Northern Farming Lifestyles, September 2023

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

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

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

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

Journalists: Ann van Engelen | Andy Bryenton | Amy Fifita | Paul Campbell

Advertising: Braxton Epere 027 567 9467

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

Accounts: accounts@integrity.nz

Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME

Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz

27,041 copies DELIVERED FREE to every farm and rural delivery address from Albany to Cape Reinga.

29 Omamari Road, Mamaranui Ph 09 439 0833

OPINION

Facing the challenges

by Dr Shane Reti, National Party list MP

There are a lot of challenges in the agriculture sector at the moment, and a falling farmgate milk price will have a significant rural impact and a wide ripple effect through Whangārei and Northland.

Fuel prices have surged, interest rates are high and general cost of living expenses are crippling.

We have seen centralising command and control across a range of portfolios, including the disastrous polytech merger into Te Pukenga and the horrible health reforms. That leads me to the intention to not only get Wellington out of health and education but also out of farming.

I think local decision-making is important and that farmers should be empowered to focus on things such as environmental protections in areas of high environmental value and improved stock inclusion rates.

The rural economy could be boosted with things like increased RSE workers and banning foreign farm-to-forest conversions for carbon farming.

Smarter farming could benefit from the removal of red tape, such as a two-for-one reduction for new regulations. Farming regulations generally would benefit from an oversight panel to bring a sense of reality and pragmatism.

From farm to market requires goods to be transported, and Northland roads leave much to be desired. We have the third-highest number of potholes for every 100km of state highway in New Zealand, and when the Brynderwyns go down — we add huge costs to goods transported.

I am committed to working with our vital agriculture sector to make it as bureaucracy-free as possible and as productive as possible. When farmers do well — we all do well.

Dr Shane Reti

Peanut trial plantings resume

by Paul Campbell

Peanut planting time is back across five Northland sites in stage three of a $1 million project to establish a new agricultural industry in the region.

The Northland Peanut Trials are back on track, following a washout of the 2022 crops., with an estimated five hectares of peanuts to be planted in October/ November. Funding through the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Food and Fibre Futures fund has enabled the project led by Northland Inc to continue for a third season. To date, the project has yielded promising results for the potential of a commercial peanut growing industry in Northland.

Northland Inc Project Manager Greg Hall says after the year one trial, where four cultivars were successfully harvested from sites across Northland, hopes were high for continued success in year two.

“Harvest of year one of the peanut trials saw a sample of 18 kilograms of peanuts sent to Pic’s Peanut Butter in Nelson, where cultivars were processed into peanut butter. In some cases, the nutritional values of the Northland-grown cultivars were higher than the peanuts that Pic’s imports from other countries, indicating the quality potential of locallygrown produce.

“However, the planting of year two of the Northland Peanut Trials was severely impacted by unseasonal wet weather during October–December 2022, with water-logged soil hampering planting windows and ultimately seeing a washout of crops seen across much of Northland’s agriculture industry.”

Summer weather provided ideal growing conditions for the first Northland peanut crops Business Development Manager at Plant & Food Research, Declan Graham, says the prospect for peanut cropping in Northland is good.

“We’ve already established that some of the short-season cultivars that have been evaluated to date produce very good yields,” he says. “We’re really hoping the weather plays its part this season.”

Greg Hall says the potential benefits of the establishment of a peanut industry in Northland are multifaceted. “Peanut crops add nitrogen and restore soil, making them a great rotational crop. The Northland Peanut Trials allow us to assess the opportunity and potential benefits of industry establishment

while minimising the risk for our agriculture farmers.”

The project is led by Northland Inc with funding provided by the Ministry for Primary Industries’ Sustainable Fibre Futures fund, Picot Productions, Northland Inc, and expertise from Plant & Food Research and Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research. The upcoming year three trials will involve four iwi partners. If the crop is proven, supporters say peanut farms and a new manufacturing plant could boost the future regional economy and employment prospects.

76% of New Zealanders are concerned about “fake news” and its implications

ACHIEVING ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS

BY ANN VAN ENGELEN

“We strive to achieve our environmental goals, and involving the school children is a winning formula for us,” says Andrew.

“We are based in Titoki on our home farm where I grew up as a kid. I built a strong connection to the property, particularly to the river where we spent plenty of time as kids, and now our kids enjoy it.

“Vicky and I are 50/50 share milkers for my parents. Vicky and I met at Lincoln when we were both in first year and uni. Her parents were sharemilkers in the Waikato.

Andrew is involved with the Dairy Environmental Leaders Group, the Northland Dairy Development Trust and is a Dairy NZ Climate Change Ambassador. The Booths also took out the Regional

This is not a budgeting programme, but teaches essential skills in finance, among them:

Supreme Award, plus several others at the recent Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards.

“We first entered the BFEAs about six years ago. Since then, we have grown and developed our business a lot more, and our plans are now coming to fruition and things like that.

“Our philosophy is to educate and share our knowledge with the community and focus on creating a dairy farm with long-term resilience. Every year, we work with school children to help us get 2,000 native plants into the ground. Our partnership provides a positive influence for the children as they learn to look after their environment.

“In the wet areas, it’s stock standard plants like harakeke, cabbage trees, mānuka and kānuka. My mum propagated seeds that we collected from the farm, like puriri and karaka ,and we’re looking to grow a few specific specimen trees.

“Significant work has gone into creating the farm over the last three generations to ensure it is both environmentally and economically sustainable. Some of the highlights include creating a new wetland area, active pest management, and preserving natural areas of native bush to encourage the return of endangered native birds.

Andrew and Vicky Booth recently won the Regional Supreme Award, plus several others at the Northland Ballance Farm Environment Awards

Andrew and Vicky Booth of Jade Dairies involve local schools in their farming life at Titoki as they help bridge the urban-rural divide.

“Our aim is to have zero impact on surrounding freshwater, so the farm is run with careful use of nutrients and a good understanding of high-risk areas. The wetland is a combination of an existing wetland area, and it naturally filters 90 per cent of water leaving the farm.

“We’re aware of the potential impacts of climate change and are looking to reduce our emissions by continuing to drive efficiency in our business through more efficient use of fert and feed, by breeding more efficient cows and reducing wastage. These should allow us to drop stock numbers but maintain milk production.

“We are looking to reduce our emissions by continuing to drive efficiency in our

business, more efficient use of fert and feed, breed more efficient cows reducing wastage, these should allow us to drop stock numbers but maintain milk production.

“It’s all the little things that matter. Our system has transitioned, and in response to the changing climate, we changed to full autumn calving to match our feed growth. That gives us a better response, and we dry the cows off in summer. With the change from spring to autumn calving, we are now milking 40 less cows then we used to.

“Animal health is very important to us, and we have ample shelter to provide shade for our cows. We are running 390 crossbred Friesian cows this year and have a strong

focus on developing key animal traits. This helps us to produce stock that are well suited to our specific land conditions.

“We want to maintain production while reducing our inputs further as we continue to care for the land. There are a lot of guys around here that are doing some really fantastic things. A lot of people have been planting and fencing and really looking after the waterways.

“There is a really good group of people here and a lot of family farms have kids returning to take over the farms which is great to see because people are always sceptical of change.

“We recommend people enter the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The preparation process helps you understand your own business better because you look at it more in-depth. The feedback you get from the judges on your business is great, and you get new ideas.

“For us, we’ve just bought our own little place at Mata, which will keep us busy. Long term, we will still have this place. It will always be home, and we will continue to grow and develop a stable business that we can support our family with and stay involved with the community.”

Vicky and Andrew are farming the Booth family farm at Titoki and also have their own small property

Andrew enjoys spending time with his children at the river he grew up swimming in as a child

The children often help Andrew with chores on the farm

HARBOUR RESTORATION WORK FORGES AHEAD

Kaipara Moana Remediation leader

Justine Daw says in the first 18 months of operation, co-funding has largely focussed on fencing and planting projects near waterways, with an expansion this winter into planting of erodible hill slopes.

“KMR is calling for expressions of interest to identify landowners who want to take action across the 6,000 square kilometres of the harbour catchment by November 13 if they are interested in planting exotic species on eroding hillsides. For those interested in poplar poles to stabilise hill country, we would like to hear before March 31 next year, if they wish to plant in winter 2024. This is part of our ongoing support for landowners across the catchment, including those affected by Cyclone Gabrielle and other adverse weather events.”

BY PAUL CAMPBELL

KMR is now working with over one-third of the estimated 1,500 pastoral landowners in the Kaipara catchment, with more than 97,000 hectares of land now managed under Sediment Reduction Plans. In total, more than $10.8m of sediment reduction projects have been completed or are underway, and 510km of fencing has been completed or contracted — the same distance as Auckland to Rotorua and back.

Landowners are an integral part of the remediation, along with iwi, schools and volunteers. Matakohe beef farmer David Byles has worked with KMR to put 1,510 native plants in the ground

“The 2022 planting was very much a community affair. I had the plants delivered a week ahead of time and spread them all around the planting area. On the day, I had help from students at Tinopai Primary and Dargaville Intermediate. Kaipara Harbour Care,

Northland Regional Council and KMR staff helped out as well.

“I am looking at other areas of the farm to fence off and plant, so I will definitely be working with KMR to get more natives in the ground in years to come,” says David.

David Byles farms at Matakohe and values harbour restoration planting

The $300 million restoration project to clean up the country’s biggest harbour has passed milestones of a million trees planted along with hundreds of kilometres of fencing and is now expanding its efforts by partnering with landowners to tackle erosion across the landscape.

Shona Oliver is a field adviser working on land in multiple ownership or with community groups working on public land. Both may be eligible for funding via the Whenua Whānui fund aimed at supporting marae and community groups to participate in restoration.

Shona says the key to her work is listening to their ambitions while also working out what is reasonable and feasible. A fortnight after a planting is completed, Shona returns to the land and does so again six months later to check on plant survival rates and to see if plants have been successfully established.

“Yes, it will take decades, but every contribution counts. If we all do our bit, we can begin to restore the mauri of the Kaipara.”

Maungatūroto farmer Ian Cawkwell is replanting parts of his 79ha beef

unit with natives to utilise funding to improve the land.

“What KMR is providing for landowners like myself is great, and I would encourage other farmers in the Kaipara catchment to get on board and take advantage of the opportunity. I floundered in the Kaipara. I mulleted in the Kaipara, and I love the Kaipara. I stomped around here as a kid and remember the creeks full of crayfish and eels.”

Ian is encouraging other farmers to lock their creeks and waterways up by fencing and planting as it is land that is not going to be used for grazing anyway. “This is a chance to partner up and clean up the environment and split the costs.”

Gill and Kevin Adshead, with their 1,300-hectare property backing on to the Kaipara in the family since 1868 have a significant area of shoreline. They are utilising KMR funding, which

they will match dollar for dollar to keep up their side of the partnership, to fence off many kilometres of drains, waterways and gullies.

With the help of friends and family, the couple have made a concerted effort since 2005 to protect the land, retiring more than 400ha of the property, which is covered in native species — with more to be added. Dozens of kilometres of fencing have been put in to protect waterways, gullies, swamps, wetlands, bush blocks and the shoreline of the Kaipara Harbour. A further 23km of fencing is planned, along with more native planting days.

More than 7,500 native trees have been planted every year since 2005, and those efforts are supported by intensive farm-wide pest and predator control. Heading into 2023, 150,000 native trees have been planted on their property.

Their drive established The Forest Bridge Trust in 2014 with a vision to create a connected landscape of healthy forest and flourishing indigenous wildlife from the Kaipara Harbour in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east by supporting farmers and landowners achieving environmental goals for their properties.

Kaipara schools are highly involved in shoreline planting to remediate the harbour

Tinopai School’s Olivia Prangley with her mum Kristeen at the KMR Paparoa planting day

Dairy complaint against Canada upheld

by Paul Campbell

Canada’s undercutting of promised access for New Zealand dairy products has been confirmed in a legal ruling on the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

The Dairy Companies Association of New Zealand (DCANZ) is welcoming the legal ruling, says executive director, Kimberly Crewther. “We applaud the clear ruling that Canada is not implementing the dairy access it agreed in CPTPP as it should be.”

The legal panel of three international trade law experts has upheld claims that Canada is not complying with the agreement’s requirements to administer quotas in a manner that allows importers the opportunity to utilise the volumes fully and to not limit access to a quota allocation to its processors.

“It is outrageous that Canada has sought to undercut the access it promised by reserving most of the quota quantities for domestic processors of those same products, who are least likely to import,” says Crewther.

The dispute is the first of its kind under the CPTPP and underscores the importance of dispute provisions in trade agreements.

DCANZ highlighted how the Canadian quota administration deliberately interfered with the willing-buyer-willingseller relationship to deter dairy imports.

“Defending our access rights under all New Zealand trade agreements is important, and taking on a G7 country with a history of bending the rules has been no easy task,” says Crewther.

DCANZ is frustrated that, where dairy is concerned, Canada has a repeated pattern of needing to be legally compelled to adhere to its international trade commitments.

Following the panel report, Canada is obliged to bring its system into compliance. It is essential for DCANZ that this occurs fully and without unnecessary delay.

“Canada’s failure to fulfil its obligations has robbed New Zealand exporters of trade opportunities for over four years now. DCANZ is calling on the Canadian Government to do the right thing by changing to a system that is fair and above board as soon as possible.”

Expanding free basic dental care

by Hon Willow-Jean Prime MP for Northland

Labour will begin New Zealand’s journey to universal dental care by expanding free basic dental care to nearly 800,000 under 30-year-olds.

New Zealand has some of the highest recorded rates of unmet need for adult dental care — overwhelmingly because of cost. In 2022 alone, 1.5 million Kiwis didn’t visit the dentist because it was just too expensive. Extending free basic dental care is a huge move and one which will ultimately benefit all New Zealanders.

The policy we have announced is a substantial step towards Labour’s ultimate goal of universal dental care. It prioritises those most likely to put off dental care for financial reasons — young people.

Our policy includes essential dental procedures such as an annual checkup, a clean, X-rays, basic fillings and extractions, everything needed to set New Zealanders up for good oral health in their later years.

The New Zealand Dental Association welcomes the Labour Party’s campaign pledge. NZDA president Dr Amanda Johnson says the association is delighted by the announcement and commitment to addressing the oral health crisis in New Zealand.

Accessible, well-funded healthcare is core to the Labour Party. It was the first Labour government that introduced universal access to healthcare. We’ve

continued to build on this record over the years, most recently with the extension of free doctors’ visits to under 14s and scrapping the $5 prescription fees. We want to keep people well and prevent costly illnesses to ensure they get the care they need. Our health reforms are focussed on fairness, and the principle that everyone is entitled to the best healthcare, no matter who they are or where they live. We are proud of our achievements and our future plans to help Kiwi families. There is more to do, and we’re in it for you.

Willow-Jean Prime, Northland MP

Election NZ’s most critical ever

by Colin Hannah — Federated Farmers Northland President

Our teams across New Zealand have been doing a lot of thinking in the lead-up to the elections — about what is important for New Zealand right now and into the future.

NZ First has practical farm policy

by Hon Shane Jones

Economic resilience calls for rational decision-making; farmers should not be forced into irrational emissions pricing, in effect, a penalty, without similar restrictions imposed on our trading partners.

The EU parliament has recently voted to largely exempt its own cow herd from its emissions reduction plan.

With global climate risks, food security is growing in importance, and efforts to grow our primary sector are compatible with the Paris Accord. New Zealand as a nation is very wellplaced to capitalise on this reality, but as we saw last week when Greenpeace protestors disrupted parliament, these matters remain contentious.

Some of these issues I have touched on in previous Northern Farming Lifestyles issues. Still, I think it is timely to touch on the key issues and opportunities Federated Farmers see as priorities for the next government.

Centralisation has been robbing us of our local identity and treats local issues as national issues, which they are not. For example, New Zealand is a long, narrow country, and Southland farms must operate differently from Northland farms due to contrasting weather conditions.

The government needs to give back control to local communities. For this to work, we need far better candidates to stand for local body positions. They need strong skill sets, as would be expected of company directors, as these businesses are as large as many of our big companies.

The Significant Natural Area proposal (SNAs and forests make up 50% of our land area) must be simplified significantly, as it is a blatant theft of land and property rights. Unworkable freshwater rules must also be sorted.

The ute tax must be scrapped, and our infrastructure, particularly roading, needs to be fixed. Roading in Northland is thirdworld and getting worse, putting lives and livelihoods at risk. It is also creating additional inflationary conditions above national inflation levels.

There is also a dire need to get RMA reform right, urgently review our methane targets, support better use of technologies to improve agriculture’s productivity and efficiency, rethink our ETS Forestry rules and net-zero target, and unlock New Zealand’s potential through water storage — all helping to improve productivity and efficiency.

A concerted effort in building the farmer workforce is desperately needed. Young farmers must be allowed to access their KiwiSaver, so they can use the funds to get ahead in business and life.

You do need a house to farm, but you can work in a city office and use your KiwiSaver to purchase a home. The next government must show strong fiscal and monetary discipline because fiscal pressures will rise with the marked drop in agricultural returns.

For the past 12 months, Federated Farmers has conducted numerous scientific polls of the New Zealand public, and most Kiwis support what we are asking for. Interestingly, 67% of Kiwis think positively of farmers, 41% of Kiwis believe farmers are over-regulated, and 72% feel more people should be allowed to come to New Zealand to work on farms. Agriculture supported you all very well through Covid, and we will continue to do so.

Forestry investments have risen in the past five years, leading to the conversion of some productive farmland formerly used for beef and sheep farming. An RMA prohibition or restricting access to the ETS forestry offsetting provisions are possible reform options.

Presently, there are forestry legislative proposals out for consultation. They include requiring resource consents for forestry planting and changing the ETS rules for exotic forestry. Preventing total forest planting of land on LUC classes of one, two, three and four is the preference for NZ First. More work could be done to give farmers carbon credit for their shelter belts and offsetting trees.

Landcorp also has a role to play in establishing a new generation of

farmers. If changed from an SOE to a Crown Entity to enable share farming, sharecropping and sharemilking, a pathway to farm ownership could be built.

With the imminent arrival of El Nino, it’s urgent that a regional infrastructure fund be created. NZ First would support a fund that focusses on flood protection, water storage, managed aquifer recharge and irrigation.

These types of investments will improve resilience and offer a practical adaptation response to climate volatility. Such interventions can only succeed where there is a balance between economic costs and environmental improvements, and this balance is integral to NZ First policy.

Hydro Kai is an all-in-one hydroponic grow kit for growing veggies at home in a small space.

Colin Hannah, Federated Farmers Northland president

Hon Shane Jones

THANK YOU FOR

Ag policy emphasises sector growth

by Rt Hon Winston Peters

As the election campaign reaches its peak and the major parties focus on the big urban populations to harvest votes, I can assure you that at least one political party, New Zealand First, has not forgotten where this country’s economic fortunes are tethered.

Despite the plethora of naysayers, the cold, hard reality is the primary sector, especially pastoral agriculture, is the sector of any scale that New Zealand holds an internationally competitive advantage. The focus of New Zealand First’s Ag policy is unequivocally to play to our strengths and grow the sector.

The sheep and beef sector is particularly dear to my own heart. As a sheep and beef farmer of 36 years, I have unwavering belief in its potential.

What we won’t be doing is shrinking the sheep and beef sector by a quarter by putting a price on agricultural emissions. The He Waka Eke Noa experiment failed, and sheep and beef farming was going to be the proverbial sacrificial lamb at the altar of climate policy, taking with it the viability of many rural communities.

What we will do is incentivise innovation with the tools we do have, like assisting with the roll-out of low-methane genetics, already commercially available in sheep and readily being identified in our cattle genomics. As seedstock breeders, you will have a critical role to play here. It’s something that you are world-class at, and we will back you to the hilt.

There will be restrictions on exotic plantation forestry with limits to the

amount of forestry able to be entered into the ETS on good food production land.

We would provide concessionary tax rates for exporters to help grow our export opportunities and support brand NZ initiatives to build on our provenance story. We could look no further for an exemplar than the incredible job the Angus breed has done positioning its products at the premium end of the market.

We intend to deliver a Rural Infrastructure Fund to enable the construction of critical rural

infrastructure, like flood banks, water storage and bridges.

Planning laws will be overhauled to be more permissive of light groundworks and focussed on catchment by catchment solutions and weed and pest control prioritised for government support.

New Zealand First has very much focussed on a ‘back to basics’ approach to agriculture that will help grow the sector, support where it’s needed and then get out of your way to let you get on and do what you do best — producing world-class meat and fibre.

The Right Honourable Winston Peters, NZ First leader

Expanding forestry vision

Dr Elizabeth Heeg, the new Forest Owners Association chief executive, is looking to forestry as a sustainable keystone of bioeconomy and is promising to expand the vision of the forest industry.

Dr Heeg was previously working at Te Uru Rākau New Zealand Forest Service and replaces long-serving chief executive David Rhodes.

“New Zealand forests are a vast resource which could produce a significantly greater value for Aotearoa New Zealand,” she says.

“The world economy is transforming out of a dependence on fossil fuels, which accelerates climate change. Renewable resources, such as wood, are vital to powering the global bioeconomy.

“New Zealand has an opportunity to use forestry to achieve a low emissions future. The Forest and Wood Industry Transformation Plan, which was launched just last year, lays out a clear pathway to maximise forestry’s role and value-add to address the climate crisis.

“As we meet the challenges of realising the full potential of our forests and development of an advanced processing industry, the catastrophic effects of Cyclone Gabrielle earlier in the year have also reminded us that we must adapt to climate change as well.

“We’ve got to get better at managing our forest debris and do it ahead of the growing intensity of storms which put all land use at greater risk.”

She says she’s looking forward to working with FOA member companies, other primary industry organisations and associations, decision-makers and communities.

YOUR GIFT CAN LIVE ON AT SWITZER DONATION OR BEQUEST/LEGACY

“FOA has always been close to the Farm Foresters Association, which represents small-scale forest operations, and they are important partners as we look towards diversification and adaptation.

“We’re also looking to future partnerships to utilise woody biomass for

energy, with companies such as Fonterra. Forestry is moving into a new age of partnership and collaboration.

“By building partnerships across the forestry supply chain with the Wood Manufacturers Association and Timber Industry Federation, we can process more wood onshore, use more wood for building, and get the highest value from our forests.

“The ITP estimates New Zealand could lower its projected carbon emissions by 54 million tonnes by 2050, if we increase domestic processing and

biomass efficiently. That’s a target worth aiming at.”

Forest Owners Association president Grant Dodson says he’s delighted to welcome Dr Heeg as a highly qualified woman as CE of the association.

“She’ll be bringing a whole range of new perspectives to the top of the industry. There’s a lack of female leadership in the sector, and Elizabeth’s appointment is going to go towards redressing the imbalance towards a more diverse leadership and participation in forestry and its supply chain.”

WHY DONATE TO SWITZER?

A bequest/legacy is a beautiful way to support the work of Switzer beyond your lifetime. It’s a gesture of kindness that means a great deal to the people we care for. Your generosity will ensure our service remains accessible to families in the Far North.

Governance of Claud Switzer Memorial Trust by community representatives defines the Trust as a community organisation. We are not corporate, and as a not-for-profit registered charity, we are grateful for any additional support.

For over 67 years, Switzer Home and Hospital has provided care to those in need in our community. This was made possible through the original generous bequest of Claud Switzer in 1954.

If you would like to consider making a donation or leaving a bequest, we will use it to enhance the care of Switzer residents by:

• Supporting our ongoing day-to-day service delivery

• Embracing new programmes and models of care

• Purchasing new equipment

• Improving and expanding our facilities

If you would like to leave a gift in your Will to help us continue providing these services and ensure the security of the Home’s future, please consult your lawyer.

If you wish to discuss gifting/bequests further, you are welcome to contact Tina Mills, CEO, on 09 408 8824 or email tina@switzer.org.nz

Dr Elizabeth Heeg, newly appointed Forest Owners Association chief executive

Concrete Blocks for

• Retaining Banks

• Silage Pits

• Storage Bays

• Fertiliser & Feed Bins

SMALL BLOCK

Length: 600mm

Width: 600mm

Height: 600mm

Weight Approx: 490kg

LARGE BLOCK

Length: 1500mm

Width: 600mm

Height: 600mm

Weight Approx: 1260kg

10 Hiko Rd, Kamo, Whangarei

Ph. (09) 435 5044 orders / (09) 435 5043 accounts

Email info@virginconcrete.co.nz

MEDIUM BLOCK

Length: 900mm

Width: 600mm

Height: 600mm

Weight Approx: 750kg

SLOPED BLOCK

Length: 900/1500mm

Width: 600mm

Height: 600mm

Weight Approx: 1000kg

Virgin Concrete for all your ready mixed concrete needs

Proudly 100% locally owned and operated. Visit www.virginconcrete.co.nz

Why farmers should vote National

by Grant McCallum

Now we’re coming up to the business end of this election; I want to put to you what a vote for National means for farmers.

National knows farmers are the backbone of our economy and understands the sector has had it tough and will likely continue to have it tough.

In government, it will be laser-focussed on taking the pressure off from the pace and scale of new regulations to let farmers do what they do best — drive our economy to help get our country back on track.

That’s where National’s Getting Back to Farming comes in, with 19 common sense changes to grow our rural economy and boost exports. It has a clear record of working with the sector, and our strong team, led by spokesperson Todd McClay, is ready to get to work in government, collaborating with the sector to rebuild our economy.

National knows farmers aren’t asking for no rules, just rules that work, are stable over time, and set boundaries and outcomes, rather than micromanage our farms from Wellington.

It’s also why the party has committed to delaying a price on agricultural emissions, so we can get the tools and processes to reduce emissions, have on-farm sequestration properly recognised, and limit carbon farming forestry.

Are farmers opposed to improving environmental outcomes? No.

Are we opposed to unworkable rules made to achieve unachievable outcomes? Yes.

Farmers are a pragmatic lot. Sit down with us, show us a problem, and we will help find a solution.

Every election, there’s talk about some schemes for how a strategic vote could have more impact. I’m sure you’ve heard some. The truth is, MMP just doesn’t work like that.

There’s no need to confuse things. Voting National is the surest way to get farmers the collaborative approach we need from government.

That’s why I’m asking you for your vote this October — for Grant McCallum and National.

Grant McCallum

“Farmers aren’t asking for no rules, just rules that work, are stable over time, and set boundaries and outcomes.”

Considering quarry wetlands

The Aggregate & Quarry Association is saying the government needs to include quarries as well as farmland in fresh considerations of using wetlands to absorb carbon.

“Many quarries create or expand wetlands as part of their activities, helping offset the 90 per cent loss of New Zealand’s wetlands, mostly to farming,” says AQA CEO Wayne Scott.

According to a recently released cabinet paper, New Zealand is relying too much on planting exotic forests to remove carbon from the atmosphere, and this brings risks and costs. It recommends incentivising other options like restoring wetlands.

“Quarries have to break ground and create holes to access the rock, sand and stone materials that we all rely on to build anything. These are often later developed into other resources like agriculture, parks or wetlands.

“For example, within a few kilometres of each other in Waikato, we have two quarries which have both won awards for the wetlands they have created, Winstone’s Baldwins Quarry at Meremere and Stevenson’s Waingaro Quarry at Ngaruawahia.

Climate Change Minister James Shaw responded to the suggestion saying, that at the moment, only one technology, planting trees, is being used to draw carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

“Wetlands, mangroves and peatlands soil can also sequestrate carbon dioxide” he said.

Last year, the AQA helped get changes to the government’s National Policy Statement on Freshwater Management,

Wayne Scott, Aggregate and Quarry Association CEO which initially would have halted quarry expansions on land that used a very narrow definition of a wetland.

“If James Shaw wants to encourage further wetland development, he should encourage Forest & Bird to withdraw its appeal against the revised definition,” says Wayne.

“Many farmers are now recreating wetlands, in part, to help process or reduce nutrient run-off. This can reduce the amount of carbon offset. Quarries don’t have the same need to reduce nutrients, so they can provide wetlands that not only manage water run-off but are even more efficient at storing carbon dioxide.

“Our sector is not looking for incentives. We just need politicians and activists to recognise what we contribute to our communities and the planet through creating and enhancing wetlands, and allow us to keep doing that.”

ADVERTORIAL

Chondroitin sulphate for sore joints (Part one)

by John Arts

The drug classi cation then goes on to give speci c information:

‘Chondroitin sulphate, used with glucosamine, is indicated to alleviate pain and in ammation from primary osteoarthritis. This supplement is reported to improve joint function and slow disease progression.’ (drugbank. ca/drugs/DB09301)

I recently read a health store yer in my morning newspaper. One promotion was for a glucosaminebased joint product. There is no doubt that glucosamine can help joints. That is why I include it in my joint formula. Still, why is there no mention of chondroitin?

The company is a large international company that would clearly know about the bene ts of chondroitin. What, then could be the reason for not including therapeutic amounts of chondroitin?

For that matter, why do most joint products sold in NZ have either no chondroitin or so little to have a negligible impact on joint health? I think the answer is quite simple. Good quality chondroitin costs almost 10 times that of glucosamine.

Abundant

My preference is to have equal proportions of chondroitin and glucosamine and for most people to start at a double dose. The standard daily dose of my joint supplement delivers 800mg of both ingredients while the double dose is 1,600mg each. This, combined with fully water-soluble, high bioavailability BioSolve® curcumin (from turmeric) extract, can quickly settle sore joints. I usually add omega-3 sh oil rather than plant omega-3 sources as only sh oil has EPA, which is profoundly anti-in ammatory.

As an example, I have been helping someone for several years with sore knees caused by osteoarthritis. He is much more comfortable and mobile and feels so much better about life in general. In his own words, “I have stopped limping and now telling everyone.”

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.

Super Joint Formula

What is Bettaflex?

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

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

• Try Bettaflex for 3 months and see for yourself.

How can Bettaflex help?

BEST

$99.95

• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.

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

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

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

John Arts comments:

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

(John Arts, Founder, Abundant Health)

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

Chondroitin sulphate is classi ed as a Dietary Supplement in NZ but in In Europe is available on prescription where It is classi ed as “a symptomatic slow-acting drug for osteoarthritis.”

A tough way to a living

by Paul Campbell

The giant kauri trees once covered Northland and were reduced by 70 per cent in a century of timber harvesting; beneath the ground, a millennia of trees had left golden gum, a resource that put food on the tables of the early settlers and utilised by early Māori.

Commercial development of ancient gum deposits came when a consignment of gum was sent to London in the early 1840s and found ideal as an ingredient in varnish, which in the 1800s was made from the resins of various trees. It was later also used to make linoleum. So an antipodean industry was born.

There was a huge influx of men bent on making a living, some settler farmers who supplemented a precarious colonial income, and a considerable contingent of Yugoslav or Dalmatian diggers soon arrived from Australia, to be reinforced by families from home. The Dalmatians often banded together to dig over an area, and got on well with local Māori, with many Northland residents today having both Māori and Dalmatian forebears.

Māori called kauri gum kāpia, chewed fresh from trees. It was used to start fires or to make a torch for night-time fishing, while the soot from burnt gum was ground into a fine powder mixed with oil or fat and used in tattooing.

At the peak of the industry there were 20,000 gumdiggers in the north — Māori, Chinese, Malaysian and Yugoslav. Local stores ‘grubstaked’ many diggers, then bought their gum in a revolving credit system.

The diggers sometimes changed the local landscape a little, with deep trenches to access gum that was located

ground, so they rarely arrived home at the end of the day, not caked in mud and grime.

Then men climbed living trees to collect fresh gum. There is the grim tale of a harvester reaching the high branches of a kauri to find the skeleton of an unfortunate who had apparently lost a climbing rope

to become stranded unscalable metres above the ground.

So gum digging and tree climbing was a hard way to make a living, but as the country grew and developed, it was an industry that added to the balance sheet in no uncertain terms. In the century beginning in 1850, it was estimated that 450,000 tons of kauri gum, back

then £25 million, was exported. For 50 years, prior to 1900, gum was Auckland Province’s most valuable export, ahead of gold, wool and kauri timber.

The kauri gum industry continued into the 20th century when by the 1930s, cheaper materials for varnish were found in chemistry, and the price of kauri gum fell by the 1940s to end the era.

Today, however, gum still commands a price featured as an item of jewellery.

A gumdigger cleans his day’s take outside his whare circa 1870, his spear and spade ready to hand with long spears to probe the earth. They worked too in swampy

SPOTLIGHT ON KAIKOHE

Kaikohe area’s projects of progress

by Andy Bryenton

Water, power and innovation are set to be key drivers of the Kaikohe economy, as the area welcomes investment and interest in a trio of local plans.

The Ngawha geothermal field provides much more than just the hot springs, making the town famous for those seeking healing and relaxation. As renewable energy becomes the focus for future power generation development in this country, alternatives to gas and coal will be ever more important, and Ngawha is an established leader in the field. A proposal to turn all of Northland into a Renewable Energy Zone is in the works, potentially making it even easier to construct the infrastructure to be self-sufficient in electricity.

Nearby, the proximity of heat and power has been beneficial to another incubator of progress. The Ngawha Innovation and Enterprise Park is designed to be a seedbed for fresh ideas and business

KAIKOHE A P & H ASSOCIATION

•

KAIKOHE SHOW - JANUARY 20 2024

For all enquiries email: kaikohe.show@yahoo.co.nz

concepts. It was developed by Far North Holdings, with partnerships from the Northland Regional Council and Far North District Council, the Provincial Growth Fund, Northland Inc and the Ministry of Social Development. Currently, agricultural and berry crops are being trialled, natural products developed and training undertaken there, with more capacity available for expansion.

Another investment in future prosperity has recently been completed in the Kaikohe area. The Te Tai Tokerau Water Trust’s first completed irrigation reservoir, the Matawii Dam, is filling now after a ribbon cutting in May.

All of this is a renaissance for the Kaikohe area, now to benefit most from having future-facing technologies and infrastructure at its threshold.

Address: Cnr Ngawha Springs Rd & SH 12

• Power & non power sites for camping Fresh

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.

Te Tai Tokerau Water Trustees Ken Rintoul, Dover Samuels, Murray McCully and Kathryn de Bruin on-site with Colin Rameka and Shane Jones, as the Matawii Dam began construction

SPOTLIGHT ON KAIKOHE

A hoax and a big plane

by Liz Clark

During the 1940s, something new came to Kaikohe, causing quite a public stir — the visit of the first B170 Bristol freighter in New Zealand, aptly named the Merchant Adventurer.

The massive aircraft arrived on the morning of July 26 1947, a day after many locals had turned out hoping to see the heroic Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery.

The second world war hero, affectionately known as ‘Monty’, was supposedly onboard the National Airways mail plane and due to land at 10.45am on July 25 1947. With avid determination, people from as far afield as Kaitaia made huge efforts to make it to the aerodrome near Ngapuhi on time to greet Monty as he alighted from the aircraft. Everyone dressed up in their Sunday best.

More than 100 cars turned up at the Kaikohe Aerodrome, some resplendent with their RSA badges, ready to salute the hero of Al Alamein. Students from three schools had also turned up to see the man of the hour. The plane touched down, and the passengers disembarked, but no Field Marshal Montgomery was seen. The supposed visit had been the result of an elaborate hoax. It would later become known as the great ‘Monty Hoax’ despite

the disappointment of schoolchildren and adults alike.

The next day, the Kaikohe Aerodrome was again abuzz with excitement when the gigantic Merchant Adventurer arrived from Whenuapai with dignitaries and freight onboard. The freighter aircraft had been touring around the globe as part of a promotion by its manufacturer, the Bristol Aeroplane Company. It was the first of its type to land in New Zealand, with the capability of carrying 16 passengers and large freight items such as vehicles.

The journey from Whenuapai took just under an hour to complete. The aircraft touched down on the grass runway and parked smoothly before unloading its passengers, then the nose opened out, revealing a delivery van from Auckland packed with goods for Kaikohe. The dignitaries made speeches, and the disappointment of the day before was forgotten. The craft spent a short time there before the van was reloaded with Kerikeri oranges, grapes and other produce for the return flight to Whenuapai. It was Northland’s first airfreight to leave the region.

A small crowd gathered around the Bristol freighter Merchant Adventurer at Kaikohe

Nourished by natives

by Amy Fifita

Embrace indigenous bird species by planting native trees to witness the beauty in the harmony they bring.

Springtime is a time for new growth and life. Now is an opportunity to have a good think about what will not only enhance your property but what will benefit your area. One way to restore diversity in your area is by planting natives that encourage birdlife to reign the land once more.

Birds require sustenance like seeds, fruit, foliage, nectar, lizards and insects

Multilayered vegetation attracts insects which the native pīwakawaka (New Zealand fantail) eats for nourishment to survive and grow, so planting trees and shrubs is necessary. August and September are ideal months for planting new trees. Manawatū area is ideal for koromiko, houhere, mānuka, kānuka, ti kōuka, tarata, karamū and kohūhū trees.

The trees will add life to your garden in more ways than one. Almost all birds eat

insects. To entice insects for the fluttering of fantails (pīwakawaka), vary the height of your chosen trees. Multilayered vegetation attracts insects which the pīwakawaka savours.

Lizards are also a delicacy for some birds. Create plenty of places for these cold-blooded creatures to hide, and like insects, they also require layers of vegetation, but also sunlight. The three necessities for birds, insects and lizards work hand in hand because lizards eat insects, nectar and berries.

With life in your backyard, predator control is a primary consideration. With the ecosystem you have restored, you must protect it from introduced species like stoats, possums, rats and mice that could lay terror on your native haven.

Talk to your local professional about what type of trap or bait will best suit your purpose so the birds and plants remain safe from harm. Your garden will be teeming with the natural sound of the birds and the rustle of lizards, and knowing that you have contributed to it, is a great feeling too.

No-take fishing areas adopted

Northland Regional Council has formally adopted new no-take fishing areas following an Environment Court decision.

The court’s decision confirmed all fishing, including recreational, is no longer permitted from Maunganui Bay (Deep Water Cove) to Oporua (Oke Bay) in the Bay of Islands and around the Mimiwhangata peninsula. The move is expected to provide much-needed protection to some important areas on Northland’s coast.

NRC chair Tui Shortland said the council is continuing to work with iwi and hapū in the implementation areas.

“We are working in partnership with local tangata whenua and communities around how the new rules will be effectively implemented. We’ve already made a public commitment to having that kōrero and establishing those relationships.”

The Environment Court process meant public consultation on the no-take

rules was not possible. NRC supported the court’s decision on the basis that significant ecological values were being negatively impacted by fishing in the areas and reflected the concerns of local hapū Te Uri O Hikihiki and Ngati Kuta ki Te Rawhiti.

The court released an interim decision that upheld appeals against Northland Regional Council’s lack of fishing prohibitions within its Proposed Regional Plan. The court released its final decision in May 2023, which was formally adopted into the council’s Regional Plan in July 2023.

The decision paves the way for the fishing ban for the purposes of protecting marine areas that have significant ecological and cultural value. The rule changes have significant implications for the council as the regulation of recreational

For all your Wastewater System requirements: SALES • INSTALLATION SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE

We can provide you with the latest technology in Wastewater Treatment Systems. Phone us for a no obligation site inspection to evaluate your requirements

Mobile: 021 628 847

Email: enquiries@cleartechinstallations.co.nz

Or visit: www.cleartechinstallations.co.nz

or commercial fishing locations is not a function undertaken previously.

Chair Shortland said in the wake of the court’s latest ruling, the council would be working with tangata whenua and all stakeholders to ensure the new rules are well understood, communicated and respected so the moana can once again thrive in the protected areas.

She stated the council’s initial focus would be education and advocacy around

the reasons why the no-take areas have been set up.

However, compliance measures available under the Resource Management Act ranged from fines for breaking rules or not providing information to a warranted enforcement officer to imprisonment for up to two years.

For further details on the new fishing regulation — visit nrc.govt.nz/marineareas.

Tui Shortland, Northland Regional Council chair

“We are working in partnership with local tangata whenua and communities around how the new rules will be effectively implemented.”

Planting for soakage fields

by Liz Clark

With advancements in effluent systems for rural residences, making the best choices to protect and enhance the soakage field has become less complex.

Choosing the right plants that can cope with wet areas, have high transpiration rates and rapid growth can be a confusing exercise, resulting in the wrong ones being planted. The best and most resilient of all are New Zealand natives. Standard lawn grass is another option, possessing similar properties to other high-transpiration species.

It’s important to talk to your local nursery specialist about suitable species with noninvasive root systems that won’t damage or block the effluent reticulation pipes. The soakage field should be fenced off to keep out stock and vehicles from disturbing the soil and lines beneath, resulting in potential blockages and further damage. Talk to your specialist about a suitable planting plan to suit your climatic conditions. It’s always best to use a professional for these planting projects. Plants can be obtained from a local garden centre or native plant nursery specialising in wetlands and other ecological fields.

Once a sketch plan has been completed, then planting can be done. The best time for planting is usually autumn and winter. Anytime after that, if there is no option and it’s a dry summer, ensure the new plants are watered to help them establish. If doing the planting yourself, square holes rather than round ones should be dug,

keeping in mind always the locations of the effluent lines in the soakage area. Holes should be twice as wide and deep as the planter bag. Water each plant before removing it from its pot — avoid disturbing the root system. Some compost and soil mix will help give the plants a good start. A slow-release fertiliser tablet should be used to maintain plant health and nutrition. Water gently after planting.

Some native species suitable for planting on soakage fields are Astelia, Carex, Cordyline, Coprosma, Fuschia, Hebe, Phormium and many others. Also, remember to clean out the septic filter yearly and empty the tank every third year to ensure efficiency and prevent future issues.

Portable self contained unit No smell, Cost effective, Modular and Practical Perfect for cowsheds, orchards, bach etc... ...an eco way to deal with poo!

Full house hold waste water systems also available swwsnz.co.nz

compostingtoilet.nz

Anita Grant • 027 462 1339

Richard Leslie of Leslie Drainage Ltd based in Whangarei has been a drainlayer for around 20 years, following on from his father before him. Northland is his home and

parking areas, landscaping, need a soakage field or just have problems with surface flooding on your backyard, you name it – we can do it.

“Locally owned and operated Drainage Company in Whangarei. All aspects of drainage covered as well as earthworks and landscaping. Residential, commercial, rural or urban. Phone us for a free quote.” For

Native species such as cabbage trees and carex grasses are suitable species for planting an effluent field

76% of New Zealanders are concerned about “fake news” and its implications

Top dressed for success

by Amy Fifita

Following applying fertiliser to encourage maximum growth, early spring is the ideal time to top dress your pastures to optimise the effects.

After assessing the state of the ground, it is decision time for how the fertiliser is applied. If the pastures are boggy, they will be unsuitable for heavy machinery. The best course of action would be aerial topdressing.

The application is quicker than landbased operations and protects the soil from compaction that can be worsened by machinery. New technologies have improved the accuracy of dressing natural and synthetic fertilisers.

All that is required for the pilot is a good airstrip. One inhibitor can be the weather, which could get in the way of timeframes. Some farmers have access to an aircraft and loader and can apply the fert themselves.

Of course, before aircraft, there were other means to achieve farmers’ top dressing goals — a tractor or truck and a spreader. The downside to using a vehicle to top dress the paddocks is it can depend on the pasture condition.

Hill country can be difficult for machinery to navigate, and it will also take longer to apply. However, it does have its advantages. The benefit of using machinery to top dress is that they can hire a contractor or do it themselves. They can apply quantities that specific paddocks need because they know their farm.

Another option is to use the two together where alternative methods are easiest and needed. An aerial sprayer

can do parts of the land with boggy or hilly terrain, so the tractor work can be focussed on other parts of the farm. For farmers who want to save time, there are multiple land and aerial

contractors to choose from. Top dressing will help improve pasture health and fodder for your livestock to eat, which should reflect on their returns and maintain usable and sustainable grounds.

Thinking vegetable seeds? Think Terranova.

Aerial top dressing is useful on hilly pasture and areas where the land is too wet for heavy machinery

Doing the groundwork first

by Amy Fifita

After a wet winter and summer period, it is ideal to test your soil to discover what treatment it requires so your pasture can flourish during the spring and summer periods.

New Zealand has had its fair share of wet weather in the past eight months. While water can be refreshing, we all know that the downpours were damaging to the ground, crops and land. Heavy rain affects nutrients in the earth and can lead to the leaching of organic matter, so now is a good time to soil test to discover what nutrients remain. It also makes farms more susceptible to soil compaction, which can cause debilitating effects on your growing produce or fodder. There are various methods to reduce soil compaction like adding organic matter, improving drainage or decreasing the pressure on the soil with vehicle and livestock traffic. A soil scientist can assess a farm to see what factors are damaging the ground, especially before farmers get their fertiliser plans together. Knowing what type of earth you have is beneficial too. Once you understand its physical structure, you will be able to maintain and monitor it according to how much clay, silt, sand and other materials you have in it.

A soil test will give you insight into what nutrients are lacking so you can

your pasture.

Your ground will flourish with living organisms like worms, insects, bacteria and other life forces. They help break up organic matter giving nutrients to the soil. The diverse ecosystem enriches your pastures so they can grow well.

CROP & PASTURE PREP

GST just part of the produce equation

by Andy Bryenton

The people who grow our nation’s fresh vegetables and fruit are eager to see more healthy local produce sold for an affordable price but question whether GST-removal plans will deliver the best for both growers and customers.

“The need to remove unnecessary red tape and form filling came up time and time again at Horticulture Conference Week earlier in the month,” says Horticulture New Zealand chief executive Nadine Tunley.

“While opposition members of parliament promised a lot and got great grower support, as we all know, reducing regulation is easier said than done, particularly when in New Zealand, central government regulation is overlaid by regional and local. Plus, reform takes decades, and not years, for example, reform of the Resource Management Act is expected to take up to 10 years to complete.”

In her recent newsletter to growers, Tunley also quotes similar sentiments from Vegetables NZ chairperson John

Murphy, who says he welcomes a debate on GST.

“Vegetables NZ applauds any attempt by regulators to increase fresh vegetable consumption because of the health benefits,” said Mr Murphy.

However, he also stated that fit-forpurpose regulations, and the elimination of the hurdles which limit productivity were major issues outside of any tax debate. That’s a stance HortNZ’s president, Barry O’Neil, articulated in previous discussions on the GST topic. Over-regulation is a malaise lamented across the rural sector, and there is also the matter of competition, or lack thereof, in the existing supermarket duopoly.

“What I think we can be fairly confident about is that our growers, who are struggling to get a reasonable price when supplying New Zealand’s supermarket duopoly, won’t end up with any more coin in their pockets if GST is removed from fresh fruit and vegetables,” said Mr O’Neil in June.

“We are on record as supporting moves to increase competition, for example, our stance on the Commerce Commission’s

HortNZ president Barry O’Neil

review of supermarkets, the outcome of which was unfortunately watered down,” Nadine Tunley said.

“HortNZ and the wider horticulture sector support any move that would see an increase in the consumption of fresh vegetables and fruit. However, there are other complex issues that need to be addressed at the same time, which is why a more targeted approach is likely to be what’s ultimately needed.”

Boom & Handgun Application

Herbicide

CROP & PASTURE PREP

Council warned off GMOs

by Andy Bryenton

Kaipara is the only district in Northland without provisions against Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) in its District Plan, and a recent presentation by GE Free Northland aimed to change this position.

GE Free Northland spokespeople Linda Grammer and Martin Robinson presented the case for denying access to genetically modified organisms in the north, citing numerous offshore and New Zealandbased field trials that had ended with unforeseen and negative consequences.

It was their contention that the risks of adopting genetic modification technology far outweigh the potential for financial or ecological gain, even in areas where gene modification has been touted as a so-called ‘silver bullet’ to sidestep issues such as pest species proliferation or the susceptibility of crops to a particular disease.

“Genetic Engineering is not that silver bullet. Even if they say it is safe and effective, it is not,” said Mr Robinson. “Whatever is growing in the hills, will end

up in the sea. Whatever is growing in the hills, will end up in someone else’s area.”

He cited several instances of this kind of cross-contamination, and of laboratory tests leading to outbreaks which have proven costly or even impossible to contain in other countries and in other parts of New Zealand. While many in the general public believe that New Zealand operates a complete ban on GE organisms, in fact, in-lab trials are possible and have taken place under the current laws.

In New Zealand, gene editing is currently considered genetic modification and is subject to approval processes under the Environmental Protection Authority. That approval is hard to get, but not impossible. There are those who advocate for lifting the effective ban on GMOs being released into the wild; an example is the push to allow

genetic modification that could make the invasive brushtail possum infertile. Unable to reproduce, its numbers would dwindle to nothing, removing a major pest from Kiwi forests.

“There’s a major risk in targeting a species which is indigenous just across the ditch,” warned Linda Grammer.

Martin Robinson equated this idea with the ill-advised means deployed by colonial-era governments to tackle the rabbit population by releasing stoats; themselves a major pest species. “GMOs would be our next stoats,” he said.

National Party spokesperson on the issue, Judith Collins, disagreed.

“Restrictive rules, drafted in the 1990s, make research outside the lab all but impossible. This means our scientists must head overseas to conduct further research,” she said, noting that the GMO ban is a commercial disadvantage.

GE Free Northland’s Linda Grammer and Martin Robinson seek a commitment from councillors to lock out GMO trials in Kaipara

From rally to road

by Andy Bryenton

Rally driving truly tests the mettle of a car’s engineering, and it’s no surprise that some of the technologies born in the crucible of this tough sport have improved the power, handling and safety of the cars we drive every day.

Take the turbocharger, for example. Initially, this device was designed to help fighting aircraft fly higher and faster. It was in the world of rally racing that it found its automotive niche. Big-tack cars had used superchargers for years as an alternative way to pump oxygen into the engine, but using the exhaust to spin up a turbo impeller was a rally technology trick.

Real Deal Tyres

Developed for the fire-breathing monster cars of Group B, modern turbos initially gave huge power boosts with horrible lag. Later refinements have turned the terrifying turbos of those early years into devices that are now just as apt to save fuel and get the most from small engines. Another rallying refinement is the use of a differential for the rear wheels of a car. If you powered the whole rear axle, both wheels would always turn at the same rate, and your car would tend to only go in a straight line. Every corner would mean a big skid. Early race cars had a chain drive, which went only to one of the back wheels, but this was a stopgap measure at best.

The idea of a differential gearing system allowing both rear wheels to travel at different speeds when cornering was adopted early on in racing, and it was made even better for modern rallying. On tight and twisty tracks, mechanics fit a short differential that promotes cornering at the expense of speed. On tracks with big straights and jumps, it’s better to have a long diff to promote flatout velocity. Tuning the differential for racing has led to automakers knowing more about safe cornering and better handling on the road.

Perhaps the biggest innovation from rally racing to come to the road is four-

wheel drive. Initially a system for army trucks, this ubiquitous technology is now found in cars as small as Suzuki’s tiny Jimny and as big as the six-wheel-drive Mercedes G-Class special. Audi’s GT Quattro blitzed the rally world with 4x4 tech in the 1980s, followed by a duel for supremacy through the 1990s by Mitsubishi’s EVO series and the flying Subarus of the WRX lineage.

From these advancements to brakes with less fade, laughter, stronger materials, better suspension set-ups, safer designs to protect passengers, and aerodynamics and tyres for grip, rallying has made road driving better for us all.

Advancements made on the special stages of the World Rally Championship have flowed through to make our daily drivers more comfortable and efficient

USED TRACTORS & MACHINERY

New model, boots and all

by Andy Bryenton

The big 4x4 has utterly dominated all competition for many years, leaving a slice of the luxury market for Range Rovers and big Volvos while otherwise crushing all kinds of terrain and global markets, beneath its knobbly tyres. In the Aussie outback, for example, the Land Cruiser is something you’d never leave home without, like your trousers.

Now, there’s a new Land Cruiser on the way, and the folks in Toyota’s design department have decided to take a leaf from the book of their German counterparts over at Porsche. No, they haven’t decided to make the LC70, out in 2023, look like the 2003 Cayenne. They have, apparently, been musing on the 911.

A great car, that. It’s not the world’s most impressive 4x4, though there was that singular Paris to Dakar escapade. No, what the Toyota designers have done is take note of the single most defining characteristic of Porsche’s speedy twoseater. It’s always looked like a 911.

In that vein, the new LC70 looks exactly like a Land Cruiser. Pointedly, it looks like a classic ‘landy’, and not in the way that the old FJ Cruiser rendered

a loving homage. No, this thing looks as if it had burst through a time portal from the 1980s. It’s fantastic. Those big chrome letters on the grille, those round headlights, that crisp, purposeful side profile with fewer curves than an origami lobster; it fits.

“The Land Cruiser 70 has a loyal following in New Zealand, and the new vehicle represents a ‘back to the roots’ concept in terms of design. It truly can go anywhere. It’s the ultimate representation of the outdoor Kiwi working vehicle, of making the inaccessible parts of New Zealand accessible,” says Toyota NZ CEO Neeraj Lala.

Helpfully, there’s the heart of the new Hilux ute under the hood, meaning that the LC70 is more economical than ever while still promising to be an absolute beast when it comes to slogging, trekking, towing, farming and adventuring. Better yet, you know you’ll look great doing it. This is one machine that you know off-road tuners will lavish with 24-carat attention to detail, making some beautiful monsters. Alternatively, take it right to the farm. It’ll look brilliant with mud on it, too.

Whether you wear gumboots, army boots or steel-capped work boots, you likely know and respect the Toyota Land Cruiser.

Toyota’s latest update to the Land Cruiser takes a retro turn while switching up engine and drivetrain technology for efficiency — torque is up, too

CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CAN-AM TODAY

Hikurangi/Whangarei: Rouse Motorcycles Ph: 09 433 8471

Kaitaia:

Kaitaia Tractors Ph: 09 408 0670

Warkworth:

Warkworth Motorcycles Ph: 09 425 8535