Wairarapa Rural Outlook by Wairarapa Times-Age

www.age.co.nz Thursday, August 31, 2017

Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i��

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� ELECTIONS 2017 National Alastair Scott

The mix of policies o˜ ered by National will allow farmers and regional communities to succeed in the constantly changing and competitive global operating environment. Water Storage The Wairarapa needs strategic water management that provides water security and quality. An e˜ ective water storage scheme will manage and distribute our water responsibility to ensure it delivers for both the community and the environment. Emissions Trading Scheme National intends to continue to exclude animal emissions from the ETS. Free Trade Agreements National will seek to launch high-quality and comprehensive free trade

agreement negotiations and updating existing free trade agreements. Capital Gains Tax National has no plans to introduce a Capital Gains Tax. To do so would unfairly penalise small business operators and farmers who have built up a business over their lifetime to support their retirement. Improving Water Quality We have also introduced new national policy requirements on regional councils to strengthen their planning rules on issues such as sewage discharges and planting riparian margins and announced a new Freshwater Improvement Fund. Investing in Regional Communities We’re supporting rural communities by investing billions in infrastructure, for example $450 million in faster rural broadband.

Labour - Keiran McAnulty I come from a farming background. I also have an economic background. If I didn’t believe a policy would lead to the longterm success of the industry, and the region, I wouldn’t support it. Irrigation I support irrigation if the business case stacks up economically and environmentally. The Ruataniwha Scheme in the northern part of our electorate does not meet that standard. The Wairarapa scheme, so far, does. And if after the feasibility stage it continues to stack up, I will continue to support it. A clear strategy and vision Establishing a clear strategy and vision for our primary sector will ensure we continue to have one of the most productive and proÿ table primary

sectors in the world. Working with industry and communities to develop an overarching strategy and coordinated implementation plan will help to measure progress towards our aims. Training Building career paths that encourage smart passionate Kiwis into the dairy sector must be facilitated through better education and training options. Trade barriers We must continue to reduce barriers to trade into the markets where discerning customers are prepared to pay more for the safest and ÿ nest food Biosecurity Labour will ensure clear independence and adequate resourcing for both biosecurity and food safety. Animal welfare systems must protect industry from reputational risk from renegade farmer neglect.

New Zealand First - Ron Mark Wairarapa Water Use Project This needs to be thought of not as an irrigation project, but as a water bank that is able to guarantee ideal water ˛ ows in rivers and streams to ensure the survival of their ecology and life and to ensure that we have ample supplies of water going forward for all activities and needs be they agriculture, urban consumption environmental sustainability or recreation. Therefore the government needs to be involved in funding it. Pollution of our waterways I believe our farming and life style communities also want to uphold good stewardship of the land and waterways. New Zealand First thinks we all need to assist our farming sector to continue

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enhancing environmental sustainability. Farming in future There are essential issues that a˜ ect all farmers who wish be good stewards of the land. To mitigate climate changes and to maximise the use of natural resources whilst only applying the minimum needed in terms of fertiliser and the use of supplementary feed, farming methods need to be sustainably and e˝ ciently managed. Rural roads Government must reverse all reductions on Funding Assistance for Rural Roads, scrap the One Road Network system that adversely a˜ ects the rural roads and rural rates, and play its part in helping councils to properly maintain rural roads to ensure safe and accessible routes from farms to ports or processing plants, schools, towns and hospitals.

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Green Party John Hart Water levy The Green party will establish a working group that allows all of us to have a say in deciding the best way to protect our water sources and determine fair resource charges for all commercial uses of water. Putting a fair price on water use that re˜ ects the value of the resource allows businesses and consumers to make better decisions. Putting honest pricing on inputs is an important tool to move agriculture to a more sustainable footing in the long term. The future I believe our future lies in creating a rich food landscape that is adapted to local conditions, is resilient in the face of climate change, and that creates jobs by producing high value food that global consumers want to

pay for. Rather than focusing only on the three or four per cent of the region we could irrigate via water storage, I’d like to see 100 per cent of the region lift its productivity and proÿ tability through sharing better practice and experimenting with new crops. Selling premium products Our best plan for a secure farming future is to live up to the stories we tell the world about our clean green brand and premium products. Wairarapa farmers and growers are as good or better than any in the country so there’s nothing stopping us living up to that vision, with the right leadership from government.

M˜ori Party Marama Fox Maori rural businesses The M˛ori Party will: increase funding for the Whenua M˛ori Fund to support wh˛nau to explore how they can use their land. Increase the availability of low interest business start-up loans. Set up community-based M˛ori innovation and entrepreneurship hubs. Environment The M˛ori Party will legislate to protect freshwater and give it the status of t˛onga. Set up annual Te Mana o Te Wai funding to support community projects such as planting riparian bu˝ ers and establish wetlands. Make the freshwater standard ‘drinkable’. Support research and development of a natural alternative to 1080.

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The Opportunities Party Agriculture is important to this country’s economy, and if done well can create proÿ t and be in harmony with nature and the community. However, by not making intensive agriculture pay the full costs of their operation, the Government has e˝ ectively subsidised them. To ÿ x these problems the Government needs to get the incentives right. Intensive farming needs to pay the full cost of operation. If they can do that and continue operating, then they are sustainable. If that means they go out of business, so be it. Myth of the urban-rural divide The rural urban divide is simply a myth perpetuated by the media.

The divide instead lies within the rural community itself and is between large scale industrial agriculture and progressive small scale farming, two very di˝ erent farming systems with two very di˝ erent agendas. Water charges TOP will only charge what the market can bear. A well-designed charge on water would have none of the impacts commercial water users are suggesting. In fact charging for water in a sensible way improves our economy. We have no way of knowing that our precious water resources are going to the best possible use. Only by charging for water will ensure that scarce water resources will go to those businesses that can create the most value.

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Billion dollar potential for new farmer- friendly water monitoring technology water, and WiFi sends the GPS tagged data straight to a smartphone app, computer, or website, enabling immediate action as well as long term management. The price tag when in full production will be around $2000 per unit whereas current water monitoring technology sells for $25,000 or more. Grant believes farmers should not view RiverWatch as a threat but a tool that in future will save them many thousands of dollars. He predicts that the cost of water monitoring is going to inevitably fall on farmers. “You just have to follow the dots.” Central government is putting all water measurements and controls on to regional councils who are not

A new water monitoring invention developed in the Wairarapa could o˜ er huge savings to the region’s farmers. Hinakura farmer and environmentalist Grant Muir is founder of Water Action Initiative NZ (WAI NZ). In conjunction with Victoria University, Grant has developed RiverWatch, a water monitoring device that is ground-breaking in both its capabilities and low production costs. Designed for New Zealand conditions, it is left in the river to collect data every 15 minutes 24/7 including temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH level, turbidity, conductivity, with E. coli water-soluble nitrates and phosphates currently under development. Solar panels mean it can be left for weeks in the

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resourced, don’t have the money and don’t have the people or equipment. Very soon they will be charging for some form of water testing. “Because of RiverWatch’s price and capabilities, it is suddenly within the realm of farmers to do their own water testing.” He also says without very high levels of testing and data farmers could be wasting their money on improvements that don’t actually have any e˜ ect. “Farmers want to make a change and manage their farms in an environmentally sustainable manner but without sound scientiÿ c data to base farm management investment on - which will cost thousands, if not hundreds of thousands of dollars

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Grant Muir and Lila, the RiverWatch mascot. - it is inconceivable to expect farmers to pay for improvements that may or may not improve water quality.” Only eight to 15 percent of New Zealand’s 450,000 kilometres of rivers, lakes and streams are tested for water quality. This is because current testing practise is expensive and time consuming. “Testing for water soluble nitrates is very di˛ cult and very expensive and you are not going to remedy this if regional councils can’t do the job properly. “RiverWatch can do its own monitoring so it doesn’t take up farmers’ time, and the beauty of this is that it networks with other monitors, all feeding into the same portal or a regional council website. “Farmers will be able to use historical data to make wise management decisions on their farm to reduce nitrogen. That’s impossible without data.

“They won’t be wasting time spending money they don’t have to, and they will be spending money where it makes a di˜ erence. “It also means people living in towns and cities will have to lift their game. When they wash their cars or pour their paint down the drain we will be able to track it and pin point the discharge.” New Zealand is not the only country with these sorts of water issues, Grant points out. “Nitrate is a problem all around the world where there is intensive agriculture. “Worldwide market research shows the global potential for RiverWatch is $4.65 billion annually by 2025.” In the immediate future, WAI NZ needs enough funding for ÿ nal prototype testing and setting up a manufacturing plant in Masterton, selling RiverWatch throughout

New Zealand. “The speed to market is all about money. We could have the project going all over New Zealand by November for $500,000.” WAI NZ has approached Fonterra, DairyNZ and Federated Farmers, none of whom have indicated they are prepared to support the project ÿ nancially, Grant says. Beef & Lamb New Zealand has expressed some interest. In the meantime WAI NZ has set up a “PledgeMe” page to raise funds. The ÿ rst $50,000 will be spent on ÿ nal prototype testing using farmers, iwi, citizen scientists, community groups and regional councils throughout New Zealand. The next step is pre-production which will cost $100,000 and the ÿ nal milestone is fullproduction for $200,000 plus.

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Thursday, August 31, 2017 Wairarapa Times-Age

Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Drones soon to be farmers’ faithful friend but not at the expense of their dog Drones are likely to become as common place on farms as quad bikes in the near future. Wairarapa Aerial Imaging Ltd owner Rene Clough has noticed a sharp upturn in interest from farmers in the past year. Rene currently advises farmers on the best drones to buy. “There are numerous types of drones on the market, each suitable for di˜ erent tasks. You need di˜ erent drones for di˜ erent jobs and conditions such as checking on stock or mustering in hilly or ° at terrain.” Drones potentially have a wide number of uses on the farm, Rene says. Some farmers are using them for mustering stock “although they won’t be replacing sheep dogs. Farmers will use both together depending on the situation.” They are also being used to check on stock, which is especially useful at this time of year, Rene points out. “They are being used to

check on ewes that are lambing. Sometimes if they need assistance, you only have a few hours to get to them before they can die.” There is talk of drones being used for aerial spraying but Rene says this isn’t occurring in the Wairarapa yet. “You need to be a specialist 102 operator and have the necessary spraying certiÿ cation. Also drones can only carry up to 20 litres so they can’t spray large areas. So they are not practical except for patch spraying or small plots.” Wairarapa Aerial Imaging Ltd will be taking a big step forward in the next few weeks when it takes possession of a three metre ÿ xed wing drone and a large multi-rotor drone. These will mostly be used for mapping and analysing farms and forestry blocks, Rene says. “Google maps provides low quality imagery in comparison. You need high quality images to really understand the land. Drones o˜ er a cost e˜ ective and environmentally friendly way of doing this versus planes, helicopters and satellites. Landowners will know exactly what the terrain and condition of the farm is like. We will be able to measure fence lines, slope of hills, density and condition of forests.” Drones can also carry

They are being used to check on ewes that are lambing. Sometimes if they need assistance, you only have a few hours to get to them before they can die. multi spectrum and thermal sensors that can help reveal the condition of the soil, crops and pastures including disease or pest infestations. They can also identify health & safety risks,

meaning less risky rides on quad bikes and allterrain vehicles whilst saving fuel. Some current drone laws are impeding the use of drones on farms, especially the requirement

that drone operators must maintain a line of sight to their drone at all times. They are also not allowed to ° y above 400 feet and not over other properties without other landowner’s permission. The line of ° ight regulation relates to the historic unpredictability of drones. But Rene says they have now become much more reliable, and hopes to see some changes to this regulation in the near future. On the horizon, he envisages small drones becoming an everyday part of farmers’ lives but

they’ll still require the need for larger, more sophisticated drones for the more detailed mapping and analysis. “Like everything else in the world, farming is becoming more and more technology driven. Eventually drones will be fully automated and integrated with other farm technology. The drone will go out and inspect the fences, water, stock & condition of the pastures or crops. There will be no need for the farmer to go out ÿ rst thing every morning to check everything.”

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Pasture management focus in Wairarapa dairy groups A DairyNZ “Tiller Talk” discussion group is about to start up in the Wairarapa. Seventeen Tiller Talk groups have already been established around New Zealand. Each comprises a small group of farmers, one of whom has their farm selected to trial pasture management techniques designed to increase farm proÿ tability. The other farmers in the group will be able to see what is happening in

detail and reports will be posted on the DairyNZ website for all farmers to beneÿ t from. The two year project will beneÿ t from the expertise of an agronomist from Agriseed as well as support from DairyNZ. Dairy farmers should also keep an eye out for two upcoming open discussion groups - one at Parkvale Hall east of Carterton and the other at Kahutara Hall in the South Wairarapa which will focus on pasture management. For more information on these or any other issues please contact Tim Fergusson, DairyNZ Consulting O° cer for the Wairarapa and Tararua Phone 021 244 3428 or Email tim.ferguson@ dairynz.co.nz

Tim Fergusson, DairyNZ Consulting O˜ cer for the Wairarapa and Tararua.

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Challenging season promises some unexpected treasures The 2016/17 season has been a challenging one for Wairarapa wines with rainfall more frequent than any season since 2004. However, a key feature of this season was the good level of seed and skin ripeness achieved at lower sugar levels than previous seasons. This was the result of lighter yields and a season that was not as cool as ÿ rst thought. The stony gravel terraces of Martinborough, Gladstone and Masterton were a saving grace in this di° cult season.

Where other soil types would retain water, the deep alluvial gravels drain away rainfall and provide an excellent environment for grape growing. Wine writer John Saker predicts some treasures from this year’s vintage. “I’ve already tasted some very promising barrel samples from the Wairarapa, and experience tells me that di° cult vintages can often surprise, especially with pinot noir.”

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Left-overs drive cattle growth rates Maximising beef cattle growth rates on fodder beet crops requires 25 per cent of the crop to be left behind at each break shift. This is according to Lincoln University’s Dr Jim Gibbs, who says there is a strong correlation between the quantity of beet left behind at each shift and cattle intake. Speaking at a Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s Central Canterbury Farming for Proÿ t workshop, Gibbs says if 10% of the bulb is left behind then intakes are being suppressed. If the cattle are maximising their intake then 25% of the bulbs will be left behind at each break shift. “This is a whole lot more than what people are used to.”

He says the grazing behaviour of cattle will see them going back and eating the residues in the middle of the nighttypically between 11pm and 1am. That means the 25% residual gets eaten over three days and total utilisation is still high – over 95%. It is these incremental gains in intake that will make the di° erence between whether or not liveweight targets are met. A 200g liveweight gain improvement only represents about three quarters a kilogram drymatter intake, after maintenance. He says because of the idiosyncratic nature of fodder beet, many people are not realising the growth potential of their cattle on the crops, which

should be 1kg/day or better. Liveweight gain re˛ ects intake in beet systems, so beet needs to make up the majority of the animal’s diet. “At 60% beet you are condemned not to meet your liveweight targets.” Minimising supplements This relationship between supplement and fodder beet intake is another quirk of fodder beet. Gibbs says beet intake decreases by more than one kilogram for every kilogram of extra supplement eaten. “This is unique to beet and is related to the amount of sugar in the bulb.” In a well-grown crop comprising 25% leaf and 75% bulb, there

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is su˝ cient protein in the leaf to meet a cattle beast’s protein requirements. Where the leaf is damaged, diseased or wilted, extra protein maybe required, especially for R1 cattle, but the best source of this protein is grass. “If you want to add more protein don’t add ÿ bre – if you add ÿ bre their beet intakes will decrease.”

If a ÿ bre-based supplement is necessary, it should be no more than 1kg/head/day for R1s and 2kg/head/day for R2s. “If you o° er them supplement they will eat it. The harvest cost for stock to eat supplement is low, while for beet it is higher – so they will overeat supplement. They don’t eat it to balance their rumen, they eat it to make you poor.”

Gibbs especially cautions against the use of bale feeders when feeding supplement as typically a few animals will gorge on – further suppressing beet intakes- while others miss out completely, and then do poorly. Cultivar selection is important with fodder beet as there are signiÿ cant palatability di° erences between varieties.

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Positive vibe around sheep & beef The current positivity for sheep & beef in New Zealand has been catching on in the Wairarapa. New Zealand’s beef cattle herd increased and the decline in the sheep ˜ ock slowed sharply, says Beef + Lamb New Zealand. Over the past year the New Zealand beef cattle herd has increased by 2.8 per cent – to 3.6 million head – while the decline in the sheep ˜ ock slowed

sharply as sheep numbers recovered in key regions after drought and other challenges, it says The annual stock number survey conducted by Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s (B+LNZ) Economic Service highlighted the continued growth in beef production, as farmers move towards livestock that are less labourintensive and currently more proÿ table. The largest contributor to the increase in the number of beef cattle was a ÿ ve per cent lift in weaner cattle numbers, re˜ ecting the high cost of buying older cattle as replacements, and good grass availability. Despite the small decrease in the number of breeding ewes, the lamb crop is expected to be

up 1.1 per cent – to 23.5 million – 0.3 million more than last season. This is the result of several factors, including continued improvements in productivity by farmers leading to better ewe lambing percentages, good feed supplies and a lift in the number of ewe hoggets mated. Richmond Beetham, Agribusiness Consultant with BakerAg in Masterton says there is a positive atmosphere around sheep and beef at the moment.

Big jump in number of farms making a proÿ t

“Beef has been really strong with really good prices. The only concern there is that the United States beef herd has been growing and inevitably they will be culling cows where most of our beef goes into hamburgers. “Sheep meat is enjoying good international demand with strong prices - lamb prices in particular but also mutton is doing well. The only real downer is what is happening with wool prices at the moment.”

The Federated Farmers July Farm Conÿ dence Survey showed a spring in the step of those who work the land. The responses to Research First from nearly 800 farmers show the highest level of conÿ dence in current general economic conditions since 2014. Dairy and arable farmers are the most optimistic looking forward and all regions are demonstrating more optimism compared to the last survey, in January this year. Compared to 12 months ago, the proportion of farms making a proÿ t has doubled (55.4% percent versus 27 percent in July 2016).

Notably, the percentage of all farms making a loss has substantially decreased by a factor of four (9.6 percent in July 2017 compared to 42.5 percent in July 2016), particularly within dairy and ‘other’ farm groups (goats, rural butchers, high country, bees), and those farms based in the Auckland-Northland and Otago-Southland regions. Federated Farmers Economics and Trade spokesperson Andrew Hoggard says this is consistent with strong recovery in commodity prices and farm incomes since mid- 2016 for most farm produce, and the continued absence of farm expense in˜ ation.

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Thursday, August 31, 2017 Wairarapa Times-Age

Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Two new rural police for Wairarapa The Wairarapa is about to get two new rural police o˜ cers. The process is underway to ÿ ll the positions, and is likely to take several months, says Sergeant Ian Osland, Area Manager of Youth and Community Services. The two new positions recognise the desire of Wairarapa Police to invest more resources and time into the rural sector, Sergeant Ian Osland says. Their primary focus will be towards building partnerships in the rural community, which will contribute towards building resilience to crime, and delivering prevention initiatives, including road safety

and working with rural schools. The police are already working closely with Connecting Communities and its rural neighbourhood support networks. Sergeant Osland points out that at this time of year, as we head towards Christmas, farmers should be aware of the heightened risk of stock thefts. “It does happen throughout the year but during lambing and calving there is more potential for stock theft. The key message is to make note of any suspicious activity and report it through to Police so we can investigate. “Our work with Federated Farmers and FMG has

highlighted that crime in the rural sector can go under-reported. Due to the dynamics of farming, there can be delays from when the theft takes place to farmers discovering the loss, so having the eyes and ears of the rural community to help us is very important.

It does happen throughout the year but during lambing and calving there is more potential for stock theft. While there are only a limited amount of precautions that farmers can take to prevent livestock theft, Sergeant Osland suggests

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that access gates are padlocked and sheds are securely locked where possible, with the aim of making it di˜ cult for the thieves to steal equipment like quad bikes and chainsaws. He suggests keeping equipment keys in a separate lock box. He also strongly recommends robust security for ÿ rearms. Sensor lighting, CCTV and Monitored Alarms are other options to consider. “Thieves are operating in a high risk environment so they don’t want to spend any great length of time committing a crime.” While there was spate of honey thefts early in the year, he is not aware of any reported recently. “We have been working with some of the local processing plants to build up our knowledge on how the industry works, especially in regards to hive registration.”

Perimeter alarms an e˜ ective deterrent The new generation of security alarms is ÿ nding favour with farmers and agricultural businesses. The most e˛ ective security combination, Mike Johnston, owner of Masterton security alarm business OHC says, is to have a perimeter alarm that sends notiÿ cations in real time to either one’s computer or smart phone. “Modern alarms are perimeter based. They send a text that someone is on the property and you can look at images on your smart phone in real time. “A lot of farmers don’t know if anyone turns up, so they get notiÿ cation which can be handy for other purposes as well

such as when a courier van or visitor turns up.” Perimeter alarms are also best because they give home owners up to 20 seconds notiÿ cation when someone has come on the property and are also o˛ -putting for thieves. He recommends cellular systems “as wiÿ -based systems are hugely unreliable. There are so many things that can interfere with the modem. And they only have a range of ÿ ve to 25 metres.” A basic kit sells for around $700, Mike says, with around another $90 to $150 for installation.

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Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i�� Two-year-old bulls enjoy a good sale season It’s been a good bull sales season for two year old bulls in the Wairarapa and around the country. PGG Wrightson Wairarapa Livestock Manager Steve Wilkinson says two year olds in all breeds have been very positive across the board with an increase in the average prices paid for bulls. “There’s also been good clearance with most of the bulls on o˜ er selling.” This re° ects a positive beef market, Steve says. “New Zealand beef has been getting very good returns overseas which has given farmers the conÿ dence to invest in more sires.” Craig Mitchell, General Manager Angus New Zealand says Angus two year old sales were very strong this season. “I understand this trend was echoed by other beef breeds. The market is

strong, but in addition to traditional beef breeding there is increasing interest in dairy beef. “For Angus another driver is the premiums on o˜ er for Angus cattle particularly AngusPure

This year we sold 2195 for an average price of $7963 with a top price $50,000. “Source and Trace” qualifying cattle. The top prices, averages, bulls sold and clearance were all up signiÿ cantly on 2016 ÿ gures, Craig says. “Last year we sold 1926 two year olds at 69

on-farm auctions plus one national Sale for an average price of $6301 with a top price was $32,000. This year we sold 2195 for an average price of $7963 with a top price $50,000. The 2017 Tru-Test Beef Expo was as an overall success story for Herefords, says Posy Moody, General Manager, NZ Hereford Association. The PGG Wrightson National Hereford Sale once again had the best sale average ($14,083, up from last year’s average of $9587). It also claimed the top price bull Grassmere Gallant 152, belonging to Chris and Amanda Je˜ ries from Cheviot, selling for $40,000 to Chris and Jennifer Chesterman, Koanui Polled Hereford Stud in Havelock North. The majority of breeders have sold many more

Mark McKenzie, of Masterton’s Maungahina stud in the ring. Photo Dan Hen. bulls this year for over $8500, Posy says, and some breeders doubled the number of bulls they sold for over $8,500 compared to last year. “Why is this? Beef prices, in general, are strong. However the message is getting to commercial buyers that registered sires with EBVs (estimated breeding values) provide guarantees. “As a result of the Beef

and Lamb Genetics Progeny tests, commercial buyers have further evidence that EBVs work with the most recent results to date showing the high accuracy of the bulls’ estimated breeding values for growth along with many other traits. “Herefords are known for their excellent feed e˝ ciency, allowing them to hit target weights in all environments, their great temperament and

their eligibility for market premium programmes. “They are also highly sought after in the dairy industry due to their instant white face recognition. The Association has introduced the blue ‘H” tag which di˜ erentiates registered Herefords with ‘bush’ bulls. Yearling sales start 1 September and run through to mid-October.

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Lime & Fertiliser to all airstrips etc • Wool cartage to all wool stores and Napier for PGG Wrightson NZ Wool and Whakatu Scour • Accredited Wool Store

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Phone: 0274 430585 or 06 378 2190

Tuesday, August 31, 2017 Wairarapa Times-Age

Wairarapa Rural Outlook Au�us� 2017 e�i�i��

Neighbourhood Support in rural Wairarapa There has been a huge growth in the number of rural Neighbourhood Support groups in the Wairarapa over the past 18 months. Masterton now has 41 rural groups comprising 833 homes, with Castlepoint and Riversdale having their own groups as well. Twenty seven percent of Carterton’s groups are rural, covering 238 households, while the recently established South Wairarapa Neighbourhood Support has just started its ÿ rst rural group at Lake Ferry. Word is getting around rural communities about the value of belonging to a Neighbourhood Support Group, says Lynette Juno, Masterton Neighbourhood Support Coordinator. “A lot of people are talking to each other and realising the beneÿ ts of

having a group.” She grew up in rural south Wairarapa in the 1960s and 1970s and can remember when people used to know each other. “People are not as connected as they used to be. There are fewer families and more people work in towns. “People have lived up the road from each other for four or ÿ ve years and not met each other.” It is the job of Lynette, Carterton co-ordinator Sue Tennent, and South Wairarapa co-ordinator Debbie Malneek to help people establish a Neighbourhood Support Group in their neighbourhood and foster them so they stay active. The co-ordinators are the ÿ rst port of call to ÿ nd out if one exists in your area or to start one. All it takes is for one person to contact the co-ordinator and organise

We specialise in: Tax Preparation Business Planning General Accounting

a meeting of their neighbours to which the co-ordinator will come and give a presentation. When requested, Lynette, Sue and Debbie will also invite police, ÿ re and civil defence representatives to the meeting as well to o° er as much information as possible. The co-ordinator will help the group get started and stay in contact with the person who takes on the role of “group contact.” There are all sorts of ways that a Neighbourhood Support Group can be useful, Lynette points out. “It could be a problem with boy racers or trees that have come down or organising a litter clean up along a rural road as part of Keep New Zealand Beautiful campaign.” Crime prevention is an obvious focus with rural stock thefts continuing to be a challenge, Sue says.

South Wairarapa Neighbourhood Support co-ordinator Debbie Malneek helped start a group at Lake Ferry. Most rural groups have folk who work away from home and this presents challenges in the event of a Civil Emergency, Sue points out. A lot of rural Wairarapa is still not covered by groups. For instance, South Wairarapa Neighbourhood Support was only established in April of this year with Debbie as co-ordinator.

With the support of Lynette, she held a meeting at Lake Ferry with the Lake Ferry Rate Payers Association. This was also attended by the Rural Fire o˛ cer and the South Wairarapa District Council. This was the ÿ rst rural group for the South Wairarapa, with Debbie working to establish more.

For more information on starting a group in your area contact: Masterton: Lynette Juno, Phone 06 378 8900 Mobile 021 308 161 lynette@ connectingcommunities. org.nz Carterton: Sue Tennett Mobile 027 938 6998 Email sue. tennent@cdc.govt.nz South Wairarapa: Debbie Malneek Mobil 027 883 6036 debbie@ connectingcommunities. org.nz

Talk to us today or visit us at

www.mcia.co.nz Dannevirke tel: (06) 374 7059 / Pahiatua tel: (06) 376 7476

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