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Leading the way to diversity Pages 8–9
Welcoming farming in 2026
Rock n roll from the gravel roads
P3
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We’re here for the good of the country.
A tale of teamwork
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
THE NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES IS PUBLISHED WITH PRIDE BY RURAL MATTERS LTD, A PRIVATELY OWNED NORTHLAND COMPANY. Phone: 0800 466 793 Email: info@rml.nz Postal Address: PO Box 474, Dargaville Physical Address: 107 River Road, Dargaville Editor: Andy Bryenton Journalists: Amy Fifita | Andy Bryenton | Paul Campbell Advertising: MJ Te Whata 027 343 2636 Production: Gavin Bainbridge | Marnie Fuller | Daniel Foster | Liz Clark Accounts: accounts@rml.nz Distribution: Laurie Willetts Printed by: NZME Website: farminglifestyles.co.nz Opinions expressed in this publication and in advertising inserts, by contributors or advertisers, are not necessarily those of Rural Matters Ltd. All inserts delivered with the publication are not produced by Rural Matters Ltd.
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A busy 2025: looking ahead to 2026 by Grant McCallum, MP for Northland
2025 was eventful, with successes and challenges. Thank you for letting me serve as your MP — I’m committed to delivering for Northland. Covering 12,639km² from Cape Rēinga to Mangawhai, Northland’s size brings diverse challenges. National progress in 2025 After two years in government, National has focussed on restoring confidence in our economy, public services, and safety. Economy • Inflation halved • Interest rates cut nine times • Exports up by nearly $1 billion • Record Australian visitors boost business Law and order • 38,000 fewer violent crime victims • Ram raids down 85% • Youth offending down 16% • Stronger police powers and tougher penalties Education • Cell phones banned in classrooms • Daily hour of reading, writing, maths • Structured literacy/numeracy programmes implemented • New entrant achievement rose from 36% to 58% Healthcare • More doctors and nurses • Increased access to cancer treatments/surgeries • Waikato Medical School launched • Building for the Future • Cutting red tape • Fast-tracking infrastructure • Advancing key roads • Supporting businesses and investment Electoral reform New legislation will streamline vote counting and improve efficiency with changes to enrolment, voting periods, donation thresholds, and conduct rules; further reforms are planned. In parliament during 2025, a total of 81 government bills successfully passed
their third readings and were enacted into law. Additionally, 91 government bills advanced through their first reading, while 79 were reported back from the select committee. Free trade agreement New Zealand has secured a landmark free trade agreement with India, opening new opportunities for exporters and boosting economic growth. Tariffs on 95% of our exports to India are removed or reduced, benefitting sectors like apples, kiwifruit and mānuka honey, and giving access to 1.4 billion consumers. Trade supports one-in-four New Zealand jobs. This deal will create thousands of jobs, drive billions in new exports, and help double export value over the next decade. It backs our farmers, growers, manufacturers and exporters to compete and win on the world stage.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Welcoming farming in 2026
January 2026
3
Welcome back to an exciting year of the Northern Farming Lifestyles. Now owned by Rural Matters Ltd, our team looks forward to keeping our farming community up to date, heard and seen with local stories and news that affect them. Happy New Year, we are excited to do 2026 with you. Looking forward to the future, we as a company want to keep you informed with relevant news, information and uplifting stories. Last year, we faced challenges. This publication, once owned by Integrity Community Media, was put into administration and subsequently liquidated. Amid our team’s loyalty in believing that what we do matters, we kept moving forward, with Rural Matters stepping to the fore to own the mastheads. Emerging victorious, the Farming Lifestyles family is thriving and striving to ensure we bring our readers great content. New opportunities and challenges await us all, but as ever, the farming community keeps going, no matter the situation, and we will continue with you. As always, our team will scrutinise and inform on political issues, solutions and policies facing farmers this election year. This year, we hope to share the wonderful journeys people have been on, their passions for agriculture and their success in the industry. We will print the latest and upcoming wheels and vehicles in farming, amongst other technologies.
This year, our editor Andy Bryenton has shaken things up with his vision for the paper. In this month’s publication, you will discover feature stories, automotive successes, local news and other pieces we think you will like — it is a refresh we think our readers will love. Celebrating 40 years of the Northland Field Days, we encourage you to attend the show, make connections, witness inventions and technology benefiting the rural sector and other opportunities. Attendees fortunate enough to be as old as this celebrated agricultural affair can get in for free (photo identification is required). There is a chance to win a Honda outboard motor or quad bike. The Northern Lifestyles team will be on the ground hunting for the latest and greatest tech available, reporting on the various activities and connecting with the community. With an outdoor zone, a lifestyle area, entertainment, food courts and over 300 exhibitors, we hope to see you there. If there is anything you’d like to see covered this year, any great stories about farming ingenuity, local news or issues, we welcome you to email us at info@rml.nz.
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Since Merv Pinny released his recent album, Hard Road, it has gained international acclaim climbing the radio charts on college campuses in the US and Brazil
Balancing farming and music for his lifetime, Merv is now living on a lifestyle block and is solely focussing on making music
Rock n roll from the gravel roads PART 2 by Amy Fifita
This month, we revisit Merv Pinny and his life of music and agriculture, following the release of his album, Hard Road, on November 28.
S
tarting his music career with his brothers in rural Waikato, they would have to balance their farm chores with gigs. “Playing with my brothers was terrific. There were drawbacks, because my father seemed to time haymaking when we had a gig, and we weren’t allowed to go until completion,” said Merv. “Richard would milk, and I would pick up the hay, and sometimes, I’d have to do
it alone so that we could do the gig. It was like a mad rush.” Starting a cover band called Jailbreak with his brother George, they played AC/ DC, Angel and other heavy rock covers. The band would play on a circuit and was the resident band for the Hillcrest Tavern. “I started writing songs once we got on the circuit band, and we started playing my songs at the gigs. We were such a busy band because we were playing six nights a
week, and I was still milking the cows — so it was tough. “The next day, we’d be doing that again, and it was hard-out like that for two or three years. I loved playing so much that I just wanted to do it.” Already committed to dairy farming and music, Merv put his all into both passions. After leaving school, Merv worked on a dairy farm before becoming a welder at an engineering shop, while continuing to
play in bands. “I even worked in a dairy company for a while before getting my own herd. You have to be careful with owning a farm and being musical, because you can get a bit tied up with playing music and not working as much as you should on the farm. Then everything on the farm gets rushed, so you can get carried away if you’re writing songs.” Merv recorded his first song after attending a music conference in Auckland.
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Catapulting his career to a new high, it was the first of many wins for his lifetime of music-making. “I wrote a song called Lonely Woman and recorded it in Auckland. I attended a music conference, and the artists were saying that they never play their music or even listen to it. “The host said if we returned tomorrow, he’d listen to our songs, and I was the only one who turned up. He loved it and played it on the radio. That led to me recording my first album, Destiny, in Auckland at the Airforce Digital Recording Studios, where I got introduced to Mike Farrell, who ended up producing it. “I had a little studio, and it surprised Mike that I played all the instruments and the song had already been formed. We had some of the best musos on that album — Mike, Pat Kuhtze, Peter Morgan, Max Hohepa, Karl Benton, Ben Gilgen and Bianco Walter.” With a good start in the industry, Merv continued to farm in Waikato and produce music. It wasn’t until a motorcycle accident left him unable to walk again that he decided to move to Northland with hopes of financially and physically recovering. “That crash changed everything. Heading north gave me a new experience. It felt good, I was creating a new start to rebuild, and I loved it in Dargaville. “I bought a farm next to Glinks Gully. It was a converted dairy farm. I could afford to be in Northland, and I was still doing my music, songwriting and had a recording studio.” After buying a farm in Glinks Gully, Merv made farming ventures in Mangakahia
Merv says his favourite song on his Hard Road album is Bang Bang, a humorous song inspired by being told ‘you can go to hell’ and his curiosity about what would happen if he did
Valley on his 3,000-acre Ngatitara farm before buying a farm in Kerikeri. Eventually retiring from farming in 2016, Merv moved onto a lifestyle block closer to town and began fully focussing on music. “I love to play live, but for me, it has always been about writing the songs. My favourite song on Hard Road is Bang Bang. One of my old girlfriends would say, ‘I wish you were dead, you can go to hell’, when she was angry with me. I wondered what it would be like if I went to hell, so I wrote it in with a sense of humour. “Rise On Up is about never giving up on what you believe and being able to
January 2026
Merv began writing songs when he was in a circuit band in Waikato
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Dog trials bring like-minded people together with their dogs to compete, and for spectators to watch
Photo: Chris Hoult
Powerless to move, the farmer has to hold his post while his canine companion rounds the sheep up into the pen
Photo: Chris Hoult
A tale of teamwork
by Amy Fifita
The Omamari Dog Trial Club are celebrating its 40th trial since its inauguration in 1985, still on the same farm with the same landowners.
T
he momentous occasion will be met with a slight increase in prize money plus other specialities, like a 40th anniversary cake to mark the occasion. For ODTC president Terry North and secretary Anna Blair, it is a lifestyle they have been immersed in for decades. “Jim Miller is our patron, and we would like to make this trial special for him. Their son Andrew has taken over the farm now.
I haven’t been with this club that long, but I have been trialling off and on for 46 years,” said Terry. “Starting in New Zealand, two farmers were saying their dogs were better than theirs. They set up a bit of a course, had a competition, and it grew from there.” Dog trialling is part of the way of life in most communities. Whether it is competing with your canine or watching to see if a man, or woman, and their dog can
make the course, the events are always met with enthusiasm. “For me, the better you break your dogs in, the easier they are to work on the farm during the week. Dog trialling is the icing on the cake. For at least two years, they train, and these here will be some of the centre champs, and then you can go on to a North or South Island competition and a national one. You have to earn so many points in the club trial.
“It can be a hobby, especially for some of the older ones. They go ‘out of our centre’, and they make a week of it doing three or four trials.” Anna has been in the sport, whether competing or doing club duties, and has been with the group for about two decades. “The first official trial was in 1985, but there was a maiden trial before that to see how everything worked. This current
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January 2026
Terry North, Omamari Dog Trial Club president, says dogs need to be trained for at least two years before they hit the course Photo: Chris Hoult
Very much a team sport between handlers and their dogs, commands and instincts are put to the test with three sheep on a course
year is our 40th trial, not our 40th year, because of Covid,” said Anna. “It is one of the younger clubs in the North. There are 12 clubs, including ours, and I have been there for about 20 years. Trialling aims to improve stockmanship and handling for livestock, so they’re not as stressed. If you have an out-of-control mutt that is in there chasing everything, it is not good for the cattle and sheep. It bruises them, can kill them, so the better the dog is, the less likely that will happen and the more enjoyable your work is. “You can’t really do it without them. It should be a pleasure to do, not sitting there screaming blue murder at your dog.” While not all dogs go trialling, those who choose to do it as a sport reap
Photo: Chris Hoult
the benefits of disciplining their canine farm workers. “You don’t have to do it, but if your dog’s really good on-farm, chances are they will be handy on a trial course, too. “The complicating factor is the sheep. You can have the best-trained dog in the world, and be as calm as you like, but the sheep can come out with completely different ideas of what is going to happen. “With three, there is enough for one sheep that can take off and leave its two mates. It can all come unstuck, even though people can go out with the best of intentions. You can see the top people in the country get downtroweled by a sheep who won’t play the game.”
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A testimony to the teamwork between farmers and their dogs, the trials help handlers and canines alike hone their skills. “People read the body language of the stock, and so do the dogs; they have been bred to do it. Handlers can be male or female, and with some of the established combinations, they can give instructions, but the dog can ignore them, sometimes with good reason. “It might be being naughty, but it might have seen that something else is going to happen. There is trust between a person and a dog in those situations.” The Omamari Dog Trial Club event is on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1. People may witness the bond between human and canine and how they get stuff done for free, at 541 Omamari Road, Dargaville.
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Bronwyn Douglas and MFNZ planting lead with regenerative farmer Greg Hart, who is retiring class six and seven erosion-prone land on his farm
A team of planters will plant the mānuka and non-mānuka species on the land to help diversify the area and the landowners’ revenue stream
Leading the way to diversity by Amy Fifita
Established as a public-private partnership, Mānuka Farming NZ was designed to grow the mānuka honey industry through the identification of science-led best practices.
T
he company continues to help the industry’s recovery, while also advising landowners on the integral role of mānuka as a cornerstone of native planting for land retirement and ecological restoration. It leads the way for farmers to diversify their revenue streams and look after the land for future generations. “Plantation mānuka honey is still in its infancy,” said client relationship manager Bronwyn Douglas. “The honey industry grew quickly, resulting in an explosion of hives across the country. “That led to a glut of honey and a fall in prices, driving many beekeepers
away from mānuka. There’s no honey glut, and we‘re seeing prices move upwards sharply.” Founded more than 12 years ago, as part of MPI’s Primary Growth Partnership programme, Mānuka Farming NZ led trials of purpose-bred mānuka cultivars derived from wild stands throughout New Zealand. The project successfully built a set of protocols to improve the quality and quantity of high-UMF mānuka honey. It includes the use of the mānuka cultivars bred for vigorous growth, increased floral density and fitness for use in various climate conditions.
The company recommends specific cultivars based on the land location to be planted, and site-specific challenges like propensity for drought or frost. “The field research was delivered by Massey University, which also produced three PhD projects from the findings and a wide range of information,” said senior ecologist Maggie Olsen. “We tested different mānuka cultivars at plantation sites throughout New Zealand. We concentrated our research on a wide variety of important factors for plantation establishment success: tree growth, disease resistance,
planting operations, nectar quality, flowering period, honey outcomes and environmental interactions. “The seed lines developed have improved growing characteristics compared to the wild types. With our cultivar collections, we can match these according to ecotype and region.” With eight cultivars to select from, farmers from across the country can diversify their revenue streams by adding honey production to the mix. Matching the flowering time and the bees’ activity time ensures the bees can successfully harvest nectar for honey production.
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These five different mānuka cultivars showcase the width difference of leaf shape
“We provide our clients with a customised planting plan to meet their specific needs and goals. In addition to recommendations about mānuka cultivars, we also advise on non-mānuka support species suitable for specific locations and integral to bee health. “By acting as pollen and nectar sources when the mānuka is not flowering, it ensures a diverse diet for the bees’ health. Everyone benefits from diversity in their diet, even the bees. “We also advise on the optimal number and placement of hives to maximise the time the bees are on the mānuka flower exclusively. “It adds to the quality and value of the honey. This scientific approach brings much greater certainty and reliability of outcomes for landowners.” The variety of traits found in specialised mānuka cultivars is not only useful for
landowners looking to establish honey production. They are also ideally suited as a cornerstone of land retirement and restoration projects “For the hard-to-farm steep back country where radiata is unsuitable, mānuka is usually the most cost-effective option. There’s so much erosion-prone land in New Zealand, and mānuka is a great way to anchor those slopes, whether alone or in concert with other tree species. The low-cost option benefits the land,” said Bronwyn. “Having seed orchards for our special cultivars, we select that seed, grow it in our nurseries and plant out following the plan, normally planting during winter. We also do the essential preparation and post-management for the site — weed and pest control.” Maggie says many farmers are at the mercy of commodity prices. Mānuka honey prices aren’t closely tied to
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January 2026
Honey bees foraging for nectar on a flowering mānuka tree
those products, which is useful as a complementary source of revenue. “It creates a carbon revenue, too. It’s a way for farmers to maximise returns from unproductive pastoral land and even beautify their property with trees. You will see the benefits of the native biodiversity, an increase in birds, bees, erosion management and water quality. “Honey prices are stabilising and increasing steadily. The industry would benefit from having a more stable supply based on purpose-built plantations, rather than relying heavily on the wild supply. “Our goal is to help landowners meet their economic and ecological goals with maximum reliability and minimum cost. Whether that means establishing a mānuka plantation or retiring unproductive hill-country grazing land, we’ve the practical experience and science-led backing to deliver.”
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Expo headed back to Waikato
by Liz Clark
Dairy farmers will welcome back the annual New Zealand Dairy Expo, aimed to be a grassroots approach to all things dairy, at the United Matamata Sports Club, Bedford Park, Matamata on February 18 and 19, 8.30am to 3pm for the two days. “The Dairy Expo is not like the big National Fieldays. It is grassroots, practical, focussed and designed purely for dairy farmers,” said Dairy Expo event coordinator Amanda Hodgson. “We’re pumped about February’s event. If you’re a dairy farmer this Expo is for you — and you alone.” Amanda says there will be no lifestyle stalls, crowds or walking for miles to find what attendees need. “A couple of us that are in the sector organise this event alongside our full-time jobs, and we keep it intentionally simple because — you — farmers and the good guys of rural NZ, tell us every year that this format works and you love it. “Every exhibitor/business is vetted. They must have at least 80% of their business in dairying. No spa pools, no knick-knacks, no wetweather gear, no Tesla cars, nothing off-topic. “Everything you need is in one compact, easy-to-walk area. Exhibitors keep things simple. Just their best people on the day, ready to talk farming, and solving any problems you need to overcome.”
The 2026 New Zealand Dairy Expo covers all things dairy
On Wednesday afternoon, after the Expo wraps up, attendees are welcome to head over to the Matamata Clubrooms from 3.30pm to 6.30pm for a relaxed catch-up. Two Q&A sessions will be running each day at 10am and 2pm. These alternate across both days, so visitors can catch
both topics — no matter which day they attend. Session 1: Wearable Tech and Boluses Led by veterinarian Kirsty Ashcroft from Anexa Veterinary Services, Morrinsville. This session dives into everything from cow collars, ear tags and rumen boluses to how these systems integrate, what data
matters, and the practical day-today realities of using them. Expect open discussion around accuracy, alerts, reliability, behaviour insights, heat detection, metabolic indicators, and the future of animal monitoring technology. Bring your questions from cost effectiveness to choosing the right system for your farm. Session 2: Breeding For the Farming System of the Future Led by Mark Benns from Your Wingman, this session explores breeding strategies that align with modern dairy farming environments. It covers why breeding decisions need to be made years ahead of infrastructure changes and how to prepare your herd for the systems you want to run in the future. Topics include genetic selection, environmental pressures, efficiency, adaptability, longevity, and aligning herd development with laboursaving technology and farm system goals. A practical, strategic conversation for farmers planning ahead. Farmers wishing to attend can register at nzdairyexpo.co.nz/farmer-registration.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
January 2026
11
ADVERTORIAL
Celebrating local food growers
by Andy Bryenton
The fifth Northland Edible Garden Trail will feature 50 open gardens and exciting workshops, with something happening every weekend in February. The trail has grown every year since its inception, and this year there will be gardens to explore in the Far North, Mid North, Whangārei and the Hokianga region. Last year, there were more than 1,000 visitors, including people from around New Zealand and overseas. “The trail features a variety of gardens, including small urban gardens, food forests, rural lifestyle blocks, community gardens, marae, commercial growers and regenerative agriculture,” says event organiser, Graeme Kettle. Graeme and co-organiser Debbie Raphael love growing their own food for food security, healthy eating, regenerating the land, and saving on their food bill. What they’ve found a hunger for in the wider public is knowledge and expertise, which the trail offers to share, along with inspiration. It’s a window into the possibilities afforded for sustainable living and ecological harmony in food production. Both of these themes are major trends driving change in regional Kiwi towns and in the countryside.
Many people looking to leave the city and embrace a lifestyle on the land want to build their knowledge base about edible gardening, though of course, many of the practices which make this enterprise so rewarding are applicable even to the small suburban garden. “The Northland Edible Garden Trail enables the public to meet the people involved, have a chat, look, learn, and be inspired. Gardens cost $3 for each adult to visit, while children are free.” Just a few examples of the crops and growing styles on offer reveal a world of possibilities for the edible garden enthusiast. Community gardens, regenerative farming and permaculture will take centre stage, along with tips for growing olives, bananas, coffee and more. There’s even the chance to get up close and personal with oxen. For more information and details, visit northlandediblegardentrail.org.nz. It’s your chance to take a look at a cornucopia of living gardens that might change your ideas about the outdoors.
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Graeme and Debbie’s children, Tamsyn and Theo, helping with the kūmara harvest
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12
January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Wellbeing a priority by Colin Hannah, Federated Farmers Northland president
I do an extensive amount of voluntary work in the rural health and wellbeing space. It is something I am very passionate about because I know the pressure and challenges farmers face daily. Many of our rural folk get up every morning and milk their cows and check that their livestock have feed and water, and Christmas is no exception. They continue to keep the backbone of our economy turning, so as many people head into the summer holiday period, I say a big thank you to all who assist them to continue doing this, day in, day out.
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At the Whangārei A&P Society show an impressively large crowd turned out, and it was a great chance to talk to people about how they were feeling and hopes for the future. People were happy and enjoying themselves. That event was only a month since the Bay of Islands P&I Show, and while confidence has improved, the hesitancy on the future, I think, caused by the reduction in dairy price outlook, is still apparent. Some felt the economy was turning the corner. Others were not so sure. The Rural Support Trust has reported reduced calls — but the time to work through the calls has lengthened. A broad range of issues have been registered, with many calls coming through around contracts and conditions. Farmers are having employment issues, often around drug use. Finding skilled staff is becoming more of a problem. Many staff coming into New Zealand are foreigners who are adding a lot to the workforce with their work ethic. The make-up of regions is changing, with increasing numbers of Indian, Sri Lankan, Filipino and other nationalities filling the gaps in staffing levels on-farm. This is becoming more noticeable at the collaboration dinners with a range of
nationalities turning up to these events. Horticulture has been relying on foreign workers for some time, and this can now be seen in traditional agriculture. From a rural health point of view, this may create issues in the future, cultural misunderstanding creating anxiety, or not seeking help in a timely manner, so my colleagues and I will keep working hard to ensure support is there when people need it. Interestingly, there is a large disparity in cost for doctors’ visits, from $20 a visit at
Kawakawa and Rawene to $65 a visit in Whangārei for registered patients. The final collaboration dinner in the north for 2025 at Ruawai was wellattended by 98 people. Most farmers were happy with the season to date, be they dairy, beef or arable. Almost all advised that they had a good supply of conserved feed on hand with silage and some early hay put away. My Northland Federated Farmers team are looking forward to seeing you all at the Northland Field Days next month.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
January 2026
A birthday for the friendly field days
13
by Andy Bryenton
Forty years ago an idea was formed among a group of locals in Dargaville who were passionate about farming and about promoting the whole rural sector in Northland. Back then, in 1985, the local Dargaville Jaycees group assembled an outdoor festival showcasing farming innovations, and held it at the site of the town’s equestrian racetrack. History records that everything came together beautifully except the weather, but despite the deluge the first-ever Northland Field Days was a roaring success, with 80 exhibitors and thousands of guests. Northland and the field days went together perfectly, and those numbers continued to grow, so much so that a new site was sourced and the whole event expanded to become the biggest outdoor occasion in the north. In terms of size, the Northland Field Days is now the second-biggest event in its kind nationwide, and because it comes at the very start of the year, it can be the first place where the latest ideas in farming break cover. No matter where you are in the nation, four decades is a milestone to celebrate. Just as importantly, as the field days celebrates
Racing lawn mowers hit the track at Northland Field Days; just one of the surprising, entertaining sights to see at Northland’s biggest outdoor event
its 40th birthday on February 26, 27 and 28 2026, the event has grown to become a feast of entertainment as well as innovation, a fun three-day festival, as much as it is a showcase of technology and a chance to share ideas.
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This year the president and committee have gone all out to deliver a great experience. As well as more than 300 exhibitors covering all the sectors of agriculture and horticulture, there will be sheepdog trials, a massive tractor pull
contest, 4x4 obstacle tracks, off-road motorcycle drag racing, lawn mower racing and rides for the youngsters. Three food courts, pavilions packed with lifestyle and home ideas, and an entire outdoor zone filled with boats, bikes, hunting, fishing and off-road adventuring await. For the big 40th, Northland Field Days is also rolling out the prizes. The tone reflects the ‘muddy boots and milestones’ theme of the three-day festival — if you’re 40 years old, you can come in for free. Everyone who passes through the gate is in to win their choice of a brand-new Honda quad bike or a Honda outboard motor, too. If you’re in the rural sector and want to catch a milestone moment, with the chance to see what’s fresh for 2026, plan to visit Dargaville when this huge show is in town. You’ll enjoy the carnival atmosphere and the excitement on display. You can find out more at northlandfielddays.co.nz — see you there.
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Bright future for exotic cropping
by Paul Campbell
Significant opportunities for growers to capture value from high-demand crops suited to the region’s changing climate are revealed in a new report highlighting strong potential for protected cropping, says Northland Inc. Commissioned under the Tuputupu Grow Northland initiative – Foundation for Growth workstream, the report was prepared by the Bioeconomy Science Institute and includes insights from both global research and interviews with Northland growers already experimenting with protected cropping systems. Protected cropping systems include structures such as greenhouses, tunnel
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houses, rain shelters and shade covers and trial novel high-value crops that would otherwise be difficult to produce at scale outdoors. Programme lead Luke Beehre, says the report provides valuable evidence to support decision-making for growers considering diversification. “Protected cropping opens the door for Northland growers to do things we simply couldn’t do before. This report shows the real opportunity to improve the certainty of production, test new high-value tropical crops, and create more resilient growing systems that better manage extreme weather. “Growers who contributed to the research talked about improved crop quality, the ability to reach markets earlier, and better working conditions for staff — all of which strengthen the case for further investment.” The report highlights that protected cropping is particularly well suited to highvalue fruit such as dragon fruit, papaya, mango, banana and blueberries, with several Northland growers already trialling these crops under cover. Many growers interviewed described strong market interest, including from supermarkets and wholesalers keen to source more locally-grown produce. The report also identifies challenges that need to be
addressed for the sector to grow at scale. These include capital investment requirements, the need for reliable water supply and irrigation systems, and the emergence of new pest or management issues specific to protected environments. Growers noted that, because protected cropping in Northland is still relatively new, knowledge is fragmented and greater collaboration is required to accelerate best practice. Beehre says the “research gives us another important piece of the puzzle as we work with growers across the region to explore new opportunities for land use. “Our region’s warm climate and entrepreneurial growers give us a head start. By taking a coherent approach, we can support people to make confident decisions about where protected cropping might be the right fit.” The report also includes a financial analysis guide to support growers’ decision-making and assessment of the viability of different protected cropping options, including capital considerations, operating costs and expected returns. This complements other research released under the initiative, including earlier reports exploring the economic potential of new and emerging crops for Northland. Across all findings, the message is clear: protected cropping offers Northland
Luke Beehre, Grow Northland lead
a major opportunity to build a more diversified, resilient and future-focussed horticulture sector — one that aligns with market demand and supports long-term regional prosperity. The full report and additional information is available at northlandnz. com/grownorthland.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
January 2026
15
WARKWORTH SPOTLIGHT ON A small piece of coastal paradise by Liz Clark
For anyone wanting to bypass the busy crowds in Matakana, heading beyond the bustle along Leigh Road will take visitors to the quiet seaside town of Leigh. It’s a place still frozen in time with its small quiet village, historic buildings and cemetery with the bonus of a sheltered rocky inlet and Mathesons Bay close by. My advice? Don’t be in a hurry to leave. Grab a bite to eat at Leigh Eats, the local takeaway shop, and take a drive down to the wharf area where fishing boats come in to unload the day’s catch for Leigh Fish. Check out the Leigh Sawmill Cafe as well, and enjoy a meal and good music to go. Take a stroll in the historic cemetery where you will find many old burial plots, including that of Edward James Harper, who died in a tragic accident while attempting to salvage gold from the wreck of the Elingamite in January 1907. The vessel had sunk in 1902, taking many lives and gold with it. Harper was employed by a New Zealand-based salvage company to take the deep dive and salvage the cargo. He was successful in the weeks leading up to his final dive, when on January 22nd, 1907, things went terribly wrong.
Earlier, Harper had been complaining of ‘pains’ from the numerous dives he had been undertaking over the course of the month to retrieve the gold from the wreck. On this particular day, he had already gone down twice with a dive duration of 15 minutes; however, on the third and final dive, the time went on to 23 minutes. When he resurfaced, he complained of feeling unwell. James Harper died of heart failure on board the Huia a short time later. Views of Little Barrier and the Hauraki Gulf can be enjoyed from the cemetery, or check out the small reserve alongside and take in the blue of the sea and the views with it. Summer is a great time to visit this hamlet. Also, take a drive to Mathesons Bay and take a swim with the family. It’s a safe and sheltered place ideal for having a great time and cooling off in the summer heat. If you’re inclined and have the time, stop in at the Ti Point Reptile Park — it’s well worth the visit.
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16
January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
SPOTLIGHT ON A growth community
WHANGĀREI
by Paul Campbell
Whangārei was the most urbanised area in Northland towards the end of the 19th century, and grew slowly in the 20th century with farming coming to the fore with dairying adding to the local economy. Shipping was the main transport in and out until the railway reached the town in 1925. The road north from Auckland was not suitable for travel in poor weather until 1934, but as has been seen most recently it can still fall short of demands upon it. Rail and road though saw coastal shipping decline. The town continued to grow into a service centre for Northland. The population was 14,000 in 1945, but grew rapidly in the 1960s, incorporating Te Kamo and other outlying areas. In 1964, it
was then declared a city with a population of 31,000. The second half of the 20th century brought the establishment and expansion of the now-defunct Marsden Point refinery and then the growth of Northland Port, now a major regional employer and economic baseline. The Northland Harbour Board first proposed a container port facility at Marsden Point in the late 1960s. A futuristic drawing was published but it was not until 1976 that the proposal was
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moved ahead when the first of several environmental reports was written. As part of that first report, a hydraulic model was constructed and tidal flow data was fed into it to give a realistic model of the effects on the harbour at the site of the proposed port. During the 1980s the plan faltered, and it was not until Marsden Maritime Holdings (formerly known as the Northland Port Corporation) was formed in 1988 that it once again gained momentum. Marsden Maritime Holdings entered into a joint venture with Port of Tauranga Ltd in 2000 to form Northport Ltd. Northport began trading in July 2002 as the port operating company when it took over the port activities of Marsden Maritime Holdings at both Marsden Point
and Port Whangārei. With the closure of Port Whangārei to commercial shipping, all cargo operations were transferred to Marsden Point. Northland’s forestry industry was slowly increasing in production and it was the catalyst for the building of the new port. In 2000, final consents for a two-berth port were granted and construction of the new port facility commenced. The first berth opened for business in June 2002. In late 2004 further consents were obtained for the construction of the third and fourth berths, with construction of the third berth commencing in late 2005. The government is spending up to $550 million upgrading Northland’s rail system, including a long-awaited rail link to Northport.
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SPOTLIGHT ON
January 2026
17
WHANGĀREI
Holiday rescue milestone by Paul Campbell
Northern Rescue Helicopter crews completed well over 100 missions in just 16 days over an exceptionally busy Christmas and New Year period. A total of 111 missions alone were undertaken from December 22 2025, to January 5 2026, and a further 19 flights were completed on January 6 and 7 by the Northland and Auckland Northern Rescue Helicopters. Chief operating officer Karl Taylor, cited the workload as hectic, due to serious road crashes, water and land-based accidents, medical complaints and interhospital transfers. “We are proud to stand alongside our fellow first responders and work for the good of the community day and night,” said Taylor. “What is important to note is that first responders see each other as equals, there to deliver high levels of care they are so well trained to provide — when people in our community need help the most.” Taylor cites serious vehicle crashes on the Brynderwyns and at Pukenui in the Far North as prime examples. Numerous patients were flown to Kaitaia, Whangārei and Auckland Hospitals in the aftermath of the two incidents — some in critical and serious condition.
“Everyone played a part in helping those injured, from the motorists first on scene who helped, to police, Fire and Emergency NZ, Hato Hone St John and our Northern Rescue Helicopters. “We had helicopters from our Northland and Auckland bases attend both road crashes and fly injured patients to hospital. “Obviously, the Whangārei-based choppers were first on-scene given the location, but once our Auckland choppers landed the crews both worked together as one, because we are a combined operation covering from Coromandel to Cape Rēinga. “I think it’s really important people understand that the Whangārei and Auckland rescue helicopter operations merged some years back and we are one combined service still with the same mission.” Flights have involved inter-hospital transfers throughout Northland, Auckland, Coromandel and other parts of the North Island where support has been required.
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
WHANGĀREI SPOTLIGHT ON Health care facility a city and regional concern by Paul Campbell
In the modern world a major consideration is health care facilities and it is this barometer that measures the value of any community with Whangārei no exception.
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The writer has experienced the excellent care and treatment offered by the city’s current hospital, but echoes the concerns expressed about the driving need for a much more modern facility to service a vibrant and growing city as well as the wider Northland area. The good news is that with demand for services growing rapidly, planning is underway on the first stage of work to create an acute services building that will meet health needs by increasing service capacity while creating modern, fit-for-purpose facilities that provide
equitable health care for its population. Health New Zealand says this acute ser vices building will be constructed on the existing hospital grounds. Larger clinic areas and additional spaces for support services will enable the smooth running of operations, which will be complemented by new digital technologies to streamline services, support pandemic readiness and equip staff with the tools they need to continue to provide excellent care to Northland communities. As part of the enabling works, some existing buildings will need to be moved from the building site, allowing for a new centre to support the communities further. In addition, a new child health centre will be constructed adjacent to the maternity building creating a mother, child and baby health hub.
An artist’s impression of the hospital’s first stage
With improved staff and public zones and culturally inclusive spaces that align with a Māori worldview, the new hospital will create a more welcoming and calming atmosphere for patients and visiting family. The project is expected to take eight years to complete, providing broader economic benefits for Whangārei as well as wider Northland. A recent assessment found that it would add an estimated $233 million to the regional GDP and over 2,700 full-time equivalent jobs.
As it is constructed over several stages with the first planned to include an acute services building, emergency department, operating theatres, intensive care unit, coronary care, cardiac catheter laboratory, a rooftop helipad, and child health centre as well as clinic areas and support spaces. Pending approval for future additional funding, there are plans to provide an addition ward tower block of 158 beds with four medical and surgical wards. The hospital design also has provision for expansion to include further ward space but while specified as “as demand indicates”. The design allows for the addition of further ward towers in the future as demand requires. There is a recognised long-term view applied to the overall provision of hospital services and, as yet, there is not a ground-breaking date for the full projected hospital.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
Precision meets power
January 2026
19
by Andy Bryenton
These days it seems that everyone wants to throw their hat in the ring to create a bigger, more-powerful ATV quad, but the real finesse, and the hallmark of a masterpiece, is in managing to make a compact, capable machine punching well above its weight. Kawasaki knows how to do this with small displacement and immense power. Their road bikes, for example, can deliver more sheer velocity from less than one litre than some car makers can wring from five. In the world of off-road performance, the suffix ‘KX’ has meant track-dominating power and agility for decades. This puts Kawasaki in the right spot to engineer a great mid-sized ATV quad, the kind of machine that is not about massive size and displacement, but more about massive capability and utility. Sometimes, especially on the farm, it’s not about how much torque you can churn out, but about how you can put it down and where you can go with it. Hence, the KVF450, otherwise known as the Brute Force 450 — a machine that hits the sweet spot. It’s able to go where some of the bigger-displacement ATVs on the market just can’t, and negotiate narrow paths, ridges and yards easily thanks to a very tight 3.1-metre turning radius. Kawasaki’s single-cylinder engine design has a long history and is engineered for reliability, as well as producing lots of smooth torque from way down low on the rev counter and through a wide and useful band. That’s because this Kawasaki is designed to be a consummate all-rounder out of the gate, ready to respond without a fuss in all kinds of situations.
comes to making maintenance easy are executed with renowned Kawasaki build quality, to craft a dependable package. Load up with 465kg of towing capacity and more than 100kg on the onboard racks, and tackle a big day of work with a machine that’s just the right tool for the job. Get a closer look at your local Kawasaki dealership, and see what a difference clever engineering can make.
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Moreover, because Kawasaki knows that the Brute Force 450 will be used for serious work, it’s been optimised for two things above and beyond its power delivery and manoeuvrability. The first is comfort, which has been addressed with feedback from real-world users. A more comfy seat, controls in all the right intuitive places, and a reworked suspension system with optimised
springs and dampers combine to provide sharp handling and dramatically reduced rider fatigue. The second thing Kawasaki has delivered from on-the-ground feedback is rugged durability. The Brute Force 450 looks the part, and it’s cleverly designed to be just as tough as it appears. A reinforced frame, big, powerful disc brakes and attention to detail when it
Contact Wayne 021 765 706, Ian 021 977 729
Phone: 425 8723 Fax: 425 9526 Email: autoglassww@xtra.co.nz or autoglassww@gmail.com
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20
January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
TAKE YOUR RIDE TO THE NEXT LEVEL WITH THE U10 PRO HIGHLAND Premium features, full cabin comfort, heating and air-con for a first-class experience.
31,990
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CFORCE 400
CFORCE 520 EPS
$
10,490
EX GST
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EX GST
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19,750
13,990
$
UFORCE 600
UFORCE 600 EPS FARM SPEC
$
EX GST
580cc engine, 41hp Two drive modes Hill descent control 680kg tow capacity 250kg rear tray capacity Twilight Blue
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TREK Edition Full poly windscreen Rear screen Half doors Front bar 3500lb winch Tactical Green
Maungaturoto Motorcycles 117 Hurndall Street, Maungaturoto P: 09 431 8555 North Coast Moto 36 Porowini Avenue, Whangarei P: 09 438 9780 Rob Titter Farm Services 55 Station Rd, Kaikohe P: 09 401 1774 Rouse Motorcycles 1 King Street, Hikurangi, Northland P: 09 4338 471
*Ride away prices quoted exclude GST.
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NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
January 2026
FARM WHEEL S & MACHINERY
21
Tank’s tactical superiority by Andy Bryenton
When the GWM Tank 300 broke cover, and photos of this surprising new addition to the competitive SUV segment hit the press, much was made of its sharp looks and classic design cues. It certainly has an aesthetic after school’s out. Two things impact; a fresh name in the stand out dramatically. Firstly, adventure vehicle arena this large, spacious 4x4 feels needs to stand out. There are smaller than it is to drive. You homages, hints and brush can see all the corners, and strokes from some of the allit’s more agile than you might time greats combined in that expect. Commanding the Tank chunky exterior treatment, with comes intuitively, partly in its bold, flared wheel arches and thanks to a very sorted steering aggressive stance. In fact, in real set-up, and partly due to how life the Tank 300 manages to be smooth and comfortable it is both serious and endearing at on the road, even with the big once, which is a neat trick. grippy tyres fitted to the example So, it’s fun to behold, and it’s I tried. kitted out with an impressive There are power variants list of electronic comforts and to choose from, including a safety features. The Tank rolled 2.4-litre turbo diesel, a 2-litre in with a big question hanging turbo petrol model and a next to its very reasonable hybrid, which adds even more price, however. It’s named for on-demand torque. A plug-in an indomitable war machine, hybrid is on the way for the new and on paper it would seem year. Pick your favourite, secure The GWM Tank 300 represents exceptional value for money; a real SUV amid a field containing many crossovers to do everything that some in the knowledge that towing up competitors do for twice the price. Still, the hallmark of a cafe kerb cruiser, and for sand, mud and even rock crawling. to three tonnes is on the cards, and that how would it actually drive, and (to steal a they’re Tank standard. Sit in the driver’s That’s cards-on-the-table stuff, and video all models come packed with features question from the off-roading community) seat and you’ll find switches for front and evidence of the Tank 300 going places you’d normally pay a whole lot more for. back diff locks, then two little dials, which where quad bikes may fear to tread bears is it a ‘real one’? With standout looks and the ability to go Part of the question is answered on will be familiar to anyone who is familiar out the promise of those tempting dials. from city streets to uncharted trails, this is However, I’m off to try this machine out one Tank which offers tactical flexibility. the outside, with a look at the big, serious with 4x4 royalty; a selector for high and underpinnings of the Tank 300. Underbody low ratio modes, two and four-wheel in an environment more gruelling than the You don’t need to be a general to see that protection and large differentials are not drive. Then there’s another with options Dakar rally, a central business district run taking a closer look is a great strategy.
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22
January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
FARM WHEEL S & MACHINERY
Two in a row for RAV4
by Andy Bryenton
The Toyota RAV4 has won a second consecutive people’s choice award and backed up this accolade with a top performance in new vehicle sales, making it the most popular new car in the nation for 2025. “We are incredibly humbled by the trust New Zealanders continue to place in Toyota, and especially in the RAV4,” said Toyota New Zealand CEO Tatsuya Ishikawa. “To see it voted people’s choice again and chosen more than any other new vehicle in 2025 is something our entire team is deeply grateful for. Kiwis choose the RAV4 for their families, their work and their adventures. We remain committed to earning that trust every day.” The latest iteration of Toyota’s mid-sized SUV has been on forecourts since 2019, and since then, 50,000 have found homes in Kiwi garages and driveways. That’s impressive in a very packed sector, facing pressure from an onslaught of EVs utilising a similar body type and footprint. It’s even more impressive to take the crown of best-seller from the market-dominating utes, which have tussled for the gold medal for more than a decade. That’s not just here, either. In an act of epochal dethroning, the RAV4 knocked the Ford F-150 off the US top seller’s
RAV4 dethrones Ford F-150, conquers Kiwi hearts and minds, too
spot. This, to put it in Kiwi perspective, is like sumo replacing rugby as our national sport. A total of 11,295 RAV4s rolled out in 2025, helping bust another record. By 2020 the mid-sized Toyota had already exceeded 10 million units manufactured,
and now it’s recognised as the bestselling SUV of all time. Which begs the question: why? People have taken to the current RAV4 like they did to the VW Beetle, the Mini and the Escort in their respective eras. It just fits the zeitgeist of modern times,
it seems. The right size, the right amount of space, the right kind of distinctive but not madcap styling, the right blend of economy and smooth power delivery; it’s not here to set Nurburgring lap times or tow ocean liners, but it’s espresso in the morning. It’s that rare thing in the age of adult fads like the Labubu; popular because it’s good. I’m a contrarian. I listen to weird bands that don’t make the top 10, love strange car designs like the Alfa GTV and the impractical little MR2, and I would normally disagree with the majority just to preserve a sense of edgy mystique, even if it meant having a secondhand Saab convertible. However, I like the new RAV4 as well. It nailed the ‘utility’ in ‘sports utility vehicle’, and had a good swing at the ‘sports’, too. This year there will be new RAV4 options on the table, including a plug-in hybrid. My wish list is really only for one little further upgrade: a hydrogen-powered one, and the infrastructure to make it useful all over New Zealand.
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FX 408 2949 • North Road Kaitaia
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January 2026
23
Northern Rural Marketplace ATJ
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NORTHERN FARMING CLASSIFIEDS Reach 25,283 Rural Homes Phone 0800 466 793
FOR SALE
CARS WANTED
ATV MATS from $89 — Come in & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Ph 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz.
WE BUY all Cars, Vans, Utes, Trucks and Buses in any condition dead or alive. Call 0800 333 398 or text 021 344 449.
ATV SAFETY HELMETS — from $119 accessories from $15. The law has changed! Have you got yours? Come & see us at Rouse Motorcycles, King Street, Hikurangi. Ph 0800 963 636. www.atvtyres.co.nz. Subject to availability.
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January 2026
NORTHERN FARMING LIFESTYLES
CONTACT YOUR LOCAL CAN-AM TODAY Dargaville Northland Motorsports Ph: 0800 120 236 Hikurangi/Whangarei Rouse Motorcycles Ph: 09 433 8471
Kaitaia Kaitaia Tractors Ph: 09 408 0670 Warkworth Warkworth Motorcycles Ph: 09 425 8535