Rural Living September-October 2013 by Times Media

September/October 2013

www.ruralliving.co.nz

Westie in-port

Win!

Prizes galore

Ewen Gilmour firmly anchored among us – page 25

Running

RINGS around weather

page 12

Pukekohe 09 238 7019

covershot

Riding the open roads of Tuakau, Port Waikato and surrounds, renowned comedian, Ewen Gilmour took a little time for a pit stop to chat with Rural Living. We discovered why this westie chose to seek safe harbour and take the rural air. See page 25. Photo Wayne Martin

From the editor... This year’s mild winter has made it a pleasure to traipse around the district, enjoying every country turn whilst also revelling in our busy café culture and bustling retail precincts. With so much at hand, there’s little call to head to the big smoke but there was a time when I couldn’t imagine living beyond the CBD. Despite being a city girl, born and bred, I actually grew up surrounded by farm animals and one or two exotics as well. Our street was typical of the inner city – wooden villas sitting side by side on snug sections. But at the rear of our property was an acre of land on which my neighbour kept chickens – for eggs and table. He also had ducks and bred Yorkshire canaries. Every day, after school, I went with him to scythe the long grass which we put through a cutter and mixed with bread to make

mash for the hens. We also cleaned the water troughs and spread wheat on the ground. And bliss, I had my own hen, Poppy. Then Charlie the lamb joined the menagerie. I was devoted to him and was duly heartbroken when my woolly friend was sent to the works. At home I had a cat and the neighbour had a dog but, as a member of the Junior Zoo Club, I also came into contact with ‘wild beasties’. Among my favourites were orang-utans, Topsy and Turvey, whom keepers often walked through the zoo grounds dragging a sack with them to roll, hide and play – it was magical. But the biggest thrill was helping to hand raise a leopard cub. Chad was abandoned at birth by his mother who also chewed off an ear so our bundle of fluff came into the office where Tina the tabby became surro-

gate ‘mum’. What fun we had until even the stoutest trousers were badly torn in ‘play’. Yet, even after his transfer to a cage, Chad enjoyed regular zoo walks on a leash. Sadly, he died under anaesthetic when being moved to a new location. Since those youthful times, my home has welcomed cats, a dog, mice (they lasted a fortnight) and several rabbits – all have stories I could tell but there’s just no space. However, do enjoy my tale of three turkeys see page 20 – just another animal antic of my younger days. In the meantime, here’s to the good country life. Cheers

Helen Perry Editor

A Publication of Times House Publishing Ltd

Freephone: 0800 456 789 Ph: 09 271 8080 www.ruralliving.co.nz info@ruralliving.co.nz

Editor: Helen Perry DDI 09 271 8036 Email: editor@ruralliving.co.nz Sales Consultant: Maree Aucamp DDI 09 271 8090 Email: mareea@ruralliving.co.nz Caroline Boe DDI 09 271 8091 Email: caroline@ruralliving.co.nz Nicole Marshall DDI 09 271 8092 Email: nicolem@ruralliving.co.nz Art Director: Clare McGillivray DDI 09 271 8067, Fax: 09 271 8071 Email: clare@ruralliving.co.nz Manager: Karla Wairau DDI 09 271 8083, Fax: 09 271 8099 karla@timeshouse.co.nz Publisher: Brian Neben 50 Stonedon Dr, East Tamaki, AKLD PO Box 259-243, Botany, Auckland 2163 Ph: 09 271 8080, Fax: 09 271 8099 Like us on facebook 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 House Publishing 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 newspaper. All the material in this newspaper has the protection of international copyright. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Times House Publishing Ltd.

inside RURAL Page 6 Bumpkin Banter – readers share stories and photos

Page 7 Successfully raising Red Devons

Page 8 Brian’s Diary – a country lad’s perspective

Page 9 Check out Rural Living’s Ag Day competition details

Page 10-11

Baked lamb shanks run hot – page 32.

Living Page 25

Animal burial – disposing of small and large dead stock

Ewen Gilmour – a little bit country

Page 12

Page 26

Over the gate with Ken Ring

Page 13-15 On the farm this month looks at pasture management

Page 18-19 Legal obligations regarding wandering stock

4 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

Reay’s Diary - nerve-wracking start to spring

Page 28-29 Top 10 attractions in New Caledonia

Page 30 Sensible beauty tips

Page 31 Spring fashion hits the runways at New Zealand Fashion Week

Page 32 Spring on a plate

Page 34 Coming up roses

Page 35-37 Outdoor living and gardening

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Bumpkin Banter Today Rural Living features its first page of Bumpkin Banter – cute and comical anecdotes and photographs sent in by our readers. Keep sending us your briefs, trivia and photos of country life – email to info@ruralliving.co.nz.

Do electric dogs dream of bouncing sheep? By Liz Clark One afternoon a couple of summers ago, the peaceful setting around our farm was shattered by the screech of tyres and a loud “baa!” On top of that, our sanitychallenged dog decided to bark himself into a howling frenzy. This ending any chance of us minding our own darned rural business despite the drama unfolding on the road beyond the farm gate. The cause of the disturbance was a large Romney ewe that somehow, had managed to bounce her way out of a stock trailer, towed by a passing Land Rover. She bounced along the road with a rabid pack of yelling kids, an annoyed driver and our now escapee dog all following in hot pursuit.

Alyssa Dromgool (12) from Waiau Pa Primary with calf, Rangi. Alyssa has been attending calf club from aged 4 with a calf, chicken or lamb without any help.

Through fences, over fences, under fences they all ploughed, as I tried to retrieve the dog which, conveniently and suddenly, had developed a hearing problem. It was pure pandemonium! Oh, funny hah hah – but not so much considering the idiot canine was hurtling towards a powerful electrified fence designed to keep bulls in, and everything else out!

BANG! Into the fence he careered. The yelping of electrified dog must have carried all the way to the nearby town. After that, he had a decided tick for a few days. As for the bouncing sheep? Much to the frustration of all who had pursued her, she made it to the hills never to be seen again, leaving one Land Rover driver with nothing but an I.O.Ewe!

Raiden Bregmen of Mangatawhiri School with his lamb, Moon (in a boat on land). “Come on Moon, just you and me and the seven seas!”

Ducking for cover By a bird and cat lover

Just had to share this photo of Alita Dickinson’s pet Kune Kune pig, Pearl, who she gave a home to last year. Although she is deaf Pearl is a cheery character. Here she is in a field of daffodil enjoying a morning apple.

6 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

Gareth Morgan will never have to worry about my cat bringing down the native bird population or any other birds for that matter. She blissfully ignores the sparrows that regularly gather yards from my kitchen window. Blackbirds may prompt a lazy turn of the head, but they are all too wise to her occasional efforts to hide among the bushes from where she might watch the early morning bird feast on our lawn. Only once have I seen her lope forward but the birds

set up such a clamour she hightailed it into the house. However, last week took the birdseed, so to speak. A large black and white duck appeared in our backyard and proceeded to waddle down the right-of-way. It passed within 15cm of madam puss sitting centre of the drive – not a swish of the tail or twitch of whisker did I see! Being poised to intervene if things got nasty, my concern was totally unwarranted – said duck went on its merry way and puss strolled inside for her dry food dinner.

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Red Devons – good

devon cattle

old fashioned breed

By Anna McNaughton Wayne and Tricia Aspin have made a lifetime habit of excelling in everything they do. They have published a book apiece, still compete as worldclass Masters orienteers and all their farming endeavours have been crowned with success. Gaining farm ownership through the traditional sharemilking route during the 1970s, Wayne and Tricia bought 73 hectares by the Manukau Harbour at Matakawau, naming the property Tinopai. They gradually built up an elite herd of 160 Jersey cows; top milkers selected also for conformation and temperament. By the time the herd was dispersed and sold in 1989 Tinopai Jerseys were the top breeding index herd in New Zealand and all stock made excellent prices. They next looked at using their land to farm red deer. The cows had funded the costly fencing/handling facilities and by 2003 the farm was being applauded by the New Zealand Deer Farming Association. However, deer were proving hard on the fragile, coastal edge land, with streams and wetlands suffering acute pugging damage. The Aspins set to fencing off and planting all their gullies and wetlands and, today, reckon the best legacy of the deer is the environmental enhancement which they sparked. Three QE2 reserves have been established and, in 2003, the farm was the premier winner of the Sir Peter and Fiona Lady Elworthy Environmental Award as well as the ANZ Biodiversity Award winner. “These days, we get a great deal of enjoyment from the beauty of the trees and the increased birdlife,” says Wayne. By 2007 the deer were gone and red cattle were taking their place. Wayne had been running

Wayne and Tricia Aspin. beef cattle on those areas of the farm not deer-proofed. Looking for a breed to focus on meant seeking the best fit for their farm and Red Devons began to look like the ideal option. Unlike most British and European breeds, they had not been ‘improved’ into largeframed, American-style animals. The breed description suggested docile temperaments, moderate size, easy calving, and an attractive rich-red colouring. Wayne started with four purebred in-calf cows and found that they fitted the breed description and his requirements. The Tinopai Red Devon Stud was under way and today has grown to nearly 75 breeding cows, making it one of the largest recorded Red Devon studs in New Zealand.

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Wayne says the policy is to calve in spring and autumn. This makes more work but allows first calvers to grow on before mating while the autumn-born, service bulls are grown-on and sold at 17-18 months, rather than as nearly yearlings. “We have developed a good market for bulls for the dairy industry while fresh bloodlines from Australia augment the local pedigrees, providing an opportunity to sell to other Red Devon studs.” The entrepreneurial farmer has also taken on the presidency of the thriving Red Devon Breed Society of New Zealand, which is hosting the international breeders’ tour of both islands in February, 2014. Needless to say, Tinopai Stud will be on the itinerary!

Red Devon cattle are a truly ancient British breed with red cattle having been noted in the southwestern English counties of Dorset, Somerset, Devon and Cornwall by the Romans in 55B.C. They were early colonisers of North America, with records of a consignment being shipped to Plymouth, USA, in 1623. The Devon herd book was founded in 1850, with the UK breed society forming in 1884.They are sometimes described as North Devons, notably on Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls’ farm where they are his beef breed of choice. Red Devon cattle were imported to New Zealand as draught, beef, and milking animals for our early settlers particularly in Northland. Originally a dual purpose milk and meat breed, the focus is now on the beef strains. However, the breed retains good milk production, which adds to its maternal value. Horns are gradually being bred out of the Devon with most breeders focusing on polled bloodlines, Red Poll and Angus cattle having been used to introduce the polled gene. Hardy in both hot and cool climates, they are good foragers, and are used for conservation grazing, particularly on heath and moorland in the UK. Breeders have retained the desirable traits – moderate frame, docile temperament, calving ease and strong red colouring which make them ideal for both large and small beef breeding operations.

Rural Living — September-October — 7

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Setting off on new course Brian Neben publishes Rural Living and is also an avid lifestyle farmer

COUNTRY LAD Like many lifestyle people, when we bought our property nearly 20 years ago we had no idea what we were going to do or how to make use of our piece of land. When negotiating the purchase we were made aware that it was GST registered as a horse-breeding establishment – but what did we know about horses? Our only past experience had been as part of a syndicate over several years. Originally we had been in a thoroughbred syndicate which had some success but not lots of excitement. It was some time later that close friends invited us to join a trotting syndicate they were forming. This we enjoyed. Following on from this experience it was suggested we buy a brood mare and carry on with the breeding. Naturally, there was great excitement when we purchased our ﬁrst brood mare. She duly arrived at our property with the name of Eliza Doolittle, a lovely mare with a foal at foot. With a name like that we had no trouble naming the baby colt,

Henry Higgins and for many years we continued this My Fair Lady theme. Eliza was aptly named as, at times, she was terribly stubborn and certainly had a mind of her own. That stubbornness stayed in the genes of most of her progeny as our trainer and several well-known drivers can attest. Eliza presented us with 11 foals mostly with names that came out of the My Fair Lady musical such as Flyin’ Freddy, All Night Dancer, Spanish Rain, I’m A Good Girl, Alﬁe Doolittle, Emma Do and Colonel Pickering. After delivering her last foal we ran out of names so, as many of you will recall, we ran a naming competition in Rural Living. We couldn’t believe the number of entries we received – more than 300! The winning entry was El Sudoku and this brings me to the last piece of this tale. We have just bid farewell to ‘Dookie’ as he was called in the Geoffrey Small stables. Sold to Australia, he made the trip across the Tasman just a couple of weeks ago. We were extremely sad to see him go but hope he continues to win for his new owners. El Sudoku gave us a great deal of pleasure and was our most successful pacer. He had eight wins, four seconds and four thirds from 30 races – we were delighted. Our breeding programme is

Brian bids farewell to El Sudoku. still going strong, if you can call one brood mare a programme! Every year we have another horse for the sales or the trainer and, with our new, young brood mare, we hope to carry on for

many years to come. It is an interest that has certainly added enormous pleasure to our rural lifestyle. Until next month, Brian

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8 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

r e t s i g Re now!

Ag Day Competition

A BIG thanks to all those schools that have registered to take part in Rural Living’s photo competition of Ag Days, Calf Club and Country Day events now underway. With more than $1000 worth of fabulous prizes up for grabs by the winning school, we have received a great response. But, if you haven’t yet registered, you can still do so by emailing us at info@ruralliving.co.nz. Entries must be received by Tuesday, October 22. Then, following each event, schools should send us up to 20 of their best shots for public voting on line and for inclusion in our upcoming magazine Ag Day feature. Rural Living knows youngsters, too, love taking their own photos so we are also running a great photo competition for students who can individually email us their photos taken with baby animals at home or at school. These will be judged by the Rural Living team with some great prizes in the offing for three lucky children. REMINDER: All photos sent to Rural Living via email – info@ruralliving.co.nz – need to be high resolution jpegs of at least 1MB in order to be published in print.

ag days Sat, September 28 Ararimu School Bombay School Brookby School Buckland School Drury School Paparimu School Pukekohe East Puni School Fri, October 18 Clevedon School Otaua School Pukekawa School Waiau Pa Sat, October 19 Aka Aka School

Glenbrook School Harrisville School Hunua School Kaiaua School Karaka School Onewhero School Pukeoware School Te Hihi School

GROUP DAYS Wed, October 23 A&P Showgrounds, Pukekohe Fri, November 1 Ardmore School

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Rural Living — September-October — 9

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tion of casualty calves in spring. The business collects more than 30,000 cows and 200,000 calves annually. It is vital that the company is notified as soon as possible so that the animal can be collected on the next available run, ensuring its freshness. Damaged or rotten animals will not be collected.

Where animals are considerate enough to die within reasonable access of your gateway, you can arrange for carcasses to be picked up by a licensed dead stock collection service. Operators skin the dead animals and render the carcass to produce protein meals, tallow and fertiliser. Dead animals should be carefully handled as damaging their skins greatly diminishes their value. The collection point should not be visible from the road. In Franklin and Waikato, Wallace Corporation provides a year-round casualty collection service, including the collec-

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“Where there’s livestock, there’s dead stock.” The old saying is trite but true, and sooner or later all livestock owners face the unfortunate task of disposing of an animal whose demise has been unplanned. Getting out the garden spade isn’t really an option for large animals, but a number of alternatives exist.

n Offal pits are generally vertical shafts drilled about one metre in diameter and a few metres deep. n Pits must be at least 50 metres from waterways, wetlands, bores and property boundaries. n Pits should not be located in areas prone to flooding or ponding caused by heavy rainfall. n Cover the pits with a concrete slab at last 125mm thick with access from at least one airtight cover plate. Usually there are two – the smaller will accommodate small creatures such as chooks, possums or rats; the larger can be removed for disposal

of larger animals such as calves or sheep. n Animals and rodents must be prevented from accessing the pit. n Do not use disinfectant to reduce odour as this will inhibit the decomposition process. n Do not add lime as this will slow down decomposition. n Do not use an offal pit as landfill or for the disposal of chemicals. n Do not light fires anywhere near an offal pit – gases produced by decomposition can be flammable. n Locate pit well away from dwellings… and downwind of them!

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of the dead tated one can be even worse. A licensed petfood operator can put down an animal humanely onsite and remove the body, and will even pay you a small amount. However, conditions apply; under New Zealand Food Safety Authority regulations some diseased animals may not be able to be uplifted. AC Petfoods will take ‘down cows’ with an injury such as a fracture, dislocation or paralysis, and some illnesses. They can slaughter cows treated with most drugs even within a meat withholding period. The animal needs to be in a small holding paddock or yard to minimise distress or injury and for ease of shooting. Petfood cows DO NOT require NAIT tags. Petfood companies will also take horses. Animals transported to abattoirs, whether for petfood or for human consumption, must be

able to stand, bear weight and walk on all four entire limbs and be fit enough to withstand the journey without suffering unreasonable pain or distress.

Burial For a favourite animal none of the above options may appeal, making burial the best solution. Few lifestylers have a digger on hand, but tradesmen with the necessary equipment are often happy to oblige. Richard Logan of Animal Burials specialises in just that, providing a service for all types of livestock from cattle to goats, alpacas or emus. Many horse owners speak highly of Richard’s professional and caring approach to their beloved charges as they are laid to rest. He also offers a transportation service for horses that die away from home. Burial is not the cheapest

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Principles of dead stock management n Dispose of the animal as soon as possible to reduce the risk of disease spreading and to minimise odour and flies. n Do not leave animal carcasses in the open where dogs or other animals can get to them or where they are visible from the road. n Never dispose of carcasses in farm dairy effluent ponds. n Keep dead stock well away from waterways, wetland and bores.

method of disposal, but is sometimes the only practical option when an animal has to be euthanased by a vet. And it’s amazing where a digger can go when an unplanned death occurs in an

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Rural Living — September-October — 11

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Over

the gate

With Ken Ring

weather guru shines

When local lifestylers ring in the New Year, some will be left unsure as to whether the weather will deliver favourable conditions. However, others, armed with a copy of Ken Ring’s 2014 New Zealand Weather Almanac, may know exactly how their gardens and fields will grow. To discover how the former maths teacher can regularly predict weather patterns long before they occur, Ken chatted to Rural Living...over the gate. What’s the weather looking like in 2014?

ing it is the enemy, as some climate change lobbyists would have us believe. Because floods and droughts will reoccur, we should be future-proofing with drainage and irrigation, which will be our future insurance for farms and livelihoods.

Actually, it’ll be another great year for farmers. It should be another warm summer, with enough regular rain to stay off drought. A slightly wetter than average year overall, with average sunshine hours and mostly mild temperatures.

Do you think country air is good for the soul? If so, why?

How is it that you’re able to predict weather so far in advance?

I love country air, especially coastal, air. It tends to be clean, dry, pure, salty and warm, and crisp at night. Birds such as seagulls quickly get rid of rotting carcases, whereas the noisy city scares a lot of birds away. I think if the air feels clean and pure then the soul does too.

I liken it to tide tables; the weather has a daily tide, with monthly peaks and troughs with the moon in control as for the sea tide. As all this is subject to repeating cycles, the trends are able to be calculated in advance.

If you could grow anything or raise any animal, what would it be and why?

Why is it so important for lifestylers in particular to be able to predict the weather? It means long-term planning is more effective. For instance, what and when to plant, when to paint the roof and which week might be best to take holidays. Also what extreme weather to batten down for. How did your background lead to predicting the weather? My interest in patterns came in useful when my family and I lived an outdoor life in the 1970s and I regarded myself as a serious fisherman. I realised the tides and weather correlated so well that studying tide cycles could give me a heads up on weather too. It kept on working out so I spent about four years studying why, and came up with a workable system.

Ken Ring Generally speaking, how accurate are your predictions? Many farmers give me about 80-85% success rate. That means, overall, a month or two per year may be a bit out because it’s not an exact science. The trends are the main message and one shouldn’t expect it to be too precise because there are many local factors also going on in weather. But my aim is that it will always be more useful than having nothing. How do you keep such a sunny disposition in the wake of people debunking your predictions? Farmers understand weather

12 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

because they experience it first hand, and I always learn a lot from them. I only wish to attract positive people, and I think that debunkers are mostly fearful of the moon and have issues about academic elitism. I write for farmers. Generally those who debunk are not farmers and so I simply don’t write my almanac for them. What is the most important thing you believe lifestylers can do to assist the environment? I think we should be mindful of, and not overreact about, unusual weather patterns or seasons. The trick is to work with nature rather than think-

I’m passionate about avocados and oranges, and would love a large space to grow more of them. I already have 12 citrus trees and one avocado tree on my small piece of city land. If you could exchange yarns around the table with any three people, living or dead, who and why? Some farmers may remember a mate of mine, the late Harry Alcock from the Waikato. Harry and I pooled our knowledge in the late 1990s and I would love to discuss some subsequent discoveries with him. Secondly, I’d pick my loving, late father who, in his way, was something of a maverick. Thirdly, either Copernicus or Sir Isaac Newton (whoever is available!) because both would have known exactly what I am trying to achieve.

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On the farm this month Spring on the farm or lifestyle block brings a mountain of chores from mending fences to chipping out thistles. While many folk will be dealing with young livestock giving them plenty to do, On The Farm this month looks at pasture management and soil nutrients. Many farmers and lifestylers are experiencing good spring growth so now is the time to start planning which paddocks you will take out of the grazing round for silage. Remember to have pasture available for grazing if feed gets short – the golden rule is, never starve stock. But, it is important to realise pasture is not free feed – it costs landowners rent, rates, fertiliser, fencing and labour so shouldn’t be wasted. Management is all about ‘pasture utilisation’. Feeding value of pasture is at its best in the green, leafy ‘vegetative stage’ and not when it starts to grow long, becomes fibrous, matures and goes to seed. Also consider adding some nitrogen to help build feed for early next year – January and February. Adding some to silage paddocks will help get them going again too. Now, that the soil temperatures are rising rapidly nitrogen fertiliser will give pastures that desirable boost, but don’t view it as a magic fix. You should at least get a response of 10:1 or 10kg of dry matter for each kg of nitrogen in the fertiliser. While often all the emphasis is on nitrogen it is important those other big players, phos-

Spreading fertiliser for soil health and leaf growth. phorus and potassium, are also adequate, with secondary nutrients such as sulphur, magnesium and calcium at good levels too. Check your last soil test, and get it updated but if you are new to soil testing and reading a soil test is a mystery, then seek help as to what it all means. Because there are so many fertiliser brands on the market, sales and promotion are prone to hype, so question all claims.

Those with no idea about soil nutrients may have heard farmers and other landowners talk about the big N-P-K. They are referring to N – nitrogen; P – phosphrous and K – potassium. Nitrogen is the green ‘managing director’ plants require for lush, sturdy growth. It is probably the nutrient most familiar to gardeners who know that nitrogen deficiencies cause leaves to lose their healthy, green colour.

This yellowing is called chlorosis and generally begins at the base of plants working its way up so that the plants look weak and spindly. One way to supply soil and plants with nitrogen supplements is to provide a foliar feeding of fish emulsion and a root feeding of dried blood, rabbit manure or a commercially prepared organic fertiliser for an immediate pick-me-up. Compost-enriched manures, garden and kitchen wastes, even tea and coffee grounds, provide excellent long-term sources of nitrogen. You know you have a phosphorus deficiency if there is a purpling of leaves, veins, and stems. Phosphorus deficiency can show up in various garden produce too. For example tomato leaves turn purple, radish leaves develop a reddish colour on the undersides which then yellow progressively during maturity and leaves on corn turn yellow. That condition may appear to be caused by a lack of nitrogen, but if corn kernels don’t fill the rows or ear tips and the leaves have yellowed, the problem is probably a lack of phosphorus. When it comes to potassium, this important nutrient remains in solution after being absorbed Continued overleaf

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From previous page and flows through plants completing several important functions necessary for good health. These include helping in the manufacture of sugars and their movement within plants. This has a direct bearing on a plant’s ability to resist diseases. Potassium also adjusts the openings of leaf pores to make them open wide when moisture is available and close tightly during drought. Availability of potash (potassium compound) increases photosynthesis by increasing the amount of chlorophyll in leaves. That helps plants better utilise available light. Excellent natural sources of potash for a summer quick fix include a foliar feeding of fish emulsion and liquid seaweed and root feeding with wood ashes, well-rotted cow manure, aged poultry manure, and compost enriched with corn stalks. While the big three are often seen as most important to healthy soil and therefore

Make sure pasture is available for grazing if feed gets short. healthy plant growth, calcium, magnesium, and sulphur have an essential growth role too. Calcium builds the cell walls of plant tissues and neutralises acids produced by plants as toxic by-products of metabolism. It regulates the availability of other nutrients, builds plant proteins, and prevents magnesium toxicity. Limestone is rich in calcium while bone meal, oyster shells, wood ashes, and compost are

other natural sources. When it comes to magnesium it’s important to remember photosynthesis would be impossible without it because chlorophyll depends on its presence. Magnesium aids in a plant’s use of other nutrients, including nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulphur. Sulphur is the third secondary element needed for healthy plant growth. It helps plants produce proteins and enzymes,

but there’s an inherent problem with retaining sulphur, especially in sandy soil. Unlike many other elements, sulphur isn’t readily held by soil particles. Instead it leaches past the root zone where, in time, it becomes unavailable to plants. The high porosity and low organic content of sandy soil amplify the problem. Chlorosis is the primary result of sulphur deficiencies. The yel-

hay-day no mayday for contractors Farmers and lifestylers may be driven to making hay while the sun shines, but such projects can be dangerous for rural contractors, warns Rural Contractors New Zealand (RCNZ). With the hay and silage season underway, RCNZ president,

Steve Levet, advises motorists to be vigilant and patient when approaching rural contractors and their machinery on the road. “There’s more and larger machinery on our roads than normal as contractors travel around helping farmers replen-

ish their supplementary feed stocks,” he says. “Some of our gear can be pretty big and it may be hard for operators to see traffic approaching. The last thing they want to do is hold up traffic and they’ll make every effort to ensure motorists can pass them

in a safe and timely manner.” Motorists are requested to take a wide berth when passing machinery to ensure a safe passage. “All we are asking is that motorists exhibit some patience and understanding so we can all be safe on our roads.”

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lowing, however, differs from that of a nitrogen deficiency. The entire leaf doesn’t dry and become brittle as when lacking nitrogen. The soil’s need for sulphur strikes legumes first, with yellow leaves developing. As they increase in number growth becomes noticeably interrupted. However, don’t be too quick to suspect a sulphur deficiency in the soil. Sulphur can find its way into the soil by other means. Water supplies often contain sulphur in quantities sufficient to supply the small amounts needed by plants when watering. So where irrigation systems are in place, pasture may well be receiving adequate sulphur but where landowners rely on rainfall only, it could be a different story. If opting for commercial fertilisers and dressings, which supply the soil with its compre-

hensive needs, avoid waterways and troughs. Also, wait till it has rained before putting stock to graze on newly fertilised ground. Don’t fertilise the whole farm in one go and remember, lime poses less risk to stock than chemical fertilisers. When you think pasture growth is getting out of control, start to rotate the stock faster so they are just knocking the top off – don’t graze too low. But when that’s not enough, decide which paddocks to close up for silage. At this stage forget about saving paddocks for hay; this comes later when pasture has gone beyond 15% seed heads, which is the limit for quality silage. Of course, weeds will be growing well, too, and starting to flower. Now is the time to deal with them, preferably in an environmentally-friendly way!

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RURAL ��

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Million dollar boost for animal health It’s less baying and more beaming for farm animals and their owners thanks to the official launch of Bayer’s new million-dollar research facility and laboratory on Auckland’s North Shore last month. The German multinational corporation is investing $10 million dollars annually in research and development in New Zealand and the new facility devoted to pet and farm animal health research is part of that investment. Housed in Bayer’s Centre for Innovation and Development (CID) in Glenfield, the project replaces a smaller laboratory at Bayer’s Manukau production site and will focus on developing more stable and effective veterinary medicines. Not unsurprisingly, there was no ribbon cutting at the opening ceremony of this facility. Instead, Minister of Science and Innovation Steven Joyce, Bayer ANZ CEO Dr Jackie Applegate and Bayer’s head of global animal health development Dr Douglas Hutchens donned lab coats and goggles to mix a chemical solution in a tank which cleared to reveal a commemorative plaque. Dr Hutchens said Bayer chose to invest in New Zealand because of its expertise in farm animals, and also because of the entrepreneurial spirit and can-do attitude of Kiwis.

Minister Steven Joyce and Wayne Leech, Head of the Centre for Photo supplied Innovation and Development. “People here usually try to find a way to say yes, and find a solution to helping animals and helping our customers.” The animal health sector is one of the smallest in Bayer but with the new laboratory, it holds great potential, he said. “The animal health industry in the Bayer group is valued at about 1.3b Euros, but we hope this new facility will contribute significantly to the growth of the area over the next 10 years.” And it seems New Zealand is already pulling its weight with new formulations for animal health being rolled out globally. For example, tylofen, a product serving as an anti-inflammatory and anti-infective drug, which effectively treats wounds and relieves pain. CID head Wayne Leech said

medicine was an important, but often overlooked means of improving life on the farm. “This new laboratory demonstrates Bayer’s commitment to providing veterinary solutions to meet the needs of New Zealand and regional markets.” As owner of a lifestyle block in Albany, Mr Joyce showed particular interest in the project. A lifestyler since 2005, the Minister, who holds a zoology degree, admits the farm, which once bustled with animals, has been put on the back burner. “Unfortunately, the whole lifestyle dream has had to take a backseat to politics.” But that’s not to say the farm will be neglected forever. “The next herd will no doubt get some great animal health products!” he commented.

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Theileria – an emerging

Vet Talk with Franklin Vets

disease in our area

Theileria orientalis is a parasite which lives in the red blood cells of cattle. To become infected, a cow must be bitten by a tick which is carrying the disease. It is not spread by direct animal to animal contact. There have been an increasing number of cases in Northland over the past 18 months and this spring we have seen a large number of cases in South Auckland, North Waikato and the Hauraki Plains. It has also affected herds in central Waikato, King Country and the Bay of Plenty. It does not affect other species or humans. Cattle can be infected with the Theileria parasite without necessarily showing any signs of clinical disease. Once the animal is infected, the body

reacts by trying to destroy the parasite. Because the parasite is living inside the red blood cells, the body destroys its own infected red blood cells (haemolysis) to try and get to the parasite. This loss of red blood cells is called anaemia and results in the following signs in animals: ■■ Pale or yellow (jaundice) mucous membranes i.e. the gums, the membranes inside the vulva and conjunctiva (the white around the eye)

LIFESTYLE FARMING Now is the time of the year to think about using targeted tick control to remove tick larvae from the pasture. Contact your nearest Franklin Vets Clinic for tailored advice for your property.

■■ Depression ■■ Weakness ■■ Lack of appetite ■■ Abortion ■■ Poor milk production Over time cattle will gradually build up a level of natural immunity to Theileria. The biggest risk is where an animal, which has had no previous exposure to Theileria, becomes exposed. For example, animals that have not previously been exposed to Theileria entering a herd where it is prevalent, or where a herd is moved into a region where the disease is present and large numbers of ticks exist. If you see any of the above signs, or would like more information about Theileria, please contact your veterinarian. The control of ticks is important during high tick-

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RURAL

Ticks carrying Theileria put cattle at risk especially between August and March. risk periods. This is commonly mid-August to mid-March, but as long as the mean air temperature is above 7˚C ticks will be active to some degree. Now is the time of the year to think about using targeted tick control to remove tick larvae from the pasture. There are limited products available for the control of ticks. Contact your Franklin Vets Clinic for tailored advice for your property.

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Rural Living — September-October — 17

RURAL ��

Greener pastures

the liability of wandering stock By Leandra Fitzgibbon, from Argyle Welsh Finnigan Houdini could free himself from the seemingly inescapable, but could the same be said for your livestock? Is the grass in your neighbour’s paddock greener? Have you ever been driving home and come across a lost cow or sheep grazing on the side of the road? In rural New Zealand, wandering stock are a serious public safety risk. In addition, they can cause costly damage to other people’s property. Farmers have a duty to ensure that their farms are adequately fenced to contain their livestock and they are liable for any damage that is caused by their wandering stock.

So what constitutes adequate fencing? An adequate fence means a fence that, as to its nature, condition, and state of repair, is reasonably satisfactory for the purpose that it serves or is intended to serve, states the Fencing Act 1978. The courts have held that the appropriate test as to whether a fence is an adequate fence is, what sort of fence a reasonable occupier would build given the purpose and the surrounding circumstances? For example, if sheep are put in a paddock which is fenced only for cows, this may be inadequate. If changing the stock in specific paddocks, you need to give your neighbour a reasonable opportunity to protect their

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September/October 2013

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Rural Living is a stimulating magazine delivered to RD addresses in the Franklin district. It is designed to provide readers with varied rural information, which is both informative and helpful to the lifestyle market, as well as a ‘Living’ section providing for all aspects of living. HOW TO SUBSCRIBE: For your free e-edition of Rural Living delivered straight to your inbox go to www.ruralliving.co.nz/ subscriptions/e-edition For a copy of Rural Living mailed to your letterbox go to www.ruralliving.co.nz/subscriptions/print subscriptions. Postage costs $49 inc GST per annum.

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18 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

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property by by giving giving aa notice notice property under the Fencing Act or by by under the Fencing Act or erecting aa suitable suitable fence fence for for erecting keeping stock stock in. in. keeping There are three key pieces pieces of of There are three key legislation that that relate relate to to aa farmfarmlegislation er’s liability liability and and responsibilities responsibilities er’s for wandering wandering stock. stock. for

Impounding Act Act 1955 1955 ImpoundIng

Animals lAw Law RefoRm Reform AnImAls Act 1989

This legislation covers the law relating to liability for damage caused by animals. In essence it states that those who are in charge of livestock have a duty

to others others to to take take reasonable reasonable care care to to see that damage is not caused to see that damage is not caused by stock stock straying straying onto onto roads. roads. by Reasonable care care is is to to be be Reasonable assessed by what is the comassessed by what is the common practice practice in in your your area. area. This This mon includes fencing and other includes fencing and other measures you you should should take take to to measures prevent your your animals animals from from prevent straying, and and also also any any warning warning straying, measures that that you you might might have have measures taken in in aa particular particular case. case. taken The Act Act allows allows for for compencompenThe sation to to be be claimed claimed for for any any sation damage caused by wandering damage caused by wandering livestock. livestock.

Crimes Act Act 1961 1961 cRImes

If your your livestock livestock wander wander on on If to public public roads, roads, you you can can be be held held to criminally liable liable if if you you haven’t haven’t criminally taken adequate adequate steps steps to to secure secure taken your animals. your animals. Potential criminal criminal charges charges Potential include criminal criminal nuisance nuisance include (maximum penalty penalty one one year’s year’s (maximum imprisonment), breach of duty of a person in charge of dangerous things (maximum penalty is life imprisonment) or endangering safety (maximum penalty three months imprisonment or a $2,000 fine).

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This Act Act protects protects road road users users This from wandering wandering livestock, livestock, from sets rules rules for for the the management management sets of livestock livestock pounds pounds and and the the of impounding of wandering and impounding of wandering and trespassing livestock, livestock, and and it it trespassing protects the the interests interests of of private private protects property owners. owners. property If your your livestock livestock wander wander on on If to private private land land you you can can be be liable liable to for any any damage damage that’s that’s caused. caused. for This includes includes any any costs costs resultresultThis ing from your livestock being ing from your livestock being impounded that that are are incurred incurred by by impounded the local local council. council. the This could could include include transportransporThis tation to the pound, advertising, impounding fees, animal control officers’ time and mileage, grazing costs and any veterinary bills. If your livestock wander on to private land, the land owner can also charge trespass and sustenance fees. The trespass rates differ according to the type of livestock and the type of feed on which the livestock trespass. For example, a pig on crop is at the rate of $10/day and one sheep on grass is at the rate of $0.50/day. If the owner of the land onto which your livestock have wandered isn’t happy with the official trespass rates, he or she can claim for the actual loss, rather than the trespass rates. The actual loss, however, won’t be payable if you can prove that your land was adequately fenced.

RURAL RURAL

FIND YOUR BEST FRIEND AT THE

Keep them fenced

To avoid the potential costs and liability of your livestock jumping or escaping the fence to greener pastures, it is important (as well as financially prudent) that you take all precautions to ensure boundary fences and gates are in good repair. This may also help prevent some friction between you and your neighbours! If your stock persistently escape, it would also pay to check that you have good public liability insurance cover in place. ■ ■ Leandra Fitzgibbon, is a partner in Ashburton law firm Argyle Welsh Finnigan. This article was first published in the NZ LAW Limited member firms’ client newsletter, Fineprint - Winter 2013. AWF is a member of NZ LAW Limited.

Auckland SPCA, 50 Westney Road, Mangere. Ph: 09 256 7300. Visit our website at www.spca.org.nz Rural Living — September-October — 19

RURAL ��

Talk turkey!

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Last month’s tale about three feathered psychos prompted memories of three tantalising turkeys, raised from tiny poults by editor HELEN PERRY and her then young fiancé.

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A spur of the moment decision to buy three young turkey chicks was no rural lifestyle experiment. Rather, it was an urban undertaking by townies who thought their quarter-acre Penrose backyard would be ideal to raise the homeless poults and also ensure the following year’s Christmas feast was in the bag. No one anticipated that Beauty, Snooty and Cutey, as they were named, would become loved family pets, who for 12 months kept us amused and exasperated. They proved a delight to some neighbours, pests to another, a distraction for motorists, and a curse to husband-to-be, who was frequently called at work to ‘locate three escapees.’ Although the birds’ wings were clipped and they had a pen, by flapping furiously they could still fly the coop, so to speak. They never went far; grapeladen vines over the fence were the biggest attraction, although occasionally they’d be found wandering 2-3kms away. However, for the most part they preferred to sit on our wall and watch the cars, which would occasionally swerve off the road when startled motorists realised the nature of the three freaky onlookers craning their necks, this way and that, with ‘plucky’ curiosity. Their stunted wing flapping could also lift them onto our clothesline which, with a lot more flapping by all three, would go into a spin, giving the poults the merry-go-round ride of their short lives. On other occasions, lift-off took them high enough to peer into one neighbour’s window while she prepared the evening meal – first one head, then another, would rise and fall, never failing to raise a laugh. When all other amusement failed, confronted with a paper

bag, all three would have a high old time chasing it around the lawn. Naturally, when the time came for Snooty, Beauty and Cutey to say their last prayers before tea time, husband-to-be and I exchanged many a look of ‘don’t look at me, you do it!’ Finally, the ugly deed was done and it was only then that, sadly, we discovered all three birds had endured their fair share of air gun pellets to the rear – obviously there were enough gung-ho city poachers out there who had an eye for shaking tail feathers. This made it even harder to allocate each bird to its prospective oven – one in mum’s home, one to the brother-inlaw and the third to the homestead kitchen. Following much ‘gnashing of teeth and rending of clothes’ the birds were buttered, baked and ready to carve. However, guess what featured on the Christmas menu that year? You’re right, NOT turkey! It was pretty much a vegetarian spread, although some champagne ham went down a treat, followed by agreements that we would never ‘feather our nest’ again, and we’d pass on fostering piglets too!

RURAL

Pukeko problems By Ditch Keeling Coastal Pest Solutions Ltd Pukeko, pukaka, pojack or purple swamp hen – call them by any name and you’re still dealing with the same bird. Pukeko are a common Australasian species and in New Zealand they are also listed on the Game Schedule which means they can be hunted/shot with a licence during the game bird season as managed by Fish and Game NZ. Outside of the Game Bird season they are managed by DOC. If you are one of the unfortunates that has a justified need to control or remove pukeko from your property, things have never been more difficult since the streamlining process that has seen the administration of this process handed to DOC’s Hamilton-based Permissions Processing Centre. I managed the pukeko permit system for DOC in Auckland for many years and we had a very efficient system that quickly sorted out cases that did or did not qualify for control. Basically, applicants needed to demonstrate that the problem was significant; had an impact on commercial and or health regulations; was part of an environmental restoration situation e.g. where your resource consent requires the planting of lots of native trees; and that you had already tried everything possible in terms of non lethal means of mitigation.

This process took around 30-40 minutes and had no cost to the applicant. Since leaving the department I have undertaken a lot of pukeko work and much of this has been referred to me by the department. A little over a year ago the aforementioned “streamlining” took place and I am not aware of a single permit being issued since that changeover. Problems with the new process are vast and, in all cases I have dealt with, purely prohibitive. The old half an hour process now takes six weeks, and costs (wait for it) $440 plus GST with

no guarantee of the application being approved. The application package itself is a whopping 13 pages to be filled in by the applicant and it must be accompanied by written permission for the controller to work on the applicant’s land. Forgive me, but there is no way I could expect any of my clients to put themselves through this to remove 10-15 birds that are damaging their crops or new trees that the council requires them to plant. Needless to say, none of my clients have wanted to pursue this permit once I have outlined the process. Having worked for DOC for 17 years I will always have a soft spot for the organisation and its staff. Those that I have worked with on this process all sympathise yet, to date, we have found no resolution. The most frustrating part of this is that landowners only ever seek to control pukeko when it is totally necessary and generally only for a short period of time. A system this top heavy to manage birds that duck shooters can kill with an $85 dollar licence is ridiculous and, to my mind, the most likely outcome will see a harking back to the bad old days when a thinking man got it done and said nothing about it. Surely, we would all prefer to deal with this process legally? So, I really struggle to see what legislation of this kind intends to achieve. www.coastalpestsolutions.co.nz

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Rural Living — September-October — 21

RURAL ��

Let’s hear it for the birds By Anna McNaughton Spring may have arrived but we haven’t seen the last of the cold and even now a late frost is not unheard of. It may still be a bit cold to throw open the windows at break of day, but those who are up and about early might hear the beauty of a dawn chorus. Imported birds – blackbirds and thrushes – lead the choir; they are joined by finches, sparrows, starlings, and mynahs. And where householders are doing a good job on bird friendliness, then grey warblers, fantails and the tuneful tui will be in there too! Hard to believe that this joyful chorus is only in the line of marking territories! Intensification of housing is increasing throughout greater Auckland. Where a single house once sat on a quarter acre, surrounded by fruit and ornamental trees, it is now commonplace for two or three dwellings to occupy the same space. But birds require safe nesting sites, water and food sources to recreate and we can all play a part in assisting the survival of birds in both town and country. Creating a bird-friendly environment in very small gardens is a real challenge but there are some great solutions for bird lovers at Backyard Birds such as nesting boxes, feeders and recipes for foods to suit nectar and grain feeders. Larger gardens provide greater scope to plant birdfriendly trees and allow for succession planting of foodproviding plants and shrubs. In addition, larger trees provide nesting sites. Once birds have discovered good food sources they will return or even stay and nest. Many native plants are ornamental and great bird attractors with the bonus of being bee-friendly too. Fruit trees are always good food sources so bird netting is required to protect the harvest. Guavas and loquats are favourites of the kereru/native pigeon which will return every autumn to harvest them.

Healthy soils provide bird food too – worms, snails, slugs. If you welcome birds in the garden, try living with a few bugs; don’t use slug baits or insecticides – the birds will help maintain balance in the backyard. Do all major pruning and shaping in the winter to avoid disturbing nesting birds in spring. Maintain good rat control too but ensure baits are placed where birds cannot access them. Gareth Morgan has raised the debate on cats so if you own cats, keep them well-fed and wearing a bell to help preserve birds that frequent the garden. Those living on the land can get stuck in and enjoy hours of

Tui feeding from flax flowers and a kereru feasting on loquats.

fun plantings. However, pest control will need upping to include possums and mustelids. If there is no native bush on your land, it is possible to create a restoration by copying nature and starting with the first plant colonisers. Over time, these species will form a canopy, helping to deter weeds. The birds attracted there will deposit seeds of larger native trees and natural succession will be under way. But, if like most of us, you are impatient, you won’t be able to resist helping things along by under planting with big trees. The best large native tree for birds is the puriri. Once established, it bears flowers and fruit year round. Mature bush is

22 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

another great asset. Small remnants can be linked by planting bird corridors, stream-sides and wetlands. Shelter hedges for livestock can be planted with a mix of interesting native shrubs which will serve multiple purposes – amenity, shelter and habitat. The best exotic nectarbearing, larger tree is Banksia Integrifolia, which will supply nectar-feeding birds all winter with its prolific pale gold flowers; sadly it is now on the surveillance plants list and banned from propagation, sale and distribution in Northland and greater Auckland. Another garden variety is the Taiwan Cherry, which produces beautiful, cerise, nectar-bearing

flowers in early spring. These are no longer recommended for planting in our district as they have proved to be a bit too keen to spread. Those of us who already have mature specimens can still enjoy the birds they attract. The Zealandia Sanctuary in Karori, Wellington, has planted drifts of banksias to supplement winter feeding. Franklin-wide, great initiatives are also under way – weka at Kawakawa Bay, kokako in the Hunuas together with protection of bush remnants, revegetation plantings and pest control programmes run by Landcare groups. Areas under intensive pest control can see and hear the difference – tui numbers are up and more kereru are breeding with small flocks appearing where previously only one or two birds had been sighted; kaka visiting more regularly; morepork heard at night and bitterns visiting protected wetlands. The reality is, our modified environment and introduced pest species, mean birds need our help to survive…So here’s hoping the bird-lovers among us can spare some fruits of the garden for our feathered friends.

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RURAL

bird-friendly To ensure the survival of birds on their properties, Backyard Birds can supply feeders, recipes, nesting boxes and feed while Franklin has many nurseries which can supply birdfriendly plants such as: ■■ Astelia species – flax-like, silver and bronze-leaved varieties; late spring flowers/seeds ■■ Cabbage tree – spring flowers great for bees, early autumn fruit, great for birds ■■ Chionochloa flavicans/snow tussock – attractive garden plant, toetoe-like flowers, seeds and nesting fibre for birds ■■ Corokia cotoneaster – fine leaved, attractive species which flowers and fruits freely; a good hedging or shrubbery plant. ■■ Coprosma species – the many brightly-coloured cultivars are great for gardens but do not fruit as well as the species, repens, robusta, rhamnioides. ■■ Dianells – beautiful blue fruit ■■ Flaxes – October flowering ■■ Griselinia – good hedging,

stands pruning; autumn fruit ■■ Kaka beak – red kowhai-like flowers in mid spring ■■ Kawakawa – attractive leaves, soft orange fruits, great bird food but spreads fast ■■ Kowhai species – Dragons gold, small, shrubby, nectarbearing flowers, June/July; other species, small trees, flowering September ■■ Nikau palm – red berries ■■ Pittosporums – notably karo and matipo, spring flowers, autumn fruit ■■ Pseudopanax species – autumn fruit ■■ Poroporo – attractive blue flowers through spring/summer; large orange fruits ■■ Toetoe species – attractive clumps, flowers late spring, seeds good food, fibres good nesting material ■■ Wineberry – a great fruit producer, but attracts possums ■■ Shrubby proteas, ie grevilleas, bottlebrushes, small banksias, fruit trees (guava)

Bird-attracting big trees for lifestyle blocks/farms: ■■ Puriri – king of bird feeding trees, flowering and fruiting year round once mature ■■ Kahikatea, matai, rewarewa, miro, pigeonwood, pohutukawa, rimu, taraire, tawa, totara Starter plants for riparian/ streamside/wetland: ■■ Cabbage tree, coprosma robusta, coprosma repens, flax, hebe, manuka, umbrella sedge Starter plants for restoring bush margins/revegetation: ■■ Coprosma species, kanuka, manuka, pittosporum tenufolium, pseudopanax species, wineberry.

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WIN! GRANDPA’S CHICKEN FEEDER There’s nothing like a Grandpa’s chicken feeder to protect chicken food from pests while still providing hens with continuous, weather and rodent-protected feed. Wild birds, rats, and mice compete for, and often steal, the lion’s share of poultry feed. Rodents and wild birds also pose a serious health risk to both hens and their owners but with a Grandpa’s Feeder these unwanted critters won’t get a look-in. Now, poultry owners can also go away for a weekend and be assured their chickens will be well fed. These first class chicken feeders, made from high quality, galvanised steel with an aluminium tread plate, have a 12 month 100% money-back guarantee. They are sturdy, reliable and built to last. www.grandpasfeeders.co.nz

WIN! Therapeutic Aromatherapy Range Here’s a beauty gift every hard-working lifestyler will love – The Aromatherapy Co’s Therapeutic Aromatherapy Range containing a skin-enriching, exfoliating sugar Body Scrub, blended with 100% natural essential oils of cocoa vanilla and bee’s wax; a nourishing rich Body Balm with 100% pure and natural essential oils of cocoa vanilla and cassia and detoxifying Bath Salts with 100% pure and natural essential oils of geranium and palmarosa. To finish off we have included a Therapy Range wild mint and bergamot Natural Soap Bar infused with botanical seed extracts to leave skin feeling cleansed, smooth and revitalized. RRP $76.96.

WIN! FAMILY PASSES TO CLEVEDON A&P SHOW City-siders might love a night on the town but here in the country there’s nothing quite like an A&P Show when it comes to enjoyable family outings. And, next month, the annual Clevedon A&P Show on November 9 and 10 promises to be another great weekend for farmers, lifestylers and anyone else who appreciates country life and its many benefits. What’s more, Rural Living has four family passes to give away – what an opportunity to forget home chores and head for the showgrounds.

Win! A copy of Ken Ring’s 2014 New Zealand Weather Almanac From day-per-page forecasts, including gardening advice and moon position information, as well as rain potential, frost/ snow maps, and likely wind activity, Ken Ring’s book offers comprehensive and detailed predictions. While Ken’s methods, which include forecasts based on cycles of the moon, may be controversial to some, his amazingly high strike rate for reliability is difficult to ignore. An ideal handbook for farmers and gardeners, who rely on foreknowledge to be forearmed. Ken Ring’s 2014 New Zealand Weather Almanac, by Ken Ring. Published by Random House. RRP $39.99 24 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

Win! Daltons Organic Bio-Fungicide packs Give gardens a boost with Daltons new Organic Bio-Fungicide range which protects seeds and plants from a variety of diseases. Two new 100% organic products – powder and granules – create a fastacting, protective barrier around roots, promoting strong root systems, thereby improving water and nutrient uptake. Both are non-toxic to humans and animals. Available from Bunnings and independent garden centres. The good news is Rural Living has THREE Daltons Organic Bio-Fungicide prize packs to give away! Valued at almost $50 (RRP), each prize includes one Daltons Organic Bio-Fungicide Powder and one Daltons Organic Bio-Fungicide Granules.

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LIVING

Southwest for westie The west is the best, according to some longhaired reprobates, so what makes New Zealand’s quintessential westie, Ewen Gilmour, head south to crash at a bach at the wild shores of Port Waikato? JON RAWLINSON hit the road to find out. While comedian Ewen Gilmour may be famous for his westie wit, it’s perhaps the other twists and turns in his life that have made him a most engaging personality. Petrolhead, politician, marriage celebrant and charity champion, it was his role as an ordinary man – a good ‘joker’, if you will – that led him away from Waitakere when his beloved wife, Cathy, confronted serious illness. “Cathy loved the waves and surf; she was very much a waterbaby,” he says. “She bought this place before we met, and when she was diagnosed with a brain tumour, we decided to live here permanently. “The surgeon said ‘don’t go looking for a cure, you’ll spend your life in a hospital waiting room, I’d rather see you sitting at the beach.’ So we thought we’d move here and enjoy life and that’s what we did.” Today, a little over two years since Cathy’s passing from cancer, Ewen remains at the port, committed to supporting his local community. “The locals have always been good and I’m part of the community now. When Cathy was sick, people brought around dinners and stuff; I had to buy a little freezer for all the meals and it’s taken me three years to eat them all! That’s just the kind of place this is. “It’s like Piha before it was ‘discovered’. People are just people, no one’s trying to be something that they’re not, they’re really honest about themselves.” Cathy’s illness also led Ewen to set aside an unlikely interest in politics, resigning from his role as a Waitakere City Councillor in 2007. “Local politics is such an archaic system, filled with archaic people.

You have to have experience, but need real people as well, someone who’ll say ‘that’s too costly; me and me mates can come down with our shovels and sort it on a Saturday arvo.’ That’s the kind of people we need, just to keep everybody in check.” He says although politics did offer some laughs along the way, he kept his roles separate and loved the cut and thrust of the environment. Subsequently, Ewen is revisiting politics, running for the Onewhero Tuakau Community Board this year and perhaps higher office in future.

❝ I think I’m treated like a local wherever I go simply because I look like the sort of person who can’t afford to travel! Every country has its own version of westies.” “One day, who knows, I could be mayor. But, on the other hand, I’d also like to own a pub one day. Maybe that’s something I could combine, having the mayoral meetings there. We’d get more people attending and more sensible debate!” In the meantime, Variety is certainly ‘nice’ for life for Ewen as he involves himself with grassroots charity initiatives, such as the recent Mini Bash during which he drove his Ford Falcon stretch limo along local byways to help raise money for underprivileged and disadvantaged children. However, Ewen’s vehicle for the ‘Bashes’ has no connection to notions of ‘westie celebrity,’ he says. “It has nothing to do with that at all! When travelling around the

country in a Mark 3 Zephyr with three people, there’s no room. So I went to GT Radial Tyres and said ‘I want more space, how about a limo?’ and they loved the idea. It wasn’t for any egotistical reasons or anything like that, though.”

movie; I’ve been in every single one. The truth is I haven’t, but people look at me and say ‘that’s the image I have [of New Zealanders].’ I mean, we look like Canadian bear hunters, that’s what people overseas expect Kiwis to look like!

Aside from laughs for charity, Ewen continues to serve his universal humour born of West Auckland but which has travelled far beyond.

“I think I’m treated like a local wherever I go simply because I look like the sort of person who can’t afford to travel! Every country has its own version of westies.”

“I’m always somewhere doing shows. I love it; I think it’s the best job in the world. I go all over New Zealand and, for everything that is wrong with it, see how we’re truly blessed,” he says. “When I’m overseas, however, I don’t say I’m a westie, I say I’m a New Zealander. I’ve been in the Lord of the Rings, Xena, any New Zealand

And it seems, wherever his road leads, Ewen will travel with humour as his co-driver. “As for the future, I’m particularly looking forward to next year’s Bash, from New Plymouth to Gisborne,” he says, “It’s going to be great; I’ll be going down roads I’ve never been down.”

Rural Living — September-October — 25

LIVING _______________________________________________________________________________

Sitting on edge of my seat Reay Neben is a Franklin resident and publisher of Rural Living.

CITY LASS What a stressful time this has been. Between Ranfurly Shield games and America’s Cup racing I have felt a wreck. However, it was so exciting watching the Steelers win the Ranfurly Shield and what fun we all enjoyed with the town getting behind the team. Everywhere I drive I still see flags of black, white and red flying from makeshift flagpoles or whatever. Letterboxes have been posted with signs such as ‘Go the Steelers’ and a real sense of community abounds – I love it! More stressful this month has been watching, heart in mouth, the yacht racing in San Francisco. I am amazed at the number of people who said it was just nonsense and now those same people are authorities on the intricacies of America’s Cup racing. I have watched in awe as our sailors, and all the New Zealanders involved in both teams, have shown the world what we have known all along; that we can take on the world. And it has been both surprising and pleasing to learn that the building of super yachts has brought in more revenue than our wine industry. This was said by Mike Moore our Ambassador to the USA.

Steelers triumphant in shield win. Despite being conﬁdent of success, as Rural Living went to press, we still had one race left to win. After all that stress comes the reality of spring and my goodness when the sun shines you certainly see all the jobs that need doing on the home front. I have made a list but, unfortunately, instead of it getting shorter as we do the jobs, the list grows longer. It is amazing that as soon as the thought of longer days arrives, I start thinking of making changes. After visiting the Auckland Home Show, I gathered lots of fresh ideas on what we can do about the house. This always involves spending money and

I am asked regularly by the husband, “do we really need to do this?”

daughter discussions and we were happy with the end result.

The garden also needs lots of attention as the weeds have gone crazy. I am about to start planting the salad vegetables but ﬁrstly the potager will need a good dig over. During winter we chopped out a number of plants that had grown too big in their spot so I will have to ﬁnd inspiration as to what will look good in the bare patches.

It is so easy to make an impression on a town garden compared to the larger spaces I work with at home and as Emma’s house is an old bungalow, it dictates the old style of garden we will develop. I do love cottage gardens but they are not for our property so Emma’s it will have to be.

I did spend a day helping the Pukekohe daughter with her front hedging. It is so good starting with a blank canvas and, at the end of the day, seeing a result. We worked really hard with only a few mother and

As I write this we still hold the Ranfurly Shield and are close to winning the America’s Cup so my stress levels are still awfully high...the next few days will tell if I’m walking on air or feeling a tad miserable! Fingers crossed, Reay

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26 — Rural Living — September-October 2013 ALBERTS RL AD 67 X 184 0913.indd 1

17/09/13 9:29 AM

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Painted power box

precious pet project Creating a masterpiece on canvas is challenging enough, but creating a painting on a boring power box with its different angles and grooves is altogether a more difficult task as one Franklin artist explained to DARREN McDonald. Further evidence of her particular style can be seen on one side of the box which features three comical birds. She has used them in many of her works, but don’t be fooled; their cartoonish nature represents much more than whimsy.

Assigned to enliven a Counties Power transformer box at the entrance to Clarks Beach, artist Helen Parsons says it’s been “quite a challenge.” “It’s an entirely different shape to what I am used to, I have to take into consideration all its little bumps, grooves and grilles. That does get quite tricky at times.”

“They signify family and friends and the high-jinx kids can get up to. When he was about seven, my son Tom drew a bird and I thought I might use it in one of my paintings. It evolved from there and they have been a theme in a series of my work.

The power box painting was commissioned by local resident Mary Walker who thought it would be a terrific way to celebrate a milestone birthday and gift something to the community at the same time. Mary runs local pet minding service, Precious Pets and can be seen every day treading Clarks Beach paths as she walks her clients’ dogs.

continues to go out of his way to make the project achievable.”

While working for the Franklin Safer Community Council, Mary set Helen Parsons The Clarks up the project of having Franklin Beach power box is very much an artists paint transformers as a way of artwork in motion. It already features celebrating local artistic talent as well images of Mary’s cat, a donkey and as helping to reduce graffiti. another feline ‘Stu’ which Mary adopted after her mother’s recent Helen was one of the first artists Mary passing. But there’s more to come consulted to endorse the project including alpacas, a border collie which is also supported by Counties and some of Mary’s other favourite Power and Resene Paints. animals. “Greg Jull of Counties Power was So for the painter, Helen Parsons, it instrumental in bringing the project is fair to say that the Clarks Beach to life,” says Mary. “He embraced power box has become a ‘pet’ the concept from the beginning and

project! “I have just added a few more silhouettes; one of them will be Mary walking two little white West Highland Terriers.” Ever true to her quirky style, Helen also plans to paint a pair of amorous sheep in the background, the kind of comical twist she likes to include. “I like laughter. I like to think people will look at my work, have a chuckle and get what I am trying to say. While I often paint humour, there will be a serious message in there too.” As an artist, Helen’s art is renowned for its social commentary and unique blend of styles. “I like having a mix of the realistic and the unrealistic with ‘make believe’ coming into it.”

“In each painting, I try to get these three little birds to connect with the theme ... like the birds kicking rugby balls or coming home with no milk because Fonterra has stuffed up again... little things you don’t notice until you look really close.” The ‘three little birds’ have helped Helen to great success with sales and art show prizes, but she fails to mention whether her son has ever earned a commission! As for her next masterpiece, Helen is creating a massive canvas featuring her signature ‘red blob’ Pohutukawa overlooking a beach scene featuring frolicking penguins – one of the few species which have gay relationships. It is her tribute and commentary on New Zealand accepting same-sex marriage.

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New Caledonia – pacific paradisE After visiting New Caledonia with her husband, Tamara Rubanowski shares some of the highlights in Noumea and surrounds. Less than three hours’ flight from Auckland lies a holiday destination with European flair, delightful resorts and a relaxed atmosphere. French, Asian and Pacific influences in New Caledonia offer visitors a unique cultural experience and a delicious, eclectic choice of restaurants and cafes. The beaches in these South Pacific islands are fabulous and the turquoise sea invites visitors to experience the magic that is the largest lagoon in the world – ideal for diving and snorkelling enthusiasts. There are many resorts and hotels to suit every budget, but we decided to stay at a self-contained apartment

(La Promenade) at popular Anse Vata beach. We enjoy shopping at the local markets and bakeries and the fully equipped kitchen allowed us to prepare a few meals, making the most of the fresh tropical produce, French cheeses and delightful European-style breads and pastries. The apartment had a laundry, flatscreen TV and spacious balcony with an outdoor dining area overlooking the beach – the perfect set up for a family holiday. With so much to see and explore in New Caledonia, here is a summary of our top 10 favourite holiday activities which may appeal to others.

1. Take the ‘Explorer Bus’ from Noumea and hop on and off at some of the main attractions: Place des Cocotiers, Tjibaou Cultural Centre, Lemon Bay, Coconut Square, Botanical Gardens and the Aquarium (the next best thing to snorkelling in the beautiful lagoons).

2. Book a trip to Amedee Lighthouse (see www.amedeeisland.com for more details). It is a truly amazing experience with lunch and a glass bottom boat trip included. When booking this excursion, a bus collects from the hotel in the morning and drops you back in the afternoon.

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3. Visit the NZ War Memorial Cemetery in Bourail (approx 200 New Zealand soldiers are buried there). 4. Spend a day at the Geant Hyper Market in Sainte-Marie and shop til you drop! 5. Enjoy happy hour at the bars and restaurants in Baie des Citrons – a fun place for sunset drinks, tapas and snacks.

LIVING

9. Snorkel or dive around New Caledonia’s vast and beautiful coral reefs. The lagoons are teeming with fish and you may even end up swimming with the turtles! 10. Enjoy French-style dining at one of the resorts around Noumea. Try La Terrasse, Hippocampe, or Le Parc restaurants for an exquisite meal.

6. Take a day trip to one of the smaller islands, or stay a few days if the budget allows; Escapade, L’ile aux Canards, or Isle de Pins, are all highly recommended. 7. Mingle with the locals at the fresh produce market in Port Moselle. Arts and crafts, souvenirs, fresh seafood and French-style pastries are also on offer there. 8. Visit a supermarket in Noumea and select your favourite French wine, baguette, cheeses and deli items, then enjoy a picnic at the beach.

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Dr Libby Weaver • Split ends can be the result of dead cells (that make up the hair) flaking apart. Vitamin C and essential fatty acids have been shown to slow down the formation of split ends and help strengthen hair that has a tendency to break easily. • Dandruff or a flaky scalp can be the result of a vitamin A deficiency, essential fatty acid deficiency, or gut dysbiosis. If you believe that for you it is more likely to be the latter, and that there are some less-than-friendly bacterial species living in your large intestine, trial a diet where you eat zero refined sugar. Eat carbs only from whole food sources, such as root vegetables. You might also like to add more coconut to your diet, as the lauric acid may assist the scalp. Amp up the greens and the whole food fat in your diet as well.

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30 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

I’d heard from a very reliable source – Kiwi lipstick Queen, Karen Murrell, to be precise – that the easiest way to repair a broken lipstick is with a

match. Yes, that’s right, a match! Simply light a match and hold it under the broken part until the lipstick starts to melt a little. Immediately put it back on the base, (from which it broke), and wind the lipstick back into the canister. Pop it in the fridge, uncovered for about five minutes. Voila! It’s that easy. – Emma Smith

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living

Trelise Cooper at NZ Fashion Week 2013 By Evelyn Ebrey

a Trelise Cooper collection without a healthy dose of sequins!

Known for her spectacular runway shows that always present something uniquely magnificent, it was with great anticipation that a capacity crowd recently filled the Westpac Tent for Trelise Cooper’s Winter 2014 show at New Zealand Fashion Week.

Beautiful coats punctuated the range in various rainbow hues with oversized furs adding vintage glamour, whilst crisply cut, militarystyles in crimson with gold epaulettes perhaps referenced Trelise’s position as patron of the RSA.

Beginning with the diffusion range, Cooper models took to the runway in an English-inspired collection which spanned references from punk rock to country gardens. Models appeared with (fake) facial piercings and teased ponytails in a succession of plaids and stripes featuring autumnal hues accented by their moody, dark lips. A juxtaposition of tough and romantic, heavily studded jackets mingled with shimmery plaid pieces as a hip-hop soundtrack accentuated the rebellious attitude of the collection.

It was also lovely to see the beautiful poppy print, worn by Trelise on Anzac Day, finding its way into the range. Yvonne Shearer Photography

Sport-luxe jumpers contrasted with barely-there, sequinned dresses that are eternally popular amongst Cooper fans. For the finale, an outfit worthy of a punk-rock princess included glittering plaid mini-skirt complete with full length-train topped by a rebel-worthy, leather jacket. Next up, white sails tumbled from the ceiling to create a tee-pee like

centre-piece on the runway, as Trelise Cooper’s mainline collection began with stunning, colour-blocked garments in fuchsia and turquoise. Rosy hues featured in flirty tulipskirted dresses and feminine skirts, the look alternating between refined lady-like lengths and tailored suiting to cheeky mini-lengths and fabulous partywear. And it wouldn’t have been

Ending the show with a breath-taking display of divine frocks and gorgeous gowns, featuring an abundance of beading and sparkle on sumptuous silks and tulle, Trelise left the audience in no doubt of her position as the glamour queen of New Zealand’s feminine fashion scene. This was a collection with many covetable pieces, making it hard for fans to decide what to acquire first.

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Rural Living — September-October — 31

LIVING ��

Shanks for the recipe! Isn’t spring a wondrous time of year down on the farm? The birds are singing, the flowers blooming and wide-eyed, cute little lambs are springing their way across pastures new. However, in the farmhouse, the knives are out and ‘shanks’ are being sharpened. Yes, all too soon little lambsy may be taking a dive-y, making its contribution to...

Braised lamb shanks with spring vegetables (Preparation: 20 minutes; cooking: 120 minutes) • 8 Quality Mark frenched lamb shanks • 1/2 cup plain flour • 1 onion, thinly sliced • 2 tsp cumin seeds • 400 g can chopped tomatoes • 3/4 cup vegetable stock • 2 tbsp honey

• 1/4 cup lemon juice • 1 cup frozen or fresh broad beans (outer skins peeled) • 175 g baby green beans • 1 yellow capsicum, chopped • 1 bunch asparagus, cut into bite size pieces • 400 g pasta shells, cooked Preheat oven to 160°C. Season flour with salt and pepper and mix well. Dust lamb shanks in the seasoned flour, shake off excess. Heat a large frying pan over a medium high heat, add a little oil. Brown shanks well on all sides. Remove and place in a small roasting dish or large casserole dish. Reduce heat and add a little extra oil. Add onion and cumin. Cook for 1-2 minutes, stir occasionally. Add tomatoes, stock, honey and juice. Heat, stirring until the mixture boils, turn off heat. Pour over the lamb shanks.

Cover the dish tightly with a lid or foil, place in oven. Cook for 1.5-2 hours or until lamb is very tender. Check after 1 hour and add a little water or stock if needed to keep shanks just covered. Rest lamb for 10 minutes. To serve, cook the vegetables until just tender and place on a warm plate with the lamb shanks. Spoon sauce over lamb. Serve with cooked pasta shells. • Tips: Check dish simmers gently during cooking. Stir occasionally and adjust heat if needed.

• To cook in a slow cooker: Brown shanks well as above and place in slow cooker. Place onions and cumin in with the lamb. Add the tomatoes, stock, honey and juice. You may need to add a little beef stock or water if liquid does not cover the lamb. Cover the slow cooker with lid, cook on low setting for 8-10 hours or on high for 4-5 hours. – Recipe kindly provided by Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Visit www. recipes.co.nz for more hearty favourites.

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LIVING ��

New rose – a rise to flower Red-y, steady, GO! New roses are gracing our gardens, and, as HAYDEN FOULDS from the New Zealand Rose Society explains the effort put into them is worthwhile. ‘My Love is like a red, red rose’ wrote Scottish poet Robbie Burns.

growers with a bounty of gorgeous blooms.

Yes, red is the most popular colour in roses, but to breed a good red rose is notoriously difficult, and combining the colour red with a strong scent is even more difficult.

Bred in France, this rose was introduced into NZ by Matthews Nurseries of Wanganui. In the New Zealand Rose Society 2012 trials, it received the June Hocking Fragrance award and topped the trials overall with the Gold Star of the South Pacific. Red Flame is available from various garden centres, including Matthews Nurseries.

However, a new addition for Kiwi gardens, ‘Red Flame,’ is set to make efforts worthwhile. A brilliant new climbing rose, which is a great all round performer, Red Flame’s dusky blooms are complemented by a strong scent. This hybrid is very easy to grow up against a wall, pergola, archway or pillar. Few of the usual rose diseases trouble Red Flame; just give it some water and fertiliser and it will reward

Other wonderful new roses include: •P ope John Paul II – A pure white, medium grower hybrid tea with the most amazing fragrance. •W ild Cherry – With clusters of cherry-red blooms and a silver reverse, Wild Cherry is most eyecatching in full bloom.

Win! new zealand rose review 2013-14 Ideal for those with a nose for the rose, the New Zealand Rose Review 2013-14 is on sale now. Promoting new and recent releases of the world’s favourite flower, the latest full colour edition of this book portrays 72 varieties recently introduced to the NZ market. The New Zealand Rose Review is available online (www.nzroses.org. nz) for $7.50, including postage.

Red Flame Photo Samantha Matthews

Rural Living has copies of the popular review to give away to FIVE lucky readers. To be in to win, simply complete the entry form at

www.ruralliving.co.nz. One entry per email address/person; entries close October 31, 2013. Winners notified by phone/email.

• The Shire – Sporting the most unusual colour of smoked copper and lavender, this rose features masses of blooms on a short, bushy plant. • Wisley 2008 – This David Austin

variety with soft, pink blooms and a fruity fragrance is a vigorous grower. • Young Lycidas – Another David Austin, it has cupped, magenta blooms and a strong fragrance.

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Designs on landscaping Garden Landscaping is no easy task especially for homeowners short on time, knowledge and creativity. Vice president of the Landscape Industries Association, Lynn Cairney, from Fusion Landscape Design Ltd, says engaging the services of a professional can save mistakes. She writes:

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All of these attributes are part of the vigorous assessment that we go through to become accredited members. And, yes, it is a lot to comply with but we pride ourselves on being professional. Our accreditation differentiates us in what is an unregulated industry.

projects the difference between functional, aesthetically-pleasing spaces that you love being in and a mish-mash of ideas and styles that do not work on any level, is a plan. An overall plan is even more important if the work is to be carried out in stages over a period of time.

One of the biggest mistakes I regularly see is decking or patio areas that are too small, the wrong shape and occasionally too large – all are a waste of money.

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and reflect who we are. That’s why we stock a wide range of fireplaces and patio heaters, designed both for function and form.”

We could could retreat retreat indoors indoors and and wait wait We for the the sun, sun, however, however, Steve Steve Slipper, Slipper, for owner of of Pakuranga’s Pakuranga’s Lawn Lawn Heat Heat & & owner Leisure, says says al al fresco fresco living living doesn’t doesn’t Leisure, need to to stop stop because because of of evening evening need chills. chills.

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“Fireplaces and and heaters heaters are are often often “Fireplaces associated with with winter winter but, but, as as associated outstanding interest interest at at the the recent recent outstanding Auckland Home Home Show Show proves, proves, people people Auckland are switching switching on on to to outdoor outdoor fireplaces fireplaces are and patio patio heaters, heaters, so so crisp, crisp, cloudless cloudless and summer nights nights don’t don’t give give guests guests the the summer cold shoulder! And they can prolong cold shoulder! And they can prolong summer living living through through cooler cooler months months summer as well.” well.” as

While we we may may be be anxious anxious to to keep keep While growth in in check, check, he he says says it’s it’s growth important to to give give spring spring lawns lawns aa important helping hand. hand. “Don’t “Don’t set set mower mower helping blades too too low; low; scalped scalped lawns lawns will will blades struggle later later on on and and be be prone prone to to struggle disease. Also, Also, sure sure up up any any worn worn disease. patches for for aa uniform uniform look, look, and and patches check mowers mowers and and other other lawn lawn care care check equipment is is in in top top working working order,” order,” equipment he advises. advises. he

Steve’s team team provides provides outdoor outdoor Steve’s heating options to suit all budgets budgets heating options to suit all and design design aesthetics. aesthetics. and “Outdoor spaces spaces have have become become more more “Outdoor than just just areas areas to to grow grow veggies; veggies; than they’re extensions extensions of of our our homes homes they’re

With spring spring in in the the air, air, lawns lawns are are good good With to grow. grow. Luckily, Luckily, Steve Steve from from Lawn Lawn to Heat & & Leisure Leisure is is on on hand hand to to ensure ensure Heat the grass grass does does grow grow under under our our feet. feet. the

“Of course, course, if if it’s it’s time time to to get get into into “Of gear with with aa new new mower, mower, we we stock stock top top gear models and and our our team team will will recommend recommend models the right right mower mower to to suit suit any any backyard, backyard, the whether it’s it’s aa small small lawn lawn or or lifestyle lifestyle whether section.” section.”

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Pallet garden

– ‘slat’ to basics Raised garden beds offer many benefits but they can be tricky to construct (for those more inclined to hit their thumbs than nails!) or come with a price tag attached. However, used shipping pallets can offer an easier solution at little (if any) cost, making the most of recycled materials at the same time. Here, James Trundy Verill, gardening guru from Vermont, USA explains with his step-by-step guide.

STEP 1 Pallets ready to be filled. Make sure you’ve sited them correctly first time round. Once they are filled with earth they are impossible to move.

STEP 2 Remember to also fill the space under the slats. We used topsoil to fill the pallets up to the bottom of the slats.

If you want a path that looks good and stays firm, you will want ‘Natural Paving’ YardArt is now a distributor of Natural Paving, a fantastic product that allows you to have that crunch beneath your feet or tyres without the pebbles slewing sideways. No more sinking in your stilettos. Your pebbles stay firm and flat, while giving your landscape a soft natural look.

STEP 3 Once you have the earth in, begin to plant. We use them mainly for salad greens (close to the kitchen), Swiss chard (silverbeet) and dill.

STEP 4 Keep checking and treating for slugs and snails. They will love any nooks and crannies and will invite all their chums along too!

STEP 5 Although the young plants will look a bit straggly at first, with a bit of tender loving care and the right weather they will soon ‘man up.’

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The plants are beginning to take hold now. Soon the wooden pallets will become invisible, leaving only a lush, abundant garden.

– Reprinted with the kind permission of Home Farmer magazine (www. homefarmer.co.uk). Visit www. fayrehalefarm.com/pallet-gardening to stay up to date with James’ progress.

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Update

Pokeno 432 Razorback Road Bombay Hill! Work relocation demands urgent ACTION for these Vendors, they have to buy elsewhere. The property is well positioned for the sun, fun and privacy and convenient to Southern Motorway. Four bedrooms, two bathrooms and double garage with large shedding on 10.9227Ha in 10 paddocks set up for grazing.

View

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Four bedrooms, two bathrooms, two lounges and two garages. Kevin Seymour M: 0800 345 563 P: 09 238 4244 E: kevin.seymour@harcourts.co.nz BCRE Ltd Licensed Agent REAA 2008

Onewhero 44 Kauri Road The Kiwi Dream ‘SOS’ – Owner needs this little piece of paradise SOLD at the auction on October 6 at 2pm onsite. This four bedrooms plus office home could be the perfect start for your family. The property on approx 3.826Ha with two large sheds for the handyman in the family to work from home. The shelter belts on three sides give the property the protection from the elements that many appreciate. The property is pre-disposed to specialist production with a commercial bore and beautiful flat land.

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LIVING

Wow – what a month By Kevin Seymour, Harcourts Pukekohe

we need to adapt our strategies and evolve with customer needs.

Rural sales and enquiries over winter have been busy showing only a slight dip in the colder weather.

The level of expectation for information is higher which means an amateur photo printed in the local paper is no longer enough.

Some of this could be attributed to the well documented lack of listings in Auckland.

Buyers want facts, choice and professional service.

There is not enough stock and the well-presented, well priced properties are moving quickly. The tempo is increasing daily.

They are time poor and tend to be making decisions “on line”. Then, and only then, do they plan a trip to get the feel of selected property.

What does this mean for us in this gem of a district?

Those considering selling should seek good advice on presentation and marketing (not just advertising; there is a difference).

This increasing beehive of activity in our rural south Auckland office looks set to continue over the summer despite a reported slight cooling of the rapid rise in prices across the Auckland urban market. Make no mistake, the market is still

hot enabling plenty of city dwellers to contemplate a move to an idyllic, traditional Kiwi dream of space, privacy, convenience and community that the wider south Auckland rural scene provides.

of travel, combined with the excellent choice of high decile schools in our rural area, are realised.

Viewings and sales of property are increasing as better value and ease

This in itself has changed our view on marketing and made us realise

At this point many of our buyers are from well out of the district.

If you choose to market with a price, make sure it is accurate. Our buying customers are educated, generally choosing or discounting property from the comfort of their computer screens.

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Rural Living — September-October — 39

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After bringing the shield back from the bay (not, The Bay, by the way!) Tana and the boys took it to the streets, and then sent the ‘Naki packin’ in front of an ecstatic crowd. At the time Rural Living went to print, it remained to be seen for whom the (cow)bell would toll during the Mooloos visit and the battle of the Bombays. Either way, whether Counties is still shield country or the log’s returned to whence it began the season (after being passed around like a hot potato) well done to Tana, Fritz and all the boys; the team from Rural Living has been delighted to go along for the ride.

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From top; a boisterous crowd cheers Counties to victory over the ‘Naki; showing off the log at the celebratory parade in Pukekohe; a near empty Eden Park hosts Counties earlier in the ITM season.

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40 — Rural Living — September-October 2013

What a month for Counties rugby. It began with a dreary affair at Eden Park, which saw victory stolen from the Steelers by Auckland, as some one-eyed supporters (and coaches) may say, but went on to Ranfurly glory.

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New Zealanders bought 394 Ford Rangers in August, which made it the bestselling ute in the country, and the best-selling vehicle overall. This was the fourth month out of the last five that Ranger was the best-selling ute in New Zealand.

living

V8s back in gear... again! A young man sidles up to an alluring lady at an east Auckland party. He says nothing more than: “I’ve got a V8.” She casts her eye over him and the pair leaves the room to pursue adrenalin-fuelled fancies. A true story? No, in the real world Mr V8 crashed and burnt. But whatever their pulling power, V8s have captured the imaginations of many keen Kiwi petrolheads.

Real beaut utes If you’ve been thinking that there are more utes on the road nowadays, you’ll be pleased to know it’s not a figment of your imagination. It’s well known that there’s been a massive shift from regular passenger cars to sports utility vehicles, but many people don’t realise that the light commercial ute has been surfing the SUV’s wave of popularity. For the year to date, three of New Zealand’s best-selling model lines (Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger and Nissan Navara) are utility vehicles. While every bit as practical, almost as well appointed, and with a muscular attractiveness that competes with the soft-roader appeal of most SUV’s, utilities are helping redefine the vehicle marketplace. According to the Motor Trade Association (MTA), between 2007 and August 2013, 4x4 utility vehicle sales volumes have increased by

38 per cent; the only segment to increase volumes faster has been SUVs – which are up by 64 per cent. At the same time, 4x2 utilities have increased volumes by 23 per cent – the third fastest growing segment. In the same way that New Zealand’s shift towards SUVs mirrors overseas experience, so too does the move to utility vehicles, which have been especially popular in the United States for decades. With current average monthly sales now running at 1739 vehicles, utilities are the largest new vehicle segment behind SUVs (2499), and are followed by small (1673) and light (1248) vehicles. Long the mainstay of the rural sector, utility vehicles are increasingly the choice of drivers in urban settings. While still popular with farmers, tradespeople are more and more likely to choose a utility vehicle

for its range of advantages. Current utility vehicles are more likely to have an automatic transmission, are more often than not fitted with 4x4 drivetrains, have as many safety features as a car and can be very comfortable and roomy to ride in. They have other practical advantages as well, boasting tremendous towing capability, good levels of fuel economy and equally importantly, they retain high residual values. MTA spokesperson Ian Stronach says: “Today’s utility provides a very sensible alternative for many buyers. Tradespeople and families are recognising the versatility they provide; they don’t have to give up comfort and refinement for the many practical advantages a utility provides.

And, even though the dust has settled since the return of V8 Supercars to Pukekohe earlier this year, there’s another pulsepounding ride coming. From November 30 to December 1, the V8 SuperTourers roll into town for the final event of the 2013 season, where the endurance and overall driver champion will be crowned. So, buckle up sports fans, it’s sure to be a wild ride at Pukekohe Park Raceway; even if that’s not the case at certain east Auckland parties. Visit www.v8st.co.nz for tickets or more information.

“The higher specification utilities available on the market usually have features that not long ago were the preserve of the luxury segment.”

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Rural Living — September-October — 41

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Come and relax with us at Miranda Hot Springs in our thermal fresh mineral water. Centrally located, we have three pools to suit all swimmers. We are closed on Christmas Day.

Phone 09 239 2086 www.pokenobacon.co.nz

53429

53795

53505

Ph (09) 2929 540

17 Papakura-Clevedon Rd (Main Rd) Clevedon Village michelle@clevedonflowers.co.nz

NEW ZEALAND FASHION ONLINE

E513036

Your favourite brands online including

595 Front Miranda Rd, R.D.6, Thames Phone: 07 867 3055 | Fax: 07 867 3187 Email: info@mirandahotsprings.co.nz Web: www.mirandahotsprings.co.nz 53796

WWW.FASHIONZ.CO.NZ

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Rural Living is delivered on the first week of each month. Copies will go quickly so be quick to collect yours from any of the following outlets. An electronic version is also available at ruralliving.co.nz

Rural Living is available FREE from selected advertisers and the following locations: Pukekohe Barfoot and Thompson, 68 King St Pukekohe Library, 12 Massey Ave Kevens Department Store, 73 King St Franklin Vets, 86 Harris St Papakura Franklin Vets, 365 Great South Rd Pokeno Pokeno Bacon, Great South Rd Waiuku Franklin Vets, 2 Court St Mitre 10, 25 Bowen St

42 — Rural Living — September-October 2013 2013

Bombay Autobahn Tuakau H.R Fiskens, 295 Tuakau Rd Tuakau Meats, 23 George St Profarm Tuakau, Cnr Madill Rd and George St Ardmore Animal Stuff, 192 Airfield Rd Karaka Animal Stuff, 671 Karaka Rd

Drury Animal Stuff, 222 Great South Rd Drury Butcher, 232a Great South Rd Town & Country Vets, 257 Great South Rd Hunua John Hill Estate, 144 John Hill Rd Clevedon Clevedon Rural Supplies, 13 PapakuraClevedon Rd, Clevedon Village Patumahoe The Butchers Shop Cafe, 4 Patumahoe Rd

E513038

Miranda Hot Springs – 100% Natural Mineral Pools

Swimming Pool & Deck Balustrades

Framed Glass Semi-Frameless Glass Frameless Glass Aluminum Fencing Euroslat Privacy Screening

Fully Qualified Arboricultural Specialists

We supply a wide range of commercial & domestic:

FOR A QUICK QUOTE CONTACT

Quote Code RL13

Andrew Laker Area Manager M 021 855 858 E andrew@provista.co.nz www.provista.co.nz

202 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe Ph: 09 239 0136 or 021 399 298