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Taranaki leads approach to attracting medical professionals
Attracting medical practitioners to rural areas is crucial for addressing healthcare disparities and ensuring that these communities have access to essential medical services. While this challenge can be significant, promising strides are being made.
Recently, I had the privilege of attending the introduction of a Rural Training Hub established by Hāwera Hospital and South Taranaki Rural Health, at the invitation of Dr Kyle Eggleton, associate dean of rural health at Auckland University’s Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences. This initiative stands out for its innovative approach tailored specifically for rural environments.
The hub is community-designed, emphasising inter-professional collaboration and vertical teaching to create a comprehensive learning experience for medical students. Central to its philosophy is the concept of ‘for rural, by rural, in rural’, which deeply roots the training within the local community.
This collaborative effort not only integrates students into community activities but also provides pastoral support, catering to their unique needs. Furthermore, the initiative aims to assist
the partners of students by offering employment opportunities and even exploring housing options to incentivise medical practitioners.
Taranaki can take pride in this initiative, but I firmly believe it should be replicated throughout rural New Zealand. By fostering supportive environments, we can enhance the opportunities for healthcare providers and simultaneously improve health outcomes for rural populations. Implementing strategies that prioritise community involvement and adequate support for medical practitioners is essential in creating an inviting atmosphere for healthcare professionals. Such initiatives will ultimately lead to healthier, more resilient rural communities and help bridge the gap in healthcare services across the nation. The Rural Training Hub is an excellent example of how focussed efforts can pave the way for a brighter healthcare future in rural areas.
Hāwera Hospital to train medical students in the rural immersion programme
by Barbara Kuriger, MP for Taranaki-King Country.
Taranaki piggery goes solar
The installation of 400 solar panels at the Stanley family’s piggery and cropping operation near Ōpunake, will see significant environmental, financial and animal welfare benefits.
Karl Stanley runs the long-established Oaonui farm with other family members. Each generation has grown and developed the business. Panels with 200kw capacity have been positioned in a paddock on the Stanley’s property. This enables the land to continue being grazed.
Karl said they will still be grazing sheep in there, and the panels have the additional benefit of providing shelter and shade.
“The animals can be nice and cool in summer and get under cover if it rains. It’s an ideal use of the land while we’re getting electricity out at the same time.” He expects the power generated will initially supply about 70% of their daily energy use. The aim is to expand that to 100% in the near future.
“We will be feeding the power straight to the piggery rather than selling it to the grid because we get a greater benefit that way,” said Karl.
He estimates the payback time on the investment will be just over four years.
Sinclair Electrical installed the panels.
“Currently our power bills are around $110,000 a year, and we expect to cover about $65,000 to $70,000 of that to start with. Most of our power is used during the day, so that makes total sense.”
Around 500 sows and 5,000 grower pigs are housed in the indoor piggery at any one time. The major power costs to the business are heating to
provide the ideal temperature for the pigs, as well as ventilation, lighting and running electronic equipment, such as feed mills.
“The cost savings were the major attraction but it also means less impact on the environment. We all want to reduce our footprint but it has to stack up financially. If it makes sense financially, then we want to do it.”
Effluent from the piggery is a major nutrient resource on the farm, piped to
land through an irrigation system. Maize, hay and silage produced on-farm is sold to other local farms. Other measures to reduce energy use include converting all lighting in the business to LED.
Previous innovations carried out on the farm have already been recognised.
The Stanleys were finalists in the 2020 Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards, winning the Ballance Agri Nutrients Soil Management and the Hills Laboratories Agri-Science awards.
“We’ve been doing the baby steps but this is a big leap.”
Karl Stanley runs the farm with other family members
Four hundred solar panels installed at the Stanley family’s piggery near Ōpunake
The couple is the fourth generation in the Clement line to farm the property, which is situated halfway between Hāwera and New Plymouth. Bruce’s great-grandfather Walter Clement bought the property in 1915.
Bruce and Adele started out fattening Friesian bulls on their 145ha Rata Rock Station before progressing into the service industry. Adele said when Mycoplasma bovis reached New Zealand’s shores it had a huge impact on their bull beef farming and business.
FUTURE-PROOFING FARM FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
BY DENISE GUNN
After a decade building a reputation for raising top-quality, well-grown bulls on their family farm, Bruce and Adele Clement decided to switch to dairying six years ago.
“Our living was buying and selling bulls of all ages from all over New Zealand. It was difficult to manage as government departments had limited information, and we, as farmers, were at the mercy of changing regulations.”
Following a discussion on which direction to take, the Clements decided to retire out of trading bulls.
“We had had a wonderful 10 years, and the Mycoplasma bovis was so unknown. We went out of the industry without problems.”
MotorBody Works
Farm improvements have included extending the cowshed, installing more cups and increasing the size of the yards
For the next two years, Bruce and Adele fattened steers and heifers while developing their farm. In 2018, Bruce’s mother Colleen advised the couple that she wanted to sell the dairy farm. This property covered 143ha, forming the front half of the farm. Bruce and Adele bought the back half of the property in 2004.
“The land has been in Clement’s hands for four generations. Colleen wanted to see it back together and farmed in the future by the next generation.”
It was a huge undertaking for the couple as the farm was in need of a major overhaul.
“Dairy farming had not been what we thought we would be heading into in our mid-40s,” said Adele.
lived on the land until she passed away in 2022, at the age of 81.
“The land was in need of fertiliser, grasses, fencing, water and races. Although the cowshed was OK, it needed upgrades, machinery refrigeration, water-cooling, calfrearing facilities and hay barns.”
In their first season through 2018/2019, the couple began with 200 Friesian and Friesian-cross cows. Although Bruce and Adele had previously milked for neighbours, running their own dairy operation was a steep learning curve.
“We ultimately had problems wherever we looked,” said Adele. “The cowshed could not handle the milk production,
the milk couldn’t be chilled quickly, and the vat would nearly overflow so pick-up was crucial. Milking took a very long time with not enough cups and the yard wasn’t big enough.
“It was a hard year, but we got through, and started to make the changes we needed to succeed.”
Over the next four years, the Clements extended the cowshed, installed more cups and increased the size of the yards. Races were fixed, a new water system installed and a hay barn built for calves and feed storage.
“We used fertiliser and started to turn over the land crops and grasses.”
In 2022, Bruce and Adele bought a herd from the Hauraki Plains, producing 300kgMS a cow.
“It was a shock to the cows coming under the mountain but now they are producing 400kgMS per cow.”
Currently the herd size is 335 cows, but the couple is trying to increase cow numbers each year. “We are a grassbased system. We feed 20 tonnes of molasses through spring into mating.”
Minerals are added to the mix, which is offered in troughs at the end of the yards. Hay and grass silage is made on-farm. Rata Rock Station receives an average annual rainfall of 1,800mm and the weather tends
to be very changeable. Winter months can be long and spring is often wet.
A lease farm, used to raise beef bulls and heifers, also produces supplementary feed sold as hay, grass baleage and standing grass. Up to 600 cows winter graze the property, too. The couple’s three children, Savannah, 19, Levi, 17, and Alexia, 15, all help out on the farm when not studying or playing sport.
“Our vision is to keep improving the farm and leaving it better than we found it for the future of our kids. It’s been 111 years in Clement hands and may it continue,” said Adele. “Farm and family is the most important thing to us.”
588 Devon Street East, Fitzroy
Colleen
Bruce and Adele Clement with their children Savannah, Levi and Alexia
The farm operates on a grass-based system
AWHERE MANY DREAMS MEET
Scottish-born veterinarian Rory Dean has released his first book, Adventures of a Country Vet: true stories from the horse’s mouth, a collection of humourous and, sometimes, sad tales of his time in the profession.
t a young age, Rory wanted to be an author. After working on farms and reading James Herriot’s books during his teenage years, he realised a new dream and sought a career as a rural veterinarian.
“Many of the people, who I went to university with, knew they wanted to be a vet from childhood but that wasn’t me,” said Rory.
“I was brought up and went to school in South West Scotland. My dad Geoff provided me with the guidance that working hard pays off, and that is what got me through school, vet school and my career, so far.
“I used to have a little white van, and would drive around the farms milking
cows and working with lambs. I was doing well at school, so becoming a vet seemed like a natural progression.
“Going to university at the Royal School of Veterinary Studies in Edinburgh was an amazing experience. A day after I graduated, I went on a very fragile plane journey to New Zealand.
“Unsure if I wanted to continue with the veterinary profession, and having a real passion for agriculture, I worked on a dairy farm in the South Island for six months.”
At the end of the six months, Rory returned to the UK to work in farm animal practices in the South West of England, in Somerset and Devon. Having just a taste of New Zealand left him wanting more.
Johnston
In his downtime, Rory loves spending time with his fiancée Melanie and two dogs, Alfie and Scrappy
“The moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I had to go back, and spent just
over a year in the South West of England before returning to New Zealand.
Scrappy has been Rory’s faithful companion and accompanies him on farm visits: he says it helps keep him grounded and in the moment
“When I returned, I went to Waimate in the South Island, before being offered a job in Northland, Ruawai. I have been here for the last five years and love the Kaipara, the community, the work and being involved in the Northern Wairoa Football Club.”
New Zealand offered a place for Rory to reflect and make his childhood dream of becoming an author come true. His book was recently published and is in stores now.
“I wanted to create something humorous, although some stories are sad because they show the less-than-perfect side of being a vet. They are hopefully interesting, and perhaps, eye-opening for people unsure of what being a rural vet entails.
“Writing the book and working with publishers was enjoyable, and I learned a lot, because I had no training or experience. Overall, it was an excellent learning journey.
“It was awesome from the start because I often undervalue myself, so
getting the contract felt neat. It is amazing to think I have a book published, and for me, a highlight was remembering what I’ve been through.”
Rory is grateful for the people, and his two fox terriers, Scrappy and Alfie, who have supported him throughout his journey as a vet, author and New Zealander.
“Scrappy has been with me for the last six years, and he comes with me on my jobs. He keeps me grounded, and helps me stay in the moment, because when things are going well or terribly, I have to look after him.
“Melanie my fiancée has been an amazing support — she’s a patient woman. My parents, Geoff and Jackie, have visited me in New Zealand. It is difficult being so far apart, but they love visiting and can time it for their winter and can get some sun here.”
While Rory uplifts those who have been cornerstones in his life, he also takes time to give back to the community.
“I volunteer for the Rural Youth and Adult Literacy Trust as a community ambassador, and am donating some of the royalty revenue I receive personally to them.
“The trust provides support for isolated people with literacy challenges across New Zealand and is always looking for volunteer coaches and support.”
From a boy with a dream to be an author to a man pursuing a rural veterinary career, Rory has found a place to call home in New Zealand. Since returning, he has upskilled in his career, become a published author and settled down with Scrappy, Alfie and his wife-to-be Melanie.
“Kaipara feels like home. I love spending time with Mel and Alfie and Scrappy, playing football for my beloved local Northern Wairoa FC, hunting, travelling, running, politics and learning languages — French and Spanish.”
Rory has had Scrappy for six years, and added Alfie to the family about two years ago
by Amy Fifita
A team that keeps winning
Originally owned by Peter Morrison, his son Stephen bought the business six years ago.
“We are no strangers to winning awards for our bacon and sausages,” said operational manager Mandy Edie.
“The shop has recently been awarded as highly commended for our marketing and branding at the TSB Taranaki Business Excellence Awards. We have never entered it before and entered to better ourselves as a
business. It was outstanding to take out that award, too.”
The recent award was the seventh accolade the shop has won this year. The store did well at the bacon and ham awards winning gold, silver, bronze, and a category champion and bronze at the sausage awards.
“Our team dedicate their time to perfect the recipes for the bacon and sausages ensuring we have the right consistency and flavour.”
Business owner Stephen Morrison and senior butcher Kayla Scott are the driving force behind the award-winning bacon recipes. The team won five awards at the 100% NZ Ham and Bacon Awards earlier this year, including category champions for their traditional middle bacon.
“When we won the medals for the bacon competition, Stephen said it was the highlight of his career. They put in a lot of time to create a recipe that will work once we have cured and smoked the bacon.”
Very much a family business, Stephen’s nephew Jamie Morrison oversees the small goods team — Winton Katene and Ryan Wills. The team also produced a bronze award at the Dunninghams Great New Zealand Sausage Competition last month for their brisket, jalapeno and cheddar creation.
“They produce amazing results, consistent and proud of their products. We are a small business that strives to provide, not just the people of Taranaki, but the people of New Zealand with products that we love. We put effort and time into creating the right recipe.”
Senior butcher Kayla Scott and owner Stephen Morrison have a lot to do with
recipes
The small goods team comprising Winton Katene and Ryan Wills with owner Stephen Morrison
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by Denise Gunn
Since its establishment in
Sustainable animal bedding
Pacific Mulching has expanded its
and coverage, earning the business a trusted reputation along the way.
From its Manawatu base, the Sitewise accredited business began operating in the lower and central North Island. Expansion of its services soon followed, along with coverage to become fully mobile throughout New Zealand.
Pacific Mulching is committed to excellence, focussing on sustainability and innovation, recycling wood waste into saleable products.
•
Business owner Neville Rodgers has an extensive knowledgeable background in the industry and a large selection of machinery available to get the job done.
“We turn waste wood into animal beddings, cleaning out, restocking and spreading composted material from barns and sheds,” he said.
Bulk quantities of animal bedding are available for supply and delivery to cover calf sheds, barns, feed pads and herd homes.
Land clearance and site preparation is another mainstay of the business. This work includes vegetation and tree removal, heavy-duty stump chipping and mulching. The end result will leave the site ready for development and building.
Neville and his team also specialise in shelterbelt topping and tree deconstruction for problematic trees around infrastructure.
“We can also take care of stump grinding after shelterbelt removal,” he said.
GIBSON
Forestry residue and storm clean-up is a key service, too. This helps forestry owners reduce residue from logging operations and landings to avoid environmental impacts and weather events.
Pacific Mulching was awarded the landscape mulch supply contract as part of the Te Ahu a Turanga – Manawatu Tararau Highway. The highway is expected to be completed next year.
“This project involves supplying large volumes of landscape mulch on time.”
Neville said long-term plans for Pacific Mulching include biomass renewal energy via wood waste residues for biomass boilers.
“We can supply premium biomass boiler fuel sourced sustainably from local forestry residues.
“Our biomass fuel is an eco-friendly, costeffective alternative for boilers. This helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint while supporting renewable energy efforts in New Zealand.”
For further information on the range of services and solutions available at Pacific Mulching, visit pacificmulching.nz or phone Neville on 021 079 6373, 0800 WOODCHIP, or email pacificmulchingltd@gmail.com.
Pacific Mulching supplies a range of animal bedding for delivery and spreading in calf sheds, barns, feedpads and herd homes
Roses with heritage
by Liz Clark
Since the advent of the garden in ancient times, the rose has been an integral, fragrant and timeless standout.
In recent years, a resurgence of interest in growing roses in home gardens has had nurseries developing new cultivars for their customers. However, modern varieties aside, heritage roses have also made a strong comeback. They’re found along roadsides, old gardens and around heritage properties thriving on neglect.
Heritage roses come in a multitude of forms, colours and cultivars, and many are available in New Zealand. They’re worthy additions to any garden, even in a large pot — a statement is made.
One of this writer’s favourites is the Gallica rose. Initially from central and southern Europe and eastward to Turkey and the Caucasus, this subspecies has been cultivated for more than 2,000 years. Gallica roses have relatively few thorns and can be propagated from suckers.
The plants thrive in several soil types, including clay, as long as it’s free-draining. Bloom colouration ranges from white to pink and deep purple. It flowers only once each season. Cultivars available include Charles de Mills, Duchesse de Montebello, Tuscany Superb and Beau Narcisse.
One of the hardiest of the rose family, the rugosa rose has a high resistance to black spot and other common diseases affecting modern cultivars. The species
originated from Asia, mainly China, Japan and coastal Siberia.
This rose is ideal for mass planting for hedging or as a stand-alone shrub in coastal areas. They are salt and wind tolerant, easily propagated from suckers and fragrant. Bloom colourations range from dark pink to white, and the hips are edible. Cultivars include Alexander Mackenzie, America, Campbell, Eugenie Ombler’s Rose and Frimbriata.
A climbing heritage rose is a must-have for fences, walls or a decorative arbour.
The thornless Lady Banks’ Rose Lutea has a mass of soft, yellow blooms that flower throughout the growing season. Another variety to consider is Black Boy (1919) a thornless rose with deep red, almost black blooms. A vigorous grower, it will provide colour and fragrance for months. Also, consider Chaplin’s Pink Climber, Daily Dream and Leonide.
While we’ve only covered a small portion of the heritage rose range, others include damask, moss, rambler, floribunda and many more. For more information about heritage roses, visit the Heritage Roses New Zealand website heritageroses.org.nz.
by John Arts, Abundant Health ADVERTORIAL
Good news for sore joints (Part one)
I am writing this early on a Wednesday morning. Overnight, I have had feedback from clients that I am helping with osteoarthritis.
One reported real improvement with sore toes and his partner with much less knee pain.
Over the weekend, there was a client who had booked in hip replacement surgery. We put in place a temporary programme to make her more comfortable while she waited for surgery. She reported that most of the hip pain had gone and no longer needed daily painkillers. I have got to the stage that I am genuinely surprised that people cannot get noticeable improvements in joints affected by osteoarthritis.
I am often asked whether nutritional therapy can restore lost or damaged cartilage. My answer is that, in most cases, what is lost cannot be restored. However, we can certainly help retain current cartilage. The better question is whether we can do anything about pain and loss of mobility.
Most of the discomfort from osteoarthritis comes from inflammation. Cartilage has no nerves. We cannot feel cartilage loss. What we can feel is the inflammation generated by joint capsule immune cells
in response to cartilage loss. We can also feel bones rubbing together where cartilage has completely gone.
My main initial goal is to reduce inflammation in the joint capsule. I have spoken to another client that reported 50% less knee swelling after only a couple of months. This translated to less pain and more mobility.
There is much we can achieve through diet. Adopting an anti-inflammatory diet underpins what we do through supplements. Initially, I like to add 1,600mg of highgrade chondroitin sulphate, 1,600mg of the latest non-shellfish glucosamine and 400mg of 100% water soluble curcumin extract. To this we add sufficient omega 3 to get 700–1000mg daily of EPA, the anti-inflammatory component in fish oils. We continue this for six weeks where we review progress.
John Arts (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.
What is Bettaflex?
• Bettaflex is a joint support formula to promote healthy joint cartilage function
• Bettaflex has 400mg (per capsule) of high-grade avian chondroitin, 400mg of glucosamine and 100mg of BioSolve® bioavailable Curcumin (from turmeric).
• Try Bettaflex for 3 months and see for yourself.
How can Bettaflex help?
• Chondroitin and glucosamine are building blocks of cartilage.
• Supplementation with correct levels can support healthy cartilage function and cartilage repair processes.
• New BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin helps joint function while gentle on the stomach.
• Research indicates that chondroitin is highly effective at 800mg daily.
John Arts comments:
“My latest Bettaflex formula includes BioSolve® bioavailable curcumin for
Gallica rose cultivar
Charles de Mills is a timeless favourite
Snorkelling sessions reveal underwater world
by Denise Gunn
Experiencing Marine Reserves provides regular opportunities for the community to explore Taranaki’s marine environment with snorkelling sessions at Ngāmotu Beach.
The snorkelling season is underway with the next session set for Saturday, 23 November. Regional coordinator Rachel Eckersley said Ngāmotu Beach was chosen due to its safety and accessibility.
“Our marine reserve here can have a lot of swell. We do three sessions in the afternoon with between 18 to 24 people. Limited spaces are available to ensure a strict ratio of six people for each guide.”
Although there are some committed and enthusiastic regulars for the sessions, previous snorkelling experience isn’t
essential. The minimum age requirement to participate is seven.
On arrival at Ngāmotu Beach, registrations for a 45 minute slot are taken with a donation. Wetsuits, snorkels and fins are provided, so just togs and a towel are required.
“Once registered and suited up, the guide will take them into shallow water to check everyone’s confidence levels,” said Rachel. “At that point, we might re-sort the group to similar abilities. Then they are taken on a guided snorkel for about 20 minutes.
“There are some reefs just off Ngāmotu Beach where we might see creatures like starfish, sea cucumbers, anemone, a variety of fish, sea snails and octopus. This experience of the underwater world also increases awareness and support for conservation.”
Experiencing Marine Reserves also runs programmes for school students, starting with snorkel skills training in the school pool or at the Todd Energy Aquatic Centre. Students progress to snorkelling at Ngāmotu Beach’s marine environment.
themselves and work towards becoming a snorkel guide.”
The first session starts at noon followed by two more every hour.
GF Hydraulics
ENZED Taranaki
76b De Havilland Drive, Bell Block PH. 06 755 2400
TARANAKI
“As part of our programme with the schools, we also go up to the marine reserve at Goat Island. Students can get into a well-established marine reserve and discover what it’s like.
“I have teenagers who are volunteering for the community snorkel day because they loved participating in the programme and they want to help out.”
Rachel said volunteers who can provide support onshore and in the water are always welcome.
“Keen snorkelers get in touch. Others may like to start as an on-land helper, participate in a guided session
“Registrations for this community snorkel are filling up fast,” said Rachel. More snorkelling sessions will be held in the New Year with one scheduled for Saturday, February 22 and also during Seaweek with a yet to be confirmed date in early March.
For further information on the community snorkel, visit eventfinda. co.nz/2024/ngamotu-emr-communitysnorkel/new-plymouth or email rachel@ mountainstosea.org.nz.
A Litter Intelligence Workshop, held in collaboration with Sustainable Coastlines, will also be held on the same day, starting at 11am.
Community snorkelling sessions are held at Ngāmotu Beach on Ocean View Parade in New Plymouth
Caution urged with cyanobacteria discovery
The potentially toxic cyanobacteria has been detected in Taranaki rivers earlier than usual this season.
After finding exposed mats of cyanobacteria in four rivers, the Manganui, Waingongoro, Kaupokonui and Waiwhakaiho, the Taranaki Regional Council is urging caution around rivers due to health concerns for swimmers and pets.
Also known as blue-green algae, cyanobacteria occurs naturally and often grows in rivers on rocks as thick brown or black mats. Cyanobacteria has the potential to release toxins that can pose significant health risks to both humans and animals. When these mats become exposed on the edges of rivers, they can have a distinctive, unpleasant smell, often described as musty or swampy.
Council water quality scientist Angela Collins said if people see these mats, it’s safest to stay out of the water and keep a close eye on children and pets.
“Children are at greater risk because their smaller body size means they need to ingest less toxin to become seriously ill, while dogs may be attracted to the musty smell.
“This is earlier than we typically expect to find cyanobacteria in our rivers and is likely due to the drier winter we had. Heavy rainfall and high water flow help to flush cyanobacteria.”
The council is closely monitoring cyanobacteria levels at selected rivers and lakes as part of its Can I Swim Here? programme. This programme runs through until March.
The council also conducts weekly testing for E coli at 23 river and lake sites, and for enterococci at 18 coastal marine sites.
“As we kick off the Can I Swim Here? programme, we want to remind the public of the risks posed by cyanobacteria and encourage everyone to be mindful when planning a swim, especially in the rivers where we’ve found the mats.”
She said any time water doesn’t look or smell right, it’s safest to stay out. Should people or pets come into contact with water contaminated with cyanobacteria, it should be washed off with clean water as soon as possible.
If ingested, contaminated water can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain. In more serious cases, liver or kidney damage can occur. If any of these symptoms are experienced, medical advice should be sought immediately.
Updated test results and current health warnings are found at lawa.org. nz/explore-data/swimming.
Water quality scientist Angela Collins sampling for water quality
The vulnerability is gone
Everyone has their own motivation when considering making a move into a retirement village. Some want to downsize, others want freedom from home maintenance. Some are prompted by health concerns and at times, it’s loneliness that encourages people to join a vibrant village community.
For Summerset Waikanae resident, Gavin Archer, it was the vulnerability of living alone that made him think to the future. “In my case, the problem was that I felt a bit vulnerable going forward as a single male living by himself. There was no support there. I thought, perhaps it’s time to actually look to the future rather than hang on to the past,” said Gavin.
“I had heard about a Summerset development going in at Waikanae. So, I got in the car and drove down here. It was fortunate because the Sales office was a three-bedroom villa, so I could see straight away what a villa looked like.”
“I decided to purchase a three-bedroom villa and it’s great. Summerset has full time presence on the site, day and night. I don’t have to worry about security. I don’t have to worry about anything. The vulnerability is gone, and freedom has actually taken over from that particular emotion.”
While Gavin has settled into the village, he’s not sitting still. A keen traveller, Gavin plans to continue exploring the world. “I can decide this afternoon to go to Australia tomorrow. It’s just lock and leave and go. If you’ve got your own property to look after, you can’t really do that without planning it. You can’t be impulsive. There’s a big benefit of being able to lock and leave,” said Gavin.
“The other big benefit is that the people coming in here, we all come here on the same basis, we’ve got the same aspirations, and I find that everyone meshes together very well. I’ve got some great neighbours, best neighbours I think I’ve had in the six properties I’ve occupied. And that’s a benefit because we all come in with the same intention of making sure that the next stage of our life is well catered for.”
“And if in fact something happens, and I’ve got to go into a serviced apartment or other parts of the facility, I don’t lose the identity of the village, which I’ve grown into, or the people. From that point of view, I’ve been quite enlightened by the change, knowing that I’ve got stability.”
If you’d like to know more about the Summerset life, call our sales team at Summerset Pohutukawa Place on 06 824 8532
by Paul Campbell
Festive stress or family fun?
Christmas means many things to many people and, in this modern world, the chances are many wouldbe celebrants will find themselves at work.
The writer recalls very few Christmas holidays as a journalist rostered on a shift because news does not stop, and the same applies for all those service jobs from medicine to policing, defence, fire and many more occupations.
Even farmers might need added support as commodity prices and government regulations cause a lack of sleep, along with an unhelpful bank manager.
The holiday season might be a time for feet up, present opening, family gatherings and spending time with loved ones. However, it is not all beer and skittles. Unfortunately, Christmas can also cause stress and depression for some people and even families in poor economic times.
Research proves, in fact, Christmas is considered one of the six most-stressful life events, along with divorce, moving house and changing jobs. This year, after the Covid-19 upheaval, natural disasters, rising inflation and dour predictions for the economy, you may be struggling to embrace the season of joy.
There are various factors that can cause stress. You may feel tense
because you are worried about finances, concerned about relationships, or just feel exhausted after working long hours to get things finished before the holidays.
Worrying about the financial cost of buying Christmas presents, combined with the gloomy predictions about the economy, getting presents organised in time and feeling pressure to celebrate, even though you may have fractious relationships with family members.
The rising cost of living coupled with having less money to spend, while seeing an abundance of goods on display in shops, can trigger stress. Finding ways to cut back and better manage finances during the period can help you feel less stressed. Christmas can also have a positive impact on your mental health. Keeping a focus on the positives, sharing social connection, eating well and relaxing can all bring a sense of wellbeing.
Consider researching ways to add new meaning to Christmas or create new family traditions. In general, be kind to yourself and others when planning what you will do, and consider changing your expectations of the season to remove stress, while aiming for a mentally healthy festive break.
by Amy Fifita
Christmas Preparation
A region celebrates
With the festive season just weeks away, it is time to look at the events around Taranaki where families and friends can
Kicking off the celebrations early with the fundraising event, Christmas Homes for Hope, on Sunday, November 17 with 11 decorated venues. Book online at iticket.co.nz.
South Taranaki Funeral Services and Hospice Taranaki are putting on a remembrance service at 286 High Street, Hāwera on Tuesday, November 26 from 6pm. Send RSVPs or photos to acknowledge your loved ones to glenn. rogers@stfs.co.nz.
Two Festive High Tea sessions will be held at the Novotel New Plymouth Taranaki Hotel on Sunday, December 1, at 11.30am and 2.30pm. Each lasting two hours long, guests will have a selection of culinary delights to eat. Book now at novotelnewplymouth.com/events/ christmas-high-tea.
Musos can enjoy the festive vibes at the Taranaki Music Scene Christmas Do on Sunday, December 1, from 6pm at the Most FM Live Lounge. The BYO drinks event is being hosted by Andre Manella and Crystal Starr.
There are several other events for families and individuals to attend, but for many, the seasonal event is a Santa parade.
New Plymouth is welcoming the festive spirit with the Annual Lions Christmas Parade on Devon Street on Saturday, November 20, at 1pm.
Hāwera has its Morning Street Festival and Christmas Parade at High Street on Saturday, December 14, from 9am, finishing off with the grand event (the parade) at noon. Themed Santa’s Little Helpers, those attending can enjoy live music — this is a free event. Registrations are still open for the Stratford Christmas Parade on Broadway on Friday, December 6. With the Christmas movie theme, spectators can arrive early to experience the Prospero Market. The parade is at 6.30pm, followed by carol singing. Every year, Ōpunake has its Christmas parade on December 24. This year, people can enjoy the Tasmin Street event at 7pm, a good build-up for children ready for Christmas Day.
A happy memory for many adults, Christmas parades are great to enjoy with the family
by Amy Fifita
Vibrant for summer
Anybody strolling through New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park in the evenings during late December is in for a bright treat as the TSB Festival of Lights embarks on December 21.
Starting Saturday, December 21, from 8.30pm to 11pm, the park will showcase creative colour and illumination until Sunday, January 26 2025. There is a special New Year’s Eve event with the event ending at 12.30am for people wanting to welcome in 2025.
Parkgoers can expect to see the area aglow every night, and have the opportunity to engage in activities, like the outdoor cinema and family-friendly entertainment. The festival offers a fun and vibrant time for holidaymakers and locals.
Featuring light installations from artists from Taranaki, New Zealand and worldwide, people will witness many sights and sounds.
Free to attend, the event boasts being New Zealand’s favourite, and longest-running light festival. Put on by the New Plymouth District Council, earlier this year, viewers were teased with its TSB Festival of Lights Winter Pop-Up event.
The winter affair drew about 15,000 people during the Matariki long weekend, some of whom travelled from other regions to see it. As the holiday period looms, the summer light festival is due to be open for visitors for five weeks.
Those who want to immerse themselves in and help out at the festival can volunteer on the Get Involved page at festivaloflights.nz/summer. Volunteers are needed to guide people and offer information during the festivities.
A full and confirmed line-up will be on the site’s What’s On page in early December. The event has amazed people since 1993, when it first started, and has grown each year with support from sponsors and other generous entities.
Whether you’re walking through the park, playing a gig or volunteering there is plenty to experience at New Plymouth’s Pukekura Park.
The event has grown since its beginning in 1993, and is celebrated as New Zealand’s favourite and longest-running light show
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As 2024 comes to a close, it’s time to reflect on what an incredible year it has been. Honda Hub Hawera participated in the A&P show in Hawera, travelled to the Fieldays in Hamilton, launched the enhanced SXS1000, unveiled the impressive 350HP V8 outboard, and welcomed Kilwell and Black Magic products to our store!
With the new year of 2025, we look forward to growth and innovation. Our focus is on building a supportive and inclusive community that values everyone’s contributions. By utilizing the latest technologies, we aim to enhance our services and create a positive impact. Here’s to a year of inspiration, progress, and shared success!
by Andy Bryenton
Christmas Preparation
Yule be right when tree’s company
There’s plenty of work to do getting trees pruned and hedges trimmed as summer and the holiday season approach, but one particular tree is on a lot of minds for the festive season; the one that Santa leaves presents under.
If you’re a farming family, you’re probably never short of choice when it comes to a Christmas tree. Odds are, your dad had his eyes on a suitable self-seeded pine somewhere about the property long before Snoopy’s Christmas first played on the radio each year. You might have already scoped out a suitable specimen for 2024: but why do we bring a pine tree indoors in any case? What’s the origin of this odd little holiday ritual?
It all goes back to the ancient Germans, people who shared a lot of the same religious folklore as the Norse, including wintertime feasts in honour of Odin, father of Thor. Coincidentally, he was often depicted as a long-bearded old man in fur-trimmed robes, who travelled through the snow in midwinter giving gifts to the faithful.
One of the rituals of these ancient Germanic people, in pre-Christian times, was to decorate a sacred tree with holly, ivy and icons representing
supernatural beings. Legend has it that Saint Boniface travelled to northern Germany in 723 AD, and arrived in time for Christmas, which happened to be about the same time as the pagan Yule feast. In the legend, the saint chops down the pagan tree and converts the revellers with the gospel of the nativity in Bethlehem.
His followers were very smart. They incorporated the date of December 25 and a special tree into Christian observances from then on. By the 1300s, we have records about evergreen trees brought inside German churches and decorated with baubles. These represented the tree of knowledge in the story of Adam and Eve, and the baubles were painted red and green like apples.
In this way, an echo of Odin’s tree lived on. Here’s another. His hammer-wielding son, Thor, popularised in film series The Avengers, was known as Donnar to the Germans, and lent his name to one of Santa’s reindeer.
Queen Charlotte, wife of King George III, brought the tradition to England, but it was the Victorian love affair with Christmas, and the huge yuletide trees of Victoria and Albert, which made the festive pine a modern fixture. The fake tree has a long history, too. Goose feathers painted green were used to make artificial trees in the 1880s, while in the US, in the 1930s, a Chicago toilet brush manufacturer used excess stock to make the first fake-bristle tree.
The Christmas tree is an accepted tradition today, but it comes to us through a winding path of historical coincidences
by Andy Bryenton
Christmas Preparation
All hands on deck
In the days of tall ships and the majesty of sail, a lot of time aboard a vessel was spent making sure the deck was ship-shape, and the same care should apply to the deck of your house.
Thankfully, when it comes to revitalising the one that’s outside your ranchslider, there are power tools and crafty products available, that those old-time sailors would have given a treasure map for.
Many decks can be given a spruce up with a quick gentle wash-down and treatment with a mould remover, then a cover-up with rejuvenating oil. It’s important to know what kind of wood your deck is made of before you get started, as some can’t take the impact of a powerful water blaster, and certain oils and finishes work best with specific timbers. For the right products, talk to your local paint specialists or hardware store.
For decks in need of a serious restoration, it’s best to get back to basics, by taking off the damaged outer layers and exposing richly textured, fresh new wood. That means sanding, and it’s usually best to hire a drum sander and deck edge finishing sander than to buy new, unless your deck area is truly vast.
The good weather will be your mate for this job, as it’s best to sand and re-oil your
deck under sunny skies. Start by giving the deck a good clean, and getting leaves, dirt and grit out from between the boards. Then, once the deck is dry, inspect the planks for cracking and warping, replacing
as necessary. Tighten down all the screws, because the sandpaper you are about to use can snag on these and rip, causing major headaches.
There are three stages of sandpaper grit, the level of coarseness, which you should work down through to get the perfect finish. Start with rugged 80 grit, working diagonal to the boards rather than straight up and down or side to side, a pro tip to make sure you get a smooth finish. Next, switch it out to 100 grit, and work down the boards lengthways. Finally, go back over the whole surface with fine 120 grit paper on the sander, once again, working end-to-end of the boards. The edging or finishing sander is useful here at the end of the task to clear up patches close to your doors and window joinery.
Oil goes on last, without skimping on volume, as you want a good even coat all over that will protect the deck for years to come. Once again, your local paint experts will know just the right one to suit your timber.
A perfect deck is a source of considerable pride, and a great spot to entertain your mates during summer
by Andy Bryenton
Rural vets swell the ranks
The government’s voluntary bonding scheme for rural vets has hit a new high in 2024, with 35 graduates taking up the opportunity to offset their student loans and costs by working in the rural sector.
Twenty-eight rural areas will benefit directly from the placement of the veterinary medicine graduates, who will each receive $55,000 over a five-year tenure, working with productive livestock and farm dogs. It’s a way of filling a gap in the market, which has been painfully apparent for many farmers, especially since the Covid-19 lockdowns changed the work immigration landscape.
“The government is committed to enhancing primary sector productivity and delivering direct benefits to farmers and rural communities,” said Agriculture Minister Todd McClay. “Supporting 35 new vets to work in 28 rural areas across New Zealand strengthens on-the-ground support for our hard-working farmers and producers.”
His associate minister Andrew Hoggard agreed. Both ministers are committed to growing the scheme further in years to come, setting a framework for a more easy-to-access veterinary system in places like rural Kaipara.
“Incentivising vets to practise in rural regions addresses the rural vet shortage while ensuring livestock health, which is critical to boosting primary sector productivity,” says Mr Hoggard.
“Upholding the highest standards of animal care is fundamental to our agriculture sector’s success and reputation. This programme ensures farmers have access to the best possible animal care.”
“Vets are vital to rural economies,” Mr McClay said. “With this scheme, we’re not only bringing essential skills to rural areas but also helping young vets pay down their student loans, while serving communities that rely on healthy, productive animals.
“Feedback from previous recipients highlights the rewards of working in
communities while gaining diverse animal care experience.”
The success in uptake for this placement scheme has seen this issue of rural animal health spill over into debate over human health as well. With shortages in many areas of the medical profession causing issues, there have been suggestions that the model, which has proven itself fit for purpose in this year’s vet intake, should form the basis for a similar scheme for practitioners of human medicine.
A one-year rural placement programme has proven successful for graduate doctors out of Otago Medical School, and in 2023, the health department approved funding for even more placements, including some from Auckland’s medical school to Northland.
“The university’s figures suggest that rural medical immersion programme graduates are about five times more likely to become rural doctors than the rest of their medical class,” said Otago University associate dean of health, Professor Garry Nixon.
Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay, speaking to the public at the Dargaville Community Hall
close-knit, supportive
DAIRY & LIVESTOCK
Shearing work became a sport
by Paul Campbell
Shearing was once just a staple task on Kiwi farms as sheep became more numerous by far than the human population and wool had a premium market, but times have changed and the old workplace has become a place of competition.
Shearing Sports New Zealand now stages competition events nationwide, as well as sending teams to Australia, UK and further afield.
The shearing industry began in the 1840s as sheep numbers rapidly increased and the first shearers came from Australia. The first New Zealand shearers, who can be positively identified, are Thomas Hastie and John Bell, who were shearing for William Jaffray at Saddle Hill, Otago, in 1849.
Most early shearers took hand shears on the road from shed to shed, and young men found plenty of willing employers.
The first purpose-built shearing shed, with a slatted floor in the sheep holding pens, was built about 1857, and in the next decade or so, sheds became common. With that came new jobs, and perhaps, the first appearance of women actively engaged in the industry as assistants in wool-handling that sees them in international competition in the modern-day, handling the fleeces as they are taken off on the boards.
Pressers packed the wool into bales using a wool press — at first, a screw press, and then a lever press. Blade ears had two
blades, joined by a spring bow and In the early years, shearing tallies were not high.
In 1856 at Te Awaiti, near Martinborough, a gang of eight men tackled 8,256 sheep. One shearer, named Bartlett, recorded the best day’s tally of 79, but the average around this date was 35 sheep a day. Tallies were low because the sheep were Merinos, a hard breed to handle. In the colonial technique, which was adopted in the 1850s, the sheep sat on its rump, held upright between the knees of the shearer, who clipped the wool off with strokes or blows, and the style is familiar through to today.
The first shearing machines appeared in the 1880s. Long since then, the skill has leapt ahead. During and after the second world war, brothers Ivan and Godfrey Bowen took the best of everything they had seen from shearers around New Zealand, and developed the Bowen technique. The pattern was further refined, with leading shearers such as John and David Fagan making notable contributions in recent years. Today’s best shearers will get the fleece off a sheep in less than 50 blows.
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