Taranaki
FARMING Lifestyles
June 2017 Edition
9,541 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in Taranaki
Family farm provides foundation
Wildlife through the lens P6
Double vision
P18
Passion for dairying proves strong Page 4–5
Proudly supporting Connect 17
P27
rokman to the rescue
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
Ohangai couple win national title
The Taranaki Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned New Zealand company. Phone: 0800 466 793 Advertising: Lara Stott, Tania Wilson
This year’s winners of the national ambassador title for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards describe their farm as the largest lifestyle block in Taranaki.
Editorial: Denise Gunn — 06 329 7701 Website: taranakifarming.co.nz
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We actually like talking about the weather. Peter and Nicola Carver won the national ambassador title for the Ballance Farm Environment Awards
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Ohangai sheep, beef and dairy farmers Peter and Nicola Carver won the title over 10 other regional supreme winners at the National Sustainability Showcase event held in Invercargill. The couple combine dairy and dry stock farming on their 515ha family property east of Hawera, operating as Holmleigh Trust Partnership. Peter said the win came as a huge shock and a huge honour. Although he found the judging intimidating at times, the opportunity to feedback and test their business against others was something he held in high regard. “It has been a great opportunity for us to learn more about our business and the way forward,” added Nicola. “This has been a great step in what is turning into an incredible learning journey.” Speaking on behalf of the national judges, Joanne van Polanen said the Carvers were upbeat, enthusiastic and insightful and had immense pride and passion in their business, the environment and the primary sector. “From a business point of view, they planned and managed their dairy
conversion with consideration given to future management,” she said. Their first season milking was 2014/15. “Their farm has 5km of road frontage and they embrace the opportunity to have their farm in public view.” She said the couple had a wellperforming business supported by strong partnerships and worked closely with the Taranaki Regional Council Stress Scheme to progressively retire and plant erosion-prone land. The Carvers are active in their community and have a unique breadth of sector knowledge and experience across dairy, sheep and beef and forestry. “They have also demonstrated empathy with significant life events — working through the closure of the local school and media coverage of the community they live in.” Minister for Primary Industries Nathan Guy presented the Gordon Stephenson Trophy to the Carvers. Mr Guy said the Carvers are passionate about the sustainability of their land and will be fantastic ambassadors for the primary sector.
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
Myrtle rust fight heats up With multiple sources of infection emerging as this edition goes to press, the spread of myrtle rust is alarming biosecurity and movement controls are in place as the battle against the fungal disease moves into high gear. The scourge was first found in Kerikeri early in May, and then Taranaki. Waikato has also come under the spotlight. The number of properties infected with myrtle rust nationally stands at 39 with 33 of the affected properties in Taranaki, The windborne spores mean New Zealand may have to live with an ongoing threat to the myrtle family of plants which include pohutukawa, manuka, lilly pilly and ramarama. Testing by the Ministry for Primary Industries confirmed rust infection at a plant nursery in Waitara had spread to four other sites in the province. MPI’s Myrtle Rust Response Incident Controller David Yard says that, movement controls have been placed on properties involved. No movements of plants or other risk materials are permitted off the sites and the locations have been treated with fungicide and inspected out to 500m from the infection sites “The earlier we locate a new infection, the greater the chance of doing something about it. We’ll be throwing everything at it to attempt to control it, but we are realistic that it is a huge challenge, given how readily the spores spread by the wind.” Mr Yard says finding myrtle rust in a new region could be the sign that we will need to learn to live with this fungal plant disease. Myrtle rust also infects some production species including
feijoa and eucalypts. There are two main reasons why the rust has been seen first in nurseries. Growing conditions there are ideal for the fungus with many vulnerable young plants in sheltered, warm and damp environments. In addition, there has been a large amount of communication with the nursery industry and growers have been particularly vigilant in checking their plants. “While we are unlikely to ever know exactly how myrtle rust arrived in New Zealand, the most likely entry route remains being carried here on the wind from Australia where the infection is widespread,” Mr Yard says. The Ministry will once again partner with the Department of Conservation, local iwi, local authorities and the plant production industries in on-theground management. MPI is receiving unprecedented support from members of the public, with 720 reports of suspected symptoms. Members of the public who believe they have seen signs of myrtle rust are advised: • Do not touch the rust or the plant because the spores are very easily spread on clothes or shoes • take a photo of the rust and the plant • call MPI’s Exotic Pest and Disease Hotline on 0800 80 99 66.
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June 2017 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
PASSION FOR DAIRYING PROVES STRONG by Denise Gunn After a stint working as a labourer on construction sites in Darwin, Australia, Kyran Muller returned to the family’s dairy farm south of Patea where his passion for the dairy industry has grown.
T
he 23-year-old was raised on the family dairy farm in Whenuakura and on finishing Year 12 at Hawera High School, began working as a farm assistant for his parents, Allan and Gael. “From a young age I’ve always enjoyed getting out on the farm to help out where I could,” said Kyran. “Once I left school I didn’t really know what I wanted to do and that’s when my parents got me out on the farm working.” However Kyran didn’t always think he would be working in the dairy industry. In
2014 he travelled to Darwin and worked for three months as a labourer. “I came home as I much preferred working in dairy and since then I’ve become extremely passionate about it.” He credits his love for working outdoors and with animals as a big drawcard to dairy farming. Kyran is now into his third season as farm manager and has continued his education with a wide range of courses, including Dairy Farming Level Four through Primary ITO. The Muller’s 105ha farm, with a 90ha effective dairy
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Kyran, Briar and their young son Harry platform, currently milks 250 Holstein Friesian cows. This number was bumped up to 265 cows in the peak of the season. Kyran said an in-shed feed system, installed
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last season, helped boost production through offering each cow an even amount of feed with high utilisation. The farm’s previous production record of 104,000kgMS was surpassed this
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season with 110,000kgMS. “I’m targeting 128,000kgMS by the end of May,” said Kyran. With the district experiencing extremely dry summers over the past few seasons, the Mullers always plant four hectares of turnip crops to help fill the feed pinch. “This season I decided to put in two and a half hectares of extra turnips and also put in three hectares of fodder beet to keep the cows fully fed over summer and autumn,” said Kyran. Improving the in-calf rate through better cow condition has been another challenge that is paying off. “The empty rate has come down from 16%MT to 11%MT for the past two seasons.” Kyran believes everything that happens on the farm is a learning curve, including the failures. “We make sure we learn from every mistake to prevent them from reoccurring,” he said. Kyran entered this year’s Taranaki Dairy Industry Awards placing third in the Dairy Manager of the Year category. He spent hours putting together his presentation for the competition, along with keeping on top of his usual workload. “Once I had completed my presentation, I had a preliminary judging round where two local farmers came to judge me and gave me some feedback of where I could improve it,” he said. “After that it was back to the drawing board and I made quite a few changes to
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The Muller’s currently milk a herd of 250 Holstein Friesian cows my presentation, especially my personal section as this was my weakest area.” Kyran made his presentation in the secondary judging round which had the top five contestants from the preliminary round. The upcoming season will see Kyran, his wife Briar, and their young son Harry, move to a new contract milking position on a 300cow farm in Ohangai, near Hawera. Kyran and Briar’s long-term plan is farm ownership or a 50/50 share farming position.
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
FAMILY FARM PROVIDES FOUNDATION BY DENISE GUNN
Working on a variety of farming operations around the globe over the past two years has given Okato dairy farmer James Lawn a wealth of experience and knowledge.
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arming is in the blood of the Lawn family, and as the third generation to grow up on the family’s dairy farm, James began his career with a solid foundation in the industry. The home farm, a 420-cow dairy operation on the banks of Stony River in coastal Taranaki, is owned by James’s parents, Bernie and Raewynne. James is the contract milker on this farm. His sister Alexandra is contract milking 425 cows on the family’s other dairy farm, Stonehaven. Each farm employs one full-time worker and one part-time employee. Bernie and Raewynne also help out
when required. James’s other two siblings, Bridgette and Myles, are currently working overseas. Bernie and four of his seven siblings are farming in coastal Taranaki. Although they are all starting to take steps back from day-to-day on-farm work, they keep an interest in their own farms. Three of the siblings, as well as Bernie, have helped their families into farms throughout the district. James headed to Massey University in 2008 and later graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring Agriculture and Rural Valuation. As part of the degree’s practical work
James on the family’s home farm in coastal Taranaki
requirements, James found temporary employment between semesters. Over the summer period in 2009/10, he worked on the 1,600ha Arkley Farm grain unit owned by the Gardyne family near Gore. On completing his degree, James took up employment with DairyNZ as a consulting officer for South Otago. He also kept his links to the land, working
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weekends on friends’ farms. James said owning a 600ha enterprise with an even split between dairy, arable and drystock is one of his long-term goals. The 27-year-old has recently returned to New Zealand after travelling the globe for two years, visiting 46 countries. During this time he worked on a 4,300ha grain unit in Western Australia, a 1,200ha grain unit in Lincolnshire, and
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James won the Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmers’ regional final
an 800-cow farm in Devon. James also stayed with a friend’s family on their 120ha dairy unit in Iceland. Now settled back on the family’s home farm, James has set milk production target at 140,000kgMS for the 2017/2018 season. “The farming system is a KISS style, focussed on growing and harvesting as much grass as possible,” he said. With an interest in primary governance, James is also pursuing this direction and was recently elected chairman of the Taranaki branch of Federated Farmers sharemilkers’ section.
Young Farmers has been a strong interest for James since first joining the organisation while studying at Massey University. He helped the Massey Club grow from three members to more than 150 and has belonged to several clubs around New Zealand. James is currently a member of the Coastal Young Farmers Club which was established five years ago. “I enjoy meeting new people and catching up with old friends,” he said. After performing well in all sections of the Taranaki/Manawatu Young Farmers regional final, James won the event. He
will now represent the region at the FMG Young Farmer of the Year Grand Final to be held in the Manawatu from July 6–8. “My goal is to win the Grand Final,” said James.
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E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G
Learning about the environment A partnership between New Plymouth City Council and Taranaki Environmental Education Trust has established a vital learning resource that focusses clearly on the wider community. The charitable trust works to create programmes for youth development, sustainability, conser vation and community development in the Taranaki region, overseeing projects led by a team of experienced local coordinators and facilitators. The trust counts on the support of the council to enable its work and to fill its function within the community. One such undertaking is the Taranaki Environment Centre, which provides and promotes sustainability and environmental education through a Sustainable Taranaki Events Calendar, with full information on its work and events available on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram. Another project is Sustainable Backyards Taranaki which looks at local efforts to live sustainable lifestyles and contribute to a more resilient community. Impact is another project aimed at people aged from 12 to 24 to learn
through youth-led environmental and community based projects. Participants take their own ideas and turn them into action while being supported and mentored by facilitators. The programme is a unique initiative of the trust and its success stems from the provision of ongoing mentoring for the participants as well as providing startup funds to enable immediate action along with community engagement and connections. Projects are Taranaki-wide and involve youth from all walks of life. Projects typically run for 6–10 weeks with a long-term outlook to encourage continued development of ideas. Workshops run by the Sustainable Living Programme are for those interested in becoming slightly ‘greener’, but aren’t quite sure where to start. The SLP helps bring about change because it is not presented as lectures — it is based around fun, friendly discussions and hands-on learning.
It suggests how small lifestyle changes in many households will add up to a make big difference to the New Zealand environment and the planet. Enviroschools is in partnership with the Taranaki Environmental Education Trust and aims to foster a generation of people who instinctively think and
act sustainably, supporting children and young people to plan, design and implement sustainability actions that are important to them and their communities. More information about the trust and its programmes can be found on their website sustainabletaranaki.org.nz.
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G ADVERTORIAL
Country kids love kindergarten Rural kids love kindergarten because there are such beautiful big outdoor areas for them to play in. There are trees, huge sandpit and functioning equipment, carpentry tools, gardens and grass to run and roll on. Inside there is space and a huge choice of interesting activities to try out and to make friends alongside. But best of all are the people — the teachers who are all qualified to support every child to become confident, plus the other tamariki and whanau. Families become friends, and sometimes share transport or discuss the big decisions like which school your child may enrol at. Parents get to know each other through conversations about the day-to-day reality of managing the demands of a farming lifestyle alongside that of the joys of having young children. Kindergarten is a very social experience, for children and adults. It is a friendly place for everyone to relax and to learn about what is going on in the community. Fees are very low — 20 hours are free for three to four years old, children under three can enrol if places are available and everyone is included. Tamariki can attend up to six hours per day. Families help raise funds and join in on decision making about some aspects of the programme and facility.
Mud pit at Koru in Stratford
Country kids can attend any one of the 24 Kindergarten Taranaki services across the province. Rural kindergartens are Patea, Tawhiti, Koromiko, Hawera, Eltham, Avon, Stratford Central, Koru,
Inglewood, Orapa, Waitara Central and Kaitake. Come and see how much fun and learning is going on. Find out more details at www.kindergartentaranaki. co.nz
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
E D U C AT I O N & T R A I N I N G
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ADVERTORIAL
Three-course farming option The opportunity to launch, or further a career in farming has just got a lot better in Taranaki.
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Codey Withers, pictured with fellow New Plymouth based WITT students Tutama Hutut (right) and Anthony Waters were working on a fencing project at Toko, near Stratford, as part of their course work last week
Last week he was working on a farm at Toko, east of Stratford. His study involves a day a week in class and four days on the farm or on field trips. Tutor Adrian Edser enjoys seeing the development of future farmers through the courses and advises anyone interested to make a call to WITT and ask some questions. He says he has seen many students turn a corner and learn life skills that set them up for the rest of their lives.
their practical work on the job. Classes are run in Hawera and New Plymouth and the courses take students to farms in Taranaki. Codey Withers from New Plymouth has always wanted to follow his father into farming, and has been studying through WITT since August last year, progressing from Level 2 to 3. He says he is enjoying the course and has been surprised to learn how much he didn’t know.
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NEW qualifications WITT is now enrolling for these courses run in partnership with Land Based Training. If you are already employed in the industry, this is your chance to lift your skill set while still working. Or, if you are interested in a career in farming, enrolling on one of these courses will put you on the path to a career for life. •
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Te Kura Tuarua o Opunake
UT
WITT has announced significant price reductions on three Level 3 courses on offer with monthly intakes. For $410 students can enrol in courses for a New Zealand Certificate in Agriculture (Farming System), Land Based Sustainability Practices or Agriculture (Vehicles, Machinery and Infrastructure). A fourth course, for a New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture (General), costs $750 and has Alexander Trust scholarships available for students who complete the course. The courses are run in partnership with Land Based Training Limited (LBT). LBT, which celebrated 20 years as a Tertiary Education Organisation in December is classed as a Category One Provider with NZQA and has courses and facilities throughout the North Island. It was established by Rob Gollan and the courses produce well trained students and upskill existing farm staff. For workers employed in the industry the courses present an opportunity to increase skill sets, and for those interested in farming it is an opportunity to launch or further their farming career. Courses are available in New Plymouth and south Taranaki and students working on a farm can do
Opunake HigH ScHOOl
To find out more, call WITT on 0800 948 896
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12
June 2017 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON
June 2017
13
STRATFORD
Plenty of plans by Denise Gunn
Following a successful trip to the Beef Expo in Feilding last month, Stratford High School Young Farmers Club members plan to attend the New Zealand Agricultural Field Days at Mystery Creek. The club, formed a few years ago, currently has 25 regular members. A committee of three senior students and three junior students run the club with some assistance from agriculture teacher Ros James. Ms James calls meetings in the school daily notices, plans activities, fills in forms and seeks permission for trips. She said the club’s chairman, Simon Cook, is doing most of the organising this year and has also visited some local businesses for sponsorship. Badges have recently been made for the committee members to wear and the committee is also in the process of organising club tee-shirts. Last year Ms James took the junior students to visit a meat works. She said the visit was really amazing. “We have run lunch time quiz sessions to practise for the Teen Ag competition in Hawera in April — to which I took two teams of two down to.” Watching the TV programme Country Calendar during a wet, cold lunchtime
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has also kept members occupied and informed. “We would like to get some speakers in to talk to the students — probably after the field days’ trip,” said Ms James. Club members would like to establish an area of the school to have their own stock, fences and poultry. Ms James said although this would be set up for the club, it could also be used
by the school’s agriculture department for assessments. “We are hoping to introduce the very new agribusiness next year.” The club would also like to increase membership and continue with a variety of field trips.
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON
STRATFORD
A glimpse into Stratford’s past by Denise Gunn
New Plymouth and the coastal regions of Taranaki were the first areas to be settled by Europeans in the 1840s. It wasn’t until after the land wars of the 1860s that land in the Stratford district was opened up, compulsorily purchased and freely sold. As bush was cleared on the banks of the Patea River, the site for a town was surveyed and authorised in 1877. Surveyors William Skinner and Peter Cheal laid out lots, starting in the northern part of the town. Originally named Stratford-uponPatea in December 1877, the town takes its name from Shakespeare’s birthplace Stratford-on-Avon. Many of
Stratford’s streets are named after Shakespearean characters. Stratford was formally classified as a town in June 1878 and two months later 455 sections were auctioned and the first of these sold. The town’s population was 97 in 1881 and within 10 years had grown to 342. By 1896 the population reached 1,256. A decade later, this number had An early pioneer family in Taranaki
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grown to almost 6,000 people. In the 2013 census, the town’s population was recorded as 8,991. In 1882, Stratford’s first town board was formed, followed by the formation of the Stratford County Council in 1890 and the Stratford Borough Council in July 1898. Close to 100 years later, as part of a nationwide local government restructure, the county and borough councils amalgamated to form the Stratford District Council in April 1989.
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As more bush was cleared in the region, other smaller towns and farming districts developed. Although community facilities were established in these areas, Stratford’s central location lent to its role as a rural support centre. Now with lush dairy country predominantly surrounding the township, and sheep and beef farms located on steep hill country to the east, Stratford has remained the district’s hub.
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
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16
June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON
STRATFORD
Making it Real takes another step closer by Denise Gunn
With recent round of submissions on the Stratford 2035 — Making it Real and Annual Plan now closed, Stratford district councillors will be taking the next step discussing the suggestions made. Stratford 2035 — Making it Real covers a number of projects and strategies, including the Future of Broadway concept plan, the updated Economic Development Strategy, and District Plan Review. Reserve Management Plans for King Edward Park and Victoria Park are also under review, along with strengthening Whangamomona as a major tourist attraction. The Future of Broadway concept plan identifies a set of actions to improve three key parts of Stratford CBD — Broadway, Prospero Place and Fenton Street at the Malone Gates. A significant feature is the establishment of a town square and expanding the southern edge of Prospero Place. Redeveloping Broadway into a signature street will not only create a cultural hub for the district but will also attract visitors.
Several short and long-term packages have been identified to transform the town centre. The council also aims to make clearer links for foot traffic within the CBD, connecting the river to the town centre and then adding further extensions to the current walkway network. Taranaki was named the second-best region to visit in the world this year and plans to connect Stratford with tourist destinations in outlying areas have also been recognised. With a steady increase in traffic on the Forgotten World Highway, and a range of recreational interest groups in the area, Whangamomona has been given its own focus paper. The Council wants to ensure Whangamomona’s infrastructure and services will cope with increasing demands placed on it.
Stratford District Council want to ensure Whangamomona’s infrastructure and services will cope with increasing demands
Other main issues identified are improving the condition of the Forgotten World Highway and
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON
June 2017
17
STRATFORD
ADVERTORIAL
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Richard and Vicki Pratt took over the Whangamomona Hotel in August 2013, becoming the 27th publicans to the establishment in 108 years. The hotel is known as the most remote country hotel in New Zealand, situated on State Highway 43 along the Forgotten World Highway, between Stratford and Taumarunui, set amongst beautiful rugged countryside with spectacular scenery and a rich history. “New to the hotel game, we quickly realised what a big challenge lay ahead. The grand old establishment had been seriously neglected over much of its life, and if not for the intervention of Malcom Austin in 1982, the building may well have disappeared altogether. He threw 14 tonnes of gib at the hotel walls and ceilings, kicking some life back into the old hotel,” says Richard. It would be another 20 years before the hotel was once again given the respect it deserved when John and Claire Grant started an upgrade and refurbishment that has continued through into 2017. In the summer of 2013 the Shacklock coal range, the only survivor from the fire that levelled the hotel in 1908, was removed from the hotel, refurbished and placed on public display in the republic’s McCluggage Store. It is one of a handful of these large coal ranges still capable of being used in New Zealand today. “In the last four years we have seen a
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• • • • • • sharp increase in patronage and tourist traffic. When we arrived we had beds to cater for 24 guests, and as owners and accommodation providers, we recognised the need to upgrade the bedrooms and shared bathrooms. We have expanded and can now sleep 34, with all beds fitted with electric blankets. “The publican’s flat has been converted into three rooms — certainly the best rooms in the hotel. Other maintenance and upgrades have included the functionality around the bar and kitchen areas and our customer service.” The dining room has seating for up to 50 guests with a range of catering options available — from a friendly meal for a single diner through to a buffet meal, all-day
breakfast, and a variety of lunch and snack options available. For children the menu offers chicken nuggets, hot dogs, burgers and ice cream sundaes. “We provide a ‘real Kiwi country hospitality’ experience and visitors are welcome at the Whangamomona Hotel. We invite you to make use of, and enjoy, our excellent facilities. It is the visitors to the hotel that ensure its continued existence.”
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Winter Luxury Escape Dinner, Bed & Breakfast for two $325 a night Superb peace & quiet surrounded by Tui & Wood Pigeon and an award winning restaurant. Ph 06 765 6100 | www.stratfordmountainhouse.co.nz Your hosts Rod & Lynne Pulford
Winter Escape at the Whangamomona Hotel for only $100 double or twin share. The mighty Forgotten World Highway is beautiful in summer, but the winter days make the countryside stunning. Then, with the hotel fires stoked you can relax and unwind. No cell phones or wifi to absorb or annoy your relaxation time.
Kitchens, laundries, wardrobes, stairs, cabinet alterations & repairs.
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Richard & Vicki Pratt Ph/Fax: 06 762 5823 SH 43, RD26, Stratford “Forgotten World Highway” E: whangamomonahotel@xtra.co.nz
18
June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
WILDLIFE THROUGH THE LENS
BY ANN MORGAN OPENING THE FARM GATE IS A PRIVILEGE MANY DO NOT UNDERSTAND, BUT PHOTOGRAPHER TONY FLUERTY UNDERSTANDS THIS VERY WELL.
“I
am from Upper Hutt and spent much of my early years roaming around the Te Urewera National Park and the Tararua Ranges as a hunter and fur trapper,” says Tony. “I grew up in the 70s and saw lots of things in the bush but never had photos to back up my stories and people wouldn’t believe me. Then I realised it was hard to rely on memories and many of my hunting mates had cameras to record their experiences. “I have always been fascinated by the beauty of nature and in my late thirties I began photographing what I saw on my hunting trips and it meant I could share what I had experienced. I love the
PHOTOS COURTSEY BONEY WHITEFOOT PHOTOGRAPHY
wilderness and coasts, the stunning rata and majestic rimu trees, rugged peaks and playful antics of undisturbed deer to the comical behavior of seals, but the elaborate dances and the incredible colours of birds always hit the right spot for me.” Years ago Tony had five dogs he trained for field trials and got into duck shooting and upland game became an obsession. He travelled all over the country with his setters and German shorthairs. “I really liked the challenge of training my dogs and shooting birds when they were flying. It takes a lot more skill than with a deer that is standing
TONY FLUERTY APPRECIATES NEW ZEALAND WILDLIFE AND ENCOURAGES FARMERS TO PRESERVE THE WETLANDS
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
there unaware of your presence. Then I wondered what it would be like taking photos of birds flying and the passion grew from there.” Tony says it is a lot harder than shooting with a shotgun and there are many components that have to come together to get a decent photo. You have to have light and lots of it and the right technique or you are destined for disappointment. “It is important to get permission to cross someone’s land and it is a privilege to be able to take images of wildlife whilst they are going about their daily life. “We encourage farmers to preserve the wetlands. A good balance of wildlife enriches your life, and children can learn a lot from watching animals and birds interact with each other and survive. “I think one of the most important things for farmers to do is have pest control of rats, cats and stoats. These animals eat the birds and their eggs, especially waterfowl and swamp birds. “Bird varieties in New Zealand are amazing and many farmers don’t realise what they have on their land, like the spotless crake, which is a bird with very similar colours and shape to a pukeko but grows to the size of a blackbird, and the marsh crake. They are only the size of a sparrow and live in swamps. “They are native and we have found them on nearly every substantial swamp from Wellington to Foxton. Most people have no idea that they even exist let alone on their land.” Tony believes birds need protecting. “Birds help keep waterways open and insect numbers down. If you look around you will see amazing things on your farm. Even pukeko’s help to keep drains open by eating grass around waterways. Bitterns in particular are now
June 2017
19
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THE PATEKE (BROWN TEAL) IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY BIRD SPECIES TONY OBSERVES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ON FARMS
almost critical, some get shot during the shooting season, this practice has got to stop — they are struggling as it is without becoming some bored duck shooters’ target practise.” Tony presents his photos of black kites, owls and fairy terns, to name a few, under his business name ‘Boney Whitefoot’. “One day I came out of the bush to my friend Steve and I took my shoe off to check a blister. A lady said ‘what ugly boney white feet’ and that is how the name ‘Boney Whitefoot’ came about.” Tony has photographed the Koekoea (long tailed cuckoo) in the Pureora Forest Park and says these birds migrate each summer to lay eggs in the Whitehead nests, a bird about the size of a sparrow. “Then they and the chicks fly back the Pacific Islands during our winter. The shining cuckoo lay in grey warbler
nests, and fly off leaving the grey warbler to babysit. They roam around the countryside, never settling in one spot. Cuckoo’s are attacked by other birds because they are known for their tricks. “Photography is a good, productive hobby and appreciation for the wildlife produces a healthy environment for both young and old. Photography put simply is a love affair with light and how it reacts. It means painting with light and makes you very aware of the surroundings.”
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
LIVESTOCK
Wool Perspective
From Rob Cochrane GM, Procurement, PGG Wrightson Wool
Crossbred prices remain sluggish Market conditions for crossbred wools have continued to be extremely tough with returns delivering less than cost of production in many cases. On the flip-side, fine wool prices have remained buoyant as demand appears to be outstripping supply big-time. For many mid micron types, market interest has also remained positive, particularly with the small volumes of these types offered for sale during the past few weeks. As new season’s pre-lamb shorn wools begin to filter onto the market, many producers of strong wool who may not have been exposed to the market place for almost twelve months, could struggle to come to terms with the low pricing structure which has evolved during that time period. At recent wool auctions crossbred prices have remained sluggish and, in particular, an obvious lack of interest for poor scouring colour and/or very short
second shear and/or medium-to-high levels of vegetable fault has become apparent as buyers are more selective with their purchases, a probable reflection of a distinct slim order book particularly from Chinese mills. The majority of buyers have shown most interest in well prepared, good colour, sound tensile strength wools with a minimum staple length of approximately seventy-five millimetres. Halfbred and finer Corriedale types have received good support from the trade recently, buoyed by the very solid global fine wool market. Well prepared halfbred types drew widespread interest from buyers at all Christchurch wool auctions during May with most micron categories improving slightly in value
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time when natural products appear to be enjoying support around the world, often driven by younger folk who insist on sustainable consumer products, wool surely has a great opportunity to win ground as a fibre of choice both for apparel but also interior furnishings. Wool, being flame retardant, biodegradable, and a naturally renewable resource, in my opinion, ticks plenty of boxes for everyone. The Campaign for Wool has focussed on all of those properties and is doing a great job of promoting wool across these sectors. At this time of year we could all do much better promoting woolen garments to our families to be worn simply for warmth. The term ‘fleece’ is used often for garments made from entirely man-made fibres, but with an obvious connotation of natural warmth. Does that annoy you? It sure annoys me. That’s my view.
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at each offering perhaps a reflection of the limited supply available at this time of year, and with so many clips in recent years having either succumbed to crossbred sheep or a complete change in land use, such as dairy or viticulture. The very small quantity of merino wool types available to the exporting trade in New Zealand during the past few weeks have drawn fantastic interest, with the also small number of vendors mostly ecstatic about the returns for their, mainly, short and or oddment types. Australian wool brokers and exporters have also reported a continued improvement for their wools, with only a couple of sales during the past month or so experiencing a slight easing in price before regaining the lost ground. At the time of writing there had been some publicity condemning pollution via plastic micro-fibres ejected into the seas around our planet, generally as a bye-product of clothes washing. At a
136 High St, Eltham eltham.bs@gmail.com www.elthambuildingsuppliers.co.nz
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Virucide, biocide and deodoriser for all surfaces on farm including farm sheds and animal housing such as calf pens. Vetsan is active against all the important pathenogenic micro-organisms that can cause calf scours including Rotavirus, Cryptosporidia, Salmonella, E coli, Coronovirus.
Talk to your animal health professional, your local veterinarian
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
21
WARM UP FOR WINTER ADVERTORIAL
Why gas?
Gas can be a cost-effective solution worth considering for its flexibility and reliability. Some businesses find the fact that it’s on demand is the biggest benefit, because it means additional hot water or heating is available quickly when you need it so you can be more efficient in other parts of your operation. Using LPG could lower your maintenance costs too. It’s clean burning with a low sulphur content, so it’s easy on boilers and other equipment. Endless hot water. Gas-fired hot water systems are a good option if you depend on a constant supply of hot water. The big plus is that you’ll never run out, as water is heated as you use it. This can also mean potential cost savings for your business, depending on your current hot water solution. Switching to LPG means your energy bill will reflect you’re only paying for the hot water you need, at the time you need it. Businesses like hotels, hospitals, commercial laundries and production processes can benefit from an LPG hot water solution, and it’s also a reliable, flexible solution for dairy sheds. Smaller boutique manufacturers like cheese makers find LPG an effective option too.
Another plus for using LPG hot water is that heaters can be mounted outside, meaning the space where the hot water cylinder was located can be used more effectively. Fast, efficient space heating Commercial and industrial premises can be cold, draughty and difficult to heat. Gas heating offers an instant, easily controllable heating option. It’s also ideal where precise temperature control is needed, say, to optimise crop yield or livestock production. Gas heating options can look great too. A hotel lobby or luxury guest room just wouldn’t be the same without a flame-effect fire on a cold day — cosy, cleaner and ready to go at the flick of a switch.
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22
June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
ADVERTORIAL
Solution to Pollution by John K Morris, CEO of Agrissentials
What can you say when you realise that soluble synthetic minerals are the cause of toxic nutrient leaching into the environment. You can say, ban all soluble, synthetic, toxic minerals! The farmers are being blamed for this problem. As nutrient leaching has become a risk to the viability of farming, we cannot close farming down — that’s our main income — but we could quite easily shut down the manufacture of soluble synthetic fertilisers and all toxic chemicals, sprays and drenches etc which are the root cause of the problem. Why don’t we do that? It would clean up our environment overnight, heavily reduce the sickness of soil, plants, animals and people, also make our farming and production a lot easier as we start working alongside Mother Nature and all that valuable natural
capital she provides for free instead of working against her, which is where the chemists have been collecting ‘mega bucks’ by creating problems instead of looking for solutions. If you are a producer, it is time to move with the times and this time is organic time. When we look at ourselves, our animals, our plants and our environment — we all begin as organic. However, when we look at life today — plants, animals and people — although we started off in a pristine organic condition, all life has wound up being full of toxic chemicals and locked into a plethora of medical problems, which means more money for the pharmaceutical giants. What a hell of a ‘chemical treadmill’
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that is. Add to that the continuation of chemical production and we are still locked into the same old chemical soup and it is affecting our water supply, our lakes, rivers and foreshore. The main target for the regional councils is the dairy industry, in particular, the dairy farmers. I believe that the regional councils should shift their focus onto the manufacturers who are producing the products that are causing the problems, such as soluble synthetic nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium plus herbicides, insecticides, pesticides and drenches etc. While we continue with these products, pollution will continue to increase. Here at Agrissentials we have an answer to all the above problems and our answers are based upon the planetary system that has evolved here on Earth and has supported all life for over 450 million years without any intrusion from the chemists, until 100 years ago. Whoever set up the life support system, installed all the checks and balances for life to evolve, multiply and exist in harmony. All life on the planet has an inner ability or strength to be healthy and to survive, whatever the odds. The mineral wealth on the planet is there to support life through the food chain with multimineral nutrient rich food that also helps to maintain the immune systems in plants, animals and humans. Minerals are essential for building immunity, providing they are in a completely natural form. With the consumers calling for safe, certified, nutritiously dense food, New
John K Morris CEO of Agrissentials
Zealand producers need to step up and grab this great opportunity with both hands. Our isolation alone is a contributing factor along with great sunshine hours, the ability to store water and top soils that still have some carbon in them. Agrissentials fertilisers re-mineralise the soil, increase top soil depth and soil water retention, increase worm populations in the soil and increase the health of all life in and above the soil. Here is an opportunity to change direction! Call us today on 0800 THE KEY for a FREE INFO PACK, that’s 0800 843 539 to find out how we can partner with you to find a better way of farming. Alternatively you can contact your best on earth fertiliser representative Ben Tippins on 021 738 601 to grab your special deal today.
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
23
ADVERTORIAL ADVERTORIAL
Quality contamination results Therapy for osteoarthritis
Karen Baker at Detect-IT Services Ltd offers a range of contamination tests including water, soil and comprehensive methamphetamine checks with top quality reports. Karen has worked for some 30 years in the chemistry process industry for corporations such as Contact Energy and Methanex, dealing with water supplies, boiler systems and also the gas turbine section of the power industry. “I love processes and helping people so I have started my own company providing testing of soil and water treatment, moisture levels and methamphetamine checks, and I aspire to provide top quality results for my clients,” says Karen. “I listen to my clients’ concerns and do the best I can for them, and get high surface contamination results for methamphetamine if it is there because of the way I test. “If a house tests positive, I help the client through the processes they need to know and give them options of what they can do to clean it without breaking their bank account.” Karen works toward helping keep costs down. She also trains people if they want to test their property themselves and supplies the kit and procedure, the paperwork and the courier bag. The lab results are available in two days. “I also do water quality testing, as water quality can deteriorate. Treating the water is easy, you just need to put in an efficient system. If you are on a well supply, don’t feed the high nitrate water to your babies and young children. People need to be aware of their environment and look at improving systems where need be. “Animals that drink the toxins from green algae can get sick and die. This happens when the toxins start to die and produce the toxic bloom, so providing good quality water to the stock is paramount.” Karen says it is also important to test soil for things such
Karen Baker of Detect-IT Services Ltd
as nitrates, mercury and heavy metals or sheep dips which can be in the soil, and these can be in vegetable gardens. “Education is important on all these issues. People need to understand there are dangers. I am doing this because I have the skills to help the public and I have a moral obligation to help people get correct results in all testings. “I believe following a procedure isn’t good enough, you need to follow procedures to high standards. “It is easy to pass a house for low meth, but who wants that? I want my clients to know if their houses are meth free or not.” For more information contact Karen on 0508 638 483.
Part 1 Everyone is different and this is certainly true when using nutritional therapy for osteoarthritis. Sometimes these differences are obvious — helping someone in their 80s with advanced arthritis is different from someone in their 40s who have had their first joint niggles. Other differences though are not so obvious. In some people joint pain is more from inflammation while in others more from the actual joint deterioration. This series of columns looks at some personal stories and the methods we used to bring improvements. I have just spoken with someone with significant osteoarthritis. He is in his 80s and has long term osteoarthritis in his ankles, knees and hips which caused significant pain with restricted mobility. He rated his discomfort at 7/10 and was faced with further steady deterioration. He was already doing some positive things through supplements with a good Omega 3 and a joint supplement. What we did was to fine tune his programme and introduce an antiinflammatory nutrition programme.
The main supplement component was to lift chondroitin sulphate to over 1000mg daily combined with curcumin and glucosamine. This is much higher than in many joint products. After only 2 months he now rates his pain at 2/10 down from 7/10. He is both surprised and delighted having lived with this for a long time. Our body, including our joints, is equipped with powerful healing processes which can be overwhelmed when fighting a disease processes. The first goal of nutritional medicine is to get these working again. Once these are activated the body can then set to work trying to heal the problem. In the case of my client the supplements played a huge role in stimulating this often latent healing force. For more information give me a call or email john@abundant.co.nz. You can read back issues at www. abundant.co.nz John Arts is a qualified nutritional medicine practitioner and founder of Abundant Health. Contact John on 0800 423 559. To read more go to www.sunlive.co.nz
Abundant Health Bettaflex Super Joint Formula What is Bettaflex? • Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function. • Bettaflex combines high grade chondroitin sulphate, glucosamine sulphate and a potent 95% curcumin (turmeric) extract. • Each capsule of Bettaflex contains 382mg of high grade chondroitin, 425mg of glucosamine and 50mg of curcumin extract.
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• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage. • Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes. • Curcumin from turmeric helps to balance joint immune function to support joint health. • Research suggests chondroitin is effective only at levels of over 700mg daily.
John Arts comments: “I formulated Bettaflex based on the latest research into natural compounds that can help with joint support and function. The normal dose is 2 capsules daily but I recommend a double dose for the first 1-2 bottles to saturate joint tissue.” (John Arts, Founder Abundant Health Ltd)
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24
June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
DAIRY
The value of effluent management Clean waterways are an ongoing rural concern highlighted by the fact that in Northland, tens of thousands of shoreline plantings have begun to make a big difference in water quality. But the real key to quality long term lies with the farmer. On the agricultural front the value of animal effluent is a fact of life and has consequences for the bottom line. Effluent disposal also means effluent utilisation. The by product, particularly of dairying, is a great fertiliser. It contains nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S) and trace elements that you’d normally pay for to have applied to pasture. The average dairy herd of 250 animals produces the same amount of effluent as a medium sized rural town. When spread over land and applied correctly the effluent of 100 cows can save thousands of dollars. While it might be ‘liquid gold’ water troughs need to be protected from spray sources as well as waterways, where the rule is to keep the distribution 50 metres away.
Soil can only filter so much effluent and therefore application depths should be adjusted accordingly to reflect soil and weather conditions. Too much effluent can kill pasture — especially where effluent has ‘ponded’ on the soil surface as well as polluting nearby streams and rivers as it runs off paddocks into waterways. Then there is ground water itself that must be protected, and that’s where local knowledge comes into play. Getting a certified assessor can be good practice, particularly when effluent systems have been upgraded. You may not be aware of all the rules that must be complied with. Dairy industry advice is that when buying or selling a farm, it’s advisable to get an independent person to prepare a comprehensive report. The assessor checks over the entire farm where there are areas that effluent collects and the corresponding
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infrastructure, including feed pads, underpasses, storage ponds and the irrigation network as well as a lot more. It is a thorough assessment and also diagnostic. It takes between three and four hours to complete. A report is then prepared for the farm owner or manager. Accredited designers should be called in when you are upgrading your system or installing a new system. The assessors
are not designers, as they are trained to assess the current system on farm in a consistent way. However, over time there will be accredited designers that are also certified ‘WoF’ assessors. All the information that is gathered is stored in a central database at QCONZ. It is only used to analyse trends on farms over time and to see if there are any areas of concern that the dairy industry needs to focus more attention on.
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
DAIRY
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A better way Here’s some other ‘round earth’ things I discovered: Farming practices that work with the soil’s biology grows significantly longer root systems. The roots on my farm measured 800mm. That in itself mitigated leaching and grew better grass. Biologically correct soil nutrition grows nutrient-dense feed that has far more palatability. This type of grass can be allowed to grow longer and can be grazed clean by cows at 3,300kg/ ha. With a longer grazing period more grass is grown, meaning less dependance on bought-in feed. When all 16 soil nutrients are in their right percentages, the biological activity in the soil increases significantly. This increase in good organisms produces more enzymes which digest the feed in the cow’s gut. This results in better conversion of feed to milk. You do not see weeping walls or effluent management machinery on
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”The earth is flat. How do I know? Because everyone around here believes it.” Three hundred years ago, a statement like that wouldn’t have raised a single eyebrow. Back then, belief in a flat earth was so entrenched, it was preposterous to think otherwise, and if you did, you were labelled a mad man. That’s how widely-held convictions work. The sheer number of ’believers’ creates a pressure that makes it easy to conform and very difficult to entertain another idea. Back in 2002, some farmers regarded me as a ‘round earther’ because I began to seriously look at running my farm on biological principles. It doesn’t work, they told me. It’s airy-fairy, they laughed. That’s not how we do it, they said. Until 2002, when I decided to put some other ideas to the test. I challenged the belief that good production was determined by a high usage of nitrogen. I discovered that it’s not, and took the farm from growing 14 tonne dm/ha/yr using 150 units of nitrogen/ha/yr to 19 tonne dm/ha/yr by only using 30 units of nitrogen.
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biologically efficient farms. That’s because the better digestion rates significantly reduce the solid matter in the effluent. Also, the transfer of good biological activity from the soil-grass-gut-effluent means that the pond contains a higher ratio of fibre-eating bacteria. These microbes liquefy the pond. The higher ratio of good soil organisms suppresses the activity of soil pathogens. This causes a drop in animal sickness — mastitis, facial eczema, foot rot, and the need for remedial measures. Higher biological activity creates better soil physiology. This increases drainage, which reduces pugging. It also raises the soil temperature, which shrinks your winter season length and reduces dry periods because of the extended root systems. That’s what I discovered from 10 years of biological farming. Our focus now is to teach other farmers how to move forward.
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June 2017
TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
RURAL WHEELS
Off the beaten track by Andy Bryenton
Adventure is rarely found inside one’s comfort zone. That’s an adage which has remained true since the time of the hardiest early explorers, and one which still holds true today. To really find the great outdoors, you need a machine that’s equal to the challenge. And when it comes to motorcycles, that means sticking with a tried and true recipe. While ‘adventure’ bikes designed with road tyres and a suite of creature comforts abound for the two-wheeled traveller, the classic combination of a big, torque-delivering single pot engine, bulletproof and simple, mated to a highriding but responsive frame is still king. That’s why, after years of producing award-winning and competition beating off road bikes, Suzuki still stick to the original template when they upgrade their dr650 series. The latest generation of the big adventure bike is
uncompromising as a tool for leaving civilisation behind, offering paramount reliability, agility and grunt to stomp down even the gnarliest terrain. The surprise here, then, is not that the dr650 is a consummate off-roader. The real trick is the calm, smooth road manners of the big Suzuki singlecylinder bike on tarmac. Offering the best of both worlds can sometimes be a difficult proposition, but Suzuki’s engineers have hit the nail squarely on the head thanks to years of refinement and customer feedback. A combination of plenty of power from that 644cc air cooled, single overhead cam four stroke mill and a smooth five speed gearbox means there’s plenty of down-low grunt
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and grip, as well as long legs for cruising. And while every panel, guard, fender and component is tough to take the knocks, it’s a handsome beast as well. Weight has been pared back, too, adding to the crisp handling characteristics of what has always been a sure-footed model. Speaking of sure footing — and long legs — there’s even an option to drastically lower the seat height on the dr650, allowing those of a less towering stature to plant their feet
comfortably at traffic stops. Lighter, tighter and still the kind of machine which takes off-road punishment in its stride, the dr650 continues a long line of Suzuki off-road dominance which has seen this recipe for success imitated — but rarely beaten. And with the complete package coming in well below the 10k mark in price, there’s plenty left in the budget for all the camping and outdoor gear which this classic adventurer can haul to just about any point on the map.
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TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
June 2017
RURAL WHEELS
27
Double vision by Andy Bryenton
The age of the station wagon is over — the era of the crossover SUV is firmly here to stay. But what does that mean if you still want the convenience of that long, flat boot space and the lower operating costs of a stretched sedan? Is there room in the new world of bigger rims and jacked up ride heights for something to truly usurp the kind of cars which took us to innumerable childhood camping holidays? Ssangyong are among those who say yes — and they’ve brought something new to the table to back up their assertion. Taking the platform of their break-out hit — the funky, compact little Tivoli — the Korean automakers have given it a tweak and a stretch, creating the new Tivoli XLV. The original combined everything the world enjoyed in the original supermini — funky twotone paintwork, crisp retro-inspired lines, nimble handling and a low fuel bill. Now it’s been given the kind of extra boost in space which we used to see in big Commodore and Falcon sedans when they became the station wagon or estate model. This renders an impressive 720 litres of boot space, with the option for even more when the rear seats fold flat. In standard configuration that means room for five with plenty of gear — the
ideal family touring machine. Dad’s old Valiant may have been twice the size, but this modern alternative packs in more comfort, more technology, and importantly a ton of safety systems unheard of in the days of cassette tapes and tartan blanket seat covers. As well as a full suite of airbags and an electronic stability programme, electronic brake-force distribution and anti-lock brakes work together to ensure that the front and rear wheels brake proportionately according to the number of occupants and the weight of the onboard load. The economical 1.6 litre engine under the hood delivers 7.6 litres per 100km efficiency while still producing 126 horsepower — in a vehicle which is light and agile in city traffic despite its carry capacity. With the option to select a steering mode from comfortable to sporty, once you take to the highway this is no mundane people mover. Ssangyong have made a name as a clever alternative, and with the original Tivoli they made a bold statement, claiming a new sub-sector in the market. Now they’ve done it again, with a fresh twist on a popular concept.
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June 2017 TARANAKI FARMING LIFESTYLES
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