Wairarapa Farming Lifestyles, December 2017 by Integrity Community Media

Wairarapa

FARMING Lifestyles

December 2017 Edition

9,693 copies DELIVERED FREE to every rural delivery address in the Wairarapa

Dairy Women’s Network CEO to step down

Shearing for a cause

Record lambing percentages

Benchmarking a big plus Page 4–5

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

Look after your trout catch

The Wairarapa Farming Lifestyles is published with pride by NorthSouth Multi Media Ltd, a privately owned New Zealand company. Phone: 09 439 6933 or 0800 466 793 • Fax: 09 439 6930 Email: info@nsmm.co.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: Lifestyler House, 107 River Road, Dargaville General Manager: Deb Wright | 021 639 9633 Editorial: Paul Campbell Ann Morgan Advertising: Monique McKenzie Betty Willetts

With the summer fishing season underway, Fish & Game has launched an initiative to educate anglers on how to properly look after trout they catch.

Graphic Design: Jessica Wright Callum McDonald Dylan Hansen Production: Vivian Webb Teela Korau

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The proper way to handle a trout, keeping your hands away from the gills

Fish & Game has produced videos, along with a new brochure and pages on its website to inform anglers on the best way to handle fish they catch. “Proper handling of trout is a good way to ensure it is fit for the table and for anglers to ‘play their part’ in sustaining fish stocks,” says Fish & Game communications manager Don Rood. “All anglers need to be aware that how they handle any trout they catch is critical while they decide to keep them for dinner or release the prime breeding stock — you want them to be in the best possible condition.” He says some practices to avoid are fighting a trout for too long, using too light gear, dragging trout onto the rocks or boat deck and not taking enough care removing hooks. “If you are keeping them for the table, make the decision and kill them quickly and humanely. They are a great source of wild food and for many anglers, hunting and gathering for their families is a key part of the fishing experience. Our publicity material advises on the most humane way to dispatch a trout.”

“Use the heaviest line you can get away with. Too light a line means you will have to fight the fish for longer and that takes a toll — a tired fish has much less chance of surviving. “Use a single hook or consider barbless hooks and aim to land your fish quickly. Modern reels have great drags, so make the most of these and the rod’s leverage to get the trout close enough to net.” Preferably use a knotless net to land your fish and keep the trout in the net and in the water while releasing it. Work quickly to unhook the fish gently, preferably with long nosed pliers and avoid touching the fish. “Wet and cool your hands before handling the fish and consider using gloves. If you want a photo, make it quick and if you have to hold the fish, do it gently with one hand around the tail and the other carefully cradling it. Keep your hands, hooks and anything else away from the trout’s gills.” For more information visit the Fish & Game website or view the ‘looking after your trout’ instructional video on Fish & Game’s Youtube pages: youtube.com/ watch?v=yf4Hn5EydRI

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WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES December 2017

Dairy Women’s Network CEO to step down

PETER FEAST BUILDERS

Dairy Women’s Network are looking to recruit a new chief executive in February 2018 as current CEO Zelda de Villiers will step down from her role in May 2018. “Zelda’s commercial and financial expertise has led the not-for-profit organisation into a strong position,” says chair of DWN Cathy Brown. “Under her direction, the organisation has solidified its systems, structures and reputation in the industry. We have also grown our membership significantly during her tenure. “Most importantly, Zelda has recruited and developed a strong team of staff and volunteers who will continue to provide the high level of support our members have come to expect from us.” Ms Brown says it is a sensible time to reflect on the Network’s success so far and think about what is needed to take it into the future. Zelda was appointed CEO in 2014 having spent more than 20 years in various roles in the agricultural industry, including managing director of DeLaval NZ Ltd and several rural banking and finance roles in South Africa. She leaves the Network to focus on a new business venture in Northland.

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“My journey as CEO has been inspiring and humbling, and I have no doubt DWN will attract many worthy candidates for the chief executive role,” she says. “It has been an inspiring journey to lead an organisation that recognises and supports the contribution women make every day, not only to the businesses they work in, but also to rural communities throughout New Zealand.” Highlights during her leadership include cementing strategic partnerships with agribusinesses and national farming representative body DairyNZ, and overseeing the growth in membership from 5000 to more than 10,000. “The 90 volunteer regional leaders have also helped increase professionalism and relevance in the industry. I have thoroughly enjoyed seeing dairy farmers, volunteer groups and rural communities benefit from the various partnerships with industry and these have strengthened DWN’s core capabilities.”

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

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e purchased the farm with Mike’s parents Rob and Heather in 2008 and also have a specialist agricultural contracting business, McCrear y Machinery, concentrating on minimum tillage ground and arable work and high quality baleage,” says Liz. Mike grew up in the Western Lake area and has a deep appreciation of and understanding for this distinct corner of South Wairarapa. He had worked with heli logging and says you get a good understanding of

efficiency when you have $6,000 an hour hovering over your head. “My parents were high level dairy farming. Seeing the results with the docket at the vat is transparent and if I didn’t do what dad had planned our productivity would be down, now I weigh daily to see my results. “Dairy farmers are very efficient converters of dry matter to product, measuring and calculating so we replicated that across our finishing farm. “We were using conventional tools to do break fencing but it was taking us

Farmers working together is a goal the McCreary’s think is accomplishable and would be a smarter way of farming

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seven hours a day winding kilometres of fences. We were introduced to Tom Chisholm and he introduced us to Kiwi Tech and his GPS calibrated farming systems — they were game changes for us. “We are now on mark five as I wanted to switch between cattle and sheep very easily and simply for staff. I believe our system and nutrient dispersal is at the top of the game. Our system is very intense and we have around 60250 lambs in a mob with 40-50 mobs. This has a very light footprint and our nutrients are spread evenly. “Our staff shift anywhere from 4058 mobs every second day. We have spent a lot on development and have a thriving hub with simple systems that are very productive. “We are very aware of environmental footprint — I can’t get my head around the lack of understanding urban people have of farmers. They need to understand their environmental footprint — we test our water coming into our boundary and when it goes out — why aren’t they testing their grey water. “Farming has done so much in the environmental space in the last 10 years. It would be great to get our urban counterparts on board with us.” Mike believes integration has also become important. “We cannot go forward as singular — we need to be an integrated unit Check out the new Sportsman 470 Range TODAY!

including hill country/breeding and finishing farms, processors and markets so we have direct access to information from the consumer so we can react faster to their needs. We should become another paddock when others need grass — like an extended paddock of each farm as if we are one unit. “We need to keep getting smarter, and incorporate protocols before they become regulatory. The family had no stock water reticulation on 200ha of the farm when they started.

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“We have 60ha to go which will be finished soon along with the stop banks, fencing and planting around the lake edge. It will protect the fence and keep the stock off the lake as it floods around 15 times per year.” Mike says the Greater Wellington Regional Council plays a big part in the success of their business. “We all have to be aware of the

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environment and our council is doing a great job to help, particularly Richard Parkes and Tony Faulknor and their crews — they are awesome. “We have planted 29,000 trees and fenced waterways and never could have accomplished it alone. They help with releasing, planting and organising. They are really breaking down the barriers between council and farming.”

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

Shearing for

a cause

by Ann Morgan With the help of the Te Puna Speed Shear Competition, master shearer Digger Balme and his wife Cheryl are in the process of acquiring an assistance dog to help their autistic son Kyle who also has epilepsy, along with developmental delays.

he family live on a 200 hectare sheep and beef farm and Kyle enjoys watching the shearing, helping his dad and being amongst the animals. “We have seen an assistance dog in action with a girl at the Lake Karapiro rowing regatta. They certainly change the lives of families with a child with disabilities. They keep an eye on their ‘person’, and we know how well Kyle interacts with animals and are excited for the opportunity,” says Cheryl.

Pay attention!

“We class him as non verbal but he has his own language and signs to communicate what he needs. Unless we are at a shearing show we are constantly mindful of where he is. Going to the beach, we constantly panic because he doesn’t have a concept of danger and water is one of his major passions.” A diabetic assistant dog will wake a person up and fetch their medication if need be, whilst an autism dog will stop a child wandering off. For Kyle this means the family will have the freedom to go

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WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

out in public knowing the dog will keep Kyle calm and contained. “Going to a shearing show is a different story. He is secure and would go everyday if he could. At shearing shows he is intensely immersed and not wanting to move and it is familiar to him. He likes helping Digger in the shearing shed and putting the wool in the wool press. “He knows exactly who the different shearers are including Roland Smith and John Kirkpatrick, they interact very well with him. Kyle also knows that you must have moccasins on and dress a certain way to shear and will point it out. Cowsheds, helicopters and shearing shows are his favourite things.” Organisers of the Te Puna Speed Shear, Maree and Craig Morton met Kyle recently and the committee decided the funds raised at the upcoming event will go toward getting his dog. “We helped a young local girl get a dog in the past and her life has totally changed. We are looking forward to seeing the positive outcomes a dog will give Kyle. “The event is very much the city meets the country as people come to see sheep being shorn. Last year we had a lamb shorn in 15.94 seconds — you daren’t look away because you might miss it. “We never know who is coming until the night before but there will be some impressive shearers to be seen. Registrations open at 4.30pm and we normally have 35-45 shearers of all different levels.”

Julie and Rick Hancox founded the Assistance Dogs NZ Trust in 2008. “There was nowhere for people with disabilities including autism spectrum disorder, down syndrome, cerebral palsy and diabetes to find a dog with legal public access rights,” says Julie. “After being introduced to families importing dogs from the United States we took on the challenge to cater for the gap. Having dogs available for those in the farming community is very important as well because often people live more isolated and don’t have easy access to support networks.” Julie and Rick formulated their own dog training programme and now service 37 clients across the country with the help of seven staff. “We interview and assess each applicant and train each dog specifically. It can cost more than $20k per dog and there is an eight year waiting list. Once placed we stay in the area for 10 days and ensure the client and dog bond and that they know how to handle it,” says Julie. “Each dog is trained for the environment it will live in and needs to go on farm and to town, on planes and trains, and to work or school to care for their ‘person’s’ needs — adults also use assistance dogs. We are funded by puppy sponsors as well as the fundraising our clients do.” The Te Puna Speed Shear is on Saturday, January 13 starting at 5.30pm at the Top Shot Bar, Minden Rd, Te Puna. Entry is a gold coin donation.

December 2017

Kyle interacts with animals well and having a dog will give his family support

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

ADVERTORIAL

How would life look if you stopped working tomorrow? We all know farming is a volatile business with seasons, prices and earnings changing significantly each year. Not to mention the risks and costs involved protecting your valuable income should the unexpected occur through sickness or accident. Managing risk is a key part of farming. Many farmers don’t realise they are far more likely to become disabled due to illness rather than accident. According to Statistics NZ, of the 270,000 New Zealanders unable to work for a significant period in 2016, over 75% of them were caused by sickness. The solution is not always just about ACC or a specific insurance product. Instead ACC and insurance should be tailored to your own situation. ACC Cover Plus Extra is designed for the self-employed to lock in your ACC benefit level and therefore your cost. Reducing your ACC benefit amounts can affect other payouts, so you must allow for this with personal cover. Income protection insures a percentage of your income if you’re unable to work due to suffering a

continuous illness or injury for a period of time chosen by you. It’s important you implement an agreed value contract, so you receive what you think you’re going to get in the event of a claim rather than having to prove your earnings under an indemnity contract. By lowering your ACC cost and tying this in with appropriate income cover, you’re not paying maximum amounts for both. So, no matter what sort of season you’re having, all bases are covered. Around 40% of income protection claims specifically result from accidents. There’s no point paying for maximum ACC when income protection will have cheaper, more flexible benefits and cover accidents like ACC. It’s common to see people who don’t have their income cover set up correctly. In conjunction with ACC cover, have a backup plan with income cover which is tailored to suit your farming business. If a key person suddenly becomes disabled and unable to work because of illness or injury, your farming business could quickly derail. This type of cover can help fund the cost of replacing key people’s productivity in the farm by injecting vital cash to keep the farm ticking over. Not one size fits all, so it’s best to get good financial advice

to see what’s most appropriate for your farming business. Talk to RIVAL Wealth today by calling 0800 4 RIVAL or email info@rivalwealth.co.nz. We offer expert impartial advice, helping you with all your ACC and income protection requirements. The information provided is of a general nature, and is not intended as personalised financial advice. A disclosure statement is available on request and free of charge.

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WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

December 2017

Irrigation Matters with Clem Powell The mystery of hard hose irrigators Almost everyone will have noticed irrigation guns working in paddocks, which seem to move by themselves. Careful observation will locate a reel somewhere in the distance, which is retracting the gun via the pipe as a drag link and simultaneously layering the pipe onto the drum. Hard Hose irrigators made their appearance in NZ some 30 odd years ago with Ferbo being one of the most common at the time. Since then various other brands, mostly Italian but also some French and even Australian, produced machines with ever increasing user friendly and efficiency targeted improvements. The basic system consists of a wheeled chassis, with a reel set on a turntable on all but the smallest machines. A water turbine and gearbox powers the pipe and gun cart retraction and layering system to achieve a consistent and neat package when the run is finished. As an advancement on this, computers are often fitted to give extremely accurate speed/application

rates. An added bonus is that the finish time can be planned for, so a quick turn around can be achieved. A unique version which Irri-Max Ltd have developed in conjunction with Ferbo Srl Italy is computer controlled Diesel Drive units for Dairy Effluent. The lack of a turbine means blocking is almost non-existent and the drive is not at risk of stalling if low pressure occurs. Also small pumps, irrigation booms, dribble bars, etc, may be used as the machines’ operation is totally independent of the pump performance. The computer gives excellent control of the machine with the farmer able to set the application rate based on input of flow and width of spread. Optional GSM connection to cell or PC givers further control and monitoring

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options. These features have been utilised by absentee owners as well as farm managers. Any fault occurring also sends a message to the user. Advantages of hard hose irrigators include linear application of irrigation and much more even than sprinklers, correctly specified so as to not need excessive pressure. They can be an

effective and reliable means of irrigation with some grease maintenance required. Disadvantages include more energy required than pivot, a tractor to reposition and pull out pipe as well as a tendency for buyers and sellers to specify too small a machine. Irri-Max Ltd have a free consulting service for basic systems. Phone Clem 027 599 9273.

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

WATER MATTERS Monitoring water usage

The best way to monitor the amount of water you use on your property is with a water meter. They can detect small leaks and losses and are an effective way to track seasonal and annual consumption. Installing a water meter allows you to record actual water use and identify areas where water can be used more efficiently. There are two main types of water meter available to monitor shed water use; mechanical and electromagnetic. The cost and accuracy varies between these meters. In general mechanical

water meters are the cheapest up front however need earlier replacement and have poorer accuracy than the electromagnetic. A basic water meter is a valuable feature of any farm striving for sustainable water use and will help detect where water can be saved and identify water efficiency options. Meters can have an alert system that informs you if water is flowing when it shouldn’t be — allowing quick detection of leaks and speedy repairs. It is good to assign a specific person to monitor the alert devices. These systems can be set up using various methods including a pressure gauge on a line feeding water to the farm. Registering lower than normal is a likely sign water is being lost somewhere in the system. A storage tank and pump provide water down the farm and a pilot light on the pump can serve as a visual alert that the pump is on. If the pump is running when it shouldn’t it is likely there is a leak and you should look for the cause. A standard spotlight works, but an LED type — visible from a distance and

even in daylight — is worth the small extra cost. The ‘click, click’ sound of an in-line dispensing system can alert you that water is running whilst unexpected fluctuations or records that never return to zero on meter readings may also indicate leaks. The right number and placement of isolation valves can ease the task of finding and fixing leaks and shutting off water in an area to assist repair. They can also be used to turn off water to areas not always in use such as the calf shed. Mark isolation valves on your farm map so they can be found if the system needs to be modified. Place the meter in a spot that is convenient to

read or attach a data logger, or telemetry unit, which will send the data straight to a computer system and consider how the meter’s location will affect the data collected. Read meters at the same time and day on a regular schedule, and at least once a month read the meter late in the evening and again early the next morning to check for small or unnoticed leaks. Readings can be recorded on DairyNZ’s Tracking Water Use form. Check with your regional council or meter supplier if you have any questions about which meter to choose and how to correctly install it.

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WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

December 2017

DAIRY

Uncommon sense

David Law, Managing Director of Forward Farming Consultancy

Mycoplasma bovis — is this a cause? There is some big picture information in which I believe farming itself may be indirectly connected to the initial cause of this disease. My own experience connected to other biological scientists and specialist vets specifically working on this disease in Europe have led to this theory. • Good biology beneficial to animal health is generally associated with aerobic bacteria; • Bad and pathogenic disease causing biology is generally associated with anaerobic bacteria; • Effluent, good or bad, is spread on pasture; • This feed, whether directly or after harvesting is fed to cattle; • Clostridia, Botulism, Mycoplasma bovis are all anaerobic bacteria; • Clostridia is generally present when anaerobic effluent is present in feed; • A symptom of cattle with clostridia is the inability for the animal to suck water in the normal way. They lick at it instead; • Nutrients from the rumen need water to transport around the body past the rumen;

The following are a list of basic observations I have collected: • Dairy farm effluent is generally either anaerobic or aerobic; • Symptoms of anaerobic ponds are crusted and have an effluent pH below 7. The thicker the crust, the lower the pH; • Symptoms of an aerobic pond show lesser crust with a pH of the effluent above 7. The higher the pH over 7 the clearer the pond is of crust and sludge; • Both these bacteria types have exclusive competition, so as the conditions change further away from pH 7, either way, the bacteria which enjoy those conditions dominate; • Chemicals used in dairy farm cleaning, particularly chlorine, kill aerobic bacteria;

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• With the inability to physically drink adequate water, the animal effectively starves after the rumen; • The animal is unable to fight disease; • Mycoplasma bovis, which is always present takes advantage and becomes prevalent; • Mycoplasma bovis is generally present and associated with botulism and clostridia, • Testing for clostridia and botulism will, if present, confirm the origin of the Mycoplasma Bovis. If this information checks out then we can treat the disease, manage it and prevent it in the future. My vet colleague in Denmark stated that, after the death of hundreds of cows in Germany, anaerobic effluent is not irrigated to pasture anymore.

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Of course, MPI have already made their decision and they seem to think differently — killing cows will definitely fix the symptom. David Law owns Forward Farming Biological Consultancy. Visit for more — forwardfarming.co.nz

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POND DEATH Do we have to kill the good guys to get the bad guys? Most farmers use Chlorine to clean their sheds. Problem is, Chlorine also kills the good bacteria in your pond that eat the crust and sludge. Now there’s a new Chlorine-free sanitiser that kills pathogens better than Chlorine and leaves the good guys alone! It’s called DX50.

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Vet Services Wairarapa would like to let farmers in the Eketahuna District know that we have been servicing several dairy farms in the district for a number of years. If you are looking for a new veterinary provider please give us a call. The services offered include cow pregnancy scanning, routine farm calls such as calvings, sick animals, trace element investigations, bull breeding soundness evaluations – well in fact pretty much all the things you would expect a vet to do on your farm. Stuart has been working as a veterinarian for 38 years and Sara has 8 years experience. They are both very approachable and happy to field your enquiries. Kirsten is our retail manager. She will help with all your animal health supplies – all you need to do is give us a call on 06 378 2662.

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December 2017

WAIRARAPA FARMING LIFESTYLES

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Record lambing percentages A record lambing percentage underpins a lift in lamb numbers, according to Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Lamb Crop 2017 report. Research by B+LNZ’s Economic Service estimates the number of lambs tailed in spring 2017 was 23.7 million head, up 1.9 per cent (436,000 head) on the previous spring. The average ewe lambing percentage for 2017 was 127.2, up 4.4 percentage points on last year and up 6.4 percentage points on the 10-year average (2008-09 to 2017-18) of 120.8 per cent. This means 127 lambs were born per hundred ewes compared with an average of 121 over the last 10 years. For spring 2017, a one percentage point change in the New Zealand ewe lambing percentage is equivalent to 178,000 lambs. Andrew Burtt, chief economist of B+LNZ’s Economic Service, says the record lambing percentage and more lambs from hoggets offset fewer

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breeding ewes. “The report provides further evidence of sheep and beef farmers doing more with less. “North Island lamb numbers were a major factor behind the overall lift in the New Zealand lamb crop with growth of 4.9 per cent (551,000 head) to 11.7 million head. The average ewe lambing percentage for 2017 was 128.0, up 8.6 percentage points on last year. “This was a record high, and was due to good climatic conditions and ewe condition at both mating and lambing for most regions. “After autumn and winter, conditions were generally good but wet, lamb growth rates were lower than normal due to a lack of sunshine, cool damp weather and more lambs. This has had a negative impact on lamb growth. “On a positive note, there were no adverse weather events during lambing.” In the East Coast and TaranakiManawatu, bearings and subsequent losses negatively impacted the lambing result. According to the survey, the number of breeding ewes declined 1.9 per cent to 17.8 million at July 1, 2017. “The most significant decrease was in Taranaki-Manawatu (-3.6 per cent) in response to strong mutton prices and

Andrew Burtt, chief economist of B+LNZ’s Economic Service

culling of old ewes to take advantage of strong prices.” The number of lambs available for export processing in 201718 at 19.27 million head is similar to last season’s 19.25 million head (+0.1 per cent). The tonnage of lamb produced is expected to decrease slightly (-0.2

per cent) to a lower average carcass weight, which offsets an increase in total number processed. B+LNZ Economic Service’s Lamb Crop survey is drawn from its Sheep and Beef Farm Survey, which covers a statistically representative sample of over 500 commercial sheep and beef farms.

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December 2017

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Transformation games by Andy Bryenton

When they first said perhaps a decade ago, that the era of the four door sedan was drawing to a close, people laughed. As the hot hatch began to be slowly replaced with the micro-crossover SUV, disbelief was the order of the day. As in fashion and art, the auto world carries a sea-anchor of memories and pre-suppositions. But the hour is at hand. Proof that the landscape has definitely shifted. No, we don’t mean the end of production for the Commodore and Falcon. Take a look at the current range from Nissan. The people who brought us the Maxima, that consummate big sedan, the Pulsar, available as a hot hatch with a bonnet scoop that could swallow medium sized animals, and ancestrally machines like the Sunny and the 120Y have a very different offering on the forecourt for 2017. It breaks down like this. Perhaps the single best value for money supercar-thrashing sports machine on four wheels — the GT-R. Under that, a coupe which builds on a history stretching back to the Fairlady Z, and which would make some folks second-guess a Porsche. And afterwards — it’s sports utilities all the way through. There’s some very good ones, at that. The Juke may not be everyone’s stylistic cup of tea, but the crossover market is all about pop art style. Then we have the best-selling Qashqai, the X-Trail, the Pathfinder and the big Patrol as daddy of the family.

The Navara ute finishes off a lineup that has no hot hatch, no sedan — and feels like there’s really nothing missing. The shift has happened, we’re in the 21st century, and the car DNA has split. Understanding this has allowed Nissan to create a range that caters to modern tastes with a spectrum of closely gradated SUVs for every niche,

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and left their car division free to fly into new realms of lateral Gs and tyre smoke wizardry. Yes, the 370Z is good fun. In New Zealand it comes in only one option, but that’s because you don’t put tomato sauce on a perfectly crafted slice of sushi. But the GT-R is better than good. It’s transcended the hooligan past of

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Fabricated by Angove Engineering Ltd in the North Wairarapa town of Pahiatua, ‘MStar’ is fast becoming New Zealand’s premier motorsport trailer. Open trailers for motorbikes, fully enclosed trailers for race cars, and everything in between. MStar has a solution for all who participate in motorsport. “Function then form” answers Paul Angove, owner of Angove Engineering Ltd, when asked what makes his products stand out in a crowd. “In everything we fabricate, be it MStar, our Paul-Douglas horse floats or Orion box trailers, we ensure they perform at the highest level, and that they always look great doing it” One of the keys to Paul’s success in building and selling his range of highend trailers is a willingness to customise the offering to meet a customer’s needs. “We’ve found that everyone has their own idea about what makes a trailer ‘just right’, says Paul. “We start with one of our ‘base’ designs then work closely with our customers to build it just how they need it.” A hot-dip galvanised open top ‘3 — bike transporter’ will set you back around $3,500 incl GST, whereas a fully-fledged enclosed race car trailer starts at around $30,000 incl GST. When it comes to fitting the trailer out with goodies, all options are available.

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