henderson, MP for Whangarei

With our Kiwi exports in high demand, we’re continuing to position New Zealand globally as a place to visit, trade with and invest in.

As part of this work, we’re making sure that we secure our competitive advantage by protecting New Zealand’s clean, green brand.

Here in Whangārei and across the country, we can be proud of our innovative exporters, farmers and growers. Thanks to their hard work, food and fibre exports in the last year reached a record $53.3 billion. This is a tremendous result and the first time we’ve hit more than $50 billion in food and fibre exports.

Consumers around the world increasingly want higher levels of sustainability in the products they buy, and it’s important for New Zealand to stay ahead of the international curve. That’s why we’re focussed on supporting the primary sector to continue producing highquality food and fibres, while protecting our environment.

Innovation will be the key to commerce in the future. CH4 Aotearoa opened its commercial facility at NIWA’s Northern Aquaculture Centre at Ruakākā this month, growing methane-busting red seaweed for farming. I am excited about the massive potential this has for our agriculture industry. Research shows that when fed to cattle in small amounts, these supplements can reduce methane

emissions by up to 90%, and may even allow cattle to gain more weight, from better digestions of the same feed.

Meanwhile, we took the next big step in our plan to reduce New Zealand’s greenhouse gas emissions, with the government largely adopting the farming sector’s proposal to price emissions at the farm level, giving farmers control over their own farming systems with the ability to reduce costs.

The proposals highlight that revenue would be recycled back into the agriculture sector through new technology, research and incentive payments to farmers. This proposal would see New Zealand farmers lead the world in reducing emissions and help give NZ a competitive advantage in a green-conscious global marketplace.

Despite Covid causing the greatest economic downturn in New Zealand since the Great Depression, our economy is in a good position. We will continue to work hard to unlock opportunities for Kiwi businesses and exporters, like those here in Northland, to gain further access and deeper connections within important markets.

Dr Henderson is excited about the potential seaweed grown for cattle feed has for methane reduction

Dr Emily Henderson (left) with the team from CH4 Aotearoa, which opened its commercial facility at NIWA’s Northern Aquaculture Centre at Ruakākā this month

Preparation

Reigning on his parade

by Andy Bryenton

without the local Santa parade,

Many of those reading this article will no doubt attend a Santa or Christmas parade this year, with some even taking part. In rural towns, those with access to big trailers and flat deck trucks are suddenly the most popular people in town as the parade season comes around. Many classic tractor has been dressed up in tinsel and balloons to accompany the man in red.

Santa parades began in 1903, with a promotion by George and Kerseley’s

department store in Wellington. To advertise that they were going to have an in-store Santa who would take toy requests from girls and boys, the store arranged to have ‘Father and Mother Christmas’ turn up at the town’s railway station on a train ‘from the north pole’. So many people came to meet this polar express that the procession of the Claus family through Wellington to the store became an impromptu street theatre occasion.

The store’s owners relished the publicity and realised that they had brought a lot of happiness along with their campaign.

The next year, the Clauses were joined inexplicably by famous British puppet Mr Punch, mythically the closest thing to an elf costume that could be found at short notice. People travelled from the countryside as the festive trio travelled through Petone and the Hutt Valley. Towns around New Zealand decided to get in on the fun.

During the next few years, Santa parades became part of the annual fabric of New Zealand life. The years before the second world war saw big social groups and organisations taking charge in small-town parades, with schools, churches, charities

and the convenors of A&P shows helping out. At this time, the marching bands, lolly scrambles and the strict ‘Santa come at the end of the floats’ tropes of a classic Christmas parade were born.

In the big cities, stores competed to introduce Santa in novel ways. While it had become an established practice that he should ride a sleigh on a float by 1930.

Thirties Santas arrived in Christchurch by elephant back, in Wellington by biplane, and in 1937 Santa parachuted into Auckland, at a time when skydiving was the domain of the military and not civilians. There was also an odd trend for ‘giants’ in those early years, with big and tall men donning stilts and costumes to appear even larger and often being accompanied by little people in elf costumes.

This year is the first year since Covid that Santa parades can go ahead in many smaller towns. Dedicated people are taking time off work to design floats, don costumes and practice songs. Locals will drive trucks, hang bunting, blow up balloons and throw sweets, all for the kids and a sense of community. If somebody asks you to step up and help, consider it a big compliment. You’re being recruited into Santa’s army of helpers, keeping up a Kiwi tradition, which has gone from a commercial gimmick to a genuine occasion for seasonal cheer.

Santa’s farming past

by Andy Bryenton

Folklore is a funny thing, and the hodge-podge of myths, traditions and stories which have come down to us to create the character of Santa Claus contains a kernel of truth; Christmas is about celebrating farming.

While Saint Nicholas, a major part of the image of modern Santa, was the patron saint of sailors rather than those who work the land, a big part of the image of the jolly, portly chap in red comes from two of the old pre-Christian gods of Europe. In fact, the word ‘jolly’ references the festival which ties one of them to farming and the fertility of the land, Yule.

In olden times, Odin, the father of Thor, was depicted as Julnyr, the bringer of joy in midwinter. With a long white beard, furtrimmed coat, and a flying horse, this mythic figure visited Norse and Germanic villages to deliver gifts of food. In the middle of winter, it was traditional to hold a big feast, ensuring the return of spring, and farmers in those latitudes took this very seriously.

The ‘gifts’ of Yule were really a contribution from the stores of each farmer to boost the morale of the whole village at a hard time. Most would have

truly believed that by honouring Odin, they ensured that winter would end and their fields would grow again.

Farming was hard graft in France, Ireland and Britain too, and a Yule festival was part of the tradition in those lands. Their legendary figure, which has fed into the Santa myth, is Cernunnos, the forest god, who makes a cheeky appearance in Charles Dickens’ Christmas Carol as the Ghost of Christmas Present.

Like the old god of the Celts, who was revered as master of wild beasts and the woods, Dickens’ ghost is a huge, bearded man with a crown of oak leaves dressed in forest green. Later depictions called him the Green Man, but his other association is with the wild hunt, a supernatural event said to happen in midwinter, right on Christmas.

The real ‘wild hunt’ came from the tradition of farmers needing to put extra food on the table in a harsh winter. The

menfolk of a village would ride out into the forest to seek game, and they appealed to Cernunnos for help and to apologise for taking wild animals out of season. It’s no wonder that when Celts and Norsemen intermingled, the hunter god and Odin became entwined. The idea of a big, bearded, fur-coated man delivering gifts of food in late December became part of our heritage.

Back then, as today, Christmas or Yuletide was about gathering with family and friends to have a feast. It’s just that then, feasting in the middle of an icy winter was an act of faith, praying that farms and fields would soon be productive again.

These strange threads have combined to help create the legend of Santa. Still, one thing remains true through all those years; there’s no feast without farmers.

Christmas is about celebrating farming

Christmas Preparation

Boost soil with vermicast

With a current emphasis on growing one’s own food, MyNoke Pure Vermicast is in high demand with home gardeners — its popularity doesn’t stop there.

TC Supersoils is based at Te Kawa Crossroads, in between Otorohanga and Te Awamutu. MyNoke Pure Vermicast is prized as a reliable soil to grow healthy plants by horticulturalists, floriculturists, orchardists, landscapers, certified organic growers and the general public.

“Vermicast acts like a natural fertiliser with a wide application for growing vegetables, crops and flowers of various kinds. Unlike chemical fertilisers, there are no restrictions on how much can be used nor leaching or run-off issues,” says part-owner Trina Brooky.

The manufacturing process utilises food scraps, whey powder from

Fonterra, waste fibre from paper from the Kawerau Pulp and Paper Mill, recyclable packaging and other compatible waste materials.

“At several sites in the North Island, the material is carefully stacked in piles to which worms are introduced. They work through the material for about eight months, consuming much of it, which passes through their bodies to be excreted as worm casts.”

The company producing the material is named MyNoke, based on the Maori word ‘noke’, meaning worm, with the processes all based on scientific research originating in Germany.

“Our demand comes from people who realise their soils need a boost. If you have been experiencing a decline in your natural soil productivity, we would recommend you try vermicomposting as a cost-effective method of improving productivity.”

Vermicomposting is a natural process whereby earthworms convert waste material with rigid structures into compost.

“It’s an environmentally-friendly natural soil humus product that enriches soils with fungi, mycorrhizae, beneficial bacteria nematodes and, of course, earthworms.”

MyNoke Pure Vermicast absorbs and retains water in dry periods. The natural soil conditioner builds humus levels, improves nitrogen efficiency, boosts root growth and naturally sequesters carbon.

“Our 20mm screened vermicast is suitable for most commercial fertiliser spreaders and all muck spreaders. It is easy to spread over established pastures, orchards, vineyards, groves and so forth.

“Applying MyNoke Pure Vermicast to the soil surface is ideal as this allows feeder roots to interact with plant growth stimulators and beneficial microorganisms in the product.”

Trina Brooky and David Worthington

ADVERTORIAL

TC Supersoils supplies a product rich in vermicast, the fertiliserrich casings of worms, one of the leading organic plant growth enhancers on the market.

The real thing

by Amy Fifita

“My partner, Deirdre loves Christmas and suggested that we should do Christmas trees, and it sounded like a good idea,” says the number one elf Andrew Thorne.

The couple planted the first 1,000 trees in 2015, with the first sales in 2019. It takes three and a half years for the trees to be thick, bushy and nicely shaped for sale.

“We ended up losing the first 1,000 trees to metre-high kikuyu. A year went by, and we started the battle with the kikuyu.

“Our friend who came from New Plymouth lived next to a Christmas tree farm. He gave me the details of the farm. The farmer had since retired and he was 80 years old.”

After calling the retired tree farmer, who invited them to New Plymouth to share his knowledge collected during his 35 years as a Christmas tree farmer and give advice about the kikuyu issue.

“We went down and spent some time with him, and he gave us the equivalent of 10 years of experience. We had taken

Christmas Tree Farm.

purchase. Andrew advises customers to come with a single or double sheet to make it easier to put the trees into their vehicle.

Number one elf Andrew Thorne ensures the Christmas trees are bushy and thick enough for the festive season photos of what we had in the paddock expecting him to advise us to mow it. He said it was fine and told us what to do. We reclaimed the paddock, and the trees were still growing.”

After showing their toughness to kikuyu, the low-lying trees near the river have shown resilience to flooding.

“One year, the trees were a metre and a half high, and we couldn’t see a tree in the flood. The water came and went. The trees were leaning a little and needed to

be straightened — apart from that, they were good as gold.

Santa is due for his first visit this year as the honoured opening day guest. Visitors are welcome to take photos with the festive figure. The farm gates open for these trees to escape the paddock to your living rooms on Saturday, November 26, from 9am until 5pm. The farm is at 888B State Highway 10, Kerikeri.

People can come to tag a tree to collect closer to Christmas or on the day of

Christmas Preparation

Charity girl acknowledged

by Ann van Engelen

The award recognises young New Zealanders striving to make the world around them better and embody the values of compassion, integrity, and kindness. Deputy head of Saint Francis Xavier Catholic School, Jennie Dean, nominated Madison for the award, saying she portrays kindness, support and bigpicture future thinking.

“She encourages and supports her friends and her teachers every day. Her leadership at school is one we admire.”

Fred Hollows Foundation NZ CEO, Dr Audrey Aumua, says: “The Humanity Awards give us the opportunity to celebrate young students, like Madison, who are walking in the footsteps of the late Professor Fred Hollows — they are the Freds of the future.”

Madison is well known across Northland as a young author who published her first book at seven years old called The Good Baby and The Bad Hippo. She has since published two more in the series and donated $1,200 from her sales to the Northland Rescue Helicopter, for which

she is also an ambassador. She has voiced numerous radio ads and fronted interviews with pilots and intensive care paramedics.

“I think I was chosen to be Fred’s ambassador because I follow in his footsteps in my own way by looking after people,” says Madison.

“My teacher said I am kind and help others, but I don’t do things for recognition. I do it because people need help. Fred Hollows helped people in the Pacific Islands get their eye cataracts

removed for free so they could see. His legacy continues through his foundation.

“I was very surprised to get the award. I didn’t know I was nominated. They showed my class what they do by using special goggles. I think it’s hard for people to understand what cataracts are like. You can’t see clearly. You see a rainbow of colours, but now we understand it is important to help the people in the Pacific Islands to have theirs removed.

“At school, I am a peer mediator, which is like a duty teacher. Mediators help children work out problems like understanding maths or writing and issues in the playground. We also have a pocket full of bandaids to give to children who need them — I really enjoy that part.

“As ambassador, I will just keep being me and learn how to keep helping others. I am proud to be representing Fred Hollows. At first, I was embarrassed, but now I see it as a mission.”

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi Cure™ for over five years.

He says this allows them to have an odour free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well Septi Cure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition.

Pipiwai farm girl 11-year-old Madison Macmillan was recently named the 2022 Fred Hollows NZ Junior Ambassador through the Fred Hollows Humanity Awards.

Madison Macmillan with the 2022 Fred Hollows NZ Junior Ambassador Award and one of her Good Baby books

EDUCATION & TRAINING

What we value in our work

by Andy Bryenton

Unemployment is at its lowest point since records began, and despite inflation, businesses are booming, meaning that it’s a good time to feel valued in your work.

This year, the number of people in fulltime employment increased by 3.2 per cent to 2,270,000, while those employed part-time increased by 5.7 per cent to 567,000 people. That means fewer people are unemployed and looking for work. There are now 98,934 people receiving the Jobseeker Work Ready benefit from the government. This figure has not dropped below 100,000 for more than a decade.

It’s also 13,731 fewer than September 2021 figures. Notably, many of these job seekers are, in fact, receiving a benefit to top-up part-time employment, which doesn’t pay enough to subsist on. Add to this the very slow opening of the borders to skilled migrant workers, especially in niche industries, and it’s easy to see why many local businesses are committed to upskilling from within, training apprentices, or attracting staff from their competitors.

The interesting part is not that the old big-business doctrine of staff interchangeability and replaceability has

been obliterated, even though a human resources manager who loses skilled people in this environment is liable to be asked tough questions by the board. The fascinating aspect is that, even during a time of increased living costs, the best way to attract and retain staff seems not to rest on money.

Here’s an example. The recent 2022 Remote Work Report found 48 per cent of employees surveyed said they would consider quitting their job if their employers forced them back into the office full-time. Flexible work and no commute were worth more to them than remuneration. A Harvard Business School study last year revealed that employees value on-the-job training and upskilling more than a pay rise. The number one criteria for a ‘better job’, out of a Leeds University study, post-pandemic, was ‘a harmonious workplace’. A pay rise came in a distant fourth.

Lifestyle is key, and that’s a tasty incentive that Kaipara businesses can

DARGAVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

At DHS we have a proud academic tradition and history with many students going on to gain prestigious qualifications and work in a wide range of industries. We can offer something for everyone with academic courses and specialist teachers in the STEM subjects - Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Digital Technology for students aiming for tertiary training and vocational choices for students more interested in hands on work.

We offer Trades Academies for the senior students in Police, Building and Construction Trades ( Primary Industry delivered by Primary Industries ITO). Students can also choose from a wide range of individualised Star courses that include an opportunity to complete a Gateway work experience placement and relevant industry standards.

Opportunities in Sports, Drama and Music and both Maori and Pasifika cultural groups inspire our students to develop holistically, experience leadership and become well rounded citizens. Our school values of responsibility, integrity, respect and contributing encourage students to develop as life-long learners and reflect a well resourced and strongly supported local school.

Enrolments for 2023 are now open. www.dargavillehighschool.co.nzoffice@darghigh.school.nz

offer thanks to their location. Factor in flexible hours to make the most of the northern summer and our outdoor environment, and you have something a city office can’t match. Then again, local firms are approaching the staffing gridlock from other avenues too. This

publication joins many responsible local firms in having an apprentice programme. Yet others offer considerable opportunities for fast advancement or a path to self-management or even succession when older business owners seek retirement.

Mahitahitatoumeteorangaamatourangatahi Workingtogetherforthewell-beingofouryouth

On-the-job training, the possibility for advancement and a harmonious workplace are all enticing to quality staff, sometimes over and above wage rises

Do I contribute to climate change?

by Jane Gray

Farmers are the main source of climate change if we are to believe everything we hear and see. However, they are also the primary source of most of our food.

Yes, I have a veggie garden, but I can’t grow meat in my backyard, and shock horror, I am a meat eater. I do not want to eat plant-based substitutes, so apparently, people like me have added to the problem.

I have quite a large section that I would like to run chickens on but won’t because of stray cats and dogs, and really, freerange chooks would run amuck in town, and free-range is the only way.

I have planted lots of trees, both native and exotic. Do they count toward carbon tax credits? I also plant to attract bees, much to my rather allergic partner’s dismay, but we all must make some sacrifices. So that must be a mark in my favour. On the flip side, I spray a little and use some slug bait in the veggie garden. That’s a negative.

I catch water to take care of my gardens during the summer. I also catch my grey water to do the same. Is that a tick in the

good column? I do use air conditioning, and I am not very good at recycling, so I guess that puts me on the ‘adding to global warming’ list.

I try to shop and avoid plastic as much as possible. I make a lot of my own clothes. That has to be a plus, although power is required to run the machine, so they probably cancelled each other out.

It would seem to me the best thing a townie like myself can do is support our rural industry. It’s the most efficient in the world, and it’s better if our milk, meat and veg come from here than countries that are more polluting or further off, so food has to travel, costing fuel. Perhaps if all the vegetation on farms was counted honestly, farmers take care of the environment better than most townies.

Support our local economy, which should drive competition and reduce imports.

Avocado market update

by Jacob Darling, COO of Darling Group

As of week 44, Darling Group has packed 40% of its total volume; as a group, we are about five per cent behind our forecasted loadout.

Interestingly, the industry sits at 26%, which suggests quite a different strategy around harvest timing.

The focus of the sales and marketing team remains on developing our key Asian markets to ensure the longterm viability of the business. To date, our plan comprised 35% into Asian markets and the balance into Australia, which we should be within approximately five per cent of at the close of the 2022–23 season.

At this point in the season our teams’ focus pivots to Australia. Values in this market have only recently lifted, but it is great to see this market moving in a positive direction.

When analysing the supply figures out of Australia and New Zealand, we forecast that the market will dip under 350,000 trays a week from November through to Christmas and will continue to fall, which is all positive when reviewing value. The Australian market historically can handle approximately 400,000 trays before values start to see pressure.

The domestic market processed 156,000 trays in week 42, which makes

life challenging when trying to extract value out of a market that can consume approximately 85,000 trays a week.

Packouts for the industry continues to be challenging, ranging from 40%–45% class one on any given week. It has contributed significantly to the additional volume into the domestic market.

Maturity appears to be about four to five weeks ahead on average, in comparison to previous seasons.

Darling Group is full steam ahead for the remainder of the season, with the new MAF Roda packing line installed performing well.

If you would like to know more about our business, get in touch with our team at info@justavocados.co.nz.

“Support our local economy, which should drive competition and reduce imports.”

Where is the Chondroitin?

(Part two)

by John Arts, Abundant Health

In the last edition, I asked why most New Zealand-made osteoarthritis support supplements have little or no chondroitin sulphate (CS).

The research in favour of CS is overwhelming. So much so, that CS is listed as a prescription medicine by the European Medical Agency. The daily dosage recommendation is 800mg, which is the dosage I use in my joint supplement, where I combine CS with 800mg of glucosamine and 100mg of curcumin extract (from turmeric).

Some experts suggest CS has more than 30 positive effects on joints. These are changes that create cartilage (anabolic) and those that prevent the destruction of cartilage (anti-catabolic). Cells called chondrocytes are responsible for repairing, maintaining, and secreting cartilage. They produce CS as it is an important part of joint capsule fluid (synovial fluid) and actual cartilage.

CS is critical as it helps chondrocytes to repair damaged cartilage. If these cells are damaged or die, the cartilage they maintain will eventually disintegrate. The second role of CS is preventing the loss of chondrocytes from

damage by destructive enzymes and free radicals.

That is all great in theory, but what are the impacts of adding therapeutic doses of CS in someone with advanced osteoarthritis?

Earlier this year, I was contacted by someone in her mid-70s with severe OA in one knee and moderately severe in the other. It affected her mobility, and was unable to walk any distance. I started her on my standard OA programme based on an intensive dose of my joint supplement and omega-3 fish oil to reduce inflammation.

After two months, she noticed her knees were more comfortable. Now, after six months, the pain has significantly reduced, and she can now walk freely. For more information, give me a call or email john@abundant.co.nz. You can read my newsletter at abundant. co.nz.

John Arts is a qualified nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health. Contact John on 0800 423 559. To read more go to sunlive.co.nz.

Five years of progress with Labour

It’s one where everyone has a healthy, affordable place to call home. It’s one where all of us have access to world-class healthcare. It’s one where we look after our environment for generations to come.

We have worked hard to put in place the foundations for this future. As we mark five years since becoming the government, I wanted to take this opportunity to update you on our progress so far.

Despite Covid causing the greatest economic downturn in New Zealand since the Great Depression, our economy is in a good position. Thanks to our strong economic management, debt is low, exports are up, and our economy is larger now than before the pandemic.

We have more people in work, with higher wages, which makes both Northland families and our economy

strong. We’ve also seen child poverty continue to improve, and measures such as our Families Package, minimum wage increases, benefit increases, and free lunches in schools have helped to lift families’ wellbeing.

We’re also making good progress on our plan to make sure that everyone in New Zealand has access to world-class healthcare. We’re upgrading hospitals and health centres and training more nurses and doctors. We’ve put in place more mental health support, boosted Pharmac’s funding, extended free GP visits to all children under 14, and more.

It can sometimes be easy to forget just how far we’ve come since 2017, and while there’s still more work to do, I’m incredibly proud of our government’s record.

(Funded by Parliamentary Service)

Our government has a very clear vision for New Zealand’s future; it’s one where our economy provides security and opportunities for every New Zealander and their family.

Hearing an update on the Bay of Islands Hospital redevelopment

by Willow-Jean Prime, MP for Northland

Woodchips and fleece fly with show’s return

After Covid enforced absence last year, Whangarei A&P Show is gearing up to take place on December 3 at Barge Showgrounds.

After four years’ absence due to M bovis, the cattle competitions and calf club are also back this year.

Celebrating 141 years, Whangarei A&P Show delights audiences with animals of all shapes and sizes, great trade sites and food. It brings different communities together to celebrate and share rural excellence and knowledge. Many local groups like wood chopping, logger sports and shearing bring an authentic rural flavour to the show. There is all-day woodchip and sawdust action and the fleece on the shearing stand starts flying at 10am.

New attractions and features include a new petting tent with loads of furry animals to cuddle and hold. Creative Northland has teamed up with Northland Office Products Depot to offer an interschool Hobby Horse competition. Bunnings will also be holding a Battle of the Brigades challenge.

Ever-popular Fresha Valley Suzie Moo Show demonstrates how to milk a cow by hand. Suzie is having a party in her tent to celebrate her 10th birthday!

Free show entertainment includes Wai Taiko, a vibrant, dynamic Japanese drumming group; Jake Whitaker’s Stunt

Show with a spectacular display on both his moto trials bike and enduro dirt bike; a fantastic line-up of singers and acts on the performance stage, from solo singers to bands, and even Whangarei’s morris dancers.

There is something for everyone at the show, from GJ Gardner Homes Sawdust Big Dig to ever-popular Highland dancing. Plus, classic and vintage cars, loads of equestrian competitions, mounted games, miniature horses, and sheep racing.

Showgoers can see the largest number of sheep breeds seen in the north. Among them a brand-new breed, called Aussie White; Beltex (the Kardashians of the sheep world); the cutest Baby Doll sheep, and the cute and curly, black and white Valais Blacknose.

The 141st Whangarei A&P Show will be open from 9am and is excellent value for money at only $10 for adults and $5 for school children. Children five years old and under are free.

“There is something for everyone at the show.”

Legacy of the excavator’s creator

by Andy Bryenton

In 1835, railways were beginning to work their way

States was no exception.

In the times before the 1861 Civil War in that country, massive amounts of cheap labour could be had from abhorrent practices such as slavery and indenture. While many railway companies had moral objections to such conditions, all were in a race to build faster, better routes.

William Otis would invent the machines that removed the need for back-breaking labour in moving dirt and rock. A member of a different branch of the family, involved in politics, James Otis, had called the slave trade ‘the most shocking violation of the law of nature’. Machinery could replace grim working conditions for indentured labourers on the railroads. One of the most important machines for this task was the steam shovel.

William Otis devised the first such shovel in 1835 and designed it to fit onto a railroad flatcar. A locomotive would be connected up to move it to the rail head, then used as a power source. The shovel used chains and winding drums to scoop about one cubic metre at a time, and its boom was made of wood. Otis was only 22

at the time, but the idea was the making of his legacy. Railroads, which needed to slice through hills and level gullies for a good surface, were early adopters of the technology, patented in 1839.

Otis did not live long enough to enjoy his success. A bout of typhus claimed his life at the age of 26. Some contemporaries say he could have avoided the illness, but he was engaged in long hours of testing to perfect his ideas.

Railway companies took to steam power in a big way, and gangs of labourers dwindled. Oddly, it was Otis’ invention that paved the way for one of the most enduring legends of US folklore.

The apocryphal race between John Henry and the steam mining drill may be based on actual events at the Big Bend Tunnel in Talcott, West Virginia. Researcher Scott Reynolds Nelson claims to have interviewed an eyewitness in the 1920s. That man, Neal Miller, described the race between John Henry, an AfricanAmerican tunnelling worker of formidable skill, and an early steam drill. Henry beat the machine but is said to have died of his exertions.

True or embellished, the tale of a working man fighting hard to beat mechanisation was also a metaphor for the times. It was

not only slaves and immigrant labourers who were put off the rail gangs by steampowered machines, but working men too. However, the final evolution of the excavator ended up creating more jobs in construction, as bigger, more ambitious projects were undertaken, and new kinds of employment came in to being.

William Otis was only 22 years old when he invented the power shovel excavator; his cousin would go on to invent the elevator

Morris

Total

Virgin Concrete Limited 09 435 5044

Wagener Stoves ‘Lion’ Limited 09 408 2469

Yamaha Motorcycles Whangarei 09 438 0804

Whangarei rural stunner wins silver

A Maungatapere home built for a retired farming couple has taken out silver at this year’s Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards for the Auckland/Northland/ Coromandel region in the $750,000–$1 million category.

Builder Marcus Bracey from Stonewood Homes Whangarei said the home sits on a 5.7-hectare rural section allowing the owners to continue their passion for farming but on a hobby scale.

“The clients wanted the house to be positioned to take full advantage of the rural views,” Mr Bracey said. “The house faces completely north so that all rooms capture the sun.”

Retiring from a large farm and house, the owners still wanted a sizeable home and large enough to accommodate their extended family when they visited.

“Everything is large scale in this home, from the 3.2m entry ceiling and the raked-ceiling outdoor alfresco area to the six-metre-long kitchen, plus scullery. The oversized laundry/mud room is accessible from the outside and includes a shower. These features reflect the owners’ past lifestyle but on a smaller scale,” he said.

“The house has also been future-proofed, with hallways and doors widened and showers wheelchair accessible.”

The house features three linked pavilions: a master bedroom and ensuite in one pavilion, three other bedrooms and bathroom and a multi-use room in another wing and the living areas in the third pavilion. Cavity sliders allow the

main living areas to be closed off from the rest of the house.

“The home is ideal for hosting visitors while allowing the owners to retain their privacy in the master bedroom pavilion,” Mr Bracey said.

Outside, the white weatherboard pavilions are offset by a black roof and dark schist pillars. The owner has

built a stunning rock wall at the front of the house.

The home features double-glazed windows, 3.6-rated insulation batts to the ceiling and 2.6-rated insulation batts to the walls, insulation in the slab and an energy-efficient heat pump.

“The owners have been clever in thinking about their future needs, with the house all on one level and wheelchair accessible. The separate pavilions minimise maintenance and cleaning when not in use,” Mr Bracey said. “It’s the perfect retirement home and still allows them to enjoy rural vistas and a rural lifestyle while only being 15 minutes from town.”

Stonewood Homes Whangarei has won five Registered Master Builders House of the Year awards, including the 2021 gold award for a stunning custom harbourfront home at Whangarei Heads.

The silver award-winning home built by Stonewood Homes Whangarei at Maungatapere

On-farm summer safety

by Colin Hannah — Federated Farmers Northland President

In this column, I am

As Mike recently said to me, this is our first summer coming out of Covid. We all need to look out for each other in any number of ways to keep each other safe and minimise the chance of injury, death or damage to plant and property.

Under stress, we act before we think, and that is when accidents happen. Let’s start with birds nesting in tractors. If you lose your tractor to fire this summer, you’ll face quite a delay sourcing a replacement due to supply chain issues, and that could be a massive blow to your business. None of us can afford that right now.

When I stopped for smoko while contracting, I always left the bonnet up because a nest can be constructed that fast. It also forces you to do mechanical and safety checks multiple times daily.

Farmers working to deadlines constantly exceed sensible working

hours, heightening risks when operating machinery. So as all Northland Federated Farmers members and friends do, keep an eye on your workers, neighbours and, most importantly, yourself.

Mike says: “Everyone has a part to play in safety, whether it’s road, water, or farm safety. It’s like putting the Northland Rescue Helicopter at the top of the cliff, rather than the bottom of the cliff. We all need to think like that to minimise risks.

“When I founded Training for Safety, months before the Northland Rescue Helicopter saved me, I had no idea how far-reaching my work would become in the Northland community. So it’s great to partner with Federated Farmers Northland to help keep people safe.

“Along with Colin and the Northland Feds team, we are working with the Northland Rescue Helicopter at the upcoming Whangarei A&P Summer Show on December 3 and again at the Dargaville Fieldays next year from March 2–4.”

There is also animal health to consider, of course, especially if the north gets hit with a dry summer and feed and water

shortages have an impact. Let’s not forget the rising anxiety levels on farms thanks to all the costly and dumb regulations being forced on farmers and rural New Zealanders. That’s right; it is not just farmers in the firing line. Lifestyle block owners and horticulturalists need to wake up to it too.

To help keep yourself, your family, work and mates safe, check out Training for Safety’s online training resources training4safety.co.nz. If you or someone you know needs help, please phone 0800 824 757 and check out rural-support.org. nz/Regions/North-Island/Northland for helpful wellbeing tips.

teaming up with Northland Rescue Chopper ambassador and all-around good guy Mike Lindsay to address safety.

Federated Farmers Northland president Colin Hannah, Northland Rescue Helicopter pilot and base manager Steve Couchman and Training for Safety’s Mike Lindsay

by Ann van Engelen

“The Wayleggo Cup was first presented by the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association in 1994 for the trans-Tasman competition,” says Scott.

“It was inspired by Tony Shield, the president of the New Zealand Sheep Dog Trial Association at the time. The term, ‘wayleggo’, is an abbreviation for the ‘come away and let go’ command, used by musterers and shepherds in New Zealand to call their dogs back from the stock they are working.

“I had been preparing with Cory for the event since being named in the New Zealand team back in July, along with team captain Guy Peacock and Slim, Neil Evans and Tess, and Gavin Drake with Baldy.

“The trans-Tasman event differs from any other event on our national sheep dog trial calendar. Each test was the same across three days, with a hybrid of New Zealand and Australian rules and courses.”

The Tasmanian Working Sheepdog Association hosted the event in Campbell Town, Tasmania.

“I enjoyed having a break from our winter to represent our country. It was an honour to compete, and it was certainly emotional standing there singing the national anthem hand on heart and being dressed up in our New Zealand blazers looking sharp.

“Australia took the cup this time round, but the experience we had was amazing. People who competed before gave us

some great inside information, too, which helped.

“The merino sheep in Tasmania were different. They were quite flighty, and if you gave them half an inch they were gone. Seeing how their dogs performed under those conditions was interesting too. All of our dogs worked well with the sheep they had.

“It was definitely worth training for and going to. You couldn’t be over-prepared with the things we had to adapt, such as the first test being at nights under lights, torrential rain and high wind.

“The Australians were fierce competitors, but when you weren’t competing they were super friendly, and I really enjoyed their company. I really encourage other people to get into the sport. Get upskilled and become as good as you can to get selected for the competition here in New Zealand next year.”

Scott

team member

“I had been preparing for the event since being named in the New Zealand team back in July.”

Time for two-wheeling fun

by Andy Bryenton

Spring is the time of year when many of us consider getting out on the highway by motorcycle, and a new crop of learner-approved machines makes exploring Northland by bike more appealing than ever.

Rules which allow learner and restricted motorcyclists to ride larger, more openroad competent machines have been here for a while now, and manufacturers are vying for a market share in the entrylevel segment. As fuel costs at one end and better technology at the other make a convincing case for two-wheeled freedom, here are a brace of LAMS-approved bikes from the big Japanese brands.

Yamaha has rebooted the styling of its old-school RD 350 with a new XSR700; actually, a 655cc twin-cylinder learnerapproved retro road cruiser. A 270-degree crank gives the engine crisp acceleration and plenty of torque high into the rev range, adding to the confidence afforded by anti-lock brakes and a clear, easy-toread dash. Pick this one if you want a retro-inspired cruiser that says, ‘I’m part of a long road bike heritage’.

Suzuki takes a different tack with its latest SV650A, following on from a lineage that goes back to 1999. The latest member of the SV family is packed with technology. It features an exposed spiderweb tube frame, blunt nose and big, low-slung and aggressive exhausts to match primary-coloured alloy wheels.

Two spark plugs a cylinder, advanced metallurgy tech, and even a low-RPM assist programme combine to make this a bike which supports novice riders with power when it’s needed.

Honda offers a pack of great LAMSapproved options, but if racing pedigree is your thing, then look no further than the CBR650R. The CBR title graces some of the fastest machines on the road, and this learner-approved version may lack a little of that stunning velocity but none of the style and handling. A light, strong chassis and a true superbike configuration, with an inlinefour engine tucked in low and central, makes this a great introduction to sports riding, and more than enough exhilaration for new riders fresh to the feeling of the open road.

The other way to enjoy Northland highways is with a long lazy cruise, and Kawasaki has just the machine for the job. The 650cc Kawasaki Vulcan LAMS edition is set up for devouring the miles and drinking in the sights and sounds. A low seat height, ample torque and a comfortable riding position make this a practical motorcycle. Still, it’s the retro cruiser styling that sets it apart, and blends elements of the vintage and modern into a seamless whole.

Innovative energy solutions

by Amy Fifita

Kubota is leading the world by developing the first hydrogen-powered fuel cell tractor and aims to provide the final product by 2025.

With low emissions a current topic, zero-emission agricultural machinery could widen options for farmers aiming to live up to the government’s lowemissions targets. It is not only rural New Zealanders pitching in. Japanese agricultural company Kubota is pursuing a more sustainable future.

It has tasked itself to reduce carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2030 for its construction and farming machinery. The organisation is focussed on becoming carbon neutral by 2050, following Japan’s focus on becoming net-zero and assisting other countries in achieving the same.

The company found a solution in hydrogen power and is working to create both medium and large-sized fuel cell tractors with a prototype anticipated for 2023. It will be between 50 and 100 horsepower.

The tractor offers positives and negatives for potential buyers to weigh up. One negative is its predicted price that exceeds popular diesel-powered options by 40 per cent.

However, the initial cost could reward you when paying the much-debated emissions pricing schemes enforced upon the agricultural sector. Operating a zeroemissions machine could minimise the

outgoing expenses without adding to the greenhouse gas issue.

A positive is that hydrogen is a sustainable fuel. It has already indicated a faster refuel time and longer range within the automotive industry compared to its electrically-charged alternative. It is a highly flammable element, as are the fossil fuel, petrol and diesel.

The next downside is that the infrastructure for it isn’t ready in New Zealand yet. However, this obstacle is being solved through various projects and studies from companies, local councils, universities and GNS Science. Government and international funds for joint projects are available.

The collaboration between Waitomo Group and Hiringa Energy shows interest in creating the required infrastructure. The companies have four green hydrogen refuelling stations under construction. Check out other initiatives on the New Zealand Hydrogen website.

The 2025 release gives New Zealand time to establish better availability options. Kubota may have thought ahead regarding infrastructure because it plans to create electric-powered mini excavators and compact tractors.

The 2023 prototype will provide further detail to give you more scope on this developing technology. Your options are simple. Invest in the hydrogen-powered tractor, wait for the electric alternative or stick to traditional choices already available.

Kubota has additional initiatives promoting food and water sustainability. Its technologies and products support abundant and quality food production and improve water recycling, treatment and supply systems worldwide, as it has achieved in Japan.

Kubota is branching off from its traditional tractors and developing a hydrogen-powered version as a zero-emission option