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When emergencies hit New Zealand, such as floods, cyclones, droughts and earthquakes, farmers are often the first to respond and the last to leave.
Some people are unaware of this, and surprised by it. I’m not. As a farmer and a Member of Parliament, I’ve seen how the rural community acts. I admire it, I applaud it, but I’m not surprised by it.
Farm sheds, woolsheds and community halls quickly turn into drop-off points for supplies, meeting places and rest areas for tired volunteers.
Equally important is how farmers support each other. After a significant storm, a flood or a disease outbreak, someone fires up the barbecue. Soon, there’s a fundraiser, a community meal, or a working bee to fix fences, clear silt and replant pasture. These gatherings break the isolation that can creep in behind the farm gate.
When things go wrong, farmers invariably step in. They bring practical skills, local knowledge, and heavy machinery that suddenly turns into emergency gear. Tractors, diggers and quad bikes become tools for rescue and recovery, clearing slips, hauling debris, and reopening tracks. Most farmers are trained in animal welfare and biosecurity, so they can safely manage and care for livestock during and after a disaster.
In small rural communities, people look to farmers for steady, familiar leadership. Farmers often belong to local Federated Farmers branches, the volunteer fire brigade, Land Search and Rescue, the school board, and the sports club. When a crisis hits, farmers bring everyone together, share information, and determine who needs help first.
In short, in a country where rural communities are spread out and emergency services are often stretched thin, New Zealand farmers carry a heavy load, often at personal risk to themselves and their properties.
Yet their local knowledge, their equipment, and their willingness to help mean that when crises arise, the response is faster, more practical, and rooted in a simple truth: neighbours helping neighbours, and farmers supporting their communities.
by Amy Fifita
The first Māori soldier to receive a Victoria Cross in the New Zealand forces, Te Moananui-a-Kiwa Ngārimu, is remembered in history as a courageous and steadfast leader in the second world war.
Initially born in Whareponga, Moana and his family relocated to Ruatōria at the Pōhatukura Homestead when he was 10 years old. Like many young rural men, he excelled at rugby.
Hailing from a rural community, rugby and farming, Ngārimu joined the country’s first Māori military service overseas volunteers, the 28th New Zealand Battalion on February 11 1940. Departing the Palmerston North Showgrounds in May 1940 for Wellington, the Māori Battalion boarded the Aquitania to set sail to England.
In England, Moana was selected for intelligence duties, climbing the ranks to second lieutenant and becoming the battalion’s C Company platoon leader. A story of bravery, strong leadership and encouragement, Ngārimu led the charge on a hill under fire at Point 209 at the Tebaga Gap.
Arriving ahead of most others, the second lieutenant led his platoon against strong enemy resistance, defeating many German soldiers and being wounded in the process. With a rifle wound in his shoulder, a shrapnel injury to his leg and his company and commanders urging him to fall back, Ngārimu could have returned.
Instead, he stayed by his men’s side and continued fighting, shouting orders and encouragement to those under his command. The night before his death proved challenging.
The London Gazette, June 1 1943, reported it: ‘During one of these counterattacks, the enemy, using hand grenades, succeeded in piercing a certain part of the line. Without hesitation, this officer rushed to the threatened area, and those of the enemy he did not kill, he drove back with stones and with his tommy gun.’
Even in his death, Ngārimu showed his duty to the fight. During the enemy’s counter-attack, he was killed while standing and ‘with his tommy gun at his hip. As he fell, he came to rest almost on the top of those of the enemy who had fallen.’
While Ngārimu died on March 26 1943, the very same day, the Germans surrendered at Point 209. Battalion commander
Lieutenant Colonel Charles Bennet described him as: ‘Displaying courage and leadership of the highest order’, and other witnesses commended his bravery.
Posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for courage, determination and outstanding leadership, his parents were given his accolade by Governor-General Sir Cyril Newall. Attending the honourable
occasion were government leaders, diplomats and 7,000 Māori at Ruatōria. Remembered through the Ngārimu VC and 28th (Māori) Battalion Memorial Scholarship Fund, at the Auckland War Museum’s Hall of Memories and a plaque at Dunedin’s Queen’s Gardens, his legacy lives on.
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
In November 1940, Royal Airforce 211 Squadron equipped with Blenheim bombers moved from Egypt to Greece and flew from the base of Mt Olympus to raid Albania across the Adriatic Sea. My late father Robert Douglas ‘Bob’ Campbell, a Kiwi RAF pilot, was a veteran of 25 raids when his luck ran out.
Ihave this first-hand account of an unsung and amazing wartime adventure from RAF archives in this (edited for length) 1944 debriefing.
“I was shot down during a daylight raid on Valona port by a G-50 fighter, which forced me to crash land into the sea. I broke my leg when we hit the water and had to swim about a mile and a half to the shore. I crawled four thousand feet and finally collapsed on the top of a ridge.
“I was found by Albanians and, during the night, captured by Italian Alpini troops. I was tied to a donkey and after an all-night ride I arrived at a first-aid post and my leg was set. At a naval hospital, Valona, I was interrogated. They
offered me wine and bread, which was then taken from me in an effort to break down my spirit. After fainting during this questioning a doctor put me to bed and I was given food.
“A day later, I was shifted to a military hospital at Tirana where I spent a month and a half. I was shifted to a concentration camp at Fieri in southern Albania. Although it might have been possible to escape, I was unable to attempt it because of my leg. The Greeks were treated as dogs at this place.
“After ten days, I was moved to Italy via Valona and Brindisi by boat and was finally taken to Sulmona in Abruzzi. In February 1942, in a very weak condition
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from lack of food, I was moved to Poppi near Florence. I pretended to contract TB, and with the help of two British doctors got myself admitted to a civil hospital at Arezzo.
“I managed to get out via a lavatory window on the roof and could find no place to tie my sheets. After two hours, I went back the way I came out. I was then moved to Modena in north Italy.
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“The Allies landed in southern Italy and the camp was occupied by Germans. Three other officers and I escaped by climbing the wall at the rear of the camp and crawling through the barbed wire. A German sentry shot at several officers who followed us, and I know three were wounded [9 September 1943].
“We ran for about two miles and were hidden in a patch of corn by three Italian girls. We decided to attempt to walk to the south of Italy and connect with the 8th Army, a distance of about 400 miles. We walked for four days dressed as Italian farm workers.
“We went to a small station and, during the night, scrambled on to a train going south. I managed to hang on to the bumpers between trucks and the other three clung on wherever they could. We stayed there for eighteen hours and finally arrived at Pescara where a large British bombing had just taken place.
“This enabled us to pass through the station where we counted seven trains destroyed. The Italians were looting these German supply trains and complete havoc was the order of the day.
“When Germans passed near us we tried to look cheerful and smiling and said ‘buon giorno’. They usually looked at us with scorn and walked on.
“German control of bridges, road junctions, stations, etc was becoming tighter, so we decided to abandon the rail and take to the hills and found a small coal shed in a vineyard. We stayed there, closely surrounded by Germans who were building fortifications, and were fed by friendly Italians.
“The Germans put a price of thirty pounds on our heads and brought pressure to bear on the Italians, making it extremely dangerous to stay longer. We left one night at midnight and walked for sixteen hours.
“We discarded everything, except bare necessities in the way of food and clothing, and set off to cross the Bifferno River about forty miles away. We walked solidly by night and carried out reconnaissance by day.
“On the fourth night we reached a point in the hills overlooking the Bifferno river and watched the artillery duels between the Allies and the Germans. From this point we established the exact position of our troops and decided we could reach them in one night.
“We crossed the river while the Germans in the immediate vicinity were otherwise engaged. We stripped off and our white skins blended with the rocks of the riverbed. Once across, we were safe.”
My father was flown via Gibraltar to London and returned to New Zealand and RNZAF service, as fears were at that time focussed on a possible Japanese attack.
For Patsy Keoghan at Charming Stud, having rare breeds is not rare at all, and after seeing Valais Blacknose sheep at a field day, she set her heart on breeding them.
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wanted them because they were something different, and my stud has always bred unique animals. I have had animals all my life, and I love them,” said Patsy.
“We had Arapawa and Suffolk sheep, but when I saw the Valais with their different markings, wool and colours, I wanted them. They are a friendly breed.
“The Valais looked unique, were easy to handle, and I liked the look of them. Moreover, because we have always had rare and interesting animals, I wanted to breed them, so I did a bit of research, and then I got into them.”
Based on a five-and-a-half-acre block in Horotiu, Patsy runs the lifestyle block and cares for her pigs and sheep. With
12 ewes and a ram, and the breed’s docile temperament, her flock is easy to manage.
“I’m based on a five and a half acre lifestyle block, but I farm it just like any other place and make hay during the summertime. I have a couple of pigs and the sheep at the moment.
“It can be a bit wet here in Horotiu.
Starting with older ewes from a reputable breeder, I made sure I had a good ram to go over my ewes, and I went from there, ensuring that the bloodlines don’t clash.
“There are a few Valais in NZ now, and some of the bigger breeders are bringing in new genetics into the country. Otherwise, you are going in circles with the same bloodlines.
“Valais Blacknoses are different from other sheep, and when you have little lambs, they look like bumblebees. They follow me, and when they run, they bounce — they are such characters.
“You don’t even need a dog to round them up to put them in the yard. You can call them or shake the bucket for nuts, they will run straight into the yard, making them easy to handle and manage. If I have to trim their feet, all I have to do is put a halter around them, tie them up and do it.”
A desired and valuable breed, Valais Blacknoses are a lifestyle animal used for their wool, and not their meat.
“Valais Blacknoses are not used for meat, and because of the prices, you don’t
No stranger to unique breeds, Patsy is a member of the Rare Breed Society, the Dexter Cattle Society and the New Zealand Kunekune Association. In years gone by, Patsy and her late husband have seen many interesting and rare breeds and people come through their paddocks.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed being part of the societies and having various rare breeds throughout my life. We have had kunekune and Devon pigs, wallabies, llamas, cockatoos, deer, Dexter and Highland cattle, Cayuga ducks, Brown Leghorn chooks, Flemish giant rabbits and various aviary birds.
“The Department of Conservation gave me a permit to have the wallabies about 30 years ago, and schools would come here to look at all of our animals.
“We also did a couple of television programmes with Maggie’s Garden, and we had TV presenter Marcus Lush here. We have also shown the Dexter cattle, Devon and Kunekune pigs throughout the North Island at the A&P shows.
“I do this all by myself now, and life gets so busy, but I’ve been thinking of doing a field day in the summer for people interested in Valais Blacknoses to come and view them.”
A lifetime of caring for animals of various breeds, Patsy says, she loves animals and caring for the environment. One thing she has learned is that before introducing a new breed, it is important to do your research.
“You never stop learning, no matter your age, and you can always learn something from somebody. My advice for people wanting to bring new animals on to their property, is to do their research to ensure they have enough grass, feed and land to keep the animals.
“Make sure you have the right fencing, especially with deer, to last throughout the year and not for a short time.”
BY PAUL CAMPBELL
The 40th New Zealand Shearing and Woolhandling Championships in Te Kūiti closed out the Shearing Sports New Zealand season with a spectacular 25-sheep open final dominated by New Zealand teammates Jack Fagan and Toa Henderson.
he penultimate event was the Golden Shears and world Champs in Masterton last month in a season that comprised 56 shows, of which 29 were in the North Island, and 27 were in the South Island,” said SSNZ spokesman, Doug Laing. “These included 12 that were stand-alone shearing sports events, 39 were at A&P shows, and five were at country sports days or community events.
“All but one included machine shearing, 23 included woolhandling competition, nine included blades shearing, eight traditional competitions in the South Island plus the All-Nations during the Golden Shears and World Championships, and one included wool pressing.”
Doug reported that the Te Kūiti closing open event saw Henderson and Fagan shearing blow for blow — Fagan for the first time in his six-man home-town final and ultimately claiming the title, against defending champion, 2025 and 2026,
Henderson, who was out to complete a second Golden Shears and New Zealand Shears double.
It was Henderson first off the board by less than three seconds, completing the country’s only 25-sheep final of the season in 18m 57.25s, but it was Fagan, desperate after 12 years of trying in open class to win a title claimed 17 times by father Sir David Fagan.
The new champion had his previous biggest win in the National Shearing Circuit final at the Golden Shears in Masterton five weeks ago, and his biggest, previously at Te Kūiti in the New Zealand Shears Circuit final two years ago, and the North Island Shearer of the year title in 2025.
“I’m a true believer in that you are who you surround yourself with,” he said, a tribute to those he’s competed against, many of them contemporaries of his dad. Since the Golden Shears, he’d focussed on the gym. In the woolshed, he’s shorn just one two-hour run, to counter the fatigue
that might have abounded at the end of a long season, in which most top-level finals are shorn over five fewer sheep.
Henderson did come out of the three days with one title, in the North Island Shearer of the Year final confirming
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his place as number one-ranked open shearer for the season.
Fagan’s win saw Southland shearer Leon Samuels claim second place, with Masterton shearer
The 2026 New Zealand shearing team to the UK, from left manager Jack Fagan of
Manawatū woolhandler Logan Kamura completed his best season with his biggest when he won the open woolhandling final, with Marika Braddick, of Eketāhuna, in second place, and third place going to home Waitomo District hope Keryn Herbert, winner in both 2024 and 2025.
The 31-year-old Kamura was runner-up last year, and had won at the Wairarapa, Central Hawke’s Bay shows this season, before finishing runner-up at the Golden Shears to world champion Joel Henare. Scottish shearer and southern Hawke’s Bay farmer Gavin Mutch successfully defended the New Zealand Shears Circuit title, in a six-man final, which provided a big moment for runner-up and Eketāhuna shearer Hemi Braddick, who will join Fagan in a New Zealand team tour of the UK in July.
Braddick becomes the third member of the family to represent New Zealand in less than 12 months, with woolhandling sisters Ngaio Hanson having been in the New Zealand trans-Tasman team and
Marika Braddick having won a world championships team title.
Southland shearer Drew Roberts reaffirmed his place as number one senior by winning the NZ Shears senior final, by just half-a-point from star of the north Taelor Tarrant, of Taumarunui, and Tye Meikle, of Ōamaru, claimed his 16th intermediate win of the season, the most by any shearer or woolhandler in any grade.
It was a big week for Tararua District competitors, with Camden Bolton-Smith, of Woodville, winning the junior shearing final, Dannevirke cousins Tahupotiki Hauiti and Hinepurotu Hauiti winning the novice shearing and woolhandling titles respectively. Laura Bradley, of Papatawa, retained the women’s shearing title.
The senior woolhandling title was won by Tia Manson, of Piopio, and Jayda Millanta, from Te Kaha, won the junior woolhandling final.
North Island shearer Axle Reid completed a successful mission of five
A&P show competitions in the South Island, with a win by almost three points from runner-up and North Canterbury local Blake Crooks, as the Oxford A&P Show drew an end to the 2025–2026 shearing sports season in the South Island.
JP Bouyer, also from the North Island, broke through for a senior win after seven minor placings in South Island finals during the season, including being runner-up at Banks Peninsula, Reefton and Methven. Jah Smith, of Christchurch, won the intermediate event, and Mike Toshach, of Oxford, claimed his third junior win in recent weeks.
As expected at the late stage of the season, entries were light, with competitors and supporters at the world championships having headed home or, along with other New Zealand shearers and woolhandlers, headed for other shearing seasons around the globe.
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Improves P availability through a ‘phosphate sparing effect’ - trials in Northland showed 50-60kg more P available consistent over 3 years after applying 5t/ha of lime to a pH 5.8 soil. Optimal P availability occurs when soils are limed to pH 6.3-6.5.
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Increases resilience to droughts, floods, and runoff/erosion, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and greater root penetration for pasture/crop growth by flocculating (loosening) your soil to improve soil structure and porosity.
Increases water holding capacity in the dry and water drainage in the wet. Lime drives down magnesium in ‘tight, high Mg’ soils such as estuarine soils found in the Hauraki Plains. 8
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by Paul Campbell
Outside of New Zealand, agriculture is often imagined as mixed farming or cropping-heavy, but here it is overwhelmingly animal-based.
“Production animals, from pigs and poultry to sheep and dairy cows, drive our primary output and underpin much of our national prosperity and animal production science helps keep the system thriving,” says Professor Paul Kenyon from Massey University.
“Most of our farmland is grazing land; our landscapes and climate aren’t suited to large-scale grain crops. That means decisions about animal nutrition, genetics, reproduction, health and welfare are not peripheral considerations for us.
“They are fundamental to how most farms operate and succeed. Understanding the animal is essential to understanding the farm.”
Dr Kenyon says animal production science has been one of the most powerful drivers of productivity in modern agriculture. Research into genetics, nutrition, growth, reproduction, meat science and health has enabled farmers to produce more food with fewer resources.
“Productivity for each animal and a hectare has increased in all our ruminant systems and our understanding and management of animal health has improved dramatically. These gains are the result of decades of sustained investment
in applied animal production science, grounded in real farming systems.
“You cannot reduce emissions without understanding animal nutrition. You cannot improve welfare without evidencebased insights into behaviour and health. You cannot design resilient farming systems without integrating the animal, the pasture and the environment.
“Animal production science needs to work alongside the disciplines of pastoral science, agronomy, soil science and farm management if we are to manage our ruminant production systems and environments effectively.”
by John Arts
Research shows that chondroitin supports cartilage health and inhibits enzymes that break down cartilage delaying joint degeneration.
I have the privilege of speaking with clients who have taken chondroitin combined with glucosamine and curcumin (from turmeric) for years.
These report three stages of improvement. There are the initial improvements noticed over 2–6 months. This is important as it is usually the first relief they have had without pain medication. Over 6–12 months the rate of improvement usually slows but there are still noticeable improvements. The rate of improvement slows further but is still noticeable for years.
Today I had a phone review with a client who had been taking my high-chondroitin supplements. After just two months she said that her hips and ankle were much more comfortable. I have no doubt she will continue to improve.
I have one such client who contacted me over five years ago with moderate knee osteoarthritis. He noticed significant short-
term improvements. He noticed definite improvements as the years passed and after five years, he stated he had effectively no knee discomfort.
This is confirmed by a six-year study into the benefits of using chondroitin with glucosamine for those with knee osteoarthritis. It showed that those who used this for six years had maintained cartilage and slowed cartilage loss.
The outcome was these long-term participants had much better results than would have been expected. The study showed that those who took chondroitin with glucosamine long term had less joint space narrowing than expected.
A study, however, does not guarantee that you will get the same results. This is why I am much more interested in how individuals respond. It is one thing to read a study; it is another for you to be more comfortable living with osteoarthritis.
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by Paul Campbell
Waikato can rightly be called a duck hunting emporium and attracts enthusiasts from Auckland just a stone’s throw away to boost the seasonal influx this May.
Public land shooting abounds with many areas of wetland owned by the Crown with access via formed roads, unformed paper roads, walkways and boat ramps. Auckland/Waikato Fish & Game have 1,600 hectares of wetlands available for hunting, many of which have established ponds and maimais.
For aficionados these need no introduction. For hunters not yet familiar with the territory, there is always the camaraderie of sportsmen, and by asking fellow hunters, whitebaiters, eelers, landowners, sports shop employees and others who get out into the country, you will latch on to sites that have proved promising over past seasons, while you build up local knowledge.
Local landowners may be approached, too, and may permit access to farm lakes and dams that dot private land. Courtesy is the name of the game, and a telephone call will often get a green light for access.
The Department of Conservation, forestry companies as well as Fish & Game, iwi and territorial authorities may all issue permits to hunt on lands they
administer. Make sure, of course, that the correct permits are at hand.
An entry permit for public land is free and can be obtained from the Fish & Game office.
A website to use is the New Zealand Walking Access Commission’s online mappings, with maps showing hunting and fishing sites, another showing legal access points, and another showing property boundaries and title information. Considering the sad fact of conflict and high fuel costs, using these guides may save time and money as well as opening up new hunting possibilities.
by Andy Bryenton
Making it easier for tradies coming to your home or farm this winter isn’t just about being courteous; with the cost of diesel, making a job swift and simple could save both of you money.
The reason we call in the experts is because often, as homeowners, we don’t have the know-how to cure every leak, blown fuse and stubborn appliance. However, sometimes knowing more than
just ‘it’s broken’ can mean the difference for the tradespeople we call on for specialist expertise.
To ensure that any repairs you might need this winter go smoothly, swiftly and with less expense, take a little time to make it all clear and concise. That doesn’t necessarily mean reading screeds of internet information on your unresponsive oven or wheezing extractor fan. Still, it’s a major help for the folks coming to help out with it, if they can know its make and model. Sometimes, that’s in the warranty paperwork which you might have kept. Sometimes, it’s printed on the machine itself. Even the make of a device can be a big asset. If it’s not well marked, take a photo with your phone and send it to your repair technician; they are likely to have a broad knowledge of different products in the market.
Then there’s another big factor; is it likely to be a repair or a full replacement? If the device that’s gone wrong is old or if it’s failed on you before in this same manner, it might be time to send it to the scrapheap. If smoke has come out, a burning smell has been noticed or if it’s
Give your local tradies a clear shot at their work area, and the best possible idea of the tools and parts they’ll need; they’ll thank you and the job will get done faster and more economically
given you a shock, tell your technician before they pull it open to find a blackened mess that will never be safe again.
Taking a picture is also a good idea when you’re dealing with things like window replacements and carpentry fixes, where accurate measurements are welcome but may not tell the whole story. The final consideration to make is: how easy it is to access the spaces where a tradesperson may need to go.
Climbing under crawlspaces, getting into ceilings, accessing the backs of cupboards or wrangling heavy whiteware are one thing, but setting up ladders and plunging into garden overgrowth is another. Getting furniture out of the way, ensuring safe paths to carry tools and gear, and even sometimes a pass over with the weed whacker, can show that you’re helping make the job go smoothly.
by Andy Bryenton
Public bath houses were common in Greece and Rome, where even emperors were happy to take their ablutions along with others; social values about nudity were very different for a lot of ancient civilisations.
One royal from ancient times, who loved his privacy, was a legend who famously went to great lengths to protect his personal space. King Minos of Crete may not have really kept a bullheaded monster in a maze to guard his palace, but he did own the first known bathtub, dating back to 1700 BCE. Lead pipes brought water to this massive pottery tub, located in the fortress of Knossos.
People may think that the Middle Ages were a terrible time for baths and showers, but this was the era when soap was first introduced to Europe. People bathed in wooden tubs, usually in their kitchens, and only once each week, to save precious firewood. Edward the Third was the first British king to have his own bathroom, and that wasn’t until the 1300s. Records from the Dark Ages complained that Norse and Danish settlers on the coast of Britain were far too attractive to the local women, as they bathed every day and thus smelled better.
Henry the Eighth banned bath houses and feared bathing, thinking that it was water that carried the black plague. He was dead wrong, of course, but his superstition kicked off a terrible time for hygiene, which lasted until the
enlightenment. In the late 1700s running water became available to London homes, and William Feetham invented the shower. Initially only available with cold water, the addition of a coalfired boiler soon made getting clean a pleasant relief after a day on the stinky streets of old London town.
Soon, a hot bath and shower became a novel addition to the stately homes of the nobility. It was high-class hotels, copying this trend, which brought the idea of a modern bathroom to the average person. The Tremont House in Boston, US, added full bathroom facilities in 1829, and enjoying a hot shower or bath while on holiday reinforced the desire to build something similar at home.
Seeing the trend, John Michael Kohler, a steel factory owner, put four ornamental lion’s paw feet on an enamel horse trough and sold it as an indoor bath. The public could not get enough. Bathrooms were renovated into many existing homes by making kitchens smaller, as that’s where the plumbing was. Front parlours, once only small rooms designed for greeting guests, became lounge rooms, as people stopped congregating in the now-diminished kitchen. The desire to have a private hot bath, like old King Minos, had changed how houses were designed forever.
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With autumn well and truly here, it’s time to think about making the home or farm ready for winter. Be like Santa: make a list, check it twice, and your winter will be hot chocolate in front of the fire rather than cold drips and sleepless nights.
It seems like a no-brainer, but you would be surprised at the number of people who do not clean out their gutters or their water tanks in anticipation of torrential winter rains. Any nasties flushed down the guttering and pipes may end up in your tank, so it’s time to talk about cleaning, filtration and repairs before the heavens open. Call the professionals for peace of mind and a clean, healthy water tank and water collection system, from your roof to your taps.
Did you know that you must sweep your chimney on a regular basis to satisfy the conditions of most insurance policies for the home? It’s also a chance to check the state of the firebox and fittings. If you do need a new fire, now is the time to act. It can take a short period to get permissions from the authorities, and of course, time to install. While dwelling on fireplaces, now is also the time to lay in a big store of firewood. You’ll need a qualified fireplace installer and chimney sweep for part one, and your local firewood delivery service for the second.
From your chimney to your water tank and beyond, your home needs a ‘winter WOF’ ahead of the cold season
Trees and shrubs
Right now they’re picturesque, but your undergrowth and overgrowth can turn nasty when whipped up by the strong winds of winter. Take care of any problem trees now, and get a second bonus — free firewood. You’ll need a garden maintenance company or arborist OR a visit to your local mower and chainsaw specialist to tune up those saws and pruners and invest in safety gear.
Leaks and drips
You may know exactly where they will appear. You said you’d fix them during the summer. Now the rain is coming, and those leaks and drips will be back. Call in a qualified roofer, or for more serious and structural weather-tightness issues, a licensed building practitioner to get to the root of the problem.
Windows
Here’s where a lot of the warmth is lost from some homes — windows with cracked glass or
frames. Moreover, it’s not just obvious conduits for cold and damp. Check the putty around your window panes. Loose or crumbling fitment will not stand up to a gale. Call in a professional glazier to see you right.
Small scale, with a big heart
The Wagener Sparky is New Zealand’s ultimate compact multi-fuel solution, handcrafted for tiny homes, cabins and even boats. Despite its small footprint, the Sparky delivers an impressive 7–10kW output, featuring a heavy-duty 5mm steel chassis and a brick-lined firebox for maximum heat retention.
This multi-fuel versatile performer isn’t just a heater; it features a dedicated top surface for cooking and an optional “Lion” wetback to provide independent hot water. Available in Clean Air and Rural models with customisable base and colour options, the Sparky offers robust, long-lasting warmth wherever space is at a premium.
The Wagener Leon is the “big brother” to the Sparky, designed for those who love compact styling but need massive 16–18kW heating power. Named after the family business founder, this handcrafted powerhouse features a deep firebox and a large glass window for a stunning view of the flames. Built from 5mm NZ steel, the Leon includes a built-in log box for convenience and a dedicated cooking surface for self-sufficiency. With an optional 3kW wetback capable of heating a full household’s water, the Leon is a hardworking, enduring heart for any medium-to-large home.
LocallyownedandoperatedintheWaikato,we’vebuiltastrongreputationforbuildinghigh-qualitytransportablehomesacrosstheNorthIsland. Withover20yearsofexperienceasRegisteredMasterBuilders,we’recommittedtoexceptionalcraftsmanship,integrity,andbuildinghomesthatlast. Whetheryou’replanningafamilyhome,grannyflat,Airbnb,orworkeraccommodation,weofferarangeofdesignstosuityourneeds.Browseour designsonlineandenjoytheflexibilitytocustomiselayoutsandmaterialstomatchyourvisionandbudget. Getintouchtodaytostartplanningyournewtransportablehome. WWW.KDH.CO.NZ NEW -NEWDESIGNSOUTNOW!
by Amy Fifita
Vinyl, carpet and wooden timber floors can look stunning, but each has a purpose, so what are the benefits of each?
When renovating or building a home, choosing the right flooring can create comfort or chaos for homeowners, so it pays to stop and think about what works best. Of course, some smart choices, like using rugs, can make a wooden floor softer and warmer to the feet during winter.
Creating a spacious appearance, hardwood floors are easy to clean. This flooring option is reasonably affordable, but as people living in old villas know, durable and simple to maintain with a broom and mop.
Many people enjoy the look of timber floors and can change the look with a fresh varnish or stain. When choosing what wood should be laid, there are endless options to select from, from geometric patterns, wood grain, patterns and textures. Musicians can appreciate the acoustic effect that hardwood floors add to any home.
Carpet can add colour, patterns and warmth to spaces. Great for lounges and bedrooms, it is soft to the touch, making it a cushioned space for children, and it can also reduce noise and keep in heat by acting as insulation on the ground.
For many, carpet is more affordable than other options. These days, carpets can offer those seeking to be eco-friendly with natural, sustainable fabrics, lowering the property’s carbon footprint.
Vinyl, on the other hand, is a practical flooring option. Easy to clean from most messes, this option is often used for bathrooms, kitchens, mud rooms, dining spaces and other wet areas.
Like carpet, vinyl comes with various styles, tones and patterns, including a wood-look aesthetic. The flooring option is
water-resistant, making accidental spills easy to wipe up, and if a vinyl plank is damaged, it can be replaced.
Also in the realm of wet areas is tile. Tile is durable and made to last, plus unlike vinyl, is harder to scratch while still creating a water-resistant and wipeable space. Once always a cool surface in
summer or winter, modern technology tiles can come with underfloor heating, providing comfort all-year round.
Flooring is very much a personal choice and reflects the style of the property owner, from practical to comfort or a mixture of both — every option has a benefit to enjoy.
by Andy Bryenton
In 1915, as war raged across Europe, technological advances were being researched to give both sides an edge.
Fritz and Hermann Pfleumer were engaged in making better, stronger materials, and they were both convinced that simple timber could become something superior. They drilled down into the structure of wood, which is made of cellulose, with a binding substance known as lignin. At a microscopic level, wood is a mass of fibrous hollow tubes, and the Pfleumers worked out that if you collapsed these tubes you might be able to create super-dense, stronger wood.
They were absolutely right. Their Röchling company of Haren, Germany, has been producing densified wood products for more than eight decades, and claims the title of inventors of the process that makes it. They send their products on to builders in all kinds of applications, including shipwrights who prize laminated densified wood for its thermal properties as well as its strength.
Amazingly, this material is also used thanks to its low electrical conductivity to make parts for electrical transformers. It’s the substance trusted to support big, cryogenically cold tanks of liquid gases
in shipping. There are even wooden nuts and bolts made by Röchling as fasteners for situations where metal can’t be deployed.
Wood as strong as steel seems too good to be true. After all, a resource that’s both renewable and strong enough to rival metals would seem to be a great fit for the building trade. That’s why news of a new twist to the wood densification process is so interesting; it may unlock a cheaper, and possibly even stronger version of this material.
Nanjing University in China may have cracked the code, which could turn timber into a super-substance able to handle 392 megapascals of force. That’s within single digits of the performance characteristics of structural steel.
By using a chemical bath process to get rid of some of the lignin, and then another to make the cellulose swell, those tiny tubes inside the wood are filled in. Then the wood can be dried out in a process called self-densification; the whole block shrinks and becomes incredibly tough and strong. Inventors of the process, Dafang Huang and Jie
Li, also note that there’s no need for energy-hungry machinery in this process, making it even more sustainable. With densified super-wood already proving its worth, might this new, even more resilient version provide fresh
options for the architects and builders of the near future? It could be one way to improve the export offering of the New Zealand timber industry, by processing locally-grown wood into superstrength products.
Look after your team with durable, moder n and comfortable spaces that they’ll appreciate. Lockwood homes provide
Menopause Wellbeing is a private online clinic operated by Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa: you might know us as Family Planning. We’re experts in sexual and reproductive health.
Through our private menopause clinic, we offer dedicated, expert and tailored menopause treatment — all without you having to leave home.
With longer appointments, we can investigate your symptoms in more detail and provide tailored treatment plans and advice, including hormone therapy and other medications. Time is precious. That’s why we’re offering virtual appointments, held in the late morning, afternoon, and evening, to fit in with your busy life.
Our services
Hormone therapy, sometimes called menopause hormone therapy (MHT) or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most-effective treatment we have for relieving many symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. It’s not for everyone though, and there is a range of other medications that have been found to help menopausal symptoms.
Our appointments
Booking options
You can book using our online booking system. Check out our website for more details at menopause.sexualwellbeing. org.nz, or you can call us on 07 810 6823.
All our appointments are online. Your first appointment will be 45 minutes long. You’ll see the doctor or nurse practitioner you booked with. They’ll discuss your physical symptoms and other relevant medical conditions, as well as your psychological wellbeing and any concerns you may have, and come up with a treatment plan tailored to you. Followup appointments and prescription repeat appointments are also available.
Doing good, while doing you good By coming to us for menopause treatment, you’re also supporting our valuable work across New Zealand. All proceeds from this clinic are reinvested in Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa, enabling us to continue to promote health, advance education and benefit the community.
PS Menopause Wellbeing and Sexual will be in the Health Hub at the 2026 Fieldays — stop by and say hello.
If your midlife is making you miserable, make an appointment for an online menopause consultation. At Menopause Wellbeing we offer dedicated, expert and tailored menopause treatment.
visit www.menopause.sexualwellbeing.org.nz to book or you can call us on 07 810 6823.
by Andy Bryenton
In these days of geopolitical madness, fuel price shocks and busy schedules, flexibility, fuel economy and practicality top the list for those seeking a hard-working vehicle.
When it’s time to get down to business, the ability to haul tools and equipment is often balanced by the need to bring along a whole crew. All too often, there’s the need to do both in one day, which makes it hard to settle on the right van for the
job. Add in running costs, and bigger is not always better; a nimble, smaller, more flexible solution is in hot demand.
As a bit of a detour, let’s think back to the last time the situation in Iran led to oil headaches. In 1979, the Shah was out and petrol was up. Back then, tradespeople found a solution which meant they didn’t have to drive a full-sized truck or even a big van to get the most out of their day. That answer came from Ford, in the form of the Escort panel van.
Now a beloved classic, with examples going for major dollars online, the ‘esky’ was a familiar sight, painted up in the livery of your local plumber or builder and out there getting on with business.
Fast-forward to the present day, and you’ll see an echo of that cheeky little snub-nosed shape in the new Ford Transit Courier, the little brother of the
Ford calls it a double cab in van form, and that’s quite true. There are two full rows of seats on offer if your task involves shuttling a team to where they need to go. Then again, it’s a snap to fold up those rear seats and turn the back of this
Like its classic ancestor, the Transit Courier has the driving position and layout of a passenger car, and a small footprint to dominate city driving and parking. Unlike anything else this shape, that rear deck will take a pallet, and comes with an adjustable cargo protecting grille. This utility and small footprint combined have seen it become one of the bestselling
Then there’s the fuel economy, and it’s in a league of its own right now when you’re at the pump. With Ford’s acclaimed 1-litre ecoboost engine under the hood, the Transit Courier is equipped with a seven-speed automatic transmission and a truly frugal appetite. Added to this practicality is the fact that it’s a good-looking little machine too, with plenty of big, flat spaces on which to emblazon your company’s logos and colours.
by Andy Bryenton
Fans of the GWM Cannon ute have applauded its capability and on-road economy, but the people who made this contender in the very competitive light commercial market have not been content to rest on initial praise.
With a five-star ANCAP safety rating, a seven-year warranty and a 3.5-tonne towing capacity, there’s a lot to like about GWM’s flagship double-cab. So, how did they make it better?
With uncanny prescience, or at least an eye toward the way fuel prices tend to trend, the research team at GWM was already hard at work long before the recent fuel crunch struck home. Their answer? Not a fully electric ute or an esoteric choice, such as hydrogen fuel cells or biomethane. Instead, the new Cannon Alpha is loaded with a combination of two tried-and-tested technologies, working in tandem.
It’s a proper plug-in hybrid, in that the hybrid part of the system regenerates its battery while it’s in motion, using kinetic capture methodology that’s decades deep in application. Couple a 120-kilowatt electric motor with 400 Newton-metres of torque to a turbocharged two-litre four-cylinder petrol engine developing an additional 180 kilowatts and 380Nm, and you have a potent but thrifty blend. Here are two highlights: the Cannon Alpha can tow 3,500kg with a 685kg payload, but it can still turn around and log 1.7 litres to 100 kilometres of driving.
The battery alone can carry this ute 115 kilometres, but put voltage
and fuel together and that expands to enough range to go city to city without stopping. CarExpert in Australia named this the best electrified ute of 2025, and that’s a tight podium in a tough market. What’s revealed, when taking a closer look at the Cannon Alpha, however, is that it’s not just the nuts and bolts of pure efficiency that make a difference.
This ute is obviously meant to go to work, and that means it needs abilities off the beaten track. In some electric and hybrid machines, the temptation is to let electric and petrol motors handle a sort of all-wheel motion, but the Cannon Alpha instead relies on big locking diffs, a Borg Warner transfer case and the ability to throw it in low range when the going gets tough. Why change a recipe that satisfies? GWM have electrified their latest ute without taking away the tactile feel of driving off the tarmac.
There’s another cool feature, too. The Cannon Alpha helps you save fuel even when you’re stopped. There’s the option to draw electricity from the battery to power all kinds of camping mod-cons, or more pointedly to charge up the batteries of power tools if you’re headed out to put in some work far from a three-pin plug.
If you want fuel economy, range, power and a cabin that’s a relaxing place to be on those long-haul drives, then this cannon provides ordnance-level bang for your bucks.
