The Latest from Rural https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/ NZME Keep up with the latest rural news from around the regions with Newstalk ZB. 2024-03-28T15:44:13.606Z en School, community and grandkids help farmers plant over 2000 natives https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/school-community-and-grandkids-help-farmers-plant-over-2000-natives/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/school-community-and-grandkids-help-farmers-plant-over-2000-natives/ A nursery initiative to empower Waimakariri Irrigation Limited shareholders to grow native seedlings has proven successful on a Swannanoa farm.  Brian and Rosemary Whyte have grown more than 2000 plants during the last two years.  The initiative is part of a wider biodiversity project that aims to improve waterways throughout the irrigation co-operative’s scheme, with 297 sites of interest discovered during an initial biodiversity survey in 2018.  Key areas for restoration efforts include the Burgess Stream, Hunter’s Stream and the Cust River.  The native seedlings were planted along the first stretch of a 1.2-kilometre section of Burgess Stream which flows through the Whytes’ property and around a nearby irrigation buffer pond.  Waimakariri Irrigation Limited’s biodiversity project lead Dan Cameron said the site was an important part of the project due to its location near the springhead of the Burgess Stream.  “The restoration site is connected to the upper source of the Burgess Stream with four springheads converging to form the stream,” Cameron said.  “Once it gets to Brian and Rosemary’s property, it forms the main stem, and not far beyond here it leaves the boundary of the shareholder land.”  Cameron said the section of the stream chosen for the project had certain properties that made it ideal as an environmental restoration site.  “It’s relatively undisturbed, has a deep and wide well-defined riparian margin and stock has been excluded.  “There’s relatively moist soil near the water’s edge and meandering areas, which lend themselves to establishing the types of plant communities that would have been here before land use development.”  Cameron said these plants improved water quality by shading the stream and, in some cases, even assisting with the removal of nitrates from water in a way that complemented on-farm nutrient management.  “Carex secta colonises denitrifying bacteria in its roots which helps to naturally denitrify water and prevent sediment build-up.”  Back in 2019 when the first shareholder meeting was held at a neighbouring farm, the Whytes weren’t sure what the biodiversity project would involve.  However, they were happy for Cameron to visit their property and haven’t looked back since.  Brian said he was particularly interested in attempting to propagate the native broom that grew along the roadside of their property and planting it along the banks of their restoration site.  “When Dan first visited, I showed him the native broom that was growing along the road,” he said.  “Getting seed off it and managing to grow some in our greenhouse has been quite thrilling for me.”  Cameron said one of the highlights of working with the Whytes was being able to reverse the decline of indigenous biodiversity and witnessing the broom naturally regenerate at the planting site.  “Being able to harvest seeds from the native broom and growing what would have been naturally growing in the area before land use development is something quite rare.  “What is even more exciting is seeing broom naturally pop up at the planting site.”  The Whytes have enjoyed growing a range of native seedlings suitable for the conditions at their planting site.  The couple have grown New Zealand flax (harakeke), Edgar’s rush (wiwi), Carex secta (pūrei), toetoe, and cabbage tree (tī kōuka) in a raised greenhouse which contains a canopy roof and a watering system.  The only part of the process that was a bit tedious was the pricking out of individual seedlings, but Rosemary said having help from Cameron, as well as Swannanoa School, had made the process easier.  “When you have 500 seedlings to plant out it takes a while, which is why we were so grateful to have help from Swannanoa School, Dan, and a church youth group,” she said.  “Giving younger people a chance to get their hands in the dirt and plant something is important.”  With most of the planting around the wet margins of the stream edge completed, the focus is now on the sections further up the banks.  Different seedlings are being grown for this area as the bank is exposed to hot dry winds and is composed of free-draining soils.  Cameron is testing out ribbonwood seedlings for this area as they will be suitable for the conditions at Swannanoa, which is prone to hot northwest winds and minimal rainfall over the warmer months.  “In the first year, we stuck to what we knew would work best but in the second year, we branched out a bit.”  Ribbonwood was a woody species that was more tolerant of less moisture and heat, he said.  “Ultimately, we want to be able to shade the stream which will prevent the growth of weeds along the edge of the stream and in the water.”  Brian Whyte viewed biodiversity initiatives as having intergenerational benefits.  He encouraged other farmers to get involved.  “I think for me, it is the joy of something starting off as a seed, then potting it up and seeing it grow into a plant, then later it is ready to plant out on your site.  “Doing it yourself is a great thing and seeing my grandkids get involved is positive too.  “When the trees they planted are 20 feet high they will look back and appreciate the planting work that we did together.”  - The Country 2024-01-29T00:26:34.768Z 2023 FMG Young Farmer of the Year: O’Connor brothers go head-to-head in Grand Final https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/2023-fmg-young-farmer-of-the-year-o-connor-brothers-go-head-to-head-in-grand-final/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/2023-fmg-young-farmer-of-the-year-o-connor-brothers-go-head-to-head-in-grand-final/ Bragging rights are on the line in a brother-versus-brother match-up coming up for the Young Farmer of the Year grand final. Canterbury dairy farm manager Peter O’Connor, 25, won the right to contest the final in Timaru after winning the Aorangi competition. Younger brother Nick O’Connor, 20, is a Lincoln University student who gained entry in the seven-finalist field as the Tasman winner. This is the first time in the competition’s history that two siblings have competed in the same grand final. Rounding out the field are Northern contractor Lisa Kendall and Waikato/Bay of Plenty’s Emma Poole, Patrick Crawshaw from the East Coast, Taranaki/Manawatū’s Mac Williams and Otago/Southland’s Hugh Jackson. Among the onlookers will be the O’Connors’ West Coast dairy farming parents, Johno and Kate. Peter O’Connor said he and his brother had learnt invaluable skills growing up on a farm near Westport and hoped this would help them in the practical challenges. “Mum and Dad still run the dairy farm of about 600 cows back home that Dad developed out of pakihi land when we were growing up, flipped it all with diggers and knocked it into shape. “We’ve been part of the farm development and learned a lot of skills along the way through that like tractor driving and fencing and waterlines so that gives us a base to those practical skills.” He was successful in his fourth attempt at the Aorangi regional contest to make the final and has experience on the centre stage after winning the New Zealand Dairy Trainee of the Year award last year. “It’s been a goal for a few years and a challenge and good to finally get to a grand final. Ideally, I’d like to take it out, but anything can happen so we will just wait and see. “There’s always a bit of luck involved with what happens on the day. I’m comfortable that as long as I’m doing my best I will have a shot and hopefully rise above a bit of luck.” He’s been putting in extra homework in areas outside of his dairying strength such as sheep and beef, deer and arable farming and is expecting a few curve balls to come the finalists’ way. The brothers have been in contact with each other a couple times a week and it’s been reassuring for them knowing they’re both in the same boat. They’ve carried out a few quiz practice nights together and talked over competition points, but have also done their own study. Peter said it would be hard to separate the brotherly ties in a national competition and his younger brother was probably feeling the same. “There is sibling rivalry there obviously, but seeing him as just another competitor I don’t think that will be easy to put in my head. “We grew up together on a farm and went to boarding school with him for a year and I’m very close to him, but it’s still a competition at the end of the day.” He knows bragging rights are at stake. “The first goal is to beat my brother and the second is to win the whole thing so that puts it into perspective,” he quipped. “He won’t let me live it down [if he beats me] as he’s five years younger.” The brothers are nephews of Minister of Agriculture Damien O’Connor. “I think he’s been pretty diplomatic about who he’s supporting. “He pretty much said just enjoy it and I think he might be over in the UK doing something with the free trade agreement so I don’t know if he’ll be able to be there, but I’m sure he will be keeping tabs on what’s happening.” The three-day event, with finalists contesting a prize pool worth $70,000, has an opening ceremony and parade through the town centre today. The competition starts with Friday’s Practical Day in a series of machinery, livestock and other agricultural challenges at the Winchester showgrounds and culminates in a buzzer quiz at the Southern Trust Event Centre on Saturday night. Running alongside this will be the next generation contesting the AgriKidsNZ and Junior Young Farmer of the Year finals. Also being held is the NZYF Tournament National Final with 55 members competing for fencing, clay target, livestock judging and debating titles. - Tim Cronshaw, ODT 2023-07-06T00:25:56.000Z Rural crime: Canterbury lifestyle block owner shoots down drone over burglary fear https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/rural-crime-canterbury-lifestyle-block-owner-shoots-down-drone-over-burglary-fear/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/rural-crime-canterbury-lifestyle-block-owner-shoots-down-drone-over-burglary-fear/ A lifestyle block owner shot down a drone over his Canterbury property because he feared it was being operated by a burglar. It comes as concerns grow over drones being used by criminals to case out homes and a rise in burglaries across Canterbury. A Lincoln resident, who only wanted to be known by his first name Andy, said a friend of his on a lifestyle block on Old Tai Tapu Rd shot the drone down as it hovered within 12m of his house earlier this month. The friend did not want to be identified or talk to the Selwyn Times. “It was a long way from the road, in the wrong place, and should not have been there,” said Andy. “I think probably the best option was taken. “At the end of the day, if someone wants to fly one of those, there’s plenty of parks and recreation areas for them. You don’t have to be flying it over people’s houses.” He said since his friend shot it down – using a firearm he had on the property for shooting pests – no one had come forward to ask where their drone was. After shooting it down he threw it in the rubbish. He did not report the incident to police. Selwyn residents have been voicing concerns on social media about drones, many believing burglars are using them to case out homes. There was a 13 per cent increase in burglaries in the district over the last year to March 1. A Rosemerryn, Lincoln, resident said on the Lincoln community Facebook page she saw a drone hovering over her house and neighbouring homes at 5.15 am on June 13.  “(It) flew off when it saw someone outside. Could have been innocent, but it feels a bit invasive at that time of morning,” she said. There were two reports from women about the “super weird” experience of being followed by drones. One of the incidents happened in the reserve at Liffey Springs. On the Leeston/Southbridge/Ellesmere Facebook page an anonymous member queried why there was a drone flying over houses on the morning of June 12. Drones had also been heard at night. Canterbury police said late last year drone activity was increasing in rural areas. But police told the Selwyn Times on Monday they were not aware of any recent reports of drone use in the district. It is against the law to fly drones at night, over people, or over private land. The Civil Aviation Authority advises it is illegal to shoot down drones. Anyone concerned about drone use can contact the authority. If you feel endangered by a drone, phone 111. - Susan Standys, Star News 2023-06-22T00:20:08.000Z It’s back: Cat-hunting tournament returns to Canterbury after public backlash https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/it-s-back-cat-hunting-tournament-returns-to-canterbury-after-public-backlash/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/it-s-back-cat-hunting-tournament-returns-to-canterbury-after-public-backlash/ A Canterbury cat-killing tournament that drew local and global scrutiny has returned, the competition organisers have announced. In a remarkable move, the category that was removed by its organisers because of public backlash has been re-added to the competition running this week. The North Canterbury Hunting Competition will now allow adults to hunt and kill feral cats using box traps and a “minimum” .22 rifle. Hunters must be at least 10km from any residential or lifestyle blocks and communicate with farmers and their neighbouring properties when hunting to ensure boundaries and permission are respected. “If in doubt do not kill,” the tournament instructions read. The annual fundraiser announced a similar category back in April, encouraging children aged 14 and under to hunt and kill as many feral cats as possible. Whoever killed the most was promised a prize of $250. Tournament organiser Matt Bailey has defended his decision to reinstate the category - albeit with altered rules. He told NZME they received “overwhelming support” from rural New Zealand and numerous others when the backlash began to flood in. “Yeah, we copped a bit of backlash originally when we put this into the kids’ section, at the time we didn’t realise it was going to go around the world as it did,” said Bailey. “There’s zero risk that a domestic cat will be caught up, hunters will be well out the back of properties, and there’s nothing to worry about.” Bailey claimed the voices talking down the competition had changed from “cat lovers” to “animal lovers” - or people who feel hunting competitions are a bad thing. “This is about raising awareness about the damage these feral, apex predators do to our native species. We’ve taken their side on this one in the hope to make it more mainstream among the hunting community.” The previous form of the tournament drew mass criticism from the village locals, the SPCA, Safe For Animals and drew overseas media attention. Even British comedian, Ricky Gervais weighed in on the competition and mocked the rules. North Canterbury Hunting Competition's new format for cat killing category. Safe has spoken out to slam the reintroduction of the category and said there was still a significant risk of somebody’s pet being killed. “I highly doubt these people will be carrying microchip scanners to identify these cats,” said Will Appelbe, a spokesperson for Safe. “Even if they did have scanners, they may not be able to use them. Companion cats can act feral when they’re trapped in a cage, making identification very difficult.” Appelbe said there was “little to no difference in the physical appearance of feral, stray and pet cats”. Christchurch Animal Save will be organising a protest at the competition’s final weigh-in on Sunday at midday. Bailey said he’s aware of the protest and will permit people to express their opinions at the tournament’s conclusion. “I have seen about the protest, everybody has a different perspective,” he said. “We’ll choose the side of NZ native species and heritage there. That’s their thing, we’ll do our thing.” 2023-06-20T22:42:39.000Z Mycoplasma bovis: Former Southland Rural Support Trust chair reflects on helping farmers cope https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/mycoplasma-bovis-former-southland-rural-support-trust-chair-reflects-on-helping-farmers-cope/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/mycoplasma-bovis-former-southland-rural-support-trust-chair-reflects-on-helping-farmers-cope/ Central Southland dairy farmer John Kennedy finds it hard to talk about a tough period of his life. He was the Southland Rural Support Trust chairman when cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis arrived in the district. “It was really traumatic for me,” he said, reflecting on the time. Since the disease was discovered in New Zealand in 2017, more than 180,000 cattle have been culled from nearly 300 farms. He had been part of the trust since its inception in Southland in 2008 including five years as chairman. “It was 10 times more traumatic for the farmers involved.” The disease never entered any of the herds on his four neighbouring dairy farms on the Oreti Plains, near Winton. However, providing support to fellow farmers during the tough time and the feelings of hopelessness had him sinking towards depression for the first time in his life. “There was a little bit you could do but it felt like shadowboxing.” During that time, the Ministry for Primary Industries gave the trust lists of the Southland farmers potentially impacted by the disease. The ministry had to contact the farmers before the trust was allowed to reach out. He dreaded the day the ministry issued a new list, as he always knew many of the people on them. After a year of leading the response in Southland, he decided, “Enough was enough” and stepped back to protect his own mental health. “I got to a point where I rang up Cathie [current trust chairwoman Cathie Cotter] and said I can’t do this anymore.” Talking to Southern Rural Life in his lounge about the time brought all the feelings back. “It was the toughest time in my life ... and I don’t want to think about it anymore,” he said. After the disease was detected in New Zealand, the system to respond to it was “cumbersome and unworldly”. He expected responses to future outbreaks to run more smoothly and be more effective by removing unnecessary levels of bureaucracy to allow more decision-making at a local level, rather than them having to be signed off in Wellington. “That made a lot of extra work and expense.” He had been a dairy farmer for about 50 years. He moved to Southland in 1992 after dairy farming south of Auckland. In Southland, he joined the trust after responding to an advertisement in a newspaper calling for people to form a group to help people when an adverse event hit the region. “I thought I’d go and see what it was all about.” About seven people showed up and everyone got a position on the trust. The trustees helped people during a tough time, despite having no official training on how to provide support. “I don’t think it takes a lot of skill to be empathetic.” The trust “cut its teeth” during the snowstorm in 2010, he said. A big change since he started at the trust was people talking openly about the importance of looking after their mental health and “keeping yourself right”. Trust members referred people to other service providers, such as counsellors and vets, to help “facilitate a solution”. “We are conjugates to other organisations.” He praised the stakeholders he had worked with through the trust, such as stock firms, Civil Defence and Federated Farmers. If the trust ever needed him, he had made himself available as a volunteer. It had been a pleasure to be part of an effective organisation for more than 15 years, he said. “It’s been really enjoyable.” - Shawn McAvinue, ODT RURAL HELP Where to get help:• Rural Support Trust: 0800 787 254• Lifeline: 0800 543 354 (available 24/7)• Suicide Crisis Helpline: 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)• Youthline: 0800 376 633• Whatsup: 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm)• Depression helpline: 0800 111 757 (available 24/7)If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111. 2023-06-06T23:02:15.000Z Wallaby spotted in Kinloch https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/wallaby-spotted-in-kinloch/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/wallaby-spotted-in-kinloch/ Locals are asked to be on the lookout for wallabies after one was spotted in a Kinloch garden. The introduced mammals are not yet thought to have established themselves around Lake Taupō, and the Ministry for Primary Industries is trying to keep it that way. Dama wallabies are the main species found in the North Island, having been introduced from Australia in the late 1800s for hunting and fur production purposes. Although they are only half a metre tall and vegetarian, John Walsh, Biosecurity New Zealand’s director of readiness and response, said their impact should not be underestimated. “Wallabies are a significant pest and threat to our environment and native species habitat.” He said, given the distance between this sighting and current known populations, MPI could not rule out that a human was responsible, warning of the high potential cost to anyone caught in the act. “It is illegal to have, hold, move or transport wallabies in New Zealand without a specific permit. “As an individual, you can be fined up to $100,000 and/or sent to prison for up to five years.” Sarah Tunnicliffe, Department of Conservation senior biodiversity ranger for the area, said the organisation will also be monitoring the situation. “We are aware of the recent sighting. The regional council already has hunters in the area and will let us know if the hunters are successful. “We have asked to be informed of any future sightings.” There have been five reported wallaby sightings in the Taupō-Tūrangi area in the last few years. Two of these were confirmed, with one caught and the other unaccounted for. Anyone who sees a wallaby, or signs such as paw prints or poo, is urged to report the sighting on www.reportwallabies.nz. - Milly Fullick, RDP 2023-05-16T00:26:41.000Z Duck hunting: Fish & Game records impressive bird numbers ahead of season https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/duck-hunting-fish-game-records-impressive-bird-numbers-ahead-of-season/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/duck-hunting-fish-game-records-impressive-bird-numbers-ahead-of-season/ RNZ A wet spring and summer mean game bird populations are thriving ahead of the hunting season opening this weekend. Fish & Game is expecting well over 65,000 hunters to turn out for what is anticipated to be one of the best seasons in years. Chief executive Corina Jordan said the weather has provided optimum conditions for brood rearing, with plenty of wet and ponded areas providing ample food. “Fish & Game undertake population monitoring each year and we record the number of birds, we do aerial counts, we fly drones and we count on lakes and so we’ve got some of the highest numbers ever recorded in parts of the country. “There are great numbers in the middle of the North Island, but I mean everywhere pretty much has good numbers, so wherever you go as a hunter, you’re going to have a great opportunity.” Meanwhile, Canada geese populations were also at record levels in places, despite no longer having a controlled shooting season. The birds caused significant damage to waterways and pasture, and they were classified as a pest. “We haven’t been able to reduce those numbers even though they’ve been moved out of the game schedule so people can hunt them at any time, as long as they’re operating in accordance with firearm safety rules.” Jordan, who will be joining other hunters and tangata whenua at Te Waihora Lake Ellesmere, said the forecast for opening weekend is looking good.  “A little bit drizzly and a little bit overcast, so the ducks will be flying low. “So much of opening weekend is about the tradition of coming together to spend time with loved ones and enjoying being in the outdoors. Ask hunters, and there’s most certainly a wellness aspect to it. “In many small rural towns, a festival-type atmosphere descends in the week before opening, with shops and houses festooned in camo and duck-hunting livery.” The collective harvest of wild, free-range game birds for friends and family, providing safe, sustainable food for families, cannot be overlooked when the country is in a cost-of-living crisis, she said. - RNZ 2023-05-02T22:07:40.000Z Puahanui Bush rabbit exclosures a way forward for native biodiversity https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/puahanui-bush-rabbit-exclosures-a-way-forward-for-native-biodiversity/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/puahanui-bush-rabbit-exclosures-a-way-forward-for-native-biodiversity/ Rabbit numbers have been steadily increasing in many areas of Hawke's Bay over the past 10 years, but with help from Biodiversity Hawke's Bay their days at Central Hawke's Bay's Puahanui Bush could be numbered. The Gwavas/Tikokino area has particularly high rabbit numbers and as they have increased they have started living more within the regenerating bush, not just on the edges. Funding from Biodiversity Hawke's Bay enabled six rabbit exclosure plots to be built at Puahanui Bush in 2019 to measure the impact of rabbit browsing on this significant podocarp forest. "Damage caused by rabbits and hares has long been acknowledged to be a major contributor to the decline of native vegetation in New Zealand," says Puahanui Bush project manager and ecologist Kay Griffiths. However, there hasn't been a lot of data recorded specifically about the impacts on shrublands or forest. "Rabbits will eat virtually any plants when hungry, but prefer seedlings and saplings, and like many browsers will eat the most palatable first," Kay says. "Rabbit sign is seen everywhere through the bush – this includes droppings, scratchings, burrows – and of course seeing the rabbits themselves. "We have also had trail cameras in operation at times on the exclosure sites – and sure enough rabbits are visiting the area every night." The experiment with the rabbit exclosure plots, the first of its kind in Hawke's Bay, compared six 2.5m x 2.5m paired plots (open and closed areas) randomly throughout the 130ha forest. Biodiversity Hawke's Bay general manager Debbie Monahan says this project is "a great example of how we can support local community initiatives to get off the ground. Kay is passionate about biodiversity and committed to the restoration of the Puahanui Bush and it's an honour to support the Gwavas - Puahanui Charitable Trust in the work they do to manage and restore the bush." Kay says, "Data from the plots, re-measured after one year, confirmed our observations, that rabbits and hares are having a measurable impact on seedling recruitment and survival within Puahanui Bush." Deer and pigs are also likely to be having an overall impact on seedling and sapling recruitment and survival, however rabbits are the most numerous of these browsers. Kay says the data shows a trend of loss of species density and diversity in the open plots. Without control of rabbits, it is likely this general trend of loss of species diversity and loss of seedling recruitment and survival will affect the long-term regeneration processes that are usual in a fully functioning forest ecosystem. "The results and this data have been instrumental in confirming the observations we have seen on the ground," Kay says. "To ensure these ecosystem processes are re-established within Puahanui Bush, rabbits must be controlled to zero density within the bush." Kay will be including the data collected in this experiment to support applications for additional funding for rabbit proofing and control in the Puahanui Bush. "We have just applied to Lottery's Environment and Heritage Fund for a grant to control the rabbits and fence them out of the bush. This is done with rabbit-proof fencing. Control will be a mix of baiting and follow up with physical hunting. We should know the outcome of that funding bid in June." 2022-04-27T00:31:46.000Z Former John Paul College head girl Julia Florence dies in farm accident https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/former-john-paul-college-head-girl-julia-florence-dies-in-farm-accident/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/former-john-paul-college-head-girl-julia-florence-dies-in-farm-accident/ Friends and family are mourning the loss of a "young woman with massive potential" who died after a tragic farm accident on Tuesday.  Julia Florence, a former head girl at John Paul College and representative rugby player, died after the accident on a rural property in Cardiff - a settlement just west of Stratford.  A written statement on behalf of the Florence whānau said: "She was a precious and much-loved sister and daughter."  It said she "always lived life to 110 per cent" and was a "proud member" of the Ohope Volunteer Fire Brigade.  A police spokesperson said Florence died after a farm vehicle rolled on the property.  Emergency services were called to the scene on Poto Rd about 8.45pm that night.  WorkSafe has been advised and police continue to make inquiries in relation to the death on behalf of the Coroner.  John Paul College principal Patrick Walsh described the "bright, bubbly and positive" former head girl as a "young woman with massive potential".  It was "really, really tragic" Florence's life had been cut short, he said.  "It is devastating news.  "She was an outstanding athlete, a representative in rugby and role model. She had an infectious smile and was loved by everybody."  Walsh said Florence had "amazing interpersonal skills and a great sense of humour".  She had spent the duration of her secondary schooling at the Rotorua college and was named head girl in 2018.  "Our hearts and thoughts go out to the Florence family," he said.  "Her family are deeply religious and they have an incredibly strong Catholic faith. I am sure they would appreciate as much karakia for Julia as they can get."  Communication had been sent to staff and students on Wednesday morning after he was made aware of the incident.  "It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I let you know that a former student, Julia Florence has passed away," the email read.  A team photo of the Whakarewarewa Women's Rugby Team in 2017. Photo / Supplied  John Paul College teacher in charge of rugby Tim Hounsell said he was "pretty broken" after hearing the news.  Hounsell coached Florence in rugby from Year 9 to Year 13 describing her as a "champion for sport".  Florence and her older sister approached Hounsell when he first started at John Paul College in 2014 requesting he help set up girls' rugby teams.  "We have had success in girls' rugby since then."  Since starting at John Paul College the rugby whānau became a "massive part of her", he said.  Florence also played for the Whakarewarewa women's XV team and represented the Bay of Plenty in secondary school rugby.  In 2018 she was named the Bay of Plenty secondary schools' player of the year.  "She was just an incredible young woman. An absolute beast on the field and that dedication and determination was rewarded in that final year at JPC being head girl.  "She had a lot of heart and a lot of passion for people."  Hounsell said it was rare to find a player that loved the sport but also wanted to "give something back" to it with Florence helping coach younger students in her senior years.  "You don't get that very much in some players. They are there to play and that's them. But Jules always wanted to give something back," he said.  "You asked her to do something, it wasn't 20 per cent or 30 per cent. It was well over 100. She gave it her all."  She also was involved in hockey, cross country, adventure racing, water polo and athletics at school, he said.  A written statement issued by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union described Florence as an "advocate" and a "respected and valued member of all Bay representative teams" forming strong friendships through the sport.  "She was an advocate to all younger girls and promoting the game to them and simply to give it a go," it read.  "We wish to send all our love and support to Julia's family during this time."  A spokeswoman for WorkSafe said it had been notified and were investigating the incident.  WorkSafe understood it occurred in the Stratford area.  "As the matter is now under investigation, we are unable to comment further."  Florence's funeral notice said she was the "beautiful and much-loved daughter of Darren and Rosie, sister to Molly, Ella, Lily, Will, Tilde, Samara and Cullum".  Requiem mass for Florence will be held at the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Hamilton followed by a private burial at Reporoa Cemetery on December 29 at 11am.  The Florence whānau have requested that in lieu of flowers people donate to the Ohope Volunteer Fire Brigade.  2021-12-17T20:05:31.000Z Hawke's Bay's largest ever live export shipment: 14,000 cattle off to China https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hawkes-bays-largest-ever-live-export-shipment-14-000-cattle-off-to-china/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hawkes-bays-largest-ever-live-export-shipment-14-000-cattle-off-to-china/ A ship carrying up to 14,000 cattle will leave for Napier for China on Sunday, marking the single largest export of livestock ever carried out in Hawke's Bay.  The Al Kuwait is a purpose-built live export ship and arrived in port overnight on Thursday.  The Ministry of Primary Industries has approved an application for Al Kuwait to export 14,000 cattle to China.  However, the final number of cattle may change after veterinarians have inspected the animals before loading.  It is expected to take four days to load the cattle onto Al Kuwait, with an estimated departure date of Sunday.  Hawke's Bay woman Caz Petterson, who has organised protests against live animal export said there would be no official protest from animal rights groups as they had prior commitments.  Al Kuwait is the eleventh livestock vessel to dock at the Napier port since the tragic sinking of Gulf Livestock 1, where two New Zealanders lost their lives.  After the sinking of Gulf Livestock 1 last year, the Government said the export of livestock by sea would cease following a transition period of up to two years.  Petterson said that delay was "not good enough".  "I can't see any explainable reason why they need two years to stop it."  MPI animal health and welfare director Dr Chris Rodwell said exports will continue until April 2023, depending on demand and supply.  "All shipments are subject to fully meeting MPI's animal health and welfare standards."  - Maddisyn Jeffares, Hawkes Bay Today 2021-11-17T22:04:40.000Z National's 'gone by lunchtime' comments on water 'stupid, 'reckless' – Govt https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/nationals-gone-by-lunchtime-comments-on-water-stupid-reckless-govt/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/nationals-gone-by-lunchtime-comments-on-water-stupid-reckless-govt/ National has come under fire from the Government's agriculture and environmental Ministers for "stupid" and "reckless" comments about its freshwater policies. This comes after National committed to completely scrapping the Government's freshwater regulations if it's elected to Government. "They're gone by lunchtime," the party's agriculture spokesman David Bennett said in a Facebook Live last night, talking about the water policy. His leader, Judith Collins, was critical of what she saw as bureaucrats in Wellington making all the rules when it comes to farmers, particularly in Southland. She was sick of these people "bossing everyone else around". "We should just boss out those regulations." But, speaking to reporters this afternoon, Environment Minister David Parker warned National against using the "gone by lunchtime" phrase. "That phrase didn't work for Don Brash last time they used it – and it won't work this time." This is a reference to the time then National-leader Don Brash said his party would scrap the then Labour Party's ban on nuclear-powered ships "by lunchtime". Parker said: "What would be gone by lunchtime would be the clean, fresh water that we rely upon for our brand and that we need in order to have rivers clean enough to swim in," if National got its way. He said that National was attempting to appeal to its base – "Judith Collins' polling has gone down from 35 per cent to 25 per cent. They are trying to shore up their base, instead they are evaporating it". And Agriculture Minister Damien O'Connor was not having a bar of Bennett's comments either. "It's a stupid statement [which] flies in the face of what most New Zealander's want." Even James Shaw, Climate Change Minister, climbed into the debate. "I think it's an absurd statement from someone who is obviously getting increasingly desperate the closer to Election Day we are." In a press released, the Greens called National's comments "reckless". The new freshwater rules come into effect on September 3 and follow a period of consultation where – according to DairyNZ boss Tim Mackle – there have been some "significant changes" to the initial proposal. But some elements of freshwater regulations have come under fire. Southland Federated Farmers president Geoffrey Young, for example, has urged farmers not to get resource consent for some aspects of winter grazing. But this morning, the Government made some changes to that part of the policy. The new rules are around pugging – when wet soil is churned up by heavy livestock, such as cows. The rules aimed to prevent bogging, which would have animal welfare concerns. But they have been changed to make them less restrictive around high traffic areas of paddocks, such as fixed troughs and gateways. O'Connor said these rules, as they stood, were simply not practical and has been changed. 2020-08-26T16:41:59.527Z 'Tragic start' to 2020: Six farm deaths in eight days https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/tragic-start-to-2020-six-farm-deaths-in-eight-days/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/tragic-start-to-2020-six-farm-deaths-in-eight-days/ By Eleisha Foon of RNZ Six people have died in workplace incidents on New Zealand farms in six days this year. The latest death came today when one person died in a quad bike crash on a Wharepuhunga farm, south of Cambridge, on Friday, January 10. Another death earlier last week included a 67-year-old man who died when the tractor he was driving rolled down a bank at the Goldfields Mining Centre near Cromwell last Wednesday. The centre closed most of its operations last Thursday as it awaited the arrival of WorkSafe investigators. The other deaths also involved farm vehicles and are being investigated. WorkSafe head of general inspectorate Jo Pugh said the deaths were preventable. "It's been an absolute tragic start for us in New Zealand this year. The sad thing is this is the time of year when we are meant to be enjoying the summer". As a nation, she said we were "very slow in our maturity towards risk assessment". "We don't really think about the risks and don't think they will happen to us". Pugh said the country needed to change the way it viewed health and safety. It's seen as a "compliance issue or a payment issue". "We need to move away from that. Health and safety is actually about caring about people and thinking wisely about the risks you might be facing and then putting steps in place to manage that" Pugh said. There were many good practical things people could do to prevent injuries and death, she said. "Make sure you use the right vehicle for the task. Install crush protection devices on quad bikes, make sure you wear your seatbelt and if you're on a quad or motorbike - wear a helmet - and never let children be in charge of an adult vehicle". Six deaths in eight days January 3: One killed after side-by-side vehicle (utility vehicle) crashed at Tamahere, near Hamilton.•January 4: Chilean student Rocio Atencio Salazar (19), died in a crash on a rural property near Ashburton.•January 6: A person died in a quad bike accident in Ohakune in the central North Island.•January 8: Man dies after tractor rolls in Kawarau Gorge, near Cromwell.•January 9: Tree falls on person at Raukumara forestry block near Gisborne.•January 10: Quad bike crash on a Wharepuhunga farm, south of Cambridge. 2020-01-13T01:34:13.000Z Hyundai unveils New Zealand's first hydrogen powered car https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hyundai-unveils-new-zealands-first-hydrogen-powered-car/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hyundai-unveils-new-zealands-first-hydrogen-powered-car/ Hyundai has unveiled New Zealand's first zero emissions, hydrogen-powered SUV at Fieldays but it could be some months before it hits this country's roads while an infrastructure is built to support the technology. Hyundai NZ spokesman Gavin Young said the company was working with the 29 other members of the New Zealand Hydrogen Association to provide the infrastructure, and expected the fuel cell system-driven vehicles would be available well within two years. The price of the vehicle "which feels like an electric car to drive" is unknown at this stage. The first Nexos will be released in Auckland, followed by Taranaki. Hyundai was working with the Ports of Auckland on refuelling solutions, Young said. While the Nexo SUV is Hyundai's second generation of commercialised fuel cell electric vehicle, it's a first for New Zealand. With full tanks, the Hyundai Nexo hydrogen-powered car can go 660km before refuelling. Photo / Supplied The global launch of the vehicle was early last year in Korea. It is on the road in Norway, US, Korea, Germany and the UK. The Nexo produces zero emissions and has an air purification system which filters 99.9 per cent of fine dust, emitting only water and clean air into the environment. The vehicle shows the exact amount of air purified on the display panel in the car. An on-board electric motor produces 120kW and a torque of 395Nm, drawing power from an under-bonnet fuel cell stack, which combines oxygen from the surrounding air with hydrogen from Nexo's high-pressure storage tanks. The result is electricity to power the motor and charge the battery. With full tanks of hydrogen on board, Nexo is capable of traveling 605km before it needs to refuel, which takes some five minutes. Young said the vehicle can accelerate from zero to 100km per hour in 9.2 seconds. The Nexo features drive assistance technologies including smart parking assist and remote parking assist. The byproduct of a hydrogen fuel cell is water, expelled from the tail pipe. This water is clean enough to support tank fish, said Hyundai. A large tank of healthy-looking fish was on hand at the Fieldays stand to support the claim. Hyundai New Zealand was one of the founding members and the first automotive manufacturer to join the NZ Hydrogen Association in 2018.   2019-06-12T04:01:29.000Z Fight against 1080 goes to Te Taitokerau Māori Land Court https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/fight-against-1080-goes-to-te-taitokerau-maori-land-court/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/fight-against-1080-goes-to-te-taitokerau-maori-land-court/ An urgent injunction has been lodged in the Māori Land Court Te Taitokerau to stop the Department of Conservation making 1080 drops over public or private land. The injunction was accepted at the Te Taitokerau land court in Whangārei on Thursday afternoon on the grounds of the urgency of the case, said a spokesman for the applicants. The injunction will be considered today. Lodged by Northland men Riki Ngatoki and Hayward Brown, it was prepared with the help of Nga Tikanga Māori Law Society Inc. The Department of Conservation (DoC) is due to drop 1080 poison over Russell State Forest and part of Cape Brett in the next two weeks, weather permitting, after laying taster bait last week. A spokeswoman said a copy of the injunction was delivered to the Whangārei office late last week. DoC has called off all planned drops until the outcome of the injunction is known, she said. DoC could not comment further while the matter was in that process. The injunction did not specify the Northland drops but applied to the use of 1080 anywhere over Māori land in New Zealand, Ngatoki said. Another case is expected to be heard in the Environment Court this week, lodged by Auckland opponents of 1080 trying to stop a drop in the Hunua Ranges. But Nga Tikanga Māori Law considers the matter its injunction is based on is about land and ownership rights. It is understood Māori Land Court injunction refers to land boundaries and legal descriptions in the intended Northland drop zone. Ngatoki said the underlying argument is about returning to tangata whenua the right to say what happens on Māori-owned land. He said poisoning the land and water was not part of the values of past generations or of tikanga Māori. In recent weeks, it was announced a 20-year forest health plan led by neighbouring hapu in partnership with DoC would manage the pest control and restoration of the badly affected Russell forest. The Cape Brett drop had been tacked on to the greater Russell Forest operation at the request of landowners in that locale. It was not a DoC- or hapu-instigated plan but its inclusion was considered timely to share operation costs. A roopu mangai, or lead group, of representative from the nine hapu within the affected Russell Forest areas and drop zone has been charged with sharing information back to marae and other hapu groups. Opponents have questioned the level of consultation and depth of information-sharing leading up to the planned poison drops. While not disputing the fact the forests are being decimated by possums and other pests the poison would knock back, many people felt there was not a collective mandate. Meanwhile, on Friday Forest and Bird released helicopter footage of Russell State Forest showing tōtara, northern rātā and pūriri dying on a large scale. Forest and Bird drone footage released two years ago was a catalyst for a sped-up, pro-1080 push that has brought the matter to this point. Forest & Bird has described the remote, rugged Russell Forest as being on the brink of collapse. 2018-09-23T23:25:27.000Z Cows killed by falling power lines on Northland farm https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/cows-killed-by-falling-power-lines-on-northland-farm/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/cows-killed-by-falling-power-lines-on-northland-farm/ Eleven dairy cows were electrocuted when lines on an ageing power pole broke and fell on to live 400 volt lines sparking concerns unmaintained lines across Northland could kill again. The cows were grazing on a Dargaville property when the line fell and they were killed about 8pm on Wednesday. A representative for electricity distributors has warned ageing, rotting and rusting power poles on private urban and rural properties were dangerous and the risk of people being electrocuted or hit by falling poles was growing every year. Northpower line mechanics were dispatched to the Dargaville farm after the farmer contacted the power supplier and they were back at the property today. Northpower spokesman Steve Macmillan said it was not clear how the stock were electrocuted as Northpower was not on site at the time but clearly they had come into contact with the downed private service line. Macmillan said in March this year Northpower disconnected a service line to an old cowshed at the property due to safety concerns. Early indications are that the line that came down was one of the disconnected service lines as a result of an insulator breaking off a cross-arm on a power pole on the line. He said that line then sagged on to a nearby live 400 volt line, another service line on the property, which livened the previously disconnected service line. "The service line was left in place after disconnection because the service line is the asset of the farmer. It is the land owner's decision to remove or upgrade their own lines and poles." Mcmillan said compensation from Northpower would not be an option for the farmer as it was a private service line which was not part of Northpower's electricity network. "Private service lines are the land owner's responsibility to maintain. It is really important that people maintain the safety of their service lines which is generally the power line that runs from the roadside of the property to the dwellings or sheds." The call for landowners to maintain poles and lines was echoed by a spokesman from a group representing 27 New Zealand electricity distributors. "Someone is going to be electrocuted, someone is going to get killed," Electricity Networks Association chief executive Graeme Peters said. "We're particularly concerned about children." The Electricity Networks Association (ENA), the voice of 27 New Zealand electricity distributors such as Northland's Northpower and Top Energy, said that in cities and on farms much of the infrastructure carrying electricity from the road power connection to houses, buildings and dairy sheds was getting old and in "a bad state". The infrastructure causing alarm included aged power poles, crossbars, insulators and rusting metal fittings, which was highlighted in the latest Northland incident. "These assets are dangerous," said Peters. Peters was not surprised by the incident in Dargaville and said over the coming years as lines and poles continued to deteriorate it was likely more animals or people would be injured or killed. "We're going to see a lot more line failings and that raises the risk of people getting hurt, by being electrocuted or by poles falling on them." The problem has become acute because of lack of maintenance and repair by property owners who don't realise that by law, and as interpreted by the Commerce Commission, it's their responsibility to maintain, repair and keep trees away from poles and lines on their land, he said. John Blackwell, Northland Federated Farmers President, said there was a lack of understanding about who owned lines and poles but that wasn't limited to the rural community but also those living in the heart of Auckland. "A lot of people don't understand where their responsibility for maintenance starts and ends." He urged farmers to check poles and lines on their property regularly.       2018-09-13T06:37:19.000Z Nats target Greens on 1080 stance https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/nats-target-greens-on-1080-stance/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/nats-target-greens-on-1080-stance/ The National Party has criticised the Greens for their apparent opposing views on 1080. Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson said 1080 protesters had "valid concerns" about water and aerial drops. "We need to have a community-led conversations about this." In response, National Party conservation spokeswoman Sarah Dowie today said Davidson's comments "completely contradict" her colleague and Conservation Minister Eugenie Sage's policy of increasing 1080 use. "Ms Sage has consistently argued that 1080 is the best tool for protecting New Zealand's native species and the statement by Ms Davidson that protesters have valid concerns puts a spoke in the wheel of the Government's conservation programme," Dowie said. "Ms Davidson's comments just muddy the waters and undermine the efforts and hard work of Department of Conservation staff in protecting New Zealand's species. "We believe that conservation should be based on science, not ideology. "The science is unequivocal, 1080 is currently the best tool we have for controlling the rats, stoats and possums that kill 25 million birds per year." Nationwide protests were held against 1080 at the weekend. Yesterday, protesters put fake 1080 pellets and the bodies of dead birds and mice on the steps of Parliament. Protesters said the birds and mice were killed by 1080. Environment Minister David Parker said he would get the poisoned animals tested to see if they did die from 1080. 2018-09-13T02:42:28.000Z Spotlight on wool's future with industry in crisis https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/spotlight-on-wools-future-with-industry-in-crisis/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/spotlight-on-wools-future-with-industry-in-crisis/ New Zealand's wool industry is in crisis and it's serious, says Woodville farmer for 66 years John Bradley. Bradley joined a large number of farmers from around the region at the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Tararua Farming for Profit Seminar in Dannevirke last Wednesday, with the focus of the day, "Wool, wool, what is it good for?" "People are still interested in wool, but we need to seriously look at the future of the wool industry," Simon Marshall, of Vet Services Dannevirke, said. The focus of the seminar was to explore the future of the wool industry in New Zealand and what farmers could do in an environment of low product returns and high shearing costs. "It's a matter of, is the wool industry on track, off the track or over the bank?" Bradley told the Dannevirke News. "It's serious when farmers are sending stock to the freezing works with their wool on because they get a pittance for that wool. "Our national flock peaked at 75 million sheep and it's now down to 22 million, that's affecting a heck of a lot of shearers and shed hands as well as farmers." Annie O'Connell, Beef + Lamb New Zealand's national genetics manager, discussed with farmers how to get more economic value from their wool. But she said there wasn't much of an appetite for the selection of sheep for wool quality alone. Electronically canvassing the farmers and industry professionals at the seminar, the results showed that 60 per cent of those in the room saw the main block for the uptake of selection on wool quality was that the returns weren't enough. "If you want more money you've got to get finer, because stronger wool isn't attracting good prices," O'Connell said. However, she conceded if farmers were going to go for finer wool, they had to ensure the market was there. But veteran farmer Bradley said a lot of variables were involved in what wool farmers could produce. "You can't chase the market," he said. "Fifty years ago wool was only a bi-product, with mutton in big demand. Within four months wool prices went up and mutton down." Breeding "bare" sheep to get rid of wool was a bit of a short-sighted reaction. "There's no substitute for wool in the clothing industry," Bradley said. A representative from Kells Wool in Hawke's Bay said there was quite a large price drop at the coarse end of the market, but there were a lot of factors influencing price. "Half a micron can be a 30-cent difference," she said. Dannevirke's Mavis Mullins spoke on behalf of Paewai/Mullins Shearing and told the farmers there was still potential in what they were already growing. "Wool is a great product," she said. "Wool is what I live for." Pressures on the industry included meatless meat, wool-less sheep and consumer activism, Mullins said. The fourth generation in the family shearing business now run by daughter Aria, Mullins attended a Vanguard forum at Stanford University, looking at what wool could offer. The forum was totally focused on cross-breed fibre and strong wools. "The world really is moving towards natural fibres, with companies such as Tesla and IKEA, embracing it. "There are surfboards made out of wool and resin, with champion surfer Kelly Slater using wool surfboards," she said. "There's also a huge business for wool yoga mats, with the number of global yoga practitioners in the millions. "I'm quite buoyed by how close scientists are to deconstructing wool to reconstruct (for other uses). The wool job is going to be all right and I do believe in it and we sit right beside farmers." However, there were problems facing the shearing industry too, with national training in failure mode, Mullins said. "It's a shame," she said. "At Paewai/Mullins we are committed to training our own staff, but there are pressures on our side of the industry and Aria now has 20 per cent of international staff in her sheds, that's about the norm. New Zealand shearers can go to Australia and earn more than they can here, with shearers earning $7 a sheep in Norway. "But our biggest competition for staff is Work and Income New Zealand (Ministry of Social Development)," Mullins said. "We've got a system which is an alternative. So if we can't get the people we need, we have to make them and that requires farmers to be patient and accepting of learner stands." Addressing the elephant in the room, the pay rise for shearers, Mullins conceded it was overdue, despite the price of wool being down. "As a community and primary sector, we are all in this together," she said. Mullins said she was concerned about the number of lambs that went to slaughter woolly. "It's an issue for contractors and impacts on planning, but we understand," she said. The Shearing Contractors Association put up pay rates for shearers by 25 per cent and Aria said she thought it "was pretty harsh on farmers". "I totally agree with farmers who would have liked to see the rise come in over three years, but our back is against the wall," she said. But Mullins said contractors couldn't dodge the increase. "If we don't pay it, we'll have no staff," she said. 2018-09-10T03:21:43.000Z Merino wool fetching strong prices https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/merino-wool-fetching-strong-prices/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/merino-wool-fetching-strong-prices/ Merino wool is fetching prices at auction not seen since the late 1980s and early 1990s. Last week's South Island wool sale in Christchurch was "outstanding" for merino and mid micron wool, following on from the continued strengthening in Australia, Roger Fuller, of CP Wool, said. Australia was experiencing horrendous drought conditions, which was reflected in the prices being achieved in New Zealand. The problem would be exacerbated next year as a lot of sheep would not survive the dry conditions, Mr Fuller said. It was a "volume thing" for merino, as Italian mills needed to keep machinery operating and, looking at supply coming forward, the New Zealand clip would be attractive. A lot of New Zealand wool had been contracted, so there was also a lot of wool not coming forward, he said. The quality of wool was the best Mr Fuller had seen for a long time. Growers attended last week's sale for the first time in some time. Mid micron wool, particularly around the 27 micron mark, was well sought after, he said. The crossbred market showed some positive signs with renewed business from China, especially in finer types, which was encouraging, although prices were still unsustainable. 2018-09-03T00:52:33.000Z A2 milk goes on sale at Walmart https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/a2-milk-goes-on-sale-at-walmart/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/a2-milk-goes-on-sale-at-walmart/ A2 Milk said its products had gone on sale in Walmart stores in the US. In a statement, the company said it had secured distribution into Walmart stores across New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, Texas, Maryland, and Washington DC. The products became available in stores on July 27, furthering the growth of its brand across the US, it said. "Achieving distribution with such a powerful and respected retailer like Walmart further validates the a2 Milk brand proposition in the US and marks a critical point in our company's drive to bring consumers back to dairy by providing our products to the roughly 75 million Americans who report dairy intolerance," Blake Waltrip, a2's Boulder Colorado-based US chief executive said. "The a2 Milk proposition is unique in the dairy industry, and we are looking forward to continuing to spread awareness of the benefits of A1 protein free milk with the first to market brand, a2 Milk," he said. A2 Milk's managing director and chief executive Jayne Hrdlicka said the partnership with Walmart added "opportunity and growth" to the company's US expansion. The company had already announced a major expansion in the US market into the northeast, making products available in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island. In addition to Walmart, a2 Milk is available at Wegmans, Stop & Shop, Giant Carlisle, Giant Landover, Whole Foods Market, Market Basket, Sprouts, Safeway, King Soopers, Target, Ralphs, Publix, ShopRite and The Fresh Market. Dual-listed a2 Milk, which offers an a1 beta protein-free alternative milk, this month reported a 116 per cent lift in net profit to $195.7 million for the June year. 2018-08-31T01:27:26.000Z Cattle to be culled as Mycoplasma bovis found in Northland for the first time https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/cattle-to-be-culled-as-mycoplasma-bovis-found-in-northland-for-the-first-time/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/cattle-to-be-culled-as-mycoplasma-bovis-found-in-northland-for-the-first-time/ The cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis has been found in Northland for the first time, meaning cattle will be culled in the region as the Government tries to eradicate the disease. The farm has effectively been placed in lockdown, restricting what can be taken on or off the property. The Ministry for Primary Industries said Biosecurity New Zealand today confirmed a property in Northland has tested positive for the bacterial cattle disease Mycoplasma bovis. It's the first time the disease has been found in this region. The infected property is a dry stock beef farm, but MPI is not saying where it is, at this stage. The farm, as with all other infected properties, was identified through the tracing of animals movements from known infected farms and is under a Restricted Place legal notice under the Biosecurity Act. This effectively places them in quarantine lockdown – restricting the movement of animals and other risk goods on and off the farm, MPI said. MPI will not be publicly naming the farm and neighbours who share a boundary with the infected property have been notified. The risk to neighbouring farms is very low, MPI said. As part of the Government and sector group programme to eradicate the disease, all infected groups of cattle on the farm will ultimately be culled, in agreement with the farmer concerned around timing. The response continues to make progress, with a total of 30 farms having been cleaned and depopulated nationally, and now moving forwards with their farming business. MPI is planning a public meeting next week in Northland and further information on the location and time will be released in the next few days. Keep an eye on the MPI Facebook page for event details. MPI has culled more than 32,000 cattle from dairy herds - none of them in Northland - since the response to Mycoplasma bovis began a year ago. MPI said this is a good opportunity for farmers to check that they have robust biosecurity practices in place. Some simple steps farmers can take include: · Carefully consider the disease status of new stock before animals are bought or moved · Ensure visitors clean and disinfect their equipment, clothing and footwear upon arrival to your farm · Ensure boundary fences are secure and prevent nose-to-nose contact with neighbouring stock · Provide young calves with special protection, allowing only essential people in the calf shed ''This is a really tough time for all the affected farmers who find themselves in this situation through no fault of their own. MPI, Rural Support Trusts, and industry are supporting them but they will also need support from their neighbours and the wider Northland community,'' An MPI spokesperson said. 2018-08-29T22:25:42.000Z Listen: 'It's beyond crisis' - Alan Jones on Aussie drought https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/listen-its-beyond-crisis-alan-jones-on-aussie-drought/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/listen-its-beyond-crisis-alan-jones-on-aussie-drought/ Alan Jones has great empathy for rural Australia's drought-ravaged farmers. The legendary radio broadcaster and former Wallabies coach spoke to The Country's Jamie Mackay about why he has gone in to "bat for the bush." "The Government just seems to be completely unaware of the gravity of the problem," says Jones who mentions that some areas haven't seen rain for seven years. A scarcity of hay in Eastern Australia means it has to be sourced from the South and farmers can't afford the freight says Jones. To make matters worse the price of hay and cotton pellets is soaring, leaving many farmers struggling to feed their stock. Jones says he is frustrated with the Government after he called for a National Co-ordinator of Drought role to be established to help with the crisis. "It took the Government six weeks to even appoint a bloke and now he's inaccessible. He can't talk. He'll talk down the road ... I said 'what - the road to ruin?'" Food is not only scarce for stock says Jones, with many farmers struggling to feed their families after they put the money they have into their animals. "These people are spending that sort of money because farmers are more dedicated to their stock than they are to their family and they're spending this money just to keep their stock alive." Listen below: Jones says he has tried to communicate these problems to the Government but "you might as well bang your head against a brick wall." Issues such as where the affected farms are, what kind of stock needs to be dealt with, how to get feed to these animals and who will pay for it are all pressing questions, but "no-one can provide any of those answers." "The bigger Government gets the more useless it gets ... it's not a crisis, it's beyond crisis. We have this saying 'five to midnight' - God it's 25 past midnight here, it's terrible stuff," says Jones. Also in today's interview: Alan Jones talks about a new Australian Prime Minister and discusses the upcoming Bledisloe Cup clash this weekend and the chances of the Wallabies repeating the heroics of the 1986 side which he coached to victory at Eden Park. 2018-08-24T03:43:04.000Z '50% Pure NZ, 50% suburb': Fury at Queenstown subdivision plan https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/50-pure-nz-50-suburb-fury-at-queenstown-subdivision-plan/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/50-pure-nz-50-suburb-fury-at-queenstown-subdivision-plan/ It's been the facilitator, educator and champion of recycling in Mid Canterbury over the past 24 years, but economic conditions are forcing Wastebusters to close its doors for good. On-farm recycling, a successful and expanding service that Wastebusters has offered for the past four years, and the backbone of the current operation, will end on August 31. The green waste operation and shop at its McNally St site, in Ashburton, will close on September 28 and the entire operation will shut down at the end of October. Three full-time and three part-time jobs will be lost. Wastebusters manager Sharon Breakwell said a dramatic drop in price of recycled materials and market uncertainty had forced Ashburton Wastebusters Trust to make the ''very difficult'' decision to close. It was the ''only sensible option'' if you looked at the facts, figures and current situation, she said. ''With China closing its borders to overseas recycling at the beginning of the year, there has been a lot of pressure on our market in Malaysia. ''The Malaysian market is now swamped with product and nothing more is being accepted for the next three months, while it's processed,'' Ms Breakwell said. ''We cannot hold on to our product for three months. Cash flows are very tight and we operate on a shoestring budget as it is, so we've had to make this decision for economic reasons.'' Ms Breakwell, who has been involved with Wastebusters for 18 years, said the community support ''has been amazing'', especially over the past eight years. She praised local farmers, who had stepped up their on-farm recycling efforts in recent years. Baling wrap, silage covers, twine and bulk bag recycling volumes had hugely increased and for the past three years totalled 507 tonnes, an impressive total, she said. Wastebusters provided bins at more than 260 farms in the district and either collected them or accepted delivery at the McNally St site. 2018-08-23T02:19:25.000Z Fed Farmers: M. bovis fallout challenges continue https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/fed-farmers-m-bovis-fallout-challenges-continue/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/fed-farmers-m-bovis-fallout-challenges-continue/ OPINION: Winter is almost behind us with the days getting longer and warmer. Calving and lambing are now under way with ground conditions firming up after a very wet May, June. For me as a cattle finisher, the next five months are critical because I do a high percentage of buying and selling for the year. But this time around, farmers have new challenges with the Mycoplasma bovis factor coming into play. How do they minimise the risk without compromising production and profit? As a trader-finisher, most of my bulls stay on farm for only 12 months on average and, once on farm, they never mix with other mobs. This has always been the case as mixing bulls often leads to social misconduct, which can often lead to some poor bull being abused. The biggest risk to my operation is if I was to become one of the very unfortunate farmers who has brought on to their property an infected animal. The MPI restrictions that apply if a property is put under Notice of Direction could be worse than the disease itself. Another problem is the number of calf rearers who have chosen not to rear calves this year. This will have a flow-on effect for many years and I expect the 100kg calf market will be extremely buoyant. I have had 100kg calves quoted this week for $640. I've had people ask me why we need to carry on with this cow culling. The answer is simple: we have one chance of eradicating this cruel disease from our shores and I am sure the next generation will thank us if we are successful. Others have pointed out "other countries such as Australia have learned to live with Mycoplasma, so why can't we"? The fact is we don't have the same strain as our neighbours; ours is more virile and is likely to cost the dairy industry 10per cent of the national herd each year. Because this disease is very hard to test reliably for, the job of eradication is not at all assured but if successful it is likely to take many years to achieve. I take heart at what great progress the TB eradication team have made over recent years and I hope science will come to the rescue to our latest incursion. For those who argue that we should not have pursued eradication but instead have opted for the 'managed control' pathway, keep this in mind. With eradication, there is compensation for farmers with infected animals. If we have to move to managing the disease, compensation to farmers affected will be zilch. For helpful advice on M. bovis, Beef & Lamb and Dairy NZ have a lot to offer and check out the MPI website. - John Blackwell is President of Northland Federated Farmers 2018-08-16T01:12:52.000Z Editorial: Anti-dairy farming drive unfairly tars all farmers as environmental vandals https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/editorial-anti-dairy-farming-drive-unfairly-tars-all-farmers-as-environmental-vandals/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/editorial-anti-dairy-farming-drive-unfairly-tars-all-farmers-as-environmental-vandals/ Farmers used to be our heroes, living simple, wholesome outdoor lives. We thought they were staunch, bonded to their land across generations, brave and strong. They produced the steaks, chops, roasts and cream we loved to eat, and earned most of New Zealand's export dollars. Some were wealthy and established, pillars of the local community, their houses overlooking those of their staff, their children going to solid and expensive private schools The times they are a-changin'. There's a counter-current flowing, largely pushed along by the advance of dairying with its monster milking sheds and herds; and news stories about polluted waterways. It doesn't help the farmers image that their business is getting increasingly corporate. Farms are getting bigger; farmers own more than one farm; or several farms are owned by investors who employ managers. Farming is now agribusiness, with rural professionals who are advisers and lenders. Some dairy farms have to employ staff from other countries, because New Zealanders don't want to do the milking. Today, the stereotypical farmer could be an environmental vandal, polluting water, changing habitats, erasing landmarks for his or her profit and convenience. Our erstwhile heroes are feeling this keenly. Last year two of my good dairy farming contacts each separately said they felt unfairly targeted. They're not the only ones. At every farming forum at least one person will ask how farmers can possibly get the message out — the message about all their good work and good intentions. To make matters worse, farmers are beset by change. They are expected to keep waterways clean, put trees back on hills and reduce the methane their animals burp. They are also told they need to get ever more efficient, producing more with fewer environmental effects. Buffeted by global economic winds, they have to weather dramatic fluctuations in commodity prices. Added to that there's climate change — fiercer heat, more and harder rain, floods, droughts and storms. So maybe we can no longer always admire what farmers do ... but we can at least spare a thought for the difficulties and uncertainties they face. 2018-08-15T03:27:12.000Z Federated Farmers: Help offered for drought-hit Aussie farmers https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/federated-farmers-help-offered-for-drought-hit-aussie-farmers/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/federated-farmers-help-offered-for-drought-hit-aussie-farmers/ Federated Farmers is looking for positive ways to help drought-stricken farmers in New South Wales. A news report last week claimed that the state had not faced such conditions since soldiers returned from the Boer war. "The feelings of helplessness on this side of the Tasman are many, but there are practical things people can do," national president Katie Milne said. "For instance, we're testing the idea that if anyone out there has a couple of spare rooms or a cottage they may want to offer, to let their Australian peers know and give them the opportunity to catch some respite by offering them a place to take a break. "If our Australian friends can grab a cheap seat on a plane and just escape the drought headspace for a couple of days, or weeks, and rest up in New Zealand, that could do wonders for their mental health. "If there is interest in this scheme from both sides of the Tasman we will work out a way to make that happen." Some may also wish to donate to drought relief charities. "If you know an Australian farmer, please check with them about which charity they think you should donate to before you do," she said. 2018-08-14T04:09:14.000Z MPI - We're catching up with M.bovis https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/mpi-were-catching-up-with-mbovis/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/mpi-were-catching-up-with-mbovis/ Another North Canterbury dairy farm has been confirmed to be infected with Mycoplasma bovis. The Ministry for Primary Industries says the farm is connected to known infected farms through animal movements. Tracing work from this farm was under way. MPI said in its latest stakeholder update last night that four previously infected farms have had their IP (infected property) status lifted. One Canterbury and three Southland farms were depopulated, decontaminated and have completed a 60-day stand-down period. MPI's Recovery Team would help the farms to return to normal operations. The number of currently active IPs stands at 38. These are made up of 18 beef farms, 17 dairy farms and three lifestyle properties. A total of 173 properties that were previously under movement controls from MPI have tested negative and had the controls lifted. MPI Incident Controller for M. bovis Catherine Duthie spoke earlier yesterday to The Country's Jamie Mackay about the numbers, saying MPI is "getting to the front of the infection." "Those properties that have recently become infected properties, and we've had two in the last week, they've been infected only recently, so we have hope that we're getting to the front of the infection and that we're catching up with it." Listen below: Duthie says she expects to see a decrease in the number of infected properties as the response continues, although it is possible there could be a slight increase once spring milk testing gets underway. "We do expect to see a little bit of an increase," says Duthie, "but we're hoping that it's not going to be too much. We're cautiously optimistic the numbers won't increase dramatically." MPI has had to deal with negativity from the farming community for its handling of the Mycoplasma bovis response, but Duthie says the Ministry has responded to this criticism. "We're now a year into this and we're switching to little bit more of a farmer-centric approach to this." Duthie adds that MPI recently held a meeting in Wellington with affected farmers, "where we invited people who have been impacted by us at various stages in this response to come and give us some feedback on what we could do better." "We're really trying to interact with everybody on a personal level, we welcome feedback on what we could be doing better." MPI's testing shows that Mycoplasma bovis has been in New Zealand since 2015, yet some people speculate the cattle disease has been here a lot longer. Duthie disagrees with this theory. "The information from these other people seems to be coming from visible symptoms on-farm and it should be noted you can not diagnose Mycoplasma bovis by visual symptoms alone. It needs to be confirmed with that DNA testing." 2018-08-08T00:32:12.000Z Affco denies culture of fear at Moerewa plant stopping staff raising safety concerns https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/affco-denies-culture-of-fear-at-moerewa-plant-stopping-staff-raising-safety-concerns/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/affco-denies-culture-of-fear-at-moerewa-plant-stopping-staff-raising-safety-concerns/ Affco has denied accusations a culture of fear at its Moerewa site is stopping staff raising health and safety concerns. E tū Union, which represents some of workers at Affco's Moerewa meat works, wants the plant's boiler shut down after a man suffered serious burns from an explosion in the boiler room last month and an incident this week where coal accumulated in front of the boiler door. The union has written to WorkSafe, requesting an urgent assessment by an inspector, as well as an assessment of the boiler by a qualified external engineer. The union claims a culture of fear at the site is stopping staff raising health and safety concerns for fear of intimidation or losing their jobs. Affco general manager Nigel Stevens said that was not the case. ''Nothing is more important to Affco than the safety and wellbeing of its staff, and to that end the company engages proactively and constructively with employees regarding health and safety matters,'' Stevens said. He said the company is aware of a potential issue with one of the boiler feeders at Moerewa, which is in the process of being remedied, but has no reason to believe this was the cause of the incident earlier last month. ''Following the incident, the company inspected and tested the boiler prior to re-start, in accordance with independent recommendations and guidance given by two separate engineering construction and engineering consultancy firms,'' Stevens said. ''The company would not have operated the boiler had it (in conjunction with independent experts) not been satisfied that the boiler was in a safe and operable working order. "Additionally, Affco has engaged constructively with WorkSafe, which has taken this matter extremely seriously, and after reviewing all relevant information saw no need to prohibit the boiler from operating.'' Meanwhile, the seriously injured a boilerman is being treated for serious burns in Middlemore Hospital. The union wants the boiler shut down until both accidents are fully investigated. 2018-08-02T22:54:39.000Z Critical seasonal labour shortage may hinder kiwifruit industry growth - report https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/critical-seasonal-labour-shortage-may-hinder-kiwifruit-industry-growth-report/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/critical-seasonal-labour-shortage-may-hinder-kiwifruit-industry-growth-report/ A new report says that a critical shortage of seasonal workers could hamper the kiwifruit industry's predicted growth over the next decade. An industry body has called for Government support to complement efforts by those in the industry to attract people to pick, pack and prune kiwifruit. New Zealand Kiwifruit Growers Incorporated has produced a report showing the largely Bay of Plenty-based industry will require an additional 7000 seasonal workers if its to double in size by 2027 as predicted. Revenue was predicted to increase from $2.1 billion in 2017 to $4 billion over the decade. At the start of the 2018 season, the industry was short 1200 workers with 70 per cent of the crop still to be picked. The situation prompted the Government to declare a labour shortage and to loosen up visa conditions for visitors willing to work. The industry body said the labour shortage hit earlier and more severely than anticipated. NZKGI chief executive Nikki Johnson said that while it was worrying for the industry, the situation "will escalate significantly if no action is taken". "The kiwifruit industry is growing quickly, and NZKGI is committed to progressing the discussion on solutions that can mitigate the risks of labour shortages." The report pointed to low unemployment rates, fewer people on working holidays choosing to work in the industry, the short-term work and what they have called "outdated perceptions" of worker welfare and pay rates. It says the industry is working to rekindle interest in seasonal kiwifruit work by, among other means, upping pay rates, offering more flexible and reliable work and extending seasonal work contracts. The report has been presented to the Government for discussion. 2018-08-01T22:33:23.000Z Hastings teacher helps raise cash for IHC with 'virtual calves' https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hastings-teacher-helps-raise-cash-for-ihc-with-virtual-calves/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/hastings-teacher-helps-raise-cash-for-ihc-with-virtual-calves/ Self professed 'townie' Jacky Braid is having a go at raising calves, but in this case it's a virtual kind. Advocacy group IHC, which supports people with intellectual disabilities, has lost $1 million worth of funding, after Mycoplasma Bovis put an end to its Calf and Rural Scheme. To make up some of those funds, it has introduced a 'virtual calf' scheme, where people can donate money to buy a virtual calf. Braid learnt about both the Calf and Rural Scheme and it's suspension by following Craig Hickman, a dairy farmer from Ashburton, on Twitter. "They'd explain they would raise these calves and they'd sell them and the money would go to IHC," Braid said. "I thought that's very nice, I can't put a calf in my backyard but hey, that's cool you guys." This year Hickman tweeted that because of M. bovis, the Calf and Rural Scheme was suspended. "IHC stood up and said 'we're not going to do this this year," Braid said. "It means losing $1m it's better for the farming community who have backed it up for 30 odd years," "It's such a huge thing for them to do," Braid said. Lindisfarne College ESOL teacher Jacky Braid mobilised her Twitter follows after M.Bovis forced IHC to give up its Calf and Rural Scheme. Photo / Supplied To try to make up some of the funds, IHC introduced a virtual calf scheme, where people could donate $300 towards a 'virtual calf.' "I thought it would be quite fun for those of us who aren't farmers to actually participate, why don't we do a virtual calf?" So she put out a tweet, hoping to raise enough for two calves. Seven calves later, Braid and the twitter community she is a part of has raised $2100 for IHC. People as far away as the US and Austria have donated. IHC said in a press release it had been working with the Ministry of Primary Industries since the M. bovis eradication scheme was announced by the government. IHC National Manager Fundraising Greg Millar said they had looked at ways of keeping the scheme running, but decided it was too much of a risk. "We have a real obligation to do what is right for New Zealand farmers, their livelihoods and long-term sustainability," Millar said. The rural scheme has been running for 33 years and raises $1 million for IHC annually. So far IHC had only reached 15 per cent of its annual fundraising target. To help IHC reach its annual target, you can donate at https://engage.ihc.org.nz/content/ihc-calf-scheme/gjioft?permcode=gjioft 2018-07-30T01:02:21.000Z Provincial visa idea well received https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/provincial-visa-idea-well-received/ https://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/rural/provincial-visa-idea-well-received/ A plan to extend ''provincial visas'' within New Zealand will help regional businesses to retain skilled workers, Minister for Small Business Stuart Nash says. Mr Nash led a Q&A session involving about 40 small business owners in Invercargill yesterday, which highlighted the region's need for more skilled workers. Going into last year's election, Labour campaigned for an estimated net migration drop of 20,000-30,000 a year, from 70,000. Attendees at the meeting said the projected numbers were concerning to business owners in the region who relied on workers from abroad. At the meeting, hosted by Southland Chamber of Commerce, Mr Nash said the plan was to ''limit'' immigration to places like Auckland, which was placing ''massive constraints on infrastructure''. He said a provincial visa could combat skill shortages in the regions. A regionalised skills shortage list is already in place in Canterbury, especially for construction trades. ''[Southland has] one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but that brings its own set of challenges,'' he said. ''What we want to be able to do is to give out, literally, provincial visas, which will allow someone to come into a place like Invercargill and work here, without them being here for three months and then high-tailing it off to Auckland.'' Mr Nash said the Government recognised there were unique skills shortages in the regions. The Minister of Immigration was considering whether the skills shortage list should be regionalised further. Speaking after the meeting, Chamber of Commerce immediate past-president Carla Forbes said five consecutive years of regional confidence surveys in Southland stressed the top priority was ''attraction and retention''. ''It's at a point where it's hurting businesses, they are stalling and halting because we have an ageing demographic, and we're not growing. That's the tipping point - we have to bring in a new workforce to the region,'' she said. ''We have been very vocal about wanting to see a regional-specific immigration policy. I think it's actually necessary. If they're genuinely looking to do it, I'd be thrilled to see it actioned as soon as possible.'' During the meeting, Mr Nash could not say when the provincial visas would come into effect. Chamber board member Mark O'Connor declined to comment. 2018-07-11T00:18:57.000Z