Rural Living January-February 2015

F E

R E

January/February 2015

www.ruralliving.co.nz

OLYMPIC AIM

NO STUNT

pages 6-7

EQUINE CAREER

WIN!

BOOKS UP FOR GRABS

RACES

AHEAD pages 16-17

page 34

RURAL | FASHION | BeAUtY | FOOD | gARDeN | HOMe | MOtORINg | tRAVeL www.ruralliving.co.nz

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 1

PUKEKOHE BRANCH 68 King St, PO Box 147, Pukekohe bus. 09 238 7019 | fax. 09 238 7018 www.barfoot.co.nz

FeBRUARY ■ sALes Pukekohe Saleyard Every Saturday except holiday weekends, A&P Showgrounds, Station Rd, Pukekohe 10.30am – pigs, sheep, calves 12pm – cattle Tuakau Saleyard Every Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, Tuakau Saleyards Rd Mon – sheep 10.30am, feeder calves 11am, dairy 12pm Wed – prime cattle 11.30am Thurs – store cattle 12pm National Yearling Sales Series/ Australasian Classic Yearling Sale Now until February 16, Karaka Sales Complex Don’t forget! Those looking for horses for all courses will find them at the yearling sales, which run from late January through to mid February at the Karaka Sales Complex. The 2015 dates are: Premier Sale (Jan 26-27), Select Sale (Jan 28-30), Festival Sale (Feb 1-2), and the Australasian Classic Yearling Sale will be held on Feb 16. See nzb.co.nz.

■ entertAinment VEX Robotics Competition February 28-March 2, Vodafone Events Centre, Manukau What’s what with the ‘bots?

Visitors to the Kiwibots’ VEX Robotics Competition will soon find out! Designed to inspire a passion for science and technology, Kiwibots was formed with the support of Massey University. It allows young people to build robots, while developing skills, meeting

others and having fun in the process. With New Zealand Schools holding the title of World Champions for the past five years, it seems Kiwi kids are robotics kids too! For more information see kiwibots.co.nz.

■ mUsic Stampede Music Festival February 6-8, various venues, Pukekohe and Tuakau From street busking to soulful country sounds – with a little rock n roll, jazz and blues thrown in – the Stampede Music Festival is expected to bring it on home down our town roads.

With artists playing their way through a variety of venues, it’s almost time to round up the posse and stamp(ede) those feet!

See stampedemusicfest.co.nz for tickets or more information.

Clevedon Jazz, Wine and Food Festival February 14, 11am-7pm, Auckland Polo Club, 102 ClevedonKawakawa Rd, Clevedon No need to roar or wine (unless you want to!) about the lack of entertainment in Clevedon, because once again Clevedon hosts an event expected to set those toes a-tapping... with all that jazz! Featuring awardwinning local wines, food stalls, crafts, music, face painting, a bouncy castle and more, this fest’ is set to offer a feast for the senses. Call 0800 BUY TIX (289 849) for all ticketing options.

Slash – World on Fire Tour February 17, 8pm, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton With just an axe (and no Ax-l)

Photo Paul Vettoretti

Mark and Margaret Tregidga’s garden features in the Heroic Gardens Festival.

to grind, legendary guitar icon, Slash, is hitting our roads (without the Rose) in February during his World on Fire Tour.

Playing just a short hop down the motorway at Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, his show is being billed as ‘a full throttle, in-yourface, hunk of burning rock n roll that takes no prisoners’ event!

Visit ticketek.co.nz.

the way from Dallas, this event is once again set to stand as a tribute to ‘the King’s’ timeless music. And with children’s activities – including a bouncy castle – on offer, Elvis in the Gardens will have visitors of all ages ‘all shook up’ in more ways than one! See elvisinthegardens. co.nz for more information about this FREE event.

Splore 2015 February 20-22, Tapapakanga Regional Park, Orere Point From music, art and more, there’s no place quite like Splore! Billed as a boutique music and arts festival like no other, Splore 2015 will feature the soulful sounds of artists including Trinity Roots, The Correspondents, Samuel Truth, and DJ Hudge, just to name a few. See splore.net for details.

■ gArden

Elvis in the Gardens March 1, 11.30am-6.30pm, 102 Hill Road, Manurewa For the sixth year, Elvis will be shaking his pelvis amongst the flowers. Featuring a number of ‘Elvi’ as well as a Priscilla all

Heroic Gardens Festival 2015 February 14-15, various locations There’s no need to hold on for a hero when Auckland has so many ready to lead us down the garden path this month.

Developed to raise money for Mercy Hospice, the Heroic Gardens Festival presents green-fingered flair at its finest, with plenty of inspiration to be obtained along the way. For a sneak preview of all gardens involved, more information, or to purchase tickets, visit heroicgardens.org.nz. See story on the Mark and Margaret Tregidga’s Heroic Festival garden on pages 38-39.

Brought to you by members of Franklin’s

Largest Rural/Lifestyle Sales Team 2 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

Rural Living — May/June 2013 — 25 www.ruralliving.co.nz

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Community Calendar Begonia Circle Festival & Show February 21, 9.30am-4pm and February 22, 10am-3pm, Auckland Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Road, Manurewa Offering the chance to view abundant begonia blooms and learn from expert growers, the Auckland Begonia Circle Festival and Show is expected to delight those with a nose for these flowers. Since being founded by enthusiastic growers in the 1990s, the circle (also known as ABC) has flourished, with such festivals attracting keen crowds. Members are again preparing plants of all kinds for the sales tables. See aucklandbegoniacircle.org.nz.

■ FAmiLy FUn Franklin A&P Show February 21-22, Pukekohe Showgrounds, corner Station Road and Birch Road, Pukekohe Townies beware, the cream of the crop from the country is headed to Pukekohe! From livestock competitions, wood chopping, shearing, sheep racing and even highland dancing, to the ever-popular Counties Strongest Man competition and Franklin A&P Family Challenge, this event is much more than just a little bit country! For tickets or more information, see pukekoheshowgrounds.co.nz.

Although designed primarily for members – Explorers is a club for gifted children and their families – all are welcome during the course of this funfilled family event. Children (aged 4 years and up) and parents learn skills while having fun. Prices vary depending on length of stay; see giftedchildren.org.nz/explorers. org.nz for full ticketing details.

■ sPort Bike Wise Month February, various locations Designed to celebrate cycling as a favourite pastime, Bike Wise Month features numerous events, including recreational rides, bike festivals and family fun rides, held throughout the country. A highlight for locals is expected to be the RevItUp twilight cycling series at Hampton Downs Motor Sport Park. Although the first race day was held in December, there are more to come on January 28, February 4 and 18, March 4 and April 1. And don’t forget to get on your bike on February 11, Go By Bike Day! For more information about RevItUp and other Bike Wise events see bikewise.co.nz.

BMW Polo Open February 22, 10.30am-11.55pm, Auckland Polo Club, 102 Clevedon-Kawakawa Road One simply hasn’t lived until one’s played a chukker or two, m’ boy, as those with a nose for the polo know! However, while polo may be the sport of kings, it certainly isn’t lost for that common touch in our neck of the woods! In addition to club championship and exhibition matches, visitors will experience a varied event complete with celebrity guests, giveaways, fashion, the traditional ‘stomping of the divots’, and the Heineken After Party. Tickets and details at aucklandpolo.co.nz.

Auckland Cup Week February 28 - March 7, Ellerslie Racecourse, 80 Ascot Ave, Remuera The opening day of NZ’s richest, biggest and most glamorous week of racing is again set to make every post a winner! From high stakes racing – including the Group I $750,000 TV3 New Zealand Derby, the Group III Darley Plate, Lindsay Mile and Otakiri Reserve Nathan’s Memorial – to the Prix de

BMW Polo Open 2014

Fashion and Punter of the Year competitions, rich rewards await. In addition, thanks to the Picnics and Ponies area, Cup Week is not just for those who’re all a flutter (when betting or otherwise!) but an enjoyable family-focused event to boot.

Culminating in Diamond Day, there’s much more to Auckland Cup Week than horses, of course! See ellerslie.co.nz.

■ mArkets Pukekohe Market Every Saturday, 8am-12pm, Massey St, Pukekohe Pokeno Market Every Sunday, 9am-4pm, main street, Pokeno Crafty Cows Market – Pokeno Second Sunday of each month, 10am-1pm, Pokeno Town Hall Awhitu Country Market Last Sunday of each month, 10am-2pm, Matakawau Hall, Awhitu Rd, Awhitu Peninsula Clevedon Village Market Every Sunday, 9am-2pm, Clevedon Community Centre, 1 Papakura-Clevedon Rd, Clevedon Clevedon Farmers Market Every Sunday, 8.30am-12pm, Clevedon Showgrounds, Monument Rd, Clevedon

Summer Escape Weekend Auckland Explorers February 27 - March 1, Chosen Valley Christian Camp, 53 Turner Road, Ararimu From kayaking and rafting to mudslides, a flying fox, a confidence course and many more activities, outdoors and in, Auckland Explorers’ annual weekend escape is designed to make the most of summer.

Pine Harbour Fresh Market Every Saturday, 8am-12pm, Pine Harbour Marina, Jack Lachlan Dr, Beachlands Alfriston Country Market First Saturday of each month except January, 9am-12pm, Alfriston Community Hall, Mill Road, Alfriston Photo Wayne Martin

www.ruralliving.co.nz

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Rural— Living — May/June 2013 —— 21 Rural Living January - February 2015 3

Hunter Graeme Utatao Trudy Willson Boyce Graeme Sue Willson McCardle Sue McCardle 027 482021 2488 770 021 898 733 483 021027 770 733527 027 0094 527 0094

covershot

While Karaka equestrian Ryan Lim has high hopes for himself and mount, Pasir Ris 88, at the World Cup series this season and for the Olympic Cup at the Horse of the Year Show, his sights are set much higher – a Olympic medal no less. But in the meantime, his considerable skills as a stunt rider in a high profile martial arts movie should soon to be seen on the big screen. See story pages 6-7.

Photo Wayne Martin

From the editor...

Hi everyone, While the students and holiday makers won’t be complaining about the fabulous summer weather, no doubt our farmers are now looking skywards and praying for rain.

Of course, land owners can probably feel extremely pleased that the weather has allowed haymaking to go ahead smoothly and provided plenty of opportunities to carry out maintenance and repairs.

I wonder how many are doing the sensible thing by rising early and putting in four to six hours before the heat is up?

With these scorching temperatures, hard graft in the cool of the morning will mean time out in the afternoon.

While that may not be possible on some farms, smaller lifestyle block owners can, perhaps, enjoy the best of both worlds – jobs done and time to play!

With the Auckland

Anniversary Weekend now behind us, the first month of the year is almost gone which means school will be back in just a matter of days.

Do take extra care on our roads as they suddenly fill to capacity again and driving may also be hampered by the presence of large, slow-moving machinery (see story page 20).

And while it may be back to work and studies, summer is by no means over.

This month Rural Living showcases Mark and Margaret Tregidga’s garden which features in the upcoming Heroic Gardens Festival (February 14-15) to raise fund for Mercy Hospice.

It is this garden’s first outing at the festival and locals will surely enjoy its beauty.

Other great reads this month (other than the selection of books featured within) are Angela Kemp’s interview with an equestrian who has recently put his skills to the test as a

movie stunt rider and Jon Rawlinson’s article in which he fields a few questions on the eve of the Cricket World Cup. See who he talked to on pages 28-29.

So, before I give away all our secrets, I’ll leave readers to properly enjoy this month’s Rural Living, including a couple of funny incidents on the Bumpkin Banter page – do send in contributions – anecdotes and photos – about life on the land (and in town).

We love to receive and share these light-hearted or heartwarming items.

Helen Perry Editor

inside RURAL A Publication of Times House Publishing Ltd

Freephone: 0800 456 789 www.ruralliving.co.nz info@ruralliving.co.nz

Editor: Helen Perry DDI 09 271 8036 Email: editor@ruralliving.co.nz Sales: Kate Ockelford-Green DDI 09 271 8090 Email: kate@ruralliving.co.nz Caroline Boe DDI 09 271 8091 Email: caroline@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 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 magazine. All the material in this magazine has the protection of international copyright. All rights reserved. No content may be reproduced without the prior written consent of Times House Publishing Ltd.

Page 6-7 Ryan Lim – jumping all manner of hurdles

Page 8 Brian’s Diary

Page 11 ‘Poultry’ pickings – resource consent plucked from Craddock Farms

Page 14-15 Franklin A&P Show

Page 16-17 Talking horses over the gate with Bevan Smith from New Zealand Bloodstock

Page 21

Franklin’s Michael Anselmi supporting preservation of NZ Falcon page 23.

Living Page 28-29

Drain maintenance

Mills mulls over cup

Page 22

Page 30

Bumpkin Banter – anecdotes and photos from readers

Reay’s Diary – perspective from a city lass

Page 25

Page 33

Birthplace of unwanted insects under the microscope 4 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

Cool yoghurt recipes with a touch of the Greek

Page 36 Going potty with Daltons

Page38-39 Local couple’s garden blooms bright for Heroic Festival

Page 58-59 4WD’s under the spotlight – Jeep Cherokee, Ford Ranger, Toyota Hilux www.ruralliving.co.nz

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 5

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No hurdle too high for rising star Ryan Lim is one of our most promising young show jumpers with the Olympics in his sights and this talented young man’s riding skills and a little bit of Franklin, will soon be seen on screen by millions of people across the world.

By contributing writer Angela Kemp It’s hard to know what will make Ryan Lim’s growing trophy haul first – an Olympic gold medal or an Oscar.

The Karaka rider has had a busy year competing across the country in his pursuit of selection to the New Zealand Olympic equestrian team whilst also fitting in a hectic filming schedule for a blockbuster movie.

The 22-year-old is a stunt rider in ‘Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon 2’, prequel to the Oscar-winning movie of the same name which grossed US$216 million at the box office after its release in 2000.

The latest big budget martial arts film was shot largely in Auckland, much of it in and around Franklin. Ryan was kept busy playing the riding double for five different actors.

“The worst part was having my head shaved on set every day and having to wear various wigs,” he said.

“The costumes were heavy and detailed but helped get you into character.

“Most of the filming took place in west Auckland with some scenes shot alongside the river at Tuakau and at Pukekawa, Port Waikato and Queenstown.”

Ryan was required to ride five different character horses supplied by Kumeu-based Wayne

McCormack’s Equine Film company.

He has worked with McCormack’s horses on other high profile projects including ‘Legend of the Seeker’ and ‘Spartacus’.

In ‘Crouching Tiger’ his equestrian skills were tested to the full, seeing him riding perilously-close to the edge of high cliffs and galloping at full pelt along the beach, his long wig firmly attached and flowing behind him.

“It’s really interesting to see horsemanship meet film like that. Wayne is very professional and makes sure everything is correct, everything has to be 100 per cent.”

Ryan is keen to get more stunt riding roles and gain as much experience as he can in the film industry. He is already lined up for a new American TV show which will be filmed in NZ over the next two years.

But Ryan is adamant that it’s an Olympic medal he wants, not an Oscar.

“Taking a horse to the Olympics and winning a gold medal is the end game as far as I am concerned.”

Given he’s still only 22, Ryan is well set to achieve his dream and plans on reaching his goal one step at a time.

His first and foremost hurdle is finding the right horse and Ryan is lucky to have several options at his disposal, not least 11-year-old ex-racehorse, Pasir

6 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

Ris 88, which he has brought on himself.

“We basically got her for free and although she’s not the biggest at 16.2 hands, she has a lot of heart. You come up to a jump and you just know she’s going to take off. When she’s in the air, especially when she’s super confident, she flashes her tail and you can tell she’s really enjoying it and loves her job.”

Eighty-eight, as she’s affectionately known, is jumping in the World Cup series this season and will be competing in the Olympic Cup at the Horse of the Year show.

“Because my dream is to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal that’s what I am aiming everything towards.”

He said his passion for horses verged on the obsessive and that he spends hours watching show

jumping DVDs or reading books on the sport.

“I put the pressure on myself to make sure I really do know what I’m doing. David (Goodin) used to tell a story about New Zealand Olympic rider, Daniel Meech.

“He said you could have a heart attack and drop down in front of him and he would just walk on past because he was thinking about his horse.

That dedication I totally understand, I don’t leave anything to chance.”

Ryan was 17 when he became under 21 Intermediate Rider of the Year. A year later in 2010, he was North Island Junior Rider Champion and represented New Zealand for the first time in an open NZ team that competed in Bunbury in Western Australia. www.ruralliving.co.nz

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RURAL

Ryan Lim and Pasir Ris 88 show their style.

Photo Wayne Martin

“We ended up losing but it was the first time I had competed overseas and it really opened my eyes to what I could achieve internationally.

“I just loved representing New

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It was the first time a New Zealand team had beaten the Aussies on their own turf for seven years.

After leaving Rosehill

College, Ryan went to Auckland University to study marine biology for a year before undertaking a farriers’ apprenticeship for the next 18 months.

Afterwards he went back to uni for another year but decided to leave and follow his heart and make a full-time living from his riding skills.

Ryan said his decision to quit university and concentrate on horses as a career wasn’t taken lightly.

“When I decided to chase this dream I was told by a lot of people that it would be hard, that I’d never have any money. But if you are willing to make the right sacrifices you can do what you love.”

Ryan spent four years training with Te Kauwhata’s David Goodin, father of four times Olympian rider, Bruce.

Through the association, Bruce invited Ryan to ride fulltime for him at his equestrian facility in Barcelona.

“It was my first time in Europe which is where the centre of the sport is. I was learning how to school the horses and it was my introduction to the business side of show jumping.”

This year Ryan based himself at Chris Chugg’s in Australia.

Chugg is a five times national show jumping champion.

“This time I was competing. I learned a lot out there. It was great to get that experience under my belt.”

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readers react to comPetition Brian Neben publishes Rural Living and is also an avid lifestyle farmer

COUNTRY LAD Well, here we are with the first issue for 2015. I’m not sure where 2014 went but I do know it was a busy year, with lots of highs and lows, for those on small farms and lifestyle blocks.

Last year started with a severe dought which took a long time to recover from but, anyway, let’s look forward to this coming year.

As usual, I’m starting my column with mention of the weather. It has been a great summer so far; great for holiday makers and rural life as well, but it is starting to shape up as another long, dry season.

We have had a few showers over the past few days not the least those that fell recently on the Eden Park cricket match between the Black Caps and Sri Lanka – all that sunshine and then rain when we least wanted it!

However, we really could do with several days of good steady rain to get the grass growing and to fill up tanks and ponds.

Just prior to Christmas the good weather allowed us to harvest our hay and I think this

Our young filly – just waiting on her name to be confirmed.

year was one of our best crops ever. This was due to a great spring for grass production and then the fine spell when we needed it.

As we have only a small section of our property locked up for hay, we normally have to wait for the haymaker to fit us in between the larger blocks which is usually after Christmas.

However, this year our hay-

Photo supplied

maker neighbour, Ken Hastings, was right on the ball and cut the hay just at the right time.

This meant we finished up with really good quality hay. Also our yield was about 30% more than in previous years.

As promised in the last issue of Rural Living we have chosen a name of our filly. This was no easy task as we received dozens of entries with about 25 names

being potential winners.

Here were some of the possibilities: ■ A name I had earlier thought of was Brookland and this was also an entry from Gerry Whittaker.

■ Willreact was an entry from Robert and Kath and was also sent in by Glen and Emma Hardwood who also suggested She Will React, Will Brook React and Willing Reactor.

■ Faine Mende sent Willshereact .

■ An entry from Tony Callender was Nuclear Creek.

■ L. Starr of Waiuku sent in several great names and one that took our fancy was Willow Wisp.

■ Another interesting entry was Will-o-Meana sent in by Rebecca Russo of Sunny Brook Farm, Clevedon.

So, as you can see from this sample of entries, it has been a difficult choice.

We are required to send three names in order of preference to Harness Racing NZ for approval.

Our choices at this stage are: Willshewin sent in by Joy Palaskas as our first choice closely followed by Willshedo sent in by Leigh Barnett with Brookland filling the third position.

We will notify these three finalists over the next few days.

Congratulations to all those who submitted entries and many thanks for taking part.

Cheers, Brian

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8 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 9

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Septic tanks and multi-stage septic systems are delicately balanced environments. It does not take much to upset them.

Common practice is to ignore the septic system until problems occur. Good and best economical practice is to always keep your septic system well maintained.

A malfunctioning septic system can become a health hazard.

When a system is not maintained or operated as a delicately balanced environment, problems occur. These problems include nasty odours, leach line blockages, untreated liquid rising to the surface, toilets gurgling and taking time to empty.

At this stage your septic system is a serious health hazard to you and your children. Human waste produces faecal coliform bacteria, a source of viral and bacterial gastroenteritis as well as Hepatitis A and other diseases. Hepatitis can be a debilitating condition and cause long-term harm to children.

There are only three remedies.

One: stop using the septic system until it recovers. This can take over a month and is not normally practical. Two: excavate your septic system and relocate it. This is very costly and time consuming, sometimes requiring new resource consents and different systems. Three: treat your septic system with Septi-Cure™ every six months.

Septi-Cure is cost effective.

By far the most cost effective solution is to pour one litre of Septi-Cure™ down the toilet bowl every six months. This simple action will help keep your system working at top efficiency by reducing solids and scum. Instead of emptying your tank frequently, the reduction in solids and scum saves you expensive pump out costs. Your irrigation field and leach lines will become clear of slimes and blockages so nature can handle the gradual seepage and evaporation for you. When this is happening your system

will be operating effectively and not endangering you or your family’s health.

What is SeptiCure™?

Septi-Cure™ is a concentrated mixture of selected naturally occurring micro-organisms.

These harmless tiny organisms live and multiply by feeding on waste material. When introduced to your septic tank system, they go to work straight away digesting waste material, reducing solids and scum, allowing your septic system to start operating to its maximum efficiency. As they progress through to your irrigation field they feed on the slimes that prevent seepage and evaporation. When seepage and evaporation return to normal, you have reduced the risk of contaminating groundwater and the environment as well as reducing the chances of infection for you and your family.

Eventually, they get washed out of the system and have to be replaced to continue their work.

This is why you introduce SeptiCure™ to your septic system every six months for maximum efficiency.

A satisfied customer in Hamilton has been using Septi-Cure™ for three years.

He says this allows them to have an odour-free septic tank with low maintenance costs. He also says that his service person is amazed at how well SeptiCure™ works, keeping their tank in very good condition.

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Fowl stink cracks case

By Jon Rawlinson The wings of a controversial Craddock Farms’ development at Patumahoe have been firmly clipped by an Auckland Council hearing panel.

In a surprising move, resource consent for the colony cage chicken farm was refused not because of animal welfare concerns, but due to potential for “emissions of an odour which has an offensive and objectionable character,” the panel’s report states.

Whatever the panel’s reasons, Deidre Sims – a spokesperson for opposition group, Stop Craddock Farms – is delighted with the result.

“I was very surprised. I thought Council would side with big business and disregard the negative impact this facility would have on the community and animal welfare,” she says.

“But the decision demonstrates that, when presented with sound evidence, they will make the correct decision.”

The decision follows a lengthy campaign by Stop Craddock Farms to thwart development; the RNZSPCA also voiced concerns over animal welfare, as reported late last year in Rural Living.

“We were primarily concerned with animal welfare and the cruelty of caged hen farming. [We] want a ban on all cages used in agriculture, but we worked very closely with

Patumahoe residents opposing the farm and the well-being of the community was incredibly important to us,” Ms Sims says.

“Patumahoe is a beautiful township with lots of character and a giant, caged hen farm would have ruined the township in more ways than one!”

Reacting to the decision, Stefan Craddock – managing director of Craddock Farms – issued the following statement: “Obviously we are disappointed and we will now spend time reviewing the decision and looking at our options. At the moment we don’t have any more to say apart from thanking all the many people who supported this application.”

Michael Brooks – executive director of the Egg Producers Federation of New Zealand (EPF) – adds evidence was pro-

vided by both parties about the potential for odours.

Neither Mr Craddock or Mr Brooks could confirm whether Craddock Farms will appeal the decision at this stage. However Ms Sims hopes the fight against the development is now won.

“I’m not sure if Craddock Farms will appeal. They may try to build the farm elsewhere, but [we] will be watching and if they attempt to, they can expect vigorous opposition!

“It’s been a hard fight and we weren’t sure we would win, but, in the end, it was a case of David beating Goliath [with] animal welfare groups and the Patumahoe community working in tandem.

“We were organised, never gave up and I’m proud of everyone who stood up and spoke out.”

RURAL

Tick-ed off!

A mum who raised the alarm after spotting a bloodsucking tick embedded in her daughter’s shoulder at Auckland International Airport prevented a potentially dangerous insect from making New Zealand home.

In doing the right thing by alerting biosecurity officials and her action has been applauded by the Ministry for Primary Industries.

The five-year-old girl arrived in Auckland recently with her family from Norfolk Island.

“The mum saw the tick in the arrivals area and declared it to one of our quarantine officers,” says Craig Hughes, MPI’s Northern Border Clearance Manager, Passengers and Mail.

“It was having a good chomp on her [the child’s] shoulder, so they allowed an officer to remove it in our lab with sterilised tweezers.

“It took a little time to get all the tick parts out of the young girl’s skin, but she was very brave.”

The tick (Haemaphysalis longicornis) was later identified as one already found in New Zealand, Australia and parts of Asia.

“We’re rapt the family declared the tick,” says My Hughes.

“Ticks like this can carry diseases dangerous to New Zealand livestock, pets or humans.”

MPI has advised health authorities of the incident.

Grubby insects pass on pasture Lincoln’s been thinking – however results of the university’s recent studies show success doesn’t always smell too sweet!

Working as part of a BioProtection Research Centre study, researchers have discovered that insect pests are deterred from feasting on pasture grasses colonised by benwww.ruralliving.co.nz

eficial micro-organisms known as endophytes.

While previously known to deter pests above ground, endophytes inhabiting just shoots and leaves can protect grasses against such soil-based insects as the notorious grass grub, the findings reveal.

Senior Lincoln lecturer and lead researcher, Dr Michael

Rostás, says the study shows grass grubs prefer to feed on the roots of grasses without endophytes, and that the insects appear to respond to the smell of specific compounds (known as volatiles) released by the plants.

“Our data suggests that protection is a two-step process where grass grubs are less

attracted to plants with endophytes [and] those that do feed on the roots will eventually be deterred by the fungal toxins,” he says.

More research will be undertaken to see whether other combinations of grass and endophyte have the same effect, and if this can be used to combat grass grub damage on farms.

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 11

Michael Anselmi with Atareta.

Photo supplied

Local business spreads wings

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The survival of the at risk New Zealand Falcon may rest on more than just a wing and a prey-er, thanks to a partnership between Customkit and the Wingspan National Bird of Prey Centre.

A Pukekohe-based building company, Customkit, will construct a habitat for the falcon – and other native raptors, such as the morepork – at Wingspan’s Rotorua centre.

Customkit’s managing director, Michael Anselmi, says most New Zealanders only encounter with our falcon is recognising it as the bird on our $20 note.

“I’ve had the pleasure of seeing these amazing birds in the wild and having a role in restoring New Zealand birds of prey into our daily lives is somewhat of a dream come true.”

Because the company builds exclusively from New Zealand

sustainable pine, Michael believes Customkit has the right materials for the job.

“For birds Wingspan has bred, or nursed back to health and re-released in the wild, one of the best environments is our pine forests. Many are calling our falcon ‘the panda of the pine forests’ because these are such safe and sustainable places for birds to be re-sited,” he says.

Vineyards are another naturally safe area for the falcons where they keep smaller birds and other predators from destroying grape harvests.

“Customkit is doing a lot of building in vineyards and other environments, so it is a treat to think the birds that we’re helping are also contributing to the environment,” Michael adds.

Customkit will also educate lifestylers and farmers on the need to protect the falcon.

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No need to be alarmed when members of the Clevedon Volunteer Fire Brigade make their way in force to the Auckland Polo Club grounds in Clevedon on Sunday, February 1.

These brave firefighters will be part of a fun-filled family day, mixing and mingling with the public to raise $10,000 for essential life-saving equipment.

Entry will be by gold coin, although greater donations will be warmly received. What’s more, there will be plenty of other sizzling action to warm crowds including high goal polo featuring eight competing teams.

The New Zealand Air Force will hold a military working dog display followed by what should be a hilarious ‘Postie Polo’ match between Worker Contracting and Auckland Polo Club, on bikes usually ridden by posties.

APC will open The Clubhouse Bar for the day and the hot-totrot men from the CVFB will fire up the barbecue to feed the peckish.

This is a great opportunity to meet the brave men and women of the CVFB, spend the day relaxing with family and friends and help raise funds for equipment to make the community a safer place.

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12 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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Pukekohe Showgrounds will again play host as town and country come together over one exciting weekend during the 2015 Franklin A&P Show.

Show Planner, John Fleet, says although such events were originally designed for country folk, they now provide the perfect opportunity for townies to sample a slice of rural life. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People can see what it takes to produce a good cow, or to shear a sheep, so they can appreciate that woollen clothes donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just appear at Farmers,â&#x20AC;? he says. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are seeing more and more people from Auckland visiting. Many still donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seem to realise that the drive out here to the country is so easy and quite lovely, however, those that do make the trip tend to come back year after year.â&#x20AC;?

In addition to animals â&#x20AC;&#x201C; including alpacas, beef and dairy

cattle, goats, sheep and horses â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all competing to be the best on the day, visitors will find much more on offer than organisers of the first shows would have ever imagined. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The events started when one farmer said to another: â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;my cow is better than your cowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, so they found someone to judge them.

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country style brought along their animals with hopes of heading home with prizes.

“These days, A&P Shows are not just about animals, there are loads of attractions to be enjoyed, such as the Franklin Family Fun Challenge and the ever-popular Counties Strongest Man competition, which is pretty awesome; the strength of these guys is amazing!”

The show also features sheep racing, wood chopping, shearing, Highland dancing and the Hang a Gate competition, which John says is not as easy as it sounds! And The Farmyard is again expected to be favourite amongst children, as they pat and even hold certain animals.

“The home industry section is also very popular,” adds John, “it pits baker against baker, knitter against knitter and gardener against gardener, to see who can

produce the best cake, or jersey, or vegetable, for example.”

While townies may stand amazed at what goes on down country, John says those new to lifestyle farming are in for an educational experience.

“Of course, the show is meant to be fun, but it also gives people the chance to have a look around and see what is available for them to do with their land.

“If they’re thinking of raising sheep, they can chat to the sheep breeders about what would suit them, or if they want to preserve fruit, the home industry people will be happy to offer advice.

“Overall, there are lots of trade sites with something to tempt them, or give them ideas to take home.”

The Franklin A&P Show will run February 21-22; see pukekoheshowgrounds.co.nz for details.

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 15

RURAL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

With

Bevan Smith

Over

the gate NZ Blockstock

With the New Zealand Bloodstock (NZB) sales in full swing at the Karaka Sales Complex, this month Rural Living sought talk (almost) direct from the horse’s mouth and Bevan Smith fitted the bit! Largely involved in marketing, Bevan has an extensive background working with horses and has recently added a new role as his career takes a new course.

Where were you born and raised and are you a country boy or townie?

I was born in Cambridge, the hub of thoroughbred racing and breeding, but spent four years of my childhood in Japan where my father managed a farm.

I now reside in the ‘metropolis’ of Pukekohe which I enjoy very much, but I definitely miss the farm lifestyle and plan to get back to the country some day.

And I do spend a lot of time at my parents’ place in Te Aroha; they have about half a dozen horses that my father trains, and I regularly tell him what he’s doing wrong!

Do you ride? If so, have you ever harboured aspirations of becoming a jockey?

I don’t ride. I dreamt of becoming a jockey when I was very young but after seeing my father break nearly every bone in his body falling off horses I decided it wasn’t for me...

Have you ever been involved with racing horses?

I have raced a few horses which my dad trained. There were a few winners but nothing outstanding... at least as of yet; the next horse is always the best one! The winners I have had have been massively enjoyable as there’s no bigger thrill than cheering your own horse home.

Are you a betting man?

I am a betting man, not a very good betting man but a betting man none the less! I have had a big winner from time to time.

Probably the best of the lot was when Pierro won the Golden Slipper, I have a very close association with his sellers and had the inside word on how good he really was.

What is it about working with horses that you enjoy?

Horses are in my blood, it’s what my father does, and it’s what my grandfather did, so I guess I was destined to go down

the same track. They are such intelligent animals and have real personality. There’s such a sense of achievement in rearing, caring for, knowing a horse and seeing it doing great on the racetrack.

Bevan Smith

As a professional, what background do you have in working with horses?

I worked for studs and racing stables during my high school and uni years. I knew it was the only industry I wanted to work in so I moved to Australia and spent a few years working on studs preparing yearlings and foaling down over there, working my way up to an assistant farm manager role.

During the breeding season, I was foaling down mares (practically a midwife for mares giving birth!) and caring for the young; this meant getting up at very uncivilised hours! During the summer, I prepared yearlings for sale at places such as NZB. I’d walk the horses for up

to one and a half hours a day, brushing and washing them and maintaining their feeding plans, amongst other tasks. There were plenty of long hours, but all for the love of the animal and well worth it.

You have taken on a new role with Gavelhouse – what is it that they do?

I took over the role in October last year. Gavelhouse is an online trading company for thoroughbreds; it’s like Trademe, but just for horses. I look after the web management, the marketing and sales. We are trying to grow the business, so I try to get out on the road and see people to promote the use of the website.

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16 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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RURAL

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve seen the stats, 5 of the last 8 Cox Plates, 6 of the last 7 Doncaster Handicaps, 4 Hong Kong Mile wins in a row and half of the Melbourne Cups in the last 50 years. With over 1300 horses catalogued across six days of selling in January, join us at Karaka for your own New Zealand Experience, and most importantly, take a piece of it home with you.

Gavelhouse was established prior to becoming a part of NZB and has a good reputation. We are seeing more people looking to buy online, which is just a sign of the times in todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s technological age.

Are you still actively involved with marketing for NZB as well?

I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t yet completely separated from my marketing assistant role at NZB and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m still heavily involved in the build-up to all NZB sales. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m spending more time on Gavelhouse, but marketing is still a part of my day-to-day role.

Do you think this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Karaka sales are showing the NZ bloodstock industry is in good shape?

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s no secret that the racing industry in New Zealand has been struggling recently, particularly with low prize money on offer. However, there is a lot of international interest in our horses, we breed very good ones. So the NZB sales show that the domestic market is seeing a bit of resurgence and that our horses are still popular overseas.

If you could grow any crop or raise any animal, what and why?

I know I sound like a broken record, but I have to say horses, because I know and love them so well. Plus, judging by the state of my veggie garden, I would make a terrible grower!

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If you could be Chairman of NZB for a day, what would you do first?

Speaking as the Chairman of NZB, I would give â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;that blokeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; working for Gavelhouse a pay rise! Probably double â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;hisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; pay should cut it!

If you could invite any three people (living or dead) to dinner, who and why?

Phil â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;The Powerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Taylor â&#x20AC;&#x201C; heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the greatest sportsman on the planet, a 16-time world darts champion; how can you argue with that? And he looks like he would enjoy a beer (or several), although there may not be much food left at dinner for anyone else!

Barney Stinson [character from US sitcom, How I Met Your Mother played by Neil Patrick Harris] â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I know he is a fictional character but damn is he cool! Many life lessons can be learnt from Barney!

Bill Gates â&#x20AC;&#x201C; I think I could convince him to buy a horse, a really, really, really expensive one; that would definitely get me in the good books at work!

The Thoroughbred Experience

) )

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Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 17

RURAL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Keen eye for movement

By Neil Houston, Veterinary Associates To avoid predators, horses have an exceptional ability to see and spot any movement.

While horses today do not have to fear predators we should be mindful of their vision limitations and quality.

The lateral placement of the eyes on the side of the head allows the horse to see a very broad field of landscape, much like a cameraâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wide-angle lens.

Horses are capable of seeing almost 360 degrees around with monocular vision, where each eye is used separately.

The wide range, however, has two â&#x20AC;&#x153;blind spotsâ&#x20AC;? or areas where the horse cannot see.

The first is directly in front of the face, in a cone-shaped area that comes to a point about 1 metre in front of the horse. The second is right behind the head, in an area that extends over the horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s back and behind the tail.

When a horse jumps, the obstacle briefly disappears from sight just before the horse takes off.

The tradeoff to having wide vision is that a horseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s depth perception is somewhat more limited than ours. To measure distance to an object closer to the ground, a horse will drop its nose and look downward.

Riders of jumpers allow their horse to raise its head a few

strides before a jump so it can assess the jump and the proper take-off spot.

Dichromatic mammals such as horses have one type of cone sensitive in the middle-to-long wavelength light and a second cone with sensitivity to short wavelengths.

This means they do not see red and green so well and their world is more yellow, blue and grey.

However these rod to cone photoreceptors make them sensitive to light and gives them extremely good night vision.

Also, the bright tapetum lucidum at the back of the eye reflects light back into the retina, thereby enhancing vision at night.

The horse has one of the largest eyes among land mammals, allowing more light to enter the eye, but they are less able to adjust to sudden changes of light, such as when moving from a bright day to dark.

Horse talk Never look a gift horse in the mouth and for anyone who has longed to know more about horse racing, buying a horse or joining a syndicate, then New Zealand Bloodstockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Open Day at the Karaka Sales Centre, is indeed a gift!

On Wednesday, February 4, 5pm to 8pm, the general public will have every opportunity, free of charge, to find out more about the process of buying horses and racing them.

They will also see exciting young thoroughbreds they could be cheering to victory one day.

Attendees can put their questions to a Q&A panel of

those in the know and which may include star jockey James McDonald, and gold medal rowers Eric Murray and Hamish Bond, who have a share in syndicate, Social Racing.

Vermair Racing, a syndication enterprise founded by passionate horse racing fan and Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum, will also be represented.

With food, wine and live music this is an evening not to be missed.

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pastures bristling with invader Farmers are being urged to watch out for yellow bristle grass, a problematic pest plant.

Dr Trevor James from AgResearch says while the scale of its spread varies, it is present in our region. “It’s present throughout the North Island and also [in some areas] of the South Island, but, potentially, it could grow nearly anywhere in the country,” he says.

“Yellow bristle grass is very much so [problematic in Franklin and Waikato] and we have conducted several field studies in these areas.”

A native of southern China, yellow bristle grass (Setaria pumila) spreads rapidly through clean dairy pasture. It is particularly invasive in Waikato, where it can cover 20-40% of the ground in a dairy pasture within five years. Damage to pastures is most prevalent when it germinates (between October and December).

Craig Davey from Horizons Regional Council says yellow bristle grass has also caused problems in the ManawatuWanganui region.

“Yellow bristle grass is quick to colonise bare ground. Hot, dry conditions, poor machinery hygiene practices and spraying to bare earth can all exacerbate its spread.”

He adds that, on highly productive dairy farms, where yellow bristle grass is prolific, annual feed production may be

reduced by up to 20 percent resulting in increased on-farm costs due to the need for supplementary feed and/or pasture renovation. The result is estimated to be a cast of about $1,100/ha.

To minimise its spread, pastures and roadsides should not be grazed or mown when the seed heads are present.

“The best control is prevention; have as much other vegetation in place as possible and, in disturbed areas, instigate

spraying as soon as possible,” Mr Davey says.

Complete renewal is the best option for farmers. As part of pasture renewal, it is important to go through two summers of cropping, with plants such as chicory or turnips, where grass weeds are easily controlled.

This depletes the reservoir of seed in the soil and helps prevent its return.

General recommendations for grazing include: avoiding overgrazing – which can open pastures to weeds – and ensuring stock is not moved from infested to clean paddocks when yellow bristle grass is seeding.

There is also promising research that suggests selective herbicidal control is possible.

Dr James recommends the use of Puma S for control of yellow bristle grass. See agresearch. co.nz for more information, or request a copy of the Ute Guide, available from Agresearch, DairyNZ or the MPI.

Joy over jumping New Zealand’s Mystery venue has leapt ahead of the competition in securing hosting rights for October’s FEI (Fédération Equestre Internationale) World Jumping Challenge.

One of just three North Island venues selected, Hamilton’s Mystery Creek Events Centre will hold the first round of the competition which coincides with its annual Equidays event.

Equidays event executive,

Lynley Schollum, welcomes the announcement.

“We are thrilled our venue has been selected to host an FEI World Jumping Challenge qualifying round.

“Adding the Challenge to our already successful event takes Equidays to a new level on the international stage.”

The FEI World Jumping Challenge is intended to give second-tier riders the opportunity to compete internationally.

Charley Crockart (ZIM) wins the FEI World Jumping Challenge Final, Kyalami, RSA 2014.

Photo Tamara Blake Images/FEI

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 19 19/01/15 7:08 PM

RURAL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Elephants in the room... and on the road By contributing writer Rebecca Glover It’s been a long time coming, but summer is finally here.

For many, that means trips to the beach to laze away the long hot days, but for others it means anything but.

In the rural areas of Franklin, every spot of good weather means the race is on to get work done on farms and market gardens. They’re making hay while the sun shines, harvesting onions, working up ground for the next crop.

All of which brings contractors out on to the roads with their tractors, often with balers, mowers, rotary hoes or harvesting equipment attached.

Everyone wants their jobs done at the same time, so contractors are under pressure to get from one paddock to the next.

And they are in a hurry! It may not appear so to other motorists, but the large and cumbersome machines are moving as fast as legally allowed.

The problem is that there’s a lot of them around at the same time, and being large they impede visibility, making it difficult for following traffic to overtake.

Agricultural machinery on the roads is just a part of rural life. If you’re stuck behind a

tractor at 40 kph and can’t get past, there’s not a lot you can do about it.

Don’t let frustration get the better of you, carrying out risky overtaking manoeuvres when you can’t see past the monster in front.

Spare a thought for the monster’s driver – he’s been going round and round in a paddock somewhere and he needs to get to another paddock to do the same thing all over again.

He can see in his rear vision mirror that there’s a string of cars behind him, and – usually – he really doesn’t take any pleasure in holding people up.

Making rude signs out the win-

dow or tailgating won’t make him disappear.

However, considerate driving is a two way street. Sometimes tractor drivers on the road can be on a bit of a power trip with the size of their machine (we all know people like that!).

Might isn’t necessarily right; sure, as a tractor driver you can hold up a line of traffic if you want to, but you’ll earn a whole lot more brownie points if you keep well to the left and pull over to let following vehicles pass whenever you can. Take advantage of gateways, wide shoulders; for goodness sake use the crawler lane.

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20 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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your mate’s tractor is a no-no too; leave a gap so that anyone overtaking has room to pull back into the stream of trafffic.

Tolerance is something we often overlook when driving.

Summer also sees holiday makers towing boats or caravans, and there are always vehicles towing horse floats or trailers.

And, then, there are horse trucks – especially horse trucks.

For some reason, horse trucks on the road seem to bring out the worst in following motorists, who can’t see past the wide vehicle and therefore assume the driver is deliberately holding everyone up.

Cut these road users some slack when travelling behind them. Bear in mind that horse trucks and floats carrying live burdens, and like trailers, are not capable of going as fast as a car, particularly on winding hill roads. They, too, may be slowed down by a vehicle in front, which you may not be able to see, but they can’t pass.

And, for following drivers – when a tractor, towing vehicle or horse truck does make the effort to let you pass, a cheery wave or short toot on the horn is a much appreciated acknowledgement, and goes a long way towards keep everyone smiling on rural roads. After all, smiling is what summer’s all about, isn’t it!

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UPkeeP no drAin on resoUrces While the long, hot dry has set in, making thoughts of water-logged land seem almost laughable, landowners should prepare for the possibility of saturated pastures when autumn/winter arrives.

And that means attention to drains.

Drains remove water from farm soils to help avoid saturating pasture which is just as bad for growth as being too dry.

They can also be a habitat for native fish, birds and eels.

However, drains can also transport pollutants (run-off) from a farm block to a larger waterway and can strip away up to 90% of nitrogen from drain waters along with some phosphorus.

As with every aspect of a lifestyle block, careful management can maintain effective drainage, minimise pollution and maximise the habitat value for native species.

Vegetation near drains is desirable because it will stabilise banks and sediment. It will also assist with aquatic life, taking up dissolved nutrients from the water before they reach rivers or lakes thereby minimising the overgrowth of algaes and water weeds.

Vegetation also provides a supply of organic carbon through leaf litter that can feed the bacteria that remove nitrogen from the water and release it to the air.

However, leaf and branch fall will have to be cleared if water flow is impeded. Now is a good time to do this or after a summer storm should one arrive.

Also check for any thoughtlessly thrown litter which may have may have been carried downstream to your property.

Careful grazing near drains should help minimise the need to carry out major drain maintenance. Try to leave an ungrazed strip along the drain to filter nutrients and sediment or consider putting sediment traps in the slower flowing sections of a drainage network.

This is a short drain section about 1.5 metres wider than the main channel and 1.5 metres below the average bed level, where the current will slow and sediment will drop out.

This can then be removed regularly (e.g. after flood events) without cleaning the whole drain.

Plant trees on the north side of a drain to help shade out weeds. Should vegetation have to be removed seek advice as to the best approach.

Spray weeds in slow flowing drains to avoid the need for diggers but only spray the bed of the drain and leave vegetation on the banks to avoid slumping.

Always check with local regulations before doing anything and remember to allow access for cleaning and maintenance when fencing or planting.

RURAL

tool talk

LAwnmower cAre

beFore the First mow oF the seAson: ■ On four stroke mowers, use the dipstick to check the oil level is at or near the full mark. If necessary, add oil but don’t overfill. Engine damage can be caused by too much or too little. If the oil is not clean it should be replaced.

■ On two stroke mowers, mix fresh petrol and quality two stroke oil at the ratio recommended by the oil manufacturer. Too little oil can severely damage the engine by under lubricating moving parts, while too much oil can cause poor running, excessive exhaust emissions, and fouled spark plugs.

■ Check the pull start cord and replace if damaged.

■ Check the blades are sharp.

Blunt blades cut unevenly and tear the grass.

dUring the mowing seAson: ■ Hose or scrape grass clippings from beneath the mower body after each mow.

Allowing grass clippings to dry on the body makes them harder to remove later. Caked on clippings will compromise catching and mulching by upsetting airflow under the body. Regular cleaning of the body will prolong its life significantly. Caution: The spark plug lead should be discon-

Photo supplied

nected prior to cleaning the mower.

■ Remove grass and debris from the engine’s cooling fins and engine covers to help prevent engine overheating.

■ Check air filters are clean and in good condition. Dirty air will quickly cause major damage to the motor. Wash foam filters in soap and water, rinse and squeeze dry, then oil with engine oil and squeeze dry again before reinstalling.

Damaged paper filters should be replaced.

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Right into Outdoor Power Equipment Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 21

RURAL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Bumpkin Banter Another month of Bumpkin Banter – comical anecdotes, cute photographs and other bits and bobs sent in by our readers. Keep sending us your briefs, trivia and photos of country life – email to info@ruralliving.co.nz.

Getting on my goat

By Tui Innes Well, it’s not actually my goat, but I felt this photo was worth sharing with other Rural Living readers.

I was looking out my kitchen window recently, while preparing my lunch, when I be held this not-so-little chap busily chowing down his midday meal.

I wouldn’t deny such an ingenious Billy a bite to eat, but I wasn’t best impressed that his meal came at my expense, or rather at that of my garden!

Rats!

Having avidly read Rural Living’s pest column for two years, head of the house (or so he mistakenly thinks) decided to take Ditch Keelings’s rat-trapping advice. He purchased two traps and bait, placing one behind our garage leading to a swampy gully.

At least for now, Bill is content to nibble nearby plants, but considering my neighbour says his goats are still growing, I do worry that soon every one of them will have ‘herd’ about the bountiful buffet my garden presents.

However, I guess this is just one of those par-for-the-course country living happenings and, after all, if these blighters do ever consider raiding my garden en-mass, they best be warned that I’ll be expecting a good curry in return!

An inspection the next morning resulted in a loud shout of glee as husband discovered this trap had moved about four to six feet – dragged by what he thought must be “a mighty big beast”.

Over the next couple of weeks, he reset the trap several times, hoping to catch sight of a rat but while the trap

continued to be dragged some distance, even when staked, no rat. Activity then slowed.

A few nights went by with no movement. I sensed the big man’s disappointment.

Persuaded to move the trap to the other side of the garage, closer to the bank, amongst longer grass, he was full of anticipation. That evening while he had forty winks in the chair

I took an old grey sock, stuffed it with paper and lay it near the trap, partially hidden by grass.

Well, the excited commotion next morning was nearly worth the fun but it was followed by such disappointment when my ruse was discovered that I felt truly sorry. I guess the moral of the story is, if taking the rat bag route be sure you really bag that rat.

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22 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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RURAL

Quads Not for Under-16s Aotearoa, 30 children die or are hospitalised every year as a result of quad bike injuries.

Studies also showed that in over half of child quad bike injury cases, a child was identified as the driver.

Ann Weaver, Director of Safekids Aotearoa, says it is essential that anyone considering buying a quad bike of any size, or allowing a child to drive or ride on one, understands that quad bikes are powerful and heavy machines with a high centre of gravity.

“Children are particularly vulnerable as they do not have the body size, weight, perception and co-ordination skills to actively ride these large machines,” Ms Weaver says.

“The evidence is clear; parents should not allow children on quad bikes as they are potentially lethal and have the capacity to inflict significant harm.”

■■ Note: A copy of the CYMRC report is available at www.hqsc. govt.nz/our-programmes/mrc/ cymrc/publications-and-resources/publication/1928/.

shell shocked Biosecurity officials often deal with problems of titanic proportions but not quite like the one that recently turned up at Auckland Airport.

On intercepting a Giant African Snail, Ministry of Primary Industries staff members may well have prevented a crop and forestry catastrophe.

Fortunately the 15cm snail was declared by a couple returning from Madagascar where they had found it in a forest.

“It was the largest Giant African Snail many of our staff had seen,” says Craig Hughes, northern border clearance manager, Passengers and Mail.

“When our inspector tapped the shell, a number of eggs fell out. We could have had a whole family take residence in Auckland if there hadn’t been border controls in place.”

Mr Hughes says the Giant African Snail species is a vorawww.ruralliving.co.nz

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cious feeder that has caused immense damage to forestry and crops in countries where it has established. It is also known to carry meningitis and can eat the paint and stucco off houses.

“The good thing is the couple declared the snail on their arrival card, thereby alerting us of the biosecurity risk.”

Mr Hughes adds that passengers commonly declare Giant African Snails as sea shells.

“They don’t realise the snail will often hibernate unseen at the tip of the shell and emerge only when conditions are favourable.”

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Weather-wise, school kids couldn’t have asked for a better summer break to date.

Weeks of sunshine have meant plenty of opportunities for leisure and also to tackle farm or lifestyle block chores.

For many teenagers, especially those who have grown up on the land, riding a quad bike is almost second nature but Safekids Aotearoa is strongly supporting recommendations by The Child & Youth Mortality Review Committee (CYMRC) that children under 16 years shouldn’t be operating quad bikes.

In a recent report on ‘child and youth mortality from motorcycle, quad bike and motorised agricultural vehicle use’ the CYMRC looked into 33 child deaths caused by off road motor vehicles from 2001-2012.

This included 12 deaths caused by quad bikes.

As a result of its findings the committee recommends children under 16 should never operate an adult-sized quad bike. According to Safekids

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 23

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By Ditch Keeling Coastal Pest Solutions Ltd

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The summer season presents an interesting time for pest controllers with constantly increasing numbers of wasps, rabbits and predators such as ferrets, stoats and weasels out and about chasing all the new rabbits.

The wasp season has been very slow to start this year but with five calls last week I think it’s safe to say it’s finally underway. So, you can expect to see problem wasp nests showing up for the next few months.

By far the most common are the little paper wasp nests and we tend to see these hanging on our fences and in among foliage. These nests present very little threat and are best dealt with after dark using household fly-spray.

Spray the nest liberally and retreat, cut it off into a plastic bag the next day and put it out with the rubbish.

The most dangerous nests are those of the common and German wasps. These are often underground with an entrance hole of around 50mm and bigger. Then there’s the mammoth above-ground nests that are not often seen but usually support more than 100,000 wasps at a time.

Both of these nests are best treated by a fully suited professional as there is no shortage of stories about people doing it themselves and ending up in hospital.

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Ditch at work destorying a huge German wasp nest last summer.

property try to follow the wasp’s flight path in the early morning or late afternoon and pinpoint the source of activity. Be very careful; these guys are dangerous near the nest and you don’t want to accidently step on the entrance.

Killing these nests with the right gear is extremely straight forward and only takes a few minutes so do give us a call if you find one.

Last month we spoke about rabbit control and the dry weather. This situation is continuing and rabbit numbers across the Auckland region are booming; well, right across the country judging by a recent news item showing rabbits taking over the Invercargill Cemetery!

Have a look at last month’s article for detailed advice on WORKS ON BOTH MICE & RATS “GREEN” PRODUCT – IS BOTH REUSABLE AND ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERRED OPERATES ON 4 “D” BATTERIES ULTRA RAT ZAPPER HUMANELY KILLS APPROX. 40 MICE OR RATS

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24 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

wasps

how to deal with these guys or give me a call to discuss your rabbit issues.

Mammalian predators such as ferrets, stoats and weasels have a significant impact on all of our wildlife, and right now we are seeing a peak in numbers as all the new juveniles are heading out and about for the first time. We are regularly taking calls from people seeing groups of young stoats and other rodents harassing chooks and other bird-life So, right now is a great time to target them. For information on how to do this have a look at back issues of Rural Living for predator control articles.

Please help us to provide the advice you require by sending all pest animal questions to info@coastalpestsolutions. co.nz.

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RURAL

Body of insect information Unwanted insects which land on New Zealand shores may soon find their stay here is short-lived.

A new way to reveal the birthplace of unwanted insect pests is being developed by researchers in the Bio-Protection Research Centre at Lincoln University.

In measuring the elemental composition of insect wings or body parts, Dr Peter Holder, a postdoctoral fellow at Lincoln University, is using this signature to establish the region where insects are born.

The signature is derived from an insect’s food source which in turn reflects the rainfall and soil in its country of origin.

Despite stringent biosecurity measures, unwanted insects do arrive here in shipping containers and imported goods. If they breed and spread, their adverse impact on agriculture, horticulture, forestry and the environ-

Photo supplied

Green stink bug (Nezara viridula).

ment could be huge.

“Pinpointing the birthplace of an exotic insect pest is crucial for determining whether it is an isolated ‘hitchhiker’ or part of an established breeding population,” Dr Holder says.

“The new technique is very sensitive and compares the abundance of trace elements

such as arsenic and cadmium, coupled with the isotope ratios of hydrogen, lead and strontium in minute samples.

“The hydrogen isotope ratio of the wing tissue reflects the temperature, and hence latitude that the organism has developed, while the other markers give the geological age of the bedrock and soil of the place of development.

“By combining two independent types of markers, this is a much more powerful test of insect provenance than any previously available,” says Dr Holder, whose method has successfully determined the birthplace of the corn earworm moth, a worldwide agricultural pest found in New Zealand and Australia.

Eventually, the new research will assist agencies, such as the Ministry for Primary Industries, to decide the best approach for

dealing with insect pests.

Thanks to added funding, Dr Holder is also applying his method to stink bugs and fruit flies. Both have been detected in New Zealand.

The recent discovery of a single female yellow spotted stink bug by a gardener in Temuka, and detection of Queensland fruit flies in Whangarei early last year, have highlighted the need for this technology.

The method needs to be tested and trialled for each group of insects, as the signature can be influenced by the way an insect feeds and how it absorbs the nutrients, Dr Holder explains.

“The challenge is finding a method that will work consistently and reliably on the very small amounts of material that we can extract from a single insect especially when we look at much smaller species such as flies rather than moths.”

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Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 25

RURAL �������������������������������������������������������������������������������

Pitching tips for tent care These days tents are made from a wide variety of materials, some are natural such as heavy cotton (canvas) or lighter weighted synthetic materials.

To ensure you get the maximum life out of a tent, it needs to be stored away clean, dry and preferably off the floor in a cool, dry location.

Auckland’s humid climate is a great place for mould and mildew to grow and thrive.

Mould and mildew don’t just make the tent look grubby and smell bad but, in some cases, it will lead to lead to fabric rotting away and forming holes.

Dust, dried salt (from sea spray), bird droppings and other environmental fallout all need to be removed from you tent prior to storage.

Once home, it is a good idea to get out your tent during the remaining summer, wash it down and thoroughly air and dry it before storing away over the winter months.

If you had to break camp and fold up your tent while damp, ensure it is opened up and dried out as soon as possible – we’re talking days here, not weeks!

If you were unable to remove bird droppings at the time they landed, work on these areas

Cleaning your tent directly after use will prevent mould and mildew appearing. Failing to do so could result in fabric and waterproofing damage.

Photos supplied

with water, a soft cloth and pure soap. Restrict the soap to the area containing the dirt or staining.

Tree sap is another story, and if not removed when it landed, it may be difficult to remove.

In such cases, consult your tent supplier who should be able to recommend a cleaning process that will protect the fabric qualities as much as possible.

Do not use cleaning agents, bleaches, sharp instruments or harsh brushes to clean your tent. Using the former will not only remove the dirt or stain but will definitely affect the waterproofing treatment of the fabric.

The balance of your tent should be washed with a gentle water spray rather than a high pressure spray.

Do not forget the poles and pegs. Metal pegs and poles should be stored dry and clean.

This will help prevent corrosion which will weaken the items and possibly stain or fray the tent material with which they come into contact.

While the tent is up for cleaning it is a good idea to consider any areas that showed signs of leaking or require repairing.

Seek advice from your retailer and address this before your next holiday.

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43B Cavendish Drive, Manukau. P: 09 974 2672.

www.ruralliving.co.nz

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Win!

living

To enter the draw for any of these competitions visit www.ruralliving.co.nz click on the competitions link then fill in the form. One entry per person/ email address; entries close February 28, 2015. Winner notified by phone or email.

WIN! Olay Regenerist Luminous beauty package Here’s a chance to achieve pearlescent skin that glows with the NEW Olay Regenerist Luminous range. Inspired by the glow of natural pearls, Olay scientists studied the secret to a pearl’s luminosity: its unique multi-layered structure that reflects, refracts and diffracts light. From this, the NEW Olay Regenerist Luminous range was formulated and offers Kiwi women the ultimate accessory: bright, pearlescent skin.

The range includes; Olay Regenerist Luminous Brightening Cream Cleanser (RRP $15.99), Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Cream Moisturiser (RRP $67.99) and Olay Regenerist Luminous Tone Perfecting Treatment (RRP $57.99). Available at leading supermarkets and pharmacies, we have one full set to give away.

WIN! DALTON’S EASY LIFT POTTING MIX Cloudless summer days have given gardeners plenty of opportunity to weed, plant, and harvest but as all green-fingered people know good growing conditions generally rely on a little extra product help too. Dalton’s Easy Lift Potting Mix (see potting tips page 36) is a lightweight, high performance option which is manageable to carry and contains coco fibre for improved water retention and healthy root growth. Rural Living has three bags to give away to three lucky readers.

WIN! Curry Easy Vegetarian cookbook It’s not easy being the queen of curries! So, to address the regular wave of recipe requests she receives, Madhur Jaffrey has released a new book featuring 200 more authentic Indian dishes. Following on from her bestselling Curry Easy (and 13 other cookbooks), Madhur is back with her latest work, Curry Easy Vegetarian. In this book, readers will discover that meat-free can be just as tasty! Curry Easy Vegetarian, by Madhur Jaffrey. Published by Ebury Press and distributed in NZ by Random House. RRP $65.

Win! Gubbeen – The Story of a Working Farm and its Foods When Irish guys (and girls) are farming, the Fergusons help them say ‘cheese’! Since Giana and Tom Ferguson began making cheese in 1979, they’ve become known throughout the Emerald Isles. With the release of this book, the couple takes us behind the scenes of their highly successful farm. From how to look after animals to cheese-making, smoking meats and growing fruit and veggies, this book provides detailed (and entertaining) insights into rural life in Ireland. Gubbeen – The Story of a Working Farm and its Foods,

by Giana Ferguson. Published by Kyle Books and distributed by New Holland. RRP $59.99.

WIN! VOUCHERS FOR NEW GREEK-STYLE YOGHURT

Win! A Glasseye Creek Munitions sauce pack

If the gods are smiling on Mt Olympus then those checking on ‘God’s own’ will really be grinning now that Yoplait has created two, new Greek Style Yoghurts – honey and vanilla – in handy four-packs. They are thick and super creamy with a hint of sweetness – a nutritious snack any time of day. It’s perfect for fluffy pancakes, bircher muesli, or mixed with fruit, seeds and nuts and is a good substitute for cream in many recipes. Yoplait Greek Style Yoghurt is available in supermarkets nationwide and better still Rural Living has four $4.99 vouchers to give away to four lucky readers so they can try for themselves!

When Shane Wratt was served wild venison at his friend’s West Coast pub, he realised something was missing – such flavour needed to be accompanied by a ‘best mate of meat’. After trials, Shane came up with Glasseye Creek Wild Meat Sauce, then went a step further devising the new munitions range of artisan sauces. To give one lucky reader a taste of the wild side, we have .12 Gauge Wood Roasted Tomato and 12 Spice Fruit, .50cal 3 Day Smoked Chilli and Blackcurrant, .308 Chilli and Wood Roasted Capsicum and Wild Meat Sauce up for grabs.

www.ruralliving.co.nz

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 27

LIVING �����������������������������������

Claiming the cup Although New Zealand has never won the Cricket World Cup, come February, 2015, the Black Caps could claim a historic victory, as Clevedon local, Heath Mills, explained to JON RAWLINSON. Come February, fans will be hoping there will be no Valentine’s massacre of the Black Caps during the opening salvos of the Cricket World Cup. Chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA), Heath Mills, is cautiously optimistic about the team’s chances.

“I never get too excited when things go well, so I don’t get too dejected when they don’t! However, I think the Black Caps have every chance and I’ll be disappointed if they’re not in the mix at the end,” he says.

While past failures could plague the team, Heath believes the Black Caps now have a recipe for success.

“We’ve noticed a huge change in high performance at New Zealand Cricket recently. It’s been poor, but now, finally, there’s a good structure. The team’s well managed, coached and supported by a good programme.

“Above all, there’s improved communication, organisation and planning; these are simple things but I can’t overemphasise their importance.”

And the team behind the team could prove crucial.

“People talk about scoring runs, taking wickets, or captaincy, but that all happens because everyone’s going in the right direction. In my humble opinion, the Black Caps are succeeding largely because of the organisation behind the team.”

Despite the rise of T20 and purists favouring the test format, there is still a place for one-day cricket, Heath says.

“The World Cup is the major event.

One-day cricket will stay because it’s a good format; the players like

playing it and broadcasters just love it! Ultimately, as long as they want it, it’ll stay.”

“People talk about scoring runs, taking wickets, or captaincy, but that all happens because everyone’s going in the right direction... the Black Caps are succeeding largely because of the organisation behind the team.”

– Heath Mills

However, Heath believes issues such as player burnout may change the nature of the game.

“We can’t expect the same 11 players to play 11 months of the year for 15 years. Two years ago, Brendon McCullum spent just 10 nights in his own bed. That’s not a good situation.

“We need to get a heck of a lot better at managing players; when to play or rest them. Also, they can earn much more playing franchise sport elsewhere, so we have to [offer] leave so they can get their earnings up.

Otherwise, they’re forced to make that decision, ‘do I keep playing here or go overseas?’ ” Heath adds that test cricket also requires a world cup of sorts for the game to prosper.

“It’s a failure that after 100 years or so we still don’t have a world test championship. It could be done, but two or three member boards choose not to because they want to choose [which sides] they play.

“They can make a lot more money that way. Unfortunately, some administrators are focused on money, not necessarily the best interests of cricket.”

Playing advocate Although injury curtailed Heath’s on-field ambitions, a more wideranging role in the sport beckoned in 2001, when Auckland cricketers –including his brother, Kyle – sought assistance with their contracts.

28 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

“Professionalism was new and run on a dictatorial model,” says Heath.

“People just felt athletes were fortunate to play for their country and didn’t take into account the huge financial returns being generated off the players’ backs.

“I spoke to the Auckland Cricket CEO about how Kyle and the rest of them wanted to play in England, but Auckland wanted them to stay and train through winter.

“I said ‘well, they can’t do that without any income!’ He ended up agreeing to retain them on [paid] contracts.”

The result was the establishment of the NZCPA, an incorporated society which acts as an advocate for players, advising on contractual matters here and overseas.

In addition, the association works to improve the lot of coaches and support staff, past players, the standard of grounds and training facilities, and even helps to develop youth cricket through a range of programmes.

The early days were tricky, says Heath, but good advice from sportspeople involved with similar organisations proved invaluable.

“After we’d signed all the players, we negotiated a collective agreement with New Zealand Cricket. They weren’t that keen to engage – there was even a six-week strike – but we got there. By the end of 2002, I was working for the association full time.”

While Heath may be kept busy with his role, he says he still finds time to take to the field, playing at a social level for Clevedon, Counties Manukau and the Howick Club.

It’s not just cricket!

Cricket is simple: bat, ball, bowler, batsmen, fielders… what more does one need? However, one of New Zealand’s favourite pastimes has required more to thrive in the professional era.

Heath Mills, believes the purity of cricket mustn’t be compromised. www.ruralliving.co.nz

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living

Windows to close on business Security threats, increasing maintenance costs and downtime could see many Kiwi businesses caught short of support.

Companies which run Windows Server 2003 need to make plans for server migrations, with an end to security patches and updates set for July 15, says Frazer Scott from Microsoft New Zealand.

“We are strongly urging customers who currently run Windows Server 2003 [to begin] migration planning immediately, as it can take around 200 days.

“We are concerned by a recent report that points out business leaders may not be aware of the risks they would face if Windows Server 2003 systems are not migrated in time... planning starts straight away!”

However, the chief executive of the New Zealand Cricket Players’ Association (NZCPA) says professionalism has changed the nature of the game.

Recently, the sport has been embroiled in match-fixing investigations involving former Black Caps Lou Vincent and Chris Cairns. Heath’s brother, Kyle, was named as one of three players who aided ICC investigations into Cairns’ alleged role.

“It’s awakened New Zealand to match-fixing, the biggest issue facing sport today.

“It’s been a difficult time and we hope it will reach a conclusion shortly so we can all move on.

I’m hopeful investigations won’t involve more New Zealand players, but I’m always prepared to be surprised.”

“I think we’ve been naive about it, feeling our country is free of corruption and it wouldn’t happen here. But we send our athletes to environments where, unfortunately, it’s prevalent,” he says.

While the sporting world awaits the outcome (for better or worse) of one of its darkest chapters, fans can trust that, with Heath at the helm, the health of New Zealand cricket may improve further.

Heath says he is aware of some aspects of the investigation but is not party to all information.

Microsoft reports companies across a wide range of diverse industries – including agriculture, forestry and fishing, banking, manufacturing, education, hospitality, insurance and many more – are yet to migrate.

Mr Scott says customers have a range of migration options. These include the new Windows Server, Microsoft Azure, hosting partners, and Office 365. He adds that the company is happy to offer advice.

M. 021 955 141 A/h. 09 232 0000 Papakura Branch 09 298 8029

www.ruralliving.co.nz

R10114-v2

Licensed REAA 2008

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 29

Living

Year began on fiery note family joke is that I never get in the cold water and, if I do, I am wearing my sunglasses and have a hat on as my head which never goes under the water. That changed this summer when I was trying to get off the Lilo in the deep end of the pool.

Reay Neben is a Franklin resident and publisher of Rural Living.

CITY LASS

I overturned and was completely submerged. Struggling to surface while reaching for the glasses and hat, I caught sight of the Pukekohe daughter hysterical at the other end.

No help was offered and there was no sympathy even when I pointed out I could have drowned!

Happy New Year. Well, what can I say about this wonderful Christmas break? I can’t remember when we had such fabulous weather. The saying, ‘make hay while the sun shines’ was true this month and, like us, everyone around has made hay although the paddocks look really dry.

I had thought that during my break I would get into the garden but the ground is like concrete and the only plants doing well are the weeds. I can never understand that plants one pays good money for, wizen up and die in the dry but the weeds around them remain spectacular even flowering.

Christmas came and went and we did exactly what we planned. We read books around the pool, wandered out for lunch a few times and also went into the Viaduct and had dinner with friends at Soul Bar. The latter was really super as most of the people around seemed to be visitors and nowhere was overly crowded.

For New Year’s Eve Brian and I decided to do something different so we booked into the Pullman Hotel in the city for the special New Year’s Eve menu and then at about 11pm we walked to the top of Victoria Street and watched the countdown to midnight.

It was great fun and all the people around us were in party mood. The fireworks display began and the New Year was welcomed in with great merriment and style. Usually, we go out for dinner and then at midnight stand in our paddock and look to see

I have embarked on my New Year’ resolution and, as I write this, I am at home. This one day working from home has been a long time coming but I am determined it will continue.

had no access to the fun. Never mind, we had a great time, and coming home the next morning after breakfast, it seemed we had been away for days.

Over this past month I have been approached by so many people who read my column and I thank you for all your kind comments. My big thing is that we should all support the advertisers in this magazine as without their support there would be no Rural Living and then I would have nothing to do – and we can’t have that!

Back to the books and the pool. The

Cheers for the first month of 2015

Sky Tower’s fantastic New Year display. if the Skytower lights can be seen. I don’t think we have ever seen them.

I couldn’t believe there was no TV countdown to the New Year on any channel. For people who don’t want to party it seems strange that they

Photo courtesy SkyCity Auckland

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30 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

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living

Hair trends

THE HEARING HUT Audiology and Hearing Clinic Independent. Kiwi owned. Kiwi operated.

the cut that works for everyone

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Natasha Harris of Alberts Hair Salon Pukekohe brings you the latest in hair trends. â&#x20AC;˘ How to wear it: Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s great about this cut is you can do a side part, a middle part, or no part at all. A middle part is youthful and stylish, while a side part looks more dressed up.

This cut is versatile because it is long enough to be pulled into a chignon or a ponytail. The one constant? Hair serum, which keeps it looking shiny.

The lob (itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a long bob) â&#x20AC;˘ The look: Think Naomi Watts, Emma Stone and Jessica Alba. This cut is blunt with little or no layers, it elongates the neck for a more statuesque look. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s modern and young and gives your hairdo some edge. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s also a good start for the woman whoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s afraid to cut her hair.â&#x20AC;?

If you go any shorter it becomes a bob and you lose the versatility. â&#x20AC;˘ Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect for: Everyone â&#x20AC;&#x201C; this style is suitable for all face shapes, either thick hair or those whose hair is fine or fried from heat styling tools. â&#x20AC;&#x153;This is the return to healthy without being tied down to a short style,â&#x20AC;? says Natasha. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It gets rid of the stringy ends, so your hair looks thicker.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;˘ Use: On damp hair work through Pureologyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hydrate Shine Max, and for added glamour finish with Kevin Murphyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Shimmer Shine Mist.

Both are available at Alberts Hair Salon 2/23 Hall Street, Pukekohe.

Tony McGeough

Owner and Audiology Clinician The Hearing Hut

Avoid the Hearing Aid â&#x20AC;&#x153;rip-offâ&#x20AC;?!

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This is the mark-up we put on Hearing Aids.

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info@hearinghut.co.nz

09 239 2826 R60028

We have noticed a change with our clients.

Long locks are on their way out (for some) and the new â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; length is the LOB, with hair settling around the collar bone. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are loving the versatility of this haircutâ&#x20AC;?.

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Over these past months many of our clients have opted for this healthy, manageable length. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s trendy, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful and still seriously sexy.

Wear it straight for sophistication or add some soft wave to create a more playful glamour.

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Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 31 8/04/14 1:44 pm

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Going Greek...

living

Sweets for my sweet...

Complement summer by using thick, nutritious and deliciously creamy Yoplait Greek Style Yoghurts to make scrumptious dips, smoothies and marinades or to Greek up your breakfast muesli. Try these two suggestions.

The Only Smoothie Recipe You’ll Ever Need

It’s all-too-common, festive feasting tempts us to partake of the sweeter things in life as we sample (perhaps) a little too much of those dishy summer desserts.

Yes, like it or ‘lump’ it, sugar is something we loathe to love, and while we know it’s bad for us, it just tastes so darn good!

Thankfully, Go Healthy has recently released GO Sugar Block, designed to help manage cravings and reduce the effects of sugar on our bodies.

While it’s ideal for those who harbour a sweet tooth, Janeen Howard from GO Healthy NZ says because sugar is found in so many foods, all can benefit from Sugar Block.

Makes 2 Preparation time 10 minutes

• 1 tablespoon honey • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

your variation of choice in a blender until smooth and creamy.

Ingredients:

Mixed Berry Smoothie • 1 cup frozen or fresh mixed berries • 1 tablespoon honey

Pour into chilled glass and serve ice cold.

Base: • 200g of Yoplait Greek Natural Yogurt • 1/2 cup milk • handful of ice cubes Variations: Banana, Cinnamon and Honey • 1 banana, chopped

Mango Smoothie • 1 cup frozen or fresh mango pieces • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup

Method: Process all base ingredients plus

• Notes: Substitute honey with maple syrup, icing sugar or brown sugar if you like a sweeter smoothie.

Add extras to these basic smoothies such as grated lime rind, vanilla essence, cocoa powder, almond meal or chia seeds for extra goodness!

Beetroot and Yoghurt Dip Makes 3 cups Preparation time 10 minutes

Ingredients:

GO Sugar Block (RRP $37.90 for 60 capsules) is available at pharmacies and health stores nationwide. It is not to be taken during pregnancy or lactation and diabetics should monitor blood sugar levels. Always read the label and take only as directed.

Rural Living has THREE bottles of GO Sugar Block to give away!

Method: Blend beetroot, yoghurt and chives in a food processor or using a stab blender, until smooth.

www.ruralliving.co.nz

“To help offset this, GO Sugar Block contains key ingredients to support balanced blood sugar levels, and lessen the amount of sugar the body absorbs.”

Win! A bottle of Go Healthy Sugar Block

• 450g can whole baby beetroots, well drained • 160g Yoplait Greek Style Yoghurt • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives, optional

Transfer the dip to a serving bowl and serve with lavosh crisps or water crackers, baby radishes and cucumbers.

“Most would be surprised to learn how much sugar is hidden in a wide range of foods and beverages we consume on a daily basis. Excess sugar can lead to unbalanced blood sugar levels, leave us fatigued, unable to focus, experiencing low mood, hungry, and craving sugars and carbohydrates,” she says.

• Notes: If the consistency of this dip is too runny for you, try adding 1/2 cup finely crushed water cracker biscuits to the dip.

The dip will develop in flavour upon standing so make it a couple of hours in advance or the night before if possible.

To be in to win, simply visit ruralliving.co.nz and complete the entry form under the competitions tab. One entry per person/email address; entries close February 28, 2015. Winners notified by phone or email.

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 33

Living

Win! BOOKS FOR

YOUNG AND OLD READERS To enter either competition complete the form on the competitions section at ruralliving.co.nz.

One entry per person/email address; entries close February 28. Winners notified by phone or email.

WELCOMING BOARDING AND DAY STUDENTS Boys Years 9-13 Girls Years 12-13

A CHILDREN’S BOOK PACK CALL 0508 46 25 46 TO ARRANGE A TOUR OR VISIT www.kingscollege.school.nz R100126

Three top titles for free? You’re kidding! Well, no we’re not because Rural Living has ALL THREE of these books from Scholastic to give away to one lucky reader. This prize includes:

SHIRL ANd THE A&p SHOW

bY JANEEN bRIAN It’s A&P Show time, and Shirl and the other girls in the paddock want to join in the fun. Gertrude the goat always wins all the prizes, but maybe Shirl and the other sheep can come up with a prize-winning entry too.

WINTER bREAK WIpEOUT

bY GILLES TIbO Nicholas is so excited about his family’s ski trip that he’s had his

backpack, long johns, and snowboard boots on for three days already!

But before they leave, he has a long list of things to do: take the cat to a neighbour’s house, shovel the driveway, round up the ski gear, pack up the car... when will this vacation ever start?

WE’RE ALL FRIENdS HERE, bY NANCY WILCOX RICHARdS Sonny and Arthur have been thrown together since nursery school, but they couldn’t be less alike. But when Arthur is not on the school bus, Sonny realises it’s rather boring without his usual seatmate. Could it be that the two boys are good for each other, even though they are so different?

CHANGE THE CHANNEL Volunteer charity shops, have fun Volunteer in in ourour charity shops, have fun whilst supporting the work of Hospice. whilst supporting the work of Hospice.

The dangers of quad bikes are well known to farmers and none more so than Andrew Fleming.

Join team at the of yourof local After falling from his Joinaafriendly friendly team atheart the heart your local bike and suffering a community in one of our Totara Hospice shops.

community in one of our Totara Hospice shops. shattered vertebra, Our dedicated and caring volunteers need more help!

Our dedicated and caring volunteers need more help! the previously fit and Turn kindly donated goods into much needed support for our patients active farmer faced and their families.

Full training provided, great chance to meet unimaginable challenges Turn kindly donated goods isinto much aneeded support for our patients new friends - and there are many ways you can help. ahead. However, rather and their families. Full training is provided, a great chance to meet new friends - and there are many ways you can help. than seeing the accident as an end, it became a new beginning as Andrew Please contact Wendy Stanmore now if you can help set about facing a new way of life. on: (09) 2983108 or wendy.stanmore@hospice.co.nz contact WendyPrevost Stanmore nowManurewa if you can help TotaraPlease Hospice, 140 Charles Drive,

on: (09) 2983108 or wendy.stanmore@hospice.co.nz

34 — Rural LivingHospice, — January140 - February 2015 Totara Charles Prevost

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Hamilton Gardens no flop It looks like nearby ‘Hamiltron’ is living up to its reputation as New Zealand’s ‘city of the future’, all thanks to its gardens.

Tim Jepson – writer for British newspaper, The Telegraph – has named Hamilton Gardens as one of 26 reasons why NZ is the world’s top travel destination, and Waikato’s most popular attraction.

“New Zealand, like Britain, is a nation of gardeners – with the gardens to prove it – and has a natural diversity and range of climate that allow a vast variety of plants, trees and shrubs to flourish,” he says.

“The theme of Hamilton Gardens is the ‘story of gardens’, with everything from an Indian garden to a Modernist Garden [with] seasonal plants such as roses, camellias, magnolias, herbaceous borders and annuals in the Victorian Flower Garden.”

And the gardens – voted 2014’s International Garden of the Year by the International Garden Tourism Network – is set to open its Tudor Garden on January 29.

The Telegraph article also listed a diverse range of other top attractions from the haka and Milford Track, to whale watching, 90 Mile Beach and wineries. See telegraph.co.uk/travel and click on the ‘Destinations Guide’ tab to read the article in its entirety.

Going potty

By Heidi Wood Favoured by those keen on green but short on space, potted plants can provide edible treasures and bursts of colour indoors and out.

However, a few tips can go a long way to ensuring potted plants last the distance.

Container gardening will maximise space in any garden regardless of size. Pot herbs and lettuce close to the kitchen, or liven up an outdoor space with potted colour. Veggies can be potted if space is at a premium.

Here are some top tips from Daltons to keep container plants healthy: • Thoroughly wash old containers before reusing to ensure there is no contamination from fungal diseases or overwintering insects.

• Choose containers suitable for the particular plant, taking into account how much room it will need to grow.

For instance, flowering annuals may require small pots, while herbs or easy-to-pick veggies – such as lettuce or dwarf varieties – will require larger containers. Even bigger plants – including shrubs or small trees – need larger containers still.

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• As they’re in confined spaces, container plants deplete soil of nutrients more quickly. However, if growing potted annuals, herbs or quick maturing vegetables, a good quality potting mix should contain enough nutrients without needing additional fertiliser. Other plants and potted vegetables may need a topdress now and again – I tend to use Daltons Goldcote fertiliser.

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Our Franklin gardens set for festival When it comes to inspiring Aucklandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden enthusiasts, it seems Franklin fits the bill with a number of gardens set to feature in this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Heroic Gardens Festival. JON RAWLINSON spoke with one local gardener about his Heroic efforts.

When keen Pukekohe gardeners, Mark and Margaret Tregidga, were approached by organisers of the Heroic Gardens Festival to open their garden gates, they were pleased to lend their support to a worthy cause.

Initiated to raise money to support Mercy Hospice almost 20 years ago, the festival (February 14-15) invites visitors to be inspired by gardens throughout Auckland, many of which are seldom open to the public. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We were approached by the organisers and (we think) recommended by a member of a garden club who had visited our property previously. Mercy Hospiceâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s work is extremely important and itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the major reason we agreed to open our garden to the public for the first time,â&#x20AC;? says Mark.

While the Tregidga garden doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t follow any particular theme, Mark says a fortunate few have enjoyed its informal, country style when visiting. â&#x20AC;&#x153;People seem to like the feeling of peace the property offers as they look out over farmland reminiscent of the English countryside. They tend to find interest in the variety of planting and that they can take time to enjoy the beauty nature has provided us.â&#x20AC;?

The former owners of a glasshouse tomato and packhouse business retired and moved to Pukekohe 12 years ago. Since then, the six-acre property â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which includes four acres of gardens â&#x20AC;&#x201C; has proved a labour of love for the couple. â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are now retired, which has allowed the time for us to create

E...

WHATâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S INSID Cream of crop â&#x20AC;&#x201C; When a newly built Waikato Expressway diverted trunk line traďŹ&#x192;c away from Pokeno township some years ago, it looked like the rural village would become a sleepy hollow. But now residential and industrial expansion is breathing new life into the area...

Housing boom in Franklin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Check out the hot spots of the future: Regis Park, Bombay Heights, Patumahoe, Awhitu...

Are you in the zone? â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pukekohe has been deemed a satellite town to accommodate bursting at the seams Auckland. Several areas have been earmarked for new housing and industry.

Franklin favoured by seniors â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pukekoheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s population increased by 11 per cent between the 2006 and 2013 censuses, higher than the regional growth rate of 8 per cent over the same period.

Retirees make up some of these numbers...

Unique homewares â&#x20AC;&#x201C; First shoes, then handbags and now homeware; Black Barn founders Brendal and Graeme, are no strangers to running a business.

38 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015

Read online: www.ruralliving.co.nz

www.ruralliving.co.nz

Marking their Mark (and Margaret) the Tregidgas show Rural Living their four-acre garden paradise.

our garden, and when not busy with family and friends, we spend most days in the garden. We have always enjoyed gardening and visiting gardens worldwide,” says Mark.

Today, the Tregidga’s garden predominantly features exotic trees in addition to areas set aside for natives.

“We also have orchards providing fruit, as well as a vegetable garden and a greenhouse to supply veggies all year.

“We have created the garden to be visually pleasing for us, suited to our lifestyle and of interest throughout the year. We hope visitors during Heroic Gardens will love it as much as we do.” www.ruralliving.co.nz

Photos Paul Vettoretti/supplied

But wait... there’s more!

In addition to Mark and Margaret’s Pukekohe garden, visitors to the Heroic Gardens Festival 2015 will also have the opportunity to view a couple of Karaka crackers, specifically the gardens of:

English oaks, liquidambars, maples, pin oaks and an orchard offer a sense of natural maturity. Complete with a tranquil pond where water-lilies abound, this garden is sure to inspire.

Ian Ferguson and Kevin Hunt

For more about Ian and Kevin’s magnificent home and gardens, see pages 34-35 of Rural Living’s MarchApril 2014 issue, under the Past Issues tab at ruralliving.co.nz.

Featuring a historic homestead and a perimeter of herbaceous borders complete with annuals, shrubs, old-fashioned roses and perennials, Ian and Kevin’s property is Victorian elegance personified.

Early plantings of shelter belts provide the necessary windbreak and

Rex and Bev Gazzard Over 20 years, Rex and Bev have made the most of an abundance of space to develop St Margaret’s Country Garden.

These clever gardeners have created an expansive property featuring large, open lawns, shrubberies, perennial borders, and a man-made lake, surrounded by a collection of deciduous and evergreen trees.

From garden paths to woodland walkways, surrounded by bird life and blossoms, St Margaret’s is one of the region’s ‘must see’ gardens.

• For more details regarding all gardens set to feature during the Heroic Gardens Festival 2015 (located throughout greater Auckland), see heroicgardens. org.nz.

Rural Living — January - February 2015 — 39

LIVING ��������������������������������������������������������

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Real Estate Heat Wave Continues Driven by Auckland Demand

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the lifestyle block for sales and price growth.

Normally December is well down on November sales volumes. According to REINZ sales data, the 2734 houses sold in Auckland were only 7% below a strong November. Nationally 7064 dwellings sold in December, this was 24.2% up on Dec 2013 and the strongest December sales since 2006!

The rural market also played its part with the rural Auckland sales totaling 361 in December compared with 370 for November and 316 for December 2013. Some commentators are picking 2015 as being the year of

To date the hype of the city and metro regions has not transferred to the rural sectors around Auckland. What may spur lifestyle on are two factors, the greater demand from urban dwellers selling their high priced urban property and the current low level of listings for the rural market.

The Waikato Country areas are also experiencing high growth in sales volume but limited growth in price.

The volume of country sales in the Waikato increased 46% in Dec 2014 compared to December 2013.

The price change was only 4.3% and this may indicate some pricing pressure due to the changes in the dairy commodity prices.

Waikato does stand to gain from Auckland home buyers and investors who are not obtaining the yields in the hot Auckland market. The rapid growth of the Pokeno housing development is an example of this.

While listings numbers remain constrained it is likely we shall see another year of solid price pressure until the housing supply volume increases.

The extensive areas zoned “Future Urban” under the proposed unitary plan will in time release plenty of housing land to eventually subdue the price pressure. How long this will take is any one’s guess.

I suggest you head for the beach and cool down so that the real estate heat wave does not become too much!

Lucky trucker!

A retired truck driver is putting his best foot forward as Franklin’s run of luck continues.

The winner received the ticket as a thank you for helping a friend around the house.

While the dream home and lifestyle might be just that for many of us, the man – who wishes to remain anonymous – claimed a total prize of $10.7m from the first Lotto draw of the year.

“Three of us go shopping together every week, so every now and again I buy them a Lotto ticket each while we’re out to say thanks for all their help,” explained the friend.

“The first thing I’m going to buy is some new jandals,” he says, “It’s about time I threw these ones away!

Other than that, I have no idea.”

“I asked the lady at the Lotto shop to write my friends’ initials on the tickets, so they were theirs from the moment she handed them to me. The winning ticket was meant to be his.”

The man’s win follows a string of good fortune for Frankliners in 2014, which included winning tickets for $250,000, $1m and $20.2m sold by Countdown and Pak’n’Save outlets in the area.

It was Lotto’s third luckiest area of 2014, behind Kaikoura and Ashburton respectively.

In total, more than $121.6m has been won by Franklin players since Lotto began in 1987, including 72 First Division prizes.

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Digger Danâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s QUICK TIPS

â&#x20AC;˘ Pile on the mulch: With weeks of summer sun well and truly squeezing out rain clouds, most gardens are dry and thirsty. Retain root moisture by watering first and then liberally spread BLACKGOLD Mulch around. This is Central Landscapeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new brew, with compost added to boost the garden.

By David Aspin, Dip Turf Culture

the turf when finished, then water.

Turfing is the way to have an instant lawn but there are some hoops to jump through.

When laying the turf, be sure to have the grain (the direction the leaves are laying) going the same way. Keep the turf tight with no gaps.

You need to prepare the area to turf much as you would for seeding.

Measure the area, and select the type of grass. You order and pay by the square metre so be accurate.

Each roll is about 1 square metre.

You can get most of the common grasses such as rye, fine fescue, type turf tall fescue or Californian fescue and some different types of couch as turf or ready lawn.

Most grasses can be turfed any time of the year except couch. In Auckland Windsor Green is one of the better couch varieties but, remember, that couch likes the sun, not the shade. It is best laid in late spring.

Use a base fertiliser such as Nitrophoska blue; about 1kg per 60 square metres. Mix half with the soil and the other half apply on top of

â&#x20AC;˘ Dealing with sap-suckers:Â A solid, regular blast with the garden hose will usually dislodge pests that attack the undersides of leaves. This works well with aphids but for persistent colonies of whitefly, repeat applications of pyrethrum may be more effective.

However, check the problem is widespread because this spray, though natural, is broad spectrum. Another active, but unseen pest is the thrip, a tiny insect that â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;raspsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; the backs of leaves of evergreen plants such as rhododendrons, viburnums and bay trees, turning the leaves silver. In the case of the latter use Confidor once a month until autumn.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s important to keep the air out from underneath the turf or it will dry very quickly. Rolling can also help with good sod/soil contact, and water as soon as turf is laid.

You will need to water twice a day until the turf takes root.

â&#x20AC;˘ Summer hardy plants: These hardy to drought plants can be popped in the garden even now â&#x20AC;&#x201C; salvias, lavenders, daylilies, gazanias and geraniums.

Plants with silver foliage such as artemesia, stachys, astelias and the pretty, white- flowered convolvulus cneorum are tolerant of heat.

After the turf is attached to the soil, you can back off the water, although the turf will still need some water from time to time, However, you can overwater so take care. Fertilise the surface again after one month.

Do not mow the new turf until itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s doubled in height and then only cut off one third of the total length.

Height of cut should be no shorter than 25mm.

â&#x20AC;˘ Harvesting garlic: Garlic is usually ready around now and needs to be harvested. When the tops begin to die back, dig up bulbs (leaves attached) with a fork and leave to dry on top of the ground for a week or so. Garlic stores well in a cool, dark area.

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â&#x20AC;˘ Lawn Care: Most lawns will be experiencing some discomfort this summer. If you have been maintaining good deep watering practices but your lawn is still yellowing off then you may have an insect infestation.

Dig into the lawn to a depth of roughly 75mm to see if beetles or larvae are present. Insects can be safely treated using Pyrifos G granular insecticide.

Pyrifos G simply needs to be well watered in after application. Children and pets are safe to return to the lawn the next day. Summer is also a good time to slightly raise mowing heights. This reduces stress on the grass and helps maintain good plant health. Continue to fertilise and apply AquaTurf Max as required.Â

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EUROPEAN CAR REPAIR SPECIALIST

Instead of accepting defeat graciously, Toyota launched a marketing campaign announcing that Hilux was once again the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top selling â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;4x4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; ute, and â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;everyone else is talking number twosâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;.

Breaking models down into variants (2WD and 4WD) is virtually unheard of anywhere in the world when releasing automotive industry sales figures. Toyota hanging its marketing on â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;4x4â&#x20AC;&#x2122; is poor form and smacks of desperation.

Corey Holter, managing director Ford New Zealand, put it well: â&#x20AC;&#x153;A lot of attention was put on the sales race this year but weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve always said itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s about the customer and leaving it up to them to decide. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Well, the customer has decided and there is a new number one in New Zealand. We are very proud of the Ford Ranger.â&#x20AC;?

P: 09 239 1015 E: sales@tyresplus.co.nz Rob Mitchell

R11070

Specialising in repairing all European brands â&#x20AC;&#x201C; mechanical, diagnostic and panel Courtesy cars available 156 Manukau Road, Pukekohe. P: 09 238 2069. F: 09 238 2059. M: 0274 528 863. E: jan.van.den.berg@xtra.co.nz &ULLY FACTORY TRAINED TECHNICIANS 3TATE OF THE ART WORKSHOP FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT .EW (OLDEN AND .ISSAN 6EHICLES !CCESS TO OVER USED CARS /NSITE l NANCE AND INSURANCE

APPARELL

EBBETT

MARQUE OF EXCELLENCE

APPARELL

PHONE 0800 405 050

#NR %DINBURGH 4OBIN 3TS s 0UKEKOHE % ROSS EBBETT CO NZ s WWW EBBETT CO NZ 53841

42 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015

www.ruralliving.co.nz

Some 950,000 litres of water were pumped onto the street with water pumps hidden in the alley and placed in key spots.

Photo supplied

Bringing the bush to the city How do you test drive the Jeep Cherokee, one of the most capable off road vehicles in the world, in the city where snow, ice, rivers, rocks, wild animals and mud are in short supply?

Simple. You take a city street and turn it into a forest with a wild mountain river. Then you bring it to life with snowbanks, boulders, rocks, sand/ gravel, moss, live fir trees and even two live wolves, much to the surprise of unsuspecting Jeep Cherokee customers out for what they thought would be the typical, â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;run around the blockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; test drive from the local Jeep dealership.

The unique approach was designed to introduce drivers to the versatility and real-world

capability of the Jeep Cherokee.

Built in the Canadian city of Vancouver, the forest in the city was built for the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;River in the Cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; TV commercial.

Unsuspecting real customers visiting a near-by Jeep dealership to test the Jeep Cherokee were sent out on what they thought would be a normal urban test drive by following directions from its satellite navigation system through downtown Vancouver.

Following the detour, the directions soon led them to the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;river in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; and the drivers were actually a part of the real-life demonstration of the Cherokee.

The commercial is further brought to life with captivating images of the customers in the Jeep Cherokee confronting boulders and gravel amidst a raging river, all set against downtown parking meters and people moving down escalators in city buildings as the work day unfolds.

To build the urban forest Jeep used 450 tonnes of boulders, rocks, sand and 2,500 sand bags, which were used throughout the set to break up water flow and hide the normal flat street surface to produce a real flooded river crossing.

The water was recycled using a closed water system that pumped water from the end of the street back to the top.

The water was eventually discharged down the street, into Vancouver Harbour.

The snowbanks were made of 180 tonnes of snow that blanketed crushed and block ice.

Logs, sticks, moss, and 80 fir and hemlock trees lined and covered the street. The trees were boxed and returned to the nursery and boulders, gravel and other materials were also repurposed.

In New Zealand, where forests, demanding roads, snow, ice, mud and rocks, if not wolves, are much more easily accessible, the awardwinning Jeep Cherokee range opens with the Cherokee Sport at $44,990.

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R60037

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XXX QTBVUPNPUJWF DP O[ Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 43

DIRECTORY ������������������������������������������������������������������������

SEPTIC TANK

For a FREE no obligation quote contact our friendly team

GREASE TRAP CLEANING

We supply a wide range of commercial & domestic:

39 Firth St, Drury

Our services include:

N Carpets N Vinyls N Auto & Marine carpets N Cork, Porcelain & Glass Tiles N Mat overlocking N Floor preparation N Concrete grinding N Quality installation

p: 09 294 7611

Holmes Flooring Ltd, 1 Mellsop Ave, Waiuku.

Ph 09 235 0586, Fax 09 235 0589, Mobile 0274 990 298 Email holmesflooring@clear.net.nz

e: msport@ihug.co.nz John: 0274 923 669 Robbie: 0274 967 430 R1101170

CLOSED PUBLIC HOLIDAYS    

6A Court St, Waiuku Phone 09 235 2769

    

Shop 2, 33 Edinburgh St (next to Pizza Hut) Pukekohe Phone 09 239 2964



53435

SST SERVICES

OPEN 7 DAYS

        

53800-v2

AND



E510182

TRADE PRICES for Rural Living customers!

Up to 45% OFF!

CURTAINS

www.venluree.co.nz

Fantastic opportunity to invest in top quality fabrics at clearance prices.

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0800 SUCKA1 0800 782 521

Call the girls at Rainbow Curtains for quality and affordable prices

Certified Plumbers and Drainlayers

Ph / Fax: 09 298 9002 Email: sandywilson@xtra.co.nz www.rainbowcurtains.co.nz

Or:

Alan Wilson Plumbing 235 9066

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R10108-V2

While stocks last.

53420-V2

0800 836 587 021 775 168

R101117-V3

Give Andrew a call today for a free In-Home Design Consultation

Makers of curtains, drapes, roman blinds plus suppliers of roller, venetian and timber blinds!

R11056-v2

Roller, Venetian, Vertical and Roman Blinds Plus Awnings and Insect Screens

We design, manufacture and install...we do the lot

E125091

Whether you are planning on building a new home or renovating an existing home we can help you achieve your dream kitchen, laundry or vanity units.

R11064-V2

09 299 9231

Unit 1/6 Vernon Street, Papakura www.countieskitchens.co.nz

Subscribe to Rural Living 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.

44 — Rural Living — January - February 2015

www.ruralliving.co.nz

/4 .&

DIRECTORY

MADSEN LAWRIE CONSULTANTS LTD

TILES on elliot

LAND SURVEYORS

29b Elliot St Papakura

P: 09 214 6044

URBAN & RURAL LAND DEVELOPMENT

www.madsen-lawrie.co.nz Email: office@madsen-lawrie.co.nz

PROPERTY & TITLE INVESTIGATION

14 Hall St PO Box 177, Pukekohe Tel 09 238 6369 Fax 09 238 2448

F: 09 299 2587 E: tilesonelliot@vodafone.co.nz

LAND SUBDIVISION

David Lawrie Dan Madsen

FARM PLANS & AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS RESOURCE MANAGEMENT APPLICATIONS BUILDING SET OUTS

R11071-V2

NOT JUST KITCHENS LTD is the customer focused company with a big reputation for creating kitchens with that elusive â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;wowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; factor.

Homes/Commercial â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Roof Painting Kitchen Spray Painting â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Stopping Wallpapering â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Airless Spraying Doors/Furniture â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Pools

Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 9am-12pm. Closed Sundays & Public Holidays.

E: admin@notjustkitchensltd.co.nz | W: www.notjustkitchensltd.co.nz

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WE $POEJUJPOT BQQMZ CATER FOR ALL STYLES & BUDGETS

R1101130-v3

Painting and Decorating

Showroom: 1/13 West St, Pukekohe. Ph (09) 238 3429.

BEWJDF WITH A HUGE RANGE %3"1& .",*/( AND EXPERT ADVICE, T

Pukekohe Decorators & Door Finishers Ltd

R11009

Mike Just has an instinctive flair for designing and manufacturing stylish kitchens of the highest quality. You will never find a Not Just Kitchen design like yours anywhere else.

0!).4 s 7!,,0!0%2 #524!).3 s ",).$3

R1101143

For a free consultation contact

103c Manukau Road, Pukekohe

P. 09 238 1163 E.WATSONS5@IHUG.CO.NZ W. WWW.DOORFINISHERS.CO.NZ

Recovery & Redesign Padded Bedheads Lounge/Dining Domestic/Commercial

Registered Property Valuers

â&#x20AC;˘ FREE QUOTES â&#x20AC;˘ HUGE RANGE OF FABRICS

Wholesale Prices CROSBIES COLOURPLUS

FRANKLIN UPHOLSTERY 162 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe.

09 238 7483

54737

204 King St, Pukekohe. 09 238 7489

r1101127-v2

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

www.ruralliving.co.nz

Prompt, Professional Service for residential, lifestyle, commercial, industrial Valuations

R11063

S

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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.

Bombay Autobahn.

Tuakau H.R Fiskens, 295 Tuakau Rd. Tuakau Meats, 23 George St. Field Fresh Fruit & Vege, 3/53 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 Papakura-Clevedon Rd, Clevedon Village Patumahoe The Butchers Shop Cafe, 4 Patumahoe Rd.

Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 45

DIRECTORY ������������������������������������������������������������������������

W! NE

Supply, Installation & Servicing of:

wash

Advanced Concentrate Makes up to 80 litres!

7 Subway Rd, Pukekohe franklinwater@vodafone.co.nz

Mike mobile 021 765 629 Water Tank Cleaning (While full or empty) Water Tank Maintenance Water Deliveries ~ Swimming Pools Filled

HOUSE For use around the home, including: weatherboards, bricks, roofs, fences, tiles, cement boards, windows, driveways or any surface that needs a freshen-up. Great for car, boat and caravan.

0800 826 525

2

ROY F PARKER & SON LTD

N Streak-free finish N Spray on & wash off N Formulated for NZ conditions

Servicing Franklin for over 45 years

N Concentrated so you use less N High soap build and lifting agents to get all the dirt off AG

Sales, Service & Design of:

5IF 6MUJNBUF 5PJMFU

F 6MUJNBUF 5PJMFU

s "ORES

s 0IPES 0ARTS

s 0UMPS

s &ILTRATION

N Non-corrosive to application equipment, hoses, fittings, pumps

s )RRIGATION s 0OOL 3PA

www.homesafeproducts.co.nz

148 Manukau Rd, Pukekohe

Marketed by: CHEMSAFE

MANUFACTURING PO Box 231, Tuakau 2342.

Ph 09 238 5959, Fax 09 238 5676.

Email: rod@chemgroup.co.nz

52010

www.parkerspumping.co.nz

09 238 9588

DAVIS TANKS

Freephone

s "ORE 0UMP 3ALES 3ERVICING s 7ATER 0UMP 3ALES 3ERVICING s 7ATER 0URIlCATION s 7ATER 4ANKS s 7ATER 4ESTING s %LECTRICAL s &ILTERS

Web:

PH 09 237 0050

www.bioloo.co.nz

40 CROSBIE ROAD, PUKEKOHE

54026

Y ENVIRONMENLTYALL FRIEND Water - Septic - Retention - Specialty Tanks

53842-V3

email: vanb@wave.co.nz

s &OR ALL YOUR CONCRETE TANK REQUIREMENTS s 7E BUILD n GALLON WATER TANKS Water tank repair and recondition specialist Concrete Tanks Tried & True

53426

0800 BIOLOO (246566)

RIQUALIT Y APPR SANITISEOVED AS A R FACTOR FOR FARM, Y, FO OD NON-CO NTACT AR & EAS

53403

MIKE JULIAN Freephone (0508) RURAL H20 (0508) 787 254

53850-V2

pure & simple

show nâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;shine

s 7ATER 0UMPS &ILTER 3YSTEMS AND 56 ,IGHT 3YSTEMS s 4ANK #LEANING 2EPAIRS s 2EPLACEMENT &ILTERS s ,OAN 0UMPS AVAILABLE ON !,, (OUSE 0UMP 3ERVICING 2EPAIRS

Ph Neil for a quote: 021 794 148 anytime, A/H 09 232 8540

Got something to say?

Tell us what is happening â&#x20AC;&#x201C; we want to know what you think... what you like... what you want to see in Rural Living

Be in our next issue â&#x20AC;&#x201C; booking deadline February 16 Phone 0800 456 789 s info@ruralliving.co.nz s www.ruralliving.co.nz 46 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015

www.ruralliving.co.nz

FITZGERALD Earthworks

ď Ź 5.5 tonne digger

ď Ź Tree Removal

ď Ź Tip trucks

ď Ź Drainage

& trailers

ď Ź D65 Bulldozer ď Ź Roading

ď Ź Stopbanks

& scoop

ď Ź Grader

Fully Qualified Arboricultural Specialists

ď Ź Dams

ď Ź Demolition

ď Ź Horse arenas ď Ź Metal/sand/

slag supplied

ď Ź General cartage

Experienced Operator 28 years+

Craig Nicholson Earthmoving & General Cartage

Ph/Fax: 09 238 4047 or 021 987402 600 Buckland Rd, RD2, Pukekohe

50390

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

ď Ź Excavations

Grant Escott FENCING

CONTRACTOR

â&#x20AC;˘ Excavators and truck hire â&#x20AC;˘ Farm drainage and races â&#x20AC;˘ Driveways and roading â&#x20AC;˘ House sites and horse arenas â&#x20AC;˘ Grader/roller and bulldozer hire â&#x20AC;˘ Metal cartage

ď Ź Building sites

ď Ź Low loader

DIRECTORY

s $ECKS s 0OST $RIVING s 2ETAINING 7ALLS s 2URAL 2ESIDENTIAL &ENCING

Free quotes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Competitive rates

Neil 0274 973 865 â&#x20AC;˘ Grant 021 678 720 A/hrs 09 232 7709 53449-v2

s grant.kylie@xtra.co.nz

53846

ď Ź 20 tonne diggers

53578

www.urbantreecare.co.nz

�����������������������������������������������������������������������

ANIMAL BURIAL ROBERT CURRIE CONTRACTING T/A RW & NS PARTNERSHIP

021 109 9778 09 236 9947

1

2

BURIED ON YOUR LAND

6

Horses ~ Cows ~ Sheep ~ Etc Phone Richard Logan

3

Mob 0274 976 058

53791-V2

IN TWO GREAT LOCATIONS

PROFARM

From One Animal Upwards

RURAL & LIFESTYLE

%80%2)%.#%$ .: 7//, "/!2$ s #%24)&)%$ 3(%!2%23

Ces & Jan Mayall Phone (09) 276-1219 or mobile 0274-853-234 Mr.Clip.Ltd@gmail.com 53559-v2

18 Elliot St, Papakura.

Ph 09 298 7767.

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 8.30am-2.30pm

Cnr Madill & George St, Tuakau.

Ph 09 236 8228.

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm; Sat 8.30am-12noon

09 267 9100 53445

Sheep, Goats, Alpacas, Llamas

sizes, standard and mini available Two Two sizes, standard and mini available

Baitstation Mini

Timms

PEST CONTROL

Possum/Rat/Rabbit bait stations Specially developed to protect bait from s 3UPECIl CALLY DEVELOPED TO PROTECT BAIT FROM rain and to protect blockages which can RAIN AND TO PROTECT BLOCKAGES WHICH CAN occur in other bait stations. Waterproof OCCUR IN OTHER BAIT STATIONS 7ATERPROOF The preferred bait station used by s 4UHE PREFERRED BAIT STATION USED BY professional pest control agencies PROFESSIONAL PEST CONTROL AGENCIES Large Philproof is ideal for baiting Rabbits ,ARGE 0HILPROOF IS IDEAL FOR BAITING 2ABBITS

Target Species Possum

Target Species Possum

Large Baitstation

Rodent Baitstation

AlsoRodent available Rodent Bait Stations, Block Timms Also available Bait Stations, Block Baits, Timms traps, RodentBaits, Snap traps traps, Rodent Snap traps (prices available on request). (prices available on request).

Target Species Rabbits & Possums

Ferret/Stoat trap covers

R110115

WALKERS

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Killâ&#x20AC;? Ferrets, Possum, Rats and Rabbits â&#x20AC;&#x153;Deadâ&#x20AC;?

Philproofbait bait feeders feeders areare the answer Philproof the answer

PHILPROOF

R60019

For the best advice and friendly service

Totally mobile shearing service.

Bombays to Kaiwaka.

Free advice Free advice7 days.

7 days.

a/h 09 233 4446 www.animalburial.co.nz

Available for:

Conventional Hay Making Mulcher Mowing | Post Ramming Farm Maintenance

Call us for all your farming supply needs

MR CLIP LTD

UĂ&#x160;-ÂŤiVÂ&#x2C6;fi cally designed to s 3PECIl CALLY DESIGNED TO COVER -+ cover MK 4 or OR -+ &ENN KILL TRAPS MK 6 Fenn (kill) traps s .ARROW ENTRANCE GUIDES THE FERRET UĂ&#x160; >Ă&#x20AC;Ă&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Ă&#x153;Ă&#x160;iÂ&#x2DC;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;>Â&#x2DC;ViĂ&#x160;}Ă&#x2022;Â&#x2C6;`iĂ&#x192;Ă&#x160; the ferret/stoat STOAT OVER CENTRE OF TRIGGER PLATE over centre of trigger plate s 3TOCKPROOF UĂ&#x160;-Ă&#x152;Â&#x153;VÂ&#x17D;ÂŤĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x153;v s !VAILABLE IN SINGLE OR DOUBLE UĂ&#x160;Available in single or models double models UĂ&#x160; >`iĂ&#x160;vĂ&#x20AC;Â&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x20AC;iVĂ&#x17E;VÂ?i`Ă&#x160;ÂŤÂ?>Ă&#x192;Ă&#x152;Â&#x2C6;V s -ADE FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC UĂ&#x160; Ă&#x160;{]Ă&#x160;}Ă&#x20AC;i>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x20AC;>Ă&#x152;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x152;Ă&#x20AC;>ÂŤĂ&#x160;iĂ?Ă&#x160;1 s -+ GREAT RAT TRAP EX 5+

53414-v2

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s )NSECTS RODENTS s $OMESTIC COMMERCIAL s #ONSULTANCY work

COUNTIES BULK SPREADERS s '2/5.$ 302%!$).' s ,)-% s &%24),)3%2 s 52%! s ,3 &OUL -ANURE ,IME -IX

COUNTIES BULK HAULAGE s "5,+ #!24!'% /& -%4!, s 3!.$ s &%24),)3%2 s ,)-%

Target Species Mice & Rats Single cover & trap

Double cover & 2 traps Fenn Trap without cover

Trex Snap Trap

Target Species Stoat/Ferret

Target Species Mice & Rats

PO Box 4385, Hamilton, 3247, NZ

www.ruralliving.co.nz

9/5 .!-% )4 n 7% ,, +),, )4 #ONTROLLING YOUR PESTS FOR YEARS

Double Trap Cover

*Remember to include your courier or RD address

PHONE/F 8Ă&#x160;­äĂ&#x2021;ÂŽĂ&#x160;nxÂ&#x2122;Ă&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Â&#x2122;{Ă&#x17D;Ă&#x160;UĂ&#x160; Â&#x153;LÂ&#x2C6;Â?iĂ&#x160;­äĂ&#x201C;ÂŁÂŽĂ&#x160;Ă&#x201C;Ă&#x2021;äĂ&#x160;xnÂ&#x2122;Ă&#x2C6; Email philproofJ}Â&#x201C;>Â&#x2C6;Â?°VÂ&#x153;Â&#x201C;Ă&#x160;U Website www.philproof.co.nz

53450

Phone 238 9885 Mobile 0274 789 857 Main Highway, Paerata

53407

Boyd (09) 233 4466 0274 978 685 Brenton (09) 236 3639 0274 921 916 53452

Rural Living â&#x20AC;&#x201D; January - February 2015 â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 47

R60044-V2