Waimea Weekly
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Wednesday 12 December 2018
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r o f t n a w I l l Santa’s grotto A Christmas... open now
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An eventful evening
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Tapawera hops along just nicely Amy Russ Tapawera is making its mark on the hop-growing stage as having the perfect conditions to grow export quality crops. Local grower Colin Oldham is no stranger to the industry. Being a third-generation farmer, and spending 35 years in the business, he says Tapawera has the right climate and position for growing the product. “Tapawera has always been known as an ideal place to grow hops. With its relatively low winds, high sunshine hours and hard frosts, that creates full dormancy for the plant over winter.” Ten hops farms are now operating in the Tapawera, Tadmore Valley and Matariki area, a number that Steve Wilson from NZ Hops says is definitely up from recent years. New Hoplands was one of the first farms to grow organic hops in the country and his family have seen their fair share of successes and challenges over his time in the industry. “Seasonal variations have always been challenging for hop farming with the scariest one being hail when it wipes out your crop just before harvest. We have experienced other challenges when there has been an over-supply of hops in the world and prices have come right down, or contracts are renegged on. This comes from American and German growers planting up due to high prices and shortages. However great our hops are here, it all has a flow-on effect for us.” Colin says Tapawera will be the largest hop growing area in the country, bringing job creation to the region. “The initial development of farms is bringing skilled contractors to the area over the short term, however a huge number of seasonal workers will be required in the area at different times of the year.”
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Waimea Intermediate School student Autahi Healey was joined by his 5-year-old golden retriever, Buster, at the school’s annual pet day on Friday, December 7. The pair were taking part in a dog race and Autahi says Buster is a much-adored family pet because, “he’s amazing, adorable and energetic”. Photo: Emily Beaumont.
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