Lifestyle Collection
Perfection Over the Harbour Lifestyle & Acreage See inside for details on this property
AU T U M N 2017 | www.pggwre.co.nz
Our Offices For specialist knowledge on buying and selling real estate throughout New Zealand, contact your local PGG Wrightson Real Estate branch
North Island Kerikeri Whangarei Dargaville Pukekohe Wellsford Hamilton Matamata Te Kuiti Thames Morrinsville Cambridge Te Awamutu Putaruru Tauranga Rotorua Waihi Katikati Te Puke Whakatane Taupo Hastings Waipukurau Wairoa Feilding Whanganui Levin Taihape Marton Hawera Dannevirke Masterton
South Island 09 407 4832 09 470 2522 09 439 3342 09 237 2014 09 470 2522 07 858 5338 07 888 4572 07 878 0265 07 867 9582 07 889 0171 07 823 0647 07 870 6219 07 882 1485 07 571 5795 07 349 5486 07 863 6589 07 571 5795 07 571 5795 07 349 5486 07 377 8928 06 878 3156 06 858 6073 06 838 8059 06 323 0076 06 349 2000 06 367 0820 06 323 0076 06 323 0076 06 349 2000 06 374 4630 06 370 1866
Nelson Blenheim Greymouth Rangiora Christchurch Ashburton Timaru Geraldine Fairlie Oamaru Cromwell Alexandra Dunedin Mosgiel Balclutha Te Anau Gore Invercargill
03 543 8590 03 578 3019 03 768 1222 03 313 0610 03 341 4301 03 307 8700 03 687 7330 03 687 7330 03 685 9092 03 433 1340 03 445 3735 03 440 2380 03 470 0317 03 470 0317 03 418 1381 03 249 8611 03 209 0300 03 211 3130
Northland Bay of Plenty/South Waikato/Central Plateau Waikato
Hawke’s Bay/ Manawatu/Wairarapa
Nelson/Marlborough Canterbury/West Coast
Mid/South Canterbury
North Otago
PGG Wrightson Real Estate office locations (Store placement and regional lines are an indication only - map details are not to scale) PGG Wrightson Real Estate sub-office
Otago/Central Otago
Southland
Welcome Lifestyle properties values at or ahead of peak levels. Towards the end of 2016 the lifestyle property market was on a sustained period of exceptional growth throughout most of the country. While that has slowed slightly in the past few months, with the Real Estate Institute (REINZ) publishing official statistics to show the volume of sales has dropped, property values in many regions are still at or ahead of peak levels. This indicates that, although the number of properties available to purchase has dropped, the demand for lifestyle property from people seeking to live the rural
Cover Image Front cover: See page *23 and 71 Tairua Road, Thames-Coromandel
dream remains as strong as ever. Demand is driven from two different directions. Most obviously, strong sales of residential homes in urban centres, particularly Auckland, has stimulated interest in lifestyle properties on the outskirts, creating a ripple effect. Additionally, farmers reaching retirement age, who have held off selling up and downsizing while the dairy payout has been at a low ebb, are now deciding that the time to move on has arrived. For many of the latter, a lifestyle property is the logical next step. Hence the heavy demand throughout much of the country. For those intending to take the step to a lifestyle property, doing so with PGG Wrightson Real Estate makes logical sense. With offices throughout the country, one of our specialist lifestyle property salespeople is always close to hand. For those who need to establish themselves in a new community, or making a change to a different way of life, our wider company, which has been servicing the New Zealand rural sector for many generations, will enable you to undertake what can be a challenging and complex process in a relatively straightforward way. Support we can provide ranges from pasture productivity to irrigation to stock management to insurance to specialist supplies, to name just a few. This publication, the autumn 2017 edition of The Lifestyle Collection, contains numerous attractive property listings from throughout our nationwide network. If you are interested in any of these, or are thinking about offering a property to the market, our salespeople will be delighted to hear from you.
Peter Newbold General Manager, PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited
Contents
Features Page Our company ........................................................................................................ 5 Top regions’ significant sales ......................................................................... 6 Quick tips: healthy living ................................................................................. 7 Living the dream ................................................................................................. 8 Happy buyers, happy sellers ........................................................................10 Your future starts here ....................................................................................12 Quick tips: food for thought ........................................................................13 A dream of a retirement project ................................................................14 Quick tips: the perfect lifestyle pet ..........................................................16 Quick tips: among the best in the world ..............................................17 Quick tips: beekeeping as a hobby ..........................................................18 North Island properties ..................................................................................19 End of the road ..................................................................................................51 Lifestyle opportunity .......................................................................................54 Lifestyle love affair ............................................................................................56 A golden age of lifestyle living in Cromwell ........................................59 South Island properties..................................................................................63
PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited is acting solely as the selling agent for the vendor, and is not responsible for the accuracy and completeness of information supplied by the vendor either directly or via PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited, whether contained in an information memorandum or otherwise. PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited has not verified such information and PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited is not liable to any party, including the purchaser, for the accuracy or completeness of such information. Potential purchasers and investors should also note that the vendor is responsible for obtaining legal advice on any securities law aspects associated with the proposed transaction and that PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited is not a promoter for securities law purposes but is solely acting in its professional capacity as a selling agent.
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A national team of expert locals, connecting people with property From lifestyle, to rural, to residential our national team of experienced locals has been expertly connecting people with property for generations of kiwis. So if you’re considering selling or buying property this spring, get in touch with New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company.
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Top regions’ significant sales The following is a sneak peek into the past few months’ successful sales from our top regions nationwide. If you are after local knowledge, experience and best outcome, contact our real estate specialists today to get your property listed and sold! Date Range: 2 January 2017–6 March 2017
North Island SOLD
Hamilton Kite Road John Sisley, Jo Dennis
SOLD
Thames Trentham Road Carol Winterburn
SOLD
Tauranga Welcome Bay Road Andrew Fowler, Keith Wilson
SOLD
Morrinsville Telephone Road Steve Cochrane
SOLD
Hamilton Annebrook Road Steve Cochrane
SOLD
Hastings Parkhill Road Peter Dick
SOLD
Tauranga Welcome Bay Road Andrew Fowler
SOLD
Levin Takapu Road Joe Havill
South Island SOLD
Rolleston Lowes Road Wilton Atkins
SOLD
Winton Gerrard Road Kelvin Moylan
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SOLD
West Melton Newtons Road Min Cookson
SOLD
Gore Otama Road Bill McDonald, Carolyn Howden
New Zealand’s leading rural real estate company
SOLD
Kaikoura Lovers Lane Geraldine Straker
SOLD
Chirstchurch South Eyre Road Peter Crean, Michelle Singh
SOLD
Alexandra Airport Road Don Sparks
SOLD
Ashburton Smithfield Road Sarah Smith
T& C
www.pggwre.co.nz/list&win ’s ap p
ly.
Simply list your lifestyle property exclusively with PGG Wrightson Real Estate Limited during March and April 2017 to be in to win the use of a Hyundai Santa Fe for a year! Not quite ready to list? No problem. Subscribe to our mailing list to receive an e-book of our premier property magazines and market commentary, and you’ll go in the draw to win one of five $2000 shopping sprees at a PGG Wrightson Rural Supplies store.
Terms and conditions apply. Head to www.pggwre.co.nz/list&win for more information. www.pggwre.co.nz
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T O P A U T U M N T I P S F O R S M A L L B LO C K FA R M E R S
Preserving the season’s best
RACHEL KNIGHT ON PRESERVING THE HARVEST
How to turn excess produce into a time capsule of edible delight to enjoy year round.
Dehydrating
If you’re fortunate enough to grow your own fruit and vegetables, a welcome trickle of picking can sometimes turn into a deluge. However, with judicious preserving you can sample the best of the season all year, avoid wasting what you can’t immediately eat, and save money instead of buying out-of-season.
• While you can dry fruit and vegetables naturally in the sun or in a low oven, a dedicated dehydrator is efficient and avoids tying up your oven for long periods
Freezing • Freezing is a quick and easy way to preserve fruit and vegetables with minimal preparation or loss of nutrition. Pack in portion-sized bags or containers for ease of use • Wash and core or stone larger fruit. For freeflow storage, freeze in a single layer on open trays before packing • Fresh herbs made into pesto or blended with olive oil freeze well in ice cube trays
• Drying food is one of the oldest methods of preserving and a great preservative-free way to store produce for up to a year
• Slice fruit and vegetables and place on trays in a low oven, about 60degC, warm enough to dry though not cook them. Drying can take 2-6 hours Jams, pickles and chutneys • These preserves rely on heat and sugar, salt, or vinegar to slow deterioration • While it may be tempting to reduce the amount of sugar, this preservation technique won’t work as well if you do. For jam, the usual rule is to use equal quantities of fruit and sugar Rachel Knight is a Hawke’s Bay gardener who grows everything from beans to beef. Initially selling boxes of home-grown produce, when demand outstripped supply she started teaching customers to grow their own.
For Rachel’s workshops go to http://www.thekitchengarden.co.nz/ follow her at www.facebook.com/ thekitchengardennz or contact rachel@thekitchengarden.co.nz
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Rachel Knight’s Recipes
Pesto
Bramble jam
The name ‘pesto’ comes from the Italian verb ‘pestare’, to pound or crush. It’s a versatile recipe and ingredient - delicious spread on steak, fish or sandwiches.
Blackberry jam is always a favourite with its strong flavour and vibrant colour. The best blackberries are always just out of reach but it’s worth the scramble for a good haul of berries! The apple provides pectin to make it set and this recipe makes about a litre and a half of jam.
• 100g fresh herbs: basil, coriander, parsley or rocket, tough stalks removed and roughly chopped
• 1 kg blackberries
• 2-3 large cloves of garlic or a clove of elephant garlic, peeled
• ½ kg apples, peeled and diced (crabapples if you have them)
• 90g best quality New Zealand olive, avocado or walnut oil
• 150ml water
• 50g tasty cheese or substitute a couple of tablespoons of nutritional yeast for a vegan version
• 1 ½ kg sugar
• 50g nuts (walnuts, cashews, pine nuts or hazelnuts) • Salt and pepper to taste • Zest and juice of a lemon or lime Place the ingredients in a liquidiser and blend until smooth. Scrape down the sides at least once to ensure everything is combined. Taste and adjust seasoning. Add a little more oil to get the consistency you prefer. Divide into small containers and store in the fridge or freezer.
Put three clean saucers in the freezer. Simmer the fruit gently with the water in a wide pan until soft. Add the sugar, stirring to dissolve it. Once it has dissolved (you can’t see crystals on the back of a wooden spoon), boil rapidly for ten minutes. Put a teaspoon of jam on one of your pre-chilled saucers. Once cool, push your finger across the surface of the jam sample and if it wrinkles it’s ready. If not, return to the boil for another five minutes and test again. Allow to cool for about 15 minutes before bottling in sterilised jars. Label once cold.
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Truffles: gastronomic gold JEFF WESTON ON TRUFFLES
Truffles are an expensive delicacy, with prices of up to $3500 per kilo, presenting small block farmers a unique opportunity. With their renowned flavour, truffles are in perennial demand. However, European yields are in decline, giving New Zealand farmers a chance to fill the gap. There are over 50 productive truffière here, while many more have been established, though are yet to yield their first harvest. • Truffles are the fruiting bodies of ectomycorrhizal fungi, which live on and around the roots of certain types of trees in a symbiotic relationship. Truffles fruit below ground, having evolved to produce strong chemical aromas when mature • It costs up to NZ$35,000 per hectare to establish a truffière, depending on how much you are able to do yourself. This includes site assessment and soil testing, site preparation, fencing, irrigation, tree protection and truffle-infected trees • Potential growers should seek professional advice to assess the suitability of their site. Climate and soil type are key factors to consider
• To be successful, the truffière is likely to require close, ongoing maintenance and management, including monitoring to maintain tree health, soil pH and trace element levels, pest and disease control, pruning and irrigation • Suitable truffle host trees include oak (Quercus robur, Q. ilex), and some pine species (Pinus pinea, P. pinaster, P. radiata). Tubers melanosporum, borchii and aestivum truffle-infected tree seedlings are available in New Zealand • Truffle-hunting dogs are an essential industry tool and add to the mystique around truffles. While competent truffle dog search services are available here, even the family dog can rise to the occasion. Training and handling your own dog is more cost-effective and incredibly rewarding
Jeff Weston has been farming truffles since the early 2000s. His Canterbury truffiere, Borchii Park (www.borchiipark.co.nz), was the first in the Southern Hemisphere to produce a commercial harvest of white truffles. He is a member of the New Zealand Truffle Association (www.nztruffles.org.nz).
Newbies settling in quickly
TO LIVE THE KAIPARA COUNTRY DREAM
Growing up, Jo Kane always wanted to move to the country. Now Jo, husband Sean and their four young children are living the dream on the Kaipara Flats.
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“This was always our goal. When we were firsttime buyers, it was a spec house in Warkworth on a small 600 square metre section. Our plan was to make some money then buy further out. That worked out and we sold for a lot more than we bought it for, giving us the scope to go to the next level,” says Jo. Although Jo and Sean planned to buy some land and build new, Scott Tapp of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Wellsford came up with an alternative option: a renovated sunny 1950s weatherboard farmhouse on one hectare, surrounded by farmland. “While this wasn’t what we had in mind, we quickly worked out that it was going to be ideal for us. At first, we weren’t looking at rural houses; we’d decided we were going to build. Then Scott showed us this and we realised, ‘Why would we build when we can move straight in?’” Sean is a sales manager for a company in the medical sector. He commutes to the North Shore, which takes 40 to 45 minutes most days. Jo has her own business in Silverdale. “It’s a 10 minute drive for me. On our first time out here with Scott looking at the property, I thought ‘I’m not driving that far.’ Since we’ve been here, though, I couldn’t believe that would have stopped me and I hardly even think about it now,” says Jo.
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As rural newbies, a few things are surprising, at least to begin with. “We found it really dark at night, and quiet,” says Jo. Having always aspired to be rural, though, and live on a farm, Jo, Sean, plus sons Max and Jude, and twin daughters Eden and Scarlett, have been quick to make the most of it. “I’ve always liked the idea of living off the land, of gardening, and bottling fruit. Our orchard has a fantastic range of fruit trees, including olives, all different types of citrus, apples, pears, plums, peach trees, guavas, gooseberries, grapes and feijoas, so we have plenty to look forward to with that. “We also have plans to keep some animals, probably chickens and a pig, plus either cows or sheep. “Eight-year-old Max has found a nine-yearold neighbour with a small quad bike, so he absolutely loves it here, and we will probably all buy bikes at some point. Meanwhile, the younger children are all playing outside much more than they ever did when we lived in town,” she says.
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Soil fertility PH AND LIME
The pH primarily affects the soil by controlling the availability of soil nutrients. For example at a very acidic pH, phosphate availability will be restricted while the availability of toxic elements like aluminium will be increased; as the pH increases, the availability of phosphate increases while aluminium decreases. • In order to get the best out of the nutrients in the soil, you need to ensure your pH is between 5.8 and 6.2. If soil has a pH below this, then production can be affected • Soil pH can be increased through the addition of lime • Lime contains a compound known as Calcium Carbonate. Calcium Carbonate is used to neutralise the acids in the soil, and thus bring the pH up
• The average soil in New Zealand is going to need approximately one tonne of lime per hectare to increase the pH by 0.1 units • It takes about 18 months for lime to break down fully and completely change the pH, so it is best to apply lime regularly to ensure you are always at a good soil pH
If you have any questions, or require further information on pH and Lime in your soil, please contact your local PGG Wrightson store or Technical Field Representative.
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I love my mini pony
BRONWYN HARRIS ON KEEPING MINIATURE HORSES AND SHETLAND PONIES
Because of their scaled-down nature, miniature horses and Shetland ponies make excellent family pets for people of all ages. Bred down from ponies in the 1700s, the first miniature horses didn’t arrive in New Zealand until the 1980s. Shetland ponies have been around much longer, with records of these British natives in New Zealand since the 1800s. Both breeds can give all the joy of a full-size horse, while requiring just a fraction of the space, feed and exercise. • As a general rule, they don’t respect electric fencing. A 0.2 hectare paddock with good fencing is perfect. Shelter is important, even if just trees or a hedge to protect them from the elements • Surprisingly not much grazing area is needed – less is best in terms of feed! Rough grass, for example under gum trees where little grows, is perfect to avoid your horse becoming overweight. Providing a daily balance of exercise and food is the key
to a healthy pony. Keeping multiple ponies in one paddock is ideal as added exercise in the natural environment will mean less work for you • You need a farrier to provide hoof care roughly every six weeks, and a dentist once a year • Seasonal demands can be high maintenance and doing your research before purchasing your new family member is vital • They can easily become bored, so it’s important to remember they aren’t just ‘paddock ornaments’ – they need activity. They love routine, walks, running next to quad bikes and sharing life’s adventures. Keeping a pony or mini horse is a daily commitment and a fun, rewarding way to teach children about responsibility
Bronwyn Harris has been running Party Ponies (www.ponyparties.co.nz) in Canterbury for 13 years. She is passionate about connecting children with animals and her 1.6 hectare property houses everything from the smallest pony to a majestic Clydesdale, as well as a mule, donkey, pigs, alpacas, cows, goats, rabbits and guinea pigs.
Auction sets the scene FOR DEVELOPING EQUESTRIAN BUSINESS W AND SHOWJUMPING CAREER
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Claudia Hay is a champion showjumper who won the New Zealand Horse of the Year title in 2015 on her top mount, German-bred Euro Sport, Centavos.
After a successful 2016 trip to the United States to train, compete and gain experience, Claudia and her parents Vicki and Peter Hay, along with Centavos, returned to New Zealand, inspired to combine their love and growing expertise in the equestrian world to enable Claudia to reach greater heights in the sport. Previously based in Otago, the Hays decided they needed to be closer to Taupo, the epicentre for New Zealand’s elite equestrian competitors. Part of the plan was to build their business, specialising in breeding and training horses for competition. For that, they needed land. They bought a 4.5 hectare block on the outskirts of Matamata then realised they needed a larger property, as Vicki Hay explains.
worked out that we required something bigger. We have a second stallion, also from Germany, and a number of other horses that we work with,” she said. Through Richard Leach of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Putaruru, they found a 10.4 hectare property on the outskirts of Tokoroa, which was better suited to their requirements. They then needed to sell the Matamata property. Richard recommended an auction. “Richard has a good understanding of what is going on in the market. By going to auction,
we knew all the interested parties would be in the room together and whoever was most motivated would come out with the best price. It was nice and simple, and enabled us to progress with our plans with minimum delay,” says Vicki. Which, after a well-planned marketing strategy, was how it turned out, with the property selling under the hammer in February for $685,000 plus GST. Now the Hays are under way developing the Tokoroa property as an equine business, keeping one eye on what the future might hold on the world equestrian stage for Claudia and Centavos.
“Although we liked the property and it is well-located, once we started to make plans to develop it for our equestrian business, we
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Coppicing, THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING
Grant McKechnie on coppicing your own firewood. With this technique, and the right trees, you can grow firewood within five years and take several crops from one tree. Humans have been coppicing trees for fuel for thousands of years, taking advantage of the fact that many trees sprout new growth when cut to knee height, creating future firewood with minimal effort. A range of trees are suitable for coppicing, grow fast, have excellent burning properties and are adaptable to different sites.
Grant has worked with trees all his working life. He and his wife Julie have run McKechnie Nurseries (www.mckechnienurseries.nz) from their four hectare Coatesville block for 35 years. They specialise in plants for rural properties in the lower North.
• Eucalypts make fast-growing firewood that burns hot and long. Eucalyptus nitens, E. botryoides and E. ovata, are all good coppicing varieties, and grow in a range of soil. They can be harvested in about five years, when they could be 10 metres tall • While not as hot or long-burning, poplar is light to handle and worthwhile as a firestarter, or for when less heat is required. Poplars are great coppicers, excellent for damp or wet spots, and take seven to nine years to harvest. Alders are similar to poplars in growth, habitat and performance
• Late autumn/winter is a good time to plant. First, plan your rows. In-row spacing should be two metres, while between-row spacing can vary. For two or three rows one metre between rows is enough, though for more than three rows you need two metres between rows to avoid spindly growth. It’s best to offset your rows • On a long stretch two layers can be enough because you can selectively cut 10 to 20 trees each year. Trees will produce multiple shoots after cutting. Select the two strongest shoots and rip the others off • Your copse can have the added advantage of doubling as shelter
Dream Move REAY FAMILY FULFIL DREAM MOVE TO THE BAY
“People say: ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ I was always pretty cynical hearing that. In our case, though, it turned out to be true. After we missed out on that property, there was something much better around the corner.”
Last September, after three years in Melbourne, Jonny and Sharlene Reay quit their corporate jobs to move back to New Zealand. With two young children, they were ready for a change from the big city hustle and bustle that was their life, as Jonny explains. “It was always a passion of ours to produce food. Obviously, the world needs to eat and we wanted to be part of that, producing food in the physical sense. That has been our dream for several years. Alongside, we wanted a lifestyle farm to live on and to raise our children out of the city. Bay of Plenty presented as the ideal place to bring it all together,” he says. Initially setting their sights on a Katikati kiwifruit orchard, which they missed out on in October, they were disappointed. “People say: ‘Everything happens for a reason.’ I was always pretty cynical hearing that. In our case, though, it turned out to be true. After we missed out on that property, there was something much better around the corner,” says Jonny. Around the corner was 2.07 hectares in Whakamarama, with a family home, a grove of avocado trees, a cherry orchard, an inground swimming pool and a paddock suitable to graze cattle, sheep or ponies. Offered to the market by Andrew Fowler of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Tauranga, it was for sale by tender. “Buying by tender was nerve-wracking. We wanted to secure the property; we really loved it, though we didn’t have a clear idea of a fair market price. In an open auction, you can see where the price is going and work out whether you can afford it or not. With a tender, it is more difficult. We didn’t want to over-purchase; then again, if we went too low, we had no chance for a second bite of the cherry. However, Andrew guided us through the process and once we understood what the game was, we were more comfortable.
feeling. Then, when Andrew called us to advise that we were successful with our offer, it turned into a fantastic night. Since then, it has been an absolute dream,” says Jonny. Owning and managing 65 mature trees, producing 4,500 trays of avocados, not to mention the 150 square metre shade-house with 125 cherry trees ready for harvest preChristmas, has been a steep learning curve for the horticulture newcomers. “Owning an orchard is challenging. Living in Melbourne, we had a very small backyard vege garden and planted some succulents, pot plants and so on, so this is a whole new level. Learning all about avocados at the same time as moving to the Bay, and establishing the family in a new community is hard work, though exciting and rewarding. Although the individual aspects of it are not rocket science, there is plenty to learn, and, if you muck it up, that’s your crop and you are in a world of pain. “Sharlene is the orchard manager. She has taken over coordinating the network of contractors, the sprayer, the bee guy, the pickers, the packhouse contract and so on. I am the labourer, spreading fertiliser, pruning, mowing the orchard, mulching shelterbelt trimmings, cleaning the pool, and doing whatever other jobs are required. “Support in the Bay of Plenty has been phenomenal, particularly JR and Sis Richardson
who sold us the property. They have been incredibly helpful making sure we have been able to take everything over and even now a few months in are still on standby to provide much needed advice. Even our ASB bank manager, Andrew Cutfield, who has his own orchard nearby, was giving me pruning lessons the other day. Everyone is really keen to share information to make you a success, which also makes them a success,” says Jonny. A few months after moving back from Melbourne without a job, Jonny was offered the position of Bay of Plenty distribution centre manager for Fonterra. With seven-year-old Olive settling in and making new friends at Matahui school, making up for the other friends she was sad to leave behind in Australia, and three-year-old Sam taking every opportunity to help his parents in the orchard, it has been a magic few months for the whole family. “We decided on our dream, planned it out and just went for it. “Although that might sound corny and too good to be true, it is actually what happened. We wanted to be sitting in the Bay, on an orchard, doing something more physical. Now, just a few months later, here we are living in paradise and, with the help of some really great people, we have basically been able to turn our dream into reality. “Super times!” says Jonny.
“On the evening of the tender, we were very nervous and the waiting was not the greatest
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Family tree planting KATE MARSHALL ON FAMILY PLANTING FOR FRUIT TREES
How to maximise and extend your harvest. This ingenious new technique allows you to grow more fruit trees in less space to harvest more over a much longer season. Family tree plantings are three to five deciduous fruit trees, different varieties of the same type, planted close together. Planting only takes up the same space as one tree and, with the right selection, increases and extends the harvest so you can enjoy ripe fruit over a much longer period. • Select three to five varieties of the same fruit type, as these will have the same growth habit. Choose varieties that will cross pollinate and ripen in succession and make sure they are all on the same rootstock. • Prune each tree so that it only has branches on one side, with branches starting at about the same height. The weight of the branches will be counterbalanced by the roots growing together to provide a strong anchor. • Plant in a large hole, about one metre wide by 40-50 centimetres deep. Arrange the trees in a circle with about 30 centimetres between the trunk of each tree, and all branches facing outwards. • Tidy up any pruning to ensure no branches are crossing or growing into each other. • Extra water and fertiliser will be necessary so that the roots of each tree receive enough moisture and nutrition. Prune annually.
Waimea Nurseries has adapted this concept from United States methods to increase productivity. Family tree planting takes high density to a whole new level and is perfect for a home garden where space is at a premium or in larger properties where a range of fruit is wanted. Kate is a manager at Waimea Nurseries (www.waimeanurseries.co.nz) supplying fruit trees to garden retailers nationwide. Born and bred in Nelson, Kate joined the nursery 13 years ago as a marketing graduate with no horticultural experience.
For Kate’s ‘how to’ video on family planting see https://www.waimeanurseries.co.nz/ how-to-guide/family-tree-plantings-fourtrees-in-one-hole/
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Worms worth their weight in gold COLIN MCPIKE ON WORM FARMING
Worm farming is a fantastic way to fast-track your kitchen scraps and garden waste into valuable, nutrient-rich fertiliser. Worm castings and worm tea are an all-natural treat for your soil and plants. Castings have great water retention abilities, act as a natural soil conditioner, and are rich with soil-friendly micro-organisms, bacteria and nutrients. Worm farms work well for both small and large amounts of waste. • Kitchen scraps can be “worm-farmed” with a bought worm bin, or you can make your own by recycling a bath or bins. The structure needs to be rain-proof, vermin-proof and have easy access to the base for collecting worm tea Colin McPike is Operations Manager of Worms R Us (www.wormsrus.co.nz), specialising in solutions for organic waste recycling for homes, schools and rural and urban businesses.
• If you have large volumes of organic materials, for example animal manure or aged bedding, recycled baths are a great option • Worms eat most things that were once living, although a few foods such as oils and citrus are off the menu
• Composting worms are able to eat their own body weight in food per day and can double their population every 12 weeks. However they regulate their population to the size of the worm farm • Worms can be fed daily or up to fortnightly for larger farms. They also need water regularly so they don’t dry out • Age freshly treated (intestinal or antibiotic) animal manures four weeks before adding to a worm farm. Try a small amount in one area and check a week later to see if the worms are happy before using it • Castings can be used at a ratio of 1:5 parts soil or compost. Worm tea should be diluted with water at a 1:5 ratio
How a family beach side getaway BECAME AN ARCHITECT DESIGNED VILLA
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In 1967 Moira and Kelvin Baird bought a small patch of scrub and sand overlooking Tairua Harbour on the Coromandel Peninsula.
to keep them occupied from bush, to surf, to the kauri forest, to secret local swimming holes, to our home orchard and chickens,” she says.
They wanted somewhere to take their growing family of six children for the sort of beach holidays that remain forever in the memory. What they bought was at the end of a paper road, subdivided off a farm surrounded by bush. Initially the property was bare land that the Bairds pitched tents on when they arrived for summer. Then, in the early 1970s, Moira and Kelvin relocated a villa from Auckland onto the property, which served for many years as a bach and location of those legendary family holidays.
In the meantime, Jenny and Mark have further modernised the home, completely renovating the old villa and adding architect-designed extensions.
In the early 1990s Moira and Kelvin quit Auckland to retire to the Tairua beach, which all the while continued as the setting and cornerstone for epic family occasions, now as a permanent home. Then, in 2005, their daughter Jenny Hemmings and her husband Mark took over the house to bring up their twins, Zac and Bronte, as Jenny explains. “Mum and dad chose this place because it was perfect to let their big family run wild. We had space, away from the city, to play endless games, explore the bush, and do a whole lot of amazing things as kids. One of our highlights was the big water slide we could make with a hose and plastic sheets laid out in the garden. That was the best slope ever for a water slide. We used to spend all day on it. When my parents were ready to move and Mark and I had the opportunity to give our children the same sort of childhood, we didn’t hesitate.
Now, however, with Zac and Bronte entering their teenage years, it’s time to leave the location of 50 years of family memories. “Zac is into motocross and Bronte is a show jumper. We don’t have quite enough room here to comfortably keep both motorbikes and ponies alongside each other,” says Jenny. Russell and Angela Thomas of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Hamilton have listed the 1.42 hectare property for sale. Russell describes it as an exquisite family home. “It is full of charm and character, yet modern and fabulous. As an additional prospect, the house is perfectly set up to run a bed and breakfast business, fitting in with the region’s numerous year-round activities that draw in so many visitors, from deep sea fishing, to Hot Water Beach, to Cathedral Cove,” he says.
Jenny says staying a couple of days is the only way to gain the villa’s full effect. “Being tidal and right on the harbour, the views of the water are constantly changing. There is masses of bird life. You can watch the sun rise over the harbour, and with all around views, you see it set again in the evening. Seeing the moon over the water is so spectacular, and since there are no lights around, you have an unbelievable view of the stars. With no neighbours in sight, it is like being in the middle of nowhere, though still only a couple of minutes from cafes, shops and the local school. “We have been so fortunate. It has been an incredible property for us,” she says. And now it’s time for another family to take it on, and grow their own special memories.
For further information, see page ** or go to www.pggwre.co.nz/HAM24963 Contact: Russell Thomas M 020 4004 0360
“Tairua is a cool town, close to Auckland and Hamilton, and quite a few people who live here commute. It has a fantastic community, and so many outdoor activities. “We have made the most of the property, the beach and the town as the perfect environment to bring up two active children, with everything
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This will be a third page for the villa editorial ... watch this space
This will be a fourth page for the villa editorial ... watch this space
North Island Auckland has a powerful influence on the upper North Island lifestyle property market. Demand for urban residential property pushes out well beyond the outskirts of town and into various other regions. In Northland, the market for properties in the $350,000 to $500,000 range is strong, although listings are in short supply. Around Auckland, in Kumeu and Matakana, proximity to the city heightens the appeal. Auckland buyers and sellers will benefit from understanding the Auckland Unitary Plan. Auckland also influences Waikato, although local purchasers also prevail in the market. South and east of Hamilton are particularly sought after locations. In the Bay of Plenty, values are steady. Around Rotorua and Taupo, values increased through the last six months and there is good activity between $500,000 to $700,000. In the lower North Island, Hawke’s Bay and Taranaki lifestyle property is particularly popular, and Wairarapa has a strong market, with buyers from Wellington ensuring steady demand.
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Keeping dairy goats as a hobby
Goats can make great pets for a lifestyle block, with their friendly, quirky personalities and the added bonus of providing milk for the household. Goats are affectionate, intelligent, mischievous characters and are easy to handle. They are happier as part of a group, so two is the minimum for a new herd. Be warned, however: once you come to know these friendly creatures, you might not stop at only two! • Allow 2000 square metres of good quality land for each in-milk doe. If you stock more intensively you will probably need supplementary food. Standard fencing is adequate, provided it is in good condition. Goats need some form of housing to protect them from the elements • For their size goats are highly productive. Dairy does can provide an average of 2.5 to 3.5 litres per day. A usual lactation is 270 to 300 days • Goats need ongoing care, including regular drenching, foot trimming, treatment for external parasites, annual vaccinations and daily milking for in-milk does
• Although goats may be mated from seven months old, it is safer to wait another year. They are seasonal breeders, mating between February and August with a gestation period of five months • If you borrow a buck for mating it is vital to check its health status as well as your doe’s. All owners should test for Caprine Arthritic Encephalitis, a lentivirus similar to AIDS, which affects only goats and is widespread in New Zealand • Goat milk is more digestible and produces fewer allergies than cows’ milk. It also makes great cheese and hypoallergenic soap • There are about 70,000 dairy does in New Zealand
Paula Levett is registrar of the New Zealand Dairy Goat Breeders Association (www. nzdgba.co.nz). She has a four hectare lifestyle block near Pukekohe and has been keeping goats for 20 years. She urges all goat owners to check for CAE before they buy. For more information contact nzdgba@gmail.com
West Melton property
MEETS TAYLOR FAMILY NEEDS
Jo and Graeme Taylor have four children, aged between nine and 17 years old. Managing a farm in Kirwee, Central Canterbury, they were looking for a place of their own. 0
As Jo explains, for an active and growing family like the Taylors, space is important. “We needed a wee bit of land. We have a few pets, including pigs, ducks, sheep, goats, dogs, cats and a horse, and our two eldest boys, Matt and Caleb, who are 16 and 17, were keen to buy a mob of sheep, and raise some calves,” she says. While they were originally looking for a block of around 50 hectares when they first set out in early 2016, mid-way through the year, when they still hadn’t found anything, they decided to think outside the square. Min Cookson of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Christchurch had an alternative: a larger house on a smaller block. “This has turned out to be our ideal property. A large, family-friendly house in such a good location was enough to make us open our minds to other options. This home and many other features of the property made it perfect for us as a family,” says Jo. Min Cookson says the house and property are beautifully presented.
“It is a property that offers style and sophistication, privacy and peace, with a long tree-lined driveway leading up to a welcoming front entranceway. East and west-facing, it captures the sun and overlooks the farm. With five bedrooms, an office, a separate formal lounge, a large family room, plenty of space upstairs for teenagers and a stunning patio area, with a swimming pool and spa complex outside, it covers every need for both entertaining and family life,” says Min. Previously set up for horses, Jo says the older boys are going to repurpose the seven paddocks that are in permanent pasture. “Matt and Caleb want to refence them for sheep and cows so that is their project,” she says. With schools nearby, buses at the gate, and being handy to both Lincoln and hunting for the older boys, the location is a plus for the Taylors. Meanwhile, for the two youngest siblings, Ella and Hamish, room in the paddocks for riding motorbikes looks set to keep them happy for a few years.
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History, love and revenge CREATE MAJESTIC HOME, PACKED WITH CHARACTER
Bernie Mason has lived all his life in Marlborough’s Waihopai Valley, and has loved the history of the area as long as he can remember. When he was a boy, Bernie and his sisters were never happier than when exploring the Victorian rubbish dumps that dotted the family farm, previously the homestead portion of the historical 26,000 hectare Avondale Station. Their budding archaeological skill uncovered some real treasures. 0
“Although we never knew what we were going to find, there was always something to take our fancy. We once discovered a silver dinner set tossed in the dump, and a couple of Maori adzes, and it was always a thrill to find old stone and glass bottles from another era,” says Bernie. Those early adventures sparked a lifelong love of history, and in the 1990s all Bernie had learnt was brought to bear on an ambitious building project. “My family has owned this property since 1948. My father pulled down most of the original historic Avondale Station homestead, which was not something I would have done. My revenge was to turn his boring house into a replica of a Victorian mansion, rebuilding to the same quality as the original homestead,” he says.
Avonlea Lodge, Bernie’s labour of love, with that hint of vengeance against his father’s modernisation, is now for sale. Built of natural timber, which Bernie milled by hand from trees growing on the property, 350 square metre Avonlea Lodge stays as faithful as possible to Victorian craftsmanship, without ignoring modern practicality. Structural timbers Bernie used include old man pine and douglas fir, while macrocarpa, eucalyptus, kanuka, and black poplar were all used as finishing timbers. Designed and constructed with the help of an architect and an engineer, Bernie’s masterpiece includes schist feature walls, wrought iron balconies, seven dormer windows and recycled kauri doors with coloured glass etchings of stags, fowls and hunting scenes. He even used bronze nails to hold parts of it together. In the
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kitchen is an antique black coal range, hooked up to a wetback, while a modern wood burner is also on wetback, firing up two separate hot water cylinders. “With the original house, there were plenty of maids, butlers, chauffeurs and so on. While we couldn’t really recreate that, part of the wow factor with Avonlea Lodge is the entrance way with a large timber staircase and a leadlight window picturing native pigeons on kowhai, which was handmade from recycled glass,” he says. Bernie and his wife Jo have put their unique property in the hands of Greg Lyons and Joe Blakiston of PGG Wrightson Real Estate,
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Blenheim. Greg says it is a home with space and unlimited charm. “What Bernie has created is unique, and has to be seen to be believed. Its location, in the Avon Valley, is private and tranquil, while only 38 kilometres from Blenheim. Its setting, in pleasant country gardens, with mature specimen trees and an orchard, all add to its exceptional appeal. “Previously used as accommodation for a guided hunting business, also as a farmstay, Avonlea Lodge could easily convert into a bed and breakfast or a wedding venue, though might become the focus for even grander plans,” says Greg.
Although it is time for a change of pace and down-sizing for Bernie and Jo Mason, they are not moving far, only around one kilometre away, where Bernie used a giant steel sledge behind his bulldozer to shift the last remaining un-demolished part of the original homestead. As well as working to fix that up, he is intent on finishing his next historical project: writing a book on the history of Waihopai Valley and the surrounding area.
For further information: Greg Lyons | 027 579 1233 www.pggwre.co.nz/BLE24832
Change to Methven pays off
THOUGH MIKE AND IRENE NOW READY TO MOVE ON AGAIN
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Mike and Irene Harris lived in Auckland. In 2007, when the company Mike worked for went under and with their two boys each away on their OE, the couple decided the time was right for them to make a change as well. “We wanted a total change. A change of lifestyle and a change of scenery,” says Mike. They were drawn to the South Island and somewhere within an hour of an international airport was high on the wishlist, making it easier when the boys came home. After looking around, they moved to Green Gables, five kilometres north of Methven, in Mid Canterbury, a renovated 1960s homestead on 9.83 hectares, with a mountain backdrop and an English garden. “It was a really successful change. We enjoy living
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somewhere where you experience the four seasons, and the fresh air and the mountains are wonderful. Methven is nice and quiet, more relaxed than what we were used to before, though you are still able to achieve plenty in this strong, lively community,” Mike says. As well as being Involved with golf, Mike also does the Methven school bus run, morning and afternoon, and appreciates the lack of hold ups on the local roads. Ten years later, Mike and Irene are ready to move on again. Lachie Ashton of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Ashburton is marketing the property on their behalf. When they originally moved in, the Harrises operated Green Gables as a farmstay, enjoying meeting and hosting visitors from overseas. While they have eased back on that more
recently, the property remains well suited to a bed and breakfast business, which new owners could easily resume. Subdivided into six deer-fenced paddocks, Green Gables runs a unique breed of white deer. Believed to have originated in Persia, revered in Bohemia in the Czech Republic, and featuring in various fairy tales, myths and legends worldwide from ancient times, they are similar in size and temperament to red deer.
For further information: Lachie Ashton M 027 777 4441 or go to www.pggwre.co.nz/ASH25197
Once they sell the property, Mike and Irene intend to downsize and relax. “We are ready to retire properly now. We have had a great time with Green Gables, and now it is time to pass it on for someone else to enjoy the property. We are looking at our options. We are thinking of joining the ‘grey nomads’ in Australia for awhile, travelling and having a look around,” Mike says.
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Animal husbandry ANDREW DOWLING ON KEEPING YOUR LIVESTOCK HEALTHY
Good health is essential for livestock to thrive. Some simple measures will ensure your stock remain healthy and happy. Like people, animals need the right conditions to remain fit. Here are some tips to keeping your livestock in prime health: • Facial Eczema is a fungal disease that can have severe effects on your livestock. Time Capsule zinc boluses provide reliable protection • Blowfly can cause problems that will become serious if not addressed promptly. Clik provides up to 18 weeks protection against blowfly in your sheep, in a user-friendly spray-on formulation • Worm control is necessary to keep stock performing at optimum levels. Triplemax oral is a triple combination, suitable for sheep and cattle, that will provide effective, convenient worm control
• Fresh, clean water is a must for all livestock. Keeping your water troughs clean is an important step towards thriving, healthy stock • Trying to feed your stock on a small space can be problematic. Supplementary feed options are an important component of good animal health. Come in and ask our staff for the options that best suit your needs Andrew Dowling is Technical Manager – Animal Production in PGG Wrightson’s Rural Supplies Technical Team. After a 14 year career as a farm vet, one of Andrew’s main messages for farmers is that animal health cannot be considered in isolation from feeding.
For more advice on keeping your stock healthy, contact 0800 10 22 76, or visit your local PGG Wrightson outlet.
I just need to sort out one more page here for the pages to flow as you see them in this proof...
I think a livestock ad could work here
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A bountiful harvest HEATHER COLE ON HOW TO PLAN A HOME ORCHARD
Doing the groundwork for ample harvests of luscious fruit should start before you’ve even chosen your trees.
Heather Cole is a Mapua-based gardener, farmer, cheesemaker, writer and founder of Country Trading Co, a supply store for those who want to live a simple and self-reliant life. https://www.countrytrading.co.nz/
Planning an orchard is exciting. You’re already dreaming of blossom-laden trees and baskets of sun-ripened fruit. However, good harvests start with good planning. Ask the following questions to give your orchard a great start.
• What can we maintain? Work out what maintenance and processing you can cope with before ordering trees. If I’d done this I wouldn’t have planted more than two plum trees!
• What do we want to eat? First, make a list of the fruit you love, then go through the steps below to work out if you can, and want to, grow it successfully
• How should we prepare the site? Although you can’t change your site greatly, you can make it more hospitable, for example improving drainage or adding compost
• Does it grow here? Before you buy trees ask neighbours what grows well in their orchards and see what fruit local farmers’ market growers have for sale. Talk to growers about what does well in your region and what soil type they’re on
• How do we come up with a layout? Plant evergreen trees in a spot that won’t block sun to deciduous fruit trees. Spacing is important to allow room for future growth. You need to factor in space for mowing, pruning, harvesting and good airflow. It’s also important to leave room in the scheme for the trees you don’t know you’ll want yet
• When does it ripen? Choose varieties carefully and you should harvest ripe fruit for most of the year
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Walnuts: growing healthy profits IAN SHEERIN’S ADVICE FOR POTENTIAL WALNUT GROWERS
Increasing awareness of the health benefits of walnuts makes them an attractive prospect for consumers and growers alike. If you’re lucky enough to have a walnut tree, it will be dropping its delicious, nutrient-rich nuts at your feet this season. Research suggests that, as well as being good for cognitive health, walnuts can also improve heart health, reproductive health, control weight and diabetes, fight cancer and even delay the ageing process. • Although trees can crop for 120 years, it takes seven to eight years before a walnut orchard starts to produce, with full production from 15 to 20 years in ideal conditions • Walnuts like a dry climate, with high temperatures in summer, which makes parts of New Zealand ideal. However, in areas with wet springs trees are prone to walnut blight • Walnuts prefer fertile soil, and good drainage is essential. Irrigation is a must in most situations, particularly during dry summer months
• Plant grafted trees 10 metres apart. To increase your harvest in the early years plant an additional tree between to remove as the trees grow bigger. In the early years, prune annually • Capital expenditure can include irrigation systems, mowing equipment, harvesters, nut washing and drying equipment and storage. Few chemicals are necessary as New Zealand is relatively free of walnut pests and diseases • Returns can start from seven years after planting, with wholesale prices $3 to $4 per kilogram for dried in-shell nuts and retail about $7 per kilogram. Yield can range from 3.6 tonnes per hectare to about six tonnes per hectare after 20 years. Harvests increase over time with older New Zealand trees documented to produce 100 kilograms per tree
Ian Sheerin is a Canterbury walnut grower with more than 20 years’ experience. He is a member of the Walnut Industry Group (www.walnuts.org.nz), a shareholder in the Walnuts New Zealand Co-operative and a senior lecturer in public health at the Christchurch School of Medicine. Ian hosts www.facebook.com/walnutshealth
A beaut little cottage
WINS OVER FIONA AND ANGUS
Fiona and Angus Ross were managing a station in Garston, Northern Southland, in 2011. While they thoroughly enjoyed the work, they needed somewhere special to go to take an occasional break. They spotted it in the window of PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Alexandra: a restored 1865 stone cottage in the picturesque Waikerikeri Valley, listed for sale by Jo Priebee. They knew they had to see it right away, as Fiona explains. “It was a beaut little cottage and we fell instantly in love. We both knew it was our place just from the photos and, when we went out to look for the first time, we could tell it was really special. As soon as we pulled down the driveway, we decided we would do anything to make it our own. What we loved so much was the peace, quiet and tranquillity, not to mention the birdsong. It was then, and still is today, an incredibly magical little spot,� she says.
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For the eight years leading up to Fiona and Angus taking over, the previous owner had meticulously restored what had become a near total ruin. Off the grid, largely using solar energy for domestic power, with a fully automated diesel generator for back up, Fiona says its stone and macrocarpa construction provides excellent insulation.
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For further information: Jo Priebee M 021 942 234 or go to www.pggwre.co.nz/ALE25112
“During the cooler months, the log burner easily warms the stone then the cottage is really cosy and we hardly ever need to sleep with the duvet on. Then, in summer, the natural materials keep the place cool,” she says. They never intended to live full-time in what was meant to be a holiday house, though after Angus needed to rehabilitate from an accident in 2015, they moved into the cottage to stay. Now Angus works teaching agriculture at Cromwell Polytechnic and Fiona is a consultant to farmers and vet clinics on nutrition for working dogs. Although reluctant to leave the place they have loved so much, they now realise it is time to move on and the cottage has been listed for sale again by Jo Priebee.
“This is a rare find, which simply oozes rustic charm, tucked in to the foothills in the heart of Central Otago. Its creative reconstruction has been completed to a high standard, with some lovely details, and it offers new owners options as a permanent home, a hideaway retreat or a holiday rental. “Gold miner, Walter Anderson first built the cottage, which was originally known as ‘Wattie’s Cottage.’ Anderson Creek, also named after him, runs alongside. Walter was responsible for bringing water over from Leaning Rock Creek so that he could sluice out the gullies in the area. “As well as the romantic stone cottage, the 8.87 hectare property has an enchanting orchard that includes the grandmother of all pear trees, as well
as greengages, cherries, almonds, apricots, apples and nectarines,” says Jo. With three adult sons, and a growing brood of the next generation, it will be a wrench for Fiona and Angus to leave. “While it is a big decision to sell, we do need something bigger. We want more land to keep sheep, and increase our own stock, plus more room for the grandchildren,” says Fiona. Which means this cottage is available for someone else to fall in love with. Waikerikeri Valley is seven kilometres north of the Clyde township and Lake Dunstan, and 12 kilometres north of Alexandra.
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South Island Appealing lifestyle properties are scattered throughout the South Island. Around Blenheim, Wairau Plains blocks with a small vineyard are sought after. Marlborough and Nelson’s market is strong, with properties up to $750,000 in demand. Upper South Island lifestyle property purchasers are frequently from outside these regions, including professionals from Canterbury and the North Island, plus ex-pats. In Canterbury, proximity to Christchurch increases the desirability of Selwyn and Waimakariri districts, particularly around Rolleston and Rangiora. Various Otago localities have excellent lifestyle property credentials, including rural Dunedin and the Taieri-Mosgiel district. Central Otago offers viticulture and long dry summers. Alexandra and Clyde, the Upper Clutha and Wanaka regions, and the Queenstown Lakes District and Arrow Basin all offer many engaging lifestyle property features. Otago’s market also benefits from buyers relocating from outside the region. Properties valued up to $950,000 are in particular demand. In Southland, good properties sell well, particularly under $1million. However, listings are in short supply.
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For outstanding results and unparalleled expert knowledge, talk to New Zealand’s leading rural and lifestyle property specialists today. PGG Wrightson Real Estate – your national team of expert locals, connecting people with property.
omandel , Tairua, Thames-Cor Image: Tairua Road