Herchickensperformmagictricks, thebunniesplaysoccerandhersheep
“Peoplelovetoseeanunusualanimal beingtrained.Ithinkithelpsthemto
TheAongateteresidentrunsdogtraining
intoanimaltrainingbeganasayoungsterat ponyclubandincludedtimeasadrugdog handlerwithNewZealandCustoms. Bexnowperformsaroundthecountryand travelsoverseastoteachhorseownersabout force-freetraining.
empathyandfindingmotivation,rather thanpunishment.”
“WhenIwasriding horsesasachild,Iwas justdoingasmycoach toldmetoandInever reallyunderstood whytrainingworked,” saysBex.
“So,whenIwas introducedtothe scienceofbehaviour, itallstartedtomake sense.It’sabout
Bexsaysunderstandinghowour interactionsinfluenceanimalbehaviour canhelpusincreasedesirableresponsesand decreaseunwantedoneswithoutresortingto coercionordominance.
Shedescribeshertrainingasatwo-way conversation.
“I’vetrainedafishtoswimthrougha hoop,mychickenscanpickoutcoloursand performcardtricks,andmybunniesplay soccer.It’sallaboutfindingwhatmotivates them.Infact,it’snodifferentwithhumans.”
Lifeskills
Bexsayslocalchildrenmaycometothe coursesfortheanimals,buttheyleave withlifeskills.
“It’saboutbeingmoreself-awareand takingresponsibilityforthewaythat wemoveintheworldandhowthat influencesothers.
“Kidsmayloveanimals,buttheyneed toconsiderhowtheanimalfeelsabout theiractions.
“Forexample,theymightwanttochase chickensandpickthemup,butthe chickendoesn’tenjoythat.
“Iencouragemystudentstofinda moreempatheticinteraction.”
Bexalsostressestheimportanceofnot forcinginteractions,whetherthey’rewith animalsorpeople.
“JustasIwouldadvocateformychild’s rightnottobehuggedifhedoesn’twantit, Iteachkidstorespecttheanimal’sfeelings.
BexTaskerhas trained Marigold the hen to perform tricks.
Boarnaby the sheep
“It’saboutthinkingcreativelyto motivatetheanimalratherthan usingforce.Theseareimportant conceptsandastheygetolder, they’llresonatedeeply.I’mteaching childrenthatnoonehastherightto forcethemtodothingstheydon’t wanttodo.”
Hermethods
Bexhighlightsthecontrastbetween hermethodsandtraditionalcoercive techniques,likeropes,shockcollars, andyelling.
“Wespendalotoftimetelling animalsandchildren‘No’insteadof explainingwhatwe’dlikethemtodo.
“Myapproachtakesthesame
amountoftimebuthasmore authenticresults.
“You’renotsuppressingbehaviour butchanginghowtheyfeelabout it.Whenahorseisscaredofgoing intoatrailer,forinstance,it’s understandable.
“Ifwetakethetimetochangetheir feelingsaboutit,they’llwanttoget in.Noonewantstobeforcedinto anything,andI’dmuchprefertobe onthebackofalargeanimalthat’s emotionallystable.”
Thesheep HerAongatetepropertyhasa phenomenalviewfromtheKaimaiMamakurangestoTauranga
Harbourwithherflockofbabydollsheep,two miniaturehorsesandfourhorsesinpaddocks eithersideofthewindingdriveway.
“Thesheeparegentleandveryclever.They’re physicallyabitslowerthandogsbutthey’regood atdoingobstaclecoursesandtricks,”saysBex. Rescuedbatteryhens,too,arepartofhertraining.
“Chickenscanbeclickertrained,andtheymake youabetterdogtrainerbecauseyourtimingmust beimpeccable.
“They’refastandneedtobekeptmotivated. “Theycandoamazingthingslikegoingover seesaws,throughtunnels,andevenperforming magictricks.”
Realreward
ButtherealrewardforBexisseeingthesenseof accomplishmentinherstudents.
“There’sacertainconfidencethatcomesfrom learninghowtohandleanimals,”shesays.“My pointofdifferenceisbeingforcefreeandfear freeandtheunderliningprincipleofcompassion ratherthandomination.They’resimplelifeskills.” Formoreinformation:www.positivelytogether.co.nz
systemforsprayingpollendirectlyontothefloweranddeveloped specificallyfortheNewZealandKiwifruitindustrytoassistgrowers inachievingmaximumresults.
JackTortoiseshell MynameisJack. I’manorchardmanagerforDMS Progrowers.Afterleavingschoolat16,I joinedDMSasanorchardassistantand havehadexperienceworkinginallaspectsof orchardandpost-harvestoperations. LastyearIbecametheyoungest-everorchard manageremployedbyDMS.Theconnections I’vemadewithpeoplethroughouttheindustry asaresultofenteringtheyounggrower competitionlastyearhavebeeninvaluable andI’menteringagaintofurtherwidenmy connectionsthroughoutthekiwifruitand horticulturesectorwithintheBayofPlenty region,whilealsochallengingmyselftolearn asmuchasIcanfromboththeotheryoung growersandindustryrepresentatives. Inmysparetime,Ilovetoskydiveover beautifulLakeTaupo.
GraceLowery MynameisGrace,andIama horticulturespecialistfortheBay ofPlentyregionatBallanceAgriNutrients.InmyroleIprovide technicalknowledgeandadviceon nutrientmanagementtohorticultural growersfromtheCoromandelto Ōpōtiki.I’menteringthecompetition togrowmyconnectionswithinthe widerhorticulturalindustryandto challengemyself.Iaimtodeepenmy knowledgeandengageintasksthat pushmyboundaries,broadeningmy skillsettobetterassistmycustomersin achievingtheirorchardgoals. Oneofmyproudestaccomplishments wasachievingafirst-classgradeonmy honoursdegreeduringtheCovid-19 pandemic,despitethechallengesofthe
time.Mygrandparentshave beenkiwifruitorchardingfor thepast30yearsinTePuke. Ilovedspendingtime growingupatmygrandparents intheorchard.
JackCanham Kiaora,mynameisJack.Igrewup onanorchardandnativetreenurseryin theBayofPlenty.Afterfinishingschool IstartedaBachelorofCommerceat LincolnUniversityinCanterburyand duringmyuniversityholidaysworkedin avarietyofagriculturalandhorticultural businessesthroughoutNewZealand. IamcurrentlyworkingforApata Group,mostlybasedintheBayofPlenty. I’menteringtheBayofPlentyYoung GroweroftheYearcompetitiontotest myskillsagainstothersintheindustry andbuildconnectionswithotheryoung peopleintheindustry.
BradWhitehead Hi,I’mBrad.Iwasbornand raisedaroundhorticulture.Ileftthe accountingprofessionin2020asIwas sickofbeingstuckatadesk.Given myhistoryintheindustry,itwasa straightforwardjumpintotheroleof manageratAslinAvo’s.Ihaveentered theBayofPlentyYoungGrowerofthe Yearcompetitiontogetoutsideofmy comfortzoneandtrysomethingnew. Ihopetomeetmoreyoungpeoplein theindustry.Outsideofwork,Ienjoy huntingandshooting,oranyother outdooractivities.
PhottosbbyJJohhnBBorren
LeviHorton MynameisLeviHorton.Igrew upinthecountryonadairyfarmin Pongakawa.Isawtheexpansionof kiwifruitacrosstheneighbouringfarmsanddecidedIwanted togetinonit.Fast-forwardto2022,Icompletedmydegree inHorticulturalScienceandbeganworkingforSouthern CrossHorticulture.FourmonthslaterIwasmanagingmyfirst orchard.I’menteringthecompetitiontoputmyskillstothe testandlearnfromthosearoundmeatasimilarstageinlife andtheircareer.MygreatestachievementiswhereIamtoday inmypersonalandworklife.Ienjoywakeboarding,mountain biking,anddirtbikinginmysparetime.
JamesHickman IamJamesHickmanandIamaresearchtechnicianat Plant&FoodResearchwiththebestteambasedatTe PukeResearchCentre–thekiwifruitphysiologyteam. Mybiggestachievementtodatewouldbegraduating withmyBachelorofScienceatTheUniversityofOtago whereImajoredinplantbiotechnology.
IamenteringtheBayofPlentyYoungGrowerofthe Yearcompetitiontocontinuebuildingmyhorticultural knowledgeandtobuildconnectionstohelpsupportthe horticultureindustry.OutsideofworkIenjoygoingtothe gym,playingsportsandcoachingwaterpolo.
LilahRosenfeldt Hi,mynameisLilah.IhavebeenapartoftheKiwifruit industryforaboutsevenyearsandwasanorchardmanager forthreeofthoseyears.Currently,myroleisatrialsspecialist, carryingoutresearchandconductingtrialsonkiwifruit orchards.I’menteringtheBayofPlentyYoungGrowerofthe YearcompetitionasIliketotakeopportunities.
Ialsolikelearnnewskillsandmeetotherpeoplepassionate aboutthehorticultureindustry.
MygreatestachievementisbeingamothertomysonEli. Webothholdagreatinterestinmanyoutdooractivitiesand willoftengocamping,hiking,kayakingandfishingtogether.
Hi,mynameisKurtisandI’man orchardmanagerforProspaOrchard ManagementintheKatikati/Waihi region.WhenIleftschool,Ihadthe privilegeofstartingacadetshipin horticulturewithPrimaryITO. ThroughthecadetshipIdeveloped theknowledgeandexperienceto becomeajuniororchardmanager. In2020,Itookonanorchard managerrolewithProspaOrchard ManagementwhereIcompletedmy cadetshipandhavecontinuedtogrow anddevelopmyskillsandexperience. I’veenteredtheyounggrower competitiontostepoutofmycomfort zone,challengemyselfforthegainof personaldevelopment,andtestmy knowledgeandskillsagainstothersmy ageintheindustry.
KurtisBruce
Alifefullof WhileDonnaandGraemeHannah’s neighboursononeoftherural‘veins’–the sideroads–ofKatikatitendtoandgrow theirorchardsandlivestock,theyarebreeding
TheLindemannRdcouplearereptilebreeders whohavebuiltupanextensiveknowledgebase andreputationduringajourneyofmorethan40 yearsofcaringforthecritters.
“Myuncleturneduponmy7thbirthdaywith apairofpigeonsandagoldenpheasant,”says Graeme.“BythetimeIwas13,Ihadabout20 aviaries.Igotmyfirstreptileyearslater–abluetonguedlizard–anditjustsnowballedfromthere.”
Thecouplestillhavethatfirstlizard,butinrecent yearsthey’vemovedfromahouseandbackyardin Katikatitownshiptoalargeblockofland,which theyhaveusedasablankcanvastocreatea reptileworld.
Amenagerie Heretheysharetheir5hapropertywithfour rottweilers,fivealpacasandthreeostrichesaswell asaviariesfullofbirds,reptilesandguineapigs.
Thecouplesellsarangeofreptiles–fromturtles andtortoisestodragons,skinksandgeckos–plus accessoriessuchaslighting,heatingandfoodvia theironlinestoreReptileWorld.
Whenpeopleaskwhichcold-bloodedpettostart with,Graemerecommendsblue-tonguedlizards.
“They’retheeasiesttocarefor.Youcanfeedthem specificbrandsofcatfood,snails,boiledeggs,and mashedbananas,buttheyprefersnails–andkids enjoyhuntingfortheirpet’sfood.”
Healsostressestheimportanceofparental involvement.“Parentsneedtobeabletohandle theanimalbecausethey’llneedtocareforit whentheirchildisaway.
“Thereptile’shomeneedstoberightfor theanimal,andthat’sourpriority.
DonnaHannahwithatwo-year-oldLeopardGecko (Eublepharismacularius)inherhair.NativetoSouthAsia, Afghanistan,Pakistan,andpartsofIndiaandNepal.
“We’veturnedpeopledownifwe thoughttheanimalwouldn’tbecared forproperly.”
Youngsters
Donnasaysmostreptilesare solitarybutneedobjectsintheir enclosuretohelpthemshed.
“Peopleoftendon’trealisethis. “Handlingyourreptilehelpsyou noticewhentheystarttoshedand howtohelpthem.”
Graemeagrees.“Icansitforages withabeardeddragononmychest, justrubbingitsscalestohelpremove thelooseskin.”
Thecouplebelievesit’sthelowmaintenancenatureofreptilesthat appealstoyoungsters.“They’renot demanding,soyouinteractwith themonyourterms,”saysDonna.
AndsinceCovid-19,theHannahs havenoticedasurgeinsales.“Ithink reptilesaremoreavailablenow.
“Yearsago,youwouldn’tsee many,butnowkidsfindthemin classrooms,ortheirfriendshaveone.
“We’vehadpeopleflyingupfrom Christchurchanddrivingupfrom Wellingtontopickupareptileand thentravelhome.”
Graemesayswhenpeoplebuyfrom them,theydon’tjustgettheanimal –“theygetourknowledgeandadvice aboutUVlights,heating,food,and theenclosure”.
“We’realsoavailabletohelp iftheanimalisn’tdoingwhatit shouldbe.That’sthedifference
betweenusandapetsshop
Graemesayspeople e think hisReptileWorldisa a business.“Buttome, , it’s ahobby.Icanwalkoout thereeveryday,feed my birds,ostriches,alpaccas, andcows,andIjust loveit.”
Newmission Thecouplealsohavve anewmission,they wanttoteachreptile ownerstobemore responsiblewiththeir r cold-bloodedpets. They’reconcerned aboutthegrowing numberofabandoned reptilesinAotearoa, includingintheBay ofPlenty.
“Wequiteoftenget t phonecallsfrompeople, includingfromPāpāmmoa, whohavefoundaredd-eared turtle.They’redefinittely getting releasedandbreeding g over there,” saysDonna.
programme, where they take in full-grown red-eared turtles and exchange them
Their property, with new ponds planned, currently houses about 50 turtles “The idea is to keep them out of the water ways and maintain kids’ interest,” says Graeme “They’re meat eaters and will go after our native fish, freshwater crayfish, and duck eggs, ” says Donna “ We just want people to be responsible pet owners ”
“Theystartoffcute, , around the size ofa50centpiece,”saays Graeme
“Buttheygrowtothhe size of adinnerplate,needingmore maintenance,abiggertank,ora pondoutside.That’swhenpeople tendtojustletthemgo.”
Toaddressthisissue,thecouple hasintroduceda“swapaturtle”
TePukeaccountingexpert welcomescloserties OneofTePuke’soldestprofessional servicefirms,BennettsProactive,is embarkingonanewchapteratatime whenBaybusinessesneedacloser relationshipwiththeiraccountants thaneverbefore.
ExperiencedseniorcharteredaccountantMaria Livingstonehasre-joinedtheteamasanew associate,almosttwodecadesaftersheoriginally beganworkingthereasauniversitygraduate.
“BennettsProactivehasalwaysbeena wonderfulfirmtoworkfor.
“I’mexcitedtoreturnandbegiventhe opportunitytoleadtheteamalongsideLance EwensandAmandaHutchings,”shesays.
“Overthepastdecade,I’vegainedahuge amountofcommercialexperienceacross allsectorsincludingconstruction,property development,retailandmanufacturing.
“I’llnowbeusingthatknowledgeandexpertise tobenefitourfirm’swonderfulclientswhorange frommulti-millionhorticulturaloperations throughtoBayofPlenty-wideSMEsand mum-and-dadpropertyinvestors.”
WhilebasedinTePuke,BennettsProactive’s clientscanbefoundthroughouttheregion asmanypreferthefirm’spersonalisedand responsiveservice,easyaccessandaffordable fees,whilestillenjoyingallthebenefitsthelatest accountancysoftwareandtechnologycanoffer.
“Ourfirmwasoneoftheearlyadoptersof
Xeroandwecancertainlymatchtheexpertise andservicesofferedbybig-cityaccountancy firms,”Mariasays.“Ourteamareexceptionally goodatwhattheydo,andcanhelppeoplewith theirannualtaxreturns,financialstatements andGSTcomplianceaswellasquarterly reporting,cashflowreporting,budgeting, businessappraisals,successionplanning,trust administrationandmuchmore.”
Today’stighteconomymeansit’simperativefor businessestoworkalongsidetheiraccountantsto troubleshootanyproblemsbeforetheyarise.
“Workingregularlywithyouraccountant meansyou’llalwaysknowwhereyou’reat,instead ofmuddlingthroughtotheendoffinancialyear andthendiscoveringaproblem,”saysMaria.
“Alotofsectorsarestrugglingatthemoment.
“Soit’simportanttomanagecashflow andavoidgettingintocrisissituations.Early interventioniskey,whichiswhyyoushould beleveragingyouraccountant’sknowledgeand consultingwiththemcloselyrightnow.”
Mariasaysthere’softenaperceptionthat technologyandsoftwaredoallyouraccounting foryou,whichsimplyisn’ttrue.
“Thedataisonlyasgoodastheperson enteringit.There’sstillalotofnuancewhenit comestoapplyingtaxlawandbankscertainly wanttoseefinancialstatementsthathavebeen reviewedbyaccountantstomakesurethey’re sensibleandaccurate.There’salsoawealthof advicewecanprovideonbusinessplanning, strategiesforgrowthandsuccession.Artificial
intelligencecannotsympathiseorunderstand theuniqueissuesyou’refacingontheground.
“Taxandpropertylawiscontinuingto evolveandcatchpeopleout,soit’sbetterto askquestionsattheoutsetwhensettingupa businessandspend$500togetitrightthan spend$5000downthetracktryingtofixupa mistake,”shesays.
“I’vehelpedclientsthroughalotoftough situationsandemotionsdorunhighwhenyour livelihoodisontheline.Soit’simportanttohave atrustedaccountantwhocanrelatetoyouand yourbusiness.Tome,accountancyismorethan justnumbers.It’saboutbuildingrelationships withpeopleandbeingthatvitalsoundingboard tohelpyougetthroughthosehardtimessoyour businesscanstillgrowandthrive.”
BennettsProactivewasfoundedinthemid1950sandwasoriginallycalledEarpandEarp.
CurrentownerLanceEwensjoinedthe business40yearsagoandsaysMaria’sarrival was“theeasiesthireI’veevermade”.
“We’vemorphedalotoftimesovertheyears butwe’vestoodthetestoftimethankstothe excellentserviceweprovide,primarilytothe horticulture,dairyandlivestockindustry.
“Buttodayweprovideaccountancyservices toawiderangeofSMEsandsoletradersacross everyindustryyoucanimagine.
“AndwithMarianowonboard,Iknowweare verywell-positionedforthefuture.Sheknows herstuff,andbringsalotofnewideasand energywhichwillultimatelybenefitourclients andourlocaleconomy.”
Lance Ewens, Maria Livingstone, Stacey Farrelly, Amanda Hutchings
