Taranaki Farming Lifestyles, July 2023

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

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Fixing the infrastructure deficit

by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country

We help local businesses grow

We rely on it to enhance our lives and boost productivity, which in turn, drives economic growth; right now, New Zealand has a gaping deficit. The infrastructure momentum of the last National government was stopped short in 2017.

Our National Roads of Significance programme, which delivered the Waikato Expressway, Tauranga Eastern Link, Kapiti Expressway and Christchurch motorways projects, was set to construct even more. It wasn’t only roads.

National had also rolled out New Zealand’s ultra-fast broadband network, a project that ran on time was under budget and gave the country access to world-class broadband, including many rural communities and their schools.

Rural NZ knows what it means to have resilient networks for getting products and people where they need to go. As food producers or suppliers of goods and services to agribusinesses, first-rate infrastructure is essential. Delivering that

is at the heart of a new five-point plan under the next National government.

Our first priority is to expand Crown Infrastructure Partners into a National Infrastructure Agency to coordinate the various funds that exist, and secondly, make use of innovative funding and financing tools to boost investment.

Third is the development of national, city and regional deals, so the central government can partner with local government to create long-term conduits for regional projects.

Alongside these will be a fast-track consents process to make it building infrastructure easier, and finally, developing a 30-year plan for long-term certainty, effective planning, and in turn, reducing project costs. Building infrastructure is key to a strong economy.

Only then can we reduce the cost of living and interest rates, lift incomes and afford the public services we deserve.

Authorised by B Kuriger, Parliament Buildings, Wellington

High-quality, modern, resilient infrastructure is the foundation of a successful economy.

Barbara Kuriger — MP for Taranaki-King Country

Aerial 1080 drop for Mt Messenger bypass

An aerial application of pellets, containing biodegradable 1080 bait, will start later this month to target possums and rats around the SH3 Mt Messenger bypass area.

The aerial drop is part of the North Taranaki environmental project, jointly operated between Waka Kotahi and the Mount Messenger Alliance.

Helicopters with calibrated buckets will distribute biodegradable 1080 bait along predetermined and monitored flight paths covering a 5,000ha area. A pre-feed of non-toxic cereal bait will be dropped first to get rats and possums used to eating them. That will be followed by the 1080 bait at least five days later. The non-toxic baits are light brown, while 1080 is dyed green.

Each operation is expected to take a day to complete, targeting areas that can’t be reached by ground-based pest management work. Since August, the Mt Messenger Alliance team has trapped 449 rats in the pest management area and wider Parininihi block, along with 171 possums, 188 goats, 11 wild cats, and 29 stoats and weasels.

The team has also established more than 190km of a planned 250km in pest management tracks. Bait stations have also been installed in the forest around the new section of SH3.

Alliance lead ecologist Roger MacGibbon said predators such as rats, stoats and possums have, over decades, seriously impaired the mature native forest surrounding the route of the future six-kilometre bypass and the wildlife that lives in that habitat.

“Our pest management programme will support the forest’s recovery from this damage. We’re committed to leaving the area in a better state than we found it.

“Along with a major programme of restoration planting, our enduring pest

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management programme will help our iwi partner Ngāti Tama protect the whenua for generations to come.”

Waka Kotahi and the Mt Messenger Alliance are committed to treading lightly on the land and carrying out pest management, restoration,

landscape planting and ecological protection.

Alongside building a new six-kilometre section of SH3 in north Taranaki, there are plans to improve the natural environment in the Mt Messenger area and help native species thrive.

The critically endangered long-tailed bat is found in the Mt Messenger area

BENEFITS

BY DENISE GUNN

Constructed three years ago, the wetland is a collaboration between DairyNZ, the National Institute of Water and Atmosphere (NIWA) and the Taranaki Regional Council (TRC). It’s one of six constructed wetland demonstration sites being studied until June 2024. NIWA and TRC are monitoring the performances of the Cram’s wetland to remove nitrogen, phosphorus, sediment and E coli. Installation of the monitoring systems was funded by DairyNZ.

Philip and Donna milk a herd of 270 predominantly Friesian cows on their 117ha (107ha effective) property. Next season, with the addition of a leased run-off, the couple is increasing their herd to 290 cows.

The couple’s original block covered 77ha. They’ve since purchased a further 40ha from the back half of Donna’s parents’ farm. Fourth-generation farmer Donna has lived on a dairy farm for most of her life. She’s also a qualified chartered accountant.

Philip grew up in a village in the United Kingdom, working as a diesel mechanic for a large trucking company. In his early twenties, Philip worked on harvest crews in the US before travelling to New Zealand to work for a South Taranaki contractor.

The pair travelled overseas for 15 months before returning to farm in Taranaki. Donna also worked off-farm for a while. “When we had children, I worked two days a week, working on the farm otherwise. We swapped when we bought a mini digger business, and I became the main person on the farm.”

Just before purchasing their additional 40ha, the mini digger business was sold. Donna has also worked part-time

as a contractor with DairyNZ and has continued studying, gaining a Diploma in Agri-Business Management and certificates in Farm Environment Planning and Nutrient Management. The couple has farmed for the past 28 years.

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A wetland created on the couple’s farm three years ago

A wetland built by Taranaki dairy farmers Philip and Donna Cram on their Awatuna farm is helping DairyNZ to encourage farmers to understand the environmental benefits.

Philip and farm team member Jacinta Kete are doing most of the work on-farm now. Jacinta won the 2023 Taranaki Dairy Trainee of the Year award. Donna said there was a lot of discussion about wetlands before their decision to get involved.

“We had a space that we thought was suitable and that we wanted to develop. We also had a great land management officer, Sophie Arnou, who always taught us something each time she arrived.”

Philip and Donna wanted to do their bit for biodiversity, stream health and water quality. “We have learnt a lot more about wetlands and their purpose since, and

feel it is a great asset to our farm and the overall Oeo Catchment.

“There is a need for more wetlands. I believe constructed wetlands could be a great answer through full catchment plans and could be a more acceptable answer to farmers than the current legislation with very descriptive wetland definitions.

“Farmers are very good at doing things when they understand the why. This has been proven with the riparian planting achieved in our region on a voluntary basis.”

Donna is a newly-elected TRC councillor on the Operations and Regulatory Committee, vice-chair of the Policy and

A herd of 270 predominantly Friesian cows are milked on the farm Planning Committee, and holds the agricultural portfolio.

She is also involved in several governance positions as chair and founder of Taranaki Catchment Communities. The group, funded by MPI, is based around people, profit and planet.

“We have 15 catchment communities around Taranaki. These are farmer-led, farmer-driven (dairy or beef, or both) groups led by a community member.”

Donna is a Dairy Trust Taranaki trustee and on the executive of Taranaki Federated Farmers too. She is also an Agri Woman’s Development Trust Escalator

graduate and has been part of DairyNZ’s dairy environment leaders.

“I am lucky to work with a number of both forward and diverse thinking people in each of the organisations I am part of, who have the sustainability of agriculture, communities and the overall economic impact to Taranaki at the heart of what they do.”

The Cram’s children, Aleisha, 23, and James, 21, have careers in town but enjoy living on the farm. “Philip and I feel incredibly privileged to live the life we do on-farm. Farming can be hard work but incredibly rewarding,” said Donna.

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MERLO DAVID BROWN RENAULT URSUS JOHN DEERE

Taranaki dairy farmers Philip and Donna Cram

LAME COWS AND OTHER STORIES

BY DENISE GUNN

South African-born Neil moved with his parents and two sisters to Zimbabwe as a preschooler. The family later immigrated to Australia, arriving on Neil’s 11th birthday and settling in Sydney.

It was at the suggestion of a careers adviser at high school that Neil considered studying to become a veterinarian. Following this advice, Neil visited a vet clinic to get a taste of what was involved.

During his first visit to observe a routine spay, Neil fainted. The following week, while watching a castration, he fainted again. However, on visiting a rural practice, Neil was hooked.

“Here were big, friendly animals living in the great outdoors, depending on the vet to keep them healthy and happy. Their owners were also friendly and had time to chat,” said Neil. “So I applied for vet school.”

Neil graduated from the Sydney University Vet School in 1974 and married Sandra the same year. One of Neil’s lecturers knew he held a special interest in dairy cows and suggested he apply for jobs advertised in New Zealand. Neil successfully obtained a position at the Inglewood Vet Group, arriving with Sandra in 1974.

Calls from farmers for Neil to visit lame cows have featured throughout his veterinary career. He began investigating lameness issues, recorded the data, and his research has been published numerous times.

On one occasion, when a circus was visiting town, Neil was called to help a lion with toothache. At the same time, Sandra was in the early stages of labour. The couple decided to both attend the callout and then drive to the hospital. Neil anaesthetised the lion with a dart gun

while another vet sorted the tooth. By the following day, Sandra had given birth to a son in hospital, and the lion was feeling much better.

In the early 1990s, Neil, Sandra, and their five children moved to Pakistan, where they were involved with helping Afghan refugees and setting up local vet clinics.

Neil sharing his knowledge during a seminar

A collection of stories and experiences from Neil Chesterton’s 50-year veterinary career have been compiled in a book written by his wife, Sandra.

Sandra said the vet clinics were a United Nations Development Project. “We came to Pakistan as part of a small nongovernment organisation (NGO) to help reestablish the livestock in the war-ravaged neighbouring Afghanistan.”

The Chestertons were involved from the beginning of the project, gathering ideas, writing the proposal and getting other NGOs to agree. “Then we divided up the provinces of Afghanistan, and each NGO was responsible for one or two areas.”

Neil set up clinics, trained vets and vet assistants. Equipment and supplies were distributed to trainee graduates before they were sent off to do the job. When the family returned to New Zealand three years later, Neil retuned to his position at the Inglewood Vet Group.

In 2000, the Chestertons again returned to Central Asia to live in Afghanistan for two years. Neil visited the vet clinics and delivered supplies, travelling by car, horse and donkey to his destinations. The couple, with their two youngest sons, lived in Faizabad while checking on the vets and the clinics. Neil also became assistant administrator of a drug rehabilitation programme.

“When we were in Pakistan in the early 90s, we had met people involved in drug rehab work in Peshawar. They also had started some work near where our vet clinics were and needed a Westerner there to reassure the donors that the monies were well spent,” said Sandra.

Back in Taranaki, when Neil retired from general practice in 2018, the couple became sole directors of Vet Education

Transfer Services Limited. Neil still investigates lameness problems, holds seminars for farmers, courses for vets and speaks at conferences worldwide to share his knowledge.

Helping farmers with their lame cows, often the result of poorly maintained tracks and poor handling of cows, has been the main highlight of Neil’s career. His work and contribution to New Zealand’s veterinary field has been recognised with an Australasian College Medal, and a Golden Glove award through the Dairy Cattle Vets Association of New Zealand. He was also awarded an Honorary Bachelor of Veterinary Science by Massey University.

Sandra’s book Lame Stories from the Vet from Inglewood was published this year. “Copies are available at lamecow. co.nz,” she said.

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Sandra has written a book on Neil’s life story and career

Veterinarian Neil Chesterton with his wife Sandra

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Benefit for local economy

by Amy Fifita

New Zealand producers exporting produce such as dairy, mānuka honey, meat and wine will benefit from the recent signing of the NZ—European Union Free Trading Agreement by the government.

“New Zealand cheeses could also make up 15 per cent of the EU’s imported cheeses, up from 0.5 per cent today, which is no mean feat for a small nation like ours,” said Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor.

It bodes well for Hāwera, which has the largest dairy processing plant in the southern hemisphere. Fonterra Whareroa celebrated 50 years this year and continues to produce awardwinning cheeses.

“Based on current trade figures New Zealand will have the opportunity through combined FTA and World Trade Organisation quotas to provide up to 60 per cent of the EU’s butter imports — up from 14 per cent today,” Mr O’Connor said.

It is also favourable to the sheep, beef and horticulture sectors surrounding the town and supporting its local economy. The agreement will benefit local and nationwide producers of various items, with tariffs significantly reduced for a collection of items. It will impact kiwifruit, onions, apples, some fruit-related items, flowers, wine, mānuka honey, meat and dairy.

“Tariff savings on New Zealand exports are $100 million from day one of the agreement entering into force, the highest immediate tariff saving delivered

by any New Zealand FTA. That’s around three times the immediate savings from the UK FTA,” prime minister Chris Hipkins said.

“When I became prime minister, I said securing trade deals for our exporters would be a top priority. Between that and the UK FTA, we will save around $150 million annually in tariffs on our exports as well as adding billions every year to New Zealand’s gross domestic product.”

The agreement eases trade flow and creates opportunities with the EU for red meat and dairy worth up to $600 million.

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Hāwera has the largest dairy processing plant in the southern hemisphere

It is also meant to reduce costs on items from the EU for goods such as footwear, clothing, certain agricultural products, machinery and chocolate.

Prolan NZ lanolin protects underneath arches

Are you taking a joint supplement? (Part

One)

by John Arts

They say death and taxes are the only certainties, but osteoarthritis must be close to this list. The sales of worldwide joint and bone supplements are a staggering US$11.7 billion and are expected to grow by another 50% in the next ve years.

The majority use joint supplements to treat joint problems, most for osteoarthritis, with about 40% of developing knee osteoarthritis alone. Pain is a great motivator, and people turn to joint supplements for relief — but do they help?

To continue getting long-term protection out of any vehicle, it is important that TLC is received from time to time. Rust on vehicle chassis is common and is a complication when applying for a COF or WOF, causing failures often. That is where a coating of Prolan, a New Zealand-made lanolin rust protection product comes into its own.

Cleaning underneath the chassis thoroughly and then applying a coating of Prolan ensures it doesn’t rust away. In the past, chassis have been sprayed with used engine oil, among other things, inside the chassis rails and underneath. The Prolan’s main ingredient, lanolin (a natural product), adheres to metal surfaces blocking off air and moisture stopping rust in its tracks. Being a natural product Prolan is safe around electrical, electronics and rubbers; it will not break them down or cause perishing.

For chassis protection, Prolan’s Extreme or Heavy Grade are the products of choice. Prolan is best applied on a warm day or on cooler days; the product tin can be warmed in a bucket of hot water before application. These products are best applied with an airless spray gun or compressed air type system. Prolan sells an Airboy gun, which has a 900mm hose attached to it allowing penetration into hard-to-reach hidden areas — cavities, panels and doors.

By withdrawing through the aperture while still depressing the trigger, it coats internal surfaces. Attached to an air compressor with a minimum of 13cfm, the Prolan coating goes on extremely well. Alternatively, any paint-type spray gun works well too.

The beauty of Prolan being a natural product is it is safe and easy to apply. With minimal preparation required before coating, wash the chassis down and allow it to dry off before coating with Prolan. A coating can even be applied over existing rust — just a quick brush-off if aky rust is present.

A common question is: can we paint over Prolan? It is not recommended, as you are effectively putting a wax layer between the chassis and the paint. You can wipe it on with a rag, and this is very good treatment for winch ropes, radio antennas, alternators and even starter motors.

With a coverage rate of one litre for 8 to 10 square metres, Prolan is economically a winner protecting your assets and preventing expensive parts replacement down the track. It resists water blasting but can be cleaned off with a Prolan degreaser or hot steam cleaner should you need to do so — excellent for resale value.

The protection provided by Prolan is long-term and is ideal for protecting prized vehicles.

There has been signi cant research into compounds found in joint supplements, especially glucosamine, chondroitin, and turmeric. It comes as no surprise that studies come to differing conclusions ranging from poor to excellent results.

While studies and research can be helpful, my criteria for assessing osteoarthritis supplements is simple. I assess the effectiveness of my supplements solely by whether they help. An important part of my discipline of nutritional medicine is regularly reviewing progress. When someone commences my joint supplements, I contact them after six weeks, then again at three months, to see how they are doing. The measure of assessment is again simple; is it working?

When someone purchases my joint products, I offer a joint health

assessment which the majority adopts. I ask questions about the problem, including its diagnosis, treatment and symptoms and a description of limitations in mobility. At the sixweekly review, we then compare progress to the initial assessment and modify the programme as needed.

One thing I can say for certain if people do not get a tangible bene t, they will stop taking them. Results are my sole measure whether a supplement is helping.

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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“I assess the effectiveness of my supplements solely by whether they help.”

There is a growing demand for Prolan, a natural environmentally product that stops vehicle chassis rust, whether it be a much-cherished Land Rover or a new vehicle showing surface rust on purchase.

Prolan being applied to a Land Rover chassis

Yellow is the colour of hope

by Andy Bryenton

Daffodil Day is coming again soon, with support for the hard work of the cancer society at the forefront of volunteers’ minds as they hit the streets, turning towns around New Zealand yellow.

There are many reasons why Daffodil Day is one of the most supported and respected charity appeals on the Kiwi calendar. Nearly everyone in the nation has a friend, relative or colleague who has battled cancer. Statistically, 25,000 New Zealanders will receive that diagnosis each year. With medical science improving every day thanks to funding for research, the chances of making a full recovery are getting better all the time.

Early detection, good care and solid support are the keys to success. To aid in this, the NZCS put in more than one million kilometres of drive time to get patients to their medical appointments each year. It provides 50,000 nights of free accommodation to bring people closer to specialist medical services.

Add in their work promoting early detection and educating people on cancer risks, advocating for better healthcare and operating a full-time telephone service for information, and it’s easy to see why the people behind the daffodil appeal are so well respected. A further $5.2 million was granted to those researching life-saving anti-cancer treatments last year, thanks to the generosity of average Kiwis.

The Cancer Society has played a big part in minimising the impact of cancer on New Zealand families since 1929 when the organisation was first established in Wellington. By 1963 the NZCS had grown to encompass six regional headquarters, while remaining independent. Today, they are the leading non-government organisation leading the fight against cancer in New Zealand.

The daffodil was chosen as the emblem for its annual appeal, symbolising springtime, new life, and hope. It’s been adopted by similar charitable organisations worldwide, becoming the

international symbol of the fight for a cure and the excellent work volunteers perform in helping patients’ families.

This year’s slogan for the Daffodil Day appeal sums up the philosophy of the hard-working volunteers and staff working behind the scenes with the New Zealand Cancer Society: ‘Cancer doesn’t stop, so we won’t either’.

Please give generously when you see the charity collectors out and about this week. Alternatively, stop in at the ANZ to join in the raffle, cake stall and barbecue, or make a donation online via daffodilday. org.nz.

Main streets around New Zealand will turn yellow for Daffodil Day, as the important charitable appeal returns for spring of 2023

“With your help, there is hope! Sharing our full support with the CSNZ this Daffodil Day”

“Standing with the NZCS this daffodil day.”

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An adventure in town

by Amy Fifita

Appreciate the full potential of Hāwera and witness the natural beauty and community heart in the locality.

There are plenty of adventures for locals and travellers with varied interests to unearth in Hāwera. Retreat to nature at King Edward Park and explore the various gardens and attractions. Throughout the park, you will discover statues and sculptures that hold historical significance to the area, each with a story to tell. There are also rose and continental gardens for you to admire. You can find the park on Camberwell Road.

Another idyllic spot is the Puketarata Garden at 14 Ngawhini Road, located on a rural hillside. The garden was created around Jennifer and Ken Horner’s family home as a beautiful place for their children to enjoy and includes a tennis court. People are encouraged to give themselves at least an hour to explore the landscape, and tours are offered.

Cherish artwork from local artisans at the Lysaught Watt Gallery. It is a community hub for creative minds and run by a team of volunteers who want to see art flourish in the area. There are exhibitions from local talents and invited artists. It is at 4/6 Union Street.

Overlook the town by climbing the stairs to the top of the Hāwera Water Tower. Its tall stature is made of concrete and was used to provide water for firefighters and water pressure. Totalling 54 metres in height, it is a significant landmark to the town that once relied on it. It is located at 55 High Street.

Traverse along the coastline to discover the Waihi and Ohawe beaches close to the township, or satisfy your curiosity at one of the museums. Experience the Elvis Museum at 51 Argyle Street, which showcases memorabilia and record collections of the rock and roll legend. The Tawhiti Museum has a collection of attractions, from its Trader and Whalers exhibition to its Bush Railway experience. The museum opens its doors again in August.

The Hāwera Water Tower stands as a monument to the town’s history and can be climbed for people to witness stunning views of the town

“Lysaught Watt Gallery is a community hub for creative minds.”

Another thing worth celebrating, is that your local Honda Motorbikes dealer is now also your local Honda Outdoors dealer. With a full range of proven Honda power equipment to make life on the farm easier. Power equipment that has Honda DNA, meaning it’s built to last and to work in New Zealand farming conditions.

There is a full range of product, including the venerable range of generators for your back-up and remote power requirements.

The range has portable generators suitable for running power tools and workshop equipment, which can be used as back-up power for refrigerators and milking equipment.

The lawn care range consists of heavy-duty commercial grade mowers with a range of self-propelled options for finishing larger rural lawns. Ride on mowers with

by Denise Gunn

Park steeped in history

For well over a century, King Edward Park in Hāwera has delighted generations of locals and visitors.

The park’s existence is due to the foresight of members of the Hāwera Town Board, which put forward a proposal in 1875 for a 28-acre section to be set aside as a recreational reserve. It wasn’t until a council meeting in 1902 that it was agreed to develop this area into a park.

On June 26 1902, the park was officially opened and named to pay tribute to the coronation of King Edward VII. Following the park’s opening, several notable features have been placed in recognition of local people and events.

Wrought iron gates commemorating the Hāwera Industrial Exhibition were constructed to adorn the park’s entrance the same year the park opened. Three years later, small side gates were erected in remembrance of troops from the district who died during the Boer War.

The contribution made to farming in New Zealand by Hāwera man, Arthur Albert Fantham, was recognised with a statue unveiled in 1908. In 1910, the band rotunda and paddling pool were constructed. The band rotunda now houses the Hāwera Observatory, and the paddling pool has been developed into an ornamental water feature.

Rose collections are one of many features found in King Edward Park

A cannon brought to the town in 1885 for the Volunteer Rifle Company to use was installed in the park in 1912. Another statue, Wendy from the Peter Pan story, was unveiled in 1951. Marion Campbell, wife of one of Hāwera’s mayors, James Campbell, who died in office, gifted the sculpture to the children of Hāwera.

Sound mirrors, standing more than two and a half metres in height and thought to be the largest in New Zealand, were installed in 2020. Several garden areas have been created and developed since the park’s opening. The Jessie Buchanan Rose Garden is known for

its notable collections. Heritage roses, the largest collection in the region, are found in the Roger Springett Heritage Rose Garden.

In 2018, to honour Hāwera locals, Sergeants John Gilroy Grant and Harry John Laurent, statues and a memorial garden were created. Both men were awarded the Victoria Cross a century earlier. An Oriental Garden is opened for special events and by request.

The award-winning King Edward Park received five stars and recognition by the New Zealand Gardens Trust as a Garden of National Significance in 2019.

features such as a full colour LCD display, a Speed Hold System and USB charging ports.

With Honda’s smooth foot operated Hydrostatic transmission and powered by Honda’s range of powerful 4-Stroke V-twin motors, these mowers offer great fuel consumption, low vibration and a long operational life span.

Line trimmers and brush cutters are also part of the range. Equipped with Hondas proven 4-stroke engine, these powerful and responsive products will work anywhere on farm. For those that prefer battery power, your local Honda Outdoors dealer also has a selection of products available. Mowers, trimmers and blowers-all powered by the same universal battery pack.

If you need to get fencing done, the Honda PHB50 borer, provides the power and torque required by lifestyle block owners

and farmers. At only 10.9kgs, it’s easily transported to all areas of the farm. It also fits a range of augers and extensions to meet your individual requirements.

Honda also offers a comprehensive range of water pumps including the ever-popular WB20, the capacity to deliver 600 litres per minute. Like so many other Honda products, the WB20 starts first time. every time with Honda’s famous one-pull easy-start system.

Trash pumps complete the range with heavy duty impeliers for clearing storm drains or clearing out underpasses where water is mixed with debris.

All available under one roof at Honda Outdoors. Reliable product, qualified technicians and genuine quality parts. Everything you need to keep your farm running.

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New phone app for council communication

A new mobile phone app, which allows residents another avenue of communication with the South Taranaki District Council, is available to download.

More than 1,500 people have so far downloaded the council’s Antenno App. Kaponga resident and community board member, Sonya Douds, is one of them.

Sonya said Antenno is a mobile app that sends council alerts and notifications about places and topics of interest to residents.

“It’s free to download and use, and you can opt out of topics that aren’t of interest to you. It doesn’t ask for any personal information or login details, so it’s a nice, easy way to stay informed about council news, events and activities.”

Residents can select a number of places of interest, which may include the area they live and work in, schools and exercise areas. Through the app, council notifications and updates will then relate to these chosen places.

Residents can also use Antenno to report issues or give feedback and ideas directly to the council. Information submitted will be logged as a customer request with the council. Sonya said this is one of the app’s best features.

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“For example, if you see a damaged footpath or pothole that needs repair, instead of waiting till you get home to ring it in, you can do it right there and then using the app. It allows users to include extra details such as photos and GPS location,” she said.

“It’s also particularly useful as a means of staying informed during emergency events.”

South Taranaki District Council communications manager Gerard Langford said the council wants to make it as easy as possible for people to give and receive information.

“The app doesn’t replace our current communications methods, and our residents can still report issues via our website, our toll-free phone or by visiting any one of our seven libraryplus centres or the Hāwera administration building on Albion Street.”

The Antenno App is available from App Store, Google Play or visit the council’s website southtaranaki.com/our-council/ antenno, for further information.

Kaponga resident and community board member Sonya Douds, with the Antenno App

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

Rural Building/sheds &

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

In the not-too-distant future, every pane of glass may become a productive solar panel, thanks to innovations happening now

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, high-rise 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 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?

The applications of what this electricity could be used for are as varied as the places you could deploy the ClearVue concept. Windows that can go clear or dark using LCD technology? Windows which close and open automatically to maintain the temperature inside a building? How about vehicle windows which charge the battery, or windows that save light during the day to radiate a glow at night? All of these things may be made possible by the research the Western Australian company has already invested in.

Is your home up to code?

by Andy Bryenton

There are strict rules in place to ensure that homes rented out to tenants meet certain health standards, but many privately owned homes may not stack up. How about yours?

Health department research shows a link between cold, damp and mouldy homes and adverse health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as asthma and cardiovascular conditions. It isn’t controversial or new science. It’s so well established that private landlords have been compelled to comply with specific standards since 2021. For the rest of us, those standards provide a good baseline to see if our own homes are ready to face winter.

Heating — The Healthy Homes standard states that every home must have one or more fixed heat sources, with a minimum of one in the living room. Portable heaters, or unhealthy or inefficient ones don’t count. For most homes, a heat pump is a common choice, though in rural areas, a woodburning fire, gas fire or pellet heater is also popular. It means that primarily heating your home with small fan heaters, gas bottle heaters, electric fires or oil column heaters is not advised; save small heaters for smaller rooms.

Insulation — Rental homes must have underfloor insulation, if it can be installed, and ceiling insulation with a resistance value of at least 2.9. Even with advanced new materials, this usually means roof insulation at least 12cm thick or more. If your ceiling insulation has crumbled or shrunk below this limit, your home may not be getting the protection it needs to be considered healthy.

Ventilation — The rules state that every room must have a window that opens to the outdoors, but, more importantly, all bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens must have a powerful fan extraction system.

Drainage and drips — There’s no tolerance for leaks, leaky gutters or lack of stormwater drainage in the Healthy Homes code. Water getting in can cause rot, mould, fungus and illness, and weathertightness is an absolute dealbreaker for a home to be considered healthy.

Draughts — Understandably, any gap that produces a noticeable draught

Taking care of your home means taking care of your own good health, especially when winter chills come knocking must be blocked, whether under a door, through a cracked window or even via a disused fireplace.

How does your home compare to these minimum standards for landlords? If

there’s an area where your property needs attention, call the professionals in to help cure those winter ills. Doing so could save both your health and that of your home in the long run.

Rural Building/sheds & shelters

Washing your way

by Amy Fifita

It is often the smaller details that make a home which is why it is smart to consider styles of tapware in your design plans. You can select various styles of tapware to add a splash of your desired style and give your home a personal feel. Fittings are often available in various colours, looks, design features and functions.

A dual showerhead could be a luxurious addition to your bathroom. There will be no rush to keep warm while you are hosing off the suds because the broader showerhead will have you covered. A similar feature is a rain head above your regular shower.

For those on tank water, conserving water and sustainability are often considerations. A low-flow showerhead offers efficiency; many of them work without sacrificing water pressure.

There are even options for the children, especially those who have an aversion to showering. Make washing fun by getting a light-up shower head. It offers a great distraction, and many come with various colours to choose from for each use.

Another consideration is tap fixtures. Some people prefer mixer taps, while others would rather have two separate taps and various other water fixture capabilities. There are also various taps depending on the water pressure in your home.

In the kitchen, it might be ideal to have a spring tap to create ease when washing fruits, vegetables and dishes. It is a functional addition to a workstation sink.

Once you have chosen the function of your tap, you can move on to selecting

the style and aesthetic design you would love in your home. It is something that you will constantly see, so decide what is appealing to you.

There are various styles trending for 2023. Mixed metals are popular at the moment, and it adds different pops of colour and adds ease to the deciding

process because you get to choose two. Matte blacks offer contrast for the other colours in your bathroom or kitchen. Once you have a clear picture of what you want, you can put the steps into motion and have an end product that works and represents who you are and what you want.

Emissions Trading Scheme options

by Andy Bryenton

The government has proposed four Emissions Trading Scheme alternatives to make it less attractive for farmers to sell up and convert land to carbon-credit forestry.

The proposals come as farmers are being asked to make submissions on the ETS scheme, and industry advocacy groups call for mechanisms to slow or prevent the conversion of productive land into carbon forests. Both they and the political opposition are vehement that the system needs to change, with acknowledgement of on-farm CO 2 sequestration being a key principle.

“Farmers are part of the solution, not the problem,” says Todd McClay, National’s spokesperson on agriculture, speaking in Dargaville last week.

“If you can measure carbon, then we should be able to give money for carbon being sequestered on farms. This is already happening overseas but isn’t recognised by the government here. There is a role for forestry to play, but we are seeing an increase in forestry land, so we need clearer long-term rules for this industry.”

“Many farmers are very concerned about the number of whole farms being sold for exotic forestry as a result of the carbon price and the effects on rural communities,” said Beef and Lamb New Zealand CEO Sam McIvor.

The four possible changes to deter carbon forestry and encourage polluters

to invest instead in technology to reduce their emissions are as follows. Firstly, the government could ‘decouple’ incentives for emissions reductions, and incentives to offset emissions. That is seen as the most drastic option, creating two different carbon credit markets.

The second option is for the government to directly affect the rules around how many forestry-generated carbon credits can be used by each ETS user. Credits generated by carbon forestry could be restricted or artificially given a lower value to manipulate the market.

The final two options are variations on this theme; one would increase the price of carbon credit units by increasing demand for credits generated by means other than forest planting, while the other would reduce the amount of credits offered by the government via auction.

All of these options are an aboutface from the current regime, in which New Zealand is one of only two nations

on earth allowing 100 per cent of CO2 emissions to be offset via forestry. The other is Kazakhstan.

The government states no changes will be enacted until after the October general election, which may see a change of administration with a radically different ETS policy. However, farmers have been urged to engage and make their feelings known via the Ministry for the Environment’s website.

Green Party leader James Shaw has been instrumental in the progress of the Emissions Trading Scheme, which now faces changes to curb the afforestation of arable land

“Many farmers are very concerned about the number of whole farms being sold for exotic forestry.”

Second season discoveries

by Amy Fifita

Northland Agricultural Research Farm and the Northland Dairy Development Trust invited farmers to its annual field day recently to share year two of its findings for its current alternative pastures and low-emission farming systems.

“We are at the end of the second year of the trial. All farms we are researching have the same type of soil and experience the same weather,” says NDDT coordinator Kim Robinson.

The study compares alternative pastures and low-emissions farms with the ‘current farm’, which is used as the control in their experiments. No nitrogen fertiliser was used on the low-emission farm, and the system stabilised in the second year of the trial. Findings here will be useful for farmers across the nation, with science developed in these pastures informing decisions on new types of feed and the future of lowemissions dairying, for example.

After the impact of Cyclone Gabrielle, the trial stopped and some information was modelled as a result. There was also an outbreak of tropical armyworm caterpillars.

“What sets us apart is that these farms are run by farmers who make the decisions and have a scientific overlay. This year we had a wetter summer and got to see how the pastures did with flooding. We got some good learnings, and it shows why it is important to do multiple years of the trial.”

The alternative pastures benefitted from the wetter summer compared to the current farm system. The milk solids rose from 794 kilograms of milk solids a hectare to 910kgMS a hectare on the low emissions farmlet, which they think

Chris Boom addressing the crowd about the pastures at the Northland Agricultural Research Farm may be from the high clover content and a change in grazing strategies.

The 2022–2023 season showed promising results for the farming system compared to the current and alternative pasture farmlets. Last year,

the results for the low-emission farmlet were poor regarding productivity and profitability.

In comparison to the current farming system, the low-emissions farm saw a 29% reduction in methane a hectare exceeding the target by four per cent. There was a 44% reduction in nitrous oxide emission and a reduction of

16% in methane for a kilogram of milk solids.

This year, the operating profit across all three farms was more balanced than the 2021–2022 season with the $8.20kgMS price. The current farm had the lowest of $1,912, alternative pastures profited at $2,707, and the low emissions farm received $2,282.

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Don’t be one of the followers

by Jane Gray

We should form our own opinions, not be led like sheep.

For example, co-governance, what is the problem with it? Having multicultural ideas can only benefit us all. Being a multicultural country makes us richer and more understanding of each other.

However, co-governance representatives not being duly elected; that is a problem. Handshakes and backroom deals to appoint members of boards are wrong. It doesn’t matter what ethnicity the members of a board governing a public amenity are; it does matter that they are democratically elected and accountable.

Social media may be the scourge of all that is good — according to some. That’s debatable, but the lack of controls in place is most certainly a problem. Social media platforms cannot be held accountable for carrying misinformation or very objectionable content. Conventional media can face big penalties. The amount of unsolicited marketing that appears across all platforms is alarming and very rarely correctly targeted. Still slamming the door shut and saying you can’t use it will not work either.

Differing opinions seem to hit the news on a regular basis. Arguments

about culture, race and gender identity are just a few. Most people just want to live their lives as they see fit and don’t want to get involved in politics that make the news or social media headlines. I agree that at times there needs to be a spotlight on certain issues, but when every issue is in the spotlight, then this tends to lessen empathy and increase opposition. Bigotry is only increased by bitter arguments.

Let’s all make sure that we are not buying into overactive reporting by those that have a personal agenda.

UN praises Kiwi dairy farms

by Andy Bryenton

The global day chosen by the United Nations to celebrate the importance of milk to the cuisine, economy and wellbeing of the world has identified New Zealand as the most efficient dairy farming nation.

The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) launched world milk day in 2001, and this year they put the focus on the carbon emissions efficiency of modern dairying. With controversy swirling in New Zealand politics over regulation and taxation of our dairy herd’s emissions, one could be forgiven for thinking that Kiwi farms are a problem. However, the FAO’s research proved that New Zealand has a carbon footprint for on-farm milk production 70 per cent lower than the global average.

“To continue the progress, Dairy New Zealand is investing in R&D alongside sector and research partners to build understanding of methane-reducing technologies,” said DNZ’s CEO, Dr Tim Mackle, responding to this news.

“We should all be proud of our dairy farmers for helping maintain New Zealand’s success, producing more environmentally efficient products while supporting communities and the economy. Dairy provides jobs for 50,000 Kiwis and brings in about $22 billion of export earnings a year, which leads to about $50 billion in New Zealand’s economy.”

The revelation that Kiwi dairy farmers are confirmed world leaders came on World Milk Day, June 1. By coincidence, this is the occasion formerly known as ‘gypsy day’ on dairy farms across the country, when new sharemilking contracts go live, and farmers take possession of new properties.

Dr Mackle and other pundits within the industry say that the FAO’s finding point out two truths. Firstly, the dairy industry in New Zealand has taken it upon itself, in the absence of an emissions trading scheme, to make great leaps forward in environmental responsibility.

Secondly, the FAO has reinforced the warning many in the dairy community have voiced in recent times. If Kiwi dairy farms, now confirmed to be 70 per cent more carbon friendly than some foreign counterparts, are driven out of business by over-regulation and the creep of carbonrelated non-indigenous forestation, other nations with a worse environmental pedigree will pick up the slack. The demand for milk is not decreasing. The more of it which comes from New Zealand, the better — for the economy and, it seems, for the planet.

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