Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, August 2023

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

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It’s part of our DNA

by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country

Thousands of New Zealanders, young and old, go hunting and fishing — it’s a part of our DNA.

Especially in rural NZ where we grow up mastering the skills at a young age. So, it wasn’t surprising that last month’s announcement to establish a Minister for Hunting and Fishing was warmly welcomed by hunting and fishing associations and groups.

To date, there has been inconsistency across legislation, planning and management. National has been speaking with relevant groups, and we firmly believe conservation and recreation can work together in harmony.

The new package will ensure guaranteed access to public lands available for hunting and fishing, while ensuring protected areas remain that way. The minister will also:

• partner with volunteer groups that maintain huts for the benefit of all;

• change the law so game animals are not pests;

• strengthen the Game Animal Council and designate herds of special interest;

• support Fish & Game NZ to protect salmon and trout fishing; and

• cancel the introduction of recreational licences for game animal hunting or sea fishing

• Under our concept, game animals like Himalayan tahr, deer and wild pigs, for example, will no longer be pests requiring extermination campaigns. They will be seen as food resources and tourism assets.

We have also recognised hunters and fishers are key to the management of fish and game, and this new ministerial role will give them a strong voice around the cabinet table.

Authorised by B Kuriger, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

Barbara Kuriger MP

Top marks in safety challenge

by Denise Gunn

A team of four students from Hāwera’s Te Paepae o Aotea School took the top place in this year’s Taranaki Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Challenge.

Seven schools participated in the recent competition with teams of four agriculture/horticulture students over 16. Students competed in modules, including tractor safety, Civil Defence, livestock handling, firearms safety, mental wellbeing, quad bike safety and first aid, along with a quiz. They were assessed on their knowledge, skills and teamwork.

The event, hosted by New Plymouth Injury Safe, and Land Based Training, was held at Francis Douglas Memorial College. The annual one-day competition was first held in 1998. New Plymouth Injury Safe manager Alisha Stone said the challenge was a hands-on event.

“Its focus on safety makes it a unique event for agricultural students. It’s about putting safety on farms at the forefront of students’ minds in a fun and interactive way.”

Students Ronan Hurley, Tyler Midgley, Luke Barnett and Ryan Hockly represented Te Paepae o Aotea School. Year 12/13 teacher Gerard Karalus said the students particularly enjoyed stock handling as they had to work as a team.

“They also found first aid a challenge and all other sections a great learning experience. They did well in the quiz as they receive tuition at Te Paepae o Aotea across key on-farm tasks, which have a safety component to them, such

as tractors, quads, livestock handling and fencing.

“The school targets subjects in the Year 12 programme towards being safe on farms and in horticulture as students may undertake Gateway training in these environments or go to work on farms.”

Ross Redpath addressed the students in the lead-up to the trophy

presentation. As a former AgHort science teacher at Inglewood High School, Ross has been associated with the competition since it began. He is now a regional agricultural education and project adviser.

Stratford High School placed second in the agricultural safety challenge. Other participating schools included

Sacred Heart Girls’ College, Inglewood High School, Francis Douglas Memorial College, New Plymouth Boys’ High School and Spotswood College.

Land Based Training, New Zealand Police, Hato Hone St John, Rural Support Taranaki, WITT Te Pūkenga and Taranaki Civil Defence Emergency Management assisted in delivering the modules.

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Students from seven schools took part in this year’s Taranaki Secondary Schools Agricultural Safety Challenge

The couple bought the farms 10 years ago as an equity partnership with a 50% share. “We have full operational control and decision-making,” said Vanessa.

Sharemilkers were employed for the first couple of years before doing a full conversion, merging the properties to become Java Farm. A new cowshed was constructed along with effluent, feed pad, troughs, fences and water lines.

“We started this at the high $7–$8 payout and then had to finish it at $3.90. So it was quite turbulent times with a farm that was inefficient due to an old herd and poor pastures.”

AWARD WINNERS BUILDING FUTURE

BY DENISE GUNN

Jacques and Vanessa now milk up to 420 Friesian/crossbred cows on the 165ha (140ha effective) Opunake farm, producing 450kgMS a cow.

“We had to take on the old existing herd as part of the farm purchase, and then with high stock prices and low pay out we had no option but to breed our way out of a poor herd. The aim has been for a crossbred 500kg live weight animal that can do 100% of live weight in a system three to four operation.”

The Le Prous switched from LIC to World Wide Sires about five years ago and enjoy the improvements they see with a larger frame, but not necessarily heavier animal.

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With most of the infrastructure on the farm at the end of its functional life, including

staff housing, a list of priorities was drawn up, and the couple began at the top.

A new cowshed was built along with other infrastructure on the couple’s Opunake farm

Pastures, stock and profitability have been the main focus since Jacques and Vanessa Le Prou began transforming two rundown dairy farms into one sustainable unit.

“The obvious focus was on getting farm producing efficiently to profitably support ongoing development. It took us 10 years to probably reach the bottom of that list with a four-bay barn being completed this year.”

Jacques grew up in Opunake, where his father was a veterinarian in the area. As a child, he spent a lot of time on his grandparents’ and other relatives’ farms.

Blenheim was Vanessa’s home town. Her father was raised on farms, and stories from his childhood generated Vanessa’s interest in agriculture. She also loved the outdoors and heading out in the bush.

The couple met while studying agriculture commerce at Lincoln

University. Vanessa’s strong interest in overall farm systems led her to work for DairyNZ. Soils and pasture were Jacque’s main focus, and he started work with Summit Quinphos.

After three years with DairyNZ, Vanessa took up a forage specialist position with Pioneer. Around the same time, Jacques began a farm manager position and later moved into lower-order sharemilking.

When the couple went 50/50 sharemilking on the same farm, Vanessa worked off-farm, which helped with the finances. She also worked weekends and whenever needed onfarm. The farm’s herd grew from 180 to 320 cows, which gave the Le Prous room to progress.

“We were there for about eight years before buying the two farms,” said Vanessa.

Through pasture renewal on Java Farm, the original 25 to 100-year-old grasses have been replaced, and the herd now graze lush, healthy grasses. Four years ago, AfiCollars were introduced to the herd, reducing the reliance on the couple being on-farm to make decisions.

“The collars mean we have a view of mating and animal health from wherever there is Internet.”

Jacques and Vanessa teach their four children the importance of protecting and caring for native areas and waterways on-farm. The children are enthusiastic helpers involved with predator control and waterway biodiversity monitoring.

Entering the Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA) was the couple’s first opportunity to reflect on their hard work on-farm over the past 10 years.

“It has been a good time to look back on the goals we set and see that 90% of them are achieved. It has spurred us on to think about what needs to come next.”

The Le Prous were last-minute entrants into the BFEA awards, and to win the regional supreme title came as a surprise.

“It has been great to extend our networks and meet many new people. It has also been a great reminder of how many passionate people are in our industry and how many of those want to impart knowledge if you are willing to ask or look for it,” said Vanessa.

Credits: New Zealand Farm Environment Trust Jacques and Vanessa Le Prou

The Le Prous won the Ballance Farm Environment Awards regional supreme title

POLOCROSSE PASSION FITS WITH FARMING

BY DENISE GUNN

The Kinder family own two home blocks, covering a total of 3,000 acres between Whanganui and Ohakune. Another 1,400 acre block is farmed halfway up the Paraparas. Jack said his mother’s parents, Mervyn and Pam Matthews, ran the farm before his parents bought it. “These are where we run 7,000 ewes and 800-odd steers.”

EXPORT SERIES

On lease blocks in Whangamōmona, Waitōtara and Ōtoko, which are mostly scrub, the family run 1,000 cows and another 4,000 sheep, including hoggets and in-lamb ewes. Stock are sold through Silver Fern Farms.

“Any finished stock go through them and get trucked to wherever we can get space for the stock at the time.”

Keeping the horses fit for polocrosse can be challenging at times. However, riding them out on the farm to check stock and muster is a huge

help, particularly when covering the tougher terrain.

“Being able to hack them up and down the big hills knocks them into shape pretty quick,” he said. With two keen polocrosse-

playing parents, Jack picked up the sport around the age of seven.

“Mum stopped playing when she had us kids, but dad has carried on. So that’s how I started.”

Polocrosse player Jack Kinder has represented New Zealand on several occasions

Working as a shepherd and training his polocrosse horses on the family farm ties together well for Jack Kinder.

Jack plays for Te Mata Club based in Hamilton and has gone on to represent New Zealand in the NZ Juniors, NZ Intermediates and NZ Men’s teams.

“I played in the Under 16s New Zealand rep team and went to Albury, Australia, to play. I played in the Under 21s as well and also the NZ Men’s team after that. That included going to Australia and playing against people over there, and represented New Zealand against Australia.”

The family breed their own horses, importing an Australian Stock Horse stallion several years ago. Eight of their own mares run with the stallion, along with a couple of outside mares.

Known for its versatility and calm temperament, the Australian Stock

Horse is used in a variety of equestrian sports and is ideal for polocrosse. It’s the most popular breed used for the sport in Australia.

“We break them in, then hack them for a year on the farm and start polocrosse from there,” said Jack. “I’ve been lucky enough to play some amazing horses over the years, which have helped build my skills and get me to where I am today.”

Jack said three mares, Flash, Coke and Firefly, are particular standouts.

“I think they have been better than the rest and taken me a step further. My favourite would have to be the mare that I’m currently playing called Malibu. She stands out from the rest because she was the first horse that I broke in myself and got going. Now she’s up playing

competitive A-grade polocrosse. I feel she has something extra to give.”

Recently, Jack returned to New Zealand from playing polocrosse in Australia for a couple of months. He stayed with a polocrosse-playing family based in Narrabri, New South Wales.

“Each weekend, they are at different locations, so I’ve been all over the show. I played in two tournaments in Queensland and camped up there for a week.

“It was a very good experience. Polocrosse is so small in New Zealand, and we play the same people over and over again. In Aussie, I was playing different people and at quite a high level, too, which is good.”

New Zealand’s polocrosse season runs from January to March with a carnival each weekend. The 25-year-old is aiming to make the next New Zealand World Cup team to travel to South Africa in 2024.

“So there will be a lot of time and commitment put into that,” said Jack.

Further down the track, Jack plans to keep a high standard of polocrosse horses coming through to keep the sport running and give it publicity.

“I also want to carry on the high standard of farming that mum and dad have set. They’ve put a lot of hard work and effort into where they’ve got today. I want to build on that and aim to put the same, if not more, into the farm.”

REAL WORLD TOUGH

Polocrosse carnivals are held around New Zealand every weekend from January to March

The Kinder family farm a couple of blocks between Whanganui and Ohakune, and also lease land in Taranaki

Are you taking a joint supplement?

(Part

two)

Farmers never asked for co-governance

by Hon Shane Jones

by John Arts

When creating or upgrading a health supplement, I use research and best evidence to build a successful formula.

An example of this is the (Aging Clin Exp Res, 2021) peer-reviewed study into the effectiveness of highgrade chondroitin sulphate (CS). It concluded that high grade CS at 800mg was effective at reducing symptoms of osteoarthritis. This study was so profound that it resulted in the adoption of CS as a prescription medicine in Europe.

I used this study to help me formulate my joint supplement. I included 800mg (daily dose) of highgrade CS in my formula, along with 800mg of Glucosamine sulphate and 200mg of new-generation Biosolve® curcumin extract (from turmeric). I have recently added BioSolve Curcumin because it is fully water soluble with superior absorption and is gentle on the stomach.

I then evaluated chondroitin suppliers, and most were bovine or marine sourced. I found that avian CS has a higher proportion of important chondroitin-4-sulfate and is, therefore, better absorbed. I chose the highgrade avian CS.

I have now built up a signi cant record of people using this formula over the past eight years. While reallife results always vary, those who have implemented my recommendations

and followed the review process had real bene ts, with most saying that the supplements have resulted in greater comfort and mobility.

As an example, a person I am currently helping has had worsening osteoarthritis in both knees, with X-rays showing signi cant deterioration in her right knee. We started her on a programme that included a double dose of my joint supplement and 4,000mg of omega-3 sh oil. She has reported signi cant improvements over the past four months and is now able to walk freely again.

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.

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Red tape is creeping across the farming landscape of New Zealand. Nowhere is this more evident than the ill-conceived and impractical National Policy Statement (NPS) for indigenous biodiversity, which takes legal effect on August 7 2023. The objective is to prevent the loss of indigenous biodiversity and protect its mauri.

Vague and open to interpretation, it institutes co-governance and tangata whenua consensus decision-making into environmental law. Sadly, this major shift in our law threatens our primary sector. Weighing the tradeoffs and cost-benefit analysis between biodiversity, economic development, job training and growth are important discussions when considering resource management and land use.

The NPS is clearly an attempt to ram through a zero-growth ideology. It’s an implementation millstone for local governments while layering on the emotional and social priorities of the current Labour/Green regime. Cultural piffle and climate change shrillness drowns out facts and common sense.

This NPS is a major setback for all landbased industries, including mining, and fails to give equal weight to economic, ecological, social and cultural factors. It will undermine investment and hobble the ability of farmers to operate unless they seek permission from local government. Regional towns and households will suffer as environmental activists and ongoing litigation stall farming, mining, forestry and overall efficiency. Litigation avoidance will become more important than biodiversity and mauri protection.

Landowners in New Zealand have always enjoyed the flexibility to adjust activities to maximise economic value. Frankly, most Māori want to develop the potential of their land to increase output and productivity too. Let’s protect our farmers’ property rights while encouraging cost-benefit analyses and efficacy. Our primary sector and its ability to sustain, grow and innovate is more

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important than ever to boost our nation’s economic growth.

No one, especially farmers, voted for tangata whenua co-governance to be embedded into the Resource Management Act. After the next election, this NPS must be penned, trucked and sent to the abattoirs.

“Most people say that the supplements have resulted in greater comfort and mobility.”

“This NPS is a major setback for all landbased industries and fails to give equal weight to mining, economic, ecological, social and cultural factors.”

Hon Shane Jones

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Garden delights at Tūpare

by Denise Gunn

Tūpare’s Tudor-inspired homestead, and the surrounding seven acres of landscaped gardens, attract thousands of visitors each year.

The homestead features the distinctive stamp of renowned architect James Chapman-Taylor. During his 60year career, James designed and built numerous houses throughout New Zealand. His style, influenced by the English arts and crafts movement, is found in several homes around Taranaki.

In the early 1930s, Sir Russell Matthews and his wife Mary bought the aptly-named Tūpare, which means garland of flowers. Shortly afterwards, the couple began the huge task of developing Tūpare, starting with the removal of wild blackberry and gorse near the Waiwhakaiho River. Careful planning and planting of trees, rhododendrons, hydrangeas and azaleas followed. A kauri was the first tree planted.

When Tūpare was sold in 1984, the homestead was used as a conference centre. Now the property is one of three heritage properties owned and managed by the Taranaki Regional Council

Winding paths meander through the gardens with elegant borders, a glasshouse, glade and several different views of Mount Taranaki. An abundance of trees, coniferous and deciduous, are

Nestled

dotted around the property. Smaller trees, shrubs, cottage garden plants and spring bulbs ensure there is always colour and interest.

A large grassy river flat is a popular spot with free gas barbecues available for picnickers. Visitors are also permitted to use the tennis court. Tūpare holds

a six-star rating with the New Zealand Gardens Trust.

During the upcoming Taranaki Garden Festival, daily guided walks will take place at 2pm through Tūpare from Saturday, October 28 to Sunday, November 5. Free guided tours of the homestead will also be available half-hourly from 10am to 12.30pm.

The Taranaki Symphony Orchestra and Ensembles will perform on Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29 between 10am to 4pm. Also, on those days, a Klei handmade ceramics exhibition by Maryanne van Roij can be viewed in the Tūpare Cottage. Tūpare is located at 487 Mangorei Road, Highlands Park, New Plymouth. The garden is open daily, and entry is free.

among the trees is the Tūpare homestead

Pick up a bargain at new market

by Denise Gunn

A new, family-friendly indoor market is set to open this month in New Plymouth.

Market coordinator and organiser Brooklyn Chitty said more than 25 stallholders are booked at the zero-waste event, selling a wide range of items.

“The Pickers Market is a good mix of your classic flea market and your more curated craft market. A huge selling point is that we’re indoors and zero-waste.

“We’ve asked our stallholders to avoid plastic packaging at all costs and that our visitors remember to bring their own bag for shopping or cup or container for a drink or snack.”

Brooklyn was a regular stallholder in Auckland with her small business, Little Nifty, selling vintage clothing. She’s been toying with the idea of creating her own market since March this year.

“I have had a lot of support from my fiancē Braeden and his family. Without them and our epic volunteers and stallholders, the market wouldn’t go ahead. So there are definitely many hands at work behind the scenes.”

Stallholders will offer a wide range of items, including second-hand goods, handmade soaps, jewellery, plants and candles.

“ColCol, who is a New Plymouth local, upcycles vintage towels into hats, robes and scrunchies, and Terra Pota, who is a New Plymouth export, will be travelling from Wellington to share her hand-poured acrylic terracotta pots,” said Brooklyn.

“Jordalee Creek, hailing from Stratford, will have her plants and seedlings,

which they’ve planted into egg cartons, especially for our zero-waste market. My own small business, Little Nifty, will have a range of men’s, women’s and kids’ vintage clothing.”

There are plans for the market to run regularly on the last Sunday of every month from October, with a Christmas market on Sunday, December 10.

“All things going to plan, we would love to utilise the outdoor space to incorporate even more stallholders in the summer,” said Brooklyn.

The Pickers Market will open its doors in Ferndale Hall at 291 Frankley Road on Sunday, August 27, from 10am to 2pm.

Pickers Market organiser and coordinator Brooklyn Chitty has more than 25 stallholders booked for the event

“Our goal is to divert at least 50% of the market’s waste from the landfill. We want to provide reusables for customers.”

From fine art to faster agriculture

by Andy Bryenton

The maize industry thrives thanks to constant innovation in machinery; a process which has delivered multi-function combines and advanced harvesting tools so advanced that some are now driven by AI.

None of this would have happened if not for an old painting and a pair of farming brothers with an appreciation for art and engineering. The Baldwin brothers of Nickerson, Kansas, lived a long way from the cultural centres of New York and Paris. Still, they enjoyed fine art and benefitted from living in an age when photography could bring the works of the historic masters into small-town libraries and universities.

The pair were inspired to create a new kind of harvesting machine thanks to a painting by Jean-Fracois Millet, which depicted poor peasant women searching in a harvested field for any dropped grains of corn. With the desire to use mechanisation to improve harvests, the Baldwins had two aims; to leave nothing behind as ancient methods did, and to maximise the harvest, meaning nobody would go hungry.

The painting was called The Gleaners. The Baldwins called the machine they invented the Gleaner. It was the first self-propelled combine harvester based around a tractor, and it put together mechanisms for reaping, threshing and winnowing. By 1923 the Gleaner was ready; its motive power came from the reliable Fordson Model F.

Farmers loved the machine and the name, which hinted at meticulous operation and frugality.

The dust bowl era of the 1930s, as chronicled in The Grapes of Wrath, was cruel to the Baldwins, and their company was bought up by Willaim Brace. Under Brace family management, Gleaner’s factory produced machinery for the war effort in the 1940s. Gleaner became part of AGCO in later years.

Inspired by a painting from the Louvre Museum, the Gleaner was the first self-propelled combine harvester

Tuatara breaking new ground

Tuatara Machinery is a solely New Zealand owned company that has been manufacturing and selling the Tuatara ATV since 2014.

Its rst entry into the market was a 1,100cc petrol model, designed and specced, especially for the New Zealand market. The emphasis was on a strong, allsteel construction and a vehicle that was manufactured to a simple engineering design that was easy to work on that would allow customers to do the bulk of the repair and servicing work themselves, signi cantly reducing running costs.

The company’s rst experiences with the Tuatara made it clear that the NZ agricultural environment was one of the most demanding on machinery, as can be contemplated and tested in aspects of the design. The bene t of being a smaller company, unlike the large multi-national companies that are the competition, Tuatara can easily make changes to its design to enhance the reliability of its ATV. The company has always listened carefully to customers’ feedback since they are the best placed to advise what

upgrades

and design changes would provide the best result for the Tuatara. This policy has certainly paid dividends.

In recent times, Tuatara Machinery has broken new ground with the introduction of its all-electric eTuatara, which has proved very popular and has now greatly eclipsed the sale of the petrol model. It has no air intake, exhaust and no fuel systems, running costs as low as three cents a kilometre

and a semi-automatic transmission with no belt drive, to say nothing of the zero emissions. The company can see electric ATVs becoming the farmer’s vehicle of choice within a very short time.

If you would like to know more about either Tuatara model, give Tuatara Machinery a call.

The all-electric eTuatara and trailer

Kiwi technicians challenge Australia

by Andy Bryenton

Rugby has traditionally been the battlefield of friendly rivalry between Australia and New Zealand; now, a team of Kiwi tractor and machinery technicians are challenging their neighbours across the ditch.

Nine New Zealand finalists will fly out to challenge the best of the best in their field at the 2023 John Deere Technician of the Year Awards. This contest has been run for the past three year, and spans the skills technicians need in industries such as agriculture, forestry and construction. While the Kiwi contingent comes from different backgrounds, including photocopier repair and sports, all know their way around big diesel machines.

“Technicians require a unique combination of mechanical knowledge, proficiency in digital technology and advanced problem-solving skills, and becoming a finalist in the annual awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication our technicians inject into their roles,” said John Deere Australia and New Zealand managing director Luke Chandler.

There were more than 60 applicants to represent New Zealand when the contest kicks off in Brisbane this month. The

tasks they will face under the scrutiny of watchful adjudicators will span all aspects of keeping big machines from the field and forest operational. There are multiple awards and categories to aim for.

Greg Bishop of Otago Farm Machinery and Bryce Dickson of Brandt Whangārei will compete for Agriculture and Turf Service Technician of the Year. Parts Technician of the Year hopefuls include Brandt Gisborne’s Mollie Clarke and Jimmy O’Donnell of Drummond and Etheridge in Blenheim. Nick Fargher of Brandt Feilding and Mark Haughton of Drummond and Etheridge Rolleston could come back as Construction and Forestry Technician of the Year. Dylan Bruce and Paige Hunter, also from Drummond and Etheridge in Rolleston, and Tom Fyfe from Brandt Rotorua will compete for apprentice of the year titles.

“Each finalist has a proven track record of helping farmers and businesses unlock

greater productivity and sustainability achievements through technology, and they should be very proud of rising to the top of a very competitive field,” says Luke Chandler.

“While they’re all diverse in their experience and background, what they

have in common is a deep enthusiasm to learn and commitment to deliver exceptional aftermarket service to their customers,” said John Deere Australia and New Zealand’s director of aftermarket and customer support, Emma Ford.

Bryce Dickson will travel from Whangārei to Brisbane to compete in the fourth annual John Deere Technician of the Year Awards

Taking the natural view

by Andy Bryenton

Nationwide, sections with a scenic view are a big drawcard for those looking to invest in and live beyond city limits.

The vistas presented by the rugged west coast, picturesque east coast, rolling farmlands, forested hills and mercurial harbours are a big reason why people wish to quit the city and establish a slice of paradise elsewhere. As good designers and builders know, the proper placement and concept of a home to inhabit such scenes of beauty is critical.

One of the greatest architects of the past century, Frank Lloyd Wright, considered many of his creations to exist ‘simply to support windows onto nature’. His passion for the natural environment culminated in homes like Fallingwater, a house in a forested part of Pennsylvania with a natural waterfall running through it. To Wright, windows and views were of utmost importance, and if a building needed to demolish nature to exist, it should never be built at all.

“The longer I live, the more beautiful life becomes. If you foolishly ignore beauty, you will soon find yourself without it. Your life will be impoverished. But if you invest in beauty, it will remain with you all the days of your life,” said Wright.

It’s a sentiment modern home builders share and express in many ways. There’s an increasing trend away

from the ‘cut, clear and level’ path of section preparation as people become more eco-conscious about their homes and more inclined to want to fit in with nature. Recent winners of New Zealand’s home of the year awards have been partially submerged in hillsides, have had turf and grass looping up and over rooflines, or have been nestled amid long-established specimen trees, which may have been only slightly trimmed to allow for construction.

Moreover, there’s a fresh inclination for new home builders to approach their designer or architect with a selection of views they’d love to frame with modern windows, defining the aspect and inclination of kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and decking. The ubiquity and power of panoramic mobile phone cameras have made it possible to capture these views and take them into the offices of designers and constructors to discuss.

“Nature is the inspiration for all ornamentation. Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you,” said Wright. It’s a little piece of wisdom which fits perfectly with modern thoughts on building with, not on top of, the natural world.

Great architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s views on fitting into nature have inspired a philosophy which works well with New Zealand’s natural vistas; this is his Fallingwater house in Pennsylvania, USA

Power from transparency

by Andy Bryenton

A company from Western Australia has pioneered a new power generation technology that could soon become the norm for any structures with windows; solar panels, which serve as perfectly transparent windows.

Clearvue sandwiches a sheet of nanoparticles between layers of glass. These particles are so tiny that they can be seen through. They allow energy from the sun to be ‘shunted’ to the edges of each pane, where they are turned into electricity using a similar method to conventional solar panels. The result, in a structure like a greenhouse, office building or even potentially a home, is multiple small power sources, which can be tapped to perform tasks which would otherwise draw electricity from the grid.

It’s the holy grail of photovoltaic innovation and the brainchild of Victor Rosenberg, who launched the company ClearVue back in 2011. He steered the start-up through development and into listing on the stock market but has recently appointed a new chief executive to take the now fully tried, tested and functional product to the world.

“You’ve got the governments, particularly the US and the UK, passing regulations where you’ve got to comply with new standards for buildings, and that’s exactly our point of difference,” said Mr Rosenberg in an interview just last month.

“We are part of the carbon reduction movement. I’m here to support new CEO Martin Deil, but I want him to carry the big load now. You need a younger person, but someone who is really experienced, and I believe, in Martin, we have got such a man.”

The time is right for ClearVue to take the global stage. The building integrated photovoltaic market is soaring as companies seek to become carbon neutral, and the annual spend on this kind of tech tops the US$16 billion mark. What works on a large scale for commercial greenhouses, highrise office towers sheathed in glass and university campuses today will inevitably fuel a revolution in home solar power tomorrow. After all, those favourable northward views

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which capture the sun demand big picture windows, and who would deny the utility of those same windows cutting back the power bill each month?

Planting plantain reaps dividends

by Andy Bryenton

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

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

The

David Burger, DairyNZ’s sustainable dairy manager.

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millions of dollars each year earlier this month, is a DairyNZ-led initiative in collaboration with Agricom, the Ministry for Primary Industries, Fonterra, and Nestlé. Delivery partners include AgResearch, Horizons and Massey University.

“The impact of the Tararua project as a blueprint for farmers to take up plantain in catchments nationwide cannot be understated,” says Dr

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

partners working together to reduce environmental footprint.”

Plantain’s effectiveness has proven potent. The national programme’s farm trial research at Massey University has shown that mixed pastures containing 30–50% plantain can achieve reductions in nitrate leaching from dairy farms of 20–60%, helping to reduce nitrogen losses to waterways.

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humble plantain herb has helped researchers earn a top environmental award and could

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Running with Paws set to take off

by Denise Gunn

People and their canine companions can race at their own pace over farmland in a new event to be held near New Plymouth in October.

Vet nurse Nicky Smith began organising the Running with Paws event around November last year.

“After organising my first Cape Egmont Half Marathon, an on-road event, with all the proceeds going to the Taranaki Cancer Society, I caught the bug of event management.”

Nicky has since organised the half marathon for the past six years. “I lost a close friend to a brain tumour and my dad to prostate cancer. I wanted to give back to those still fighting their own cancer battle and have something positive come out of my grief.”

She decided to combine her love of running, childhood on a coastal dairy farm and vet nurse career into organising a new event. “My hope being that those people who were anxious about entering

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a running or walking event would do so if they had their dog by their side. I want them to be able to enjoy an event atmosphere while taking in the beautiful sights of walking on-farm.”

Running with Paws will take place on farm races and paddocks with views of the mountain and a local river on Smart Road, New Plymouth.

Event proceeds will go to Gabby’s Starlit Hope. This charity, founded by Gabby Devine in 2014, donates play parcels to children while in hospital. Thirteen-year-old Gabby passed away in 2015 from Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer.

Nicky approached Gabby’s mother, Sarah, in January 2023. “I wanted the event to also benefit a charity and with my passion being about giving

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back to those with cancer. I could not think of a better charity to support. I never met Gabby, but I am in awe of the massive impact she has had on so many children’s lives.”

Nicky said Running with Paws caters for lots of different people. “Participants can treat it as a race if they desire, but most of all, I am hoping that people will enter because it is something different. It is something they may not normally do and is an activity that promotes exercise with their best friend, their dog.”

Running with Paws will be held on Sunday, October 15, starting at 8am. For entry information visit runningwithpaws. com, Facebook and Instagram.

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Running with Paws organiser Nicky Smith with Cavoodle, Ruby, are preparing for the October event

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