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THURSDAY, <strong>07</strong>DECEMBER <strong>2023</strong> |THE GERALDINE NEWS |PAGE 5<br />
FULL RANGE OF LARGE AND SMALL<br />
VETERINARY SERVICES<br />
Professional,experienced andcaring<br />
rinarians Purpose-built, modern facilities<br />
Ample off-road parking<br />
24hr On-Call Emergency Services<br />
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PHONE: 93 9060<br />
EMAIL: clinic@gatewayvets.co.nz<br />
Over the lastseven years, Li and Michelle Tāne, pictured herewith daughters Thea (5) and Juniper (3), have designed and built almost everypart<br />
of the house themselves, including thefurniture. PHOTOS: Supplied<br />
The house that Li and Michelle built<br />
GIFT IDEAS<br />
Li andMichelle Tāne’s upperTeMoana off-grid<br />
home featured on TVNZ 1’s GrandDesigns New<br />
Zealand last week, generating adeluge of<br />
congratulations. “It’s been an outpouring of<br />
messagesofsupport from thecommunity,near<br />
andfar”, says Michelle.<br />
Nestled intheir top-of-the-catchment 50-<br />
hectarebackcountry block, theproject was, until<br />
last week, off-grid in terms ofthe public gaze<br />
as well as in terms ofpower supply. “Alot of<br />
people were surprised”, Michelle says, “but Li<br />
andIhave been workingonthisdream forclose<br />
to seven years.” She is ahorticulturalist; Li is<br />
an arborist.<br />
GrandDesigns NewZealand is atakeonthe<br />
British Grand Designs television show. Like<br />
theUnitedKingdom version, it tracks thedesign<br />
andconstructionofspecial houses from across<br />
thespectrumofhomedesign-andthe owners’<br />
experiences.<br />
Thehouse that Li andMichelle builtisspecial<br />
notonlybecause of itslocationand independence<br />
from powernetworks. It’s builtoframmedearth<br />
anddeciduous hardwood milledbythe pair.With<br />
a floor area of just over 100squaremetres, it also<br />
hasacool cellar. Energy is acombination of solar,<br />
awood rangewithawetback, andagashob.<br />
With GrandDesigns done anddusted, there’s<br />
plenty to get onwith. Aside from finishing<br />
“timberdetails” indoors, there’sthe backyard’s<br />
landscaping, says Michelle.“We’replantingthe<br />
whole site. We’ll put in paths, aglass house, a<br />
cage house for vegetables, and an orchard,<br />
probably over two years.” And then there are<br />
thefirst stepsinhomeschoolingtheir twoyoung<br />
daughters.<br />
“It’salife project”,Michellesays. Thelongview<br />
hastheir wholepropertyinscope. Asthe existing<br />
Pinusradiata crop maturesand is harvested, “we’ll<br />
be continuing to plantother species…Trees being<br />
plantedonour land aremixed species; native and<br />
exotic forecology,and timbersfor ourgrandchildren<br />
andgreat-grandchildren.... It’s been lovely to share<br />
thejourney.”<br />
To seemore,visittvnz.co.nz/shows/granddesigns-nz/episodes/s8-e6.go<br />
tothe Tānes’<br />
Instagram:this.is.home-offgrid.nz.<br />
JAN FINLAYSON<br />
The OldPost Office<br />
Geraldine •Open 7 days<br />
PHONE 03 6939<strong>07</strong>0<br />
PROUDLYSUPPORTING NZ MADE<br />
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