Waikato AgriBusiness News October 2018

OCTOBER 2018 WWW.WBN.CO.NZ FACEBOOK.COM/WAIKATOBUSINESSNEWS 

Free-range scheme 

promotes Kiwi farming 

Waikato dairy farmer Wayne Shaw 

has developed a certification system 

to celebrate animals raised outdoors. 

Waikato dairy farmer Wayne Shaw is 

so passionate about the quality of New 

Zealand meat and dairy that he has 

developed a new certification system 

aimed at promoting animals raised and 

living outdoors. 

The concept is almost a 

bovine and sheep version 

of free-range eggs 

and is Wayne’s way of highlighting 

the quality of New 

Zealand farming and products. 

“I think a lot of Kiwi farmers 

are underselling themselves 

and their products,” he says. 

Wayne has developed 

Rangedfree, which is in the 

final stages of trademark reg- 

istration. His new certification 

system aims to capture the true 

value of meat and dairy exports 

grown on pastoral farms and 

is expected to add at least five 

percent to the sectors’ current 

export earnings. 

The meat and dairy sectors 

are New Zealand’s highest 

export earners. According 

to Statistics New Zealand, in 

2017, dairy exports were valued 

at $14 billion and meat 

exports at $6.6 billion. 

“I saw an opportunity to 

showcase New Zealand farms, 

and their meat and dairy products, 

as being among the best in 

the world,” Wayne says. 

“The Rangedfree certification 

will highlight to international 

consumers that the animals 

have been raised outdoors. 

“The way we farm in New 

Zealand, where our animals are 

allowed to roam freely outside 

and graze on pasture, is not a 

common farming practice in 

many countries overseas even 

though it’s so normal to us.” 

Having worked on dairy 

farms in Canada and the US, 

Wayne says New Zealand 

farms – and their farmers – are 

highly regarded overseas. 

THE RANGEDFREE 

CERTIFICATION 

FILLS THE GAP 

THAT CURRENTLY 

EXISTS... 

“Overseas, we’re seen as the 

pinnacle, the top-end of meat 

and dairy products. 

“The way we farm is so normal 

to us that we haven’t set 

our export price for meat and 

dairy accurately; we’re underselling 

ourselves.” 

Wayne says the Rangedfree 

certification will provide 

an opportunity for New Zealand’s 

meat and dairy sectors to 

showcase the premium nature 

of their products, with a widespread, 

industry-recognised 

brand. 

Exporters will be able to use 

a certification stamp or sticker 

on products to inform international 

consumers that the 

product is sourced from outdoor-farmed 

animals. 

“We produce premium meat 

and dairy products that are, by 

and large, from animals raised 

on outdoor farms. Consumers 

value this and are willing to 

pay more for these products,” 

he says. 

“Through discussions and 

calculations with a research 

company and industry experts, 

we’ve conservatively estimated 

that Rangedfree has the potential 

to add at least five percent, 

more than $500 million, 

Continued on page 3 

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2 WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS October 2018 

CLOSED FOR BUSINESS. 

IT HAPPENS MORE OFTEN THAN YOU’D THINK. 

Before the Kaikoura Earthquake hit in 2016, the local Hunting & Fishing store didn’t expect 

to be out of business for a whole year. But that’s exactly what happened. Thanks to FMG, 

they had the right amount of Business Interruption* cover in place and are now back on 

track. It’s a great example of how the advice we give makes a big difference when things go 

wrong in provincial businesses. If you’d like to know more about how we can insure your 

rural business, go to fmg.co.nz. Or better still, call us directly on 0800 366 466. 

*See fmg.co.nz for product terms & conditions 

We’re here for the good of the country. 

FMG0688WAFP_CB

RANGEDFREE 

CERTIFICATION CRITERIA 

Free-range scheme 

promotes Kiwi farming 

From page 1 

additional profit to New Zealand’s 

meat and dairy exports 

a year. 

“The Rangedfree certification 

fills the gap that currently 

exists in terms of having a widespread, 

recognised brand that 

showcases the premium quality 

of our meat and dairy products 

to our export markets.” 

Wayne has been in discussions 

with major industry 

stakeholders, showcasing the 

Rangedfree certification programme 

and establishing support. 

“In the early stages of developing 

Rangedfree, I met with 

several people in the meat 

and dairy sectors to talk about 

how it would work. The overwhelming 

sense I got was that 

a unifying certification like this 

was needed to highlight the premium 

nature of our meat and 

dairy products. 

“There is no other certified 

trademark in the world that 

carries such stringent criteria 

around the time meat and dairy 

animals must be allowed to 

roam freely.” 

Ultimately, he says, when 

manufacturers and suppliers 

have 100 percent of their 

sourced products from Rangedfree 

farms, they can label their 

products with a Rangedfree 

stamp. 

In time, he hopes the added 

premium Rangedfree certification 

brings to meat and dairy 

exports will enable manufacturers 

and suppliers to pass some 

of that profit on to its farm suppliers. 

According to Wayne, the vast majority of meat and 

dairy farms in New Zealand will meet Rangedfree 

criteria. 

“Rangedfree certification is about giving those farms 

that seal of approval, and the ability for farmers to be 

able to say ‘I have a Rangedfree farm’ and be really 

proud of that.” 

Rangedfree certification is granted to farms that can 

show its animals are largely grazed outdoors. They 

must be allowed to range freely outside for at least 

255 days a year on a rotational grazing system. 

Rangedfree certification will be approved for farms 

based on the records they currently supply to their 

manufacturers and suppliers, which includes an 

outline of the farm’s housing structures and how long 

animals spend indoors. 

There is a 110-day cap on the amount of time stock 

can spend indoors. This allows for the colder winter 

and spring months, where some animals are housed 

indoors for environmental reasons. 

“As a farmer myself, I know most farms in New 

Zealand wouldn’t exceed 110 24-hour periods spent 

inside. This compares favourably with some of the 

standards I have seen overseas.” 

Kerry is a dedicated real 

estate professional who has 

been involved in the Hamilton 

residential property arena 

since 1993. He was also 

active in the marketing of the 

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properties at Pauanui on the 

Coromandel Peninsula. 

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be afraid to express your interest in a 

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6) Think of the future when buying; resale, 

renovation or rental potential should 

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Lugtons have been and still are industry leaders 

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property in the Hamilton regions since 1955. 

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WAIKATO AGRIBUSINESS NEWS October 2018 

5 

Benefits of sheep 

milk to be tested in 

ground-breaking trial 

When it comes to putting Hamilton on 

the world stage, AgResearch plays a vital 

role, championing agriculture, science, 

technology and innovation. 

The team of researchers 

and innovators have 

yielded results in everything 

from pasture pests and 

livestock emissions, to food 

and bio-based products, farm 

systems and forage science. 

AgResearch scientists 

helped develop The Wool Runner 

(dubbed the world’s most 

comfortable shoe) and AgResearch 

has contributed $5 million 

to the development of the 

world-class Southern Dairy 

Hub. 

The list of achievements is 

continually evolving. And in 

what is believed to be a world 

first, AgResearch has begun a 

clinical trial to test the benefits 

of sheep milk for human digestion. 

Springboarding on a time 

of rapid growth for the dairy 

sheep industry in New Zealand, 

the trial sees AgResearch 

scientists working alongside 

those at the Auckland University’s 

Liggins Institute, with 

support from Spring Sheep 

Milk Co and Blue River Dairy. 

Research by AgResearch 

has demonstrated that sheep 

milk could offer advantages 

for some in terms of easier 

digestion and improved nutrition. 

This is good news for 

those who suffer from digestive 

issues with milk. 

“Based on the literature we 

have seen, there has been no 

human clinical trial like this 

before measuring the digestibility 

of sheep milk,” says 

AgResearch senior scientist Dr 

Linda Samuelsson. 

Scientists will work with 

people who say they have 

some difficulty digesting milk. 

Participants will be asked to 

consume a specified amount, 

and to consider how they feel 

after drinking. Their digestion 

will be measured using blood 

and breath tests. 

Andrea Wilkins, marketing 

and innovation director at 

Spring Sheep Milk Co. says 

one recent study compared the 

protein digestibility of sheep 

and cow milk - with results 

suggesting sheep milk proteins 

are more readily digested and 

are a better source of essential 

amino acids. 

“Taking into account the 

research to date along with 

consumer feedback we’ve 

received, we know that sheep’s 

milk is great for those who 

are sensitive to cow’s milk. 

So, we’re really excited about 

what this clinical trial means 

for us and for the New Zealand 

sheep milk industry as a 

whole.” 

Liggins Institute Research 

Fellow Dr Amber Milan says 

trial subjects will be asked to 

drink both sheep and cow milk. 

“Sheep milk is very different 

from cow milk. We 

know that it has more nutrients 

per glass: more protein, 

fat, vitamins and minerals. 

For example, sheep milk has 

almost twice the level of calcium 

and zinc, when compared 

with cow milk. There are also 

differences in the protein and 

fat types which we think will 

alter the digestive properties of 

sheep milk.” 

Dr Samuelsson says results 

from the trial, which began in 

July, should be available early 

next year. 

“The aim is to provide 

information for consumers 

who may struggle with their 

digestion, and to provide solid 

evidence of the benefits of 

sheep milk to support New 

Zealand exports.” 

New Zealand now boasts 

more than 20,000 sheep for 

milking at 16 different producers, 

and significant new 

investment is going into milk 

processing and supply to overseas 

markets. 

Sheep milk products from 

New Zealand are currently 

being exported to growth markets 

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7 

Farm biosecurity innovation 

In the wake of high profile diseases like mycoplasma bovis 

wreaking havoc on agriculture, farm biosecurity is increasingly 

coming under the spotlight. And it’s not just farmers who need to 

take measures, but also professionals like stock agents, fertiliser 

reps, AB company staff, farm consultants, real estate agents and 

anyone else regularly visiting farms and orchards. 

Hamilton couple Rusty 

Knutson and Jacqui 

Humm have spent 

years researching and designing 

a portable footwear 

hygiene unit. They launched 

their Jacson Cube at New Zealand 

Agricultural Fieldays this 

year to overwhelmingly positive 

feedback. 

Portable enough to take 

from site to site, and light 

enough to easily take in and out 

of a vehicle, the Jacson Cube 

is fully self-contained. The 

fold-out unit features a rotating 

brush and water jets for 

heavy cleaning, a hand brush 

for extra cleaning if required, 

and a hand-spray disinfectant 

applicator. The three-litre res- 

ervoir holds enough disinfectant 

for between 10 and 12 

farm visits. 

As well as being a useful 

tool in helping prevent the 

spread of high profile diseases 

like M. Bovis, it plays 

an important role in protecting 

against the unwanted dispersal 

of seeds and weeds between 

farms and orchards. 

The initial idea was sparked 

while inspecting livestock for 

export, when Rusty decided 

that there must be a better 

option than the bucket and 

brush he was supplied with 

for cleaning his boots between 

properties. 

“It wasn’t a particularly 

comfortable or practical process,” 

he says. “It was hard to 

do, fiddly, time consuming and 

when finished you were left 

with a dirty brush and a bucket 

full of the contaminated water 

and dirt. I had some back problems 

also so needed something 

to lean on to help me get to the 

base of my footwear.” 

The inconvenience got 

Rusty thinking about options, 

which he shared with his wife 

Jacqui, who encouraged him 

to explore the concept further. 

With a background of 

working in various rural 

industries, including a stint as 

a senior policy analyst at MPI, 

Rusty, who holds a Master’s 

degree in animal genetics, has 

travelled extensively around 

the world inspecting livestock 

and looking at farms. He grew 

up on a Waikato dairy farm 

and was involved in Holstein 

showing as a teenager. He also 

supported a team based in the 

UK during the 2001 outbreak 

of foot and mouth disease. 

“From that experience I 

observed several things, the 

anxiety and stress caused by 

the devastation of livelihoods 

pitted people against each 

other, and we’ve seen a little 

bit of that here with M.Bovis. 

Also the fear it induced and 

the fact no-one was really prepared 

for it. 

”So when I came into this 

situation of needing to make 

sure I was taking proper precautions 

myself in going from 

farm to farm, I wasn’t convinced 

that a bucket and brush 

were the answer to ensuring 

everyone was cleaning and 

disinfecting their footwear 

effectively and consistently 

every time they moved on and 

off farm.” 

Rusty and Jacqui’s research 

revealed a gap in the market 

for a portable unit. The units 

available (mostly overseas) 

were aimed at food processors 

and largescale poultry and pig 

markets. 

“These types of units were 

high tech, high cost machines 

requiring power to operate. At 

the other end of the scale there 

was the stick with a brush on it 

type thing. There was nothing 

in between we could find.” 

With her marketing background, 

Jacqui encouraged 

Rusty to undertake some market 

research, which started 

with interviewing farmers and 

rural professionals. 

“We learned some interesting 

facts from that – and this 

was well before M. Bovis was 

in the news. Myrtle rust and 

kauri dieback were the main 

concerns at that stage. Our 

research showed that people 

were aware of biosecurity, 

but not always doing the right 

thing or in fact, taking any 

action.” 

Rusty said the spread of 

disease isn’t just limited to 

farmers and workers. Regular 

visitors to farms such as 

stock agents, fertiliser reps, 

Jacqui and Rusty spent years researching 

their portable footwear hygiene unit. 

AB company staff, farm consultants 

and real estate agents 

also needed to give thought to 

their own biosecurity. 

”Biosecurity always has 

been and always will be an 

issue. But when something 

like M.Bovis comes along, 

it reinforces the importance 

of having good systems in 

place,” says Rusty. 

“Biosecurity is everyone’s 

responsibility. Rural professionals 

have an important 

leadership role in changing 

the attitude towards long-term, 

sustainable biosecurity practices 

that the industry requires, 

and that’s also where I was 

coming from.” 

With help from local engineering 

company MW Design, 

Rusty and Jacqui began concept 

planning in late 2016. 

Trial and error followed, with 

several design tweaks made 

before the final product was 

ready. 

“We had multiple prototypes 

as the design had to 

solve several problems before 

we got it exactly right. It was 

quite a feat to complete the 

final design with all of the 

elements it includes, while 

keeping it light enough to be 

portable. 

“We support New Zealand’s 

Biosecurity 2025 plan 

and recognise that cleaned and 

disinfected footwear is just 

one element of an adequate 

biosecurity plan,” says Rusty. 

“But it’s an important one 

because it sets the tone for 

everything else that happens 

behind the farm gate, which 

is the farming community’s 

second line of biosecurity 

defence.” 

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(*Conditions circumstances, may apply demonstration dependent 

on circumstances, 

plant dependent 

demonstration 

on availability) 

plant dependent on availability) 

NZ Designed Rural Filtration Systems for for the the Removal 

of Iron and Manganese and Other Rural Rural Problems 

Portable demonstration 

plant available* 

Portable demonstration 

plant available* 

0800 109 202 

www.ecoworld.co.nz 

0800 109 202 

www.ecoworld.co.nz 

Your new rural 

property partner. 

“Let’s do this together” 

Kate Scott 

Lifestyle and Rural Sales | Putaruru 

027 858 1492 

kate.scott@raywhite.com


Post-winter cultivation is critical 

The future of farming, on which our region’s 

economic and social wellbeing relies 

heavily, could be at risk if the quality and 

extent of our soils are not maintained. 

Sediment and nutrients 

from farming operations, 

along with pathogenic 

microbes, are some of 

the most important causes of 

reduced water quality during 

the post-winter period, when 

farmers are cultivating their 

paddocks. 

Top-soil erosion, especially 

in hill country, of bare or cultivated 

land, leads to the loss 

of valuable nutrients. It also 

disrupts infrastructure and 

increases the costs of maintenance 

activity, such as cleaning 

culverts and drains. 

Landowners and cultivation 

contractors can help mitigate 

the environmental 

risks associated 

with cultivation, 

and at the same 

time protect their 

soil resources. 

minimising 

The greatest 

soil loss. 

risk can be at 

Other conservation 

times like now 

cul- 

when the protective 

plant cover 

tivation techniques 

include in the overland flow of water. 

ANY TIME A 

R: DON is CHAPMAN lost through WAIKATO LTD PROOF TIME minimum 8/05/2018or 

4:22:26 An a.m. effective filter strip 

T361 cultivation of 

MACHINE IS LAST RUN: no 05/15/18 tillage. If 

soils for pasture 

soil has been 

renewal and crop 

SIZE: continuously 18.2X4 

MOVED BETWEEN 

establishment. 

cultivated for 

Soils should PROPERTIES. many years, 

be cultivated 

the structure 

when the moisture 

content is neither too high 

nor too low. To assess if soils 

are suitable for primary cultivation, 

take a piece of soil 

MACHINERY 

HYGIENE MUST 

BE PRACTISED 

(half the volume of an index 

finger) and press firmly to 

form a pencil. 

Roll the soil into a “worm” 

on the palm of one hand with 

the fingers of the other until it 

is about 50 mm long and 4 mm 

thick. Exert sufficient pressure 

with your fingers to reduce the 

diameter of the worm to 4 mm 

in 15 to 20 complete forward 

and back movements of the 

fingers. Conditions are suitable 

for cultivation if the soil cracks 

before the worm is made. The 

soil is too wet to cultivate if 

you can make the worm. 

Contour cultivation, sowing 

at right angles to the prevailing 

wind, sediment 

retention, 

reducing run 

off are recommended 

for 

is likely to 

be poor due to reduced soil 

organic matter levels. No-tillage 

will not repair the damage 

overnight but, with residue 

Thinking about a more 

efficient farm dairy? 

Call us today for a FREE 

on-site design consultation. 

Don Chapman Waikato Ltd is your 

local specialist in farm dairy 

design and construction. 

Bala Tikkisetty checks out soil quality. 

retention, it will eventually. 

Chemical spraying followed by 

direct drilling is an option on 

light erodible soils. 

Sediment and some nutrients, 

particularly phosphorus, 

are carried to streams primarily 

needs to be established and 

maintained where overland 

water enters water bodies. 

Healthy riparian vegetation in 

these areas will improve bank 

stability, increase water quality, 

reduce stock losses, filter surface 

run-off and provide habitat 

for wild life. 

Good riparian vegetation 

slows run-off down so that 

sediment, phosphorous (which 

binds to soil particles) and faecal 

matter can settle out before 

the run off reaches waterways. 

Studies show that up to 90 per 

cent of sediment can be caught 

in an effectively constructed 

filter strip. Any faecal bacteria 

that are trapped in long grass 

strips will die off. 

In the filter strips, generally, 

grasses should be kept to 

a height of at least 10-15 cm 

with a high density of stems 

and leaves at ground level for 

maximum trapping effect. 

The spread of pests, particularly 

weeds and pathogens, 

by vehicles, cultivation 

machinery and equipment has 

10920484AA 

Don Chapman Waikato 

clocks more than 500 

farm dairies around NZ 

More than four decades 

of dairy building 

experience and over 

500 farm dairies ensures that 

Don Chapman Waikato Ltd 

is capable of designing and 

building a dairy parlour that 

suits the specific requirements 

of your dairy farm operation. 

From the dairy, effluent 

systems and bunkers, silage 

bunkers, feed bunkers and 

bins. 

The company has set 

the benchmark for the dairy 

industry across New Zealand 

as the leading specialist in 

design and construction of 

farm milking parlours. 

Don Chapman Waikato is 

a mark of quality, proud of 

By Bala Tikkisetty 

Sustainable agriculture advisor at 

Waikato Regional Council 

significant consequences and is 

an ongoing problem. Machinery 

hygiene must be practised 

any time a machine is moved 

between properties. 

I would like to remind 

you again that the Waikato 

Regional Council has a rule in 

the Regional Plan, which says 

farmers must not cultivate paddocks 

within two metres of a 

river, stream or lake bed. 

• Bala Tikkisetty is a 

sustainable agriculture 

advisor at Waikato 

Regional Council. Contact 

him on 0800 800 401 or 

email bala.tikkisetty@ 

waikatoregion.govt.nz 

finishing projects on time and 

knowing the importance of 

completion dates to suit your 

farming requirements. 

The company doesn’t make 

false promises just to secure 

work because it doesn’t need 

to. There is a range of options 

in parlour styles, yard layout, 

plant room design and pipe 

work configuration on offer 

and some of the key milking 

parlour features include: High 

cow flow efficiency, optimised 

farm productivity, rotary or 

herringbone designs, top quality 

materials, easy to clean 

and very low maintenance. 

Building both state-of-the 

art dairy parlours as well as 

more simple and cost-effective 

designs to suit individual 

requirements and budgets is a 

company speciality. 

With many years of experience 

designing and building 

dairy infrastructure, the company 

offers an extensive range 

of customisable designs for 

feed pads, effluent systems, 

silage bunkers and feed bins. 

Qualified staff at Don 

Chapman Waikato, has the 

experience and skill needed 

to work on a range of projects 

from residential building 

(including renovations and 

extensions) to industrial and 

commercial construction. 

From concept to completion 

Don Chapman Waikato 

is there. 

Herringbone or rotary 

Effluent systems 

Silage bunkers 

Feed pads 

200118AB


9 

Family company marks 50 years 

Two generations of dairy industry expertise, 

plus innovation is what makes Matamata 

based family company Ag-Worx the thriving 

business it is today. 

Founded by the late Jim 

Jobe in 1967, known as 

J.S.(Jim) Jobe & Co Ltd. 

Ag-Worx as it is known today, 

is a legacy, passed down from 

Jim, to his daughter and son in 

law Terry and Sylvia Hawes, 

and is managed by his eldest 

grandson Craig Hawes. This 

the company is celebrating its 

50th anniversary, making it 

the regions longest standing 

milking machine service agents 

around. 

Over the past 50 Years, 

Ag-Worx has gained an experienced 

team to help with all 

aspects of milking machinery, 

pumps, water filtration and 

reticulation on dairy farms. 

“Our team can service all 

makes and models of milking 

equipment, but we are a 

proud Dairymaster Milking 

Systems dealer for the Waikato 

area”, says Craig. “We are also 

proud of our ability to carry out 

machine upgrades and customize 

systems for our customers. 

We also have a qualified 

machine tester on staff. 

“Our difference is we are 

a progressive company, when 

there is a problem, we think 

outside the square to come up 

with a customised solution to 

fit the needs, wants and budget 

of our clients. This is an 

attitude passed down from my 

grandfather, who never let anyone 

walk away dissatisfied. If 

a customer walked in with a 

problem he didn’t have a direct 

solution for, he would be in the 

workshop figuring out how to 

help them.” 

While Ag-Worx now stands 

as the longest standing milking 

machine dealership in Matamata, 

it has married the vast 

knowledge of its generation 

past, with the creative and 

cutting edge technology of the 

present and future. 

Terry and his two sons 

Craig and Darren, are a trio of 

keen innovators. It is from their 

expertise that FORSI was born. 

The sister business to Ag-Worx 

specialises in water and effluent 

filtration. 

The FORSI effluent filtration 

system made its debut 

at Mystery Creek Fieldays in 

2015. It is this technology and 

industry knowledge that makes 

FORSI Innovations specialists 

in the water filtration and water 

recycling industry. 

“We are the only water filtration 

experts in Matamata. 

We specialize in the removal of 

iron and manganese, as well as 

other elements from water supplies 

using the FORSI Aquafier 

IM filtration 

systems,” says 

Craig. 

“A lot of 

farmers are 

finding their 

water supply to 

the shed is not 

up to standard 

and are facing 

water exclusion 

penalties. 

With our vast 

knowledge and 

expertise in this 

field we have 

WE ARE 

MATAMATA’S 

ONLY POOL & SPA 

SHOP AND HAVE 

BEEN FOR OVER 

40 YEARS. 

been able to successfully filter 

iron and manganese from farm 

water supplies, and now filter 

dairy effluent to clean, clear, 

pathogen free water, cutting 

compliance costs in half for 

farmers. This 

new technology 

is taking 

New Zealand by 

storm.” 

But it doesn’t 

end there. 

Ag-Worx also 

specialises in 

swimming and 

spa pool equipment. 

“We are Matamata’s 

only 

pool & spa shop 

and have been 

for over 40 years, so we have 

expertise and knowledge to 

make repairs easily and efficiently,” 

says Craig. 

They deal with everything 

from pumps, filters, chlorination 

systems and automation, 

through to robotic pool cleaners, 

pool toys, accessories and 

chemicals. They offer a free 

pool water testing service and 

give expert advice on pool care 

and maintenance, even offering 

a comprehensive valet service. 

The AG-WORX store is 

stocked up too with brands such 

as; Grundfos, Zodiac, Hansen, 

Anka, Jobe Valves, and Devan 

Tanks to name a few. 

For any general engineering 

work, Ag-Worx has the knowhow. 

Clients are welcome to 

discuss their specialised design 

ideas with the staff, to turn 

plans into products. 

Matamata is an extremely 

competitive market and Craig 

says being a family business 

has helped assist the company 

to grow over the last 50 years. 

“Customers know us and 

know we sell only high quality 

products that last the distance. 

Because a lot of farms are 

passed down from generation 

to generation in this region, 

we have been working with 

some families for many years. 

Our company’s longevity in 

the business, gives customers 

confidence that Ag-Worx will 

be around to service their needs 

both now, and well into the 

future.” 

Your farm CAN be 

profitable! 

We offer a great service offering customized milking 

solutions for the budget conscious farmer looking to 

do a milking plant upgrade or require preventative 

maintenance, give our friendly team a call today! 

ALSO, 

LOOK WHAT WE CAN OFFER 

· Customized Milking systems 

· Servicing of all brands of milking systems 

· Milking Machine Testing 

· Preventative Maintenance Programs 

· Water Pump Sales & Service 

· Water Filtration Specialists 

· Effluent Filtration specialists 

· Water reticulation Systems 

· Irrigation Systems 

· Pool & Spa Equipment Sales & Service 

· Pool & Spa Maintenance. 

· Full Pool Valet Service. 

· Pool Accessories. 

· Pool Toys. 

· Spa Pools. 

· Extensive water Fittings Selection. 

· Hose Supplies. 

· Stainless Steel Fabrication 

· Deepwell Lifting 

· General Engineering 

oN Call 

24/7 

10660 

QUALITY WATER 

IS IMPORTANT 

FORSI are specialists in customized treatment systems 

for all types of water quality issues. 

• Iron, Manganese, Arsenic, 

Turbidity Removal 

• pH Correction 

• Solids Separation 

• Waste water recycling 

• 

• Car wash recycling systems 

• 

• Irrigation Filtration 

Cnr tui & tainui Streets 

matamata 

ph: 07 888 7524 

www.ag-worx.co.nz 

e: admin@ag-worx.co.nz 

200112AA 

Forsi Innovations Ltd I 14 Waihou Street I Matamata 

Ph: 07 880 9479 I Fax: 07 880 9486 I www.forsi.co.nz


Fast-growing business builds 

on China experience 

When Maarten Bubbert bought a 33ha 

lifestyle block in Warkworth, he had a 

problem - about 40 wooden gates in poor 

condition needed replacing. He priced 

them up, and thought at $200 apiece he 

was in for a stiff bill. 

By RICHARD WALKER “We started because I 

wanted to have something on 

the side to do, and ‘on the side’ 

Fortunately, he had a 

background of doing 

business in China. 

“I thought, that’s a lot of 

money for just a piece of steel 

that’s galvanised. So I took 

some pictures and measurements 

and sent them to a few 

factories in China,” Maarten 

says. 

“I tried 100 

gates just for fun. 

I thought, we’ll 

make 100 gates, 

see how that 

goes.” 

It went well - 

he sold them in 

a week on TradeMe, 

which left 

him with none for 

himself. 

Next he bought 

a container-load, 

and sold it in a 

month. 

He founded Stronghold 

Trading and a rapidly growing 

business was born, this year 

named as a Waikato regional 

agribusiness winner in the 

Deloittes Fast 50. 

has now become a full blown 

company.” 

He started being asked for 

different sizes and options, 

and he travelled to the factory 

in China, that was making 

other products as well. He 

tried their hay feeders, which 

were immediately successful 

and then 

started to do 

portable yards. 

The success 

LIFESTYLERS 

AND SMALL TO 

MEDIUM FARMS 

IS PRETTY 

MUCH OUR 

TARGET GROUP. 

draws on his 

realisation that 

much of what 

was for sale in 

New Zealand 

was aimed at 

serious farmers, 

making it 

expensive for 

lifestylers. 

Seven years 

after Stronghold 

started, 

its main yard, in Tirau, was 

this year named the Fastest 

Growing Agribusiness in the 

Deloittes Fast 50 for the central 

North Island region. The 

company won the same award 

Stronghold’s Tirau yard. 

for Canterbury and Upper 

South Island in 2017. 

Maarten says the latest win 

comes on the back of growth 

of about 120 percent for the 

year, which followed similar 

growth the previous year. 

His earlier experience has 

been key to the runaway success. 

In the 1990s, he was 

involved with an independent 

distributor of games in Holland, 

Belgium and Luxembourg. 

They developed their 

own accessory line, including 

controllers, battery packs and 

carrycases, and had them manufactured 

in China. They had 

a range that they sold through 

Europe, and Maarten spent 

time in China for their development. 

They sold the business in 

2000 and Maarten got into 

classic car restoration, which 

led to him buying a car restorer 

in Christchurch. It grew to 17 

staff, and he sold last year to 

his shop manager so he could 

focus on the farming equipment. 

When it comes to China, 

he has advice based on years 

of experience. Find a factory 

where good English is spoken, 

and stick with it. The first 

couple of container loads may 

not be 100 percent, but keep 

talking and explaining what 

you want. The end result is he 

backs his quality. 

“I’ve got four factories I 

work with, and what I tell people 

when they ask is, we produce 

in China, we don’t buy in 

China, there’s a big difference. 

So the stuff that is made most 

of the time is our own design, 

and it is made to my specs so 

we can give full warranty.” 

These days, Stronghold 

Trading supplies a variety of 

products, as well as the gates 

that gave them their start, and 

hay feeders and portable yards. 

The Tirau yard is 7000 sqm 

and the firm also attends field 

days around New Zealand, 

including the National Fieldays 

at Mystery Creek. 

“Lifestylers and small to 

medium farms is pretty much 

our target group,” Maarten 

says. 

“We also do permanent 

cattle yards, two types of cattle 

crushers, portable loading 

ramps, we’re going to do permanent 

loading ramps, we’re 

also going to do permanent 

sheep yards. So the range is 

still growing.” 

Rural Contractors Ltd 

Phone: 07 870 6610 • Email: ruralcon@xtra.co.nz 

We do: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Effluent ponds 

Drainage (all types) 

Races 

House sites 

We offer: 

• Diggers: 

• 4 tonne 

• 12 tonne (swamp tracks) 

• 13 tonne 

• 20 tonne 

• All with title buckets, thumbs, 

roots rakes 

• Bulldozers 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Contouring 

Tanker tracks 

Tree clearing 

Stumping 

Grader hire 

Roller hire 

Tractor and trailer (tipper) 

Bulk cartage 

Heavy haulage 

Certified pilots 

Laser levels 

Experienced operators 

Dennis Hewitt 

027 220 1417 

Call us today 

101 Arapuni Rd, RD5, Te Awamutu 

Keena Henry 

07 870 6610 

200195AA


11 

KUBOTA Heavyweights M7 & MGX: 

Punching above its weight 

Kubota has received the prestigious 

iF DESIGN AWARD for its M7-1 Series 

tractor. Kubota’s M7-1 won the award 

in the Vehicle discipline. 

The M7-1 tractor won 

over the 58-member 

jury, made up of independent 

experts from all over 

the world, with its high efficiency 

engine of up to 170 

horsepower. The competition 

was intense: over 5500 entries 

were submitted from 59 countries 

in hopes of receiving the 

seal of quality. 

Each year, Germany’s oldest 

independent design organisation, 

Hanover-based iF International 

Forum Design GmbH, 

organises the iF DESIGN 

AWARD. For over 60 years 

the iF DESIGN AWARD has 

been recognised as an arbiter of 

quality for exceptional design. 

The iF label is renowned 

worldwide for outstanding 

design services, and the iF 

DESIGN AWARD is one of the 

most important design prizes in 

the world. 

“It is a great honour to 

receive the iF Design Award, a 

symbol of excellence esteemed 

worldwide,” said Hisato Kato, 

Kubota’s Design Centre General 

Manager. “The M7-1 

tractor is the first step towards 

realising Kubota’s emergence 

as a major global brand. Our 

innovative designs will be an 

ongoing contribution to the 

strengthening of our brand as 

we continue to create products 

that earn the trust of an ever 

greater number of customers.” 

The M7-1 range is manufactured 

in France and stands 

out for its exceptional lifting 

capacity and versatility for precision 

farming. 

THE M7-1 TRACTOR 

IS THE FIRST 

STEP TOWARDS 

REALISING KUBOTA’S 

EMERGENCE AS 

A MAJOR GLOBAL 

BRAND 

The Kubota M7-1 Series 

also features innovative SCR 

and DPF technology combined 

with a 6.1 litre diesel 

engine that reduces emissions 

exceeding Stage IV emission 

standards as well as its efficient 

air filtering system - thus, environmental 

friendliness is guaranteed. 

All the model variants of 

this high-performance tractor 

include 130/150/170 horsepower, 

and 20/20/5 horsepower 

Power Boost, ideal for heavy 

workloads. 

Precision is also enhanced 

thanks to its PTO selection of 

speeds, and automatic PTO 

engagement. Farmers will now 

save fuel and work at ease with 

its efficient overdrive technology 

that reduces the engine 

speed when needed. 

Comfort is also a common 

feature in M7-1 tractors, 

its variable transmission and 

convenient cabs being a good 

example of it. This innovative 

range of tractors was developed 

at the Kubota Design Centre in 

Osaka (Japan). 

Created in December 

2014, the Design Centre was 

established to carry out company-wide 

product design 

and strengthen the company’s 

brand strategy. 

These are innovations that 

prove Kubota’s commitment 

and global move in the mainstream 

agricultural market. 

Kubota is imported in New 

Zealand by C B Norwood 

Distributors Ltd. 

Call the Sales Team at Te 

Awamutu 07 872 0232 or 

Morrinsville 07 889 8505. 

Norwood Te Awamutu 

$4,990 

Kubota loader 

$3,000 

customer instant rebate 

Tokyo 2019 

entry 

5-year 

warranty 

3.95% 

over 36 months 

Largest cabin 

in its class 

Power Boost Engine 

3 range, 8 speed 

Terms 

Terms 

and 

and 

conditions 

conditions 

apply. 

apply. 

$4,990 

$4,990 

loader 

loader 

only 

only 

applies 

applies 

at 

at 

time 

time 

of 

of 

tractor 

tractor 

purchase. 

purchase. 

Genuine 

Genuine 

Kubota 

Kubota 

loader 

loader 

only 

only 

and 

and 

cannot 

cannot 

be 

be 

swapped 

swapped 

for 

for 

extra 

extra 

discount. 

discount. 

Tractor 

Tractor 

and 

and 

loader 

loader 

must 

must 

be 

be 

purchased 

purchased 

in 

in a 

single 

single 

transaction. 

transaction. 

$3000 

$3000 

Customer 

Customer 

instant 

instant 

rebate 

rebate 

applied 

applied 

at 

at 

time 

time 

of 

of 

purchase. 

purchase. 

Tokyo 

Tokyo 

2019 

2019 

draw 

draw 

conditions 

conditions 

and 

and 

entry 

entry 

criteria 

criteria 

apply. 

apply. 

Price 

Price 

quoted 

quoted 

includes 

includes 

loader 

loader 

and 

and 

CIR 

CIR 

applied 

applied 

at 

at 

time 

time 

of 

of 

purchase. 

purchase. 

Applies 

Applies 

to 

to 

purchases 

purchases 

from 

from 

21st 

21st 

September 

September 

2018 


through 

through 

until 

until 

31st 

31st 

December 

December 



or 

or 

while 

while 

stocks 

stocks 

last. 

last. 

CALL THE SALES TEAM 

MORRINSVILLE : Ph (07) 889 8505 

TE AWAMUTU : Ph (07) 872 0232 

$4,990 

Kubota loader 

$3,000 

customer instant rebate 

Tokyo 2019 

entry 

5-year 

warranty 

3.95% 

over 36 months 

Largest cabin 

in its class 

Power Boost Engine 

3 range, 8 speed 

Terms and conditions apply. $4,990 loader only applies at time 

of tractor purchase. Genuine Kubota loader only and cannot be 

swapped for extra discount. Tractor and loader must be purchased 

in a single transaction. $3000 Customer instant rebate applied at 

time of purchase. Tokyo 2019 draw conditions and entry criteria 

apply. Price quoted includes loader and CIR applied at time of 

purchase. Applies to purchases from 21st September 2018 through 

until 31st December 2018 or while stocks last. 

M135GX 

with loader 

$99,000+ GST 

after CIR 

18KB027


Hamilton businessman wins prestigious 

Australasian engineering award 

Hamilton businessman David Platts 

of PDV Consultants was this month 

awarded the prestigious Chemeca Medal 

at the Chemical Engineering Awards in 

Queenstown. 

A PDV wet scrubber at 

Fonterra Morrinsville. 

PDV Consultants is a 

global expert in food 

process technologies and 

systems design with offices in 

Hamilton and Belfast. 

Its team of chemical and 

process engineers has delivered 

projects for many of the 

world’s leading food companies 

including Fonterra, Tatua, 

the Dairy Goat Cooperative, 

Danone, Glanbia (Ireland and 

USA), Dairconcepts (USA), 

First Milk (UK), South West 

Cheese and others. 

The Chemeca Medal is 

awarded to a prominent New 

Zealand or Australian chemical 

engineer who has made 

an outstanding contribution, 

through achievement or service, 

to the practice of chemical 

engineering. 

Mr Platts, who has been 

working in the industry for 

more than 50 years, received 

the award at a dinner during 

the 47th annual Chemeca conference. 

A week earlier Mr Platts, 

67, had announced his retirement 

from PDV Consulting, 

the international engineering 

firm he founded 28 years ago 

with wife Anne Platts. 

“The Chemeca Medal is an 

award for the business, and for 

Anne and everyone who has 

contributed over the years,” 

says Mr Platts. “It comes at a 

really special time for us, as it 

is 28 years ago this week that 

Anne and I started our business. 

At the end of November, 

we’ll be retiring and this is a 

David and Anne Platts, who are retiring 

from PDV Consulting after 28 years. 

wonderful note to finish on.” 

The company was founded 

in October 1990 and over the 

past three decades has grown 

from two people to 25, with 

21 staff based at PDV’s Alexandra 

Street, Hamilton headquarters 

and four staff based 

in Ireland. “We started working 

out of our home office, just 

the two of us, and it’s grown 

exponentially over the years,” 

says Mr Platts. 

It’s a Waikato success 

story, and one that has operated 

largely under the radar. 

“We turn over up to $5 

million a year and we are a 

New Zealand-owned business 

that is highly technically 

competent and draws in quality 

people and revenue to the 

Waikato region and New Zealand,” 

says Mr Platts. “I’m 

really proud of that, because 

our business benefits the local 

economy.” 

Simply, tough 

& reliable. 

*WITHOUT TRAY

Together, keeping New Zealand beautiful for future generations. 

Every day, Waste Management collects, processes, recycles and extracts valuable resources from New Zealand’s waste. 

Through excellent management, we keep our communities cleaner and safer, making a positive impact on the lives of 

people and safeguarding our environment. 

All recycling Waste Management collects, is processed – which can include transporting, sorting, baling, containerising 

– in New Zealand. It is then sold to New Zealand customers or to international customers, who pay for the quality of the 

material we provide to them. 

Recycled waste 

collected 

Transportation Sorting Packaging and 

transporting 

Manufacturing / 

processing 

New products or 

alternative use 

As the global recycling market continues to adjust and change, to date we have been able to continue to sell all of our 

recyclable products as we have always done. We have maintained a range of customers outside China, and are constantly 

sourcing new customers for various types of recyclable material. 

We are also positively seeking new ways of recycling different materials. For example, we recently opened New Zealand’s 

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We have a great local team who offer invaluable experience, 

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Our local, friendly and experienced team at Waste Management are all 

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waste collection service that works for you – and our 

environment. 

Call 0800 10 10 10 to discuss how we can solve your rural waste 

requirements or visit wastemanagement.co.nz for a full list of services 

200073AA

New honey tool has industry buzzing 

Honey is a hot commodity, with New 

Zealand’s annual honey exports currently 

valued at $300 million - and growing. 

New Zealand produces 

around 15,000 to 

20,000 tonnes of honey 

annually, with most bought 

from supermarkets being 

blended. 

The importance of being 

able to correctly gauge the 

quality of honey has never 

been so important and a new 

web-based honey blending tool 

is set to save honey distributors 

significant amounts of time and 

money. 

Developed by a team of 

scientists and data analysts at 

Hill Laboratories, The Honey 

Blending Tool allows honey 

distributors to easily blend 

individual honeys to form a target 

blend for meeting specific 

sales and export criteria. 

The Honey Blending Tool 

won the Roy Paterson Trophy 

at the Apiculture New Zealand 

conference earlier this year, 

where it was recognised as the 

most innovative idea or invention 

designed to benefit beekeepers. 

“In a growing industry, 

exported honey must meet 

very strict criteria set by the 

Ministry for Primary Industries 

(MPI) and overseas markets,” 

says Hill Laboratories market 

sector manager for food, bioanalytical 

and microbiology 

Mark Jones. 

“Previously honey distributors 

could blend honey to just 

a few markers, such as MGO 

and sugar levels, but now with 

MPI’s tightened food safety 

regulations; exported honey 

has to meet much stricter and 

more complex criteria. 

“The Honey Blending Tool 

takes the guess work out and 

calculates exact honey blends 

to meet the criteria required.” 

To use the tool, honey distributors 

log in to a web-based 

portal and enter the exact compounds 

and specifications they 

want to achieve in their blend. 

The app then scans through the 

honey drums in their inventory 

and specifies the optimal set of 

drums to make the required target 

blend. 

A large-scale honey distributor 

can have more than 1000 

honey drums, weighing 300kg 

each, on site at a time. 

“The tool is easy to use, 

highly configurable, runs off a 

cloud-based system and produces 

secure results,” says 

Mark. 

It has already been used by 

a handful of Hill Laboratories 

clients while undergoing beta 

testing, and an updated version 

will be available for wider use 

in the coming months. 

The Honey Blending Tool 

can also take into account 

which market the honey is destined 

for and makes sure the 

target blend meets that country’s 

overseas market access 

requirements. 

“This is extremely important 

information to factor in for 

honey exports,” says Mark. 

“If you fail to meet the export 

country’s requirements, you 

risk not gaining access to the 

market and being able to sell 

your product there.” 

The tool has had positive 

feedback from industry and 

Dr Kyle Devey, research and 

development manager at Hill 

Laboratories, who led the 

development of the tool says 

he’s pleased with the end result. 

“In the next few months 

we’ll be working on some 

upgrades/refinements to the 

tool to get it ready for wider 

roll out to our honey clients. 

It’s got a lot of potential and 

we’re excited to see how it 

goes.” 

CEO Jonno Hill says the 

Honey Blending Tool is a 

reflection of Hill Laboratories’ 

commitment to enhancing the 

use of innovative technologies 

to benefit the primary sector. 

“Innovation is one of our 

driving values and we have a 

big focus on the honey industry, 

so we’re really invested in 

seeing it succeed.” 

Hill Laboratories key account manager Kellee Henton, 

Apiculture NZ CEO Karin Kos, Hill Laboratories sector 

manager Mark Jones, Apiculture NZ chair Bruce Wills.


15 

WELCOME 

TO THE LOOKOUT 

Modern, relaxed, spacious... 

Perched on the outskirts of Te Rapa, 

the Lookout is the perfect spot to enjoy a 

relaxed meal or toast a special occasion. 

HAPPY HOUR 

Our Happy Hour is everyday from 

4-6pm. Come on in and enjoy $7 tap 

beer and $6 house wine. 

LIVE MUSIC 

Chill out to our in-house musicians 

Joe McNamara, Simon Hirst and 

Roy Chou-Lee. Every Thur-Sun early 

evening (times vary) 

BOOK YOUR 

FUNCTION WITH US 

Ask us about our private function 

space ‘the terrace,’ perfect for all 

occasions big or small 

LOCATION: 60 Church Road, 

Pukete, Hamilton 3200 

CALL: (07) 974 5540 

EMAIL: info@thelookoutbar.co.nz 

HOURS: Mon-Sun 11am - late*


Unshackling a simple solution 

When it comes to innovation, Waikato 

has more than its fair share of clever 

minds. The Innovations Centre at New 

Zealand Agricultural Fieldays is a treasure 

trove of fresh ideas – and this year Chris 

Bransgrove and his business partner, 

Alistair Craig, were part of the line-up. 

As a hot air balloon pilot 

(making history flying 

New Zealand’s first 

owned single person hot-air 

balloon), Chris has long been 

something of a pioneer. He is 

unafraid to take risks – but 

always well thought out and 

carefully reasoned. And he 

has a dogged determination 

to nut out problems and see a 

project through to the end. 

Which is just as well, considering 

that his Nu-D shackle 

invention took four years 

to perfect. 

If you’ve ever hooked a 

trailer up to a tow ball, you’ll 

appreciate the simple elegance 

of Chris’ design. The Nu-D 

shackle can be tightened and 

loosened without tools. The 

design also incorporates a 

large pin head, which allows 

finger strength to be used. 

Traditionally shackles require 

a vice grip or similar tool to 

tighten and loosen. 

Created from high-quality 

carbon and alloy steel, drop 

forged, and heat-treated, the 

distinctive blue pin colour 

makes it easy to see if dropped 

on the ground or in water. 

Like many of the best 

ideas, the most common 

response to his Nu-D shackle 

is ‘why has no-one done this 

before?’. 

The answer is probably that 

few people are as tenacious 

as Chris, who kept plugging 

away at his invention despite 

constant hurdles. 

Following extensive trial 

and error and some challenging 

learning curves, Chris 

launched the Nu-D towing 

shackle at Fieldays 2018, 

with wife Wendy and business 

partner Alistair Craig. 

All three were ‘blown away’ 

by the response and feedback 

received. 

Fieldays visitors weren’t 

the only ones flocking to 

purchase the Nu-D towing 

shackle. It also got the tick 

of approval from Minister of 

Agriculture Damien O’Connor, 

who purchased some for 

himself. 

Megastore Bunnings is 

set to become the first major 

stockist, and the Nu-D team 

is in talks with several other 

brands looking to take the 

product on. 

The Nu-D stemmed from 

Chris’ own frustration at dealing 

with difficult-to-remove 

shackles (often on a boat or 

hot air balloon trailer) and 

regularly hearing of people’s 

predicaments of being caught 

out without the necessary 

tools for undoing traditional 

shackles. 

“Most days a trailer of 

Chris Bransgrove took four years to perfect his Nu-D shackle, which he took to 

Fieldays this year with his wife Wendy and business partner Alistair Craig. 

some sort is hitched up to my 

vehicle, and I was absolutely 

fed up at the daily fiddling 

around with shackles and tow 

bars,” he says. 

“I wanted my design to 

be completely self-sufficient 

and not require any 

additional tools, as this is a 

common problem; people 

arriving somewhere and discovering 

they’d forgotten a 

tool to loosen the shackle.” 

Business partner Alistair 

Craig, a chartered accountant, 

took control of organising patents 

for the Nu-D shackle in 

New Zealand, Australia, UK, 

US, and Europe. 

Despite riding high on 

the success of their Fieldays 

launch, they are grateful for 

the perseverance that saw 

them commit to seeing the 

project through to completion. 

Both Chris and his wife 

Wendy admit the process 

was a long road, requiring 

an unimaginable amount of 

energy and time. 

“First, there’s the challenge 

of the actual creative 

process and perfecting the 

design. This requires ongoing 

tweaks and testing. Then 

when you have the actual 

product cracked and you’re 

ready to celebrate and think 

‘this is it, we did it’, in many 

ways, it’s just the beginning of 

a larger journey,” Wendy says. 

The two main hurdles of 

‘operation shackle’ have been 

finding the right distributors 

and getting the product ready 

for market. 

“People don’t want to see 

you until everything is done 

and the product is ready to 

go on the shelves, so there’s 

also a need to keep it private 

until all those boxes had been 

ticked,” Wendy says. 

“Before you can even go 

and see a potential distributor, 

every element has to be done. 

Perfecting the design and getting 

the product made is just 

half of it. There are patents 

and trademarks and packaging 

and all sorts of things to 

overcome. 

“There’s a lot of upfront 

expense and you have to stay 

strong in your belief in your 

product and that it’s worth it.” 

CANSTAR BLUE AWARD WINNER 

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518 Te Rapa Road, 

Hamilton 

07 850 6447 

& 

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Hamilton 

07 847 7193 

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you time and money! 

www.oilchangers.co.nz


17 

Aaron Court Motel has opened a 

new cafe and everyone’s invited 

Aaron Court Motel, which sits on 

Hamilton’s accommodation strip at 250 

Ulster Street, has re-cently opened up its 

new cafe, Copper. 

By CAITLAN JOHNSTON 

The owners are using 

social media to get the 

message out there to 

make it clear the café is open 

to all. 

That’s because the café, 

which is situated inside the 

motel, is commonly mistaken 

by the public as only accessible 

to motel guests. 

However, that is not the 

case, says owner Linda Bulman. 

Before the café opened, 

the motel restaurant, Gerard’s, 

served breakfast, dinner and 

special occasion services. 

It became apparent to Linda 

that there was an increasing 

demand from her guests for an 

all-day casual option that had 

the benefit of serving lunch. 

“We’ve had an increasing 

demand from our customers to 

supply them with a cafe that 

would be able to cater to breakfast, 

lunch and dinner services 

as well as specialty range for 

occasions, conferences or meetings,” 

said Linda. 

Linda hopes the café, which 

boasts a relaxed atmosphere 

overlooking the pool, will 

become a day-time destination 

for anyone, not just her guests 

and customers. 

“Our biggest obstacle at the 

moment is making people realise 

that the cafe isn’t just for the 

motel guests,” says Linda. 

“We want to share our new 

space with everyone and we 

want people to be using it on a 

casual basis,” she says. 

To get the message out to the 

wider community, Linda has 

recruited some of her younger 

tech-savvy staff to take on 

the task of promoting the cafe 

through social media platforms 

such as Instagram. 

Linda hopes by breaking 

into the social media world she 

will be able to attract a different 

sort of crowd, as well as her 

usual business crowd, to the 

cafe. 

The cafe has been open for 

three months and it offers a 

flexible menu, a cabinet including 

many homely savouries and 

sweets and most importantly 

they have Manuka Bro’s coffee 

brewing at the ready. 

The cafe space is also used 

for the motel’s restaurant, 

Gerards, which is the longest 

running restaurant in Hamilton. 

The motel, which can 

accommodate up to 100 people, 

actually wasn’t always a motel. 

Aaron court employee Asha Nahna and owner 

Linda Bulman make the morning coffees at Copper. 

In the 1970s it was the wellknown 

Gerards restaurant and 

was surrounded by a lot of little 

motels. Over time the owners 

of the restaurant began buying 

the motels and that’s how it has 

grown to become Aaron Court, 

says Linda. 

Linda and her husband have 

owned the motel for 12 years 

after leaving the corporate 

industry when they decided 

they wanted to do something 

for themselves. Linda says they 

strive to transform the motel 

into a welcoming destination 

so that people can feel at home 

even when they’re away on holiday 

or for work. 

“It’s quite a long time to be 

in this industry and we love 

being able to provide for people 

when they’re away, we believe 

we’re quite intuitive when it 

comes to knowing what our 

customers need,” says Linda. 

The cabinet at Copper cafe is brimming 

with home style savouries and sweets. 

WE ARE NOW OPEN 

Come and see our new cafe 

Open 6.30am-9.30pm 

The perfect venue for: 

• Business and networking meetings 

• Coffee groups • Friday after work drinks 

• Small private functions we can cater 

up to 80 people • Sport groups 

Our catering and cafe menus are is 

prepared by our resident chefs. 

Menus can be personally designed to suit 

your individual group needs. Flexibility is 

certainly an option at Aaron Court Motor Inn. 

We would love to host your next event. 

Enquire now. Free off street parking 

250 Ulster Street, 

Whitiora, Hamilton 3200 

Phone 07 838 2599 

www.aaroncourt.co.nz/ 

aaron-court-motor-inn/hamilton

Last thing healthy waterways 

need is element of doubt 

With the Healthy Rivers Plan Change One hearings almost 

upon us, it is disappointing to see the Government has thrown 

a huge element of doubt into the equation with the recent 

announcements of new fresh water legislation that will possibly 

annul any outcome that could be achieved. 

www.nmmedia.co.nz 

Publisher Alan Neben 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

Mob: (021) 733 536 

Email: alan@nmmedia.co.nz 

12 Mill Street, Whitiora, Hamilton. 

Editor Richard Walker 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

Mob: (027) 814 2914 

Email: richard@nmmedia.co.nz 

Studio manager Tania Hogg 

Ph: (07) 838 1333 

Email: studio@nmmedia.co.nz 

Electronic forwarding Editorial: 

News releases/Photos/Letters: 

geoff@nmmedia.co.nz 

Advertising bookings: 

advertising@nmmedia.co.nz 

Instigating a new version 

of a National Policy 

Statement on Fresh Water 

(NPS-FM) and a new National 

Environmental Standard on 

water when we are so far down 

this track is like moving the 

goalposts for farmers and landowners, 

especially when recent 

studies have shown substantial 

improvements in the chemistry 

of our rivers and streams. 

There has been a study that 

shows a reduction in the Macro 

Invertebrate Index, an indicator 

of healthy water and ecosystems. 

Farming critics again 

move to blame agriculture, but 

of course ignore all the great 

riparian planting and wetland 

creation that farmers have 

done to get the initial improvements 

we have seen. 

Could it not be that the 

small native fish and associated 

life has been destroyed by 

introduced species like trout 

which are ironically protected 

by the Resource Management 

Act and NGOs like Fish and 

Game. 

Yet it is these NGOs who 

will be given greater powers 

in being able to draft up this 

new freshwater legislation at 

the expense of landowners and 

industry… the Government 

proclaims it has no idea why 

business and farmer confidence 

is plunging. 

With the continued mixed 

messaging around environmental 

commitments and perceived 

sustainability, agribusinesses 

are struggling to budget 

for the medium to long term 

with so many new variables in 

the mix. 

Many of these costs will 

have to be passed onto the 

end consumer, but if we are 

the only country in the world 

imposing these new variable 

costs onto our farmers then we 

will find that we are uncompetitive 

pricewise internationally 

very quickly, and production 

will shift offshore to more inefficient 

producers who could 

not care less about the environment. 

This will have a damaging 

impact on the world’s climate 

and environment as more rainforests 

are converted to food 

producing regions - ruled over 

by companies more than communities. 

So, if we really want these 

new production standards 

imposed then we will also have 

to accept the end of cheap food 

along with cheap petrol. Get 

used to the idea of paying $15 

for a cabbage or $8 for a litre of 

milk if it is to be home grown. 

While I understand some 

people’s impatience with rates 

of change, please be aware 

that complex things like water 

improvement don’t happen 

overnight, and the fact that we 

are seeing substantial improvements 

within a decade is testament 

to farmer and landowner 

By Andrew McGiven 

Federated Farmers 

Waikato President 

engagement and commitment 

to change to ensure our systems 

are sustainable and world 

leading so future generations 

can enjoy a pristine and natural 

landscape. 

I would hate to see all this 

good work undone by virtue 

signalling legislation that 

achieves nothing other than the 

decimation of the rural community 

and the natural guardians 

of the environment. 

LEADERS IN 

BOAT TRAILER DESIGN & PERFORMANCE 

Need a new 

boat trailer? 

Our trailers are 

• NZ made 

• Custom built 

• Functional 

Built for 

• Ease of launch/retrieve 

• Safer towing 

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70417

YOUR DESTINATION FOR ALL YOUR FUNCTIONS, AFTER WORK 

DRINKS OR JUST A CASUAL DINING EXPERIENCE 

The Helm is and always will be 

Hamilton’s Hospitality destination 

07 839 2545 

22 Ulster Street, Hamilton 

Email Us info@thehelm.co.nz 

Open: 

Monday - Friday, 12pm - Late 

Saturday - Sunday, 11am - Late

NOT EVERYTHING 

FROM THE CITY WORKS 

IN THE COUNTRY. 

SO GET THE RIGHT INSURANCE FOR YOUR LIFESTYLE BLOCK. 

City-sized clippers were never designed for a lifestyle block, and it’s the same with city-sized insurance. 

There are so many things you just won’t be covered for with your standard House and Contents policy. 

Whether it’s your goats escaping into the neighbour’s greenhouse, your tree falling onto your neighbour’s 

property, or your bridge or culvert getting washed out by a storm. That’s why you should talk to the 

rural insurance specialists at FMG. After all, we insure more lifestyle blocks than any other insurer, 

as well as looking after New Zealand’s farmers and growers for over 100 years. So call us today 

on 0800 366 466, or visit fmg.co.nz. 

We’re here for the good of the country. 

FMG0728WABN_LS

Waikato AgriBusiness News October 2018

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