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Christchurch donations: Where all 

the money went P23 

NATIONAL POLICY 

Farmers appeal 

Federated Farmers appeals against 

Horizons Regional Council’s One Pla nP3 

Safe in the air 

Farmers need to ensure the future of 

our agricultural aviation industry P5 

Farmers necessary 

Land and Water Forum chairman 

discusses freshwater objectives P18 

REGIONAL POLICY 

Recipe for water 

Drafting rules will not necessarily 

clean up waterways P8 

Power struggle 

Work to block Transpower’s proposed 

buffer zones continues P8 

INDUSTRY GROUPS 

Crime fighters 

Federated Farmers Goats Industry 

Group now represents all sectors P16 

Goats group grows 

Sensible steps and reporting incidents 

could drastically reduce theft P15 

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2 National Farming Review October 2012 www.fedfarm.org.nz Ph 0800 327 646 

8922840AA 

PERSPECTIVE 

INSIDE 

Feature: 

Farming’s water issues 10 

Regulars: 

Perspective . . . . . . 2 

National Policy . . . . 3-6 

Counterpoint . . . . 7 

Regional Policy . . . . 8 

Economy . . . . . . 9 

Employment . . . . 12 

Weather . . . . . . 13 

Dairy . . . . . . . . 14 

Meat and Fibre . . . . 15 

Other Industry Groups 16-17 

Insider . . . . . . . . 23 

■ For farming queries, call 0800 327 646 

Managing Editor: Conor English 

Ph: 04 494 9189 

cenglish@fedfarm.org.nz 

Editor: Felicity Wolfe 

Ph: 04 494 9181 

fwolfe@fedfarm.org.nz 

Memberships: Miriam Bravenboer 

Ph: 0800 327 646 

mbravenboer@fedfarm.org.nz 

Advertising Sales Manager: Matthew Sherry 

Ph: 07 343 6881 

matthew.sherry@apn.co.nz 

■ ISSN 1179-4526 

One Plan to rule them all 

Farmers have moved forward with water practices, improving their 

sustainability and environmental impact. It’s time councils did the same. 

I am against heavy-handed regulation. It is 

expensive, inefficient and, of course, 

bureaucratic. It does nothing to build good 

working relationships between councils 

and their ratepayers. To date, I have seen 

no evidence that heavy-handed regulation 

actually improves water quality. What 

improves water quality is enthusiastic 

landowners working with positive and 

progressive councils to make a difference. 

I am for a growing economy, offering 

jobs for its young and increasing incomes 

for its people. Farming has a big part to 

play in this. I am also for environmentally 

sustainable farming. Profitability and 

sustainability go hand-in-hand. A bit like 

councils and rates; you cannot have one 

without the other! 

Yes, we do need to do better with our 

water and our environment, but one thing 

I do see in my role is the encouraging 

progress that farmers are making. Attitudes 

have changed and action is being 

taken. Sure, things may not be happening 

as quickly as some would wish, but 

changing habits and actions does take 

time. What I know for certain is this whole 

BRUCE WILLS 

Federated 

Farmers president 

STOCK CONTROL 

EFFLUENT MANAGEMENT 

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www.hyndsrural.co.nz 

water issue is 

now front and 

centre for all 

farmers; it is 

certainly our 

number one 

focus here at 


Farmers. 

This is one of 

my issues with 

Horizons 

Regional Council, 

the One Plan 

and the very dis- 

appointing decisions that have come 

from the Environment Court. The One 

Plan has now been under action for 

longer than I have been a farmer. While 

One Plan has been working its way 

through disputes and courts, costing 

millions of dollars, farmers have been 

getting on with improving practices 

around water and water management. 

Just look at Taranaki Regional Council 

— a model for innovative, nonregulatory, 

environmental improve- 

CONOR ENGLISH 


Farmers chief 

executive officer 

Up to 4 million Litre volume capacity 

The One Plan has 

now been under 

action for longer 

than I have been a 

farmer. 

ment. I am told the region’s riparian 

planting programme has seen over 2 

million plants in the ground, with a further 

500,000 native plants ordered for next 

year’s planting. All this without any 

heavy-handed regulation and without the 

considerable costs that go with consents 

and bureaucracy. 

Does the neighbouring council and the 

Environment Court not realise things 

have changed? Attitudes and actions have 

moved on. Farmers now get it and want to 

work with progressive councils to do 

better. Heavy-handed regulation is not 

needed, is not welcome and is not sensible. 

The future ain’t what it used to be 

American baseball coach Yogi Berra 

famously said ‘‘the future ain’t what it used 

to be’’. When it comes to water in New 

Zealand, he’s right. Right now, everything 

to do with water is at play. The laws and 

rules around its ownership, allocation, 

management, quality and storage are all 

under review. 

What happens in the next few months 

will determine the next 100 years. This is 

complex, so we must get it right. There are 

huge risks, not only for the farming 

community, but for all New Zealanders. We 

care about the environment and a prosperous 

future. We need both. 

The Government has recognised the 

importance of water to the economy with 

the allocation of $435 million to water 

storage infrastructure. 

Alongside this, there are local government 

reforms seeking to change councils’ 

focus, while the Resource Management Act 

is also to undergo further amendments. 

The National Policy Statement (NPS) on 

fresh water management was passed last 

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year. The Land 

and Water 

Forum is trying 

to interpret it to 

inform further 

law change. 

In the meantime, 

Horizons 

Regional Council, 

Otago Regional 

Council 

and Environment 

Canterbury 

have produced 

plan changes 

seeking to im- 

plement the NPS. Despite best efforts, it 

could be said none have got it right. 

Diffuse nutrient discharges are not the 

same as point source discharges and the 

Overseer management system is not a 

water meter. 

Federated Farmers is involved in all of 

this. The focus needs to be on finding 

solutions, based on sound science and 

profitable and sustainable farming. 

Farmers are custodians of the land and 

water, harvesting for the benefit of today 

and future generations. They want to leave 

it better than they found it. 

While some still need to pull their socks 

up, farmers have spent hundreds of 

millions of dollars putting in effluent 

systems, excluding stock from waterways, 

measuring fertiliser and investing in more 

efficient irrigation. That investment has 

allowed export growth, earning money to 

pay the bills for hospitals, schools and other 

services. It provides jobs and has improved 

the environment. 

Water-quality measures must include 

all those whose discharge into rivers, 

including places like Palmerston North. 

There is no free lunch. When it comes to 

water, it is critical our whole society gets 

the balance right, does not overreact and 

throw the baby out with the bathwater. The 

future may not be what it used to be, but we 

need profitable and sustainable farming for 

the benefit of all New Zealand. 

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Ph 0800 327 646 www.fedfarm.org.nz October 2012 National Farming Review 3 


One Plan one step too far 

By Felicity Wolfe 

Last week, Federated Farmers appealed 

the Environment Court’s decision on Horizons 

Regional Council’s One Plan. As it 

stands, the plan threatens agriculture’s 

ability to operate profitably in the region. 

Federated Farmers Manawatu-Rangitikei 

provincial president Andrew Hoggard says 

the current version would poorly serve the 

community. He says the Federation has 

identified several points of law it believes 

have not been properly considered. 

‘‘This plan has been seven years in the 

making, but for all that, the end result is 

disappointing for farmers and the primary 

sector in general,’’ Mr Hoggard says. 

The plan was always an ambitious 

project. It stirred up concern from many 

interested in resource management, environmental 

sustainability and primary 

production when it was notified in May 

2007. 

From the outset the primary sector had 

serious reservations. Perhaps most relevant 

were practical difficulties in 

implementing the strategy and the 

associated rules. 

‘‘There were numerous reasons why the 

initial rules were impractical and inappropriate, 

but after a lengthy hearing process 

the decisions version released in 2010 was 

significantly changed from the notified 

version by the independent commissioners,’’ 

Mr Hoggard says. 

The changes resulting from the 

submissions and hearings processes were 

received more favourably by farmers. In 

many instances Federated Farmers 

indicated it was relatively comfortable with 

the decisions version of the plan. The 

SUSTAINABLE SOLUTION NEEDED: Horizons region farmers want to improve the quality of 

rivers, but Federated Farmers fears the regional council’s One Plan could regulate farmers off 

the land, which would not help them, the community or the environment. 

Federation became involved in the 

appeals process and extensive mediation 

throughout 2011, but there were still a 

number of matters to be put before the 

Environment Court. 

Federated Farmers, along with the 

other primary sector groups including 

Horticulture New Zealand, Fonterra and 

Ravensdown, represented the interests of 

the primary industries in response to the 

positions put forward by Fish and Game 

and Department of Conservation. Horizons 

took some middle ground. 

The Environment Court released its 

One Plan findings on September 4. 

The court’s directions for the water 

chapters, as well as some additional 

changes to the biodiversity and land 

chapters, make the plan similar to the 

2007 notified version. 

For farmers, the water chapters of the 

notified version had significant 

shortcomings. Perhaps the most important 

was the inability to apply the rules 

outlined in these chapters to many 

intensive land-use enterprises. This is 

because, despite all intensive land uses 

being captured by the rules, the tools to 

apply and monitor the rules are not 

applicable to many primary industries. 

The re-introduction of resource consent 

requirements for other intensive 

land uses, including cropping, commercial 

vegetable production and irrigated 

sheep and beef, is hugely significant to 

the region’s primary sector. 

Many farmers recognised throughout 

the One Plan process that an all-in 

approach to managing water quality was 

the most appropriate mechanism. 

However, if land use is to be managed in 

a catchment-wide approach, the tools for 

that management must be fit for purpose, 

expectations for water quality must be 

realistic and farming must be able to 

continue to ensure the economic and social 

wellbeing of those catchment communities. 

The plan as it has now emerged has: 

■ A nitrogen-leaching loss limit assigned 

to existing and new intensive land uses, 

based on the land-use capability of the soil 

■ A sinking lid on nitrogen-leaching loss 

over 20 years 

■ Requirements on farmers to get consent 

to farm where they have existing intensive 

land use in the priority water management 

zone, or if they seek new intensive land use 

anywhere in the region 

■ Indigenous biodiversity managed at a 

regional, rather than district, level. 

Although all farmers in the region are 

affected by the One Plan, some are more 

directly affected than others. For example, 

it is likely that, given production 

constraints and limitations to future land 

use, this plan will cause the value of all 

farm land in the region to drop. 

‘‘This is my interpretation of the One 

Plan,’’ Mr Hoggard says. 

‘‘All other parties have also been 

working out what the plan will mean to 

their businesses and Horticulture New 

Zealand also lodged an appeal. 

‘‘At this stage there is considerable 

uncertainty about how the plan will be 

implemented, but if the plan is not practical 

to apply, it won’t work,’’ he says. 

‘‘The administrators of the plan depend 

on land-owners taking action so let us hope 

that, out of necessity, common sense will 

prevail.’’ 

Livestock tax changes will affect many farmers 

By Nick Clark 

Federated Farmers general policy manager 

The Government has introduced a Bill 

expanding its Budget 2012 legislation on 

livestock tax, which is likely to have 

implications for many farmers. 

Herd scheme elections were made 

irrevocable from August 18, 2011, 

preventing farmers from taking advantage 

of livestock value fluctuations to receive 

unintended tax breaks. 

The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) 

estimated these would have cost the 

Government $275 million over six years 

had the rules not changed. 

The new Bill provides a little more 

flexibility around exiting the herd 

scheme. 

The Government has agreed to allow 

farmers to make an election to a costbased 

scheme if they change their 

farming regime from breeding to 

fattening. 

The useful ‘alternative valuation option’ 

will continue to be available. The 

increases in the number of a class of 

livestock for which a herd scheme 

election has been made would not need to 

be valued under the herd scheme. 

In recent years some accountants 

advised farmers to use the election 

available to those ceasing farming and 

selling their livestock. 

Sales were made to ‘associated 

persons’, usually a company, without any 

change in economic ownership. IRD is 

considering auditing some cases. 

Therefore, the Government has decided 

that from March 28, 2012, 

purchasers in ‘associated party transactions’ 

must adopt the vendor’s herd 

scheme elections and base herd numbers. 

Federated Farmers was concerned 

about the potential impact on farm succession 

where genuine sales are made to 

children or grandchildren. The Government 

listened and included an exception 

when there is a complete inter-generational 

change of ownership. To qualify, the 

vendor must cease farming and the recipients 

cannot have had previous interests in 

the livestock. 

Another change is the combination of 

the friesian and jersey dairy classes and the 

red and wapiti deer classes.



MMP rule changes expected 

By Felicity Wolfe and Nick Clark 

Following last year’s referendum, where a 

narrow majority of New Zealand voters 

chose to retain the Mixed Member Proportional 

(MMP) voting system, the Electoral 

Commission is now reviewing how 

the system works. 

Submissions have closed and the Commission 

will present its recommendations 

to the Ministry of Justice at the end of the 

month. 

Federated Farmers did not submit on 

the review, but is watching the process 

with interest, president Bruce Wills said. 

‘‘My role has highlighted the absolute 

importance of having a strong rural voice 

in Wellington,’’ Mr Wills says. 

It is hard to say if the commission’s 

proposed changes will directly benefit rural 

New Zealand, which has seen a steady 

decline in representation. 

While there is some historic basis for 

thinking that a First Past the Post-style 

system would increase rural representation, 

it is unclear that would have been 

borne out had FPP been reinstated. 

Some 86 per cent of New Zealanders 

now live in urban areas and it is hard to 

define what constitutes a ‘rural MP’. 

Federated Farmers is more focussed on 

communicating effectively with all levels of 

government, both central and local, to 

ensure farmers’ voices are heard. 

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‘‘With ongoing urbanisation it is more 

important than ever to have high-calibre 

leaders speaking up for rural New 

Zealand,’’ Mr Wills said. 

There has also been a lengthy 

submissions period allowing people to 

have their say on what they like, or want 

to see changed, about MMP. 

There is a prevailing mood, among 

both the submitting public and the 

commission, to reduce the threshold for 

parties to gain list seats from 5 to 4 per 

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REVIEWING THE 

OPTIONS: With 

voters choosing to 

stick with the 

MMP electoral 

system last year, a 

review is 

underway to see 

how it could be 

improved. 

Another likely change is when a party 

wins an electorate seat, but fails to meet 

the threshold, it will no longer receive 

any list seats, thus eliminating the need 

for ‘overhang’ seats. The rule is regarded 

by some as encouraging ‘tactical voting’, 

while others believe it a reward for 

winning an electorate. 

Federated Farmers believes candidate 

selection is paramount, regardless of the 

electoral system. To ensure there are 

more rural MPs coming through, the 

rural community (including Federated 

Farmers) must encourage political parties 

to select rural candidates in winnable 

electorates, or give them high rankings in 

party lists. 

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This requires rural people to be wellrepresented 

within political party membership 

and for rural advocates, such as 

Federated Farmers, to persuade all political 

parties of the merits of having more rural 

people in their caucuses, just as other 

groups of society do. 

One way the Federation helps nurture 

future rural leaders is through its leadership 

courses. These courses are designed to 

support and encourage farmers to become 

more active in their communities and give 

them confidence to step up and speak out. 

Many rural leaders over the years have 

benefited from the Federation’s training 

and today’s courses are geared around the 

needs of the ‘modern farmer lobbyist’. 

‘‘To have competent and capable rural 

leaders we must ensure good training 

opportunities are available,’’ Mr Wills said. 

‘‘Federated Farmers runs numerous 

courses, there is also the Nuffield programme, 

the Kellogg’s leadership course 

and the more recently established Escalator 

programme, run by the Agri- 

Women’s Development Trust, all helping to 

ensure the rural voice is heard.’’ 

The Federation recognises simply 

having greater rural representation would 

not guarantee a cohesive ‘rural voice’, nor 

better outcomes for rural people. Instead of 

focussing on electoral systems, the Federation 

focuses on strong advocacy for rural 

communities. 

Slowing pest spread 

By Mark Ross 

Federated Farmers general manger policy and 

advocacy 

A key part of New Zealand’s biosecurity 

relies on domestic pathway management 

— slowing down or restricting the 

spread of pests to other parts of the 

country. When moving from one place to 

another, a number of ‘‘hitch-hikers’’ can 

come along for the ride, on cars, machinery, 

sports equipment or even clothes. 

To find measures to decrease pests 

being transported on large machinery, 

the National Pest Control Association 

(NPCA) has established the ‘‘Machine 

Hygiene Forum’’. 

This group involves regional council 

biosecurity managers, the Ministry for 

Primary Industry, rural contractors and 

Federated Farmers targeting rural 

contractors and large machine operators 

moving from region to region. 

A recent study showed a contaminated 

machine is likely to have at least 

one hitch-hiker pest on board at any 

given time. Soil on one bulldozer in 

Canterbury contained seeds from 73 

different weed species. 

Prevention is the best medicine. 

Simple hygiene steps, such as removing 

visible soil or plant material before 

sending machines to new locations, go a 

long way to solving the problem. 

The didymo project is a prime 

example. The simple message of ‘‘check, 

clean, dry’’ successfully raised the profile 

of didymo and minimised spread. 

Federated Farmers has emphasised 

the importance of keeping any rules 

voluntary, with the industry selfmanaging 

implementation. The intention 

is to initially test the model in one 

industry, then extend to others. 

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Best aviation practice required 

By John Sinclair 

NZAAA executive officer 

sinclairjg@gmail.com 

New Zealand farmers have saved about 

$200 million in additional aviation compliance 

costs since December, thanks to 

work done by the New Zealand Agricultural 

Aviation Association (NZAAA) 

and Federated Farmers around the 

AIRCARE Accreditation Programme. 

NZAAA is now focused on improving 

both pilot and environmental safety, by 

getting farmers to comply with the 

programmes’ best practice standards. 

Compliance with these is an important 

step in ensuring agricultural aviation 

services can continue. 

AIRCARE has been running for just 

over 12 months and already one regional 

council and LandCorp require the accreditation 

for aerial operators. 

These organisations want consistent 

best practice, which includes no adverse 

effects from aerial discharges, such as 

fertiliser in waterways. Importantly for 

the industry, it also means no aircraft 

accidents. 

There are four areas where farmers 

can help pilots comply with AIRCARE. 

Firstly, all regional councils require 

neighbours to be notified before aerial 

spraying, but it can be unclear who is 

responsible for contacting them. 

Farmers need to take ownership of 

Rural fire service roles under review 

By Nick Hanson 

Federated Farmers policy advisor 

Federated Farmers has begun work with 

the Department of Internal Affairs’ Fire 

Review Panel, which is analysing New 

Zealand’s fire legislation to make emergency 

services more efficient. 

‘‘Federated Farmers has been 

consulted at the point of first principles,’’ 

Federated Farmers board fire policy 

spokesperson and Wairarapa rural fire 

chief Anders Crofoot said. 

The panel will provide advice on three 

distinct areas of fire policy — whether 

current legislation is appropriate considering 

fire services’ evolving role and 

interaction with other emergency 

services, their operational efficiency and 

the equity and sustainability of the fire 

this and avoid the 90 per cent of 

alleged spray drift claims made by 

people who were not notified. 

Pilots may treat 20 farms a day, so it 

is impractical for them to do this. 

Secondly, while fertilisers are improving, 

fertiliser dust is still an issue. 

The Resource Management Act is 

clear that discharging contaminants 

to water is a breach, but fine dust is 

impossible to control. Three pilots 

having been fined for drifting fertiliser 

dust into water in the Bay of Plenty. 

For pilots to predict where the 

product goes once released, the 

particles must be a suitable size to 

have predictable ballistics. 

This costs $45 per tonne to achieve 

and fertiliser companies will not do it 

unless directed, by their farmer shareholders. 

The Fertmark code assuring 

the fertiliser’s chemical make-up 

should also address its physical properties 

to eliminate the fines. 

Aerial top-dressing is only 

sustainable as long as regional 

councils have insufficient resources to 

enforce the Resource Management 

Act. 

The next issue is poor farmer buyin 

to the Top-dressing Guideline that 

was developed jointly by Federated 

Farmers, CAA, NZAAA and the 

former Department of Labour. 

Repeated trips to a property, be- 

WHO YOU GONNA CALL?: Rural and 

volunteer fire crews around the country 

make an important contribution to 

everyone’s safety and wellbeing. 

services’ funding sources. 

One contentious point is the role 

volunteer fire services have as ‘firstresponders’ 

to non-fire incidents. Cur- 

TAKE CARE: Farmers following the best practice standards set out in the AIRCARE 

accrediation programme are helping agricultural pilots work safer and better. 

cause the wind will blow the fine dust 

the wrong way or because the bin 

leaks, is too small, or does not exist at 

all, costs the farmer dearly. 

Lastly, CAA’s Health and Safety in 

Employment Unit sent a letter to 

Federated Farmers last year saying 

stringing electric fence-feeder wires, 

or any other wires, across gullies then 

requiring aircraft to operate at low 

level is not providing a safe work- 

rent legislation allows that fire service 

brigades ‘may’ attend non-fire 

incidents, but community demand for 

the fire service’s rapid response has 

driven an increase in call-outs to 

motor vehicle accidents and general 

rescue. 

‘‘It’s been incredibly difficult to 

reconcile the requirement for a certain 

level of service in rural, sometimes 

isolated, areas with demands placed 

upon volunteers of both the rural and 

urban fire services,’’ Mr Crofoot said. 

‘‘We have submitted to the panel 

that local brigades are best-placed to 

determine their role in non-fire 

incidents, which includes the ability to 

opt out where they deem appropriate. 

‘‘We also reiterated our support for 

the recognition of the public-good 

place. 

Best practice is to tie overhead wires 

down to a fence so they protrude no 

more than one metre above the fence. 

Farmers must provide safe 

workplaces for all contractors under the 

Health and Safety in Employment Act 

(HSE) requirements and have been 

given clear warning that HSE enforcement 

action will follow the next farm 

wire strike. 

element to fire prevention and suppression 

by a contribution to funding 

from general taxation. 

‘‘This funding recognises that saving 

lives has no relationship to the value of 

your property or whether you’re 

insured.’’ 

Fire policy was last reviewed in 2007. 

At that time there were several proposals, 

including a merger of the urban 

fire service and rural fire authorities 

which Federated Farmers opposed. The 

then minister, Rick Barker, withdrew 

the department’s recommendations 

after primary production and insurance 

stakeholders disagreed. 

The Fire Review Panel’s final recommendations 

will go to the Minister of 

Internal Affairs, Chris Tremain, in 

December. 

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Coastal farmers under threat from policy statement 

By Michael Bennett 


regional policy advisor 

When Edward Aitken hops on his 

motorbike on his Banks Peninsula farm 

and looks up at the ridgeline he does not 

see an iconic museum piece, to be 

preserved regardless of cost. He sees 

sheep, fencelines and the generations of 

investment behind building a productive 

farm. 

However, if the New Zealand Coastal 

Policy Statement (NZCPS) is implemented 

by councils in its current form, he faces 

having his property frozen in time. 

Under the NZCPS, large areas of 

farmland could be subject to lines on maps 

and rules in plans, in the name of looking 

after coastal environments. 

The NZCPS provides the basis for 

managing New Zealand’s coastal 

environments under the Resource Management 

Act. Councils have to make it 

happen through regional and district 

plans. 

This policy has very strict management 

requirements for farmland with coastal 

associations. Its implementation involves 

mapping the coastal environment ‘zone’, 

which can stretch up to several kilometres 

inland where the landscape becomes more 

complex, such as Banks Peninsula. 

The coastal policy statement sets a 

high bar of avoiding effects on coastal 

outstanding natural landscapes (ONL). To 

OCEAN VIEW: Working a coastal property could become much harder if the New Zealand 

Coastal Policy Statement is implemented in its current form. 

avoid effects, the landscape of the 

coastal environment must be defined 

precisely. 

Avoid means just that; a proposal can 

only go ahead if it will not adversely 

effect landscape values, no matter how 

beneficial it may be to a community’s 

overall financial or social fabric. 

This flies in the face of the principle 

based Resource Management Act, where 

people can work towards a way of doing 

what they want, if they jump through the 

right hoops. 

The NZCPS changes this. If you own 

land in a coastal ONL, there are no hoops 

and keeping the landscape as a monument 

frozen in time takes priority over 

any economic or social need. 

This is potentially a major headache for 

Golden Bay farmer Nigel Harwood. 

‘‘“Huge areas of my farm are supposedly 

ONL,’’ Mr Harwood said. 

‘‘If the NZCPS goes over this land as 

well, how do I know if I will be able to put 

up a fence, maintain a track, re-grass or 

keep pasture clear of scrub?”’’ 

Every coastal farmer potentially has 

the same problem. The NZCPS does not 

leave scope for the necessary balancing of 

environmental protection against people’s 

needs. 

This is a big problem for farmercouncil 

relationships as well. Many New 

Zealand councils do their best for rural 

communities despite a legislated antidevelopment 

agenda most have to balance 

their plans and policies against. How are 

council staff, seeking to do the best for 

their communities, going to cope with the 

destruction of relationships and loss of 

trust that will come with the NCPS’ 

implementation? 

For landscapes to be successfully 

managed on private land, for the public 

good, the fundamental starting point is 

having the landowner’s trust and buy in. 

Because farmers’ problems are potentially 

so severe, the NZCPS needs some 

reform at a national level. Thousands of 

hectares of productive farmland and massive 

amounts of ratepayers money are 

under threat. From Federated Farmers’ 

point of view, the NZCPS needs to be 

changed and now.

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COUNTERPOINT 

Leadership in what we are good at 

New Zealand needs visionary monetary policy to protect our exports, writes Damien O’Connor We are very good 

There have been many reports and studies 

relating to the advantages and future for 

agriculture and horticulture in New Zealand. 

They all make for encouraging 

reading and confirm the natural advantages 

we have over many of our competitors 

in the international marketplace. Our 

history of adding Kiwi ingenuity and 

enthusiasm has delivered exports and 

income that continue to drive our economy 

at a reasonable level of prosperity. 

The future looks bright, we are told. But 

there are challenges of production costs 

and environmental management that mean 

‘business as usual’ is not going to deliver 

the growth and success we need. 

And then we have the question of who 

will create this innovation and do this 

work. 

Through the 1980s and 1990s many New 

Zealanders were discouraged from taking 

up careers in the primary industries. The 

numbers completing related degrees at 

Lincoln and Massey universities declined 

as the lure of software and soft living took 

young Kiwis to the world. Farming was on 

the way out, some believed. 

Nevertheless, the facts show clearly 

that our wealth is still created by the same 

exports as has occurred for over 100 years, 

only the quality and quantity of those 

DAMIEN 

O’CONNOR 

Labour 

spokesperson for 

Primary Industries, 

Biosecurity and 

Food Safety 

exports has 

improved. We 

have some amazing 

stories of 

creation, innovation 

and Kiwi 

ingenuity, but 

our natural advantages 

still remain. 

We are very 

good at turning 

rain and sunshine 

into valuable 

products for 

a world that 

needs fibre and 

protein. But we 

are not always 

good at maximising the value of these 

advantages with our skills and knowledge. 

We are only 4.5 million people and a 

long way from our markets. If we don’t 

work together we split our efforts and 

waste our opportunities. The dairy industry 

has shown how co-operation and coordination 

works. The wool industry 

shows the opposite. We have to decide 

which way we want for the future. 

As the numerous reports state, time 

and time again, changes are needed if we 

are to maximise our potential. The latest 

study by the Riddett Institute is consistent 

with the others, but what it 

emphasises is the need for leadership to 

achieve the improved outcomes; leadership 

from both government and industry, 

not one without the other. 

While it might be difficult for strong 

and independently-minded farmers to 

accept, industry leadership without active 

government participation cannot 

deliver the results we all need. Trade 

access, good infrastructure, environmental 

safeguards and accredited standards 

rely on sensible government. We need 

leadership that listens and is strong 

enough to intervene when necessary. 

The challenge facing every New 

Zealand exporter is the relatively high 

value of the Kiwi dollar that pushes up 

the cost of our products to our customers 

and reduces returns to farmers. This is 

becoming a major problem, undermining 

our export sectors. 

The emerging international wisdom 

is that governments need to ensure 

monetary policy works to reduce negative 

impacts on small, vulnerable, 

export-dependent economies, such as 

New Zealand. This does require vision 

at turning rain 

and sunshine 

into valuable 

products for a 

world that needs 

fibre and protein. 

and leadership, which the National Government 

refuses to embrace. Mainstream 

economic agencies are now calling on the 

Government to alleviate the growing 

upward pressure on the Kiwi dollar and 

Kiwi exporters. 

Unfortunately, the only major intervention 

by the National Government is the 

determination to sell assets against the 

wishes of the overwhelming majority of 

Kiwis. Our economy will struggle and 

continue to go backwards because of this. 

We need strong leadership prepared to 

adjust with the changing needs of a 

dynamic and innovative economy. There 

are too many gaps in leadership from the 

National Government and, while that 

continues, rural New Zealand will stumble 

rather than stride into the future. 

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8857771AA 

REGIONAL POLICY PROVINCIAL SPOTLIGHT 

A farmer’s recipe for healthy water 

By Chris Allen 


Mid-Canterbury president 

As the world grows in population so does 

our need for growth in food production. In 

order to feed the ever-increasing mouths at 

a global and national level, New Zealand’s 

agricultural trade grows in significance. 

Every country has a trade strength, 

which their economy leans on and New 

Zealand is no different. We specialise in 

agriculture and have done a fantastic job of 

showing the world we are a country to pay 

attention to, pulling in some $20 billion a 

year from pastoral agriculture. 

With the increasing pressure for 

farmers to ramp up production, remain 

competitive and be environmentally 

sustainable, the question now is how we 

achieve this? What are our priorities as a 

nation? And what is the cost? 

Environment Canterbury’s Land and 

Water plan has been trying to solve just 

that, but what planners have yet to realise 

is that farmers are not made of money and 

their stringent rules and timeframes will 

trap a significant number of farms in a 

production time-warp 

We need a sustainable approach to 

clean up our waterways, not a witch hunt. 

Below is a recipe to tenderise souring 

relationships and ensure we navigate this 

sensitive issue successfully. 

Water 

Ingredients: 

■ A dash of sensible policy 

■ A sprinkle of constructive collaboration 

■ A dollop of responsibility 

■ A touch of practicality 

■ A spoonful of hard work 

■ A pinch of ingenuity. 

Instructions: 

A dash of sensible policy — Use consistency 

and certainty with policy for water 

users and set sensible guidelines so we 

can respond to changing conditions 

around water’s value and demand. 

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SUCCESS:Adash 

of sensible policy 

is an important 

ingredient in 

creating good 

water policy. 

It is important to get the limit-setting 

right. Local economies could suffer if 

policy frameworks do not deliver a 

science-based and balanced approach 

reflecting economic reality. 

A sprinkle of constructive collaboration 

— Understand and address all needs 

and values around water use. 

Canterbury’s land and water resources 

will respond effectively with a dusting of 

respect. 

A dollop of responsibility — Take your 

nitrogen loss and understand how it 

impacts the environment and where you 

can improve. 

It starts with each individual 

proactively understanding their part and 

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consciously mitigating effects, understanding 

that properties leaching nitrogen are 

wasting money. 

A touch of practicality — It won’t 

happen overnight. Measuring nitrogenleaching 

levels is tricky. You cannot see it, 

and models used to measure are not 

perfect, but they can help. ‘Gut feelings’ are 

not valid measuring tools either. To 

achieve positive outcomes, positive 

economic viability needs to be proven first, 

as well as a level-headed approach. 

A spoonful of hard work — Burying 

your head in the sand will not make this go 

away. Understand your nutrient budget. 

From that you can determine where you sit 

on the nitrogen-loss bell curve and why. Be 

prepared to invest in changing your 

farming systems. If you are lucky, mitigating 

nitrogen losses could be as simple as 

modifying nitrogen fertiliser applications. 

A pinch of ingenuity — Science is your 

friend and soil testing will produce a more 

definitive profile of high and low-fertility 

areas, which fertiliser regimes can be 

adjusted towards. Look to industry for 

innovation and technologies that will help 

reduce your losses. 

Now mix all ingredients together and 

bake. 

Note: This recipe is applicable to all 

provinces and we appreciate your feedback 

as taste-testers. 

Bon appetit! 

Buffer zone battle continues 

By Nigel Billings 

Federated Farmers senior policy advisor 

Western Bay of Plenty landowners had 

barely celebrated their transmission line 

buffer zones win, when Transpower 

announced its intention to appeal. 

The Commissioners rejected Transpower’s 

proposed buffer zones around 

pylons to the district plan. This decision 

was a testament to the hard work of 

Federated Farmers and other landowner 

groups. If Transpower does appeal the 

decision, Federated Farmers will strongly 

support the Western Bay of Plenty District 

Council to defeat it. 

The proposed zones, either side of 

transmission lines crossing private land, 

raised the ire of farmers who host the grid 

for free. They provide Transpower access 

to the lines, along with the cost of working 

around the pylons. Therein lies the rub. 

When buffer zones were first proposed 

in rural areas, Federated Farmers wanted 

to know what were farmers doing that 

required additional rules to the electrical 

code of practice for safe distances? 

Transpower initially seemed to argue it 

was a safety issue. This morphed into a 

planning issue and the possibility of underbuild 

restricting their line access. 

Where there are buffer zone proposals, 

there is little evidence of an under-build 

problem. Farmers are working well around 

pylons. Since 2002, newly constructed lines 

have been compensated and are subject to 

easement agreements. 

But Transpower wants to regulate the 

network which was built on private land 

for free. Landowners also worry buffer 

zones will negate future opportunities for 

compensation when lines are upgraded. 

Federated Farmers is waiting on Waimate 

District Council’s decision on 

Transpower’s proposal. Policy staff are also 

working with landowners to oppose buffer 

zones in Whangarei, Gisborne and Rangitikei 

districts. 

and other supplements, through 

the drinking water trough, over a 

two day period, using the “Peta 

Principle” of animals being dosed 

on a per animal per day basis. 

www.peta.co.nz 

Email: peta@wave.co.nz 

Phone/Fax: 64 7 855 2323


ECONOMY 

Interest rates low with a kick to come 

By Nathan Penny 

Westpac economist 

Low inflation and a weak world economy 

are keeping interest rates low, however 

price pressures from the earthquake rebuild 

may spill over into general inflation, 

leading to steeper interest rate rises than 

many expect. 

The New Zealand economy is gradually 

gathering momentum, with 1.6 per cent 

growth in the first half of 2012. This adds to 

the 1 per cent in the second half of 2011, 

giving 2.6 per cent for the June 2012 year. 

While annual growth in the economy is 

getting back to its 3 per cent average, it has 

yet to reach top speed. 

The Gross Domestic Product numbers 

were boosted by strong agricultural production, 

up over 6 per cent for the year. It 

appears every cloud does have a silver 

lining. While holiday-makers complained 

about a lack of sun last summer, farmers 

reaped the benefits of excellent growing 

conditions. 

Earthquake rebuild 

adding to momentum 

The Christchurch earthquake rebuild is 

adding to the economy’s momentum, offsetting 

businesses’ caution with investing and 

hiring, households who are listening to 

budgeting advice more than the call of their 

CONSTRUCTION CITY: the inflationary 

pressure from the Christchurch rebuild will 

force the Reserve Bank to act eventually. 

credit cards and a Government which is 

nickel and diming. Residential investment, 

or house building, increased nearly 6 per 

cent in the June quarter, largely due to 

Christchurch. Things are just getting 

started; we expect residential investment to 

grow a whopping 34 per cent in 2013. 

Low inflation... 

With the economy running below top speed 

and the high New Zealand dollar keeping 

the price of imports down, inflation is low. 

In the June 2012, prices rose 1 per cent from 

June 2011. This was the smallest rise since 

December 1999. Moreover, the inflation outturns 

over the last four quarters were all 

lower than the Reserve Bank’s (RBNZ) 

expectations. 

Good fences, good neighbours 

By Mark Ross 

Federated Farmers general manager of policy 

and advocacy 

In order to improve their neighbourly 

relationships, farmers and forestry 

owners are developing a Memorandum 

of Understanding (MoU) to iron out some 

general principals around fencing, pest 

management, agrichemical use and 

understanding on other issues. 

The MoU is a positive initiative aimed 

at improving links between landowners 

in industries facing similar concerns. 

One of the biggest points of contention 

between farmers and foresters can 

be fencing. 

Good fences make for good 

neighbours, but when fences are 

damaged, causing disruptions on either 

side, disputes often arise. 

When your property is several hundred 

or thousand hectares, it can be hard 

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and cause damage. 

Often the problem is identifying who 

owns the fence, so it makes sense to have 

agreements. 

Both forestry and farming play important 

parts in New Zealand’s economic 

growth. It is important we remain good 

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Nat Fam 

While the high dollar aids the RBNZ’s 

inflation-fighting cause, helping to keep 

interest rates low, it hits farmgate returns. 

The dollar has remained stubbornly high, 

despite export commodity prices still sitting 

lower than a year ago. We suspect the main 

culprits are large purchases of the dollar 

relating to Christchurch earthquake reinsurance 

flows, high volumes of dairy 

sales, and overseas central banks’ New 

Zealand Government bond purchases. 

...plus risks to the 

global economy... 

The global economy is growing slowly, with 

the Eurozone and Britain in recession, 

while China’s annual growth slowed in 

March from 8.1 per cent to 7.6 per cent in 

June. In some ways, the slowing Chinese 

growth is the bigger concern. China is the 

major driver of world growth and, with it, 

New Zealand’s commodity prices. Although 

the Chinese authorities are planning 

measures to boost growth back over 8 per 

cent, it is very much ‘watch this space’. 

...add up to low 

interest rates 

As a result, the RBNZ is sitting firmly on its 

hands, keeping the Official Cash Rate at 2.50 

in September. 

Over the next year or so, the RBNZ will 

weigh up the fragile global economy 

pulling down global inflation, against the 

earthquake rebuild starting to crank up 

the local economy and domestic inflation 

pressures. 

We think concerns around the global 

economy will dominate RBNZ thoughts for 

some time. This will lead it to err on the side 

of caution and react slowly to, or overlook 

to an extent, any domestic inflation generated 

by the earthquake rebuild. 

However, we expect when RBNZ 

eventually hikes interest rates, probably in 

the second half of 2013, it will move quickly 

to get inflation back under control. 

Also, as the chart below indicates, 

interest rate rises may need to be steeper 

than the RBNZ and financial markets 

anticipate. 

90-DAY INTEREST RATES


FEATURE 

Quantum leap in water 

Water is the 

number one issue 

being tackled by 

agriculture. 


South Island 

regional policy 

manager Matt 

Harcombe looks at 

what is driving 

water-quality policy 

around the country 

and the challenges 

farmers face. 

The debate centering on water and agriculture 

is a tangled web of interlinked policies, 

on-farm actions, science, emotion, perception 

and economic and cultural factors 

affecting its use, availability and quality. 

Some factors are well understood, 

others are not. The biggest issue in the 

public eye is quality. However, access to 

water and its use, irrigation and storage are 

also vital. 

While the vast majority of farmers are 

working hard to adapt and evolve alongside 

changing public expectations of water 

quality, they are also trying to keep up with 

the demands of the Government and 

regional councils, while working out what it 

means to their farm. 

The farming community wants to play 

its part in ensuring everyone has reasonable 

access to and use of clean water but 

there is no clear consensus on what 

pathways should be taken to reach that 

goal and when it should be achieved, if it is 

achievable, at all. 

Everyone who has had anything to do 

with farming knows the story of the early 

and mid-80s. 

The removal of subsidies had a profound 

effect on the economic viability of 

many farms and sparked a quantum shift 

in the way New Zealand agriculture went 

about its business. 

Designed and manufactured in New Zealand 

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USEFUL TOOL: There is political support for irrigation schemes which take the sting 

out of droughts, but restrictive water regulations could render them ineffective. 

Today’s debate on water quality and 

agriculture is as much of a quantum shift 

and we do not know if it will boost or 

damage New Zealand’s largest export 

earner. 

On May 12 last year, the Government 

gazetted the National Policy Statement 

on Freshwater Management (NPS), 

which essentially requires regional 

councils to set limits on water quality. 

Last year, the Ministry for the Environment 

put together an implementation 

guide for the NPS. 

The 50-page document is supposed to 

guide councils in their implementation 

and interpretation of the much shorter 

NPS, which could easily be read in ways 

that could put farming out of business. 

The implementation guide provides 

some assurance the NPS is about protecting 

water quality in a balanced way. 

The guide is clear that implementing 

the NPS should and will take time and 

involve innovative approaches. It also 

states the NPS cannot by itself achieve 

local objectives for managing water and 

that setting quality limits at a catchment 

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level requires engagement with each 

community and conversations about all 

the costs of any approach. 

The guide is clear that achieving 

limits is not required by a deadline of 2030 

and looks for strong steps to be put in 

place to work toward achieving limits. 

The NPS is not the only water game in 

town. 

The Land and Water Forum (LAWF) 

is the Government’s independent vehicle 

for reaching agreement, at a national 

level, between many different interests 

on plan for water management. 

In its first two reports, LAWF made a 

set of recommendations to Government 

and its all important third report is 

imminent. 

While LAWF is a laudable, if sometimes 

frustrating process, its recommendations 

will be too late for what farmers 

are facing now as councils throughout the 

country begin to implement their NPS 

interpretations of what needs to be done 

to set water-quality limits. 

The NPS means a lot for farmers 

because their investments and busi- 

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FEATURE 

management policies 

environmentally sound means to increase 

production. The Ministry for 

Primary Industries website says, ‘‘irrigation 

plays an important role in agricultural 

productivity and is a major contributor 

to the New Zealand economy’’. 

‘‘In 2002/03, irrigation was estimated 

to contribute about $920 million net GDP 

‘at the farm gate’, over and above that 

which would have been produced from 

the same land without irrigation.’’ 

The ministry has identified a further 

1.9 million hectares which could benefit 

from irrigation and has allocated $435 

million for developing more water storage 

infrastructure. 

Given the above contexts, while the 

NPS states the effects of its implementation 

should be reviewed by the Minister 

for the Environment after no more 

than five years, there are strong grounds 

for holding that review now. 

This is for two reasons. 

Firstly, there seems no point in LAWF 

collectively spending many thousands of 

hours and dollars in meetings hosted at 

Federated Farmers’ boardrooms 

thrashing out what can be agreed on 

how, when and what to do about water 

management in New Zealand, only to be 

trumped by premature implementation 

of the NPS by overeager councils. 

The recommendations need time to be 

debated by a wider public and then 

enacted, before we continue to interpret 

and re-interpret the NPS region by 

region. 

Secondly, we need to ensure we get 

the economic and environmental mix 

right, through agreed, science-informed, 

community-led and catchment-based 

processes. 

The removal of subsidies had a 

profound effect on agriculture. So will 

setting water-quality limits but Kiwi 

farmers are adaptive, innovative and 

resilient and will respond to the limits. 

We need to make sure we have 

learned our lessons from the mid-80s. 

The social, mental and economic toll of 

overnight subsidy removal on rural 

communities and the economy was horrific. 

Instead of jumping into such sweeping 

changes, farmers need to be given a 

chance. 

Water policies, region by region 

■ Auckland Regional Council is establishing 

interim Freshwater Objectives and Guidelines, 

followed by catchment-by-catchment limits. 

The council is collating technical data and 

talking with communities about values for 

water, then looking at what nutrient loads 

might meet those values. 

■ Waikato Regional Council has enacted 

nitrogen caps in Lake Taupo catchment, and 

will work with landowners through monitored 

resource consents to reduce nitrogen loss by a 

further 20 per cent. 

■ Bay of Plenty Regional Council has 

adopted a directive regional policy statement 

focused on enhancing water quality by 

managing nutrient losses and land-use 

change. Its Land and Water Plan has capped 

the existing nitrogen and phosphorus loss from 

land-use activities around the Rotorua Lakes. 

■ Hawkes Bay Regional Council’s Land and 

Water Management Strategy takes a catchment 

approach with values, guiding principles, 

objectives, policies and prioritised actions. 

■ Greater Wellington Regional Council is 

currently consulting with stakeholders and the 

public on developing a new Regional Plan, 

possibly to be notified later in 2013. 

■ Tasman District is reviewing its classification 

of different water-bodies and their 

status before undertaking discussion on limit 

setting. 

■ Marlborough District Council is in the early 

stages of considering requiring new dairy 

farms to gain resource consents. 

■ West Coast Regional Council has developed 

a specific plan for the Lake Brunner 

catchment, focused on managing phosphorous. 

■ Canterbury Regional Council is consulting 

on a new land and water regional plan, 

classifying each of the region’s catchments by 

their nutrient state. In over-allocated, or red 

and sensitive zones, land-use changes over the 

next five years require a ‘non-complying’ 

resource consent. It has adopted a tough 

threshold for nitrogen at 20 kilograms of 

nitrogen per hectare per year. 

■ Environment Southland has introduced a 

regional rule requiring resource consents for all 

new dairy farming. The council is working 

through focus activities including hill country 

development, nutrient management and winter 

grazing. The council is in the process of 

deciding catchment-based limits. 

REGIONAL CASE STUDY 

Otago bursts out of 

the starting blocks 

When it comes to implementing the 

National Policy Statement on Freshwater 

(NPS), the Otago Regional Council (ORC) 

seems to have taken a cue from Usain 

Bolt, bursting out of the starting blocks 

with Plan Change 6A. 

This aims to give effect to ORC’s Rural 

Water Quality Strategy and is currently 

hearing submissions from farmers and 

other groups. 

The Otago approach to water management 

is different from other regions’ 

strategies, because ORC is not relying on 

resource consents to enforce the plan. 

Instead, ORC’s preference is for most 

farming activities to be permitted, as long 

as certain water-quality limits are met 

over time, an approach which has 

sparked debate among experts on 

whether it will fulfil the NPS’ 

requirements. 

The plan sets both quantifiable 

objectives for all of the region’s waterbodies 

and limits on how much nitrogen, 

phosphorous, sediment and how many 

bugs can be in water leaving a property 

when it reaches a waterway. This is 

certainly a unique approach, but farmers 

at the hearings are still wondering what 

exactly it means for them and their 

businesses. 

Farmers submitting on the plan 

change have been supportive of not 

paying consultants to approve resource 

consents in order to continue farming. 

However, they are asking hard 

questions about whether the proposal is 

achievable. One farmer from South 

Otago, for example, has double-fenced all 

his waterways, installed a stock water 

scheme and reduced his stocking rate, 

yet believes he will not be able to comply 

with the plan. 

Others are questioning the use of the 

Overseer farm nutrient management 

programme as a measurement tool, as it 

is gives wildly differing results when 

WASTED INVESTMENT: Farmers are 

worried that despite spending 

thousands of dollars on fencing and 

riparian planting, their properties still 

may not be able to meet Otago Regional 

Council’s requirements. 

estimating farms’ nitrogen loss. Still 

more have called for a more robust 

discussion to take place at a catchment 

level, about what the limits should be and 

how best to achieve them. 

All Otago farmers are nervous about 

how the rules around on-farm water 

limits meeting waterways will be 

enforced, having heard horror stories of 

farmers’ experiences with Environment 

Court prosecutions, resulting in huge 

fines and criminal convictions, with no 

greater certainty of outcomes for environmental 

protection. It is important 

ORC creates certainty in the plan. 

It also needs to develop farmers’ trust 

so they get a better understanding of 

their farm’s effect on water quality and 

what they need to do to improve it, thus 

avoiding court. 

Instead, farmers with a proactive 

approach ought to be rewarded, like 

Olympic athletes, with medals round 

their necks and proud reputations to 

uphold. 

See us for all your communication needs 

RICHARDSON COMMUNICATIONS LIMITED 

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8453512AE 

EMPLOYMENT 

Strict rules for landlords and tenants on the farm 

By Emma Coburn 

A common query to the 0800 FARMING 

line relates to employees living in 

employer-provided accommodation. 

The service tenancies raise some 

tricky issues, merging laws covering 

employment and landlord/tenant relationships. 

The tenancy relationship exists because 

of the employment, so it should 

end at the same time, although there are 

exceptions. 

Service tenancies are fully covered by 

the Residential Tenancies Act but have 

some special rules. 

■ Section 40 and 45 — the landlord and 

tenant’s responsibilities, including 

cleanliness and repair and ensuring 

reasonable peace and privacy of all 

tenants. 

■ Section 48 — the landlord’s rights of 

entry. Rights are limited to being only by 

consent of the tenant immediately before, 

or at the time of entry, in an 

emergency, or to undergo inspections, 

maintenance and repairs if notice is 

given beforehand. 

■ Section 51 — the requirements for 

landlords terminating a tenancy. The 

notice must be in writing, identify the 

premises, specify the date when the 

tenant is required to leave and be signed 

by the landlord. 

■ Section 53 — extra provisions for 

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tenancy termination. Landlords, or 

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written notice to terminate, unless the 

landlord reasonably believes the tenant 

will cause substantial damage to 

the premises, or the landlord has to 

appoint a replacement employee 

needing the accommodation. Tenant 

employees cannot be forced to leave 

before their employment ends. 

The Ministry of Business, Innovation 

and Employment’s building and 

housing group’s website, 

www.dbh.govt.nz, has a full guide to 

the rights and duties of both parties. 

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Map View 

Phone: +64 3 489 2952 

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Common questions 

My employee has abandoned their 

employment and the house, leaving 

some of things. I urgently need to house 

new tenants. Can I remove their things? 

Before removing any property from 

the house, the tenancy must be terminated. 

Ensure you give the two weeks’ 

notice to vacate the property when 

employment ends. This can sometimes 

be shortened when there are incoming 

tenant employees. 

When a tenant abandons the house 

and stops paying rent, apply to the 

Tenancy Tribunal for a termination 

order on the grounds of abandonment. 

Once the order is given, the tenancy 

has been terminated. 

The Residential Tenancies Act 1986 

allows landlords to dispose of perishable 

goods left behind. 

For other items, landlords must 

make all reasonable efforts to contact 

the tenant to agree on a period for the 

goods’ collection. 

Where impossible, landlords must 

securely store personal documents 

such as passports and power bills. 

Items such as furniture, books and 

televisions can be assessed for market 

value. If values are below storage, 

transport or selling costs, you can 

dispose of the goods in any way. 

If the value is above the costs, you 

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must store them for 35 days, so the 

tenant can claim them, if reasonable 

storage costs are paid. 

If unclaimed, you can store or sell the 

goods for a reasonable market price. 

Personal documents must not be sold. 

Hand them into the local police station. 

My tenants let their dogs live inside, 

which I would not have allowed if I had 

known about them. Can I make them keep 

them outside? 

Federated Farmers’ standard agreement 

provides for disallowing animals 

inside houses. If you used this agreement, 

enforce its terms by giving tenants 

written notice of the breach of the 

tenancy agreement. They must rectify 

this within 14 days. 

You can state they will be liable for 

damage occurring as a result of that 

breach and, if they fail to comply, you 

may apply to terminate the tenancy. 

If you have not used the Federated 

Farmers’ agreement or similar, there is 

little you can do. You could try to 

renegotiate the tenancy agreement’s 

terms but there is nothing you can do if 

the tenant refuses to play ball. You are 

entitled to recover damages if the animal 

caused excessive damage inside. 

■ If you have any questions about service 

tenancies, call 0800 FARMING for access 

to free, independent legal advice. 

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ENGINE.AC.NZ 

WEATHER 

The neutral winter of variability 

By Daniel Corbett 

Metservice weather ambassador 

This winter saw a good mix of weather 

types, ranging from a brief polar blast in 

June, to blocked southwesters, 

anticyclones and stuck Tasman lows. 

The winter may not have felt so cold and 

perhaps appeared back to front, with the 

season opening with a polar blast and 

snow, then milder weather later on. 

This mix of weather systems was 

typical of the passing neutral phase in the 

El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle. 

It is moving away from last summer’s La 

Nina, without reaching the other extreme 

of El Nino. 

In the neutral phase, other factors can 

influence the season’s weather, including 

sea temperature anomalies, the Southern 

Annular Mode (Sam) and winter blocking. 

The other interesting thing about the 

winter was the source regions for the air 

moving across New Zealand at various 

times. Source regions influence how cold, 

or warm, the air feels in weather systems. 

In the first part of the winter, the source 

region was the Southern Ocean. 

During the second half, air was more 

often from the milder Tasman Sea. 

This winter was coldest early on, when 

the Southern Ocean opened up and began 

to feed polar-chilled air toward New 

Zealand. 

On June 6, some of this air collided 

with a moist Tasman Sea low, bringing 

significant snow to parts of the South 

Island. Christchurch received 15cm and 

some higher elevations 50-100cm. 

In mid-June, the Southern Ocean continued 

to be the main airflow source, 

resulting in colder than normal daytime 

highs, barely above 8°C in some parts of 

central and southern regions. A blocked, 

or stuck, weather pattern kept a bonechilling 

southerly flow in place with 

wintry showers peppering southern and 

eastern coasts for more than a week. 

Stubborn lows 

In late July, the upper wind flow changed 

to a more blocking regime, causing many 

lows from the Tasman Sea to get stuck 

and linger. This led to excessive rain and 

flooding, particularly along northern and 

eastern areas. 

A stubborn low spent nearly a week 

spinning off the west coast of the North 

Island in the final days of July. The 

system began as an active low, moving in 

from the Tasman Sea. The rain spread 

across the north of the North Island 

during July 30. By the following morning, 

more than 100mm had fallen in the 

Coromandel ranges, with Kopu recording 

115mm. The low remained for several 

days, bringing wet weather to much of 

New Zealand. 

The blocking eased in mid-August. A 

more typical winter westerly flow 

returned with a procession of rainbearing 

fronts interspersed with milder 

anticyclones. 

Another curious event was early September’s 

wintry blast which brought snow 

to sea level across parts of the South Island 

and low levels over southern and eastern 

parts of the North Island. The polar-chilled 

air behind the system was some of the 

coldest air over winter, although it happened 

in the first few days of spring. 

What is to come? 

Westerly flows will be a major feature 

during the next several weeks, bringing 

spells of rain with active troughs. Looking 

further into spring, do not be surprised at 

continued variability, especially once the 

weak El Nino settles into the driver’s seat 

for the ride toward summer. This weak 

signal El Nino could also allow other factors 

to play a part in our weather patterns. 

Expect settled periods, with clear sunny 

days and frosty, or foggy mornings, 

associated with passing anticyclones. 

Fronts and troughs rolling in from the 

Tasman may be followed by episodes 

lasting several days of cool southwest 

winds across the whole country. Occasionally, 

a low-pressure centre may move on to 

the country from the north, preceded by an 

easterly flow with some heavy rain for 

north-eastern areas. Watch for a blocking 

pattern during the next several weeks 

where the weather patterns get stuck, 

causing some anomalies.


INDUSTRY GROUPS DAIRY 

Settle dispute by arbitration 

By Felicity Wolfe 

Disputes between farm owners, employees 

and families can have a devastating impact 

on people and happen all too often in the 

rural community. 

A recent prosecution, where a Coromandel 

farmer reneged on his agreement on 

milk payments to his sharemilkers, resulted 

in him receiving a 12-month prison 

sentence and a sharemilking couple failing 

to meet their goal of farm ownership. 

This may be an extreme case but, 

unfortunately, disputes are common in 

farming. 

There are an increasing number of 

areas which can spark a dispute, from 

contractual issues to effluent management 

to leasing agreements. 

The Arbitrators’ and Mediators’ Institute 

of New Zealand, (AMINZ) expects 

Fonterra’s Trading Among Farmers 

scheme will produce conflict between 

owners and sharemilkers. 

Federated Farmers has a Memorandum 

of Understanding (MOU) with AMINZ, the 

country’s largest professional institute for 

people working in dispute resolution. 

For those in sharemilking, the MOU 

provides clear pathways for resolving 

disputes, with provision for conciliation and 

arbitration led by AMINZ into Variable 

Order Sharemilking contracts. 

As well as avoiding the expensive court 

system in resolving disputes, the concili- 

ation and arbitration offered by AMINZ 

provides an independent and neutral 

perspective on the situation which can 

ensure parties can move beyond the 

personal. 

AMINZ can help people communicate 

more effectively with each other, 

allowing them to get past petty point 

scoring to find a mutually beneficial 

solution. 

AMINZ executive director Deborah 

Hart outlined a recent example of a 

contract milking couple who leased out 

their stock to a farm owner using a 

formal stock lease agreement. It provided 

for any replacements to be on a ‘‘like for 

like’’ basis. 

‘‘Unfortunately, when the stock was 

returned, many were not in calf, other 

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FINDING 

AGREEMENT: When 

disputes between 

sharemilkers and 

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recommends both 

parties go to 

conciliation to get the 

issue resolved as 

smoothly and fast as 

possible. 

stock had low body condition scores and 

the replacement stock offered lower 

breeding worth (BW) than the cows 

originally provided,’’ she said. 

The contract milkers and the farmer 

were unable to reach an agreement and 

went to AMINZ for a conciliation process. 

Once this began, they were able to 

reach an agreement on the same day. 

This included compensation being 

made to the cows’ owners and replacement 

stock provided by the farmer. 

The relationships between farm 

owners and herd-owning sharemilkers is 

another area which is often fraught with 

potential for dispute, with conflict often 

arising around the areas of body condition 

scores, milk production and timing 

of calving. 

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The disputes can rumble on, potentially 

leading to explosive disagreements if not 

confronted and settled. 

Federated Farmers Dairy Industry policy 

advisor Ann Thompson says dealing 

with disputes early can avoid damaging 

morale, which can affect the performance 

of the overall business. 

‘‘Federated Farmers’ experience is that 

using professional rural arbitrators and 

conciliators can lead to lasting resolutions, 

even after apparent impasses,’’ Thompson 

said. 

‘‘It is better for everyone involved and 

the wider industry to avoid these situations 

by better managing relationships.’’ 

AMINZ has a vetted list of professionals 

trained in rural disputes and it also 

operates the National Panel of Conciliators, 

who are specifically trained for 

sharemilking disputes. 

Using AMINZ’s services means a professionally 

trained and qualified conciliator 

with rural experience can help the parties 

reach a resolution people can live with, 

Hart says. ‘‘In many cases, the parties in 

dispute need to continue to work together, 

so this is key.’’ 

Hart said it is difficult to imagine in the 

middle of contentious and often personal 

dispute that it can be resolved to the point 

parties can go back to a healthy working 

relationship. 

‘‘But this is the reality rural arbitrators 

and conciliators facilitate daily.’’ 

Stay ahead of the game, stay in business 

By Ann Thompson 

Dairy Industry policy advisor 

With the new milking season well under 

way and calving falling off, now is an 

ideal time for all dairy farmers to review 

the last few weeks and plan what is 

coming up next. 

For those in their first season on a 

farm, it is important to get to grips with 

the local rainfall and temperatures. 

It is vital to keep track of what you do. 

This requires discipline but is worth it. 

Notes in a simple, dated, exercise book or 

diary can help when reviewing meetings 

and making decisions. Sorting out an 

email system with folders also helps 

keep track of various business streams. 

Now is the time to: 

■ Discuss things with your partner, 

NOT JUST MILKING: Once the herd has 

been milked for the day, many things 

remain to be done and thought about onfarm. 

sharemilker, farm owner, or staff 

■ Review what went well during 

calving and what you never want to 

repeat 

■ Ask the farm owner what to expect 

during the next few months 

■ Work out with staff what cover is 

required during the Christmas 

holidays 

■ Discuss Trading Among Farmers 

with the farm owner if supplying 

Fonterra. Discuss the possible sharemilker 

milk payment scenarios should 

the shareholder opt to start trading 

shares for units in the Fonterra Shareholder 

Fund. 

■ Record your decisions and, if 

necessary, get all affected parties to 

sign them. 

■ Check your contract — is it signed? 

If this is your last season 

sharemilking on a farm, start considering 

the options. 

The perfect job is harder to uncover 

than before, so contact your banker and 

accountant and talk to people who will 

help advance your cause. 

It is always good to see where you can 

lift your game. 

All sharemilkers and others working 

in the dairy industry should consider 

entering the New Zealand Dairy Industry 

Awards. 

They force participants to evaluate 

their business and help progression 

through the industry. The awards have 

three categories: 

■ Sharemilker/equity farmer of the 

year. 

■ Farm manager of the year. 

■ Dairy trainee of the year. 

Federated Farmers proudly sponsors 

the awards. Entries open on November 1 

at www.dairyindustryawards.co.nz. 

Farm To Farm Tours 

Box 239, High Street, Rangiora 

0800 38 38 747 

info@farmtofarm.co.nz

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QUALITYTHAT DELIVERS BIG 


Getting organised about rural crime 

By David Burt 

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre policy advisor 

Reports of sheep rustling are again in the 

headlines with news of ewes stolen in 

Whanganui recently. 

Federated Farmers and the police are 

working together to try and eliminate the 

illegal meat trade which costs farmers 

throughout New Zealand many thousands 

of dollars annually. 

‘‘The animals are the basis of our 

livelihoods and are worth anywhere 

between $100 and $1500 a head,’’ 

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre 

chairperson Jeanette Maxwell says. 

‘‘To let police know the extent of the 

problem, farmers need to report all stock 

rustling, so the appropriate resources can 

be allocated to this on-going problem.’’ 

Stock rustling, or poaching, usually 

spikes when meat prices rise and lamb 

and beef are still commanding reasonable 

prices in the supermarkets. 

Police want farmers to report every 

instance of stock theft, as well as any 

other thefts from farms, so they can get a 

better idea of the problem. 

It is likely many rustling raids are 

connected to gangs and even a couple of 

missing animals could be a key piece of 

information about a larger pattern of 

offending. 

While sheep and cattle are the main 

TARGETED: Police want farmers to take 

precautions and report any stock thefts, 

or other instances of rural crime. 

targets, all stock, including deer, goats 

and pigs are being targeted and most 

are taken for consumption, rather than 

stolen for on-farming. 

‘‘It is not just about protecting 

farmers’ incomes,’’ Mrs Maxwell says. 

‘‘There are health risks for those 

who consume meat from the animals. 

There have been many instances of 

stock being stolen while within withholding 

periods after being treated with 

health remedies. 

‘‘These animals are not cleared for 

human consumption and can make 

people sick if they eat them.’’ 

As well as taking precautions to 

Keep yourself safe 

Being in a rural area means police 

backup is not necessarily close. 

Farmers often feel compelled to act 

when their livelihood is being threatened, 

but this can be dangerous. 

■ When investigating suspicious 

activity, make sure someone else 

knows what you are checking and 

how long you expect to take. Phone 

the police or your neighbour, wait for 

a neighbour to join you and take a 

mobile phone or hand-held radio. 

Your response must always be 

within the law, but you are entitled to 

protect yourself and your property: 

■ Safety should be your first concern. 

Never take the law into your 

own hands or take unnecessary risks. 

If there are intruders on your property, 

call the police. Incidents can 

quickly get out of hand and the police 

are trained to deal with them. 

discourage would-be rustlers, farmers 

also need to be aware of other situations 

where farming property is 

targeted by criminals. There has been 

a spate of thefts of quad and farm bikes, 

scrap metal and electric fencing in many 

areas. 

Farmers need to take all practical 

steps to protect their property and stock. 

‘‘This can include shutting road gates, 

locking gates and buildings, and installing 

security cameras,’’ Federated 

Farmers security spokesperson Katie 

Milne says. 

Ms Milne does not recommend 

confronting people acting suspiciously 

near the farm as they may be armed. 

‘‘You can take photographs of people and 

vehicles and report sightings to police.’’ 

It is also a good idea to form a 

community watch where information is 

shared and neighbours can watch adjacent 

farmland. 

Police say crime has three components: 

a motivated offender; a target; 

which on a farm can be an unlocked shed 

containing valuable items; and no one 

around to keep watch. 

Farmers can reduce opportunities for 

offenders by noting who is out and about 

and talking to them, particularly if they 

are not locals, locking houses, removing 

keys, closing access gates, particularly to 

home driveways, and keeping a watch on 

neighbouring properties. 

■ For more information call your local 

community constable or check out 

www.police.govt.nz/safety/rural.html


INDUSTRY GROUPS GOATS, BEES 

Goats group broadens focus on sector 

By David Burt 

Federated Farmers Meat & Fibre policy advisor 

Originally mohair-focused, Federated 

Farmers Goats Industry Group (GIG) 

now includes representatives from the 

wider sector. 

The GIG executive includes representatives 

from Meat Goat New Zealand 

and the Dairy Goat Co-operative. 

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Recent executive discussions have 

been on progressing the goat industry 

and formulating a strategy to help 

deliver a strong and sustainable 

industry. Two key areas were identified. 

A unified approach is important. 

Historically, differences of opinion 

between sector stakeholders meant 

efforts to improve the industry were 

1800 800 981 | JohnDeere.com.au 

not always as effective as they might 

have been. 

While industry stakeholders will 

continue to work for their members’ 

benefit, they will also identify all 

industry stakeholders and clarify 

possible roles within a unified sector 

so industry efforts can be coordinated 

and leveraged to best 

advantage. 

The second initiative is the possible 

reinstatement of a goat meat levy. The 

executive agreed this should be 

investigated, initially by gauging 

stakeholder support, in principle, for 

the idea. 

■ For more information on these issues 

contact John Woodward on 027 233 

6581 or at mohair@hotmail.co.nz 

GOAT CONFERENCE 

The 2013 Federated Farmers 

Goat conference will be held in 

Pukekohe in February. A 

registration form and agenda 

will be available later this 

year. 

People interested in 

attending can contact 

Federated Farmers events co- 

ordinator Hannah Williamson 

on events@fedfarm.org.nz, or 

Meat & Fibre policy advisor, 

David Burt, on on 0800 

FARMING (0800 327 646) or 

email dburt@fedfarm.org.nz. 

David will be the 

Federation’s Goat policy 

advisor from January. 

Colony collapse 

caution urged 


Federated Farmers Bee Industry 

Group policy advisor 

Federated Farmers Bee Industry 

Group is urging caution 

after an Auckland 

beekeeper’s claims that 

hives have suffered colony 

collapse disorder (CCD). 

CCD is a phenomenon 

causing the entire population 

of a hive to suddenly 

die, but is yet to be seen in 

New Zealand. The causes 

are unknown, but in the 

United States in particular, 

CCD has resulted in significant 

losses for 

beekeepers and reduced 

food crop pollination. 

‘‘It is a concern, but 

beekeepers should look at 

their own management in 

the first instance,’’ Bee Industry 

Group chairman 

John Hartnell said. 

‘‘The varroa mite is still 

the major threat to 

honeybees in this country. 

HEALTHY FRAME: Beekeepers 

concerned about colony 

collapse disorder need to first 

ensure they are following 

correct hive management. 

CHILLERS 

& FREEZERS 

‘‘It is essential that 

varroa treatments are in on 

time and chemical families 

are rotated. 

‘‘Beekeepers in the upper 

North Island are now seeing 

possible signs of varroa resistance 

to the miticides 

that were first available so 

it’s important we now 

alternate between modes of 

action.’’ 

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Federated Farmers Policy Advisor 


GRAINS 

PERFECT CROP: Online tools for seed certification is bringing the industry into the 

21st century. 


Online initiative modernises seed cert 

Federated Farmers Grain and Seed 

Industry Group has welcomed the 

development of an online tool which 

will be a big step forward in modernising 

seed certification administration. 

The tool will allow growers, 

processors and merchants to initiate, 

monitor and manage the certification 

of their crops. 

‘‘We are really glad that seed 

certification is being brought into the 

21st century,’’ Federated Farmers 

spokesman Colin Hurst said. 

The new tool will allow growers of 

certified seed to complete many administrative 

tasks necessary to enter 

crops for certification through a 

website, reducing time farmers spend 

on paperwork and speeding up the 

processing time. 

Mr Hurst said growers will find it 

particularly useful that the programme 

automatically records and 

pre-populates the paddock history 

where previous crops have been certified. 

‘‘It will go a long way to address the 

issues of constantly having to go back 

through your records each time you fill 

in a grower application.’’ 

‘‘Growers should also be happy 

about the fact that they’ll be able to 

track their application on-line to 

know when it’s been approved. They 

will also be able to print off copies of 

their grower declarations.’’ 

Farmers will be able to view the 

germination test of their common 

seed line at both interim and final 

stages in real time where previously 

they relied on the hard copy to come 

in the post which had caused delays. 

The website is being developed by 

Asurequality, which also manages 

seed certification in New Zealand on 

behalf of the Seed Quality Management 

Authority, a pan-industry body 

on which Federated Farmers is represented. 

‘‘We are in the final stages of beta 

testing with a group of growers right 

now and we hope to start a staggered 

role out by the end of the month,’’ 

Asurequality spokesman, Evan Johnston 

said. 

‘‘So far the feedback has been 

positive and while there will be some 

farmers that prefer to continue with 

the current way, most have been 

prepared to look at this new technology.’’ 

At this stage, the on-line programme 

is only an alternative to the 

existing manual system, but it has 

been developed with an eye to the 

future. Asurequality distributed 

applications forms for log-in and password 

details to some 650 growers on 

the register of certified seed growers 

and almost two-thirds have been 

returned. 

■ Any growers of certified seed that 

have not been issued log-in and 

password details should contact 

Asurequality at 

certification.seed@asurequality.com


COMMENT 

‘New deal’ for fresh water controls 

Land and Water Forum report says community involvement is important in ensuring water 

use is sustainable while keeping waterways safe and healthy, writes Alastair Bisley 

Freshwater is central to our economy, 

our environment and our way of life. 

Our economy has been built upon its 

use and it plays a key role in our 

identity, heritage, culture and recreation. 

That has been the starting point for 

the Land and Water Forum and we 

always bear this in mind as we explore 

ways of better managing our rivers, 

lakes, streams, wetlands and aquifers. 

Our recommendations must enhance 

the value of this marvellous 

resource for all — not just for some at 

the expense of others. 

Farmers have played a central role 

in our discussions. 

Federated Farmers, Beef and Lamb, 

Fonterra and Dairy NZ have been at 

the table, along with other primary 

sector organisations, iwi, power generators, 

green NGOs and others. 

Our report to ministers, released in 

May, got a pretty good reception from 

political parties and a wide range of 

commentators, probably because it 

was deliberately even-handed and its 

recommendations applied to urban 

and rural waterways. 

The Forum has recommended The 

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ALASTAIR BISLEY 

Land and Water 

Forum chairman 

Government 

should set bottom 

line 

objectives for 

the state of our 

waterways 

across the 

country, taking 

account of their 

different types. 

They will 

ensure the 

mana of our 

rivers is respected 

— that 

they have good ecological health and 

they do not endanger human health. 

Can fish live in them and the 

creatures that fish eat? 

Will river beds not be choked with 

algae? 

Will the water be reasonably 

clear? 

Can people have contact with the 

water without getting sick? 

We think local communities 

should work with regional councils 

to set the specific objectives for their 

catchments. Communities should set 

the timetables to reach them. 

Catchment objectives will reflect 

the local mix of values and interests, 

and the knowledge the community, 

including farmers, bring to the table. 

The community will work out 

which water needs to be managed for 

drinking, or for trout fishing; where 

swimming is important, where stock 

water or irrigation is key —and how 

to manage the mix between these and 

other activities. 

Regions will then set catchment 

limits for takes and for contaminants 

in order to achieve the mix they have 

chosen. 

We recommend collaborative processes 

to lead the decisions because, 

based on our experience, we know 

they help to identify win-wins and 

produce more enduring outcomes 

with local community buy-in. 

You can see the Land and Water 

Forum is recommending some big 

changes from the system but we 

think our approach will be faster and 

less expensive. 

It gives responsibility to communities 

to find a way through and to 

find their own win-wins and tradeoffs. 

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We think local 

communities 

should work with 

regional councils 

to set the specific 

objectives for 

their catchments. 

Communities 

should set the 

timetables to 

reach them. 

Our report is with the Government. 

In the meantime, we are working on 

the second leg of the double — how to 

manage water within use limits, including 

through more effective and 

efficient allocating systems. 

We look forward to further constructive 

and collaborative 

discussions with the farming 

community. 

For more information, or to find the 

nearest course to you, contact Taratahi 

on: 0800 827 2824, 

email:generate@taratahi.ac.nz, 

or visit www.taratahi.ac.nz

Devil in the detail on 

animal welfare reform 

By Ann Thompson 

Federated Farmers Dairy Industry policy advisor 

Federated Farmers has given provisional support 

for the Ministry for Primary Industries’ 

(MPI) review of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 

and development of a national animal welfare 

strategy, but is waiting for more details. 

When drafting its submission, the Federation 

asked members for their opinions and 

many responded saying the ‘‘devil would be in 

the detail’’. 

Federated Farmers agrees. 

The Federation welcomes many of MPI’s 

proposals, including one ensuring anything put 

into standards is practical and economically 

viable. The Federation’s submission noted that 

where these make sense, are achievable and 

help farmers’ bottom lines, farmers will happily 

comply. 

There are three proposals, however, the 

Federation is wary of: classifying surgical 

procedures in the Animal Welfare Act itself; 

placing stockmanship into regulation; and 

specifying the intentional drowning of any land 

animal as an offence. 

Classifying surgical procedures in the Act 

will require debate in Parliament. The Federation 

is concerned this could lead to emotional 

grandstanding by politicians and voting along 

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party lines which could be manipulated for 

political gain. 

Instead of debate, the surgical procedures 

proposal requires careful questioning of experts. 

This can happen only outside the House. The 

Federation would prefer surgical procedures be 

classified through regulations, decided by Cabinet 

after consulting the appropriate experts. 

Federated Farmers shares MPI’s concern 

around declining stock skills, but does not 

believe regulating them will lift skills. 

Stockmanship is a broad issue with as many 

theories as practitioners. Rather than specifying 

good practices, it would be better to regulate 

poor stockmanship, dealing with the owner of 

the neglected or poorly treated animals, leaving 

stockmanship improvement to industry training 

organisations. 

Finally, the Federation does not condone illtreatment, 

including drowning, of animals, but 

this proposal could unintentionally include pest 

management. 

As an example, many people cage-trap pests, 

from possums to rats, but may not have a 

firearm licence to shoot them and are unlikely to 

call a vet to euthanase them. In these cases 

drowning may be the only option. 

Federated Farmers believes inhumane 

drowning of animals can be dealt with in the 

current Act, without spelling it out. 

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M: 027 497 0315 or 027 233 3014 


By Jeremy Blandford 

Federated Farmers general manager of 

sales and marketing 

MEMBERSHIP 

Going solo v a team effort 

As a Federated Farmers member 

you can play an active role in New 

Zealand’s most successful advocacy 

organisation for pastoral farming. 

Your support, through membership, 

helps the Federation gain the 

best possible outcomes for the 

agricultural sector. 

Members can also participate in 

national, regional and community 

advocacy, helping influence key 

decision-makers to create better 

outcomes for profitable and 

sustainable farming. 

Going it alone is not the best 

option when advocating for farming, 

whether on national or local issues. 

It is your thinking, your considered 

analysis and your input into 

the farming issues which gives 

Federated Farmers its strength and 

mandate. 

We may not necessarily agree on 

everything; that is part of being a 

democratic organisation. However, 

together we can accurately portray 

farming’s real voice. 

Where else can you stand up and 

be heard with fellow farmers in such 

a co-ordinated and powerful way? 

Federated Farmers has gained 

extensive pragmatic and successful 

outcomes for farmers and their 

communities, which have allowed 

farmers to continue to run sustainable 

and profitable farming operations. 

You can choose to voice your 

own views in isolation, but we have 

seen the real success which comes 

from standing alongside other 

farmers and fully engaging in issues 

facing you, your business and your 

community. 

Federated Farmers is about getting 

involved and making a positive 

difference to our industry’s 

outcomes. 

Membership is a key farm asset 

in today’s complex environment. 

The Federation needs you to make 

that individual commitment and 

you need the Federation working 

for you on all the off-farm issues 

that can have significant impacts on 

your business. 

Be proactive, manage the big 

risks to your business and join 

Federated Farmers today. 

■ To join Federated Farmers, call 

0800 327 646 

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ADVERTORIAL 

Sodium and animals 

Local research shows lack of 

sodium in the diet is a 

production issue. 

Dairy cows 

For lactating dairy cows, the 

economics of supplementing 

with salt where there is a known 

sodium deficiency are 

significant. In 1999/2000 a trial 

was conducted at Waikite Valley, 

Rotorua, where lactating cows 

were given 35g of salt per head, 

per day. Milk production 

increased by 12.8 per cent. At 

2011 prices, that’s a return of 

$55 in additional milk receipts 

for each dollar spent on salt. 

Beef cattle 

Beef cattle on low-sodium diets 

respond to salt supplementation. 

In the mid-1970s, trials were 

conducted at Wairakei Research 

Station, Taupo, feeding cattle 

Lucerne. Salt was added at 40g 

per head, per day, resulting in 

live-weight gains of 18 to 48 per 

cent in different aged cattle. At 

2011 prices, for every dollar 

spent on salt, the weight gain 

would be worth $10. 

Sheep and lambs 

Trials conducted at Wairakei 

Research Station in 1974 with 

Lucerne resulted in twice the 

carcass weight when lambs were 

dosed once weekly with 8.4g of 

sodium. Marlborough Hill 

Country trials using free access 

salt blocks led to greater weight 

gain in ewes between tailing and 

weaning, a trend towards more 

lambs tailed and greater weight 

of lamb weaned per ewe mated. 

At 1kg of salt block/head/year 

the Marlborough trials would 

return $5-$10 for every dollar 

spent. 

The minimum sodium 

requirements for different 

classes of stock are are based on 

restricted, experimental data. 

For grazing animals, pasture 

containing 0.09 per cent sodium 

is sufficient for sheep, 0.1 per 

cent is sufficient for beef cattle 

and 0.1 2 per cent is sufficient for 

lactating dairy cows. 

■ Dairy (lactating) — 35g salt/ 

head/day (10kg/head for 280 

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■ Beef Cattle — up to 15g salt/ 

head/day (3-4kg/head/year) 

■ Sheep — up to 10g salt/head/ 

day (1-1.5kg/head/year) 

Note: For lactating dairy cows 

this is a minimum input. The use 

of supplementary feeds will 

increase the sodium 

requirement. 

An easier EID option 

Tru-Test’s new SRS EID stick 

reader, designed to work with 

EID weigh scales, is now 

available, offering an option for 

farmers who want to read tags 

but not necessarily capture and 

hold data on the reader itself. 

The SRS is an entry level 

version of Tru- 

Test’s XRS reader. 

It enables 

farmers to put 

large stock 

numbers through 

the yards, thanks 

to the fastest 

‘read-rate’ in the 

market, along 

with a superior 

battery life which allows around 

19 hours of solid use between 

charges. 

Tru-Test Group’s NZ sales and 

marketing manager Verne 

Atmore says EID recording is 

growing rapidly, but not all 

farmers are at the same stage, 

nor have the same requirements 

when it comes to capturing and 

using the data. 

‘‘For farmers who don’t need 

the advanced features of the XRS, 

the SRS offers a simplified option 

for scanning tags, with the data 

wirelessly transferred to an EID 

capable indicator for capture,’’ 

Verne says. 

‘‘The user can then set the 

paired indicator 

to record just the 

EID tag data or 

other additional 

information, such 

as animal weights 

or traits.’’ 

The SRS can be 

linked to any 

major brand EIDcapable 

indicator, 

removing the need to purchase 

additional equipment where an 

EID-capable indicator already 

exists. 

With the inclusion of Bluetooth 

wireless technology along with a 

lightweight, ergonomic design, 

the SRS stick reader offer true 

portability for comfortable, 

flexible use over long periods of 

time. 

Cyrex reduces flystrike risk in King Country 

Aria farmer Peter Hurley is one of 

many in the King Country region 

who has had to contend with the 

Australian green blowfly 

increasing fly-strike risk in his 

sheep flock. 

The summer of 2010-2011 

provided ideal conditions for the 

aggressive fly, compounded by 

problems Peter experienced with 

his traditional fly treatment 

breaking down as fly resistance 

exploded. It was a breakdown 

that for Peter was as swift as it 

was disturbing and damaging. ‘‘It 

seemed that what had worked 

fine the year before suddenly just 

started to fail that summer after 

only two weeks. There was 

nothing gradual about it.’’ 

Advice from his vet prompted 

Peter to re-assess his treatment 

and pick up on Cyrex from 

Elanco, a new treatment that at 

New mill feeds demand 

Heightened dairy farmer 

awareness of the need for 

targeted nutrition has 

culminated in the construction 

of a new feed blending plant. 

‘‘Dairy farmers are realising 

that pastures alone haven’t got 

the horsepower to provide the 

nourishment that matches their 

cows’ genetic potential,’’ says 

Ingham Feeds & Nutrition feed 

mill manager Oscar Stevens. 

‘‘Under the ‘Acu’ label, 

farmers will be able to have 

complete confidence that the 

specifications and nutrition 

content of what will initially be 

five different mixes is totally 

accurate.’’ 

Construction of the $2.5 

million plant at Ingham’s Bisley 

Rd site in Hamilton took four 

months. Because there was only 

a 12m x 3m spare space, the 

blending plant’s design was a 

mix of off-the-shelf components 

as well as bespoke elements. 

‘‘The other big advantage of 

our new mill is that the blends 

are thoroughly mixed,’’ says 

Stevens, a bread baker in former 

life. ‘‘That means there’s no hot 

spots or cold spots within the 

Acu blends.’’ 

The addition of the ‘Acu’ 

range to Ingham’s 

supplementary feeds will also 

allow farmers who are new to 

boosting their cows’ 

performance to gauge the profitpotential 

of the blends. 

Ingham’s pelletised TopCow 

range generally have to be fed 

in-shed by individual troughs as 

each cow is milked. The Acu 

range, which has been 

developed in conjunction with 

Tasmanian animal nutritionist 

Pip Gale, can be dished out on a 

feed pad, mixed with silage or 

dolled out in a paddock. 

‘‘Dairy farmers can dip their 

toes in the supplementary feeds 

arena, with total confidence that 

what the label says is totally 

accurate,’’ says Stevens. 

that stage had only been on the 

market a year. 

Cyrex contains two proven 

actives in a potent combination 

for eliminating fly strike and lice. 

Long-term fly control is achieved 

with the proven active 

cyromazine, promising up to 12 

weeks of fly control. This is 

combined with the revolutionary 

lice and maggot control active 

spinosad. South Island farmers in 

particular are familiar with 

spinosad as the active in Elanco’s 

lice dipping product Extinosad 

and lice pouron Expo. 

Peter reported maggots falling 

off affected sheep, and excellent 

residual cover that matched the 

label claims of 12 weeks of 

ongoing fly protection, sufficient 

to get him through the at-risk 

summer period. 

Like most using Cyrex, Peter 

says he was pleasantly surprised 

at the ease of mixing, lack of 

smell and low level of risk 

compared to more traditional 

organo-phosphate type dips. 

Meantime, Peter has nailed 

Cyrex firmly into his dipping 

calendar for this season and 

every other. 

‘‘I would definitely be using it 

again. It is my number one go-to 

solution at present.’’ 

US tours provide insight 

Farm to Farm Tours’ annual tour 

to the USA each June gives good 

insight into mega trends affecting 

the farming world today. A US 

drought affects us here — 

especially our dairy, beef and 

grain industries. If there’s a major 

change in the White House, it can 

affect our trade policies and 

exchange rates. If there’s a food 

scare, it can affect us too. If there 

is an advance in crop technology 

or agricultural machinery, you 

may see it in the USA first. 

Our tour to the USA starts near 

Scottsdale, Arizona before 

heading to the Grand Canyon and 

Las Vegas. Next, it’s the most 

productive agricultural region in 

the world where irrigation has 

transformed a central Californian 

desert into vast expanses of fruit, 

vegetables, cattle ranches, dairy 

farms and wineries. 

After time in Monterey and San 

Francisco, we fly to Oregon — 

which has a climate not dissimilar 

to NZ — where around 150 crop 

and livestock farms grow on the 

rich soils of the Willamette Valley. 

Then we fly east to Memphis, 

Tennessee in the Mid West with 

vast expanses of corn, wheat, 

beef cattle and dairy farms. Here 

the great Mississippi River is 

paramount in distributing 

produce from the region 

throughout America. The tour 

finishes in vibrant Chicago, or an 

optional extension takes in 

farmland in the east plus 

Washington DC New York. You’ll 

see it all in America and enjoy 

great rural hospitality, services 

and wonderful farm visits. 

■ Farm To Farm Tours is planning a 

return tour to the USA, in addition to 

many other destinations, in 2013 — 

ph 0800 3838 747 for details. 

Generating future success 

Reaching goals and fulfilling 

personal ambition will become 

easier for New Zealand’s rural 

professionals this October. 

Enrolment is open for 

Generate, a free programme that 

up-skills agricultural 

professionals and leads to a 

nationally recognised Certificate 

in Rural Leadership. 

Hundreds of rural 

professionals around New 

Zealand have already taken 

advantage of this programme. 

‘‘Graduates tell us they value the 

opportunity to add skills to their 

‘tool-kit’, as well as the 

networking opportunities that 

Generate creates,’’ says Clarissa 

Wallace, Generate co-ordinator. 

‘‘The opportunity to focus on 

where they are at personally or 

professionally gives them 

direction.’’ 

Sharon Paterson, a Generate 

graduate, manages sheep and 

cattle studs with her husband and 

is an FMG rural manager. 

She particularly valued the 

presentation and people skills 

she took from the workshops. 

‘‘I have been in farming all my 

life. I looked to the programme to 

help me develop more 

confidence in speaking with 

people. Generate exceeded my 

expectations,’’ says Sharon. ‘‘Each 

workshop gave me a different 

skill, many of which I have 

applied to my professional life 

and I have seen great results.’’ 

■ Contact Clarissa Wallace on 06 

3782116 or email 

generate@taratahi.ac.nz

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Ph 06 835 6174 

Torea Street, Utiku, 

Taihape 

Ph 06 388 0001 

www.kellswool.co.nz 

Thinking of 

planting in 

winter? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AS SEEN AT 

MYSTERY 

CREEK 2011 

773 786 www.prestosheds.co.nz 

Call now to place your order 

email: sbmuir@xtra.co.nz 

VEHICLES WANTED 

We Always Pay More! 

PLUS go in the 

draw to WIN 

$1000 

CASH 

per week 

Free phone 0800 288 999 

8727664AA 

Choose from our rangeofstandard designs 

including Digger trailers, Boat trailers, Bike 

trailers and many more. Or wecan design 

and custom build to your specifications. 

Freephone 

0800 807 155 

www.reidtrailers.co.nz 

National Farming Review, Monday October 8, 2012 21 

8601696AA 

Our cameras are ‘BLACK FLASH’ now invisible at night 

so intruders wont know they are been photographed 

LOOK! 

NO GST PRICE INCREASE! 

Innotek NZ is maintaining all current low prices 

GREAT VALUE 

SD-1825 with 1 collar $685.00 

SD-800 with 1 collar $535.00 

Extra collars $245.00 

Prices include GST 

www.ruralcontractors.org.nz 

Freephone 0800 4 AG CONTRACTOR (0800 424 266)

22 National Farming Review, Monday October 8, 2012 

8564177AE 

8564177AE 8914034AA 

53 SHANDS ROAD 

(03) 349 8955 

shands@clear.net 

8914718AA HORNBY 

SOUTH ISLAND 

RURAL GUIDE 

R18 RIDER 

17.5hp Briggs & Stratton Optional cutting deck sizes 

$8,999 

with 103cm CombiClip® Deck 

R13C RIDER 

12.5hp Briggs & 

Stratton 94cm 

CombiClip® 

cutting deck 

$6,499 

Environmental Water Services 

INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER 

We can help with 

For more information on 

the Husqvarna Rider range, 

follow this smart phone 

compatible QR code. 

BELFAST 

756 MAIN 

NORTH ROAD 

(03) 323 7858 

shandsbelfast@vodafone.co.nz 

SEWAGE 

TREATMENT 

SYSTEM 

SERVICING AS 

REQUIRED BY ECAN 

Competitive Pricing 

Toilets flushing slowly? 

Odours coming from your tank? 

Are you getting the right advice? 

Ifyouhavea 

MODERN AERATED SEWAGE 

TREATMENT SYSTEM 

or 

A STANDARD ANAEROBIC 

TREATMENT SYSTEM 

• Full service with report for Ecan • Manhole risers 

• Maintenance • Pump replacements 

• Drip line repairs - replacement • Full parts - labour 

In the Canterbury Area 

With 10 years experience in the manufacture, service and installation of sewage 

treatment systems and familiar with commonly sold systems, we can be of assistance to you. 

24 Hour Breakdown Service 

Phone Paul Maley 

021 029 76148 

paul@envirowaterservices.co.nz 

www.envirowaterservices.co.nz 

8914197AA 

$9,309 

with 112cm CombiClip® Deck 

R16C RIDER 

15.5hp Briggs & 

Stratton 94cm 

CombiClip® 

cutting deck 

$7,499 

ARTICULATED STEERING 

The unique articulated steering system 

allows the rear pair of wheels to swing 

in underneath the machine.The result is 

superior manoeuvrability with a minimum 

turning radius at full lock. 

Environmental Water Services 

INDEPENDENT SERVICE PROVIDER 

Husqvarna Riders are designed to cut corners but not quality! 

FRONT-MOUNTED 

CUTTING DECK 

The front-mounted cutting deck gives an 

excellent overview of the mowing area. 

Enabling precise, close-up trimming as well 

as excellent accessibility under bushes. 

Based in Christchurch, Canterbury Environmental Water Services 

Ltd has a small experienced team of service technicians that strive 

to give fast efficient service. With years in the industry we take 

pride in having the experience and knowledge to help out with any 

problems that customers may have with their sewage treatment 

system. 

From simple inexpensive checks on older septic tanks to full 

rebuilds of damaged or failing aerated treatment systems we can 

help. With today’s modern treatment systems requiring regular 

maintenance we offer a no obligation maintenance contract that 

would see you system on our database enabling Environmental 

Water Services Ltd to regularly check and service your system we 

have found this particular useful to busy dairy farms etc that find 

our service contracts an easy way to take the maintenance burdens 

of their modern aerated treatment systems off their hands whilst 

usually saving them money. 

Our staff are mature, friendly and dedicated to helping the 

customers. Services we provide include: No obligations 

service contract,Servicing of Anarobic and Aerobic treatment 

systems, Service reports for ECAN,Pump Replacements,Aerator 

replacements, UV work maintenance, Drip line repairs, Field tile 

repairs, Leaking tank repairs, Riser installs, Upgrades, Competitive 

rates, Free friendly independant advice over the phone. 

24 Hour Breakdown Service 

Phone Paul Maley 

021 029 76148 

paul@envirowaterservices.co.nz 

www.envirowaterservices.co.nz 

8900232AA SAVE 

COMBI CUTTING DECKS 

The Combi cutting decks offer BioClip® 

for lawn fertilisation as well as rear 

ejection for efficient mowing on areas 

with higher and rougher grass. 

 

 

UP TO 60% 

on selected items 

SHELTER NATIVES GRASSES 

SPECIMENS HEDGING FORESTRY 

EDIBLE TREE CROPS 

SAT 20 - SAT 27 OCTOBER 

Main South Road, 3km south of Templeton, Christchurch 

Ph: (03) 347 9221 | Open 9am - 5pm Every Day

Parliament 

Bills in the House 

As at September 20, a number of Bills 

relevant to farming were before Parliament, 

at various stages: 

■ Food Bill – Second reading 

■ Climate Change Response (Emissions 

Trading and Other Matters) Amendment Bill 

– being considered by Finance and Expenditure 

Select Committee 

■ Lobbying Disclosure Bill — being considered 

by the Government Administration 


■ Building Amendment Bill (No 4) – being 

considered by Local Government and Environment 


■ Local Government Act Amendment Bill – 

being considered by the Local Government 

and Environment Select Committee 

■ Game Animal Council Bill – being considered 

by the Local Government and Environment 


■ Heritage New Zealand Pouhere Taonga 

Bill – being considered by the Local Government 

and Environment Select Committee 

■ Regulatory Standards Bill – being considered 

by Commerce Committee 

■ Public Finance (Fiscal Responsibility) 

Amendment Bill – awaiting first reading 

■ Taxation (Livestock Valuation, Assets 

Expenditure, and Remedial Matters Bill) Bill 

– awaiting first reading 

■ Local Electoral Act Amendment Bill – 

awaiting first reading 

■ Reserve Bank of New Zealand (Amending 

Primary Function of Bank) Amendment Bill 

– awaiting first reading. 

Other reviews and 

consultations: 

■ Review of Agricultural Transport Rules, 

Ministry of Transport 

■ Vehicle Licensing Reform Project, Ministry 

of Transport 

■ Land and Water Forum recommendations 

■ Revisions to Regulatory Standards Bill, 

The Treasury 

■ Strengthening Economic Relations 

between Australia and New Zealand, Australian 

and New Zealand Productivity 

Commissions 

■ Inquiry into Local Government Regulatory 

Performance, New Zealand Productivity 

Commission 

■ Road Maintenance Taskforce, New Zealand 

Transport Agency 

■ Government Industry Agreements, Ministry 

for Primary Industries 

■ Animal Welfare Strategy Development, 

Ministry for Primary Industries 

BUY A NEW 4WD 

HONDA 

IN OCTOBER 

Where your donations went 

Federated Farmers’ Adverse 

Events Trust has given the 

last of the money raised for 

Christchurch, following the 

Canterbury earthquakes. 

Overall, $402,780 has been 

given to groups supporting 

Christchurch and Canterbury 

residents. This figure does 

not include the immense voluntary 

rural contribution of 

the Farmy Army. 

Federated Farmers thanks 

all donors, large and small, as 

well as the meat companies 

and wool processors who 

made ‘Meat the Needs of 

Christchurch’ possible. 

Recipients: 

■ St John Christchurch 

appeal — $54,326 

■ Red Cross 2011 Earthquake 

Appeal — $40,000 

■ Presbyterian Support (upper 

South Island) — $40,000 

■ St Vincent de Paul 

National Council Christchurch 

Appeal — $40,000 

■ Salvation Army Canterbury 

Earthquake Appeal — 

$40,000 

■ IHC Christchurch — 

$40,000 

■ Alzheimer’s Canterbury — 

$40,000 

■ Royal New Zealand Foundation 

of the Blind — $40,000 

■ Variety The Children’s Charity Inc — 

$20,000 

■ SPCA Pet Emergency Earthquake Fund — 

$20,000 

■ Christchurch 2011 Christmas Hampers — 

$20,000 

■ Review of Agricultural Qualifications 

Framework, Tertiary Education Commission 

■ Review of Government Investment in 

Industry Training, Ministry of Education 

■ Review of Fire Policy, Department of 

Internal Affairs 

■ Technical Advisory Group Report on 

the Review of Section 6 and Section 7 of the 

Resource Management Act, Ministry for 

the Environment 

■ New Zealand Post Deed of Understanding, 

New Zealand Post. 

Happenings: 

■ October 24-25 — Federated Farmers 

Level One Leadership Course, Wellington 

OPTION 1. 

INTEREST FREE FINANCE ANCE 

Plus$290documentation fee 

1/3 1/3 1/3 

NOW 

IN 12 

MONTHS 

IN 24 

MONTHS 


FIRST RESPONSE: St John were one of the organisations on 

the frontline of the Christchurch earthquake response. They 

have become the final and largest Adverse Events Trust 

recipient. PHOTO: ST JOHN 

■ van Asch Deaf Education Centre — $5000 

■ Aranui Community Trust for Family festival 

fun day — $2000 

■ Swannanoa Home & School Inc for rural 

day — $1000 

■ Grain and silo expenses arising from the 

2010 Darfield Earthquake — $800. 

■ November 6-8 — NZ Grasslands Conference, 

Gore 

■ November 7-8 — Federated Farmers 

Meat & Fibre Council, Wellington 

■ November 10-16 — Visit of HRH The 

Prince of Wales, Campaign for Wool 

Patron 

■ November 13-15— NZ Association of 

Resource Management Conference, Dunedin 

■ November 14-16 — 150th Canterbury 

A&P Show, Christchurch 


National Council, Wellington 


Level Two Leadership Course, Wellington. 

■ For many more events, see ‘events and 

training’ at www.fedfarm.org.nz 

INSIDER 

THE OFFAL PIT 

Mutant calves 

and water 

There could be upsides if iwi 

owed water. The next time we 

get a drought, or a flood, we will 

be able to add up our losses and 

send the bill off to iwi. Okay, 

this will not happen but is that 

not what some used to say about 

Treaty of Waitangi claims? If 

iwi own the water Maori will 

become responsible for what 

‘their’ water does. We know 

what this is like with stock 

fencing; if your stock gets out on 

the road and causes a pile-up, 

guess where the buck ends up 

stopping? 

Of course, the Livestock Improvement 

Corporation (LIC), 

may be the exception. 

What gets me about LIC’s 

mutant calves mess is that LIC 

is a company trading on its 

genetic offering. This is what 

has helped make the New Zealand 

dairy industry what is 

today. So you would think LIC 

would stand by their product 

when things don’t go to plan. 

I bet I will win Lotto before 

seeing another Matrix. However, 

when this whole thing first 

broke there seemed to be denial, 

a refusal to admit there was a 

problem. Then came a surprising 

artificial insemination reimbursement 

offer. 

The one thing LIC has refused 

to talk about was proper compensation 

for dud calves. Let’s 

be real here. If LIC had gotten its 

cheque book out early, it’s unlikely 

any of this would have 

made it into the papers. 

Now that LIC has dragged its 

heels it has a Commerce Commission 

complaint lodged 

against it. 

There is possible legal action 

on the cards as this turns from 

compensation into a matter of 

principle for some farmers. 

If iwi can take any lessons 

from LIC, it is not to wish too 

hard for what you want, because 

you may end up getting it. 

■ The Offal Pit is an opinion 

editorial not necessarily 

reflecting the views or policies of 

Federated Farmers. 

& YOU CHOOSE 

OPTION 1 OR 2 

OPTION 2. 

TRAILER FOR $200* 

Kea TrailermodelK64SF 6’X4’ 

Stock crate 

optional extra 

Contact your local Honda Dealer I FREEPHONE 0508 466 326 I www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz 

*$200 +GST .Offer available on any new 4WD Honda ATV. Does not apply to MUV. Stock crate available as optional extra with purchase. Cannot be substituted for cash or discount. Offer valid from 1st October 2012 until 31st October 2012 while stocks last. Terms, 

conditions and lending criteria apply and all finance options include establishment and maintenance fees. Only one offer may be selected and each offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer. Visit www.mtf.co.nz/terms.html or in store for details.

Make your cropping and pasture 

investment work for you. 

Every dollar you invest on farm should provide a return, and 

with so many options available, where do you start? 

The team at PGG Wrightson can help you make the right choices 

this spring with your whole farm system in mind. Visit your local 

store or talk to your Technical Field Representative today. 

*Open to existing PGG Wrightson Rewards members only. Qualifying products to be purchased between 1September and 31 December 2012, with bonus points awarded the month following purchase. 

**Open to PGG Wrightson accounts that enrol in the PGG Wrightson Rewards programme between 1September and 31 December 2012, subject to PGG Wrightson approval. Sign up bonus points awarded the month following 

purchase of qualifying products. For qualifying products and full terms and conditions see www.pggwrightson.co.nz. Find out more about PGG Wrightson Rewards at www.pggwrightson.co.nz/rewardsorcall 0800 62 62 62. 

www.pggwrightson.co.nz | Freephone 0800 10 22 76 

Earn 2 Rewards points for every $1 you 

spend on selected agri-chemicals and seed*. 

Sign up when you buy selected agri-chemicals, seed or 

fertiliser and receive 5,000 points to get you started!** 

Helping grow the country

22 NationalFarming Review, MondayOctober8, 2012 

8921554AA 135TH 

8918601AA 

8882310AA 

Wairarapa Directory 

8882310AA 

WAIRARAPA A&P SHOW 

FRIDAY 26 TH , SATURDAY 27 TH , SUNDAY 28 TH OCTOBER 2012 

Call now to order your new shed before the end of October 

and be in to WIN a Home Theatre System valued at $500 

Purchase your new shed from Quality Sheds and you’ll 

go in our draw to win a *DVD Home Theatre System 

Valued at 

$500 

*Panasonic DVDHome Theatre System SCXH150 GNK 

MATERIAL PROUDLY 

SUPPLIED BY: 

+ 

0508 4 SHEDS 

www.qualitysheds.co.nz 

WANTED COWS AND BULLS 

Universal Beef Packers are a modern Beef Plant 

situated in Te Kuiti specialising in the processing 

of Cows and Bulls. It operates a day and night 

shift all year round enabling same day kill 

processing of your Cull Cows and Bulls. 

FOR A COMPETITIVE QUOTE PHONE PIERRE SYBEN 027 625 9977 

CLAREVILLE CARTERTON 

ENTRY $10.00 per ADULT, $5.00 per CHILD 

or $20.00 FAMILY PASS 2 adults / 2 children 

FURTHER DETAILS CALL 06 379 8124 or EMAIL office@waiaps.org.nz 

Be one of the first 10 to confirm a FULL BUILD with 

Quality Sheds and we’ll throw in a FREE Work Bench 

For every shed we sell we donate $50 to your nominated school 

Give us a call or pop in to the office; opposite 

Carrington Park 126 High Street South, Carterton 

Valued at 

$450


ROTATING LASER LEVEL 

• Working Range 40m 

(with Receiver 80m) 

• Self Levelling 

in your 

Easy to use - reliable tools that do the job right 

every time, no matter what the conditions. 

Available at Wanganui’s Powertool Centre Ltd 

FARM 

DRAINAGE 

The Wright Way 

For all your mole 

draining & farm 

drainage needs 

PLEASE PHONE 

PAUL 027 4448829 

COLIN 06 3277983 

Helping Wanganui grow since 1928 

RETAIL SHOP & YARD TAUPO QUAY, WANGANUI 

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP FOR 

ALLYOURTIMBERNEEDS 

SUPPLYING THE DISTRICT 

WITH QUALITY: 

• FENCING MATERIAL 

& HARDWARE 

• READY-MIX CONCRETE 

• TIMBER 

• CUSTOM FENCING 

AVAILABLE 

• GATE FITTINGS 

• REINFORCING 

• CEMENT PRODUCTS 

• COURTESY TRAILER 

• CENTRAL & RURAL 

DELIVERIES 

Cnr Ingestre 

& Wilson Sts, Wanganui 

PH (06) 345 4884 

8880793AA 

Customised 

machining of timber 

architraves, scotias, 

weatherboard and all 

dressed products. 

WHOLESALERS OF ALL 

URBAN AND RURAL 

TREATED TIMBERS 

region 

136 Guyton Street, 

Wanganui 

Bruce 344 5160 

Blair 348 0339 

in association with 

MORRIS & SON BUILDERS - WANGANUI 

NEW FARM BUILDING RANGE OUT NOW! 

...call now to discuss your new building requirements 

The Independent Alternative 

• Locally Owned Family Business 

• Competitive Rates 

• Honest, Professional, Friendly Service 

• Experienced Owner/Operator 

• Independently Operated 

• GPS Computerised Spreading 

Craig Laird 

Owner/Operator 

Ph 06 348 8286 Cell 021 129 3395 

Westmere RD4, Wanganui 

OPEN Monday-Friday 7.30am-5.00pm 

Saturday 7.30am-12.00pm 

PHONE 06 345 5001 

CHESTER BORROWS 

MP for Whanganui 

Wanganui Office: 94 Victoria Ave 

Phone (06) 348 9150 

Hawera Office: 44 Victoria St 

Phone (06) 278 4059 

chester.wanganui@parliament.govt.nz 

11-13 Churton St, Wanganui 

Ph 06 345 8599 

8918173AA 

JAMIE O’LEARY 

BUILDERS LTD 

“We do it all.” 

24 Gibson St 

Wanganui 

Phone 06 343 5007 

Mobile 0274 926 995 

Emailjamieo@xtra.co.nz 

www.stonewood.co.nz 

Pine Park 

Terminal Sires 

Suffolk • Texel x Suffolk • Suffolk x Texel x Poll Dorset • Texel x Poll Dorset 

Shifting ability and soundness guaranteed 

Coopworths • Coopworth x Texel 

FE tolerance. Growth and high fertility. Carcase scanned. SIL recorded 

pinepark@farmside.co.nz 

EDWARD SHERRIFF 

RD 2, Marton 4788 • P 06 327 6591 • M 021 704 778 

8917764AA 

Independent Livestock Agent 

For all livestock requirements contact: 

Tony Wilson: 

p: 06 346 5900 m: 0274 442 064 

f: 06 346 5728 

Brent McAree, Dairy Agent: 

p: 06 346 5697 m: 0274 455 029 

Duncan Wilson: 

p: 06 346 5403 m: 0274 525 165 

Mike Osborne: 

p: 06 752 0042 m: 0274 448 009


FARMING 

For all your 

specialised OUTLOOK 

* Tractor repairs & modifications 

* New & used parts 

* A Bare - Co stockist 

* Diesel engine servicing 

* Engineering needs 

Wanted to Buy: 

Tractors suitable for wrecking 

PUKETAPU TRACTORS 

& ENGINEERING 

504 Puketapu Rd 

Ph 844 4191 • 027 221 2430 

ERIC JEPSON ENGINEERING 

Lister petter, Diesel Generator sets, 

marine and industrial engines. 

Lister & Sunbeam shearing equipment, 

hand pieces, plants, wool press service, 

parts availability. 

Phone 8435978/8436006 A/H 8436071 

97 Niven St, Onekawa Napier 

TRANSPORT LTD TRANSPORT 

Keeping 

your future 

on the move! 

PH. (06) 857 8170 ALL HOURS 

Craftsman Plumbers 

06 843 4540 

Rural Rates / Service 

Plumbing - Drainage / Domestic, Commercial 

Blockages, Leaks, Drips, Low Pressure 

Flashings, Spouting, Pumps 

New House / Alterations / Bathrooms 

Fire Installers - NZHHA Registered 

IPF Backflow Prevention Reg 

Design Pipe Systems Service 

Robin Hood Service Agents 

24 Hour 

Service 

Mobile : 021 240 0332 

Home : 06 843 4549 

E : pcplumbing@xtra.co.nz 

0800 NEED PLUMBER 

6333 75 

We operate curtainsiders, 

tippers and flatdecks to meet all 

your general and bulk cartage 

requirements. 

Excavator / Grades Hire- 

Tree pull work, tracks, 

load bays etc. 

Phone Mark 027 279 6681 

Office 879 9845 

Email: office@agnewtransport.co.nz 

OPERATORS 

HIGH PERFORMANCE 

TERMINAL SIRES 

HYBRID VIGOUR • EARLY GROWTH • MEAT YIELD 

POLL DORSET & POLTEX RAMS FOR PRIVATE SALE 

CALL HUGH PEARSE (06) 858 4253 

or your agent 

FOR ALL 

YOUR CAR 

TYRE NEEDS 

We stock a good selection of Second Hand Tyres 

404StAubyn Street East, 

Hastings 

Phone 876 9799 

8919998AA 

8917707AA 

SS Homes are proud to be associated with the relocation 

of the Victoria University’s much awarded Meridian First 

Light House. This award winning bach is able to soak 

up Hawke’s Bay’s sun and generate power back into the 

national grid. 

✔Innovative detachable cladding system 

✔Radical drying cupboard designed by 

LEAP 

✔Solargenius solar water heating system 

by LEAP 

✔ 4 layers of wool insulation 

✔Triple glazing 

✔Thermally bridged cedar door and 

window frames 

✔Blazestop fire sprinkler system by LEAP 

designed to control most fires within 

3-5 minutes 

✔LEAP Maniflow advanced plumbing system 

✔Decking around the house and also 

right through the centre of the house 

allowing occupants to effectively live 

outside during summer months and 

bringing a sense of the outdoors 

inside during the winter months 

✔Solar City’s panels make up the majority 

of the roof array which is dedicated to 

providing energy. 

These photovoltaic cells convert solar 

energy into electricity. DC electricity 

produced by the array is converted by 

an inverter into AC for domestic use 

Meridian First Light House is incredibly energy efficient. It is possible to build 

homes that are not only stylish, energy efficient and cheap to run but are also 

very affordable! From the 16-9-12 to 27-9-12 the 

lighthouse has put an average of 33kwh per day back 

into the grid, and this is with temperatures ranging 

from 0 deg to 22 deg.


8907688AA 

Blocked drain? 

Call Call your your local local drain drain specialist specialist 

24/7 

• Drain unblocking • Drain repairs 

• CCTV (Closed Circuit 

Television) inspection 

• Drain laying 

• Drain mapping 

• Drainage LIM reports 

ACTIVE DRAIN CLEARING 

Garth Ph 07 544 9337 or after 5pm 021 157 5501 

www.activedrains.co.nz 

We are more than 

just milking specialists 

Alan Van Den Heuvel - Sales/Service 

Rory Sommerville-WaterSpecialist 

Tony Mellow - Milking Technician 

Claire Marshall-Administration 

The team at ABC Milking 

are here to support the 

Rotorua district 

ROBINSON 

ROBINSON 

ROBINSON 

ROBINSON 

CONTRACT SERVICES LIMITED 

PROJECT MANAGEMENT 

ROADING 

SUBDIVISIONS 

SITE WORKS 

RUBBISH REMOVAL 

DRIVEWAYS 

EARTHWORKS 

EXCAVATION 

METAL/TOPSOIL CARTAGE 

LEVELLING 

HOUSE AND COMMERCIAL 

Average 3 brm Roof Price 

$ $ 900 - 1100 inc gst 

• Waterblasting (ie cleaning) • Check and tighten nails 

• Treat any rust • 2 coats of Solarguard roof paint 

All work guaranteed 

For a FREE quote phone Andrew NOW 

07 552 5390 

www.brushabout.co.nz 

Feel free to call in, visit our shop 

and discuss any requirements you 

have in regards toyour dairy shed. 

• Milking Machines 

• Dairy Consumables 

• Machine Tests 

• DeLaval InService 

(Preventative Maintenance) 

• Davey Supplier 

• McConnel Backing Gates 

• Trenching 

• Water Pumps & Fittings 

• Effluent Systems 

• Bore Lifts 

• Reid &Harrison 

19 White Street, Rotorua 

Ph073483628or021752097(Alan) 

DeLaval Service 

and Support 

DIGGER OPERATOR FOR HIRE 

• NEW RACES 

• DRAINAGE 

• TRACKS 

and more... 

NO JOB 

TOO BIG OR SMALL 

Phone Ian today for special rates and quotes by request 

0211 728 783 ian_brick@hotmail.com 

IM & MM FRASER 

Honest And Reliable 

Quality specialist 

• Commercial 

• Residential 

• Rural - farm races 

Reliable and ready for your Spring projects - Call Graham today 

Phone 07 343 9633 Mobile 0275 914 365 graham_robinson@xtra.co.nz 

8920727AA 

BAY MULCHING LTD 

SPECIALISING IN CUT OVER 

PINES TO GRASS 

400 & 930hp stump chipper/mulcher 

500mm deep 2 machines now available 

PH ANTON MATTHEWS 

0274 974 061 or 07 552 4144 

GRANT 

CONTRACTORS 

Bay Of Plenty 

TIMBERMACHINING 

&SAWMILLING We can 

• Machine up to 300x100 beams. 

Sarking, flooring, framing, etc 

• Resaw your timber with a bandsaw, 

airdrytimber & machine. 

• Cut your logs from 150mm 

Exotic/Native up to 2 metre diameter. 

Contact RAY CARTER today PH: 07 552 5727 

or a/h 07 552 4765 raylyn372@gmail.com 

HAY & SILAGE 

MAKING SERVICES 

SINCE 1992 

CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE QUOTE 

Hay Bale Options: 

• Conventional 

• Round 

• Medium Square 

Wrapped Silage 

Bale options: 

• Round 

• Medium Square 

Pit or Stack Silage 

• Loader Wagons 

Other Services: 

• We can arrange bale 

cartage 

• We buy standing grass 

• We sell hay and silage 

bales 

Tree Services: 

• Tree removal, orchard 

removal, mulching 

chipping and stump 

grinding 

Ian- 0274 987 633 • Ph Richard - 0274 852 135 

A/H Ph: 07 543 0050 Email: info@tree-removal.co.nz www.tree-removal.co.nz 

8885405AA 

OUR AMAZING NEW AMAZONE 

• Can plant 15HA in one go … 

saves lots of time and money 

… it means less time in the 

field 

• Is 30-50% more efficient in 

work rate, - therefore less 

down time for tractor & 

operator, - no reloading 

• Can plant seed at a higher 

population … plants more 

than the previous models 

Rural/Lifestyle 

Salesperson Wanted 

Please contact 

Tim O’Sullivan on 0274 974 986 or Anita Martelli on 0275 526 482 

Ray White Rotorua - 1274 Eruera Street, Rotorua 

Phone: (07) 348 8333 Fax: (07) 348 8332 

rwrotorua.co.nz 

Call us today! 

Phone 07 533 1887 or 

Daniel 0272 333 014 

If you are thinking of a 

career change or you may 

already be working in the 

industry and are looking for 

a challenging opportunity 

in a growing market then 

Rural Real Estate is a very 

good option. 

You will be working with a progressive and highly professional team with 

a huge amount of resources to assist you in becoming a leader in this field. 

8906159AA


NORTHLAND 

Servicing Northland down to Auckland 

8912063AA 

Vegetation Management 

 

 

Includes... 

Tree felling / chipping 

Forest to pasture conversion 

Shelter Belt Removal / 

Tree Pruning 

Transplanting 

Driveways 

Mulch Sales / delivery 

Woodlot purchase / logging 

Consultancy 

Stump grinding 

For a Free quote please contact: 

Chris Sheffield – Tel: 0276 108 540 

Or our Head Office on 0800 TREEWORK (873396) 

Take a look at what we do at www.treescape.co.nz 

BRIDGE BUILDING & 

PILING SPECIALISTS 

We offer Design & Build for Bridges 

including plans, permits, consents and 

construction. 

Or see us to strengthen and repair your 

existing bridge to ensure safe access on 

your property. 

Ph: 09 435 4443 Web: www.ghk.co.nz 

3 Pipiwai Road, Kamo, Whangarei 

Call 0800 225 333 

Introducing “PFP Lime Prills” 

Calcium readily available to both plants and microbial life. 

Phone 

Hungry 

chooks 

calves 

and farm 

animals? 

Easy to Spread 

Excellent Results 

Great on Hill Country 

021 792 805 Email limedistributors@xtra.co.nz 

I told you to 

get some 

covers from 

Palmer 

Canvas 

We make covers for all areas 

of the farm and home 

• 

• 

• 

Fertiliser Covers • Machinery 

Trucks and Trailers • Tarps 

To protect from UV, Wind, Rain and Sun 

www.palmercanvas.co.nz 

141 Lower Dent St, 

Whangarei 

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Email: info@croftpoles.co.nz 

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Ravesdown Customer Centre 0800 100 123 

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• Agricultural 

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• Post & Stockyard 

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Phone Paul Moorey 

Email: divisional@orcon.net.nz 

Ph: 021 449 831 or 09 438 1883 A/H 

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CHANGES FOR WATER 

Protecting the quality and quantity of 

waterways and groundwater is an increasingly 

high profile task in the Waikato. 

Managing the impacts of farming on water, 

while helping support agriculture’s strength, is 

one of the core strands of this work. 

Waikato Regional Council, its iwi partners and 

stakeholders – including farming groups - are 

working together on a range of solutions. 

The council is implementing a new consenting system for dairy water takes 

DAIRY WATER 

TAKE CONSENTS 

Next month sees the first of the catchment-based 

“closing dates” being suggested to help make it 

cheaper and easier for Waikato farmers to apply for 

new dairy farm water take consents. 

The consents are part of the recently introduced 

“Variation 6” water allocation policy designed to help 

meet national and regional objectives. 

All dairy farms taking more than 15 cubic metres of 

water per day for milk cooling and shed washdown 

purposes will need a consent. It is expected this will 

affect any dairy farm with a herd size of 215 cows or 

more – that’s about 3500 farms. 

Special provisions for dairy shed takes that existed 

prior to 15 October 2008 effectively “grandparent” 

the ability to take the amount of water used prior to 

More on the ground work with farmers will happen under the 

council’s new effluent monitoring system 

Here we profile how the council is: 

• implementing new rules for dairy farm 

water take consents 

• introducing a new effluent monitoring 

system designed to help farmers more 

• looking at a regional plan change process for 

addressing water quality in the Waikato and 

Waipa catchments. 

this date. For most farms, however, an application 

for resource consent still needs to be made prior to 1 

January 2015 to secure this grandparented water. 

If farmers requiring a consent are taking more water 

now than in 2008 this “extra” water will not be 

grandparented. It’s recommended farmers in such 

situations contact the council or a consultant for 

advice. 

To help keep the consenting process as simple and as 

cheap as possible for farmers, the council is seeking to 

receive consent applications on a phased, catchment 

by catchment basis. 

Under this plan, expected catchment closing dates for 

applications are: 

• Waihou – 30 November 2012 

• Lower Waikato & West Coast – 29 March 2013 

• Upper Waipa & King Country – 31 July 2013 

• Coromandel – 31 July 2013 

• Lower Waipa & Raglan – 29 November 2013 

• Upper Waikato – 31 March 2014 

• Piako & Waitakaruru – 31 July 2014 

Farms can apply for a consent at any time before 1 

January 2015 but the benefits of taking a catchment 

by catchment approach is that it will help the council 

be more efficient and keep consent processing costs 

down. 

Farmers with enquiries can visit www.waikatoregion. 

govt.nz/watertakes or call 0800 800 402. 

TARGETED 

EFFLUENT HELP 

The council is to do less random helicopter monitoring 

and more ground-based work with farmers this season 

to identify and fix effluent management problems. 

Previously, the council has largely relied on complaints 

from the public and helicopter monitoring of about 

1000 farms, chosen at random, to detect breaches 

of effluent management rules which can result in the 

pollution of waterways. 

In a trial starting this season, the council is to target 

up to 500 farms in areas with soils that are seen as 

having a greater risk of allowing effluent to get into 

waterways. Farms will initially be flown over by a 

helicopter to identify any properties with potential 

serious non compliance, and these farms will have an 

on the ground inspection first. After that the rest of the 

properties will be inspected. 

For more information call the council’s Environmental Farming Systems 

team on 0800 800 401 or visit www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/forfarmers 

PLANNING FOR 

CHANGE 

The recent Environment Court decision on Horizons 

Regional Council’s so-called One Plan backed that 

council’s right to impose hard limits on the volume 

of nutrients allowed to leach from farmland into 

waterways. 

But a briefing on the decision to Waikato’s land and 

water quality subcommittee has emphasised the need 

for “Waikato solutions to Waikato issues” when it comes 

to protecting water quality in the region. 

“The court’s One Plan decision sets firm rules to 

manage the impact of nutrients on water quality in the 

Manawatu-Whanganui area,” said Waikato Regional 

Council policy group manager Vaughan Payne. 

“What’s appropriate for that area may not necessarily 

be directly transportable to the Waikato and staff will 

consider closely what from the One Plan is relevant to 

us. 

“But Waikato Regional Council stresses it will be 

keeping an open mind going forward on what the 

issues are in our area and the best solutions to address 

them,” said Mr Payne. 

“We will work closely with stakeholders, including the 

farming sector, to ensure we get the best pathway 

forward for our region, given the need to support a 

healthy regional environment and a healthy regional 

economy.” 

The regional council, alongside its Waikato and Waipa 

River iwi partners, is beginning meetings on a regional 

plan review process dubbed ‘Healthy Rivers – Plan for 

Change’. The objective of the review will be to help 

protect and restore the health of the two rivers. 

The regional plan review process will look at what 

measures are needed to ensure the council complies 

with national and regional directives on freshwater 

quality, including targets and limits related to farming. 

Council staff will identify any problems with the farmer’s 

effluent system and, if necessary, make a formal direction 

for improvements to be made. After recent work with 

the dairy industry, the council will now be in a position 

to tell farmers to work with effluent system companies 

accredited under DairyNZ’s farm dairy effluent code of 

practice and design standards. 

“In the past, farmers haven’t always had access 

to guidance on what constitutes a good effluent 

management system. Now the dairy industry has 

developed the new code and formally accredits those 

designers qualified to apply its standards properly,” said 

compliance and education manager Rob Dragten. 

Another advantage of the council’s new system is that 

there will be targeting of farms in areas where soils 

are seen as having a higher risk of allowing effluent to 

get into waterways. These higher risk soils include, for 

example, those with impeded drainage or infiltration 

rates, soils with a very coarse structure and land with a 

slope of over seven degrees.

THEBIGWATERISSUE - Federated Farmers

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