National-Farming-Review - Federated Farmers

9137068AA Ultimate
GUY’S TOUGH INTRO
New blood in key agri-portfolios — p10
Joint Health
with Collagen, Glucosamine,
Chondroitin & MSM
A new generation JOINT POWDER delivering
a high dose of Hydrolyzed Collagen along with
Glucosamine, Chondroitin and MSM providing sound
nutritional support for joint health, helping maintain and
strengthen cartilage and connective tissue.
• helps joint mobility and repair
• delivering high dose of Hydrolyzed Collagen
• refreshing orange flavour
NEW
PRODUCT
FAST
EFFECTIVE
NATURAL
INTRODUCTORY
OFFER
1 X 360G TIN
$119.00
SAVE $10.00
A complete joint formula delivering some of the most advanced ingredients available today.
ORDER NOW - Freephone 0800 370 999 or www.abeeco.co.nz
Always read the label and take as directed.
Use in conjunction with a
balanced diet and exercise.
APRIL 2013
South Island meat-producing farmers
talk real, industry-wide change P18
NATIONAL POLICY
Serious biosecurity
Government Industry Agreements on
border control going ahead P3
What are swaps?
These tricky financial instruments and
their risks need to be known P5
REGIONAL POLICY
Provincial spotlight
Getting through drought in Hauraki and
Coromandel one day at a time P8
Everyone wins
The community effort to clean up
Lake Rotorua pays dividends P9
INDUSTRY GROUPS
Perspective matters
Seeing and understanding different
regions’ issues in dairying P17
Measuring success
Overseer may not be the best tool
for arable crops P19
BE IN TO WIN
National Farming Review has a copy of the
late hunting guru Philip Holden’s tales to
give away. To win The Best of Philip Holden
— Hunting lore and back-country yarns,
email your name, address and telephone
number to competitions@fedfarm.org.nz.
OUR GUARANTEE
TO YOU!
Performance Health, abeeco products is a well
established NZ company, specialising in Natural
Health products for nearly 20 years.
If you are not completely happy, return the products
to us within 30 days for a full refund.
Quality NZ Products you can TRUST
Cheques payable to abeeco
Post chqs to: Po Box 31-225, Milford, Auckland 0741
Please send me
1 x 360g TIN 119.00
2 x 360g TIN 238.00
Name: ................................................................................
Address/Suburb:...............................................................
Phone:................................................................................
Ienclosechq/moneyorderfor:.........................................
PleasechargemyVisa/Mastercard:................................
Visa/Mastercardexpirydate:...........................................
Total$:.................................................................................
visit our office 3d Milford Road,
Milford, Auckland
NFR

2 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
PERSPECTIVE
INSIDE
Feature:
The farming Cabinet . . 10
Regulars:
Perspective . . . . . . 2
National Policy . . . . 3-6
Counterpoint . . . . . . 7
Regional Policy . . . . 8-9
Weather . . . . . . . . 13
Employment . . . . . . 14
Economy . . . . . . 15
Dairy . . . . . . 16-17
Meat and Fibre, Grains 18-19
Insider . . . . . . . . 23
Managing Editor: Conor English
Ph: 04 494-9189
cenglish@fedfarm.org.nz
Editor: Felicity Wolfe
Ph: 04 494-9181
fwolfe@fedfarm.org.nz
Memberships: April van Dam
Ph: 0800 327-646
avandam@fedfarm.org.nz
Advertising: Lloyd Davy
Ph: 021 225-4610
lloyd.davy@apn.co.nz
■ ISSN 1179-4526
Manure happens.
Risk is a part of life out here. Always has been, always will be. You know you can’t
get ahead without it. So while some other insurers try and avoid risk, we stare it in
the face, help you manage it so you can get on with what you do best.
Ask around about us, or for some advice call 0800 366 466.
That’s what works out here.
We’re lifting our game
This summer’s drought has hit farmers hard, but farmers can
and are lifting their game to establish more resilient
businesses, says Federated Farmers president Bruce Wills
A reporter recently asked me, ‘‘Why is it
that every couple of years a rural
community somewhere in New Zealand
is in drought and often a few years later
those same farmers are putting their
hands up again?
‘‘Are things being done so that we
don’t face this problem so often? Are
farmers learning from these situations?’’
These are perfectly reasonable
questions and yes, there are things we
farmers can do and are doing.
Nature will always have the final say,
but we certainly can do things to
mitigate weather events.
Things like more water storage, more
feed supplements, more trees, a more
flexible mix of stock and, importantly,
how we manage our pastures. Farmers
will continue to learn and adapt.
We know that resilient and
sustainable farming is a must if we are to
achieve long term profitability. Many
farmers plan well for drought, but some
get caught napping. Weather events will
continue to test us, so we need to be
BRUCE WILLS
Federated Farmers
president
prepared.
Biodiversity
is another area
where farmers
need to lift our
game.
Thirty years
ago, government
and
society
supported
incentives to replace
steep hill
sides of bush
with pasture
and sheep. We cleared a lot of fragile
land and, with the benefit of hindsight,
now know that the pendulum swung
too far.
Initially started by Federated
Farmers, the QEII Trust is one organisation
working to right that largescale
biodiversity loss.
Today some 120,000 hectares of
private land has been covenanted in a
voluntary win-win deal for land-
We know that
resilient and
sustainable
farming is a must
if we are to
achieve long term
profitability.
owners, councils and the QEII Trust.
Farmers are an adaptable bunch and
will bounce back from this current
drought with a few more worry lines and
some dented balance sheets, but we will
learn.
Our farming systems will continue to
evolve and farming will remain New
Zealand’s largest export earner for a
long time to come.
2013 - a big year for reform
The Government has an extremely
busy reform agenda for 2013. The
outcomes of what has, in many cases,
been several years’ work is coming to
fruition.
Federated Farmers continues to put
significant resource into Local Government,
water and Resource Management
Act (RMA) reforms, which matter
not just to the rural community, but
all New Zealanders. Together they add
up to some of the most significant
changes we have seen in many years.
It is critical we get them right.
After lengthy processes, the Government
recently put out discussion
documents on water and the RMA.
The Land and Water Forum met for
more than three years before
completing its recommendations. The
Government’s paper, Fresh Water Reform
— 2013 and Beyond, draws
heavily from that effort. In 2008
Federated Farmers wrote a paper,
CONOR ENGLISH
Federated Farmers
chief executive
Let’s Make It
Work, outlining
RMA
changes we
believed were
necessary.
The Government’s
current
paperincludes
many of our
recommendations.
Local government
is also
lined up for sig-
nificant change with the passing of
the Local Government Amendment
Bill 2012.
These are all complex issues with
some significant risks for rural communities.
Overall, however, we are
supportive of the general direction of
the reforms and, as is often the case,
the devil is in the detail.
These reforms reflect much work by
the Federation over the years and we
look forward to continuing to speak on
behalf of farmers and the rural community
to get the right balance and
best outcomes.
Of course, all of this is on top of our
normal input through submissions and
other lobbying activity at international,
national, regional and sector
levels.
At any one time Federated Farmers
can be dealing with 300 to 500 issues.
We are the biggest policy shop outside
of a government department and a
great resource for farmers. Membership
is less than $1.50 a day — and it is
a tax deductible expense.
A further reform on the horizon is
that of the meat industry. As discussed
on page 18, there must be change if we
are going to try for profitable,
sustainable farming for our sheep and
beef farmers.

Come C and celebrate
445
years of Fieldays
with us in the
Party Zone!
www.fieldays.co.nz
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 3
NATIONAL POLICY
Post changes could affect us all
By Kara Lok
Policy advisor
The review of New Zealand Post’s 1998
Deed of Understanding with the Government,
and the possible changes to
postal delivery, is an emotive issue for
many Federated Farmers members.
The proposed changes may see
postal delivery reduced in both urban
and rural areas along with changes to
New Zealand Post’s over-the-counter
services.
There is a common perception
among farmers responding to the
Federation’s consultation that only
rural areas will be affected by this
review, with no changes in urban
areas.
A significant proportion of
respondents also have little faith that
New Zealand Post and the Ministry of
Business, Innovation and Employment
(MBIE) will take the unique challenges
they face into consideration when
making changes to postal delivery
frequency.
These members do not see
Government Industry Agreements progressing
By Mark Ross Industry has
The passing of the Biosecurity Reform
Bill in November allows work on the
much-talked about Government Industry
Agreement (GIA) framework for
biosecurity to progress.
These GIAs are about biosecurity
readiness and response; planning around
potential high-risk pests and responses
should a harmful exotic pest arrive within
New Zealand. They are being developed
as a means of delivering an integrated
approach to prepare for and effectively
respond to biosecurity risks.
The GIAs will result in joint decisionmaking
and cost-sharing between Government
and industry, up to a predetermined
maximum. Industry will pay
no more than 50 per cent of any costs
resulting from biosecurity actions.
To progress GIAs, a joint industry and
Ministry of Primary Industry (MPI) working
group has developed a Memorandum
of Understanding, allowing sector groups
to enter into discussions with MPI as to
the value of a GIA to an industry. The
working group includes representatives
from Federated Farmers, horticulture,
broadband as a viable alternative to
post. While satellite, dial-up and
broadband has reached many rural
areas in New Zealand, the internet is
not available in a significant number
of places or, if available, is either
very expensive, very slow, or both.
People living in rural areas with
no internet connection rely on daily
newspapers for current events and
their local rural delivery contractor
is their main source of communication
with the outside world.
This is exacerbated by a low level
of computer literacy, especially
amongst sheep and beef farmers,
many of whom are over 60.
Rural delivery contractors often
also deliver extremely important
items to rural communities including
urgent medical supplies, newspapers,
farm equipment and groceries,
as well as postal items. For
extremely remote box-holders, driving
to the nearest town to pick up
these items every time they need it is
not a viable option.
The contractors also provide
sought assurance
that its investment
in the biosecurity
system would be
of value and its
underwriting
exposure was clear
and manageable.
poultry, the meat industry, dairy, bees
and kiwifruit. To date, 18 sector groups
have signed into the Memorandum of
Understanding with MPI.
The next stage in the process is
approval of a GIA Deed of Agreement.
This will be the master document
outlining how the GIA will function
between the different groups. Separate
isolated rural areas with a level of
security. It is often the rural delivery
contractor who notices suspicious
vehicles or an overflowing letterbox
and alerts the authorities.
New Zealand Post put forward
four possible options, which the
Government released for consultation,
including; retaining the status
quo, reducing postal delivery in some
areas from six to five days per week,
gradually reducing most areas to
three days delivery per week and
getting rid of the deed of understanding,
opening up New Zealand Post to
market controls.
Federated Farmers submitted on
the consultation last month based on
the feedback we received from our
members, asking MBIE and New
Zealand Post to conduct further
consultation with rural communities
before making any changes to the
current postal delivery frequency.
Rural specific options need to be
developed to address the unique
circumstances rural communities
face.
operational agreements, developed for
each sector group under the Deed, will
specify actual cost-sharing
arrangements and designated high
priority pests. The Government’s intention
is to have the Deed in place by June
30.
Industry has sought assurances that
investments in the biosecurity systems
would be of value and its underwriting
exposure was clear and manageable.
One of the primary sector’s biggest
concerns with GIAs is the efficiency of
the current New Zealand biosecurity
system and the need for assurance on
all aspects of the biosecurity chain. This
was expressed most strongly in relation
to border and pre-border biosecurity.
Some groups have gone beyond
biosecurity to look at the full range of
industry engagement by MPI, along
with integration and consistency across
that wider scope.
The idea of Government engagement
with industry on the ‘‘end-to-end
biosecurity system’’ has been
welcomed, but more definition is
needed on what that might mean in
practice.
CHANGES AHEAD: New Zealand Post’s
review of delivery schedules could leave
letterboxes in rural and urban areas empty.
The concept of ‘‘partnership’’ between
Government and industry also needs
further exploration and definition in
terms of constructive two-way engagement.
Some industries already make
significant contributions to readiness and
response.
For example, the deer, forestry,
poultry and avocado industries invest in
surveillance programmes to protect their
industries and maintain, or gain, market
access. The bee and kiwifruit industries
also made significant in-kind
contributions during the varroa and Psa
responses.
Although these GIAs have benefits,
industry groups are also concerned that
the sources of biosecurity risk, or
exacerbators, are not recognised in the
funding model. Various options are being
assessed by the working group to ensure,
where needed, exacerbators are included
within GIA funding arrangements.
The basic concept of these GIAs
appears to have been agreed to by those
involved, but the process still requires
work to show the value to farmers and
improve New Zealand’s overall
biosecurity performance.

4 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
NATIONAL POLICY
NZTA road funding review under way
By David Cooper
Senior regional policy advisor
The New Zealand Transport Agency is
reviewing the level of contribution it
makes to local or non-state highway
roads. But what’s wrong with the
current approach and how should it be
fixed?
NZTA funding for local roads is
collectively known as funding assistance
rates, or FAR. Currently FAR are
allocated based on a combination of
need, using the size of a territory’s road
maintenance programme, and ability to
pay, which is then calculated using the
local councils’ rateable land values as a
proxy.
The review asks some fundamental
questions around whether this allocation
framework is appropriate. A
number of alternative allocation
frameworks are also considered as part
of the review.
These alternatives include:
■ The ‘flat’ approach — which would
see the FAR set at 50 per cent for all
territories, for every activity
■ The ‘differences’ approach — which
would allocate different funding levels
to different territories
■ And the ‘classification’ approach —
which would see road funding allocated
based on a national classification sys-
tem.
A population approach, under
which more funding would be
allocated to those with higher populations,
would seriously under-deliver
for predominantly rural territories
CHICKEN MANURE FERTILISER
9018465AA
FUNDING
ALLOCATION:
The way road
funding is
allocated to our
roads is currently
up for debate.
and for our national economy.
Two alternatives which fit best
with what Federated Farmers members
have told us over recent years,
are a revenue approach, which would
repatriate road-use revenue to the
www.bennettfertilisers.co.nz
regions where that revenue was generated,
and the contribution approach,
where funding was directed in relation
to an area’s contribution to the national
economy.
However, both approaches would
need careful consideration.
The revenue approach would have to
ensure that road-use revenue matched
where the road use actually occured and
it could potentially not reflect differences
in costs between different territories.
Any outcomes from the review are
likely to result in winners and losers
between the different territories. This is
because how the FAR is allocated is
open to all kinds of discussion, but the
total amount of funding allocated
through the FAR is not up for debate.
Ideally, Federated Farmers would
like consideration around the amounts
of road funding sourced and distributed
through road use-based sources rather
than local government rates, as the
fundamental principles around who
should pay for our roads, and how, are
closely related to how the funding is
allocated.
Regardless of the result, Federated
Farmers will take a keen interest in the
FAR review, because any outcome will
have a material impact on farmers’
roads and their annual rates bills.
Two-headed giant enters game
By Matt Harcombe
South Island policy manager
In March, the Government released two key
pieces of reform which could change how
we plan for, use, manage and regulate New
Zealand’s most important farming assets:
land and water.In some of the changes
flagged the Government calls on parties to
work together, rather than individually -
much like a ‘two-headed giant’ attack in a
computer game - to build a solid framework
for looking after our natural resources.
The first head of the attack began with a
Ministry for the Environment discussion
document, Improving our resource management
system, laying the foundation for the
most comprehensive Resource Management
Act review since its inception.
Between 2005-2008 a Federated Farmers
project team worked on delivering positive
RMA change and if the discussion document’s
changes are adopted, it will provide
a blueprint for delivering many of the
reforms farmers wanted.
A key part is the inclusion in section 6 of
‘‘the benefits of the efficient use and
development of natural and physical
resources’’, enabling councils to better
consider the balance of protection versus
resource and land use when making
decisions. Councils would also be required
to achieve ‘‘an appropriate balance between
public and private interests in the use of
land’’.
The second head of reform is the
Government’s Freshwater reform 2013 and
beyond document in response to the Land
and Water forum’s work. It sets out a team
based approach to setting water quantity
and quality limits based on nationally
developed and agreed objectives. It would
be supported by stronger, front loaded
planning, aimed at putting the decision
making back in the community’s hands,
rather than the courts.
This is where the ‘two headed giant’
reform is full of opportunities for farmers
and environmental groups to finally get
down to working together.
A natural, cost effective
all year round N.P.K
fertiliser for pasture,
maize crops, market
gardens & small blocks.
We supply, cart & spread
We also supply:
• Lime • Metal
• Sand
Neil 021 724 327 or
Bruce 021 270 6828
Office 09 299 64 86

Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 5
NATIONAL POLICY
Lifting the lid on interest rate swaps
By Nick Clark
General policy manager
Interest rate swaps have become a hot
topic with a Commerce Commission investigation
and an inquiry by Parliament’s
Primary Production Select Committee.
What is a swap?
An interest rate swap is a financial
derivative that allows a borrower to
manage interest rate exposure on their
borrowing. Until around 2005 they were
used mainly by corporate and institutional
customers. After that, swaps were offered
by various banks to rural and commercial
clients with high ‘corporate’ levels of debt,
but without the sophisticated financial
expertise held by corporates.
How do swaps work?
Parties use swaps to exchange, or swap,
interest rate payments with each other.
The most common swap is where a
borrower pays a fixed interest rate — the
swap rate — to the bank, while receiving a
floating rate indexed to a reference rate.
Each party has their own priorities and
requirements, so these exchanges can
work to the advantage of both parties.
Borrowers can use swaps to hedge against
interest rate volatility, especially when
these are high and rising.
How do they
compare?
A fixed-term loan is simpler than a
swap, but the idea is the same; to hedge
against volatility. Banks sell fixed-term
loans to borrowers at a set interest rate for
a set period, such as 6 per cent per annum
for 24 months.
The issues
Swaps seemed to work quite well for
borrowers until late 2008. In that high
interest rate environment, some farmers
were in net terms receiving payments from
banks and there were not many
complaints.
Problems were exposed when floating
interest rates fell dramatically from late
2008 and a huge gap opened between the
fixed swap rate and the floating reference
Quad bike safety
A new campaign launched by the Animal
Health Board (AHB) aims to ensure its
contractors are aware of potential quad
bike hazards.
AHB’s contractors are being issued eye
catching educational stickers for staff and
contractors to place on their quad bike or
motorcycle to reinforce safety messages as
well as a booklet on avoiding hazards and
accident reporting.
AHB Vector Operations manager Matthew
Hall said there had been no increase
in AHB contractors recording accidents
and close calls over the past three years
but the AHB was being a responsible
employer.
‘‘Our field staff and contractors spend a
lot of their time working in difficult terrain
and it is important they are familiar with
quad bike hazards in these areas,’’ Mr Hall
said.
Federated Farmers Health and Safety
spokesperson Jeanette Maxwell said the
AHB’s initiative complemented the
Federation’s work educating people about
on-farm safety and accident prevention.
‘‘It is important that everyone coming
onto our farms is well-informed about all
potential hazards, including the safe use of
IN BRIEF
rate. Farmers who had bought swaps
were suddenly locked in at very high
cost, with many not realising they had
that ‘downside’ risk. Unfortunately they
couldn’t escape their swaps without
paying high break fees.
What has Federated
Farmers done?
Federated Farmers has always taken
the approach that farmers need to be
very careful when signing up to swaps.
We advise people get professional independent
advice on how swaps work and
the pros and cons. The Federation
believes strongly in individual responsibility,
but is equally concerned swaps are
not mis-sold and has been active on the
issue.
■ Since 2008: Meetings with senior bank
executives urging banks to pass on
interest rate cuts and treat their customers
fairly. Swaps have been discussed
at these meetings.
■ August 2009: Submission to the
Opposition’s Banking Inquiry, which discussed
the Federation’s swap concerns.
■ March 2010: Submission to the Banking
Ombudsman seeking an increase in
the financial limit for compensation and
enabling the Ombudsman to investigate
complaints about a bank’s ‘commercial
judgment’ or its interest rate policies.
■ December 2010 and February 2011:
Submissions to the NZ Bankers
Association’s Review of the Code of Banking
Practice, which discussed swaps.
■ November 2012: Letter to the Commerce
Commission encouraging it to investigate
allegations of mis-selling of swaps.
What do the banks tell
us?
Banks have assured Federated Farmers
issues with swaps have been, or are being,
worked through and settlements or new
arrangements have been made where it
was alleged that swaps were mis-sold or
where there were genuine
misunderstandings.
Banks seem to have learnt lessons.
Although swaps are still being sold to
farmers, their use is not as widespread as
between 2006 and 2008 and more care is
being taken to ensure people know the
quad bikes, or any other machinery they
use. ‘‘New Zealand’s farms have a wide
variety of terrain, from slippery bogs and
wetlands to steep shale and everything in
between. People need to know the capabilities
of their vehicles and themselves.’’
Better power deals
Following the successful ‘‘What’s my number?’’
residential campaign, the Electricity
Authority is trying to encourage small- to
medium-sized businesses (SMEs) to shop
around for the best deal for their electricity.
The Authority says 2011 research shows
only 4 per cent of SMEs are actively looking
for cheaper retailers. Electricity Authority
chief executive Carl Hansen says there is a
perception that there ‘‘were not any real
gains to be made and that it seemed too
much of a hassle’’.
The Electricity Authority, together with
Switchme, has developed an online business
tool, which has been trialled since
August 20. So far, 35 per cent of businesses
receiving tariff offers via the online business
tool have chosen to switch electricity
retailer.
■ For more information, visit
www.whatsmynumber.org.nz/MyBusiness/
FindYourNumber.
HAD0016 1303
benefits and risks. Banks deny that
rewards or incentives are being used to
sell swaps.
Are all farmers
unhappy with swaps?
No, we get calls from farmers happy with
swaps who find them a useful hedge
against volatility. They do not want
farmers denied swaps.
What happened in
Britain?
A number of commentators have
drawn a link between Britain and New
Zealand. Many British farmers felt swaps
were mis-sold to them by banks, typically
between 2006 and 2008 when swaps were
frequently sold as conditions of loans.
Farmers complained bank staff were
heavily incentivised to sell swaps with no
warnings about downsides.
In July 2012 four major British banks
agreed a settlement with the Financial
Services Authority (FSA) over ‘‘serious
failings’’ in the sale of interest rate swaps
to small businesses, including many
farmers. The FSA found a number of bad
practices, including poor disclosure of
exit costs, non-advised sales straying into
advice, ‘over-hedging’ (where amounts
Do you have Trough
Valve problems?
Two Proven Solutions
Reliable Reliable
TroughhV Valve l
Trough/Tank Valve
✔ High Performance, Cost
EffectiveTroughValve
(29 PSI, 188 lpm)
✔ Patent pending “Slipper Fit
Piston” design to reduce valve
sticking
✔ Low operating pressure reduces
pumping costs (0.2bar-12 bar)
✔ Strong Compact Design
and/or duration did not match the underlying
loans) and using rewards and
incentives to drive these practices. The
banks did not always make sure customers
understood the risks.
What could happen
here?
In response to complaints, the Commerce
Commission is investigating; primarily
considering whether customers were
misled about swaps’ true risk, nature and
suitability. Business found guilty of
breaching the Fair Trading Act may be
fined up to $200,000 for each charge.
Where more than one charge is laid, the
court may impose a fine greater than
$200,000. Only the courts can decide if a
representation breached the Fair Trading
Act.
What should I do?
Federated Farmers encourages farmers
with allegations of mis-selling of swaps, or
other poor treatment from their bank in
relation to swaps, to make a complaint to
the Commerce Commission (phone 0800 94
3600).
■ If you also wish to inform Federated
Farmers about your concern please call 0800
327 646.
✔ High Performance, Cost
Effective Trough/Tank Valve
(29 PSI, 570 lpm)
✔ Suitable for High/Low
Pressure (0.2bar-12 bar)
✔ Delivers high volumes
of water quickly with
unrestricted full flow
✔ Simple & Reliable
HAND
TESTED
Super˙Flo and
Max˙Flo Valves
are rigorously hand tested
using both Air and Water
Proudly Kiwi Owned and Operated Since 1958

6 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
NATIONAL POLICY
Federation has say on rural fire services
By Nick Hanson
Policy advisor
Rural fire forces and provincial volunteer
brigades will be significantly affected
by a suite of recommendations by the
Fire Services Review Panel which is
looking to change the current Fire
Services and Forest and Rural Fire
legislation. While the recommendations
are wide-ranging, two are of particular
interest to farmers.
The terms of reference for the review
has identified a disconnect between the
fire service and rural fire forces’ mandate
under current legislation, which
essentially stops at fire responses, despite
the increasing practice of fire
personnel responding to non-fire emergencies,
such as traffic accidents.
In response, the panel has recommended
that the Fire Service Commission
be mandated and made responsible
as first-responders to a much
broader array of emergencies, including,
but not limited to, road traffic emergencies,
search and rescue, and animal
rescues.
The report recommends the establishment
of a register that makes clear the
emergencies that the fire service attends
and that the Fire Services Commission
be empowered to add or subtract from
the register without new legislation.
FREE
Pro Tagger Box
FIRE RESPONSE: Federated Farmers is working to make sure rural views are heard in a
review of New Zealand’s fire service legislation.
In practice, the Commission would
discharge this function through the
urban fire service, which includes
small town volunteer brigades.
In areas where the urban fire
GIVES YOU MORE
with your Cattle and Deer
RFID tags this season
Get up to 4 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger plus a Pro Tagger Box for selected categories:
1 - 100 tags 1 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger (For new ZeeTags customers
on their first order only)
101 - 500 tags 1 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger
501 - 1000 tags 2 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger
1001 - 1500 tags 2 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger + 1xProTaggerBox
1501 - 2000 tags 3 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger + 1xProTaggerBox
Over 2000 tags 4 x FREE Z2 no tear tagger + 1xProTaggerBox
AVAILABLE NOW
FROM YOUR LOCAL
RETAILER STORE
Valid from February 1 to July 31, 2013 or until stocks last. Whichever occurs first.To qualify for any of the promotional thresholds, the quantity
of tags must be purchased under the same order and Herd Number. Limit of one promotional offer for the first order placed per Herd Number.
Valid for Cattle and Deer NAIT-approved RFID tags. ZeeTags general terms and conditions apply.
0800 493 382 • www.zeetags.co.nz • info@zeetags.co.nz
FREE
Z2 no tear tagger
no tear
Z2tagger 2013ZT00170
service is geographically unable to
respond in a timely manner, the Fire
Service Commission would be able to
accredit appropriate bodies and fund
their training and responses.
In practice, the intention of the panel
is that accreditation would likely go to
the local Rural Fire Authority, which
would have the right of first refusal in its
given area, although other agencies such
as roading contractors could be
accredited.
The panel also addressed the advancement
of the Government’s agenda
of enlarging rural fire districts to simplify
rural fire management and capture
efficiencies.
Amalgamation of smaller Rural Fire
Authorities have been under way since
2008, however, the pace has not been as
great as expected and the review was
tasked with accelerating the programme.
Currently, the National Rural Fire
Authority has worked as a facilitator
and, in some cases, provided funds to
promote Rural Fire Authority mergers,
but the process had been largely driven
locally. While the panel identified local
buy-in as important, it nevertheless
recommended the Minister of Internal
Affairs, Chris Tremain, be empowered to
compel amalgamation at his discretion
from 12 months after the enactment of
new legislation.
Federated Farmers is engaging with
the Minister as he considers the recommendations
and will seek members’
feedback before new legislation is released.

Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 7
COUNTERPOINT
Farmers worldwide face same issues
Former Federated Farmers president Alistair Polson discusses his roles as chairman of the New Zealand Farm Environment
Trust and as Special Agriculture Trade Envoy
The flagship business enterprise for the
New Zealand Farm Environment Trust is
the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
These awards operate in nine regions of
New Zealand and it’s the Trust’s objective
to have them in all regions.
We are currently in discussion with
two further regions to provide their
farmers with the opportunity to enter
these prestigious awards.
The 2013 awards started in Bay of
Plenty on February 22 and the results from
all the regions will be announced in the
next six weeks. There will be extensive
media surrounding the announcements,
but if you wish to get immediate notification,
email info@bfea.org.nz to be added
to the media advisory list.
Each year the Ballance Farm Environment
Awards delivers an array of outstanding
farmers who are great advocates
for the Trust’s objective of promoting
sustainable farming practices to protect
and enhance the environment. The good
practice that underpins their successful
farming enterprise makes me proud to be
a farmer and chairing the Trust is an
added bonus.
Since taking on the role of chairman in
October 2012, I have been greatly encour-
aged by the support
the Trust
and the awards
programme re-
ALISTAIR POLSON
ceive from businesses
and government
agencies.
Our work is
seen by them as
the right thing to
do. Having an independentorganisation
such as the New Zealand
Farm Environment Trust advocating for
and highlighting good farming practice
goes a long way to dispelling the myths
that still exist in relation to agricultural
production in this country. However, the
Trust cannot achieve this alone, which is
why it is important to have the support
of farmers and key stakeholders.
In my role as New Zealand’s Special
Agricultural Trade Envoy for the New
Zealand Government, I have recently
been in Alberta, Canada and three
northern states of the United States —
Montana, Minnesota and Michigan —
and I also attended the 16th round of the
Trans Pacific-Partnership negotiations
in Singapore. I received a warm welcome
from the farmers and farming organisations
I encountered.
Farmers in the US, especially those
growing corn, wheat, barley or soya
beans, are making plenty of money and
there are a lot of new tractors and farm
sheds in evidence.
The livestock industries, such as beef
and pork, are suffering from high corn
prices and other grass-based feed stuffs
whose cost and availability is further
affected by drought. Most of the sectors I
saw don’t need subsidies. Indeed, current
price support levels are quite low,
but we should not overlook the protective
tariffs industries like dairy, sugar
and cotton enjoy.
I was struck by the similarity of the
issues we face as once we had touched
base on the usual topics of the weather,
prices and the cost of local government,
discussion quickly turned to the environment,
sustainable land use, water, effluent
disposal and the pressure urban
expectations were placing on farming.
This last point ranged from animal
welfare, the smells from the spreading of
cow shed waste through to providing
habitat for wildlife. There are, in the
states I visited, a growing number of
quality assurance schemes that attempt to
deal with, and exemplify, best farming
practice. But there is nothing like the
Ballance Farm Environment Awards that
can showcase leading farmers to their
industry, customers and the general public.
It would not surprise me to see the
development of something like our awards
programme in the future. Perhaps Jim
Cotman could be persuaded to share some
of his knowledge and expertise with our
American friends?
All farmers worldwide face a growing
creditability gap with their urban cousins
and a renewed common concern about the
pace and extent of finite resource use.
Farmers strive to get it right for their
communities, for their own families and
businesses because the consequences of
failure in the long term do not bear
thinking about.
On June 22, the Trust will host the
National Sustainability Showcase in Hamilton.
The gala dinner will showcase the
nine regional supreme winners and this
year’s national winners will be announced.
This is a wonderful event and if you would
like more information about attending,
email info@bfea.org.nz.

8 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
REGIONAL NEWS
Water scheme gives farmers confidence
The Ruataniwha Water Storage Scheme
will give Central Hawke’s Bay farmers the
confidence to invest in infrastructure for
their farming future, according to farm
management consultant Andy Macfarlane
from Macfarlane Rural Business (MRB).
Hawke’s Bay Regional Council, through
its investment company, Hawke’s Bay
Regional Investment Company Ltd
(HBRIC Ltd) is currently in the consenting
phase of the Ruataniwha Water Storage
Scheme (RWS) in Central Hawke’s Bay,
which has the potential to open up 25,000
hectares of land for farming, while improving
water quality and flows in the Tukituki
River.
MRB has undertaken extensive research
into the on-farm economics of the
RWS Scheme for a range of land uses,
including dairy, sheep and beef and arable
and has produced a report on its findings.
Mr Macfarlane says the key issue for
farmers is confidence.
‘‘Having access to a reliable water
supply for irrigation will give farmers in
Central Hawke’s Bay the confidence to
borrow money to invest in infrastructure
and to make the right decisions at the right
time,’’ he says.
‘‘We tend to find farmers with irrigation
are more aggressive decisionmakers
and therefore more profitable.’’
promotus 4932
RIGHT PRICING: Hawkes Bay Regional
Council chief executive Andrew
Newman looks at the Ruataniwha Dam
site with local farmer Craig Preston.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Dairy farmer Campbell Chard, who
currently runs a dairy farm on the
Ruataniwha Plains, says there are benefits
for farmers and the community from
the scheme, but the key will be whether
the water is affordable.
‘‘There are huge benefits from
securing irrigation water and while this
is key, it is dependent on the price of the
water. The economics of the whole
scheme are founded on irrigators being
able to get the water at an economic
price,’’ Mr Chard says.
PROVINCIAL SPOTLIGHT HAURAKI/COROMANDEL
A series of farmer forums were held
late last year as the first step in bringing
farmers and farm advisers up to speed
with the RWS irrigation scheme opportunity.
Arable, sheep and beef and dairy
field days are being held to give farmers
and farm advisers more opportunities to
ask questions.
HBRIC Ltd is calling for expressions
of interest from farmers keen to be part
of the RWS Scheme. From now until
August, farmers are being encouraged
to sign a non-binding Memorandum of
Understanding expressing their interest
in the scheme.
At this stage it is modelled the water
price will be targeted between 22 cents
per cubic metre and 25 cents per cubic
metre, in today’s dollars. Discount
options are also being developed for
farmers committing to the scheme early.
A more accurate price will be available
in September when the design and
construction costs have been finalised.
‘‘A more consistent water supply
would lead to more repeatable systems
on the farm allowing us to manage more
of our farming operations ourselves.
Forward planning would be a lot easier,’’
Mr Chard says.
He believes the RWS Scheme is a
three generation project and costs
should be spread across all generations.
Central Hawke’s Bay arable farmer
Richard Dakins farms 300 hectares of
predominantly mixed arable on and
around the Ruataniwha Plains and says it
is vital the RWS Scheme gets the capital
side of the project right so people can
recoup some of what they put in when
they move on.
‘‘Farmers looking at the scheme need to
have all the information in front of them
and do their numbers before committing,’’
Mr Dakins says.
He believes the majority of those
signing up to the scheme will be new to
irrigation.
Mr Macfarlane agrees and says while
the RWS Scheme will lead to land
intensification in Central Hawke’s Bay, it
is not just about dairying.
‘‘No irrigation scheme ever flies on one
land use. It needs to be economic for
multiple land uses,’’ he says.
‘‘Our modelling for the scheme shows
about 38 per cent dairy, followed by
intensive arable and intensive finishing.’’
■ The Macfarlane Rural Business
Ruataniwha Water Storage Project Review
of Farm Profitability Report is available to
view at www.hbrc.govt.nz.
— Hawke’s Bay Regional Council
Support each other through the dry weather
By John Sanford
Bay of Plenty provincial president
Every time I look out my window my
heart sinks; the barren land a sign of
more hardship to come. Compared to
last season, this is a disaster.
Last year was the best we have had
in years, you couldn’t get more polar
opposite if you tried. Although it is not
the worst drought we have ever had, we
have declared drought three times in
the past five years and each time it
becomes more apparent that this might
be the new norm.
We have proven to be adaptable
though; the climate seems to go in
cycles and 20 years ago this was
probably a normal summer.
The soil moisture levels are at a big
deficit, the streams are low, farmers
have got fewer supplements than normal
years due to a difficult October and
November. The whole of the North
Island is in a deficit situation for feed,
so we have to go further afield to get
it, which costs more.
Farmers have little feed left in
reserves, so a lot of cows will be dried
off. But they will still have to be fed,
even though they are not producing
milk. It is money down the drain in
the immediate future but necessary
for the distant future.
Sheep and beef farmers are struggling
to get enough feed to fatten
their stock for the works and even
then the works are not particularly
helpful in taking on excess stock, so a
lot have been sent to the South Island.
There are some things farmers can
do to alleviate some of the pressure —
dry your heifers off early, as well as
the skinny ones who are more at risk.
If you are not milking, there is little
money coming in so this will affect
your farm further down the track.
Essentially it is a balancing act,
deciding to either dry cows off now
and lose money or continue in hopes
that rain is not far away.
Hopefully, Fonterra will provide
more of their final season’s payments,
or a bigger chunk of them, early. That
would be a huge help to dairy
farmers. Additionally, if meat works
could come to the table, sheep and
beef farmers would have a better shot
at getting through this tough season
relatively unscathed.
Water supply for dry stock
farmers is a huge concern as stock are
drinking twice as much as usual
whilst water supplies are drying up.
The candle is burning at both ends.
There is simply nothing anyone
can do but wait for the rain to come. In
the meantime, talk to your tax department,
bank manager and accountant.
They are not the evil sharks some like
to paint them out to be — it is in their
best interest to help you out.
The Rural Support Trust is also a
good resource, use it and watch out for
your neighbours, family and friends.
Alternatively there is the depression
helpline. This is a stressful situation for
all farmers, so make sure you are
looking after yourself and not taking
your stress out on your family. Have a
break, get off the farm and get away
from it all.
Hopefully, we will get some rain
soon, which will ease it all. Day by day,
everyone is hoping for rain.
Whitianga had 17mm of rain back in
the middle of March and a there was a
little shower in Thames, so there is
light at the end of tunnel.
Hopefully, the weather gods will
answer our prayers and deliver us
some liquid gold soon.
Lookingfor7-dayboarding?Bewareofimitations!
•Weareagenuine 7 day a week school with compulsory classes and
sport on Saturdays and chapel on Sundays
• The top performing co-educational school in NZ for the past three years
• A choice of academic pathways to university – NCEA and Cambridge
• A new and very competitive fee structure for 2013
Contact Alan Richardson, Director of Admissions on (06) 349 0295 | email alan.richardson@collegiate.school.nz | www.collegiate.school.nz
COME AND SEE US AT OUR OPEN DAY AND SLEEPOVER ON SATURDAY 25 MAY.
Wanganui Collegiate School
Years 9 to 13, Anglican, Co-Educational Boarding and Day School

0681TTG01
POPULARDEMAND
Our famous Black Edition energizers return at unbeatable
prices with a ‘Put it to the Test’ money back guarantee.*
63 Black Edition
$ 1999
inc. GST
Remote/
Fault Finder
$ 249
inc. GST
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 9
SPEEDRITE BLACK EDITION
AVAILABLE FROM
36 Black Edition
$ 999
inc. GST
REGIONAL POLICY
Working together gets results
By Dr Paul Le Mière
Regional Policy Manager
Lake Rotorua is an inspiring story of
farmers, the community and local council
doing their bit to get the lake’s water
quality going in the right direction. As a
result it has hit agreed water quality
targets decades before it was thought
possible.
This result, and how it was achieved,
turns many perceptions on improving
degraded water bodies on their head.
The lake was in a bad way after
decades of contaminants from humans,
animals and industry, as well as geothermal
activity.
In November 2010 the Bay of Plenty
Regional Council publicly notified its
second Regional Policy Statement (RPS),
which contained a proposal to reduce
nitrogen (N) deposits in Lake Rotorua by
45 per cent within the 10 years between
2009 and 2019.
Federated Farmers submitted against
this new policy, then appealed to the
Environment Court on the grounds that its
impact on current landowners and the
local economy would result in great
hardship for both. Importantly, the Federation
said the proposed plan would not
actually achieve the agreed water quality
target.
This target was a Trophic Level Index
(TLI) of 4.2. The TLI is a composite
measure, combining N levels, phosphorus
(P) levels, water clarity and algal
biomass levels. Eight years ago the lake
had a TLI of 4.8 — which equates to poor
water quality.
Last year the council’s and DairyNZ’s
scientists, who have been analysing the
monitoring results, agreed that for each
of the last eight years the water quality
WORKING
TOGETHER:
Rotorua MP Todd
McClay (right)
and Rotorua-
Taupo Federated
Farmers
provincial
president Neil
Heather on the
heights of Mr
Heather’s farm,
overlooking Lake
Rotorua which is
seeing huge
water quality
improvements.
has become significantly better.
Crucially, last year Lake Rotorua
reached a TLI of 4.1, squarely in
‘average’ water quality — an incredible
result in just eight years.
These results were achieved by a
combination of actions from many parties.
The regional council used nutrientlocking
technology to make some P
unavailable, Rotorua District Council
changed the way it discharges sewage,
central Government helped the community
upgrade their old leaky septic
tanks and farmers have changed their
management practice, installing expensive
capital items to significantly reduce
their N loading. All of this added up to
water quality way beyond what could
have been achieved without a combined
effort.
Once what was happening in the lake
was agreed, the parties could sit down and
find a way forward. The Oturoa Agreement
lays a pathway for a staged approach
over 20 years, using managed nitrate
reduction from land-users, in conjunction
with regular scientific checks that the lake
at least maintains water quality.
This is a Memorandum of Understanding
between Federated Farmers, Bay of
Plenty Regional Council and the Lake
Rotorua Primary Producers Collective
Incorporated, with the support of the
Lakes Water Quality Society.
Checks will be done with council and
DairyNZ scientists, giving confidence that
objective science is being applied.
Why is this all so important? It
categorically shows what is possible with
the right collaborative community approach
and that the nitrate myopia of
some other councils will not actually
produce efficient, effective and enduring
outcomes for water quality.
Horizons’ One Plan six months on
By Dr Tessa Mills
Regional policy advisor
In the six months since the first interim
decision on the One Plan was released,
there has been a second decision, released
on Christmas Eve, and both Federated
Farmers and Horticulture New Zealand
lodged a second appeal. At the time of
writing there is no sign of the final decision,
but much has happened since September
when the first decision was released.
Over the past six months the primary
sector has become a far more united front,
as we share common concerns for our
farmer and grower members. The One Plan
has always presented a significant challenge
for the district’s farmers, but what
now seems to be surfacing is a more
widespread concern among the rest of the
community regarding its implications on
the local farm supply store, the supermarket,
the corner store and the local school.
The economic analysis prepared by the
regional council at the outset of the plan
CLEANING UP: The One Plan as it
stands would more likely encourage
farmers to sell up than clean up.
was a ‘once-over lightly’ — lacking in
detail and quantitative analysis. Subsequent
council analyses also fell short of
determining impacts on the wider community,
instead focusing on the costs
borne within the farm gate. The court
heard evidence on the potential economic
impacts of the One Plan from various
experts, but what seemed to surface in
the interim decision was a focus on the
costs within the farm gate of mitigation to
reduce nitrogen-leaching losses.
Given that regional plans, such as the
One Plan, have far wider impacts than
those on farmers, it was fortunate that
shortly after the release of the first
interim decision, a study commissioned
by the Ministry for Primary Industries
and carried out by Landcare Research
emerged.
Although not an exact match for the
policy resulting from the interim decision,
it did suggest the decision’s
resource allocation model is inefficient.
As such the One Plan is likely to have a
significant impact on farm profitability
without delivering the environmental
outcomes sought. Once farm profitability
drops, so too does the money merry-goround
keeping our rural communities
afloat.
This lack of economic analysis seems
unbelievable, considering that in the
March last year BERL regional rankings
report New Zealand’s bottom three
performing districts are three of the five in
the Horizons region. These rankings are
based on data which includes GDP, employment
and population growth. Indications so
far suggest that the One Plan will have a
significant negative economic impact on a
region which cannot afford a significant
economic downturn.
We hope Government’s review of the
Resource Management Act will strengthen
its requirements for robust economic
analysis and avoid poorly-considered regulation
surfacing elsewhere.
On a brighter note, the Horizons regional
councillors recently voted nine to
three to back Horticulture New Zealand’s
request to the Environment Court to rehear
portions of the hearing in light of recent
economic information. Primary sector
groups, including Federated Farmers,
supports this move, however, Fish and
Game remain opposed to any further rehearing
based on economic impacts.
*PUT IT TO THE TEST –PutaBlackEdition
Energizer on your fence and if you don’t see an
increaseinvoltage,thenwe’llhappilyprovideyou
with your money back. For terms and conditions
visit tru-test.com/blackedition
For more information call 0800 TRUTEST
STAFIX BLACK EDITION
AVAILABLE FROM

10 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
BR-j7410
FEATURE
The farming Cabinet —
The Primary Industries ministerial portfolio
is a large, challenging one. For Horowhenua
farmer and Otaki MP Nathan Guy the first
few weeks on the job have been hectic, with
the most severe drought since the 1940s
striking the North Island and parts of the
South, reports Felicity Wolfe
The January Cabinet re-shuffle by Prime
Minster John Key saw a number of
changes in key positions for agriculture, as
well as for Primary Industries.
Taking over from new Speaker of the
House David Carter, Nathan Guy already
had experience as the associate Primary
Industries minister and is well-known as a
hard-working politician who has risen
through the National Party ranks since first
entering Parliament as a list MP in 2005.
Federated Farmers national president
Bruce Wills says Guy’s farming background
and experience in both the meatproducing
and dairy industries give him a
broad understanding of the varied
challenges faced by the different primary
sectors.
‘‘We know that as a farmer himself,
Nathan will really understand and work
well for agriculture and all other primary
industries in this country,’’ Wills says.
He pointed to Guy’s work as Minister of
Immigration, associate Primary Industries
Minister and as the associate Transport
Minister which showed his ability to work
well with Federated Farmers in the past.
‘‘I believe there is a good understanding
between the Minister and the Federation,’’
Wills says.
The Federation welcomes Guy’s
indications that water storage and resource
management are areas of focus, as is
making sure the sector is in a position to
take advantage of new trading opportunities.
‘‘It is a drought, so water storage is high
on the agenda for everyone at the moment,’’
Wills says.
‘‘The Federation will be working hard to
make sure it stays in politicians’ consciousness
well after the rain has returned.’’
Guy told Federated Farmers he was
very supportive of irrigation projects to
help mitigate future droughts.
‘‘Done properly, this has the potential to
deliver a major boost to our primary
industries and support many new jobs. If
current proposals are advanced, there
could be another 420,000 hectares of
irrigated land available over time,’’ Guy
says.
‘‘I’m also working closely with Environment
Minister Amy Adams on
water reform, and recently we launched a
discussion paper with ideas on improving
water quality and the way freshwater is
managed.
‘‘Balancing environmental issues with
economic growth will be a major challenge,
but one in which New Zealand can
be a world leader.’’
Having already visited many droughthit
areas, Guy says he is keen to meet
farmers from all regions.
‘‘I’m looking forward to getting my
sleeves rolled up and stuck in.’’
The January Cabinet reshuffle also
brought a number of other younger
politicians to the top table, many of them
in positions which have a direct impact
on New Zealand’s agricultural sector.
These included Auckland Central MP
Nikki Kaye in the Food Safety portfolio,
Tauranga MP Simon Bridges taking on
the Labour, Energy and Resources portfolio
and Napier MP Chris Tremain
taking on the all-important Local Government
portfolio. These have joined relative
newcomer, Environment and
Telecommunications Minister Amy
Adams in Cabinet.
‘‘Local Government is currently
undergoing some much-needed reform
and, with farmers being directly impacted
by the land-based rating system, this
is a portfolio the Federation takes a keen
interest in,’’ Wills says.
Also back at the top table is Nelson
MP Nick Smith with Conservation.
‘‘We know Dr Smith brings a wealth of
skill and knowledge to the conservation
arena, having previously held this portfolio,’’
Wills said.
BUSY START: Primary Industries Minister Nathan Guy talks with Dargaville dairy farmer
Malcolm Welsh at his Northland farm, which is in the grip of drought.
‘‘We will be working with all of these
politicians to bring better policy and
legislative outcomes for our farmer
members and, indeed, all New Zealanders.’’
The farming Cabinet
of 2013
Minister of Finance - Bill English
(Clutha-Southland)
Cabinet Rank: 2
■ Political career to date: English is the
Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of
Finance and Minister for Infrastructure;
pivotal roles for agriculture.
As the Minister of Finance and
Treasury, English is responsible for the
allocation of funds for government ministries
and key projects such as the water
storage fund, the rural broadband initiative
and research. English, who hails from
a Southland farming family, is very in
touch with farmers’ needs.
He is also highly experienced and
respected, having been a Member of
Parliament since 1990. He is a former
National Party leader and in previous
National governments has held Health,
Finance and Revenue portfolios.
■ What farmers will like: English
has brought a rural practicality and
straight-talking style to some of the most
important portfolios in the Cabinet. He
has retained close links with agriculture
Boarding for
Boys and Girls Years 7-13
Weekly or Full Term Boarding Available
Boys and girls can enjoy first class boarding at Bruce House, our small and
friendly hostel on the 100 acre College campus, in Pakuranga, Auckland.
Learn more about our reputation for all round excellence
and the real benefits of living on campus.
ENROLLING NOW for 2013 & 2014
Book your personal tour today. Contact Mrs Nicky Clapp
College
130 Pakuranga Road
Pakuranga 2010,Auckland
and heartland New Zealand, giving English
a real understanding of the sector, its
importance to the country and what it
needs going forward.
■ Challenges: The government’s unwillingness
to take active measures to
lower the New Zealand dollar has upset
some farmers and other exporters, however,
Federated Farmers’ opinion is that
reducing government expenditure and debt
is the preferable measure.
■ Real farm experience? English
comes from a farming family which is
proudly based in the Southland town of
Dipton. With family members in
agribusinesses and his brother, Conor, at
Federated Farmers’ helm, there are bound
to be plenty of agricultural anecdotes when
the clan gets together for a lamb roast
dinner at Christmas.
Minister for Primary Industries —
Nathan Guy (Otaki)
Cabinet Rank: 16
■ Political career to date: After just over
a year as Associate Minister for Primary
Industries, Guy was promoted into the
Primary Industries portfolio in the January
Cabinet reshuffle, stepping into the spot left
vacant by South Island sheep farmer David
Carter who gained the Speaker of the
House role. Guy first entered Parliament in
2005 as a list MP and won the Otaki
electorate in 2008. He was given the
Internal Affairs portfolio and other responsibilities
in 2009.
Phone: 09 577 0703
Email: skc_admissions@saintkentigern.com
www.saintkentigern.com

ONLINE
STORE
NOW
AVAILABLE!
PACIFIC HELMETS (NZ) LTD
Email: sales@pacifichelmets.com
Tel: 06-344-5019
Safety without Compromise.
Pacific ATV and Industrial Range of Helmets
The brand new Pacific
Helmets Online Shop is up
and running.
Products available include
ATV, Industrial and Rescue
helmets, in addition to
lighting and hearing/face
protection solutions.
Visit:
www.nzhelmets.co.nz for for full
product information.
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 11
QUADSAFE ELITE &
SUPREME
Versatile Composite Helmets
CERTIFIED TO:
• NZS 8600 - ATV / Quadbike
• AS/NZS 1801 (T2) - Industrial
• EN12492: 2002 - Mountaineering
Plus many more!
Visit: www.nzhelmets.co.nz
FEATURE
who you need to know
HERE TODAY: Minister of Trade Tim Groser has plenty of experience at global trade
negotiating tables, but that may lead him to a new job at the World Trade Organisation sooner
rather than later. PHOTO: NEW ZEALAND HERALD
■ What farmers will like: Guy has a
solid farming background, which includes
Young Farmer competitions, an agricultural
degree from Massey University and
a past recipient of a Winston Churchill
Fellowship, with which he travelled to the
United States to study beef exports. He
has hands-on, pan-sectorial agricultural
understanding.
■ Challenges: Despite a solid political
reputation, Guy’s profile is not as prominent
as some of the other new faces around
the Cabinet table. Also, those looking for
a new direction after David Carter are
likely to be disappointed.
Guy has indicated that while he sees
himself as a part of a younger political
generation, he has also said he means to
carry on in much the same path as Carter.
■ Real farm experience? Five stars.
Last month Guy told Dairy Exporter that
he enjoys getting back to the family farm,
about an hour north of Wellington, in the
weekends.
Minister for the Environment — Amy
Adams (Selwyn)
Cabinet Rank: 15
When Aucklander Amy Adams moved to
study at Canterbury University in 1988,
she stayed, practicing law and living with
her family on a 600-acre sheep farm in
Aylesbury, just west of Christchurch.
After graduation with first class honours,
Adams had a successful law career
then was elected to Parliament in 2008.
■ Political career to date: Minister for
Communications and Information Technology,
Minster for the Environment.
■ What farmers will like: As Minister
for Communications and Information
Technology, Adams has been a supporter
and ally of the roll-out of the
Rural Broadband Initiative.
As Environment Minister, Adams is
in the process of overhauling the
Resource Management Act. It is hoped
she will streamline it to reduce the huge
time inefficiencies and money wastage
it has become synonymous with.
■ Challenges: If the Resource Management
Act reforms do not deliver the
promised savings, it won’t just be the
farming community left disappointed.
■ Real farm experience? Although
Adams was an Aucklander, she has
taken to country life and is a strong
advocate for her largely rural electorate
and the needs of all other rural New
Zealanders.
Minister of Conservation — Nick
Smith (Nelson)
Cabinet Rank: 13
Nelson MP Nick Smith has been a
National Party stalwart since university
and has retained his seat since 1990,
when it was then the Tasman seat.
■ Political career to date: Nick Smith
first stood for political office at Rangiora
District Council in 1983, while at high
school. He was elected in 1986, aged 21
and has been involved in politics since.
He won the then-Tasman electorate
in 1990, becoming Minister for Conservation
in 1996.
He has also held portfolios for
Corrections, Education, Environment,
Climate Change Issues and the Accident
Compensation Corporation. He
was also, briefly, the deputy leader of
the party under Don Brash in 2003.
The January reshuffle saw Smith
return to Cabinet with the Conservation
portfolio, after resigning his previous
ministerial portfolios following
allegations made about his conduct as
the Minister for ACC in handling the
case of a friend and former National
Party member Bronwyn Pullar.
■ What farmers will like: Smith listened
to Federated Farmers about the
difficulties around including biological
emissions in the Emissions Trading
Scheme and delivered on removing
them indefinitely.
■ Challenges: In returning to his old
Conservation portfolio, the thousands
of farmers who do conservation work
for free — replanting, creating QEII
covenants on fragile land and bush —
will be looking for Smith to show a real
and tangible understanding of what it
really takes to protect New Zealand’s
unique biodiversity.
Farmers will be looking for further
unity between the Department of Conservation
and its rural neighbours.
Farmers in bovine tuberculosis-prone
areas will also be looking to see what
solid government commitments are
made to the Predator Free New Zealand
idea, as its aims could overlap into their
LOST GROUND:
Conservation
Minister Nick
Smith, right, will
have to do more
than plant a few
flax bushes to
keep farmers’
respect.
interests in possum control.
■ Real farm experience? Smith is a
career politician, but grew up in an
agricultural service town and has successfully
ingrained himself in the Nelson
electorate, which runs on the primary
industries, including agriculture.
Minister of Trade and Minister for
Climate Change Issues — Tim Groser
Cabinet Rank: 14
As the Minister of Trade and Climate
Change Issues, and previously holding
the Conservation portfolio, Tim Groser
has held a great deal of influence over
New Zealand agricultural sectors since
2008.
He is a former ambassador to
Indonesia and the World Trade Organisation.
As such, Groser has been a firm
supporter of free-trade agreements and
multi-lateral agreements such as the
Trans Pacific Partnership.
At present Groser is a contender for
the director-generalship of the World
Trade Organisation which will become
vacant after May.
Groser has been deeply involved in
facilitating international climate change
negotiations and has been part of many
climate change forums and conferences.
■ Political career to date: Between 2008
and 2010, Groser was the Minister for
Conservation and is the Minister for
Trade.
■ What farmers will like: Groser is seen
globally as a leading proponent for free
trade and is widely respected on the
international stage. He has been very
active in opening new trade opportunities
for New Zealand’s agricultural products.
■ Continued on page 12

12 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
FEATURE
Who’s who in the 2013 farming Cabinet
■ Continued from page 11
■ Challenges: If he secures the
director-generalship of the World
Trade Organisation Groser will leave
his role as Minister of Trade and
Climate Change Issues. Even if he does
not, it is likely he will be looking at his
career prospects on the world stage.
■ Real farm experience? With
agriculture playing a huge role in New
Zealand trade, Groser has worked on
agricultural negotiations over the
years, including a stint chairing World
Trade Organisation’s agricultural
negotiations.
Minister of Local Government —
Chris Tremain (Napier)
Cabinet rank: 18
Chris Tremain has been given the
Local Government portfolio at a
crucial time. Federated Farmers is
encouraged by many of the initiatives
outlined under the Local Government
Reform Bill, but hopes Tremain will
have the courage to look at the biggest
issue, the funding mechanisms
available to councils.
Tremain has been in Parliament
since 2005 when he won the Napier
seat. A successful Hawke’s Bay
businessman, Tremain should have
some previous dealings with local
Special
Motorola CP476 radio
(80 PRS channels and 5 programmable UHF
channels and comes complete with charger)
for only
$445
WORKING HARD: Champion of the Bay
of Plenty lifestyle, Simon Bridges, is
getting his feet wet with the Labour
portfolio.
government as a private citizen — a
perspective the Federation hopes he
retains.
■ Political career to date: Minister
of Internal Affairs and Associate
Minister of Tourism; Local
Government
■ What farmers will like: As a
businessman from a regional,
agriculture-dependant centre,
Tremain should have a good
offer
+ GST
Only authorised Motorola Premier Dealer in
greater Waikato, King Country areas.
See us for all your communication needs
RICHARDSON COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED
25 Devon Road, Frankton, Hamilton 3204
07 957 8191 or 0800 947 4266 or sales@ricom.co.nz
understanding of the demands on
small to medium-sized business
owners.
■ Challenges: It remains to be seen
if Tremain will look seriously at the
problems with purely land-based
rating systems.
■ Real farm experience? Hailing
from Hawke’s Bay, Tremain is never
far away from a primary producer —
including the Federation’s own
president, Bruce Wills.
Minister of Labour — Simon
Bridges (Tauranga)
Cabinet Rank: 19
Originally from Auckland, Bridges
completed a BA and LLB (Hons) at
Auckland University, before further
studies at Oxford University and the
London School of Economics.
He also worked as an intern at the
British House of Commons. After a
period as a litigation lawyer in
Auckland, Bridges moved to
Tauranga where he became senior
Crown Prosecutor.
He was elected as Tauranga’s MP
in 2008 and has risen quickly up the
National Party lists in that time.
■ Political career to date: Minister
of Energy and Resources, Minister of
Labour, and Associate Minister for
Climate Change Issues
10K Rates Club
The latest 10K Rates Club newsletter
is now available on Federated
Farmers’ website, offering an
overview of the Federation’s work and
achievements on local government
financial issues last year and
discussing the Government’s reform
programme and its possible impacts
this year. The 10K Rates Club was
founded in 2004 when Federated
Farmers called on members paying
more than $10,000 a year in general
rates to send in copies of their rate
demands. The purpose was to build a
database of real-world examples of the
high cost of rates to many farmers and
how the property value system of
funding local government is hurting
the rural economy. The 10K Club
continues to be a useful source of data
and a powerful insight into the scale of
the rural rates problem.
LAUNCH YOUR COWS IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION
WITH
Cows need calcium.
It is vital for calving recovery, milk production and animal
health. Get this right and avoid the low performance
associated with calcium deficiency.
Help your cows fly through calving with Calcimate -
the trusted, quality choice for calcium supplementation.
Available from your rural retailer.
Manufactured by:
IN BRIEF
■ What farmers will like: Coming
from a legal background, Bridges is
known as an active and skilful debater
and also as an intelligent politician.
■ Challenges: Farmers could be
sceptical about Bridges’ background
as a litigation lawyer, but will
appreciate his rhetorical skills in
Parliamentary debate.
■ Real farm experience? Moving
from the rat-race in Auckland to the
Bay of Plenty was a good start.
Minister for Food safety — Nikki
Kaye (Auckland Central)
Cabinet rank: 20
Kaye was elected for the Auckland
Central seat in 2008 and has proven a
committed constituency MP.
■ Political career to date: Minister
for Food Safety, Minister for Civil
Defence and Minister for Youth
Affairs.
■ What farmers will like: Kaye is
seen as a determined MP who is not
afraid to speak her mind — even when
that does not quite fit the National
Party line.
■ Challenges: Kaye is the youngest
Cabinet Minister in history and as such
is a bit of an unknown quantity.
■ Real farm experience? Kaye is an
Aucklander through and through, but
has shown an awareness of urban
environmental issues.
Plan your way out of
the drought
Dairy farmers are urged to plan
their way through this drought, and
revisit it on what may be a weekly
basis.
Those with sharemilking contracts
ending on May 31, in particular, need
to make sure their plans are in writing
so that there is no misunderstanding
around feed covers and supplements,
come the end of the season. The
incoming sharemilker will appreciate
this approach.
If the other party does not see the
need to write it down, do it yourself
and send them a copy.
If you are having trouble sitting
down and coming to an agreed management
plan, call in an independent
adviser who can help you come to a
fair agreement. It will be money well
spent.
MCD1094

Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 13
Why wouldn’t
you use it?
Viafos means you can maximise phosphate efficiency.
Why you ask?
www.viafos.co.nz
EMAIL: contact@viafos.co.nz
FREEPHONE: 0800viafos (842367)
5101
Cert TM
At ViafosImportingLtdour policy is-
National availability
Consistent quality-guaranteed
Continual availabilityfrom atrust
worthy source.
The phrase, ‘not all products are the
same” isaccurate. Viafos has built its
reputation after years of trade ensuring
we supply what we state, this is whyViafos
is Fertmark and BioGro certified. Their
meticulous audits ensure we accurately
represent our products soend-users can
have complete confidence.
Viafos is the only Fermark approved
Guano phosphate in NZ! Why not tryit?
AGRICULTURAL TOURS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IN 2013
The Top End & Kimberley Cattle Tour July
Some of the best of our Aussie neighbour. Mt
Isa, Darwin, Broome. Famous cattle stations,
spectacular landscapes and vibrant colours.
Follow in the footsteps of the early drovers and
visit iconic cattle stations, including Victoria
River Downs, ‘The Big Run’, Brunette Downs
and Wave Hill. Magnificent flora and fauna,
aboriginal rock art, sightseeing in Darwin and
many other highlights.
South Africa - August
Join our annual tour to South Africa
which never ceases to delight those
with an interest in wildlife. Excellent
accommodation, magnificent
cuisine, friendly Afrikaaner hospitality.
Every time we have seen ‘the Big
Five’. Continue to Botswana to see
all the elephants, hippos, crocodiles,
etc. you would ever want to see plus
the majestic Victoria Falls. The experience
of a lifetime. It doesn’t get
much better than this.
Vietnam – October
This tour is designed to give you a
good insight into the farming, beauty,
history and culture of Vietnam. Hanoi,
Halong Bay, Romantic Perfume
River, Imperial Citadel in Hue, Da
Nang, Long Phuoc Tunnels, Ho Chi
Minh City. Visit vegetable and rice
farmers, fish farm and rubber plantation.
See how this country is developing
and enjoy a unique cultural
experience.
We invite you to join other happy clients many of whom have travelled on
our tours before. Meet the locals and experience the culture as well as
seeing iconic attractions in a wide range of countries. There is something
for everyone on these tours. Some countries are not easy to visit on your
own so join us on tour and you will get to see and do things you wouldn’t
experience as an independent traveller.
Also
Slovenia,Croatia,Bulgaria & Romania – May/June
Ireland & UK - May/June or August/September
China - June
Baltic States & Finland – June/July
USA Beef & Calgary – June/July
South Africa – August
Eastern USA – September
Argentina (Rugby & Farming) – September/October
Vietnam - October
South America – November/December
WEATHER
The end of a long, dry summer
By Daniel Corbett
MetService weather ambassador
The end of summer of 2012/13 was very
different to the start — we had a very
active December and first half of January
with a prevailing southwesterly flow
bringing active troughs and abundant
rainfall for many areas.
December ended up being, on average,
warmer than normal across New
Zealand, but that was nothing to the
furnace-like heat that developed across
Australia, where day-time highs reached
well into the 30 and 40s, resulting in
significant bush fires.
The neutral weather pattern had
hints of El Nino, perhaps helping keep
large anticyclones over eastern Australia
in place allowing the interior heat
to build. The wind flow around the highs
spread the heat down south and even
over the Tasman to New Zealand.
The tropics were also active in the run
up to Christmas and through the late
part of the summer. Cyclone Evan
became a category four cyclone as it
rampaged across the tropics from near
Samoa and then back across Fiji before
weakening just north of New Zealand.
Freda became a troublemaker near
New Caledonia before weakening, while
Garry was a strong threat in the New
Year moving down from Samoa and
across the southern Cook Islands.
The middle of January saw a shift
with the roaring forties which had been
active across the southern half of New
Zealand during early summer shifting
back south allowing anticyclones to visit
New Zealand once again.
A large anticyclone at the end of
January was quite unique, not just
because of its size, but also the length of
time it lingered over New Zealand. This
brought a long spell of fine weather for
most of New Zealand. Afternoon highs
across much of the country climbed into
the mid- to upper-20s with a few inland
places in the south of the South Island
reaching 30°C or more.
Notably, Wellington had extended
periods of fine days, when it usually
struggles to get more than a couple of
fine days in a row because of its location
and the funnelling effect of the wind
across Cook Strait.
The long, nationwide fine spell was
caused by the upper level wind flow, or
jetstream, and how it behaves when
weather gets blocked. In a westerly flow,
the jet stream undulates across New
Zealand in response to the various
National weather patterns for February 4, 2013.
troughs and ridges that pass through.
In a blocking situation the upper wind
flow cuts off in places or, in other
words, gets stuck. This is a bit like a
log-jam in a fast-flowing stream.
The type of weather depends on
where in the blocked weather pattern
you happen to be. In January 2011, the
weather became blocked with the fine
weather east of New Zealand. Most of
New Zealand was in a warm moist
northerly flow, resulting in the Nelson
floods around the New Year.
There was some significant rain on
Tuesday, February 5, with notable rain
fall totals at Mt Cook airport (75mm)
and North Egmont (more than 220mm).
Angle Knob in the Tararuas also had
more than 100mm and 20-30mm fell
quite widely.
Much of the rest of February mainly
saw anticyclones sit across New Zealand
bringing long fine spells. As a
result, many places ended up well
down on rainfall by the end of summer.
In some parts of New Zealand the soil
moisture deficit was in excess of
100mm.
What is to come for
the autumn?
The neutral conditions across the
Pacific will bring an element of variety in
the weather we experience over the next
several weeks. The dominant
anticyclones of the past few weeks will
still be a factor in the coming weeks, but
perhaps to a lesser degree.
Anticyclones will continue to track
across central New Zealand over the
next several weeks bringing extended
periods of dry weather, particularly if
they linger for several days due to upperlevel
blocking.
The seasonal shift north of the anticyclonic
ridge axis will cause them to
track more across central regions and
then perhaps to northern New Zealand
throughout April and May.
Between the anticyclones, fronts and
troughs are expected to cross the
country.
During autumn we should see a slow
transition to more active weather with
low pressure systems likely to move
from the subtropics onto the north and
east of the country, bringing wet and
windy days in early autumn.
By mid-autumn we should see a
return of fronts moving across New
Zealand from the Tasman Sea.
In mid- to late-autumn a pattern
change is likely, with more active fronts
moving from the Tasman Sea and/or
Southern Ocean, onto the South Island.
Agricultural Tours Throughout The World
C R McPhail Ltd PO Box 2091, Palmerston North 4440 Phone: 06 357 1644 Email: enquiries@crmcphail.co.nz Web: www.crmcphail.co.nz

14 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
EMPLOYMENT
KiwiSaver: What do employers need to know?
As an employer, you are obligated to automatically enroll all new, permanent and eligible employees in KiwiSaver. Federated
Farmers legal advisor Jane Traynor explains what employers need to know and do.
All new employees who will be permanently
employed by you, including parttime
employees, aged between 18 and 65,
will need to be automatically enrolled in
KiwiSaver through you.
The first decision you need to make is
whether you will choose a preferred
KiwiSaver scheme for your employees to
join. If you do choose a preferred
KiwiSaver scheme, you will need to give
each new employee an investment statement
for your chosen preferred scheme.
Contact the preferred scheme to get
copies of this. You must also give employees
a written statement advising
which scheme you have chosen and
notifying them they will be allocated to
that scheme unless they choose otherwise.
Employees are not under any obligation to
join your preferred scheme.
If you do not choose a preferred
scheme, your employees will be allocated
to one of five default provider schemes,
unless they have chosen a scheme themselves.
You will then need to provide each new
eligible employee with a KiwiSaver Employee
Information Pack. Information
packs and forms are available on request
from Inland Revenue by calling 0800 257
773. The information pack will contain
information on automatic enrolment into
ROUNDING UP THE
BEST OF RURAL
WATER & SEPTIC
TANKS
BRIDGE
SYSTEMS
KiwiSaver and provide details about an
employee’s rights should he or she wish
to opt-out of KiwiSaver, or select their
own KiwiSaver scheme to contribute to.
If an employee does ask you for
financial advice about KiwiSaver, you
should avoid providing them with your
own personal opinion. This can be tricky
in practice and we suggest directing
them to the Sorted website,
www.sorted.org.nz, for some plain English
explanations.
New employees who are already
enrolled in KiwiSaver are under an
obligation to provide this information to
WATER&FEED
TROUGHS
EFFLUENT
MANAGEMENT
0800 HYNDS RD (496377)
www.hyndsrural.co.nz
you. If they would like to continue
making KiwiSaver contributions, they
must fill out a KS2 form which gives you
the authority to deduct their employee
contributions from their gross salary or
wages.
You are also obligated to provide
information about KiwiSaver to all
existing employees who request it
within seven days of the request. This is
as simple as providing a KiwiSaver
Employee Information Pack to the relevant
employee upon receiving a request.
To successfully enrol your new or
existing employee in KiwiSaver you
must send the employee’s completed
KS2 form and a KS1 form, filled out by
you, to Inland Revenue.
As an employer, you are obligated to
both deduct a percentage of an employee’s
gross salary or wages (the
employee’s contribution) and make employer
contributions on top of his or her
gross salary or wages.
You must begin deducting an employee’s
contributions from his or her
first pay, or the first pay after an existing
employee has opted into KiwiSaver.
Employees must now contribute a minimum
of 3 per cent of their salary or
wages to KiwiSaver, an increase from
the 2 per cent minimum that applied
UNDERPASS
SYSTEMS
WE ACCEPT THESE
RURAL CARDS
BRANCHES
NATIONS WIDE
before April 1 this year, but can elect to
contribute at a higher rate of either 4 per
cent or 8 per cent.
Currently, it is compulsory for you as
an employer to contribute at least 3 per
cent of your employee’s gross salary or
wages to that employee’s KiwiSaver account,
also an increase from 2 per cent that
applied before April 1. Your employer
contributions must be made on top of the
employee’s gross salary or wages, unless
otherwise agreed between you and your
employee.
You are required to forward all employee
and employer contributions to
Inland Revenue as part of the PAYE
Employer Monthly Schedule. It is Inland
Revenue’s responsibility to ensure all
contributions are sent on to your employee’s
KiwiSaver scheme provider.
When an employee is on injury leave
covered by ACC, you do not need to
continue deducting any employee
contributions once ACC begins paying a
proportion of their salary or wages. You
also do not need to make employer
contributions on their behalf, but can if
you wish to.
■ For more information please call 0800
FARMING or visit the Inland Revenue
website (www.ird.govt.nz/kiwisaver/).
LAND
DRAINAGE

Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 15
The big dry’s economic toll on farmers
Westpac economist Nathan Penny looks at the likely impact of
the drought on New Zealand’s economy
Drought is the economy’s Achilles heel
and we cannot emphasise enough the
impact of ‘‘the big dry’’ on NZ Inc.
It is hitting farm incomes, reducing
confidence and spending in rural areas
will fall. But can farmers look to financial
markets for help?
In some cases, the answer is a cautious
‘‘yes’’, in others we do not hold out much
hope. In the end, widespread rain remains
farmers’ best bet.
Clearly, the drought is a major hit to
farmers’ incomes — estimated at upwards
of $600 million for the current season. This
income hit will knock economic confidence;
curtail spending, particularly in rural
areas; while the food manufacturing industry
will suffer too. When we include the
flow-on effects, we estimate an impact in
the vicinity of $1.3 billion.
In normal times, this would go close to
causing a recession in the New Zealand
economy. In fact, drought has been a
contributing factor in each of the last five
recessions.
This time round, however, the impact
is more than offset by the Canterbury
rebuild. One quarter’s worth of the
rebuild will offset the hit to farm incomes
and two quarters will offset the wider
Fenceissuevisibleonexternaldisplayscreen.
www.gallagher.co.nz
GDP impacts on our current estimates.
Not only is drought lowering the
country’s income, it is having
repercussions in financial markets too.
Some of these impacts will help
farmers, while others not so much.
The big dry is putting pressure on
world dairy prices. New Zealand is a
major player in world dairy markets
and the reduction in local production
combined with strong Chinese demand
is forcing world dairy prices higher.
GlobalDairyTrade auction prices have
risen 30 per cent over the last three
auctions, to record levels.
We see room for prices to push
higher. We have increased our
forecasts of Fonterra’s farmgate milk
price for this season by 10c, to $5.65, and
for next season by 20c, to $5.90. If prices
do increase, there is scope for farmgate
milk price forecasts to increase further,
particularly for next season. While this
is cold comfort for the majority of dairy
farmers, others, particularly in the
South Island, will see incomes rise.
For meat farmers, there is no such
light at the end of tunnel. Meat prices
are headed downward. The drought
caused farmers to bring forward
slaughtering and extra supply is putting
downward pressure on prices. This is
compounded by weak lamb markets in
Europe and Britain.
The recovery in meat prices may
come next season as farmers rebuild
their stocks, reducing supply. Having
said that, markets may remain weak,
particularly in Europe.
In our view, the big dry increases the
risk that the Reserve Bank will delay
interest rate hikes. Indeed, markets
have already pushed long-term interest
rates down. Lower for longer interest
rates would help farmers as they look to
manage tight cashflows over what will
be a tough 2013.
We are not convinced, however, that
the big dry will cause the Reserve Bank
to actually reduce the OCR, because the
Reserve Bank governor will not want to
risk further stoking an already heating
housing market.
Our prediction is still that the first
OCR hike will occur in the December
quarter of this year. This call is very
much under review, though, as we digest
the 1.5 per cent rise in GDP, recorded for
the December quarter, and as we
monitor the ongoing drought impacts.
iSeries.identify issues instantly
Inaworldfirst,GallagheriSeriesFenceEnergizer
Systemsallowyoutoquicklyandeasilymonitor
your fence performance, informing you of any
problems so you can take action to save time
and money.
FindouthowiSeriesFenceEnergizerSystemscan
openupthelinesofcommunicationbetweenyou
andyourfencebyvisitingwww.gallagher.co.nz
ECONOMY
Not only is drought
lowering the
country’s income,
it is having
repercussions in
financial markets
too.
We do not, however, expect the big
dry to have much impact on our currency
beyond the cent or two fall that we have
already seen. The Kiwi is trading near 83
cents against the US dollar at the time of
writing, down from around 85 cents in
February.
Financial markets will view the
drought and dairy price rises as temporary.
Other factors such as the Canterbury
rebuild and world events will
dominate impacts of the big dry and
drive further movements in the Kiwi
dollar.
Overall, financial markets are offering
a sliver of hope to some farmers more
than others. As a result, we continue to
nervously watch the weather forecasts
for signs of rain and for more universal
drought relief.

16 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
INDUSTRY GROUPS DAIRY
Dairy council and sharemilkers’ meeting
A number of issues were raised at the Federated Farmers Dairy Council meeting at Waitangi in February. Dairy policy advisor Ann
Thompson noted the discussions.
Housing quality
Federated Farmers Dairy Council generally
agreed that in order to attract good staff,
houses and facilities must be in good
condition. However, the Council also considered
it was difficult for staff to turn down a
house in poor condition when they really
needed the job.
While the Federation cannot force a
housing standard on farms, we include an
accommodation checklist in our sharemilking
agreements. The condition of the
facilities can be discussed and any promises
to remedy can be noted before sign-up. We
ask that employers honour their promises.
For those with contracts which do not
include this checklist, we ask that farmers
ask themselves a basic question: could they
live in this house during winter?
Take photos of facilities and provide
copies to both parties to keep track of the
condition from the start of the contract.
Mental health
There was a long discussion, which included
the Northland Rural Support Trust, with the
Council sharing stories of work being done in
their own regions.
Signs to look out for include stock in
poor condition and changes in someone’s
physical appearance. Also, a sudden
improvement in a person’s outlook may
be due to them having decided to take
their own life. If anyone gets a call which
does feel not quite right, get involved;
there may not be a second chance.
Actions could be as simple as calling a
service, such as depression.org.nz on 0800
111 757, Lifeline on 0800 543 354 or
Healthline on 0800 611 116. All farmers
should have their local Rural Support
Trust number, which can be found online.
‘Drought Shouts’, Sunday night sharemilker
barbecues and get-togethers can
also make a huge difference.
Sharemilking
agreements
Federated Farmers will review the Herdowning
sharemilking agreement this
year and go to the Arbitrators and
Mediators Institute of New Zealand for
feedback. An experienced review team
from both the Sharemilkers’ Section and
Sharemilker Employers’ Section will
carry it out. No changes are expected to
be made before the 2013/14 season.
Swaps
This banking tool was discussed as
farmers throughout New Zealand have
been persuaded this was the best tool for
them, without full explanation of disadvantages.
The Council considered few
bankers and farmers really understood
swaps’ full implications.
Variation 6
This variation to Waikato Regional
Council’s regional plan deals with water
allocation and farming in the affected
area was discussed. The council has, with
Federated Farmers’ help, formed a group
and is working with DairyNZ and dairy
processors to encourage better on-farm
management. Decreasing sediment and
nutrients going into waterways and
improving water efficiency is set within a
reasonable three-year timeframe.
Helping newcomers
The Council discussed the need to
encourage and foster newcomers to the
Designed and manufactured in New Zealand
...Loved around the world
Available from
Leading Rural Supply Stores
farming industry and the support needed.
Trading Among
Farmers (TAF)
Both Ian Brown, chairman of the Fonterra
Shareholders’ Council (FSHC), and
Christine Burr, Fonterra’s general manager
shares and payments, spoke on this. The
FSHC is confident TAF will achieve its
purpose and should allow Fonterra to
achieve its strategic directive. Communication
between sharemilker employers and
sharemilkers is even more vital now that
TAF is in place.
Migrant workers
Members were warned not to change
details in employment documentation, including
position descriptions or titles. The
best thing farmers can do to assist
immigrants is to help them to work
towards Level 4 on the New Zealand
Qualifications Framework, the equivalent
of herd manager.
■ The next meeting is the AGM, which will
be held in Ashburton on July 3 and 4.
www.jobevalves.com
20mm, 25mm and 32mm inlet sizes

DAIRY
Getting perspective matters
By Ann Thompson
Dairy policy advisor
A lesson gained from the Federated
Farmers Dairy Council’s meeting at the
Treaty Grounds in Waitangi was the role
of perspective. How we look on an issue
depends on where we come from and
what we expect.
With this in mind, both the council and
the Federated Farmers Sharemilkers’
Section embarked on a three-day farm
tour of Northland, right before the formal
annual February Dairy Council meeting,
in order to see how local Northland
farmers manage the local conditions.
The tour started on the west coast of
Northland, taking in farms at Ruawai and
Dargaville which still has the rugged
beauty associated with Ninety Mile Beach
— challenging roads, rustic housing,
wonderful forests and enticing beaches,
with long distances between services.
Interestingly, kumara farming, which
the area is famous for, can generate as
much income as dairying. However, it is
much more labour-intensive than dairying
with much done by hand.
The inland farm we visited just out of
Kaikohe was an eye-opener when it came
to the flooding experienced. For this
farmer, who had three water courses to
deal with, having higher ground where
9061375AA AT
LAST!
The freshest fruit delivered FREE* to your doorstep!
Jump online to www.fruitdirect.co.nz and have a look at
our range of quality apples, pears and juice which we
deliver to homes and businesses throughout NZ
9144698AA
SHADE PROVIDED: These open
wintering and stand-off pads in Ruawai
provide much-needed shade over the
long, hot Northland summer.
PHOTO: MARTIN O’CONNOR
stock could be kept safe was essential.
Storms of tropical origin often sweep
through the region in summer and
autumn, dumping large volumes of
water. Fencing off the streams with
floods tearing down fences, is an issue
throughout the region.
Another challenge with fencing off
waterways is Northland’s renowned
lush subtropical growing conditions.
The weeds just love it — and these
weeds, gorse, privet, wild ginger and
others, are large.
www.fruitdirect.co.nz
w
0800 70 40 70
*Excludes rural, overnight and Saturday deliveries
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 17
FARMER TRAVEL FOR 2013
USA - June/July
“The high quality of farm visits and superb hospitality make
this tour second to none!”
These pests grow at the rate of knots
and then spread into paddocks. I am sure
there is not one farmer in the region who
would thank that early settler who
bought in bushels of gorse seed, thinking
sheep would find it more palatable than
anything else.
Riparian planting is recommended, but
intensive weed control is needed for some
years before the desired plants are wellenough
established to crowd out weeds.
Some recognition of the work required
to manage riparian margins would go a
long way, as would some help, as farmers
tackle a mountainous task.
Kikuyu grass is also prevalent
throughout the region. Farmers are
coming to grips with how to manage it so
that it is useful to stock, but it does take
an active hand to do this. An alternative is
to use more maize as a base feed.
All the farms visited had learnt how to
cope with their conditions, whether clay
or sandy soils, a high water table or being
prone to drying out over summer.
A couple of farms had invested in herd
homes or covered, open-sided sheds,
where stock could be stood-off during the
height of the summer or the wet of the
winter. These structures create a helpful
breeze as well as shade, taking the
summer temperature down a degree or
two.
EPA APPROVED FUEL STORAGE TANKS
CERTIFIED FABRICATOR OF EPA APPROVED FUEL STORAGE TANKS
www.mainline.net.nz
0800 TANKS-4-U (0800 826 574)
We deliver nationwide.
Manufacturers of chook houses, hay racks, dog kennels & carriers, farm fuel tanks & general sheetmetal work
UK & Ireland - June/July
Visit our website www.farmtofarm.co.nz or phone 0800 38 38 747 for details!
Farm To Farm Tours
PETROL/DIESEL TANKS
• Overhead — 590 – 1950L • Split Tanks
•On Ground — 500 – 10000L • Double Skin Tanks
•Containment Bunds • Ute Tanks
Tank – mild steel, sandblasted and epoxy paint.
Legs, ladder & stays – hot dip galv. (Some assembly required).
Priced from $2290 + GST
Accessories: Water block filter’s and elements, hose,
nozzles, meters, taps, locking covers and dipsticks.
NEW LOCK BOX* for EXTRA SECURITY (*new tanks only).
DIESEL TRAILERS - 700L, 1100L, 1350L, 1900L
• 3 Pump options –K3 Hand Pump, 12V Electric or Petrol Motor
Priced from $4990 plus GST & ORC
INDUSTRY GROUPS
Top tips for
stock moves
Remember that:
■ Cows must be fit and healthy
■ Body conditions score must be at
least 3.0
■ Cows must able to stand evenly
on all four legs
■ Cows must be acting normally – if
not, call the vet
■ Preconditioned cows travel better
■ All cows should be given magnesium
three to four days before
transporting and on arrival at the
new paddock
■ Stand all cows off green feed
prior to transport for a minimum of
four hours and up to 12 hours, to
empty themselves
■ Feed these cows straw, hay or
baleage, with free access to water,
during this stand-off time.
If going to a new farm, ask the
new farm-owner to monitor the
stock closely and feed them appropriately.
Transporting stock is difficult for
the transport operator, too. Work
with yours to get the best outcome.
Join our escorted tours
designed especially for
country people
Scandinavia – July
Be in quick for these and other 2013 tours — Limited space available!
May May May June June/July June/July
FARM TO FARM
NEW ZEALAND TOURS

18 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
INDUSTRY GROUPS MEAT & FIBRE
The status quo leads to peasantry
By Conor English
Federated Farmers chief executive
About 1000 South Island meat farmers met
in Gore last month to discuss the real
problems the industry is facing around
farming profitabily and sustainabily.
Big questions were raised about the
ability of current supply chain
arrangements to deliver appropriate
returns so farmers and their families can
get ahead and New Zealand as a country
can take advantage of the increasing
market opportunities in a world of more
people, wealth and protien consumption.
As a speaker, I said the status quo leads
to peasantry. About three years ago
Federated Farmers launched a T150 campaign,
which set the aspiration of farmers
receiving $150 for a mid-season lamb. It is a
simple idea, which right now seems a pipe
dream. It is actually critical to New Zealand
that this target is reached sooner rather
than later.
In recent correspondence with my
counterpart at the National Farmers Union
in Britain, concern has been expressed that
New Zealand lamb apparently sells at half
the price of their domestically-produced
lamb. If this is indeed the case, on an apples
with apples basis, it is not good for farmers
in either country. There are many anecdotal
stories of New Zealand companies
undercutting each other in the market.
Change needs to happen now and no-
GORE, BLIMEY: About 1000 South
Island meat-producing farmers at a
state-of-the-industry meeting in Gore
last month. PHOTO: OTAGO DAILY TIMES
one is exempt. Too often both farmers
and companies have talked past each
other, suggesting it is the others’ responsibility
to change. The reality of a
dynamic marketplace is everyone needs
to be prepared to make some changes.
The trick is to get sentiment translated
into real action that will actually
make a difference. So, what should be
changed and how? The 2011 Red Meat
Strategy promoted action in three key
areas:
■ In-market coordination
■ Efficient and aligned procurement
■ Sector best practice.
While this strategy specifically, and
perhaps unhelpfully, ruled out recommendations
on industry structure, it does
provide the industry with a useful
framework. However, it is all about
incentives and many of these in the meat
sector are around volume, rather than
value.
Some meat-producing farmers
suggest a meat sector ‘‘Fonterra model’’
would be the silver bullet, but we need to
start unpacking what this model actually
is.
It has to be acknowledged that meat
and milk are different products, with
meat carcasses disaggregating into over
a hundred different components, while
milk essentially gets the water sucked
out of it. However, it is still possible to run
a Fonterra style procurement model. In
this procurement model all farmers
would sell their produce at the farm gate
to one processor/marketer with every
farmer receiving the same price per kilo
for their product, irrespective of when it
was supplied.
It is essentially a nationwide, yearlong
pool system, giving out advance
cash payments and an end of season
adjustment. Any extra revenue earned at
peak times or from high-value customers
is simply tipped into the pool and
everyone benefits or otherwise from it.
It is a pretty straight-forward system
and dairy farmers seem to like it.
For the meat sector to do this would
essentially mean running a nationwide
pool for each grade of meat. This would
mean farmers receive the same price
whether they sold in December, February,
May or September.
As with Fonterra, a kilo price per grade
would be announced at the beginning of the
season, for example $6.50. This would be
reviewed a couple of times during the
season, an advance payment of, say, $3.50
per kilo would be made and extra earned at
peak times or from high value customers
would go into the pool. At the end of the
season there would be an under and over
wash-up. I believe this could work. It would,
however, be a dramatic change for the
meat industry and needs to be more
thought through before being put into
practice.
For some farmers, the Fonterra model
means one company doing most of the
processing and marketing. For meat, this
means consolidation of the farmer-owned
co-operatives and perhaps others.
A suggested alternative is similar to the
old Dairy Board model, where there are a
few processors who toll process and focus
on processing efficiency, while a separate
organisation undertakes much of the marketing.
This would split out the volume
incentives to maximise processing assets
from the incentive to maximise value in the
market.
That there needs to be change by all,
there is no doubt. However, just what those
changes should be is still a work in
progress. Watch this space.
Light at the end of the tunnel for sheep and beef?
By David Burt
Meat & Fibre policy advisor
For a good proportion of sheep and beef
farmers, the light at the end of the tunnel
has, for some time, been the headlight of a
train heading towards them.
Market forces have cut a swathe
through the sector over recent years. For a
lot of farmers the reality has been that
returns from sheep and beef farming
operations have been too low for too long.
Many have converted to more profitable
land uses, such as dairying, dairy support
or forestry.
More recently still, the sector has faced
additional pressures. Like other export
businesses, meat and wool prices have
been badly affected by the New Zealand
dollar’s strength. Adverse economic
conditions in many of our markets,
combined with consumer resistance to
historically high sheep meat prices further
depress farm-gate returns. This has been
exacerbated by last season’s overly
optimistic market positions and projected
increasing volatility around returns in
future.
Additionally, there are increased
expectations by society for the sector to
lift its environmental performance. The
costs of this, and the current drought,
compound the situation.
There are, however, a number of
positives on the horizon.
Meat and fibre farmers are resilient
and independent people with a passion
for what they do.
Given the pressures they face, anyone
without these qualities would have
moved on to other more rewarding fields
of endeavour some time ago. They also
have a good understanding of their
farm’s relationship with the surrounding
environment and, in general, are very
good at improving production levels.
TracLink -
GPS
MADE
EASY
Display
areas and
including vital
information
such as no
go zones
or potential
hazards
Phone: +64 3 489 2952
www.tracmap.co.nz
The burgeoning world population
growth will see an increased demand for
protein in the foreseeable future. Not all
will be for red meat and we will never
‘feed the world’, but demand for New
Zealand’s red meat will increase substantially
as the standard of living, in the
emerging economies in particular, produces
wealthier people looking for high
quality protein In the long-term, the
sector is well positioned but a number of
significant short-term pressures will test
its resilience and determination.
On a positive note, building resilience
has recently got a large boost with the
recent news that the Beef + Lamb New
Zealand’s ‘‘Collaboration for Sustainable
Growth’’ PGP programme will bring red
meat sector partners together and support
the adoption of best practice behind
the farm gate.
Also Wools of New Zealand achieved
in February the necessary support from
farmers to establish a new strong wool
sales and marketing company. Wool is
often seen as the sector’s Cinderella, but
still is a vital income area. There is hope
thatstrong wool will be restored to its
rightful, high value space in the carpet and
textiles markets.
The short-term future is much less
certain. Federated Farmers is committed to
responding to concerns of members, developing
polices and implementing plans
based on what they want and need. The
Meat & Fibre Council, led by Jeanette
Maxwell, has recently undertaken a member
survey around farmer behaviour and
other initiatives could follow if required.
To achieve change, industry leaders,
such as Federated Farmers must play their
part, as must other sector stakeholders
such as meat processors.
The Federation urges all farmers to
think about changes needed for the sector
to be sustainable.
Product Ordering Job Allocation &
Proof of Placement Made Easy
The
contractor
sends
wirelessly
to one or
more of their
vehicles to
be used
ASK YOUR CONTRACTOR NOW ABOUT TRACLINK
Once job is
completed
full paddock
history
reports can
be generated
and supplied
on line.

TRACTA40694-NFR
THE FORMULA FOR FASTER FINISHING
Ingham TopCalf Formula range gives your calves the perfect balance of energy,protein, fibre, vitamins and minerals to help them hit
their target weights sooner. Scientifically developed for New Zealand feeding systems, TopCalf is a blend of high quality cereal grains
and protein meals that will promote early rumen development and lean tissue growth. With a great balance of nutrients in every
mouthful, you couldn’t give your calves a better start. Call us to find out moreor to arrange an on farm visit – 0800 650 505.
QUALITYTHAT DELIVERS BIG
inghamfeeds.co.nz
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 19
GRAINS
INDUSTRY GROUPS
Overseer review questions arable application
By Nick Hanson
Grain & Seed policy advisor
An independent review commissioned by
the Foundation for Arable Research (FAR)
has raised a number of questions about the
suitability of the computer-based nutrient
management tool, Overseer, as a regulatory
tool to apply to arable farmers.
The review report, which was released
earlier this year acknowledges that Overseer
is the best tool currently available to
farmers and regional authorities for
modelling nutrient loss across all farming
systems, however the programme’s accuracy
and interface with respect to arable
farms presents problems.
Overseer, jointly owned by the Ministry
for Primary Industries, Agresearch
and fertiliser companies Ballance
Agrinutrients and Ravensdown, was
originally developed as a nutrient budgeting
programme used by fertiliser advisers
and farm consultants, but it is set to take
on a greater role within the regulatory
framework of regional and unitary
authorities.
As councils work to model, measure
and attempt to regulate agriculturallyderived
nutrient-leaching in response to
the National Policy Statement on Freshwater
Management, many farmers have
questioned Overseer’s appropriateness for
the task.
The review panel’s aim was to assess
Overseer on its application specifically to
UNCERTAIN BENEFITS: Questions have been raised around using the nutrient
management computer tool Overseer for arable crops such as this Hawke’s Bay barley.
arable farms. Roger Williams of FAR
said, ‘‘although this computer model has
a well-established role in managing
nutrients in pastoral systems, its use in
estimating nutrient losses from cropping
farms is a new and relatively untested
application’’.
To address these problems, the independent
panel recommended:
■ Further validation of the cropping
model through field experiments and
comparison with other crop model predictions
of nutrient losses
■ An overhaul of the way that users
enter data about crop rotations
■ Introducing independent peer review
into the ongoing process of Overseer
development
■ Information and training so all users,
including regional authorities, understand
Overseer’s strengths and limitations
■ Increasing available funding for further
work on the crop model and other aspects
of Overseer improvement.
The report indicates the cropping
module of Overseer has only been
subjected to limited testing and cites a
number of existing nutrient-loss modelling
programmes against which Overseer
should be evaluated for accuracy, as well
as against the results from ‘‘specific sites
where nitrogen-leaching has been
measured and the detailed model has been
calibrated and tested’’.
Issues were also identified with the
usability of Overseer for arable farmers. A
lot of work is needed to make it possible
for farmers to quickly and adequately put
in required data, especially in the ‘‘Crop
Rotations’’ input screen which does not
adequately allow for a five to seven-year
crop rotation.
In a key recommendation, the independent
reviewers noted that ‘‘like any
model, Overseer predictions have
associated uncertainty in both the farm
management setting and the policy implementation
setting’’ .
They also said it is essential the diverse
range of stakeholders communicate, share
knowledge and undertake training to
ensure regional authorities, farmers and
advisers are all aware of Overseer’s
limitations and strengths.

20 National Farming Review April 2013 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646
ADVERTORIAL
Hansen to the rescue
Sick and tired of unreliable, leaking or
jamming trough valves? No end of
farmers find this frustration an ongoing
hassle, stealing precious time and energy
away from the jobs that really need doing
around the farm.
The good news is there is a very simple
solution at hand. Hansen Products, who
are well-known for their reliable poly pipe
fittings, threaded pipe fittings and valves,
have taken on board these frustrations
and designed an innovative range of
Trough Valves that are proving to be very
successful with farmers nationwide.
Their unique and extremely reliable
design goes a long way towards helping
to completely eliminate several of the
ongoing issues farmers have been having
with other branded trough valves.
Aside from all the obvious benefits of
delivering high volume flows, built from
quality materials and packaged with
multiple connection options for every
install, there are a few key ingredients to
these valves that set them apart from the
rest.
The unique Slipper Fit Piston design is
School popular with rural families
Wanganui Collegiate School has
provided an outstanding education to
rural families for almost 160 years.
Historically a large number of our
student body is made up from boys
and girls from a rural background and
that trend continues today with over
35 per cent of our current roll from
farming families.
Wanganui Collegiate integrated
into the state system in January 2013,
thereby securing our future and
allowing us to offer a more
competitive fee for parents. We offer a
unique environment; we are
committed to our seven-day offering
(we still run classes on Saturday
morning followed by compulsory
sport with chapel on Sundays) and we
are equally passionate about coeducation.
In the real world the
genders are not separated.
We believe that we offer the best
preparation for university and
beyond at a very competitive price.
Our boarding students learn how to
live and learn independently within a
very structured and supportive
environment.
Outside of the classroom all of our
students must play a summer and
winter sport. We have a vibrant
The Pacific’s best kept secret — Niue
Picked as the next hottest
destination by those in the know,
Niue is an impressive holiday
destination. Those exclusive few
who have discovered the beauty of
one of the world’s smallest nations
generally start planning their return
before they leave. Niue is a Pacific
Island paradise, one of the smallest
countries on earth and the largest
raised coral atoll in the world.
As a soft adventure and
ecotourism paradise, it’s also one
giant playground. It’s safe, very
clean and very civilised. You can
discover, swim and snorkel in your
own private lagoon, small beach or
swimming cave. Niue is one of three
places anywhere in the world you can
swim with humpback whales — often
just 50m from shore. You can also
such that the Superflo Trough Valve has a
very soft open/close action that virtually
eliminates Stuck Valve Syndrome. Great!
No more flooding around the troughs or
empty troughs starving stock of their
water requirements.
Furthermore, the soft close of the
Maxflo Trough/Tank Valve eliminates
water hammer which can put serious
strain on a well worked system, as well as
self cleaning the valve on closure.
performing arts department with
regular music concerts and drama
productions in our 500-seat theatre
on site.
At this time of year parents of
Year 8 students begin the task of
dive with endless visibility in ginclear
waters, head on a fishing
charter, go on some glorious walks,
explore the endless cave systems
or just relax — it is a tropical island
after all!
Discovering Niue will have you
planning your return before you’ve
even departed so if you want a bit
more adventure then Niue is the
place to visit.
Air New Zealand commences a
twice a week flight schedule that
will run on a fortnightly basis from
April 17. Niue promises to under
promise and over deliver on
anything you have experienced in
the Pacific to date.
The secret is out so you might
want to avoid the rush and book as
soon as possible!
Add to that the super-efficient
operating range of just 0.02 bar all the
way up to 12 bar makes these valves
usable in just about any system.
It’s no wonder Hansen states that they
provide customers with Best Installed
Value since 1958.
‘‘shopping around’’ for the secondary
years. We hope that Wanganui
Collegiate will be one of the options
and look forward to welcoming you to
our campus at some point in the near
future.
Agricultural
tours aim to
get off the
beaten track
Agricultural tours provide a great
opportunity to get off the beaten
track as well as seeing iconic
attractions.
‘‘While our trips have a farming
focus they are suitable for anyone
who enjoys seeing how people in
other countries live and work in rural
areas,’’ says Ron McPhail, managing
director of C R McPhail Ltd.
‘‘We combine an in-depth
understanding of agriculture with
expertise in travel to provide you
with a very special tour.’’
After such a tough summer a visit
this winter to an exciting destination
and a rewarding travel experience
with people who have similar
interests would be a satisfying tonic.
Included in the tours C R McPhail Ltd
is offering in 2013 are Slovenia,
Croatia,
We combine
an in-depth
understanding
of agriculture
with expertise
in travel to
provide you
with a very
special tour.
Bulgaria,
Romania,
Baltic
States and
Finland,
China,
Canada,
Australia
(Top End/
Kimberley),
South
Africa and
South
America.
‘‘China is one of our most
popular tours and South Africa is
our top-rated tour. We have many
years of experience with these
destinations.’’
Talk to us or visit our website to
find out why New Zealand farmers
like to travel on our trips and what
makes the experience so special
and such good value.
Comments like ‘‘Thank you for
the wonderful organisation that
obviously went into the planning of
our trip to Canada/Alaska recently.
We had a fantastic holiday with a
really good group of people and a
reunion already talked about for
the Kiwis on the trip’’.
‘‘Some clients are on their sixth
tour with us! We pride ourselves on
our proven track record in
exceeding client expectations. It’s
our innovative and personal service
that sets us apart.’’

9085881AA
9085881AA
FREE 2013 Catalogue available now!
9143881AA
Manufacturers and suppliers of the
Original N.Z. made Stockfeeder.
Round, Oval and Rectangular feeders, plus Feed Fence
lengths available for Cattle, Deer and Sheep.
Simplify big bale feeding
Stop wasting hay & silage
Easy to assemble, fill & move
100% N.Z. made
“The Stockfeeder Experts”
Made & Delivered
toyouin7-10Days
P.O. Box 5, Clevedon
agbrand@stockfeeders.co.nz
www.stockfeeders.co.nz
CHILLERS
& FREEZERS
for Farmers & Hunters
• Single phase
• Warranty
• Free delivery North Island
• Extra cost for South Island
• Supplying since 1975
PHONE Frigidair on (06) 877 5168
frigidair@xtra.co.nz
National Farming Review, Monday April 8, 2013 21
WOOLPRESSES AND
SHEARING MACHINERY
Used and new for sale.
All makes and models
Serviced going order
Hydraulics, no tramps, jetters,
shearing machines, drafters, etc.
We also buy and trade.
Phone Alan 027-451-0644
alan@tutbury.co.nz
SOIL MOISTURE SENSORS
RAINGAUGES & WEATHER STATIONS
FARM INFORMATION NETWORKS
RESOURCE CONSENT MONITORING
MEASURE - MONITOR - MANAGE
Matt Brown Ph (06) 8367686 - Mob 021 243 7741
www.hydrologic.co.nz

22 National Farming Review, Monday April 8, 2013

Parliament
Bills in the House
As at the end of March, a number of Bills
relevant to farming were before Parliament
at various stages:
■ Local Electoral Act Amendment Bill
(No 2) — Committee Stage
■ Building Amendment Bill No 4 —
Second Reading
■ Food Bill — awaiting Second Reading
■ Game Animal Council Bill — awaiting
Second Reading
■ Land Transport Management Act
Amendment Bill — awaiting Second Reading
■ Spending Cap (People’s Veto) Bill —
awaiting Second Reading
■ Regulatory Standards Bill — consideration
of report
■ Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility)
Amendment Bill — Finance & Expenditure
Select Committee
■ Taxation (Livestock Valuation, Assets
Expenditure, and Remedial Matters) Bill
— Finance & Expenditure Select Committee
■ Lobbying Disclosure Bill — Government
Administration Committee
■ Conservation (Natural Heritage Protection)
Bill — Local Government and Environment
Committee
■ Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga
Bill — Local Government and Environment
Committee
■ Resource Management (Restricted
Duration of Certain Discharge and Coastal
Permits) Amendment Bill — Local Government
and Environment Committee
■ Resource Management Reform Bill —
Local Government and Environment Committee.
Other reviews and
consultations
■ Resource Management Act discussion
document, MfE
■ Freshwater reform 2013 and beyond,
discussion document, MfE
■ South Island Conservation Management
reviews
■ Review into the structure and function
of the Fertiliser Quality Council, FQC
■ Japanese Honeysuckle and Barberry
control; biocontrol agent import application
consultations, EPA
■ Review the Funding Assistance Rate,
NZTA
■ Reviews the Telecommunications Act
and the Telecommunication Services
■ Obligations, MBIE
■ Mandatory Review of all Agriculture
Qualifications, AgITO/PrimaryITO.
FARM DAY — IN DROUGHT
Sam the Fonterra tanker driver shows Wellington Farm Day visitors some of the features
inside his truck on March 17. The ‘Farming in Drought’ theme for both Wellington and Rotorua
coincided with a much-needed drop of rain for the North Island. It was a shame there was not
a similar result at the Bay of Plenty Farm Day on March 24. The changeable weather did not
deter the 400-plus people who visited Battle Hill Farm Forest Park near Wellington or about
250 who attended a much wetter Rotorua Farm Day. The aim was to showcase how farmers
and farm animals cope in drought, which was supported by all Federated Farmers industry
groups, including bees. It was also wonderful to have support from Fonterra, which pitched in
with flavoured milk for children and demonstrations of its impressive milk tankers.
Federated Farmers believes the teams in Rotorua, Wairarapa and Bay of Plenty deserve to
take a bow. Farm Day is always a big undertaking and doing it during a drought made it doubly
hard. However, they have done a great service to all farmers.
Happenings
■ April 4 — ‘‘Not Another Boring
Farmer Do’’, Tui HQ, Mangatainoka.
■ April 11 — Tui Drought Shout, Tui
HQ, Mangatainoka.
■ April 26-27 — Trees for Bees Conference,
Eastwoodhill, Gisborne.
■ May 8-9 — Federated Farmers Leadership
(Level 1), Wellington.
■ May 13 — Steak of Origin, Beef Expo,
Feilding.
■ May 16 — Budget Day, Parliament,
Wellington
■ May 22 — BFEA Sustainability Showcase,
Hamilton.
■ May 24 — NZ Dairy Industry Awards
Final, Wellington.
■ June 6-7 — Federated Farmers High
County conference, Ashburton.
■ For a lot more events, see ‘‘events and
training’’ at www.fedfarm.org.nz
St John’s welcomes
donation
Federated Farmers’ adverse events
Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz April 2013 National Farming Review 23
spokesperson Katie Milne and bee
industry group chairperson and Farmy
Army Generalissimo John Hartnell
visited St John’s South Island Regional
Operations Centre to see the ambulance
communications centre at work, as well
look at a new ambulance.
St John’s was the beneficiary of the
final and largest donation made from
Federated Farmers’ Adverse Events
Trust after the Christchurch
earthquakes.
INSIDER
THE OFFAL PIT
Ending a bad RAP
Since drought was announced,
right-wing bloggers, left-wing
bloggers and talkback callers
have had a field day with Rural
Assistance Payments, or RAPs,
administered by Work and Income.
One blogger, ‘Cactus Kate’,
sums up many a talkback caller;
why should farmers get state
bailouts, small businesses can’t?
She wrote, ‘‘When people/
trustees/companies sitting on
million dollars of assets can apply
for welfare assistance when the
one major risk of their business
pops up, why cannot anyone? No
doubt the usual twaddle will be
rolled out about farmers being the
backbone of the nation etc...’’
That was her being mild too.
However, it seems to me that
RAPs are the reason for all the
tut-tutting and talkback abuse. No
amount of saying you need to be
bankrupt before you can get one
seems to stop those who believe
farmers are getting privileged
treatment.
These people seem to believe
farmers can rock up to the Beehive
anytime we want using a
special ‘farmer access card’ we all
have. We hit the lift button and
waiting there for us on the ninth
floor is a beaming John Key. Not
only does he give us a cup of tea,
he hands us a briefcase full of
cash to help us out. No questions
asked, nudge-nudge, wink-wink
...yeah, right.
The truth about RAPs is that
they are the dole. They are means
and asset tested just like any
other benefit. Unlike what ‘Cactus
Kate’ may fantasise about in
Hong Kong, where she lives, you
cannot squirrel away money in a
trust either.
Since WINZ is our society’s
safety net for anyone down on
their luck, farmer or not, I ask
why do we need RAPs and the
toxic PR they generate. These
benefits may make politicians feel
good, but farmers can really do
without the bad RAP right now.
■ The Offal Pit is an opinion
editorial not necessarily reflecting
the views or policies of Federated
Farmers.
MEMBERSHIP
New course to support future leaders
Federated Farmers has added a new Leadership Course programme, Advocacy, Influence & Outcomes. Federated Farmers general
manager of sales and marketing Jeremy Blandford explains how the Federation is developing farming leaders.
Following a successful pilot in February,
Federated Farmers is now running an
Advocacy, Influence & Outcomes leadership
programme.
This programme aims to build future
farming leaders’ collaborative engagement
skills and advocacy on the issues, policies,
rules, requirements and compliance that
impact on agriculture.
This means farmers who are acknowledged
for their farming expertise can
better share their knowledge and successfully
advocate in select committee hearings,
council chambers and policy forums.
The Federation believes it is vital
farmers gain these skills to ensure our
ability to productively farm, which is
interlinked with the country’s future.
Our farming sectors have major
issues around water, the environment,
business rules, district and regional
plans, land use and their consequential
effects on economic outcomes.
Farmers are not isolated and must
work with other stakeholders to obtain
creative and pragmatic solutions and
outcomes.
Building a pool of farming leaders
with real influence and positive advocacy
skills will help the sector effectively
engage with government and local
authorities.
Advocacy Leadership Course
attendees learn about applying analytical
skills and strategic thinking, communicating
effectively to mixed audiences,
communicating for influence, negotiating
agreement and managing conflict, finding
the truth, interpreting the basics of
technical and scientific information and
its impacts on farming and the community.
These skills are then applied to
scenarios mimicking real-world advocacy.
Participants must actively engage
with each other to achieve an agreed
workable outcome.
Doing so means they experience and
observe the results of applying and using
the new skills.
This programme is designed to establish
real farm leaders who can effectively
influence the development of policies, rules
and regulatory requirements to better
support sustainable and profitable farming.
Federated Farmers has seen
participants in this and the level one and
two leadership development programmes
grow their skills and confidence when
representing their sector.
■ CONTACT Federated Farmers at 0800 327
646 for further information or visit the
website, www.fedfarm.co.nz.

3.0L V6 TURBO DIESEL
7-Speed Transmission · 170kW & 550Nm
nissan.co.nz