Mary Anne Gill

King Country landscapes by three of New Zealand’s most revered artists are part of the Timeline: Waikato Art 1850 to 2000 in the reopened Te Whare Taonga o Waikato Museum and Gallery.

Paintings by Peter McIntyre and John Weeks are on display in the exhibition, which opened last week.

Weeks who was born in England in 1886 and emigrated to a farm at Mangapiko near Te Awamutu in 1892, was an influential figure for many of New Zealand and Waikato’s regionalist paintings.

His King Country landscape shows many of the characteristics of Week’s painting style and use of colour. In 1958 he was awarded the OBE for services to art and died in 1965.

McIntyre’s oil landscape from 1975 has a surreal element in the style often used by the World War II official artist in his later years when he had a holiday home in Kakahi, south of Taumarunui.

Born in Dunedin in 1910, McIntyre was a prolific artist who was also awarded an OBE for services to art. He died in 1995.

The other with King Country connections is Taharoa Farm 1950 by Violet Watson, who was born in 1906. The rural landscape oil painting by the artist was a particular favourite of Watson’s who died in Hamilton in 1992.

A painting of Hautapu School featuring a school building nestled behind thick bush in 1987 is part of the exhibition.

Dunedin-born Rodney Hamel, 87, who specialises in landscapes and portraits, was a teacher of history and geography at St Paul’s Collegiate in Hamilton from 1963-2000 and often painted the Waikato landscape from the top of Maungakawa.

The Hautapu School painting is part of an extensive Waikato collection.

He used water colours until the 1990s when he began learning to pain with oils and returned to live in Dunedin in 2004.

The exhibition also features an image of Arapuni Dam by photographer Laurence Aberhart and early watercolours of the Waitomo Caves, Pirongia from Mangatama and the Waipā River at Ōtorohanga.

After a six-month closure for extensive renovations, the museum is ready to welcome visitors to their opening weekend’s ‘housewarming’ celebration to experience the improvements as well as the four new exhibitions alongside established favourites including Exscite.

Other highlights include the traditional and contemporary handcrafted weaving works in He Aa I Uta, He Aa I Tai: Weaving the Elements, details from the museum’s own history in Exhibition no. 831 and the prestigious international Astronomy Photographer of the Year exhibition, showcasing award-winning images of the universe.

The primary focus of the renovation was to bring the building up to modern museum standards, including crucial roof repairs and the installation of a new air lock entry for enhanced climate control.

The museum has opened after a six-month closure for renovations.

King Country... as it was

Staff Reporter

Far from being the stuff of nightmares, the leeches being bred by ex King Country farmers on New Zealand’s only leech farm in the Waikato are highly valued medical miracles. Viv Posselt investigates.

Maria and Robert Lupton have been breeding leeches for about 34 years.

They started out in Northland, then moved to Aranga where they managed a farm for four years before purchasing a farm at Matiere in the King Country in 2000. After selling that in 2007, they moved to their current Te Miro farm, housing their precious leeches in an adapted cowshed.

Millions of the parasitic worms have gone from their care to serving a critical purpose in hospitals around the country (and further afield) where they have become mainstream in aiding wound healing in the aftermath of surgery.

2024 has been a particularly busy one … it’s tracking to be a record year in terms of demand for the little suckers.

The perfectly-designed blood feeders have been used medicinally for thousands of years. In today’s hospitals, they help prevent a post-operative condition called venous congestion, which occurs when the blood pools and stagnates in veins cut during surgery. As the leeches feed on areas of damaged tissue, they reduce the risk of blood clotting, thereby allowing time for new, healthy tissue to grow. Each tiny bite comes with a shot of naturally occurring anaesthetic that helps numb the area.

As the only leech breeders in the country, the Luptons carry a weight of responsibility that they say will drive their next decision.

They want to retire, so are selling the farm and its boutique leech operation. Mindful of how important the leeches are, they want it to go to someone who shares their understanding that what they do is first and foremost a service to the community.

“You have to have a social conscience to do this,” Robert said. “Time off isn’t always guaranteed. On several occasions we’ve been about to head out fishing for a day or so when the call has come in for more leeches. So, we head back in, pack them up and deliver them to the hospital – sometimes with the boat on the back.”

Any call for a delivery of leeches is urgent. Hospitals keep only a few, so when the need arises, more must be swiftly delivered because once a leech has had its fill, it won’t feed again for months. Up to 300 will be dispatched at any time, either couriered to nearby hospitals or flown further afield. Their records relate stories of many re-attached fingers, or lips and ears healed after traumatic injury.

As they move into summer, they know the need will increase – five calls over five days recently attest to that.

“Springtime is when the DIY’ers start doing things like slicing off fingers in skill-saws,” said Maria, “or people are out and about doing more things with tools. Summer is always busier.”

The Luptons currently have around 50,000 leeches in their shed. They sell between 4500 to 5500 of those each year, but the numbers are rising as New Zealand’s population grows.

The couple’s start in leech farming was almost accidental. It began when their children sent leeches they found on their Northland property into a creepy-crawly exhibition at Auckland Zoo. The resultant media interest caught the eye of a Middlemore surgeon who was struggling to get the blood flowing in a post-operative patient. The leeches worked their magic.

Since then, they have melded international care systems with their own ‘trial and error’ learnings on how to raise the leeches. A few years ago, Maria spoke to a gathering of Australian and New Zealand surgeons whose stories of successful outcomes using leeches validated all their efforts.

Now, with retirement looming, they are determined that the operation remains sustainable.

Not much gets in the way

of the production cycle. They have one part-timer who helps them in the shed, and there is a need to constantly monitor the leeches’ living environment.

In recent years, they’ve taken issue with events such as the recent Targa New Zealand rally, held annually on public roads in the area. The route has seen the road closed for a full day, and while organisers pledge to open it when needed for medical-related reasons, they worry that they won’t be able to get leeches to where they’re needed in the event of an urgent call.

“We’re on call 24/7 and have been lucky thus far,” said Robert.

“We haven’t had to test that pledge yet. But that and other similar events where there are road closures worry us.”

Leech breeders eye retirement

Chris Gardner

Grey Ormsby is buzzing because he did not listen to his father.

A quarter of a century after Waitomo Group founder Desmond Ormsby advised his son Grey to exit the fuel supply industry the company won the supreme award at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

In an exclusive interview with The News current owner Jimmy Ormsby revealed: “In around 2000 my grandfather said we would be better taking the money and getting out of the business.”

Desmond had founded the company in 1947 in King Street, Te Kūiti employing half a dozen people before moving to Carroll Street in 1953. Exxon Mobil Corporation wanted to exit its joint venture with the Waitomo Group around 2000, leaving the family with the choice to go it alone or close.

“My grandfather said to my dad, ‘I think you should take the opportunity to get out. Dad obviously didn’t listen to his father and said, ‘we’re going to go hard.’”

Today the low-cost company is based in Frankton, Hamilton, and employs nearly 100 full time equivalents and almost as many contractors.

Waitomo Group has gone hard, growing from a business-to-business fuel wholesaler to a business to customer retailer.

It opened its first petrol station in 2012, aiming to be 20 cents a litre below the market rate, and its first South Island station in 2019.

Waitomo Group has five stations planned for Nelson in the coming year busting the 100 fuel stops and diesel stops ceiling nationally.

As well as winning the Supreme Award the company won the Business Growth and Strategy Award and the Sustainability Award at the Waikato Chamber of Commerce event on Friday.

Waitomo Group was also a finalist in the Innovation, People and Culture, and Marketing categories of the awards.

“Dad gave me a phone call the next day,” Jimmy said. “He was buzzing.”

“My grandfather, who passed away 22 years ago in 2001, would be amazed. He would be smiling down on us, and he’d be very happy, very proud,” Jimmy said.

On Monday Jimmy took the business award trophies to his dad, who now lives north of Hamilton, to show them off.

“Fantastic, I am so proud of you.” Grey said to Jimmy. “You must be so proud of the team too.”

He is.

On the option to exit, Grey said he was confident the company would perform better under Ormsby family ownership.

Waitomo Group now considers itself a market disruptor, offering competitive prices at retail as well as bulk fuel supply via commercial mini tankers for commercial and farm trade operators.

Jimmy’s wife Ailsa serves on the board while their oldest daughter, Isla, is helping the group manager of revenue in her gap year.

 * See: Waitomo takes out top spot

Other award winners:

Business Growth & Strategy Award - Waitomo Group, Chief Executive of the Year -  Pam Roa, Longveld, Community Contribution - Hamilton Multicultural Services Trust, Emerging Leader - Ashley Mason, Sentinel Homes, For Purpose -  Wild Bamboo, Innovation -  Waikato Milking Systems, Marketing  - Gallagher Animal Management, Small Business  -  Brainchild, People and Culture – Longveld, Service -   Whites Powersports, Sustainability -  Waitomo Group.

A supreme disruptor

Paul Charman

Paul Charman reflects on the life a popular cop who, in a different time, knew a heavy hand wasn’t the answer.

The funeral of former Te Kūiti-based police and traffic officer Barry Hazelton attracted more than 400 people last week.

Mourners included past and present members of the Te Kūiti Motorcycle Club, which Hazelton helped to establish in the late 1980s.

The police, former traffic officers, and the Fire Service were well represented. Both Barry and his wife Thelma, who predeceased him were active members of the Te Kūiti Volunteer Fire Brigade, with Thelma its first female fire fighter.

The Hazeltons – who had six sons – lived in Te Kūiti from about 1988 till 1998, during which time MOT traffic officers merged with the NZ Police.

Barry Hazelton served about two years as Te Kūiti’s first community constable. His police career lasted 38 years – right up to a medical discharge from active service in 2020, at which point he became a firearms officer.

This was a role the keen hunter enjoyed according to Barry’s son JJ.

JJ said his dad helped establish his town’s motorcycle club and many of the 20-30 bike riders who attended the funeral, received their licences under Barry’s testing.

“Dad used to enjoy riding his Kawasaki ZL 1000, but later his ultimate bike later was a 2010 Harley Softail.”

Eventually the family left Te Kūiti and moved to Whangamatā, where Barry worked in the police for a several years ahead of joining the highway patrol, based out of Paeroa. In this role he covered most of the Hauraki Plains.

The News asked JJ how it was his dad became so popular.

“It’s really hard case isn’t it? The amount of people who liked him. I think it was because he was so fair. He went by the book – if you stepped out of line you’d get in trouble. But most of the time it was a proper warning. I have heard a few good stories. When you are in a small town you don’t come in with a heavy hand; you’ve got to think of the community first.”

JJ also reflected that growing up in the late 1980s and 1990s Te Kuiti it was, “a different style town”.

“There were still the Mob guys and all that, but everyone got on pretty well. We lived on View Rd and had mob guys just near us. A lot of them were there – but pretty harmless back in the day.

“I had friends whose parents were in the Mob and I went to school with them. They used to ask, ‘hey JJ, do you want to join’. And I’d say, ‘oh no thanks I’m alright’, but we still hung out and did things together.

“There was a huge five-a-side social soccer tournament down at Centennial Park. The police, fire brigade and many local businesses had teams. The Mob had a team too – they came along and played social soccer. The Mob versus police games used to be so awesome. Both sides really got stuck in, with a bit of elbow thrown in – but all played in good spirit, with a couple of beers afterwards.

“I guess growing up I was slightly in awe of dad – all of us boys were. We were a little bit mischievous. But I think (when we did wrong) we were more scared of our parents than anything else.”

Another treasured memory was his parents’ involvement in drag racing events held for cars and motorcycles at Centennial Park.

“Mum won one of the drag racing events and dad would sit there in his patrol car and measure the speeds with his radar. The bike club organised it with the local hot rod guys - there was less concern over stuff like health a safety back then.”

 * Changes have been made to the online version of this story.

 

Tributes to a top cop

Andy Campbell

For the Cotter family and descendants coming to Te Kūiti is like coming home, and about 80 descendants of Cotter brothers Richard Joseph and Patrick returned to Te Kūiti on the weekend.

The occasion was celebrating 150 years since Richard and Elizabeth Cotter and six children arrived in New Zealand in 1874 seeking their fortune on the Thames goldfields.

It also saw the unveiling of a plaque commemorating 118 years since settling in Te Kūiti and the gifting of land to Waitete Rugby Club.

Two of Richard and Elizabeth’s children, Richard Joseph and Patrick Cotter married two sisters Frances (Fran) and Emily Kneebone in Thames and moved to Te Kūiti with their young families in 1906 to set up as butchers.

They had 20 children between them. They ran between one house near the saleyards and the other over the other side near where the Waitete clubrooms are today.

Descendant Lee-Anne Daniel said the Cotters forged a good relationship with Māori when they came to Te Kūiti. The Cotter and the Hetet whanau formed a good relationship… through music and rugby.

“There was a story that if you threw a stick in town you would either hit a Hetet or a Cotter or a Wi, something like that,” Mike Daniel said. “My dad had 36 first cousins that’s quite unheard of for a pakeha family.”

Lee-Anne Daniel descends from the Hetet line.

“It was a big family,” she says.

R&P Cotter Family Butchers was established in 1907 where Mini India takeaways are now at 189 Rora St.

They raised their children across the land where the Cotter Street saleyards, Rugby Park and Waitete Rugby Clubrooms now stand.

The grandstand is built over the location of the slaughterhouse, and the meat was transferred from there to the butcher shop by horse and cart.

The butchery and family grew. Richard died in 1921 at the age of 50, leaving Fran to raise the young family. Patrick died several years later aged 52. The butcher shop continued and the original apprentice Bill Haines took over the business in 1928.

Richard’s son George Cotter was a keen rugby player and when he and others couldn’t get a game, a Bert Smith suggested a new club be formed. George and Bert were the founding members of the Waitete Football club. The clubrooms were built on land gifted by the family in 1931.

The weekend’s unveiling was greeted with a few tears, Lee-Anne said.

“Everyone knew it was gifted by the family but this was like the official recognition really,” Lee-Anne said

She said the family appreciated Waitete Rugby Club, “especially Malcolm Burmester and Neil Macrae… they were organising where it was going to go. They helped us with setting up the area and building”.

The Maniapoto Rugby Union added to the grounds in 1927 when it purchased 14 acres known as Cotters’ paddock for 1400 pounds.

Of King Country’s exciting win over West Coast to clinch the Lochore Cup - Lee-Anne said, “I thought it was quite fitting they did play on Sunday and they were winning on Cotters’ paddock, it kind of tied it in quite nicely.

“Especially when that guy missed the conversion, the Cotters waved that away,” Mike said.

He was referring to the kick that would have given West Coast the game on full time. The ball bounced off one of the posts and the match was given 20 minutes extra time, during which King Country won the Lochore Cup.

Cotters reunite on cup day

King Country has beaten defending champions West Coast 46-44 in extra time at Rugby Park in Te Kuiti today to take out the Heartland Championship's Lochore Cup.

Tries to the high flying Latrell Smiler, Ah-Kiong, Cody Nordstrom 2, Leveson Gower, Logan Patterson and Liam Rowlands and five conversions and two penalties to Patrick Hedley.

Read: Sunday's Cup Day

King Country wins Lochore Cup

Organisers of the Targa Rally have been dealt a blow by a Waitomo District Council decision to decline an application for road closures.

Councillor Janette Osborne told The News the council had turned down the application because of concerns raised in submissions and the anticipated impact road closures would have during a long weekend.

Rally organisers wanted to have roads closed on October 25 and 26 for the event – but those dates clash with Labour Weekend. Labour Day, a public holiday, is on October 28.

Roads which would have been impacted included part of Harbour Road within the Waitomo District, Taharoa Road, Te Anga Road, Haurua Road, Waitomo Valley Road and Rangitoto Road.

The four-day rally based around Otorohanga, Kawhia Harbour, King Country and finishing in Rotorua, is planned to start on October 24.

See: Rally closures approved

Rally bid declined

Eltje Malzbender crowned an outstanding overall performance at the Zurich 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships by taking her second bronze medal of the week with a podium finish in the women’s T1 road race.

Competing over a total distance of 31.8km in tricky windy conditions which tested the bike control of the Cambridge-based tricyclist, Malzbender rode third from the outset and survived a mid-race crash to retain her position throughout the race.

In the incident, a male para cyclist competing in the T1 classification rammed into the Kiwi’s front wheel at the bottom of the hill and he fell off his bike. Malzbender thankfully remained upright on the trike.

In a repeat of the same podium finishing order from the women’s T1 individual time trial earlier in the week - gold was clinched by Marieke Van Soest of the Netherlands with Pavlina Vejvodova of Czechia in silver. A delighted Malzbender, a world champion in this event back in 2019, claimed another podium.

Malzbender, 62, said the campaign had its positives.

"Two bronze medals, a personal best for average speed in the time trial and no excessive ataxia in either event.

“I’m grateful to the support of my team - John Blake and my coach Vicki Fleming. Both have ensured the event has run as smoothly as possible.”


Bronze for Eltje

Paralympian Eltje Malzbender produced one of her finest rides to win bronze in the Women’s T1 Individual Time Trial at the Zurich 2024 Para-Cycling Road World Championships this week.

Malzbender lives with a traumatic brain injury following a crash during a training ride in 2016 when she was left on the rural roadside at Marokopa. At the time she was a physiotherapist in Te Kūiti.

After spending over a year in rehab she moved to Cambridge, where the flat terrain, wide footpaths and a residence close to town provided the ideal place to begin rebuilding her life.

She was introduced to riding a tricycle at the Cambridge velodrome and was selected on the Pathway to Podium programme with Paralympics New Zealand in 2018.

She represented New Zealand at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games and was fifth in the women’s T1-2 individual time trial.

Riding in temperatures of around 17 degrees Celsius this week, 62-year-old tricyclist completed the 11.3km route in 24m 8.5s – at an average speed of just over 28.kmh

Malzbender, who claimed a silver medal in this event at the 2023 edition, was elated with her performance.



Two bronzes for Eltje

Since 1972 a King Country mining operation has hoovered up hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of iron sand for export to Asian steel factories.

But with a question mark over the future of iron ore as a commodity, the future of the operation seems less certain.

Located on the coast about 90 minutes’ drive west of Ōtorohanga, Taharoa Ironsands Ltd (TIL) sits astride the largest iron sands deposit in the country.

TIL digs up and processes the sand and pumps it as slurry to ships moored to the “Taharoa Terminal”, a buoy mooring 3.5km offshore.

The company has paid the equivalent of $150 million in royalties to iwi landowners since 2017, TIL chief Ian Goodacre told the Waitomo District Council at a District Plan hearing in June.

But this week Goodacre declined to comment when The News asked him whether returns would reduce over the next decade due to the contracting China property market and other downward economic factors in Asia.

In an August article headed ‘Good while it lasted’, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute has predicted that outcome for companies mining iron ore.

“Australia’s 20-year-long economic party, funded by China, may be drawing to a close, with consequences for federal and state budgets, superannuation returns and living standards generally,” the article said.

“The iron ore price is the most obvious pointer to China’s declining demand for Australia’s raw materials: it has come down from an extraordinary peak of US$144 a tonne at the beginning of January to a spot price of US$92 this month, and the fall is expected to continue.”

TIL seems to be publicity shy, with no telephone listings online.

Established by the New Zealand Government with the support of Ngāti Mahuta hapu and later owned by Australian Minerals firm Bluescope, the company was acquired by a company called TMIL, the parent of TIL, in 2017. Goodacre described the owners as a New Zealand hapu/family owned and operated business.

He told the council Ngāti Mahuta are tāngata whenua and own the land on which the mine operates through the conduit called Proprietors of C Block Inc Ltd (Taharoa C). Taharoa C is a Māori incorporation established under Te Ture Whenua Māori Act 1993 and comprised of Ngāti Mahuta hapu. TIL has a lease with Taharoa C which allows it to use the land for mining purposes until 2062 and in turn it pays Taharoa C royalties.

The mine operates 24 hours a day seven-days-a-week, with a 10-hour maintenance shutdown every fortnight on a Wednesday.

It employs about 180 operational staff plus additional contractors. In 2023 about 80 per cent of mine workers were locally based Māori (Ngāti Mahuta), and 63 per cent of skilled roles filled by Ngāti Mahuta.

Most employees live either permanently or temporarily (during working days) in the nearby Taharoa Village, where TIL owns 75 houses and rents them to employees at a discounted rate.

The company also owns and maintains the community hall, school, shop, two large sports facilities, a marae and the fire brigade.

It provides a bus service, subsidises freight to the village store and has two helicopters on standby for emergencies.

TIL maintains most of the infrastructure supporting the village, including water, wastewater and rubbish collection. It also provides an education payment for travel and boarding for employees’ high-school aged children, at a cost of up to $18,000 a child annually.

Facing the sands of time

Sigrid Christiansen

A young speaker is being credited for making whaikōrero (oratory) “cool again among rangatahi”.

The 16-year-old te reo talent won three categories in this year’s Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition in Tāmaki Makaurau - including Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Māori.

The competition attracted 60 speakers from 46 schools. Te Kanawa Wilson’s name reveals whakapapa connections to Ngāti Maniapoto and Oparure.

His mum is Riria (Missy) Te Kanawa and her father, is Dan Te Kanawa. Te Kanawa Wilson’s father is the chair of the Kīngitanga advisory body Tekaumarua, Che Wilson.

The student attends Ngā Taiātea wharekura in Hamilton, where staff and tauira are now “beaming with pride,” according to his Māori language teacher, Paumea Walker, who spoke to The News because Te Kanawa is in Europe with whānau.

Te Kanawa was a role model lending strong support to te reo, Walker said.

While some rangatahi mentally link whaikōrero with “that uncle who recites whakapapa back to the atua,” Te Kanawa was among those making it a platform for kōrero around politics and the taiao, the environment.

His prepared speech, as the 30th of 30 speakers, visually channelled a role model, Kīngitanga orator Kingi Kiriona. But the message was all his own.

Starting with “Te Tiriti o Te Kanawa” he exhorted youngsters to write their own ‘treaty,’ and also to embrace the electoral process: “Vote in what you want; vote out what you don’t want,” is an English translation.

Te Kanawa invoked the whakatauki or proverb “Whatungarongaro te tangata, Toitū te whenua” people pass on, but the land endures, and used loan words referencing Waitangi Tribunal proceedings – with a catchphrase asking the audience whether they’d like to “pāhi te mōtini” or pass the motion.

The “energetic and focussed” Te Kanawa lives and breathes te reo Māori, and always seeks to better his language, Walker said.

“Sometimes in speech competitions, you can tell an adult has written the speech and the young person has just memorised it. But he did it all himself.”

The last thing that stood out about his speeches was his unique way of addressing the judges: not naming them but flinging in-jokes that fitted the theme – such as “Toitū Te Pāti Reipa” to a judge who was a Labour party representative.

For Walker, it brought back memories – he won Ngā Manu Kōrero for Nga Taiātea in 2016.

The Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, said the number of te reo Māori speakers was expected to increase, “largely driven by our rangatahi.”

“We must continue to support them at home, in our communities and schools.”A young speaker is being credited for making whaikōrero (oratory) “cool again among rangatahi”.

The 16-year-old te reo talent won three categories in this year’s Ngā Manu Kōrero speech competition in Tāmaki Makaurau - including Pei Te Hurinui Jones Senior Māori.

The competition attracted 60 speakers from 46 schools. Te Kanawa Wilson’s name reveals whakapapa connections to Ngāti Maniapoto and Oparure.

His mum is Riria (Missy) Te Kanawa and her father, is Dan Te Kanawa. Te Kanawa Wilson’s father is the chair of the Kīngitanga advisory body Tekaumarua, Che Wilson.

The student attends Ngā Taiātea wharekura in Hamilton, where staff and tauira are now “beaming with pride,” according to his Māori language teacher, Paumea Walker, who spoke to The News because Te Kanawa is in Europe with whānau.

Te Kanawa was a role model lending strong support to te reo, Walker said.

While some rangatahi mentally link whaikōrero with “that uncle who recites whakapapa back to the atua,” Te Kanawa was among those making it a platform for kōrero around politics and the taiao, the environment.

His prepared speech, as the 30th of 30 speakers, visually channelled a role model, Kīngitanga orator Kingi Kiriona. But the message was all his own.

Starting with “Te Tiriti o Te Kanawa” he exhorted youngsters to write their own ‘treaty,’ and also to embrace the electoral process: “Vote in what you want; vote out what you don’t want,” is an English translation.

Te Kanawa invoked the whakatauki or proverb “Whatungarongaro te tangata, Toitū te whenua” people pass on, but the land endures, and used loan words referencing Waitangi Tribunal proceedings – with a catchphrase asking the audience whether they’d like to “pāhi te mōtini” or pass the motion.

The “energetic and focussed” Te Kanawa lives and breathes te reo Māori, and always seeks to better his language, Walker said.

“Sometimes in speech competitions, you can tell an adult has written the speech and the young person has just memorised it. But he did it all himself.”

The last thing that stood out about his speeches was his unique way of addressing the judges: not naming them but flinging in-jokes that fitted the theme – such as “Toitū Te Pāti Reipa” to a judge who was a Labour party representative.

For Walker, it brought back memories – he won Ngā Manu Kōrero for Nga Taiātea in 2016.

The Minister for Māori Development, Tama Potaka, said the number of te reo Māori speakers was expected to increase, “largely driven by our rangatahi.”

“We must continue to support them at home, in our communities and schools.”

Te Kanawa: Whaikōrero master

Rangitoto farmer Mitchel Hoare is a finalist in awards that celebrate all aspects of the country’s red meat industry.

Mitchel is one of three emerging achiever finalists in the Beef and Lamb New Zealand awards.

“I applied for something else I missed out on. The guy that did it urged me to try this as he thought I was a suitable applicant,” Hoare said.

“It’s really about getting recognition for helping in the community, being a future leader - but the idea of putting yourself forward for recognition is not really the Kiwi way, is it?

“But I thought what if you don’t put yourself out there? You have got to go after these things. You can’t just sit back and expect opportunities to come to you like that.

“As a levy paying beef and lamb person being self-employed, beef and lamb do a great job with all the extension work that they do. It’s good to support them.”

He’s been in competitions before. In 2015 Hoare and Maihiihi cadet Alex Reekers represented New Zealand at the World Young Shepherds Final in Auvergne, France.

In 2020 Hoare was the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Young Farmer of the Year.

Now 29 and married with a 10-month-old daughter, Hoare is sheep and beef farming over a couple of blocks of about 240 hectares, running a sheep dipping business, working in the family native nursery, and at the moment rearing calves.

“What I hope to get out of it is if I don’t win, I’ll be in the room with some influential people - all a good learning experience, but you have got to put yourself out there.”

He runs nine dogs and has always had an interest in dog trialling.

“I train them and sell them. I don’t really do the ‘train for other people’ model.”

His preference is to train them, work with them a few years and on sell before they start depreciating.

Beef and Lamb’s insights and communication manager Rowena Hume said the number and the quality of entries across eight categories in the awards was pleasing.

While that made judging particularly challenging, it highlighted the depth of talent and innovation in the red meat sector.

“The judging team of farmers and industry professionals did have a difficult job, but all the finalists are making a positive contribution to our sheep, beef and dairy beef sector and it is a privilege to be able to recognise their work,” Hume said.

“It has been a particularly challenging year for farmers and it’s even more important than ever that we celebrate success within our industry.”

The winners will be announced at an awards dinner at Hamilton’s Claudelands events Centre on October 10.

More competition for Hoare

A touring Scottish harpist has added an extra gig to her New Zealand sojourn – and it will be at a Waitomo Caves home.

Biddy Stubbs spotted Esther Swift performing at Hamilton’s Nivara Lounge during a previous tour and this time round approached her to ask if she would perform at the Stubbs family home on Saturday week.

“She was amazing. I contacted her and yes, she could fit us in.”

Swift will perform a community concert and patrons are invited to cover her costs.

Smith’s musical talent has drawn comparisons with Icelandic artist Bjork.

“It’s an amazing contemporary take on the instrument. People might think it’s something quite old fashioned, but she’s quite off beat,” Stubbs said.

Swift is on her third New Zealand tour.

She will make festival appearances in Wellington, Nelson and New Plymouth.

Because the instrument is so large, she left her own harp at home and will use a borrowed instrument.

Swift, who studied at Edinburgh’s St Mary’s Music School and the Royal Northern College of Music has also performed in Vietnam, Malaysia, Mongolia.

Extra string to a tour

A King Country born duo has won a radio vote in the United States to be named best new artists of 2024.

Rowdy’s Rose collected their award in Connellsville, Pennsylvania. The poll was run by American station Hugs Radio, based in the 7000 strong community.

The stations celebrates “songs you never heard, by artists you never knew existed... but damn well deserve to be heard, and tomorrow you’re gonna go look for them”.

Te Awamutu based singer-songwriters Blair and Rosie Shaw were earlier invited to attend the USA Radio Awards in Pennsylvania in October, both as performers and as nominees – for People’s Choice Vocalists of the Year 2024, and Songwriters of the Year 2024.

The event was televised over six states.

The pair were also selected by NZ on Air as New Tracks artists in June with their new single ‘Shooting Star’, which has featured on music charts in both New Zealand and the US.

After their latest accolade they told followers on social media “quite a few people said we belong in Nashville”.

The duo plan to be back for the Ōtorohanga Christmas markets on December 1 – and to prepare their next music video.

Listeners love Rowdy

Te Kūiti Museum volunteers are scratching their heads over the motivation behind last month’s burglary of storage sheds next door to their building in Rora St.

The sheds, on the property owned by NZ Post, were raided on September 13 and again on September 24.

The first burglary was probably a reconnaissance to see what was there. The burglars returned to steal a range of items a week later.

Volunteer Russell Aldridge said the thieves took two old reel mowers, a power saw, a copper backpack sprayer and some old spanners.

The reel mowers were powered by Villiers two-stroke engines which would be hard to adapt for use in any other kind of machine.

“I reckon they were bloody stupid because this old stuff would have been junk to them, but to us quite valuable,” Aldridge said.

“I doubt even a scrap dealer would have been much interested, except for the copper sprayer. These machines were valuable as museum exhibits as they were relics from a bygone era. They were on their way to being cleaned up and put on show.”

He added that if the thieves had not already disposed of the items, they could quite easily put things right.

“If they have any brains at all they’ll go back and leave this stuff outside the sheds they took them from. We’ll take it from there.”

Are these thieves for reel?

The Ōtorohanga Lions Club celebrated its 60th year of service to its community at a dinner held the Caves Motor Inn last night.

Member Dave Williams said it was timely occasion to celebrate and consider what has been achieved since the club was formed in 1964.

“We also want to remind local residents that our club is here for them. For example, we’re now considering this year’s applications to their Laurie Harnett Scholarship Fund. Laurie was a local farmer and though not a member of the Lions Club he left the club a large bequest, so we want his name remembered.

“Laurie gave away substantial funds not only to us but to other local organisations which service this community.”

Funds from the scholarship which the Lions oversaw were being made available to second-year university students and second-year apprentices.

Williams said the Lions Club was there to assist young people, older people and those in need.

“The Lions Shop in town is now our biggest fundraiser but we raise funds in other ways such as running golf tournaments and street raffles. Our physical work in the community is usually unseen but we are able fund many community projects and events usually with an emphasis on youth and education.”

The current Laurie Harnett Scholar, Ben Pettigrew, is studying conservation and the previous scholar, commerce.

Williams enjoys working alongside other positive minded people as they work for their community.

“There’s nothing more worthwhile than helping people with a group of like-minded people who are united in a common cause. The Lions are a real cross-section of society. We’re from diverse backgrounds and racial groups but the common thread is concern for those less fortunate, or who need a hand up to reach their goals.

“None of the Lions are in it for themselves - we really do want to do something for others but a by-product is that we have a lot of fun along the way.”

Club members meet twice a month. One meeting is for business, at which members broke up into committees involved in community work.

The other meeting takes the form of a dinner, with a guest speaker providing a talk on a subject seen as relevant to the Ōtorohanga community.

“We now have 31 members and are very proud that our oldest member., Laurie Cowan, who is 102.

“We have had much involvement with Beattie Home and the Papakāinga Homestead dementia centre, which is a state-of-the-art facility we can all be proud of.”

Lions mark six decades' service

The Ōtorohanga reserves plan that has been parked up for about six months emerged from a lot of the community consultations that were part of the Ōtorohanga Town Concept Plan.

It was put on hold in June and adopted by the Ōtorohanga District Council for public consultation last week. Consultation begins tomorrow.

The strategy includes options for future development of the main playing fields at the Island Reserve and The Domain, plus further development of the Huipūtea Reserve.

Community Projects Lead Sahndra Cave, in her report said a key issue from the town concept plan and reflected in the reserves plan is the long standing issue of a safe pedestrian crossing over the North Island Main Trunk railway line, linking the town with the Huipūtea Reserve.

Discussions with KiwiRail to address this risk and provide for a safer, more effective connection across the rail corridor resulted in Kiwirail stating it did not support a level crossing.

An overbridge is preferred, referring to their current policy for no new level crossing other than in ‘exceptional circumstances’. Kiwirail provided guidance for next steps, which was to assess the current risk and need for a crossing.

The stop bank walkways are part of the Ōtorohanga town flood protection network, and the development of a Reserves Management Strategy/Plan will ensure any future changes to these spaces are not contrary to their purpose, Cave said.

The purpose of the strategy is to provide a framework and direction for the future development of areas that also include Rotary Park, Bob Horsfall Reserves and the Kiwi House. The Island Reserve, Huipūtea Reserve, Reg Brett Reserve, Memorial Park, Windsor Park, Bert McKenzie/Road Reserve (Kiwi Sculpture), Te Ara a Waiwaia – Waipā River Park, and the proposed Westridge Recreation & Stormwater Reserves, Te Kanawa Stream Reserve.

There are mixed land ownership issues affecting both the Huipūtea reserve area and Island Reserve, Cave said.

There is mana whenua, ŌDC and private ownership across the Huipūtea reserve area and historical ownership issues affecting Island Reserves. Work on securing consistency of tenure will need to be progressed for both areas.

Huipūtea Reserve is culturally and historically significant, and in parallel with the development of the reserves strategy, Cave said staff worked with mana whenua to prepare a plan supporting their aspirations for the future of Huipūtea. This includes planting saplings that have been grown from the Huipūtea kahikatea tree.

Reserves plan underway

A father and son who whakapapa to the western King Country are doing their bit to put Waitomo on the map.

Aaron Milne and his son Waylon,10, are “The Cave Rats”, a two-piece band playing covers and original material in about equal measure

“Waylon must have got a taste for performing when he was aged about three, sitting on my lap while I played some gigs,” Aaron Milne reflected.

“I started to teach him the drums when he was about six and later got him some professional lessons to learn theory, but he’s gone way beyond anything I taught him.”

Waylon has now mastered a wide range of drumming styles, including rock, funk, blues and country.

And while the “Cave Rats” will stick to the arty-end of their repertoire at ArtBeat next month, young Waylon is well capable of rocking out to the latest metal and rock.

The “Rats” play mainly at family gatherings and charity shows – never pubs and clubs.

Their material has been heavily influenced by Aaron Milne’s love of southern American rockers, like Lynyrd Skynyrd, and country greats like Hank Williams and Johnny Cash.

Young Waylon seems to know a huge number of old-time classic rock and pop songs too, singling out Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” as a favourite.

But he has gone well beyond his dad’s favoured material, teaching himself new rhythms from YouTube and songs he hears here and there over the radio.

The harder it is to play a song, the more this 10-year-old seems to relish the challenge of learning it.

The family is grateful to the Waitomo Caves Choir, which helped-out by funding part of Waylon’s drum kit.

The Rats have a unique sound and though they use a bass player from time-to-time, for now they’re quite happy to stick to being a two-piece.

“We’re not aiming at the big time – just enjoying life and having fun with our music,” Milne adds.

And both agree that music isn’t everything.

Waylon says he enjoys playing basketball and going fishing with his family at Marokopa, almost as much as playing.

“Yes, I’d like to be a professional musician - I really like the atmosphere when we’re up on stage,” he says.

As for the band name – it came to Aaron Milne on a particularly hot day last summer when the father and son were having a cooling dip in the river at Waitomo.

“I saw Waylon come up out of the water and climb up onto some rocks; he was so agile he just reminded me of a water rat. Waylon wasn’t too thrilled with the name initially, but now he’s gotten used to it.”

Aaron Milne said he and Waylon are happy to “carry the flag for Waitomo” when they play gigs.

“Waylon’s got links to Waitomo and the Coast through both his mum and his dad. In fact, we’ve got tour guide and early cave explorer Tāne Tinorau among our ancestors – you can’t get more Waitomo than that.”

Rat music for the festival

Katrina Christison

When clients come to me with small sections, I ask them what they actually use their lawn for. Nine times out of ten, the answer is that it’s just there to mow. So, I suggest turning it all into a garden instead. Here are the benefits of this:

It not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of your space but also promotes biodiversity, reduces maintenance, and can be more environmentally friendly.

A garden filled with a variety of plants offers a rich tapestry of colours, textures, and forms. From vibrant flowers to lush foliage, your outdoor space will become a visual delight.

Mix plants with different textures and forms to add depth and interest. Combine large-leafed plants with fine-textured ones and mix upright plants with spreading or cascading varieties.

Lawns require regular mowing, watering, and fertilizing. In contrast, a well-planned garden with native or drought-resistant plants can thrive with minimal care.

Plants improve air quality, provide habitats for wildlife, and can reduce the urban heat island effect.

They also require less water compared to lawns, especially if you choose native species adapted to your local climate.

A diverse garden supports a wider range of insects, birds, and other wildlife, promoting a healthier ecosystem.

Things to think about:

Good soil is the foundation of a healthy garden. Improve your soil by adding organic matter such as compost.

This enhances soil structure, drainage, and nutrient content.

Use stepping stones though the garden to get from A to B.

Use repetition to create a sense of rhythm and unity in your garden. Repeating certain plants, colours, or textures throughout the space helps tie the design together and leads the eye smoothly from one area to another.

Follow proper planting techniques to ensure your plants thrive. Dig holes that are twice the width of the plant’s root ball but no deeper and add your compost here for each plant.

Water thoroughly after planting to help settle the soil and eliminate air pockets.

Use cardboard over the soil in and around plants and then apply a layer of mulch around your plants to conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature.

Organic mulches like wood chips or bark also break down over time, so does the cardboard, adding nutrients to the soil.

Small sections

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Generosity abounds

Fabulous Waitomo floats

Wintec announces reprieve

Briefs...

Brigade well set for 2025

Making farm work attractive

Trailer blazers

Farmer confidence is lifting with beef, sheep and dairy prices.

Sheep and beef are fetching an estimated 30 per cent more at stock sales compared to last year, said PGG Wrightson sheep and beef rep for Piopio and Te Kuiti Bill Harrison.

Dairy giant Fonterra raised the midpoint of the 2024/25 season forecast Farmgate Milk Price by 50 cents to a record $10 per kilogram of milksolids on December 5 less than a month after lifting the midpoint to $9.50 on November 11.

The lift in fortunes follows Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford’s revelation to Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay on November 26 that farmer confidence was at a record low.

The organisation had been surveying farmer confidence for 12 years and things had never been so bad, he said.

Harrison said sheep and beef prices were “coming back pretty good” at stock sales.

“The market is up around 30 per cent,” he said. “It’s looking a lot better than last year.”

Wools of New Zealand national wool manager Simon Averill said the market had been steady for the last few sales.å

“Confidence is improving especially with positive forecasts coming out for both the  Beef and Lamb markets,” he said.

“The wool price improvement certainly is a positive for sheep farmers around the country. Some parts of the country like the Hawke’s Bay are experiencing dry conditions which has its own sets of challenges.”

Roto-o-Rangi dairy farmer and Fonterra Co-Operative Council member Andrew Myers welcomed Fonterra’s record Farmgate Milk Price.

“It’s better than good news, it’s fantastic,” he said.

“I have talked to one or two dairy farmers, and they are over the moon. There are signs that things are improving. We are just happy that we can contribute to our communities.”

Ongoing compliance costs had hurt farmers, he said.

Piopio dairy farmer and Fonterra Co-Operative Council member Paulette Johns agreed with Myers.

“The vibe is very positive,” she said.

“We were a little surprised to get the extra uplift before Christmas and it’s very good news. What’s good for us is good for our community.”

“We’ve seen a recent recovery in demand out of China as domestic milk production rebalances and demand from Southeast Asia continues to be strong,” Fonterra chief executive Miles Hurrell told farmers in an email.

“We are continuing to monitor factors that may influence global supply and demand dynamics, including any potential impact from heightened geopolitical uncertainty.”

The first payment to farmers to change will be December paid January.Upon hearing the news of a record Farmgate Milk Price, Open Country Dairy supplier John Hayward said: “That’s pretty cool news, isn’t it? It’s positive for the whole community.”

Open Country Dairy had paid him $8.81 per kilogram of milk solids last month and he was using the capital to pay off farm debt. He was expecting further rises as Open Country Dairy generally paid more than Fonterra.

“You can’t count it until it’s in the bank,” he cautioned. “We have got a long way to go through the season yet, and things can change. We are in early December, and we have got to get to May. Most guys will be cautious.”

Sharefarming Consultants founder Louise Gibson also cautioned restraint, urging farmers to use the opportunity to reduce debt and invest in tools that drive efficiency.

“Next year is not the year to rush out into a variable order sharemilking agreement without testing your budgets against historic lows - think $5 or less - or rush into taking on too much debt just in case this is a repeat of cycles of years gone by,” she said.

“If you have contract milkers, consider where you can profit share - they have had to ride the milk price lows through lower inputs and working with infrastructure that hasn’t been improved or repaired on schedule.

“Look at your houses on farm - this could be an opportunity to invest in getting them up to Healthy Homes standard and make them more attractive to staff and sharefarmers.”

Confidence on the bounce

Bruce Rowe had the Prime Minister’s ear when Christopher Luxon sat down next to him at Mystery Creek.

The former dairy farmer, who now breeds cattle near Cambridge, was joined by the Prime Minister at the Federated Farmers Restoring Farmer Confidence Tour before Luxon took to the stage.

It was a brief discussion filled with niceties, but Rowe also took the opportunity to talk to Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay to push for a review of the legislation that led to the formation of dairy giant Fonterra in 2001.

“It has been a disaster since day one,” Rowe said of the legislation. “I am very supportive of Fonterra. It’s the backbone of the country. When I see competition, it riles me. It’s got right out of hand.”

Rowe was particularly concerned with foreign owned entities competing with Fonterra in New Zealand.

“I believe in looking after Kiwis and the land,” he said.

Rowe thought he got a favourable hearing, with assurance from McClay that the Dairy Industry Restructuring Act would be reviewed next year.

“He said he would look at it,” Rowe said.

The act requires the Minister of Agriculture to undertake periodic reviews, including the state of competition in the dairy processing sector, must be initiated after July 31 next year, with a report presented to Parliament no later than June 1, 2027.

The terms of the review will require Cabinet approval and stakeholders will expect full and transparent consultation.

A word from Bruce for Luxon and McClay

Dairy farmers Dave Swney and Alice Trevelyan turned to growing native plants to earn a secondary income to complement their farm.

Trevelyan drew on her experience as a Waikato Regional Council catchment management officer four seasons ago to turn the tennis court on the family farm between Te Awamutu and Ōtorohanga into a native plant nursery.



The enterprise puts the couple among 26 per cent of farmers a recent survey revealed were supplementing their farming business with non-farming income.

The Native Dairy Farmer, as they called their add on business, is in its fourth season growing around 30,000 plants per year, predominantly for use in riparian plantings schemes on farms.

“It was getting harder and harder to be able to run your own farm,” Sweny, a former DairyNZ field officer, said.

“We knew we had to think outside of the box a little bit. If we could do something that was not dairy farming it was a win,” he added.

“When we started the Native Dairy Farmer things were tough financially so any extra dollar of income, we could generate through this other revenue stream was invaluable,” Trevelyan said.

“Like any new business it has been tough to get started and create a customer base, however now we have a couple of years under our belt we have developed some really cool relationships with our customers.”

“The pressure on the Native Dairy Farmer to produce a profit has been a true reality.”

The native nursery, with its irrigation system, allowed Trevelyan to leave her council job and mother two boys – Walter, aged two, and Rex, aged one.

Orders come in large and small.

“They buy five plants, or 1000,” Trevelyan said of her clients.

“A big part of my role is working with farmers to improve environmental best practice.”

She said she didn’t know a farmer who was not interested in improving the environment.

In the last three seasons the pair have turned to providing their natives in biodegradable pots, meaning farmer do not have to remove and recycle plastic pots when planting, halving planting time.

Riparian planting improves water quality, reduces erosion, lowers water temperature, and increases biodiversity on farms.

“Alice and I are strategic partners,” Swney said.

The couple welcomed Fonterra record Farmgate Milk Price forecast of $10 per kilogramme of milksolids, but as Olam Food Ingredients (OFI) suppliers will wait until the end of the year to learn how it has affected their milk price.

Fonterra raised the 2024-25 season forecast by 50c on December 5.

“Great to see payout looking stronger for the 23-24 season. It is welcome news after a couple of tough seasons,” Trevelyan said.

“With improvement in milk price and a reduction in interest rates it means we can catch up on some capital improvements, repair and maintenance and debt reduction that have been put on hold for the last couple of years.

“OFI will review our milk price based on data at the end of each month.”

OFI opened a dairy processing plant in Tokoroa last November.

“It was just right for us and our family,” Swney said.

The couple are contract milking 410 Jersey cross cows producing 190,000 kilograms of milksolids on a 124ha dairy farm between Ōtorohanga and Te Awamutu on Ōtorohanga Road. They are in an equity partnership with Swney’s parents Phill and Deb who has owned the farm for 35 years. The farm also employs second in command Jayson Jacinto and farm assistant Boota Singh.

Swney, who also sits on the national committee of Smaller Milk and Supply Herds (Smash), prefers to graze calves on the property for their first year rather than send them off farm.

He grows 10 hectares of maize and five hectares of chicory and lost some to hungry insects earlier in the season.

“We milk every cow once a day when she calves until we are happy with her eating and appetite (gut fill), typically seven to 10 days post calving,” Swney said.

“Both herds are then milked twice a day until the heat starts to ramp up around Christmas when we put the young cows on once-a-day milking for the rest of the season. The other herd continues to be milked twice a day but kept close to the cowshed.”

“We have a long skinny farm,” Trevelyan said.

“Because of that we do things a bit differently,” Swney added.

They have also installed a feed pad at the approach to the milking shed to give their herd a boost.

Dairy farmers grow natives

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Minister of Agriculture Todd McClay heard at Mystery Creek how low farmer confidence has dropped last week.

The message came from Federated Farmers national president Wayne Langford at the Federated Farmers Restoring Farmer Confidence Tour.

The organisation had surveyed its 13,000 members across 24 regions for 12 years and Langford said confidence was the “worst it has ever been”.

High interest rates, inflation and compliance costs had hit farmers in the wallet.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re sheep, beef, arable or dairy. There’s a large number of farms that have been bumping some bills out month to month and a lot that have only just come right recently,” Langford said.

Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest company, raised the midpoint of the 2024-25 season forecast farmgate milk price in November to a record $9.50 a kilogram of milk solids, but it is only about $1 a kilogram of milk solids above breakeven for the average farmer.

Langford said the National-led government had “come through” on nine of a dozen action points the organisation had asked for.

It is still waiting for a law change allowing young farmers to access their KiwiSaver, a rethink of the Emissions Trading Scheme Forestry Rules and building the farmer workforce through immigration reform.

Luxon, rural caucus in tow, told the meeting there was nothing more important to New Zealand than the rural sector.

“… about 13 per cent of our people work in this sector, about 350,000 people, you have 40 million people being fed all around the world because of what you do. You are 80 per cent of all our export earnings and, importantly, you generate $10,000 for every man, woman and child in this country.

“You were the sector that powered New Zealand out of Covid. You are the sector that powered New Zealand out of the Global Financial Crisis, and we need you to power us out of this recession that we’ve now had for three years thanks to the last lot,” Luxon said

Luxon said the sector needed better communications and to tell more good news stories to mainstream of New Zealand.

Farmers were complaining of spending a quarter to a third of their time on compliance, rather than farming, Luxon said, so the Government had spent its first year cutting the red tape that was “calcifying the sector and slowing it down.”

He said the last government “went to war on farmers”.

McClay told the crowd every time the Government found a rule that did not work it cut it.

Ōhaupō dairy farmer and Waikato Federated Farmers vice president Andrew Reymer said he was not surprised to hear farmer confidence was at rock bottom but “we will see it start to turn”.

Confidence hits new low

Farmers have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars replanting after insects munched through Waikato crops.

A combination of high winds, rising temperatures and rain have seen cosmopolitan armyworm and cutworm populations thrive, and they have feasted on hundreds of hectares of chicory, maize and turnips.

PGG Wrightson technical field rep Neil Dunderdale is working 12-hour days walking Waipā and Ōtorohanga districts paddocks checking for pest damage.

“You’re unlucky (generally) to get one farm in your patch that needs replanting, and so far this year I have had five from Te Awamutu south,” said Dunderdale. “It’s the busiest two weeks I have had in a long time.”

His patch includes from Te Kawa Crossroads near Te Awamutu in the north to Hangatiki south of Ōtorohanga.

Dunderdale said about 300 hectares of maize had been replanting since the beginning of November, and another 100 hectares of chicory and turnips at an average cost of around $1000 a hectare.

Pioneer Brand Products regional manager Craig Maxwell said his team had covered a lot of hectares checking crops.

“So far we have not had to replant any in the King Country for cutworm damage,” he said. “There has, however, has been more crops sprayed than usual due to the increased pest pressure. We have seen more damage than we would usually see with this pest. The proactive crop checking and preventative spraying that has occurred in maize has significantly minimised the damage. “

Julie Clark, of John Clark Contacting in Ōtorohanga, emailed clients warning them to be vigilant just before The News spoke to her and she had heard back from three asking for help.

“It’s rampant,” she said. “We have done some cutworm spraying.”

Clark usually expected to spray in late November.

Te Awamutu agricultural contractor John Austin was also busy helping farmers tackle the insects.

“There’s a lot on at the moment, it’s more intense,” he said.

Foundation for Arable Research Arable Biosecurity and Industry Relationships Officer Ash Mills said it was a very bad situation for growers, but the contractors were being helpful and assisting growers and the agronomists as best they could.

“Cutworm can be a difficult pest to manage at the best of times, I believe that this situation is somewhat under control now and growers have been notified in the region to keep vigilant and check crops.”

Waikato Federated Farmers Arable chair Donald Stobie urged growers to check paddocks for bug and pest damage.

“Planting crops this spring has been a dream run, in regard to the weather and ground conditions,” he said in his latest report to the executive.

“We would not have had conditions this favourable in a number of years.

Feasting pests decimate crops

Contributed

By Clyde Graf

My neighbour Michael was telling me about his rental properties and how the tenants are paying them off.

The discussion raised some questions. The Bright Line Test – is it a legitimate investment policy - or a discriminative, tax-avoidance vehicle? Here’s their situation, with permission.

Diana is a high school teacher, and a single mum in her late 20s. She rents a house that belongs to Michael, one of several houses that Michael owns on our street.

Jack and Jane are a hard-working, middle-aged couple living across the road from me. They have three teenage children. Jane is a nurse, and Jack drives a truck. Jack’s also a volunteer fireman. They’re saving to purchase a rental property.

Michael retired at the age of 50. He owns six houses, plays golf three times a week, and spends three months a year overseas holidaying. Life’s pretty good for Michael.

After paying the mortgage and bills, there’s never much money left for Jack and Jane to invest, so any excess goes into their savings account. They’ve now accumulated $25,000, well off the deposit required to purchase a rental property. Each year they’re required to pay income tax on the interest generated on their savings. The extra income also accrues to their overall annual income, meaning an increase in ACC levies.

Diana saves all she can spare, trying to accumulate enough money for a house deposit. As a single mum, renting is a slog. Diana tried to buy a house two years ago, using her $100,000 in savings as a deposit. She was told by the bank to go away and save some more.

Because Diana didn’t have enough money to invest in houses she bought gold, while trying to accumulate a larger deposit. The price of gold has risen by 55 per cent over the last two years. Any profit generated by Diana’s home deposit investment is liable for income tax. If she was wealthy, she would have been able to invest in property and avoid paying any tax at all.

Over the last five years, Michael has sold two of his houses, for a profit of $700,000. He says it’s not worth investing in businesses because of the risk, and the share market means tax on profits. He’s not required to pay any tax on the handsome profits generated from speculating on houses he says, because The Bright Line Test means he can avoid tax, legally, if he waits at least two years before selling.

People without the money required to purchase investment property are taxed on all the earnings they generate, including interest. Perhaps it’s time to introduce a policy that allows people without investment properties to retain their investment and savings earnings, tax-free, just to even the playing field.

The Bright Line Test and the absence of a Capital Gains Tax on investment property benefits only the wealthy and effectively legalises tax avoidance. It’s time to address this unethical policy conundrum.

This is my view, not necessarily that of the Waikato Regional Council.

The Tax Debate

King Country sheep and beef farmer Natasha Cave will research how new wearable devices can enhance productivity in the beef industry as she completes the Kellog Rural Leadership Programme in 2025.

Cave co-manages 396ha Rotowai Farms at Mokauiti, south of Te Kuiti, with her husband Alan.

The couple purchased the property from Alan’s parents Stuart and Brenda Cave two years ago.

It is also home to Rotowai Angus Stud and Rotowai Hills Farm Stay.

She received the inaugural 2025 Beef and Lamb New Zealand Leadership Advancement Scholarship after applying in October, making a case that such research could help beef farmers better manage their pastures.

The newly launched scholarship is a key part of Beef and Lamb New Zealand’s refocused People and Capability workstream, dedicated to fostering on-farm leadership and enabling innovation and information transfer across the sector.

“I feel extremely privileged to have received this scholarship and appreciative of the investment that Beef and Lamb New Zealand is prepared to put into me to not only fund the course but also provide extra wrap-around support, training and mentorship,” Cave said,

“The extra opportunities that this scholarship will provide me is very exciting.”

Cave is especially interested in ways to encourage the adoption of wearables among farmers to maximise their impact.

“At the beginning of this year we invested in Halter technology on our farm, using wearable technology to provide virtual fencing for our beef herd,” Cave said.

“Being one of the first farmers to implement this technology in beef and having to learn as we go rather than from others and the many questions and enquiries from other farmers made me aware of the need for trusted information on new technology such as this.

“I believe the potential to use emerging technology such as wearables is immense and potentially a game changer for our beef industry, particularly on our hill country farms.”

Cave is also interested in the impact of other wearable technologies such as Gallagher’s eShepherd Virtual Fencing neckband and cow heat detection collars.

“I hope the research will help provide our beef farmers with a better understanding of the potential benefits of technology such as wearables can provide and also some insight into the potential for further developments to the technology that could benefit the beef sector,” Cave said.

“As well as the research, I hope that the skills I am able to develop on the Kellog programme enable me to be able to better support my local community in the roles I hold within it currently and also in my role as a catchment coordinator for the Whanganui Region Catchment Collective where I work with catchment groups and farmers in the wider Taumarunui area.”.

Cave is the coordinator of six catchment groups, three established in the last 18 months.

“I hope I will be better equipped to represent them on matters of importance such as regulation that may heavily impact them.”

Beef and Lamb New Zealand national extension programme manager Olivia Weatherburn said she was excited about the scholarship’s potential.

“We look forward to seeing the impact of Natasha’s findings from completing the Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme.

“We believe her work will offer valuable insights for farmers and the wider sector.”

Weatherburn, an alumnus of the programme, said it was more than just a research project.

“The Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme goes beyond just research – it challenges participants, connects them with like-minded leaders and opens doors that can make a significant difference in careers.”

Cave will share her learning outcomes at a series of Beef and Lamb New Zealand events.

Wearable technologies research stars

Bowlers have raised $1100 for Te Awamutu’s Riding for the Disabled organisation.

Kihikihi Bowling Club’s latest tournament – won by a Te Kūiti combination - was a departure from the norm, in that all proceeds from the day were donated.

Representatives from the RDA attended the prize giving and co-ordinator Rosalie Rea spoke about the role of the riding for the disabled in the community.

The organisation also has a branch in Ōtorohanga which will be fundraising at the Artbeat even in town this weekend. Bowlers also came to the party with individual donations – and the return of prize money into the pool.

The tournament attracted a bowlers from throughout the Waikato and King Country and the results indicated the level of competition out on the green with only one team managing four wins from four and three finishing with three wins and a draw.

The winners were the Te Kuiti team of Kevin Higgins (skip), Steve Woods and Peter Lange. Second place went to a Kihikihi team of Owen Johnston (skip), Irving Garrett and Don Millin. Cambridge Central’s Robbie Davidson (skip), Ron Greenwood and Craig Pilkington were third.

Bowlers ride to the rescue

Triple world-title holder axeman Jack Jordan is in France chasing one title that has eluded his swing – the World Championship.

Taumarunui’s Jordan achieved the sport’s first-ever three-peat last year winning the World Trophy – held annually in Europe and described as the 20/20 cricket of international wood chopping.

Now in Toulouse, France, this weekend Jordan is trying to knock off the elusive World Championship - a more traditional, long-form format across six different wood-chopping and sawing disciplines against a 12 strong international field.

“Perhaps I’ll have a bit of a target on my back coming off my three-peat success, but I’m very well prepared this year and will be giving it a bloody good crack to bring that World Championship title back to Kirikau,” he said.

Kirikau, south west of Taumarunui, is where Jordan 28, runs the family sheep and beef farm.

Jordan eyes world championship

One of the heroes of King Country’s dramatic Lochore Cup win over West Coast last month has his fingers crossed about his left knee.

Zac Wickham-Darlington’s biggest game ended early on October 20 as he twisted the knee going into a first half tackle – and it looked as though the injury could be serious.

But Wickham-Darlington is hoping to get word soon that he faces recovery spell of just six weeks – meaning a “big off season rehab” which sees him ready for the start of next season.

The injury cost Wickham-Darlington a chance of Heartland XV selection – and he has set that as a target for 2025.

“It wasn’t the tackle that actually did the damage - I did a left foot step immediately before going into the tackle, so it was just off a side step,” he explained.

The two West Coast players heard him cry out in pain and immediately got off him, something he acknowledged.

“We’ve always had a good relationship with those fellas - probably one of the most respectful teams we’ve come up against, year after year,” he said.

Wickham-Darlington spent the rest of the game in a knee brace on the sideline as the Rams took the cup in extra time 46-44.

He made it to the after match, where it was found the Lochore Cup topped out with the beer from three stubbies.

“I was walking at the after match. I was still walking around for the most part of it. It was an awesome night, a lot of the boys stayed together later and went back to one of boys houses to carry on.”

Wickham-Darlington moved from Te Kūiti to Hamilton about three years ago – but continues to play for Bush in the King Country club competition.

He is a social worker in Hamilton working with young offenders, and is often in court for them. He also assists with their rehabilitation – everything from helping them into work to assisting them obtain their driving licences.

His season with King Country came to an abrupt end – and had a hiccough in between.

Wife Shelley – Shelz - gave birth to their daughter Brisbyn in mid-September and for three weeks beforehand the midwife was worried baby could come at any minute.

“It affected my away trips, basically two Wickhgames out… I couldn’t play because I was worried if I left I would miss out.”

Wickham-Darlington learned his rugby at Hamilton Boys High School and New Plymouth Boys High.

The family had moved back to Te Kūiti when he accepted a rugby scholarship at New Plymouth. It was a timely offer because it saved his parents the issue of juggling transport for schooling in Hamilton.

In 2015, in Year 10, Darlington was playing for New Plymouth Boys High, then continued his education at Hamilton Boys High. His plans for next season are to continue wearing the Bush colours, get back into the King Country team “and make a good solid effort to get into that NZ Heartland team next year.” Teammates Kristian Gent-Standen and Kaleb Foote represented the province in this season’s team.

Zac plans summer rehab

By Andy McGechan
New Zealand made its debut appearance this season at the women’s section of the International Six Days Enduro, held in Spain, and impressed many at this huge gathering of the motorcycling world elite.
The three-rider New Zealand women’s contingent that battled in the Women’s World Trophy (WWT) teams’ class – Ngaroma’s Rachael Archer (Kawasaki) joined by Tapanui’s Kylie Dorr (Beta) and Opunake’s Taylar Rampton (Husqvarna) – managed a few jaw-dropping results on their way to finishing 10th overall in their first appearance at this massive annual dirt-biking marathon.
Archer was the stand-out for the New Zealanders. She finished overall runner-up among the women, just under three minutes behind United States team rider Brandy Richards after an incredible six days of brutal racing in the Galicia region, on the Atlantic coastline in the north-western of Spain.
Archer managed to tap into any left-over reserves of energy to significantly cut her deficit to Richards on the final day, which featured a motocross, an aspect of off-road motorcycle racing that is considered faster but arguably less technical.
The rider who finished the enduro third overall in the women’s rankings was Australia’s Jessica Gardiner, ending the event just a little under five minutes behind the hard-charging Archer.
Archer was not only overall runner-up in the individual standings for the women, but also she wound up an astonishing 54th overall (when ranked alongside the men. More than 570 riders in total were at the event.
“It felt good to win a special test (a tightly timed sprint section) at this event,” said Archer. “I felt like I rode decent and didn’t crash, so put in a solid ride.
“I didn’t really set any goals or expectations for myself coming into the week. I just wanted to learn and gain as much experience as I could. I feel like I’ve done that and also shown some speed.”
Dorr was meanwhile classified 28th individual in the WWT class (and also finished 129th overall alongside the men). Rampton dropped out after day five with an injury, but was still credited with finishing 30th overall among the women.
“New Zealand team manager Justin Stevenson said it was “not the dream result for Team New Zealand - but close”.
Team France won the premier World Trophy (WT) class ahead of the United States and Spain. In the Junior World Trophy (JWT) class, Team Sweden won ahead of France and the United States.
There was no Kiwi men’s team entered this season.

Archer shows the enduro way

Ōtorohanga netball was celebrating the century of netball in New Zealand on Friday, but unlike the parent body’s date 1924 beginning, Ōtorohanga netball’s origins are unknown.

“We lost our minutes in the ’58 flood,” Otorohanga netball president Dorothy Carr said.

They’ve since obtained some records from 1954, which may give the club a better look at its history, Dorothy said.

As its part in honouring 100 years of netball in New Zealand, the Ōtorohanga Netball Centre hosted a heartwarming celebration last Friday.

The event brought together past and present members of the Ōtorohanga netball community, giving everyone the opportunity to reminisce, reconnect, and celebrate the legacy of netball in their lives, Dorothy said.

Among the attendees were three families, each with three generations present — a testament to the enduring passion for the sport passed down through the years, she said.

A highlight of the afternoon was a game of walking netball, which symbolised the inclusiveness and longevity of the game. Players ranged in age from 13 to 85, creating a powerful image of how netball continued to unite and engage players of all ages.

Celebrations moved to the Ōtorohanga Club in the evening, where four Service Awards were presented in recognition of significant contributions to the netball community. As part of the event, the Honours Boards, dating back to 1959, were unveiled, serving as a visual reminder of the people who have shaped and supported Ōtorohanga netball over the years.

“We have now got the honours boards up to date going back to 1958 - of all our patrons presidents, treasurers, umpires co-ordinators. So we have done a bit of mahe on that,” Dorothy said.

Some service awards were presented and next year they will start doing life memberships.

“You know how you have some of those things that you need to do every year and you kind of push that out because you are busy running competitions… this has just given us an opportunity to tidy those things up.”

She said event was a powerful reminder of the deep sense of camaraderie and connection netball fosters in the community. It highlighted the role the sport plays in creating lasting memories, bringing whānau together, and building a bridge between the past and the future.

The timing of the celebration felt particularly poignant, as just two days later, the Silver Ferns secured a thrilling victory over Australia, a fitting capstone to a weekend of honouring netball’s proud legacy in New Zealand. Netball was introduced to New Zealand as ‘women’s basketball’ in 1906 – a nine-a-side game played on grass, with baskets tied to posts at either end of the court.

It was introduced by Rev J C Jamieson who started up basketball teams from his bible classes.

The first games were played on a paddock and the teams were nine-a-side.
The rules allowed three bounces, and throws from one end of the field to the other.
Baskets were used for goals and after each goal, the ball had to be tipped out to restart play.

Aiming high for a century


The Lochore Cup which the King Country Rams wrested from West Coast on Sunday, was in Taupo this week.

Rams captain Liam Rowlands took it back to Taupo, King Country Rugby union general manager Keiran Hema said.

“Our captain Liam he got hold of it yesterday afternoon and he still has it in his hands now,” he said on Monday.

The Lochore Cup and all the team’s other trophies were star exhibits this week at a Rippa Rugby tournament in Taupo.

“We’re expecting to have around 400 kids, what better way to display it?” Hema said.

“We’ve got schools from all over. We’ll have those (trophies) there for the day, and it will be a good opportunity to showcase that, and give even a level of understanding what it is about.

“It is a good opportunity to explain to our kids and to our schools who they are named after, and what they have done for rugby and just start with things early.”

The cup would be brought back to Te Kūiti in coming weeks for school visits and photo opportunities, Hema said.

The Lochore Cup is named after famed Wairarapa Bush and All Blacks player and coach Brian Lochore. It was first awarded during the Heartland Championship in 2006.

Cup goes east

Even the goalposts played their part in the King Country Rams’ defeat of West Coast in the Lochore Cup final on Sunday.

In the conversion of a King Country try the ball tipped the flag at the top of the outside post, and the conversion was given.

Then at full time with the scores levelled at 34 all, West Coast’s kick bounced off the post as full time was given. This led to 10 minutes each way extra time and KCR taking the cup 46-44.

King Country Rugby Union’s referee education officer Jamie Bell said the conversion was given because the ball came inside the post after it struck the flag on top.

“If the upright goes up to the sky and it hits the upright and bounces back in, that’s okay,” he said. “That’s probably why it was allowed, because it touched the flag up the top before it came back in. That’s what won it on the day.

“That one at the end of full time when West Coast hit the upright, that bounced out. Bounced back into the field of play - so that’s how it goes some times. It happens to anyone.”

West Coast came to Te Kuiti having won their semifinal against Horowhenua in extra time.

This time, the bounce of the ball – or off the post- went against them.

It was a full on final played out to 100 minutes before the final result was called in extra time. The final delivered all the drama expected, and a constantly changing score.

With two reasonably matched teams the tally climbed in a tit for tat fashion to 34-all at fulltime. The final 20 minutes was also busy with both sides scoring.

For Glynn Meads, son of legendary King Country All Black Colin, the final was the first time he had arrived at a match via helicopter. Glynn and Brian Lochore’s grandson Lochie McNabb delivered the Lochore Cup – named after the Wairarapa All Black captain and coach - to the ground.

Glynn’s sister Rhonda Wilcox - a former Silver Fern - was present for the Meads Cup final in Te Aroha where Thames Valley beat Mid Canterbury 37-29.

Glynn who is also the KCRFU board deputy chair, described the final as a real nail biter. It had everyone on the edge of their seats for 100 minutes.

“It really appreciated the efforts of all of the players, the whole lot of them even West Coast. Everyone had admiration for the way they played for 100 minutes.

“The West Coast forwards were fairly active and doing a lot of work which we took a bit to get on top of. You have got to do the job in the middle of the field before you spin it wide. So that was the biggest task really, doing all that grafting up the middle of the field.

“They disrupted us quite a bit lineouts.”

But the Rams hung in and persisted, Meads said.

“They were determined to win and got there in the end. When you are a good side I guess you find the way to win when it’s tough.”

Generosity abounds

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King Country News, King Country Farmer and the King Country App is independently owned published by Good Local Media Ltd – also publishers of the Te Awamutu News, Cambridge News and Waikato Business News.