September/October 2022 EMUTHE LANDED!HAS FREE! ANDREW JEFFCOAT: OFDEPTHSHIDDEN TRAIL TALES: THE ARTS ‘BANKING’& SPRING DISHES: LET’S SEASONALGET CNAAwards 2021 Voted best magazine
September – October, various locations (local schools)
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER
Repco Rally New Zealand
September 29 – October 2, Various locations, Auckland and Waikato Set on a rural Whitford property, the infamous Battle of Jack’s Ridge rally race was unable to get o the line last year, but it’s now back (in a way) and expected to be better than ever. Marking the final stage of four days of World Rally Championship racing, Jack Hawkeswood’s big backyard will sort winners from also-rans. See www.rallynz.org.nz for more information.
September 20 – October 8, times vary, ASB Waterfront Theatre, 138 Halsey Street, Auckland City Artificial Intelligence (AI) opens the door on a brave new world. However, it could also open a Pandora’s box, as a visionary scientist is set to discover in this engaging play. Tensions between creator and creation come to a head during an exploration of what it means to be human. See www.atc.co.nz for details.
Music for Inspiration
September 25, from 2pm, St Andrew’s, Queen St, Pukekohe New Zealand’s take on The Three Tenors anchor this show, which serves as a fundraiser in e orts to renovate St Andrew’s Anglican Church. Expect uplifting tunes and remarkable vocals during a concert designed to soothe the soul. Contact the church (via www.pukekohe-anglican.org.nz) or visit www.operatunity.co.nz for further information.
2 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
2022
Rural schools throughout Franklin are set to hold calf club-style events, giving children the chance to celebrate a job well done after raising animals. For details, contact your local school or visit www.calfclubnz.co.nz or www.lic.co.nz/about/calf-club. As we’ll look to run them in an upcoming issue and/or online, please feel free to send photos to editor@ruralliving.co.nz.
The Made
Calf Club, Agricultural Days etc
Battle of Jacks Ridge 2020.
Photo Geoff Ridder
October 9, Hampton Downs Motorsport Park, Te Kauwhata
From Awhitu to Hunua, Franklin is home to a wide range of creatives. This trail leads to the heart of art locally and includes a group exhibition at Franklin Arts Centre (Oct 4-24) where fibre and textile art is also on show during the Connections exhibition (until Oct 4). Visit www.franklinartstrail.co.nz for details and see page 30 to view work by some of the artists involved.
Franklin Arts Trail & Connections
Bracu Estate’s 25th Anniversary Celebration
For 130 years, The Salvation Army has rolled up its sleeves to help those in need. From brass band music to children’s activities (including bouncy castles), arts and crafts, a sausage sizzle and more, this series of events also includes a garage sale (Oct 8) and the unveiling of a new mural at the Pukekohe HQ. For details, see www.facebook.com/PukekoheSalvationArmy.
A glamour-filled evening (including culinary delights, a champagne tower, Monte Carlo casino, live band and more) awaits at Bracu Estate. This 25th Anniversary Celebration follows a black-tie masquerade theme. Contact Bracu via www.bracu.co.nz for tickets (strictly limited) or more information. In addition, we have two tickets (see page 6) to give away.
Pedal4Prostate
PLEASE NOTE: information regarding times & dates of these events was correct at the time this issue went to print. However, readers are advised to check events online for updates.
October 15-16, locations vary
Pedal power is set to drive this charity event forward. Geared towards funding the battle against prostate cancer, Pedal4Prostate gives riders the chance to race on one of New Zealand’s premier motorsport circuits while proving one good ‘turn’ deserves another – and another and another and so on! For further information visit www.pedal4prostate.org.nz.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 3
October 15-16, 1 Tobin St, Pukekohe
October 28, from 6pm, Bracu Estate, 49 Main Rd, Bombay
Katie Blundell
Pukekohe Salvation Army Anniversary
COVERSHOT Editor:info@ruralliving.co.nz Jon Rawlinson DDI 09 271 editor@ruralliving.co.nz8036 Sales: Kelly Cooke DDI 09 271 kellyc@ruralliving.co.nz8026 Art Director: Clare McGillivray DDI 09 271 clare@ruralliving.co.nz8067 Design: Claire clairer@times.co.nzRobertson Publisher: Brian Neben 151 King Street, Pukekohe, POAucklandBox38 232 Howick, Auckland 2145 DISCLAIMER: Articles published in Rural Living do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers or editor. All material is provided as a general information service only. Times Media Ltd does not assume or accept any responsibility for, and shall not be liable for, the accuracy or appropriate application of any information in this magazine. All the material in this magazine has the protection of international copyright. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Times Media Ltd. LOCAL
4 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
A famous Juliet pondered: “What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” In contrast, a local Judith recently said: “Generally, the approach is to name railway stations after the destination they serve, which makes it easier for Papakuratravellers.”MP,Judith Collins, is not expressing herself as eloquently as a Shakespeare character, but she is making an interesting point. Her comment relates to the names of three new stations to be added to Franklin’s network, located at: Paerata, Drury and Ngākōroa. Maketuu, an earlier suggestion for Drury, was
JUDITHSIDE-TRACKED:&JULIET from the EDITOR
Before I ride this locomotive of thought to its destination, I should outline what’s on the schedule in this month’s issue.
Rural greater Franklin district and and Clevedon to Waiuku. It is also available from businesses throughout the district's regional townships, including their key community of Pukekohe.
Jon Rawlinson, Editor
‘railroaded’ and Ngākōroa may end up being called Drury West.
he Queen is dead, long live the King. Now that's out of the way (more succinctly handled than by some media!), I'll move to something of more relevance locally, beginning with a quote from around the time of another Queen Elizabeth.
T
Pukekohe Railway Station
Settling Indesign build SOUTH EAST FRANKLIN R uaw a o O M ang w r W R O C h W g s and B k W g T Ka O Po W k M a o o O ua G en M u ay O pua a K h g O h P k R g W M h W d W T ko k a a g T K h M ereme e WLakeaikare W W B W M P W R M K h B W C h M b W W S h O W a h K h W a uk Tu kau Pu ek he y P p M H A U CKLA N D C D C D Big Bay R Huia R ake Puketi UpperBay Aw w i hk T a m a k i Str a it Tam e W roaRv WukR Wai ake e Wa d Wa tem a a and Gu f Wa dA ber Eden Rosk Wa d O ake War d How ck Wa d Wha Wa d Pick-up points in Pukekohe, Waiuku, Tuakau, Pokeno, Drury, HomeArdmore,Kauwhata,Clevedondeliveryareas Distribution A TIMES MEDIA PUBLICATION Freephone: 0800 456 789 • www.ruralliving.co.nz
Our intrepid photographer, Wayne Martin, likes the birds, as evidenced by the wide range of pictures he snapped during a recent visit to a Mauku lifestyle property. Featured on this issue’s cover is one bird that (quite clearly) took his eye. However, in addition to this curious emu, its owners (Dr Eckhard Stalmann and Colin Kelly) have a veritable menagerie on their block – see pages 10-11 to read more.
In addition to paying a whistle-stop visit to 'Dr Emu' (aka Eckhard Stalmann), we spoke with a Pukekohe Swimming Club athlete about his rough ride to secure a gold medal and a young woman making the grade (however steep) with the Pukekohe Tramping Club – all this and more is ‘all aboard’ the following pages.
Living is a FREE monthly lifestyle magazine delivered to RD 1,2,3 and 4 rural lifestyle properties in the
Side-tracked no longer (by this section’s real purpose!), I must add that names are significant, quite literally, as signs – and can help us di erentiate a Collins from a Capulet. And yet, if I was able to interpret rail timetables in countries that don’t share our alphabet (let alone language), I’m sure people/tangata are astute enough to ensure they won’t miss their stop. Happy travels, everyone!
beyond – Pokeno to Drury/Karaka
We have until November 9 to submit suggestions (see www.linz.govt.nz or email nzgbsubmissions@linz.govt.nz) for station names, however I wonder if this process is more about going through the motions than reaching a destination – is this democracy in action or a slow boat to theTheinevitable?mostimportant purpose of language is communicating meaning and, in some cases, this can be a matter of life or death – a stop sign, for example. But, regarding locations, it’s just (as Ms Collins expressed) a matter of ‘easier’. And, while signs change, so too does our ability to comprehend them. So, whether Drury West is Drury West or Ngākōroa makes little di erence in the long run; despite (perhaps) some confusion initially, inevitably the twain shall meet. DOC NO DO-LITTLE:
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 5 KAT6907-v31 Call for your appraisal Luke Jupp 021 160 8005 Jason Tabrum 022 567 9662 R.M. WILLIAMS • BERLIN • BREAKAWAY • CAMBRIDGE • FARAH ... AND MANY MORE QUALITY LABELS 122/124 KING ST PUKEKOHE | PH 0274 549 930 www.lewisforfashion.co.nz Lewis’ for Fashion (on King Street) has styles fit for a king. From hats to coats, suits, belts, socks, boots and shoes – with brands exclusive to Pukekohe including R.M. Williams and Cambridge, as well as Wild Rhino, Breakaway, Farah, Colorado footwear and Silverdale knitwear with R.M. Williams boots and vests for the girls – we’ve been keeping Franklin locals looking sharp for decades.
TOUGH OUTBACK
For almost a quarter of a century, Bracu Estate (Bombay) has provided a delightful dining experience (and more) on Auckland’s southern doorstep. To mark 25 years of serving up stylish dishes, Bracu will be celebrating with a special black-tie event on October 28. More information is available via www.bracu.co.nz. Thanks to Bracu, we have two tickets to give away to one lucky reader.
6 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz Visit www.ruralliving.co.nz to enter our prize draws and be in to win. One entry per person/ email address; entries close October 20, 2022. Winners notified by phone or email. Win!
NATIO RANGESWILDPACK
WATTIE’S TO HOME BOXES
Shopping with little ones along for the ride is never easy. That’s why Wattie’s has launched a new subscription & gifting service with free home delivery. Parents can choose from a variety of 23 food pouches with options suited to babies from 4-6+ months through to 8+ months in age. See www.wattiestohome.co.nz for details. In the meantime, we have THREE Wattie’s to Home boxes (8+ months, valued at $50 each) up for grabs.
Mike Bellamy: Tough Outback | RRP $36.99 | HarperCollins
Dads who received socks on Father’s Day (it’s cliched, but it happens!), and not enough of what they actually need, need not be too sour on the subject. Billed as ‘rich and earthy’, Natio’s Wild Ranges’ products are formulated from plant extracts and botanical oils to deliver a warm, masculine scent. We have a Wild Ranges pack (which features products for hair, body and beards) up for grabs to ensure one reader can keep 'him' sweet in more ways than one!
TICKETS TO BRACU ESTATE’S 25TH CELEBRATIONANNIVERSARY
Kiwis should never go walkabout in the Aussie outback unless they’re ready and able to recount some ripping yarns. Keen to make a buck from Australia’s mining boom in 1989, Mike Bellamy soon found much more than he bargained for, as this memoir reveals. As the dongas, dozers and diggers, snakes and spiders in this book suggest, the phrase: ‘no worries, cobba’ may just come with a hint of irony attached!
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 7 KC15337-V4 Is your land title about to be issued? We are a dedicated team who live and breathe our passion for building homes for families. Let us help you to realise your dream of a wonderful new home built with care and a commitment to quality. It’s not just by chance that Jennian Homes has been building beautiful homes for Kiwi families for 40 years. • Fixed Price Master Build Contract for your assurance. • The Jennian Homes 100% Completion Promise. Louise Court P 021 645 748 E louise.court@jennian.co.nz Jennian Homes Franklin 2 Buddle Road, Paerata Rise P 09 238 6156 E franklin@jennian.co.nz jennian.co.nz PEACE O F MIND 63 M ONTHDEFECTSWARRA N YT MONTHS 36 Call us for a free site appraisal and design consultation today.
Which is your favourite tramp and why? It’s hard to choose as they all have their own charm. However, I recently returned
What’s the appeal of tramping?
How long have you been tramping and when did you join the local club?
Many members travel overseas too. In recent years, some have been to Australia, Nepal and Europe. Unfortunately, I didn’t go on those trips, but it’s inspiring to hear about them and see some incredible photos. I still have lots of ground to explore in New Zealand, but I'm looking forward to going further afield.
For a long time, the club’s major growth was in the mid-week contingent (retirees), but since the pandemic we’ve seen growth across a wider demographic. Our area is experiencing population growth and there seems to be greater interest in exploring and connecting with our environment, especially since the lockdowns.
How often (and where) do club tramps take place locally and beyond?
What do people need to do to join? Is it suitable for everyone?
You have to complete two club tramps before becoming a member, but we help people choose a suitable trip to start with. Typical club tramps might require 4-6 hours or more of walking and terrain can be steep and muddy. Once you can walk for a sustained length of time and tackle hills comfortably you can then build up to harder tramps. Tramping is great for all ages, but it does require a certain level of fitness. However, the club has a substantial contingent of retirees that meets during the week. Their trips are less physically taxing and have a more relaxed and social focus – with cafe stops essential!
In 2019, the club celebrated its 50th year and, to commemorate this, helped develop the Five Summits track as our gift to the community. This 21km route utilises reserves and walkways to connect five volcanic hilltops in Pukekohe. I really appreciate having it on my doorstep. I also like that you can easily make shorter loops
If you could invite any three people (living or dead) to dinner, who and why?
Over RebeccaBanks (PUKEKOHE TRAMPING CLUB) WITH
There’s an extra ‘spring’ in the step of some locals. For more than half a century, the Pukekohe Tramping Club has lifted the spirits and the health of locals. Recently, we spoke with the club’s president, Rebecca (Becky) Banks… Over the Gate.
when you are short on time. There's a map and more information available from www.pukekohetrampingclub.org.nz.
If you could grow any plant or raise any animal (real or imagined), what and why?
How is club membership ‘tracking’?
A pack mule may be suitable for me! But seriously, we’re blessed with unique flora and fauna and the devastating impact colonisation has had on the environment is tragic. The club has been involved in Kokako preservation, including in the Hunuas, so I guess I would do my bit by raising an endangered native.
Becky Banks
I love the sense of adventure and challenges experienced in remote, backcountry environments. It takes you away from all that ‘noise’; all you have to think about is where to put your foot while taking in the scenery. Tramping is a great tonic for the mind, body and spirit.
Over THE GATE
We try to schedule midweek and Sunday tramps each week. Locally, we travel to the Hunuas, the Waitakeres, as well as urban tracks and regional parks in Auckland. We also go on daytrips and multiday trips all over New Zealand.
How involved has the club been in developing local tracks?
If you could be Prime Minister for one day, what would you do?
Probably run away in terror! As I’m a teacher, I would reduce class sizes and give each a teacher’s aide; as a tramper, I’d ensure conservation land was protected from any development. I’d also issue my family (in the UK) a residency visa, and if there was any time left in the day (as I’m a gardener and bird lover) I’d appreciate some regulation on cats.
from the west coast of the South Island, which is so wild and dramatic with a wide variety of tracks to explore. A winter soak in the hot pools at Welcome Flat, surrounded by snow-capped mountains and primordial bush, is pretty special!
Stephen Fry because I think he’d have some great stories, Bill Bryson because his books make me laugh, and singer/ songwriter Cerys Matthews because she’d be a crack-up and I think all of us would love a good sing-along.
8 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
I always enjoyed hiking, and did quite a bit in the UK where I’m originally from, but tramping in New Zealand is quite di erent – as there’s more access to the countryside, it can be a bit intimidating to the uninitiated. I’ve been a club member for more than 12 years now. I came across the website for the tramping club, went along to a meeting, signed up to my first tramp there and that was it! Since joining, I’ve explored New Zealand extensively and been to places I never would have thought to venture myself.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 9 School Holidays in the Square /pukekoheba Follow us on Facebook Pukekohe Town Square 13th & 14th Oct 10am - 2pm Come along and check out the mobile petting zoo, amusement rides, face painting and more! KAT7797-v5
However, should readers think he and his partner (Colin Kelly) have a full house they’d be mistaken. The pair also owns three very a ectionate dogs, five cats, two budgies, several newts, a handful of fish and, on last
DrStalmannEckhard
FREE & HAPPY ON THIS ANIMAL FARM
budgies, are named!
Dr Eckhard Stalmann
Indeed, if Dr Eckhard Stalmann had a magic wand he would surely conjure up even more animal farm magic, although quite how he could manage more than he does is anyone’s guess.
“From an early age, when people asked what I wanted to be when I grew up, it was never a fireman or policeman," he says. "It was always a vet, botanist or entomologist."
— Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
Growing up in South Africa, Dr Eckhard Stalmann had a penchant for snakes, spiders, scorpions and chameleons, but here in New Zealand his Mauku property is home to a (somewhat) more conventional menagerie. And yet, it’s not without a surprise or two as HELEN discovered.PERRY Stalmann chameleons, home manage than
MartinWaynePhotos
You could say Eckhard is now all three. While he trained as a vet in Palmerston North, today there is a proliferation of fruit trees on his 20 acre lifestyle property, external greenhouses and a huge internal, hydroponic hothouse for his collection of some 1200 tropical plants, plus a taxidermy room which houses a variety of insects including two funnel-web spiders.
hickens cluck, ducks quack, the turkey gobbles and the cattle are lowing – amidst the quiet countryside this is a noisy, busy corner where farmyard animals abound. But, astonishingly, wandering amongst them are three emus: Harry, Ron and Hermione – no guessing after whom they
On the other hand, the exotic birds are their top “Ostrichespriority.are the largest bird in the world and emus come a close second although they weigh much lighter. I’ve ridden ostriches in South Africa and eaten the meat – it’s delicious! – and, of course, the feathers are truly beautiful. We are now considering options for the meat and the feathers from both birds, while emus (in particular) are also popular for their oil and leather. We’re considering peacocks too, so there is a wide variety of choices.”
count, some 40 ducks, 14 guinea fowl (aptly known as a 'confusion'!), 200 (mostly) free range heritage chickens and 27 cattle, 13 of which are Highland and the rest Wagyu or Speckle Park. They are now waiting on the arrival of 10 ostriches, expected in January, and plan to plant their paddocks with herbs and“Wevegetables.liketheidea of just bending down and pulling out a carrot or grabbing a handful of herbs,” Eckhard explains.
“We intend using most of the paddocks
“This year we let the grapes go but we’re looking forward to doing better on that front – winemaking will be a whole new journey,” Eckhard says.
www.ruralliving.co.nz
for the ostriches and to expand our cattle herd, but first on our agenda right now is to empty the shed of machinery we won’t use. All the haymaking gear – and there’s a fair bit of it – has to go, but we haven’t even started on that!” the pair concurs ruefully.
In the meantime there are plenty of other jobs to attend to including draining wet spots, adding new pens, planting of shade and foraging trees and, hopefully, subdividing o a section of land where Eckhard’s recently retired parents can build a new home.
With plenty of work in the pipeline, Eckhard and Colin acknowledge that it’s an extraordinary lifestyle they have chosen, especially as both have ‘day jobs' – Eckhard working four days a week as a vet in Takanini and Colin as a flight attendant. But they are revelling in their rural challenges.
“It’s a hectic but wonderful life and amongst it all Colin and I are planning to marry on the farm in 2024 with guests enjoying a feast of homegrown produce and meats,” he adds. “So, the journey ahead looks pretty exciting.”
Eckhard Stalman, Colin Kelly with Fletcher.
With their hens laying, the trees fruiting and the emus about to produce chicks, they agree there are few dull moments. For example, the huge quantity of fruit is something that they are yet to deal with – this includes a wide range of citrus, all sorts of stone fruit, plus apples, feijoas and passionfruit as well as 12 shiraz vines and several other varieties of grapes.
FOOT & MOUTH: FORWARD STEP, FORWARD SAYS
BOWL OVER: gone for the dogs?
J
“Racing greyhounds puts dogs at serious risk of injury and even death. The [Auckland] Council’s plan to include an athletic track and field facility with indoor courts would be an exciting win forDuringanimals.”the 2020/21 season, more than 40% of dogs sustained injuries while racing, SAFE claims. The lease for the greyhound racetrack is up for renewal in December; Auckland Council is considering submissions.
“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a community-focused facility for all ages on land currently occupied by greyhound racing,” says Anna de Roo from SAFE (Save Animals from Exploitation).
The next step for Mr Forward and his team is to combine MyOSPRI with NAIT and disease management information.
ust as the days of motor racing in Pukekohe are numbered, racing of another nature appears set to grind to a halt in nearby Manukau.
“Movements recorded using paper-based [systems] are not kept in a centralised database and so [in the event of an outbreak] this would slow our ability to trace a rapidly moving disease such as FMD,” he adds.
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More than 1000 sheep farmers have scrapped paper in favour of a more modern method of recording animal movements, essential in checking the spread of diseases, such as foot and mouth (FMD). Kevin Forward from OSPRI (Operational Solutions for Primary Industries) explains:
Visit www.ospri.co.nz for details about this system, and see www.mpi.govt.nz for up-to-date information concerning the FMD outbreak abroad.
“It’s extremely important to keep tracking and tracing of animals accurately recorded and up to date,” he says. “This is particularly critical for movements of mobs of sheep which, unlike cattle and deer, are not covered by the National Animal Identification Tracing (NAIT) programme. The best way to do this is through MyOSPRI.”
Recently launched, MyOSPRI is designed to limit or prevent the spread of disease.
12 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
For various reasons, taking your mare to a reputable stud can be a good way to go. For a start, studs have well-trained employees used to dealing with common problems and they will always have someone available when your mare is close to foaling. If you are a first-time breeder without any experience in foaling, or work away from home, this may be an ideal option.
Calves and lambs: Keep an eye out for pooey bums. Internal parasites and coccidia are prevalent now, so make sure a good parasite prevention programme is in place for younger animals.
FOALING: WHAT TO EXPECT WHEN EXPECTING TALK
VET
To book an appointment call 09 238 2471 or email equine@fvs.co.nz WWW.FRANKLINVETS.CO.NZ environment for the horse, owner and vet. To book an appointment or email WWW.FRANKLINVETS.CO.NZ
CHECKLIST
Sheep: Need to be shorn prior to summer.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 13
Foaling
Mares will ‘wax up’ (a collection of wax at the end of the teats on a full udder) when they are close to foaling. Once contractions start, the foal needs to be out in 20-30 minutes, so we usually advise owners to call their veterinary clinic as soon as they begin – we would rather be on the way and be able to fix a problem than arrive too late. If we arrive and the mare has already foaled, however, we can still be of service by checking to ensure both mare and foal are in the best possible health.
The 1,2,3,4 rule is a handy guide to knowing what to expect. The foal should be: standing within one hour looking to suckle within two drinking within three passing its first manure (meconium) within four hours
season can be a very nervous time, especially for first-time breeders, but there are a few simple things that can be done to optimise the health of broodmares and foals while giving owners a little peace of mind. Having the correct information and a plan in place also goes a long way toward easing any stresses and worries about broodmares and foaling.
Few signs of spring are more fun than watching young foals find their feet. To ensure owners are well prepared to give their foals the best possible start in life, Dr Kara Watson DVM is on hand to help.
Alternatively, when equipped with the right information, owners should find foaling at home to be relatively easy to manage as well as rewarding and exciting. In addition, your mare will often be more settled in her own environment. If taking this option, we recommend using a foaling alarm, to sound a warning when your mare lies down ready to give birth. We also encourage owners to contact us when the mare is close to foaling (a few days prior) in order that we can prepare to send a trained equine veterinarian as soon as their expertise is required.
A pre-foaling examination for mares provides the information needed to make a plan and will allow you to time to discuss any concerns with one of our equine veterinarians. It ensures health issues are identified as early as possible to the benefit of mares and their foals, with discussions about nutrition, vaccinations and deworming conducted. Checking for a caslick that will need to be opened, and answering any questions about foaling properties or what to expect if foaling a mare at home is also par for the course at this stage.
(inverted eyelids, meconium impaction, broken ribs etcetera) and conformational problems that are best treated early. In addition, we can perform an IgG blood test to make sure adequate colostrum has been consumed. Not only is this important for good immunity, in some cases this test may be required for insurance purposes.
Within four hours (three hours for draft breeds), the mare should have passed the placenta as well. If any of these things have not occurred within their allotted times, a veterinary visit becomes a necessity.
To book an appointment call 09 238 2471 or email www.franklinvets.co.nzequine@fvs.co.nzSERVICES INCLUDE: • Dentistry • Weighing • Repro exams • Eye exams • Injections needle-shyinhorse • Endoscopy • Standing proceduressurgical No horse crush at your place? Our mobile horse crush creates a safe working environment for the horse, owner and vet May22RuralLivingEquine184x67.indd 1 3/05/2022 4:30:01 PM KAT5238-v28
Regardless of whether a vet assists, a postfoaling check (within 24 hours of birth) is helpful to ensure good health. This involves a thorough exam to check for any problems that can be easily corrected soon after birth
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“This has been a problem in our area on most weekend nights for a period of [more than] two years,” a reader from the Onewhero area claims. “We have also had them setting o fireworks. We feel unsafe in our home, [it also causes] stress to livestock adjoining the area, and risk of fire to trees and shrubbery bordering the highway.”
Rural racers, local roads
14 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
Rural Living shared this reader’s comments with Awaroa ki Tuakau Ward Councillor, Jacqui Church, who is adamant that reports of such illegal activity are not falling on deaf ears.
otor racing may be about to grind to a halt at Pukekohe Park, but amateur racers should not think this means they may take it to the streets. In our last issue, we shared Federated Farmers Tauranga’s concerns regarding ‘boy racers’ driving erratically on rural roads. It appears this is an issue mirrored closer to home.
While cameras alone won’t stop illegal racing, they have been shown to help prevent it, Ms Church adds.
“We have phoned police on numerous occasions over the years. Before Covid, police would attend at times but this never deterred the boy racers from returning. There was less activity during lockdown, however [they] have returned over the last month. We have observed a long line of cars accessing our area from State Highway 22 and over the Tuakau Bridge.”
“I am extremely sympathetic to the issues caused by visitor cars, often referred to as boy racers, in our local rural areas,” she says. “I have created local public meetings with police in the past. At these meetings, discussions have included [the placement of] additional cameras.”
Despite contacting her local MP and Waikato District Council, our reader (who has asked not the be named), believes little is being done to curb this behaviour.
“Police have been able to allocate much needed cameras for Tuakau and some for Pokeno. Cameras, as a security support and police tool in rural areas, have a few complications, including funding, who overseas [the footage] and when, as well as continuous digital access and the need for a good internet service.”
M
If other readers share similar concerns, please contact your local council and/ or police – on 105, dialling 111 only in an emergency. Neighbourhood watch groups and community social media pages are also useful in helping locals ensure their voices are heard.
“There seem to be a lot more bureaucracy and cost associated with the four entities’ multi-tiered governance arrangements and the various advisory groups and forums that will be set up to try and replicate what we already have –local voice and accountability."
'Three' awed, says Fed'
communities, care deeply about councils and what they see as an attack on local democracy,” Sandra Faulkner from Federated Farmers says. “The rural voice will be diluted in centralisation of these essential services and local councils will be ‘hollowed out’.”
Rural Living urges all readers to familiarise themselves with government intentions. Search Three Waters reforms' online at www.dia.govt.nz to read more.
KC15360-v4
Craig Ashby M 021 998 605
Regardless of how successful (or otherwise) the reforms may prove, loss of local control is among one primary industry body’s principal worries.
“We were absolutely thrilled with the results!”
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 15
T
hree Waters reforms will directly impact every New Zealand home, but they will have an added impact on businesses relying on water the most, those in the primary industries. The reforms will bring water management under four regional bodies, each tasked with three aspects of water service, and away from local councils. This could prove more e cient and reduce water bills – at least that’s the intention.
“We believe strongly in keeping the local in local government and we are strongly
Neil Sharpe M 021 278 6006
“Many farmers, as significant ratepayers and strongly rooted in their local
“Their knowledge and calm, mature manner assured us they would always be working to provide the best possible outcome for us. The diligence, professionalism and enthusiasm shown were second to none, and they went above and beyond our expectations throughout the entire sale process. We were absolutely thrilled with the results and would highly recommend these two to anyone who is seeking genuine, hardworking and successful agents. They really are that good!”
– Trewren & Natalie So if you’re thinking of buying or selling – call us!
The Water Services Entities Bill, the legislation underpinning Three Waters, is making its way through parliament readings. Due to the wide-ranging implications of the legislation, it has drawn plenty of criticism so far and for various reasons. However, loss of local control is a concern shared by many.
opposed to a centralisation agenda which seems to be driving so much policy, not just in water services, but also in RMA (Resource Management Act) reform, health sector reform, polytechnics, the list goes on,” Ms Faulkner adds.
16 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
Local young farmers will need to muster extra endurance due to a new Young
Butchers battled through blood sweat and toil in California recently during the World Butchers’ Challenge. Months of preparation came down to a three-anda-half-hour contest as teams undertook tasks showcasing their butchery skills.
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“We’re trialling this to look at how to find New Zealand’s best Young Farmer, but in a way that is, potentially, more streamlined,” Lynda Coppersmith from NZ Young Farmers explains.
While Germany topped the table with Australia second, New Zealand's Sharp Blacks secured third. Late changes – due to butchers dealing with the impact of covid on their businesses – put added pressure on the team. In addition, while
James Smith (Franklin Country Meats) helped the team prepare, he did not depart for California due to an impending arrival closer to home.
FIELDAYS INNOVATIONS
Tim
Locals and others in the primary industries have been on a roll (and on the honour roll) recently, or looking ahead at contests to come, including:
Those who best demonstrate the skillsets required of a modern farmer will then progress to represent their regions at the competition’s Grand Final in July. Visit www.youngfarmers.co.nz for a full schedule or to register.
YOUNG FARMERS, FRESH LOOK
SHARP BLACKS BACK ON PODIUM
“Prizes in each category allow individuals and companies, big or small, to get the support, recognition and mentoring they require to take their innovations to the next level,” says Steve Chappell, NZ National Fieldays Society.
Awards will cover: Prototype, EarlyStage, and Growth & Scale, with accolades for Young Innovator of the Year also up for grabs. Innovations will be on show at Fieldays, Nov 30 – Dec 3. For details see www.fieldays.co.nz/innovations. Entries close October 6.
Plauditsa-plenty!
“Our baby (Bailey) was due shortly before I was meant to leave so I sat this one out,” he says. “There’s a lot of work that goes into [preparing for the competition]. We had four changes, myself included, so considering the short turnaround, they did really well. We had newbies in the team, but they definitely stepped up.”
Back row; James Smith; Riki Kerekere; Brydon Heller; Luka Young – front row; Reuben Sharples; Corey White; Cherise Redden; Dan Klink
Farmer of the Year competition format. To be held early next year, the Northern Regionals and the area’s District contests will run back-to-back, e ectively seeing the first two rounds completed over one weekend. The Waikato/Bay of Plenty contest will also follow this new format.
Entries are open for Fieldays’ Innovations Awards, encouraging imaginative solutions for the primary industries.
cows for a living, or maybe just have some backyard chooks, you want them to live well and be healthy. What you feed them is an essential part of that.”
programme was a natural fit for me,” he adds. “Anyone who feeds animals, be it farm animals or pets, should look for the FeedSafeNZ logo.”
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 17
Now also a west Auckland lifestyler, Te Radar is teaming up with the NZ Feed Manufacturers Association (NZFMA) to promote the organisation’s FeedSafe NZ accreditation initiative.
“Animal health and welfare is something I feel strongly about, so the opportunity to partner with the NZFMA to help spread
His father, former Federated Farmers’ senior vice president Malcolm Lumsden, was a staunch advocate for farmers; Te Radar is carrying on this legacy, becoming a familiar figure at Fieldays and other rural events. To read more about his background and country connections, see our Sep-Oct 2014 issue via the ‘past issues’
EAT FEEDWELL?BETTER! Te opinesRadar P a u l Vo o r b u rg | 021 029 05733 | paul.voorburg@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, PUKEKOHE, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 YOUR LIFESTYLE PROPERTY EXPERT PAUL VOORBURG Looking to buy or sell? Call your local “good guy” for all your real estate needs. KC15446-v3 P a u l Vo o r b u rg | 021 029 05733 | paul.voorburg@bayleys.co.nz BAYLEYS REAL ESTATE LTD, PUKEKOHE, LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008 YOUR LIFESTYLE PROPERTY EXPERT PAUL VOORBURG Looking to buy or sell? Call your local “good guy” for all your real estate needs. Paul Voorburg | 021 029 05733 BAYLEYSpaul.voorburg@bayleys.co.nzREALESTATELTD,PUKEKOHE,LICENSED UNDER THE REA ACT 2008
e may be known to tell a joke or two, but a certain son of a Rangiriri farmer makes no bones about the importance of providing his animals with the most nutritious feed available.
H
“If we are what we eat, and for many of us that includes animals and what they produce, then what animals eat should also be something we care about,” comedian, Te Radar (aka Andrew Lumsden), says. “No matter what animals
Although application of 1080 has met with controversy, Ms Kelleher asserts that this poison remains an invaluable tool as part of wider pest control e orts.
PEST CONTROL: SOLUTIONSSPEEDY
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“Many of these native species are national taonga (treasures) and are vulnerable to introduced pests and diseases. This is particularly
Locals looking to play their part in protecting native species will benefit from upcoming presentations in Franklin. Featuring Q&A sessions with Cam Speedy (a wildlife biologist with more than 40 years’ experience), these meetings will deliver tips, tricks and insights regarding pest control.
“The community in Franklin has made amazing progress bringing back wildlife to the area this year – including kokako and native bats – and the Friends of Te Wairoa volunteer trapping group reported more possums, rats, rabbits, mice, ferrets, stoats and hedgehogs trapped than ever before,” she confirms. “People are really getting behind the movement and ramping up e orts as we head into the bird breeding season.”
Discoveries of velvetleaf should be reported via the Ministry for Primary Industries’ pest and disease hotline: 0800 809 966. More information (including images) is accessible by searching ‘velvetleaf’ at www.landcareresearch.co.nz.
“Our aerial pest control operations are usually undertaken in either winter or early spring, when pests are hungry, visitor numbers are at their lowest and ahead of the key breeding time for a number of our native bird species, but the exact timings are weather dependent,” she explains. “The Hunua Ranges is the largest area of native forest in the Auckland region and is home to many of Aotearoa’s threatened species. Together with the Department of Conservation and our iwi partners, our focus is on the protection of these species and our unique flora and fauna.”
Allison Hess from the Predator Free NZ Trust applauds local groups for their e orts.
GLOVES OFF FOR VELVETLEAF?
A ‘crop-destroying pest species’, velvetleaf has been identified at Auckland properties.
true for our native Kōkako which, after previously coming close to extinction, are once again thriving in the ranges, thanks in part to the 1080 operations carried out in 2015 andWhile2018.”possums and rodents are the targets of this programme, there is a wider risk; anyone visiting the ranges must ensure children and dogs do not touch the bait. In addition, dogs should also be prevented from contact with animal carcasses.Thefirst phase began with application of a non-toxic pre-feed bait (designed to encourage pests to take the bait) on September 1. The drops will be conducted in stages with up-to-date information accessible by searching ‘Hunua pest control’ at aucklandcouncil.govt.nz.www.ourauckland.
HUNUA RANGES: 1080 underwaydrops
“Velvetleaf could decimate the cropping sector,” Velvetleaf Community Outreach spokesperson Sally Linton said at a recent Auckland Council Rural Advisory Panel meeting. “It is mechanically spread, on farm equipment or carried on boots.”
Although it is an annual plant, it can be found out of season and a single plant can drop 33,000 seeds, remaining viable for 50 years, Ms Linton confirmed.
Visit www.predatorfreenz.org/about-us (events subsection) to register for meetings at Hunua Hall (Sep 26) and Waiuku Rugby Club (Sep 27). More information regarding local pest control e orts is accessible via www.predatorfreefranklin.nz.
18 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
“With climate change, it could grow year-round [and] could now be present in any crop.”
Original article courtesy of Laura Kvigstad, Auckland Council reporter – funded by NZ on Air.
irds in the Hunua Ranges should benefit due to a little help from above, Rachel Kelleher from Auckland Council expects.
B
idday, folks. It’s been a rough month for me as I ruptured my Achilles tendon last month. As I write this, I’ve been in plaster up to the knee for four weeks doh! However, in another four weeks I should be okay to (gently) make a start on the predator trapping season; getting the summer traps out is always my favourite time of year and I’m positively ‘itching’ to get out and be active again!
to catch than ferrets. In other words, a trapping programme that successfully targets stoats will usually prove su cient dealing with weasels and ferrets also.
Traps that capture and kill stoats (kill traps) are, by far, the most e cient for this work as there is no requirement to check them daily or to dispatch captured animals. The most popular models with professionals are the DOC 150, 200 and 250 series traps, all of which are housed in tamper-proof timber tunnels. These traps are extremely user friendly and, once you have them set up, they can be expected to keep doing the business for at least a decade, provided they receive a quick clean once a year.
SPACING
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 19
PLACEMENT
Whether you would like to do more to protect birds, or you’re simply hoping to catch whatever it is that’s been killing your chooks, mustelid trapping is likely to achieve the desired result.
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Stoats (Mustela erminea) are one of three mustelid species introduced to NZ during the late 19th Century in the hope they would control an ever-increasing rabbit problem. As we now know, the combined e ects of stoats, ferrets (Mustela furo) and weasels (Mustela nivalis) proved insu cient in countering rabbit populations but all three have proved devastating to our endemic fauna, which evolved in the complete absence of any mammalian predators.
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TRAP TYPES
By Ditch Keeling, Coastal Pest Solutions
Set traps on well-defined and linear edges: ridgetops, pasture/forest margins, natural intersection features and along waterways. Trapping these features tends to result in more stoats caught and means the traps are easier to service.
BAITS
The distribution of stoats today is fairly even and islands are the only locations that do not have any at all. Most programmes on the mainland target all three mustelids based on current best practice for stoats, which tend to be more numerous than weasels and harder
Fresh rabbit is by far the most attractive bait for these guys, but a hen’s egg also makes a great visual lure, so most trappers use both in the bait compartment. Many successful stoat trappers first rub a piece of fresh rabbit on any natural features leading to the trap and on the trap itself before placing it inside – with plenty of rabbit smell around the trap, you’ll be in business! Giving everything a freshen up once each week will ensure traps are always at their best for drawing in predators.
Stoats can have incredibly large home ranges, 40-256ha. Most operators place traps (approx.) 200 metres apart. On properties of up to 10 acres, 1-3 traps are often all that’s required to catch all mustelids passing through.
I’m in the o ce, and will be for the next four weeks at least, so feel free to drop me a line if you would like further information about setting up for the predator trapping season. Also, check out www.doc.govt.nz for extra advice.
Food and fibre exports earned top marks for the year ending June 2022.
“This outstanding result is testament to the ongoing e orts of farmers, growers, foresters, fishers and processors... since Covid-19 came knocking, collectively, we’ve done a terrific job keeping the wheels of the economy turning.”
QUOTE QUOTASON
Young Kiwis could prove an invaluable cash crop, Mr O’Connor believes.
Whenua Haumanu, a government-backed initiative, could result in a new lease on life for pastoral farming practices.
“Free trade agreements (FTAs) with the UK and EU present new opportunities for exporters. We’ve fought hard for our dairy exporters and secured improved access through these FTAs. I know our dairy industry is looking to take up the benefits under these agreements as soon as Thepossible.”Ministry for Primary Industries expects to review quotas by the end of the year before confirming any changes.
“There are 126 schools across the country teaching agricultural and horticultural science and we’re aiming to increase this number, especially in urban areas,” he confirms. “Educated and enthusiastic people are our competitive advantage as an exporter because people deliver technology and grow value.”
“We expect the support network will be a huge help to teachers who usually have sole charge of their subject and often take care of farmlets or orchards as part of their role. [Advisors] will also provide assistance to enhance student achievement and help raise the profile of agricultural and horticultural science.”
REPORT MAKES GRADE
WHAT’S UP WITH D.O’C...
“The new programme will study the whole pastoral farming system from field to fork. It will scientifically build a picture that includes soil biodiversity, pasture performance, animal production and welfare, and the quality of the food produced,” Mr O’Connor explained. “One key aim is to investigate potential benefits of diverse pastures for grazing animals, as well as regenerative farming practices, as these have yet to be thoroughly studied for the New Zealand farming context.”
Recent trade deals could see dairy export quotas increase, Mr O’Connor has advised.
From trade to biosecurity as well as agriculture, many a growing concern is of concern to Damien O’Connor, as recent reports from his o ce illustrate.
20 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
“Since 2018, Australia and New Zealand have collaborated on developing world first digital technology as part of
An advisory team will support teachers, providing workshops, teaching resources and more, Mr O'Connor added.
SCHOOLS OF THOUGHT
O’ConnorDamien O’Connor
cooperation on biosecurity risk detection,” Mr O’Connor said following a recent meeting with his Australian counterpart, Murray Watt. “We continue to work on a range of biosecurity initiatives, such as increasing our intelligence capacity to ensure our biosecurity systems are among the world’s best.”
FMD – WHAT'S WATT...
While meat and dairy led the charge (up $1.1 billion), seafood and horticulture exports also increased.
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The programme will bring together the expertise of a range of universities, government research groups and more.
PASTORAL FUTURE?
“The June quarter saw a strong finish to what we’d forecast to be a record year for exports,” Mr O'Connor said.
Trans-Tasman cooperation could well prove crucial to minimising risk from Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and fruit fly.
His comments follow a previously reported outbreak of FMD in Indonesia. Should this disease find its way to New Zealand farms, it could prove devastating.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 21 KC15540
#BREAKING 'BITES'
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22 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
“We know connectivity is becoming increasingly important for the rural sector to remain competitive,” she says. “While we still have a way to go, we are pleased to be taking this next step toward closing the digital divide for our rural customers.”
The increase is a result of investment in the rural network by the Rural Connectivity Group, a joint venture between Spark, Vodafone and 2degrees.
Although most Frankliners are on urban plans, there’s some good news on the line for those still wrangling with rural broadband – data allowances on rural plans have now been increased by up to 50GB, Tessa Tierney from Spark confirms.
SPARK UPS THE ‘BAND
SPRAY SAYSGROWER’‘BARLEYRIGHT,IT
The name ‘Brigita Botma’ might not ring many bells, but it should. Also known as Manabell, this talented local has taken her work to the streets again with a mural on the BNZ building at Pukekohe Town Square.
For the most part, news cannot be served in bite-sized pieces. However, in e orts to serve readers a balanced diet of news (is there any such thing?), we’ve included the following matter-of-fact morsels to chew over.
To read (and view) more of her work, see www.manabell.co.nz – or just keep eyes peeled around our towns. And, to read more about her background, see our Apr-May 2021 e-edition via the ‘past issues’ tab at www.ruralliving.co.nz.
Dogs can cause major concerns for native species on beaches. However, the new Lead the Way programme seeks to ensure dogs and wildlife can co-exist along Auckland’s coastline.
The programme provides advice to dog owners, including ways to manage
BEACH BEHAVIOUR –ALL DOGS, NEW TIPS
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 23
AROUND THE TOWNS…
KING ST BLUES
For the third time since November 2020, Michael Hill on King Street, Pukekohe was subject to an (apparent) ‘smash and grab’ in the early hours of September 5. The jewellery chain has been in the crosshairs of thieves with numerous other stores also hit in recent years. As this issue was finalised, investigations were ‘ongoing’. If anyone has information related to this incident, please contact Police citing reference number 220905/9015. The provides pooches at specific beaches. Search 'dogs on beaches' at forwww.doc.govt.nzdetails.
“Even a playful and rambunctious dog simply getting his exercise may disturb [wildlife],” says Laura Boren from the Department of Conservation (DOC). “Through a variety of community engagement activities, Lead the Way will communicate steps we can all take to better protect the animals that live and breed on our coasts.”
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were finishing our early dinner in walked Franklin Local Board chair, Andy Baker! I never see him when I’m in Pukekohe but there he was down at The Mount. As it turns out, he’s a rugby fan too, in town to watch Counties play Bay of Plenty. After a great weekend, we toddled home very tired but convinced we do have to get out more now that we can.
Following our weekend away, we were out in Drury and went to Red Shed Palazzo for lunch – it’s one of my favourites. Brian has lamb’s fry and bacon every time – I can’t and won’t cook it! – and I choose whatever takes my fancy on the day, but
Mount Maunganui
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pring has sprung and what a lovely feeling it is to have warmer days and so much more sunshine. Very soon, daylight saving will start (Sep 25) which is, to me, the truest sign we’re heading into summer, along with the fact that my garden is starting to pop with promise of more to come.
Thankfully, we did pop to Hamilton to meet the great-grandson after we recovered, but that was about it.
Saturday night, as the All Blacks were
&Mountabout&about
Over the past few weeks, Brian and I have been venturing out and about a lot more than we have for ages – it really does seem like it, due to Covid and Brian having a hip replacement last year. Then, after we were locked down again for months, and just when things seemed to
S
You will be pleased to know that all that ‘nothing’ is behind us, and for Father’s Day our daughter and her husband took us to Tauranga for a night with the sons and their wives. After a leisurely drive down from Auckland, we arrived at a lovely apartment at Mount Maunganui. We have always loved The Mount and the weekend sure lived up to expectations. The sun was shining and the mood was lively; everywhere was so busy with cafes and bars full.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 25R e ig s teredMasterBuilders Houseofth e Y e a r Auck and • R e ig s teredMasterBuilders Houseofth e Y e a r Auck and • KC15433
“I didn’t consider myself a dark horse, but some might have. Leading into the final I was looking good for a medal –after going through heats and semis, you develop an understanding of who’s in form – but maybe not for a win.”
Golden swimmer no underdog
H
26 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
“I had to pull out of an Olympic qualifying event in 2020 because I broke my arm and then missed out on the games, which was gutting,” he explains. “I planned to try and qualify early [for the Commonwealth Games] because of Covid and I was lucky enough to do so through the Waikato Regional Champs. Just a day or two later I tested positive. Covid knocked me back a lot more than I realised at the time.”
Backstroke is Andrew’s forte, but other strokes have also proven useful.
Before winning gold Andrew finished fourth in the 100 metres. He says getting ‘back in action’ afterwards was testing.
In his weakest event, the 200 metres, Andrew finished fourth in his heat with a performance he laughs o as “pretty shocking!” However, with a gold already under his belt he wasn’t too disappointed.
No stranger to setbacks, Andrew missed qualification for last year’s Tokyo Olympics. In addition, although his hopes were not sunk entirely, illness hampered his preparations for the Commonwealths.
“I completed the [100 metre] semi in my second fastest time ever, so it wasn’t terrible, although then missing out on a medal was heart-breaking. The hardest thing was everyone saying: ‘you have to get back up’, and I thought: ‘I know, just let me have my moment!’ If I had’ve medalled in the 100, I might not have had the same killer mindset going into the fifty. Champions are those who get knocked down and come back stronger.”
e wasn’t a favourite to bring back gold from Birmingham. And yet, as Andrew Je coat cut through the surface of the Commonwealth Games pool, this Pukekohe Swimming Club backstroker was far from being out of his depth.
reach a medal final.
Andrew touched the wall just 24.65 seconds (a New Zealand record) after his 50 metre backstroke final began. The sheer, frenetic pace of the event may have given the impression that physicality is everything. However, it takes the right mentality during a lengthy buildup to even
“Although I dabble in freestyle and butterfly I avoid breaststroke like the
The water in Commonwealth Games’ pools may be as smooth as glass prior to medal races, but the course leading athletes there seldom runs smooth. As JON RAWLINSON discovered when speaking with Andrew Je coat, shortly after his return home, going for gold is just the final step on a long and winding road.
Born in Australia, Andrew was raised on a farm near Colville, Coromandel. He attended high school in Hamilton and competed for the Fairfield Swim Club.
He may now be one of NZ Swimming’s ‘golden boys’ but Andrew’s medal is no golden ticket to the 2024 Paris Olympics. What’s more, should he qualify (for the 100 and 200 metres – the 50 metres is not on the Olympic schedule – European and American swimmers will prove sti competition.
“For now, I’m just enjoying some downtime before I start preparing for the World Championships next year,” he says, “But I’ll be [in Pukekohe] soon enough to catch up with the home team.”
plague – I just don’t like it! It is complementary to be able to swim other strokes because it can help out in relays and for club points for a start,” he says. “And, when focusing on backstroke in training day in, day out, it’s refreshing to do a bit of freestyle, because when backstroke feels good it’s amazing, but when it’s not, it feels like the most horrible stroke of all!”
There’s something in the water at Franklin Pool & Leisure – Andrew wasn’t the only Pukekohe Swimming Club athlete to secure a medal at the recent Commonwealth Games; fellow backstroker, Tupou Neiufi (who has featured previously in Rural Living) followed her gold medal win at the Tokyo Paralympics with a Birmingham bronze.
“It’s been good for the head, [being a Commonwealth champion] is definitely
Andrew is still revelling in his Commonwealth Games' success, but it won’t be long before he shakes the laurels (figuratively speaking) from his head.
“We moved to Colville when I was a few months old, onto a relatively low maintenance dry stock farm. Mum and Dad pushed me towards swimming as it’s such a vital skill when you live right near the beach. From then on they have always been very supportive,” he says. “Over the years, I began to see the pathway forward and how achievable [competing at the top level] could be. Once you start to tick o all the top times it becomes clearer.”
Although he is now based in central Auckland, Andrew continues to swim for Pukekohe. The local club’s reputation attracted his attention in 2019.
a confidence booster, but I now go through the whole rigmarole of qualifying again. Although the Olympics is quite a step up, it doesn’t matter how far behind you might think you are, it all comes down to what happens on the day.”
Gold (in Birmingham, Paris or anywhere else) never comes cheap.
“The reallyprogramme[Pukekohe]wasdoingwellsoitjustworkedforme.Italsogavemetheopportunitytoprovethatyoucanachieveyourdreamsfromasmall,countrypool.”
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 27
“After my coach in Hamilton passed away I moved to Pukekohe. The programme was doing really well so it just worked for me. It also gave me the opportunity to prove that you can achieve your dreams from a small, country pool –that’s something I’m most proud of.”
“It has been quite tricky trying to live o the bones of my arse. I’m receiving high performance funding, but it is hard to find jobs that fit around or compliment swimming. I did work as a lifeguard [at Franklin Pool & Leisure] for a while, but after you turn up at 5am, spend eight hours standing and then train at night, it takes a toll. Hopefully, with the results I’ve had recently, I can get more support going forward so I can keep progressing.”
POOLTOCOLVILLECOMMS’
Andrew Je coat. Photos Ian Macnicol, Getty Images – supplied by Swimming NZ
The event gave locals a chance to bid a reluctant farewell to Supercars at Pukekohe Park, however motorsport will continue at the local track until April – see www.pukekohemotorsport.co.nz for a full schedule of racing.
28 — Rural Living — September/October 2022
While the Parade & Park Up of classic and vintage vehicles attracted plenty of attention, the Cardboard Car Rally had fans (rather than their ‘vehicles’) roaring at Pukekohe Town Square on September 8.
Rumblingon!
Photos Wayne Martin
W
Every homeowner wants to enjoy a feeling of pride and comfort when driving up to their home not just for the first time, but every time. And, that’s exactly what the team at Homes by Nest works hard to create – even the name reflects that sense of warmth and snugness which envelops homeowners when they walk through the front door into their very own living space. Phone Bru Goldfinch 021 215 8368 • Email bru@homesbynest.nz • www.homesbynest.nz
hile some were set to enjoy the Auckland SuperSprint (September 9-11), those in the know knew the real deal would take place a day earlier during Pukekohe’s Final Rumble.
DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka is perfect for guests looking for a quick get away amongst a picturesque setting of Karaka at the heart of DoubleTree by Hilton Karaka, Ethereal Artisan Kitchen is the perfect place for friends and families to gather around a scrumptious meal, and locals and hotel guests alike to have quick lunch or over
dinner To make a booking KC15482
Email : karaka@hilton.com | Phone: 296 2002 | Website: karaka.doubletree.com
Your Staycation
Is Closer Than You Think
talk business
Located
a
BIKES & PLANTERS: Lovingly produced by volunteers, bikes with planters have been popping up around Papakura – on O’Shannessey Street, Great South Road and elsewhere throughout our town. These delightful additions really have helped add colour and sparkle to our streets.
Jo Raill Sandy Littlejohns-Clark
Taking us on a sensory journey, the Franklin Arts Trail (October 15-16) presents artworks and their creators in their element – in their studios, galleries and other creative spaces. What’s more, many of the painters, sculptors and more with stops on this arty path o er interactive workshops, talks and displays. Visit www.franklinartstrail.co.nz for further information.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING! It may seem like a way o , but Christmas is just around the corner and local festivities include these unmissable events and shopping opportunities: Carols in the Park, December 2, from 6pm, Central Park Papakura Rotary Santa Parade, December 4, from 3pm, leaving from Central Park Chilling in the Park, follows the Santa Parade, from 4-6pm, Central Park Late Night Festive Shopping, December 8, 5-7pm Santa’s Grotto in Papakura, December 15-23
MURALS, BEAUTIFUL MURALS! We are so proud of our colourful murals created by Papakura artists that we’re encouraging everyone to undertake a mural trail walk when next in town. To ensure none are missed, please do download a trail map from the ’Murals and Art’ page at www.papakura.co.nz.What’smore,some murals (Angel Wings by Ezmeralda’s in Broadway and at the Davis Street Carpark) are interactive which means visitors can have photos taken so you appear to be actually in them. Feel free to share your photos on our Instagram page, #LivePapakura.
Carolyn Watts
It’s one thing to view art in a public gallery but quite another to see where the magic actually happens.
Papakura Business Association PO Box 272 1783
Katie Blundell
Papakura 2244, Auckland Phone 09 298 8996 www.papakura.co.nz
SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER IN PAPAKURA
30 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
@livepapakurapapakura.town.centre
travels...Space
Carolyn Watts
Jane Thorne
Tracy Shackleton Papakura Town Centre Manager
Tracy Shackleton shares the latest news about Papakura’s thriving business hub.
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www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 31
one are the days of making sacrifices in exchange for gorgeous hair! At Alberts, we can help you gain smooth, glossy hair no matter how demanding your day may be – our methods mean smoother, stronger hair doesn’t need to put the rest of your life on hold.
G
Before
for Franklin Councillor Authorised by: Angela Fulljames • Ph 021 956 725 Vote Working together for you Team Franklin for Franklin CouncillorVote Working together for you Team Franklin for Franklin CouncillorVote Working together for you Team Franklin I will use my experience, understanding and knowledge of Franklin from a lifetime of living and working here as well as 12 years as a leader on the Franklin Local Board battling for Franklin within Council to address some key things I believe need to change in particular how, where and why Council does things, •including:Greater accountability and changed approach from Auckland Transport • A more responsive Council with less layers of needless bureaucracy • Better bang for our buck by working with and empowering our communities as Franklin Local Board has done so efficiently and effectively • Supporting more decision making at the local level through changes to the Council governance model • A better deal for our rural communities and those furthest from the city CBD • Greater focus on the Manukau Harbour and the importance of our rural economy Andy Baker From Franklin, For Franklin! KC15558 DY0588
SMOOTH MOVES FOR BUSY LIVES
GLOW,YOUGIRL!
Beauty COUNTER
— Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
MUST MASK... nourished complexion.
As the sun starts shining, more skin starts showing. So why not build a tan daily with the new Golden Girl Gradual Tan Face & Body Cream Daily Glow by SugarBaby? This non-greasy golden formula is fast drying, ultra hydrating, super smoothing and suitable for sensitive skin. Packed with coconutty goodness, it contains shea butter, conditioning jojoba and ca eine extract. This vegan friendly product is available at department stores, RRP $29.99.
If you're the kind of guy who likes a bit of TLC, the Weleda Men’s range is designed with your needs in mind. These products (including shaving cream, aftershave, shave balm, moisture cream, deodorant and shower gel) are all designed to leave men feeling pampered and fresh from top to toe. So, wherever life leads, Weleda helps us lead life in style.
As beard care starts with a good brush, the Stratton Curzon 100% Boar Bristle Compact Beard Brush is designed to provide it. The compact brush is designed for use on thin hair, beards, and moustaches. Stratton combs are available (RRP $29.99) from chemists nationwide.
BOY-OH-BOY
HAIR TODAY
The revitalising and deeply hydrating Lemon & Beaker Galvanic Brightening Sheet Mask (RRP $25) takes self-care routines to the next level. The sheet mask is designed with a semi-gel with functional prints that help galvanic or microcurrent devices deliver serum into the skin. Along with New Zealand Manuka oil, the formula includes hydrating harakeke extract and hyaluronic acids with ceramides for a deeply
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 33 SEASONAL DRESS: ON TREND IN SPRING Transitioning from warm, winter wear to hot new looks for summer begins in spring, as stylish new fashions hitting stores suggest. 1. 2. 3. 4. 1: Field Dress, Ketz-Ke RRP $189; 2: Turner Dress, Ketz-Ke RRP $165; 3: Amble Dress, Leo+Be RRP $185; 4: Sneak Dress, Leo+Be RRP $165; 5: The Full Monty Dress in Floral, Hej Hej RRP $350. 5. 113 Great South Road, Papakura Phone 09 298 www.mareelouiseunderfashions.co.nz0999 CR0155-v3 MareeUnderfashionsLouise Specialising in: Fittings for Bras • Undergarments • Breast Prostheses • Medical Hosiery Maree Kay ATM BCorsetiereQualifiedCL
B
“Avocados are a great source of healthy fats – eating a serving at breakfast time will help your metabolism throughout the day. Asparagus is a good source of folate, which is essential to the development of red blood cells, [and] try slicing strawberries into a salad to add extra fibre and vitamin C. Spring is also the perfect time to utilise fresh herbs in place of seasonings such as salt, a simple, healthy habit to improve the nutritional benefits of eachSeedish.”page 38 for 5+ A Day’s recipe for Potato & Asparagus Salad.
SPECIALIST SURGICAL SERVICES IN: – Orthopaedics – Gynecology – Plastic surgery – General Surgery – ENT – Maxillofacial – Dental Proudly healthcaretransforminginFranklin 12 Glasgow Road, Pukekohe 2120 Email: contact@franklinhospital.co.nz Main reception: 09 220 4800 www.franklinshospital.co.nz KC15302 Franklin Hospital SUBWAYCROSBIEROADROADMANUKAUROADGLASGOW ROADJOHNSTREET The newest surgical facility in Auckland, located right in the centre of Pukekohe • Two operating theatres • A dedicated endoscopy theatre • 14 single rooms
FRESH THINKING: A matter of life & diet
etter eating habits could save tens of millions of lives worldwide, a recent study reveals. In ‘Exploring Post-pandemic Diet Shifts’, Edinburgh University researchers assert that encouraging people to eat more fruit and vegetables (and less meat) could prevent up to 26 million deaths every year by 2060.
seasonal produce – so why not begin a healthy habit by adding a serving of fruit and vegetables to every meal this month?”
A shift towards more fresh fruit and vegetables may be just what the doctors ordered, but entirely forgoing red meat (a valuable source of iron) may mean consumers are not as ‘irony’ as they need to be! Results from a World Iron Awareness Week (late August) survey suggest lack of iron could be a more common problem than previously thought, Regina Wypych, from Beef + Lamb NZ asserts.
34 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
“New Zealand statistics on iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia are becoming outdated, and we have limited current knowledge on the state of the nation’s iron health. Until we gain further knowledge on this, it’s really important to keep raising awareness.”Indicators of insu cient iron levels (including low energy levels and headaches) are often dismissed as being due to stress, recovery from covid or flu and even too much screen time, Ms Wypych advises. However, a simple quiz could prove an invaluable first step to diagnosis –www.ironweek.co.nz/quizzes.see
“Spring is traditionally a time of new beginnings. We’re so lucky in Aotearoa to grow such a wide range of high quality,
KEEP CALM & IRON ON
Eating in season is the best way to access the benefits of a diet packed with fruit and vegetables.”Avocados, asparagus, new potatoes, herbs and the first home-grown strawberries of the season are among Ms Ireland’s top selections.
This reduced mortality could be achieved by preventing premature deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer (conditions that are also risk factors for Covid), researchers contend. The study is accessible by searching ‘post pandemic diet shifts’ at Fortunately,www.ed.ac.uk.withnewseason produce hitting Kiwi stores, spring is the ideal time to incorporate more fresh fruit and vegetables into our diet, Carmel Ireland from 5+ A Day advises.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 35 “Dentures can be a nightmare when they are not fitting well. Worn dentures may cause discomfort when eating or speaking.” CALL TO BOOK A FREE CONSULTATION REGARDING ANY TREATMENT!!! KC15528 DENTURE SERVICES • Full Top and Bottom Sets • Full Set (same day service)* • Partial Acrylic Dentures • Flexible Partial Dentures • Metal Partial Dentures • Denture Repairs • Denture Relines • Denture Polishing & Cleaning • Custom Sport Mouthguards • Denture Modifications PAPAKURA 257C Great South Road, Papakura Problems that may be associated with poor fitting dentures are: • Mouth Ulcers • Headaches • Tissue Irritation • A Painful Jaw • Incorrect Bite • Poor Aesthetics • Affected Speech • Loss of Self-Confidence IMMEDIATE DENTURES Our immediate dentures offer you a comfortable fit and a more natural smile BEFORE AFTER Ph 09 972 2545 or 027 347 3246 Email: thedentureman@hotmail.com PUKEKOHE 234 King PukekoheStreet, BOMBAY 362 Hillview BombayRoad,
All's Fare
These carefully crafted single malts (also available via www.pokenowhisky.com –RRP $99.99-$299.99 per bottle), could well see New Zealand (and Pokeno) on the map alongside Tennessee and Kentucky as top whisky-producing regions.
ONKINGHONEY,SWEET'NUTTERS'
Beebro is showing its support for mental health advocate (and all-round good bro’), Mike King. From the sale of each jar of specially labelled honey, Beebro is donating a dollar to Mike King’s The Nutter’s Club. Available online (via www.beebro.co.nz), Beebro’s range is also on o er at locally at the Clevedon and Red Shed Palazzo markets.
ONE PAN WONDERS
HAY SOON, HEY, HEY NOW…
As we head through spring and into summer, making hay when the sun shines is a sensible option. However, such hard work should be rewarded and Hey Hey has again come to the party with a new addition to its popular RTD range. Sour and bitter in all the right ways, the Vodka, Lemon, Lime, Bitters & Soda variety is big on flavour. Available from liquor outlets nationwide, these 4.5% ABV, 330ml cans come in 10 packs at an RRP of $27.99.
Drawing on local pure spring water and South Island barley, Matt and his team (including head distiller, Rohan McGowan) have produced some top shelf bourbons destined to stock shelves at liquor outlets nationwide and beyond.
Pokeno has long been known by those keen to bring home the bacon, but another product is fast becoming the toast of this local town. Now up and running, Pokeno Whisky Company’s distillery is ensuring company founder, Matt Johns, can tap into the single malt market.
Wondering what’s for dinner but don’t have the time or ingredients to cook? Wattie’s has the answer, four of them actually. Featuring Italian Style Risotto, Spanish Style Veg Paella, Moroccan Style Couscous and Asian Style Lentil Curry, Wattie’s ONE PAN range makes it quick and easy to dish up a delightful feast. Available from the freezer aisle of supermarkets (RRP $12 per bag, serves two), these ‘heat and eat’ meals can be prepared in (approximately) 10-11 minutes. But wait, there’s more – to be in to win Wattie’s To Home boxes suited to little ones, see page 6.
From tempting tipples to tasty treats, life can be ‘fare’ enough, thanks to these new (and recent) additions to shelves.
WHERE’S RIGHTBOURBON?THEHERE!
”Unlike anywhere else in the world, the New Zealand spirit is forged through a unique marriage of culture and climate,” Matt says. “This is the spirit that inspires us to experiment with flavour to create world-class, but distinctively di erent, single malts that honour the quality and history of their ingredients.”
36 www.ruralliving.co.nz— Rural Living — September/October 2022
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — NZ's leading Wine, Craft Beer & Fine Spirits retailer FINEWINEDELIVERY.CO.NZ0800FINEWINE Over 2,000 tasted and expertly selected products to shop from 100% FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FASTDELIVERYNATIONWIDE 30 DAY MONEY ASSISTWORLDGUARANTEEBACK$FIRSTEXPERTVIRTUALADVISOR KC15559
To prepare the dressing, whisk the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt and pepper.
To
mustard 1 large
1 tbsp
crushed Pinch of salt Freshly ground pepper
METHOD
4 tbsp olive oil 2 tbsp red
Begin by lining a fine sieve with in the before
yoghurt and strain
serve. 1 x 380g tub Clevedon Buffalo Co Lemon zest yoghurt 1 bunch rhubarb (approx 400g) ¼ cup honey 2 teaspoons rose water ½ cup roughlypistachios,chopped A handful of mint leaves Serves: 4-6 | Preparation: 15 mins | Cooking: 15 mins
½ red
Arrange the potatoes, asparagus and red onion in a serving dish and drizzle with dressing. Toss together gently and serve warm or at room temperature.
Thanks to Clevedon Buffalo Co, we have another recipe, this time for labneh, a yoghurt strained to remove excess whey. Super thick and creamy, it's often used as a fresh cheese in savoury dishes. However, it can be perfect for sweet treats too, as this elegant dessert or game-changing breakfast recipe reveals.
refrigerating overnight.
Cook
POTATO ASPARAGUS&SALAD
Serves: 4 | Prep time: 15 minutes plus overnight straining time: 10 minutes LABNEHZEST–AND ROSE WATER
a piece of cheesecloth and rest on a bowl. Pour
Place the potatoes in a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Once the water is boiling, turn down to a low setting and cook for 12-15 minutes or until tender before draining. Slice the asparagus into thirds and blanch in boiling water for one minute. Remove asparagus from the water and immediately run under cold water.
500 grams potatoes, washed, chopped into quarters or halves (depending on size) bunch asparagus, washed with ends snapped off onion, finely sliced wine vinegar Dijon garlic clove,
38 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
1
METHOD
Roll over roasties, when the spuds come up during spring and summer our salad days are here! And, during those clear, chilly summer nights, warm salads shine even brighter, as this recipe from 5+ A Day proves. For even more delicious ways to make the most of fresh, seasonal produce visit www.5aday.co.nz.
RHUBARB
Preheat the oven to 180°C. Cut the rhubarb into 5cm lengths and place as a single layer in a lipped baking dish, sprinkle with the honey and half a cup of water. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the rhubarb is cooked through but still holding its shape. Sprinkle with the rose water. serve, smear some of the lemon labneh into each bowl and top with the rhubarb, either warm from the oven or at room temperature. Drizzle over the pan juices, top with the pistachios and mint leaves and
INGREDIENTSINGREDIENTS LEMON
METHOD mayonnaise, onion and curry in a bowl and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, gently coat diced avocados with lemon juice to prevent them from browning. diced avocados in half and spoon one half into four shot glasses. Do the same with the crab. Add second layers of avocado and crab in each glass and sprinkle with mint or parsley. Refrigerate at least 30 minutes before serving.
Combine
Divide
Prep time: 20 minutes, plus 30 minutes to chill Serves: four INGREDIENTS 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 onion, finely chopped 1 tsp curry powder (or more, to taste) 2 pittedavocados,anddiced 1 tbsp lemon juice 1 cup crab meat Mint or parsley, to garnish Crab, avocado & curry verrine Fresh and seasonal, these creamy Frenchinspired appetisers also deliver a tangy curry bite. KC15542 5 Queen Street, Waiuku Ph 09 235 8367 E info@thekentishhotel.co.nz www.thekentishhotel.co.nz Visit New Zealand’s oldest, continuous licensed hotel and get a first hand account of the history of the hotel while enjoying your meal ~ We offer special set menus and prices for villagers ~ (Bookings essential) KC15566
For the Milky Bar chocolate sauce, gently heat the ingredients together in a metal bowl over simmering water being careful not to overheat. Whisk to combine.Aheadof
serving, run the Milky Bar chocolate sauce around the edge of serving bowl, place your perfected Milky Bar Pud in the centre, pour over plenty of butterscotch sauce and place a dash of vanilla ice cream on the side. Enjoy!
Lone MilkyStarBar
Pre-heat oven to 175 degrees C. Melt the chocolate then cream the butter and sugar in a mixer until flu y. Lightly whisk the eggs, add gradually to butter and sugar beating well between each addition. Add vanilla essence and beat well. Stir in the melted chocolate and the buttermilk –don’t be alarmed if the mixture curdles. Fold in flour and baking powder. Grease and flour ten 11oz sou e ramekins, placing a round of baking paper in the bottom of each. Generously fill each ramekin three quarters full of batter. Bake at 175 degrees until skewer comes out clean. Set aside for five minutes and run a knife around the outside before gently tipping out the puddings.
INGREDIENTS
1 & 1/2 tbsp whiskey
Puddings 150g white chocolate buttons 190g butter 3/4 cup caster sugar 3 eggs
There’s a new sheri in town! Lone Star Group executive chef, Gerhard Zitzenbacher, may not look like The Milky Bar Kid, but his dish is so good it ought to be locked up! Available from Lone Star restaurants, this pud can also be made at home.
To make the butterscotch sauce, melt butter and sugar together in a pot. When sugar is dissolved, add cream and bring to the boil, then simmer and add whiskey. Remove from heat and refrigerate when slightly cooled.
METHOD Pud
Milky Bar Sunday marketS PalazzoRed Shed www.redshedpalazzo.co.nz Weddings - Birthdays or any special occasions Breakfast/Lunch – licensed OPEN 6 days 8.30am - 4.00pm ON LINE BOOKINGS 16 Jesmond Rd, Karaka Ph (09) 294 6687 Email: eat@redshedpalazzo.co.nz that 70’s shoW sat 3rd dec - Fri 9th dec KAT6932-v15
40 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
1 & 1/2 tsp vanilla essence 1 cup & 2tbsp buttermilk 2 & 1/4 cups flour 1 & 1/2 tsp baking powder
100gms white chocolate buttons 250mls cream
Serves 5
Milky Bar chocolate sauce A 180g block of Milky Bar chocolate
Butterscotch sauce 250g butter 425g soft brown sugar 500ml cream
Johanna Emeney & Sarah Long (illustrator): Sylvia and the Birds | RRP $39.99 | Massey University Press
What time is it? It’s TikTok time! For those of us who were born back when watches weren’t so smart, TikTok is a social media platform famous for its quirkiness. So, mix in the acerbic wit of chef Gordon Ramsey and that of his delightful daughter, Tilly (the pair contributed this book’s Forward), and the result is a recipe book that’s bound to dish out a healthy serving of fun and flavour along the way.
SYLVIA AND THE BIRDS
Oliver wanted more; keen cooks want more Oliver. However, in a way, this time Jamie Oliver is o ering us less. Getting back to basics, Jamie presents 120 recipes all chosen due to being tasty, fuss-free and satisfying. From home lunches to quick dinners, the dishes that can be created with help from this book only require a single pan, meaning less dishes to wash up when we’re done.
Jamie Oliver: ONE – Simple One Pan Wonders | RRP $65 | Michael Joseph
Also known as ‘The Bird Lady’, Sylvia Durrant aided more than 140,000 sick, injured and lost birds during her lifetime, as this book reveals. Part biography, part practical guide to protecting wildlife, this book is intended to teach young readers how to look after birds, fostering knowledge about protecting our environment along the way.
ONE: SIMPLE ONE PAN WONDERS JAMIE OLIVER
PETPROJECTS COOKING THE BOOKS
ASONCOOKEDTIKTOK
CHIPPY CHASERS –CHIPPY JACKPOT
Various authors: As Cooked on TikTok | RRP $40 | Ebury Press
To some Italian cooking comes courtesy of 'the pizza guy', but it need not be that way! Intended to provide ‘a little slice of Italy’, this book shares the culinary secrets of top chefs and nonnas alike. Including silky handmade noodles, savoury pies filled with ricotta and parmigiano, crispy fried seafood, and slow-cooked ossobuco with sa ron risotto, the recipes in this book are sure to inspire.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 41
Sam Cotton: Chippy Chasers – Chippy Jackpot | RRP $17.99 | Pu n
MY REAL DOG
Some dogs don’t bark, steal food, or roll around in smelly things, but that doesn’t make them any less real in the minds of imaginative youngsters. And yet, can a toy dog ever really live up to the real thing? From the Kiwi author of My Cat Can See Ghosts (an NZ Book Awards for Children and Young Adult finalist) comes another entertaining romp for little ones.
Silvia Colloca: The Italian Home Cook | RRP $39.99 | Macmillan
Emily Joe: My Real Dog | RRP $30 | Beatnik Publishing
When the chips are down a certain motley crew of seagulls isn’t too far behind! This book tells the story of thieving birds intent on claiming a jackpot, going for broke in the process. Suited to readers aged six and up, Chippy Chasers is inspired by Sam Cotton’s popular (and comical) ‘Ani-Mates’ posts on TikTok.
THE HOMEITALIANCOOK
All pieces in this collection can be ordered via www.mezzocollection.com and would be far from out of place in more humble homes located here in the islands of New Zealand.
SPICE LIFE: In e orts to corner the spice market Portuguese traders once travelled to all corners of the globe; now it’s Portuguese designers who are intent on exploring foreign soil. Choosing a villa on Palm Jumeirah (an artificial archipelago in Dubai, UAE) as its showroom, Mezzo Collection has adorned two rooms with products from its opulent range.
timeIsland OUT OF EUROPE KAT7723-v8
42 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
Inspired by trends from the 1950s and ‘60s, the furniture featured is chosen to help create a sense of luxury, with bold style in terms of colours and materials. Both the living room and bedroom also reflect the character of Dubai, a mix of middle eastern and modern, western culture.
With older homes, you really can’t go past incorporating a gorgeous rug within the furnishing scheme. Traditional colours and patterns are preferable to geometrics and the like, along with an appropriate base colour to anchor your scheme. Install floor length curtains, furniture with classic forms – such as scalloped headboards, sofas etcetera – with stud detailing. Select clever accessories, including table lamps and mirrors with generous proportions. And, don’t be afraid to accessorise!
Given that there are buyers in the market, the combination of low sales numbers and stable prices indicates that vendors believe prices are bottoming out. New vendors continue to enter the market and we listed 1,394 new properties in August, which was our highest number of new listings for any August over the past six years. At month end, we had 4,637 properties on our books, our highest number of listings at the end of any August for 11 years.
Change is inevitable (and refreshing), but some designs can prove timeless, as Rachael Buxton (Interiors.ETC) explains.
ENDURINGINTERIORDESIGN
‘Rather than signalling that prices are on the increase, however, this reversal is likely to be an indication that prices are plateauing.’
BACK?‘SPRING-ING’SALES
ecently, I was called in to assist with refreshing a client’s home. I was delighted to see that, after 17 years, the interior furnishing choices we made together so long ago had endured. But what defines enduring design and how are enduring design decisions made?
Try your hand at wainscoting – draw up a plan of your preferred design, have your builder nail some timber moulding to the walls (following the plan), then select your preferred paint colour to go over the top. This will deliver an instant ‘wow factor’ having your home looking like a five star hotel.
Rachael Buxton
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 43 THE LATEST ON REAL ESTATE
he downwardmonthlyslide in Auckland house prices came to a halt in August – the median sales price for the month remained consistent with that for July while the average price increased.
T
Darren Szaszy
R
Previously, the average sales price fell four months in a row, but August saw that trend reversed with the average over the previous month increasing by 3.1 per cent to $1,157,899. The median price ($1,111,000) also remained consistent with July’s figures. Rather than signalling that prices are on the increase, however, this reversal is likely to be an indication that prices are plateauing. The prices paid this August are still below those from August 2021, but the average price was down just 2% and the median down 1.7%.
With enduring design, updates can be as simple as a fresh coat of paint, new curtains, or lighting changes for example, all of which will help retain the integrity of your original design for many years to come. Happy decorating!
Always consider the architecture when selecting furnishings. For instance, with contemporary homes, stick to simple forms and textural plain furnishings over busy prints or sheens of any kind. Go for white walls, wooden floors, veneer or painted cabinetry, a tan leather Minotti sofa and a Graypants pendant light. Mix it up with a co ee table in an interesting shape, and that combination will remain current for at least 15 years.
458 Karaka Road, Karaka P: 021 264 8432 E:www.interiorsetc.co.nzinfo@interiorsetc.co.nz Retail Store Open Wednesday to Sunday 10am to 4pm NK0250-v4
By Darren Szaszy, Barfoot & Thompson, Pukekohe
Enduring design has staying power; it is not created as a temporary fix. Instead, it incorporates structural changes and decorating choices that are well researched and made in a holistic manner in keeping with a theme, style or ‘bigger picture’ goal. When they’re well thought out, designs can age brilliantly. That means, in 10, 20 or 30 years, finishes and furnishings don’t look dated and minimal attention is required to tweak a scheme, updating it in line with modern trends.
Where we’re really seeing the market change is in the number of properties being sold. In August, we recorded our lowest number of sales in a month (578) since the Covida ected sales months in mid-2020.
With a high number of new listings, including new builds and a solid base of existing properties, we’re entering the (usually) buoyant spring buying season with an excellent range of properties and choice for buyers. Despite the median sales price sitting at $1,111,000 in August, 18% of all our sales during the month were for properties valued at under $750,000, while only 8% were for properties above the $2 million mark.
Named after one of mythology’s greatest heroes, Achilles, these plants have quite the legendary reputation. Greek mythology asserts yarrow sprang from the metal scrapings of Achilles’ spear and, historically, dried yarrow leaves really were used to staunch wounds sustained in battle. Strange really, considering the aforementioned ‘immortal’ Greek is said to have perished due to a wounded heel, causing him to turn up his toes as it were. Perhaps his spear wasn’t where he needed it on that fateful day.
44 — Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
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lthough it is commonly considered a weed, yarrow (achillea) can be a friend indeed by attracting beneficial insects; in fact, for many gardeners, it can be just what the doctor ordered!
As mythology is ‘all Greek’ to some, let’s turn (very briefly!) to Latin instead. From the Asteraceae family, achillea or yarrow comes in many varieties. These herbaceous perennials grow to just under a metre in height, sprawling to a little over half a metre in width.
with an aversion to aspirin and it can cause photosensitivity, leading to sunburn for those who overindulge. And, as with any natural remedy, it pays to check with a healthcare professional before use.
Blooming from late spring through until early summer (some varieties flower right up until autumn), yarrow plants feature flowers in a range of colours, including white, yellow and red. Preferring freedraining soil and full sun, yarrow requires little in terms of care to prosper.
Natives of Europe and parts of Asia, some types of yarrow are commonly found in pastures throughout New Zealand. Seeds can be purchased online and, depending on the variety, they can then be sown from spring until midsummer or in autumn.
‘HEEL’ THY GARDEN, ACHILLES! Cherry Cooper &Alison Kemp YOUR VISION ... OUR MOTIVE! Cherry: 021 955 141 Alison: 021 848 888 Extraordinary Reach Extraordinary Results! 40yrs combined experience in unique lifestyle living. ‘UNIQUE DUO’ KAT7821-v4
While Achilles fell afoul of an arrow, and wasn’t saved by a yarrow, even today many swear by the plant’s medicinal properties. It is still used to reduce bleeding and is said to have antiinflammatory and antiseptic properties. However, it should not be used by those
CHECKLIST
MITRE 10 MEGA PUKEKOHE MITRE 10 MEGA PUKEKOHE Get sprouted potatoes into the ground Plant, feed and tend to strawberries Apply slug and snail bait around seedlings Spray lawns with Weed & Feed to counter broadleaf weeds Protect sensitive plants from late frosts Spray for Onehunga weed for a prickle-free lawn Repot and feed houseplants
AN IDEAL HABITAT
ATTRACTING BEES
A layered garden should attract native wildlife. While ground cover is needed for insects that bury under the mulch and leaves, bees and butterflies like to nest and hide in middle layer of bushes and shrubs while feeding from the flowers. Trees provide the top later (the canopy) protecting birds and providing shade.
Birds are drawn in by flowers because they produce sugar (nectar) and protein (pollen). A garden with flowers blooming throughout the year should encourage birds to set up home permanently. And, the more native plants present, the more appealing a garden will be to birds.
Elevated birdbaths provide safe places for birds to drink and paddle, but make sure water is shallow enough for them to stand in to clean their feathers, and clean birdbaths regularly to prevent waterborne diseases. Feeders (some using nectar) and bird houses are also useful in encouraging birds to make themselves at home.
www.ruralliving.co.nz Rural Living — September/October 2022 — 45 KC15374
BRINGING BIRDS & BEES INTO THE GARDEN with houseplant fertiliser
ATTRACTING BIRDS
ees, butterflies, birds and insects play an important role in ensuring our gardens thrive. Because they pollinate flowers, fertilise plants and keep our ecosystems in check, creating a habitat they’ll love will help them work hard for us.
As pollinators, bees, butterflies and other insects transfer pollen from one flower to another, fertilising plants so they can start forming fruits and seeds. Unfortunately, wildlife (especially bees) are under threat, so it’s important we do all we can to attract them to our gardens and aid their survival.
Bees will keep your garden healthy and vibrant. Plant flowers each season to deliver a steady source of nectar and pollen throughout the year. Some ‘beefriendly’ flowers include:
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Summer: rosemary, nasturtiums Autumn: pansies, anemones Winter: calendula, camellias Spring: lavender, marigolds
Avoid hybrid varieties of flowers and plants as they often lack nectar. On the other hand, wildflower seed collections are most useful in bringing colour to your garden and attracting bees. If you have a vegetable garden, mix in some flowers bees tend to favour (such as marigolds, lavender and nasturtiums); this will also help ensure bees pollinate veggies, increasing your harvest.
Only spray pesticides early mornings or evenings, when bees are asleep in their hives, and do not spray when plants are flowering. Where possible, opt for organic pest control solutions such as Rememberpyrethrum.thatbees need water, so have a shallow water source available.
— Rural Living — September/October 2022 www.ruralliving.co.nz
Show prospective buyers the useability of a living space through comfort pieces and Paintingfunctionality.thewalls in more neutral colours that allow for the flow of light and improving window coverings, removing heavy drapes or blinds, and opting for more light filtering choices which can showcase the functionality of the living areas.
Tile paint can also provide an affordable alternative to re-tiling a whole bathroom or painting walls can brighten smaller spaces.
Reducing clutter in the rooms and investing in storage and smart technology can hide away those unsightly cords. It can also give the buyer an insight into how easily technology can be integrated into the home and allow them to see the possibilities of the home.
ADD A LITTLE BATHROOM LUXURY
Depending on the type of kitchen cupboards, you could try repainting in a fresh new colour and paint tiles or use stick-on tiles for a refresh.
furnishings and decorative pieces can appeal to buyers, especially those that are understated and don’t detract from the property.
of the rooms that you may like to consider refreshing prior to sale may include the bathroom, kitchen and living areas.
For an extra option updating the benchtops and appliances can appeal to even the most discerning buyer on their hunt for a new home.
KAT5307-v57 Jo-Ann Day-Townsend 0800 TOWNSEND or 021 1696 jo-ann.day-townsend@raywhite.com056www.joanndaytownsend.co.nz When you think about making improvements to your home prior to selling, you may look at the most affordable options that are going to add value to the property and ensure that you don’t overcapitalise. Waiuku, 948 Awhitu Road Glen Murray, 538 Waikaretu Valley Road COUNTRYSIDETHE with Day-TownsendJo-AnnBeginsTHREE
For the sales campaign, investing in a complimentary colour palette for soft
When presenting the property for sale, you might like to add small items like indoor plants, designer-looking towels or candles and decorative items.
Bathroom renovations don’t need to cost the earth and simple changes may be all that is needed to give the bathroom a refresh. Updating tap fittings, shower heads and door handles can be an inexpensive upgrade.
Southern Corridor Realty Licensed Agent REAA 2008
Give Jo-Ann a call if you want to know what you could do to your home to make the most of it before you sell. ROOMS THAT ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME
Small improvements to some rooms in your home can give the property a quick refresh and often add significant value to the sale
Someprice.
Updating the floors with affordable options like vinyl or laminate floor coverings and new cupboard door handles can be purchased from your local hardware store and easily installed to give an instant facelift.
OPEN THE LIVING SPACE
The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home and is an area that many buyers will focus on when making a purchase.
GIVE THE KITCHEN A FACELIFT
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