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Iwi leaders step in as Te Pāti Māori tensions escalate

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere. RNZ / MARK PAPALII

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere says the party’s leadership will “very shortly” consider whether to expel its MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris.

Iwi leaders will meet with Te Pāti Māori leadership at Parliament on Tuesday in an effort to put a stop to extraordinary infighting.

It comes after Tamihere publicly called for MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris to quit politics, accusing the pair of conspiring to overthrow the leadership. Ferris’ Te Tai Tonga electorate has separately called for Tamihere to stand down.

Kapa-Kingi last night told RNZ said had no plans to leave politics.

“JT [Tamihere] doesn’t speak for Tai Tokerau – only people of Tai Tokerau do. The people voted me as an electorate member I’m proud to say, and therefore I’m not going anywhere. I have a job to do and I plan to continue to do it the best way I know how – show up, prepare and remember who you represent.”

Ferris has not made a public comment yet, saying only that his electorate’s executive would be sending out a statement “in due course”.

Appearing on RNZ’s Morning Report, Tamihere said he did not know what issues the two MPs had.

“At no time have the Kapa-Kingis or Ferris ever put their gripe or their problem on the table. This is despite a whole range of meetings,” Tamihere said.

“We have been deeply constrained because we have to follow our constitution and our tikanga. So, as a consequence, we’ve not been able to go to the media until very recently.”

When asked directly if he still wanted the two MPs in the party, Tamihere said: “Not if they continue to be rogue.”

Tamihere said the party’s national council would be having a conversation “very shortly” about whether to expel the two MPs, but he reiterated his call for them to go of their own accord.

“If you haven’t got the numbers to change the leadership in the caucus, you haven’t got the numbers to change the leadership in the electorates. You should do the honourable thing, understand that, and go and do a Hone Harawira.”

Harawira quit the Māori Party and Parliament in 2011 and then won his way back in during the by-election as leader of the new Mana Party.

In response to calls for his own resignation, Tamihere said he would not still be in the position if there were widespread calls in the party for him to go.

“I’m not overly worried about that [petition]. That’s just the people’s choice. And it’s not running as hot as it should,” he said. “Where’s the revolution?”

He refused to respond to the MPs’ claims that he was running a dictatorship, saying they should first provide evidence of that.

“In any caucus, it’s about being disciplined. It’s about being organised. It’s about having some form of teamwork.”

Ngāti Kahungunu chairman Bayden Barber is among a handful of iwi representatives that will sit down with the party’s co-leaders and president on Tuesday to work out what, if anything, can be salvaged from here.

“We’re going to try. We’re going to give it our best shot. There’s a lot at stake in terms of an upcoming election. We’ve been challenged like no other generation from this government.

“That’s why we see it as really important to offer an opportunity for reconciliation between both parts of the party and hopefully find a solution going forward.

“Those posts that came out [on Monday] from both sides were unhelpful and unnecessary.”

Mariameno Kapa-Kingi. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Barber said the Iwi Chairs Forum wanted to meet with Kapa-Kingi and Ferris too, with the ultimate goal to get everyone together for a hui at a marae in Wellington “sometime in the near future”.

The forum wanted the party to focus on policy, he said.

“We have a government that has attacked us from every front the last couple of years, so having the only kaupapa Māori party imploding is not helpful to the cause of iwi and aspirations that we’re trying to achieve for our people.

“At the moment, there’s a big distraction and it’s been caused by the in-fighting in the party at this time, and we felt it’s important to try and get that back on track because we have a vested interest.

“This isn’t just about Te Pāti Māori supporters, this is about Māori community right around the country all feeling a bit disappointed and overwhelmed by all the tit-for-tat happening on social media.

“So we’re trying to reach out to build a bridge and find some common ground and reconcile hopefully the relationships, but the longer this goes on, the harder that is going to be.”

Labour leader Chris Hipkins told Morning Report Te Pāti Māori had “major issues” it needed to sort out, but added it’s not uncommon for political parties to have internal turmoil.

He did not rule out working with the party after the election.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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‘Greed, avarice, and entitlement’ – Te Pāti Māori president urges MPs to quit

Source: Radio New Zealand

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has fired the latest salvo in an increasingly public fallout between the party leadership and two MPs. RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

Te Pāti Māori president John Tamihere has told MPs Mariameno Kapa-Kingi and Tākuta Ferris to “do the honourable thing” and quit Parliament, accusing the duo of “greed, avarice, and entitlement”.

It is the latest salvo in an increasingly public fallout between the party leadership and the two MPs.

The party’s National Council last month voted to suspend Kapa-Kingi, who is MP for Te Tai Tokerau.

The executive of Te Tai Tonga electorate – which covered the South Island and parts of Wellington – abstained from the resolution, and later called for a vote of no confidence in Tamihere.

Ferris, the MP for Te Tai Tonga, has previously backed Kapa-Kingi, telling 1News he did not support her suspension. Members of Te Tai Tonga electorate have now petitioned for Tamihere’s resignation as president, saying he has not acted in good faith.

In response to the petition, Tamihere has posted a lengthy statement on Facebook, alleging Kapa-Kingi and Ferris were destabilising due to a “desire to take over leadership” of Te Pāti Māori.

But Kapa-Kingi told RNZ she was not going anywhere and Tamihere did not speak for Tai Tokerau.

“The people voted me as an electorate member I’m proud to say and therefore I’m not going anywhere. I have a job to do and I plan to continue to do it best way I know how. Show up, prepare and remember who you represent.”

Tamihere alleges that in July, he was contacted by a Te Tai Tokerau iwi leader who had expressed concern that Kapa-Kingi had asked iwi leaders whether they would support her in a challenge for the party leadership against Debbie Ngarewa-Packer, and Ferris against Rawiri Waititi.

He said he rang Kapa-Kingi on the evening of 18 July.

“I indicated to her that if there was a case for change of leadership there had to be some reason or some cause and could you please advise me what it was. Ms Kapa-Kingi was unable to do so.”

Tamihere’s statement also references the release of documents suggesting Parliamentary Services had warned Kapa-Kingi she was on track to overspend her budget by up to $133,000, as well as the accusations Kapa-Kingi’s son Eru had unleashed a profane and threatening “tirade of abuse” at Parliamentary security last year.

“There is no evidence of wrongdoing on the part of anybody in Te Pāti Māori leadership. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that Kapa-Kingi overspent her budget. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that payments to her family have been disclosed,” Tamihere said.

“It is not the fault of Te Pāti Māori that Eru Kapa-Kingi seems to be the only bully in the party. It is not the fault of Te Pāti Maori that the personal interests and entitlement of Ms Kapa-Kingi and her family are now known to everyone.”

He also claims that the Kapa-Kingi family had disagreed with the 2023 draft list placings, which put Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke ahead of Mariameno Kapa-Kingi.

“Their argument was that ‘somebody in nappies’ should not be placed ahead of a Wahine Rangatira from Te Tai Tokerau. It came to pass that the Kapa-Kingi’s had no process or policy to determine anything other than Mariameno Kapa-Kingi should be number one on the list,” Tamihere said.

“The outcome of that hui was she was invited to tender her resignation as our candidate if she felt that aggrieved and we would open nominations in Te Tai Tokerau. Faced with that ultimatum we all ended up going into the wharekai for a cup of tea and the rest is history.”

Tamihere said Kapa-Kingi and Ferris should “do the honourable thing,” referencing Hone Harawira, who in 2011 quit the party and Parliament. Harawira’s resignation prompted a by-election in Te Tai Tokerau, which he won as the leader of the Mana Party.

“I guarantee Kapa-Kingi and Ferris will not do the same thing because their conduct is not based on mana, is not based on integrity and honesty or on principle. Their conduct is based on greed, avarice and entitlement,” Tamihere wrote.

RNZ has approached Te Pāti Māori and Tākuta Ferris for comment.

‘I don’t really care’ – PM

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was asked about Te Pāti Māori’s internal problems at his regular post-Cabinet press conference on Monday afternoon, and did not mince his words.

“I don’t think Te Pāti Māori are a serious outfit. I think they are activists, I think they’re performative,” he told media.

“I’ve never heard of a single policy idea from Te Pāti Māori about how they’re going to improve outcomes for Māori students, Māori health, Māori achievement, and so, you know, I don’t take them seriously.”

He said questions about working with Te Pāti Māori should be directed at Labour’s Chris Hipkins because “they have the same voting record”.

He would not say if National would rule out working with Te Pāti Māori if there was a change in the latter’s leadership.

“We came here to do serious things. This is a country that has been through a difficult set of times. We are fixing the basics and we have an awesome future that we’re focused on realising for this country, and that’s what I’m getting out of bed to do every day.

“What the hell everyone else does, I don’t really care, frankly.”

Hipkins said Te Pāti Māori’s internal issues were for it to resolve.

He repeated his call for the party to “prioritise” sorting itself out, and that the party was a “long way away” from playing a constructive role in government.

“We’re here to represent the people that put us here, we’re here to make decisions on behalf of the whole country, not just the people that vote for us. Everybody needs to keep that in mind in discharging their duties as a Member of Parliament.”

Hipkins said Labour would be competing “vigourously” in the Māori seats at the next election, but he would set out beforehand where Labour had common ground with other parties, and the bottom lines it would not cross.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Freshwater allocation system degrading water quality and shutting Māori out, court hears

Source: Radio New Zealand

Members of the Wai Manawa Whenua coalition outside the High Court in Wellington. RNZ/Pokere Paewai

A group of Māori landowners taking the government to court over freshwater rights allege the current system of water allocation is degrading water quality and shutting Māori out.

Wai Manawa Whenua is seeking timely and effective Crown action to halt further decline in water quality and a fair and durable water allocation system.

The case is [https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/577593/landmark-maori-freshwater-rights-case-in-court-this-week set down in the High Court] in Wellington for Monday and Tuesday, the Crown is expected to present its evidence on Tuesday.

Lawyer Matthew Smith KC told the court that a key problem is the “first in, first served” water allocation system.

Federation of Māori Authorities (FOMA) chairperson Traci Houpapa said in many catchments water has either been fully or over allocated, which has led to a degradation in water quality.

“As ahuwhenua, we need water in order to operate our farms, our landholdings. Māori are a significant holder in the primary industries, but more importantly, we’re calling on the Crown to recognise our rights as Māori, to create a fair and equitable water allocation system with us, and then also to recognise our role as kaitiaki.”

Federation of Māori Authorities chairperson Traci Houpapa RNZ/Pokere Paewai

Sometimes water isn’t available for Māori authorities because its already been allocated to other entities in the region, she said.

“What we’re saying is we need to be part of the redistribution of those allocations and to look at a new allocation system.”

Wai Manawa Whenua chairperson Kingi Smiler said Māori have been trying to resolve their rights and interests with the Crown very actively for over three decades.

Starting when the Resource Management Act was first being put in place in 1991, then again in 2012 during the policy to partially privatise state-owned enterprises, he said.

Then Deputy Prime Minister Bill English gave assurances that the Crown was committed to recognising and making appropriate provision for Māori rights and interests in water and geothermal resources, he said.

“They gave solemn promises in the Supreme Court and there have always been annually reviews by the Crown with Māori and others as to what the rules should be for allocating water in the country but they continue just to be cynical promises, not meaningful at all and simply empty promises where no action has been taken.

“Until there’s action being taken on the first-in-first-served allocation system and that system is changed, then no improvement in water quality will result.”

Wai Manawa Whenua chairperson Kingi Smiler RNZ/Pokere Paewai

Smiler said in his region of Wairarapa the water quality of Lake Wairarapa has degraded dramatically to the point where it is considered super-trophic.

“So this is a very serious situation and for many years as part of treaty settlements we’ve tried to have the opportunity to have this resolved with the government but there’s no clean-up fund that’s been put in place that will address the issues that are there.”

Houpapa said there have been a number of initiatives between Māori and the government to improve water quality, including Kāhui Wai Māori/the Māori Freshwater Forum and Te Mana o te Wai, but they have only gone so far.

“In our discussions with government, we have been unhappy with the lack of progress and the lack of action. We believed coming to High Court was the course that needed to be taken in order for us to hold the Crown to account.

“What we’re doing today is asking the Crown to deliver. This is a matter important for whānau, hapū, for ahuwhenua, our trusts, Māori trusts and corporations, Māori landholding, so that we can be part of the conversations and the design of a fair water allocation system for our whenua and for ahikā.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Pacific Championship rugby league: What you need to know about NZ Kiwis v Toa Samoa men’s final

Source: Radio New Zealand

Samoa issue a cultural challenge to the Kiwis at Go Media Stadium. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

Pacific Championship (men) – NZ Kiwi v Toa Samoa

Kickoff: 6.05pm Sunday, 9 November

CommBank Stadium, Sydney

Live blog updates on RNZ

History

Toa Samoa have never beaten NZ Kiwis in six previous meetings.

That said, they have come very close a couple of times and probably should have won their last meeting three weeks ago, when they bombed at least two prime scoring opportunities in the final 10 minutes of a 24-18 defeat at Go Media Stadium.

In 2014, New Zealand needed a late try from centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall to scrape past 14-12 at Whangārei, en route to claiming a Four Nations crown.

There have been some big margins along the way.

In the 2023 Pacific Championships, the Kiwis inflicted a 50-0 pounding on their rivals, with wingers Jamayne Isaako and Ronaldo Mulitalo grabbing try doubles, and Isaako converting seven of the nine tries scored.

Historically, Samoa have been used as warm-up opponents before more meaningful fixtures against major rugby league powers, but the exodus of top players to their Pacific roots has brought new meaning to this rivalry.

Form

The Samoans really announced themselves as bona fide contenders on the world state, when they reached the final of the 2022 Rugby League World Cup, losing 60-6 to England in poolplay, but turning the tables 27-26 in the semis, before losing 30-10 to Australia in the final.

Like Tonga before them, their programme has undoubtedly benefited from the decision by NRL stars to pledge allegiance to their heritage, rather than New Zealand or Australia.

Strangely, Samoa’s 34-6 win over Tonga two weeks ago was their first win since that World Cup semi-final three years ago.

They were out of their depth against the Kiwis and Kangaroos in the 2023 Pacific Championships, and then lost two tests on their England tour last year.

New Zealand also looked better against Tonga last weekend than they did against Samoa in their tournament opener.

Keano Kini in full flight against Tonga. Photosport

After inflicting a record defeat on Australia in the 2023 final, the Kiwis were understrength last year, under new coach Stacey Jones, losing to Australia and Tonga, and having to defend their place in the top flight against Papua New Guinea.

Some of the youngsters blooded in that campaign have continued to develop, particularly centre/winger Casey McLean and fullback Keano Kini in the backs, and Naufahu Whyte in the forwards.

They have certainly been better this year under Jones’ continued stewardship and should go into the final as favourites on the basis of their earlier win.

Teams

Kiwis: 1. Keano Kini, 2. Jamayne Isaako, 3. Matt Timoko, 4. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 5. Casey McLean, 6. Dylan Brown, 7. Kieran Foran, 8. James Fisher-Harris (captain), 9. Phoenix Crossland, 10. Moses Leota, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Isaiah Papali’i, 13. Joseph Tapine

Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Naufahu Whyte, 16. Erin Clark, 17. Xavier Willison

Reserves: 18. Scott Sorenson, 19. Zach Dockar-Clay, 20. Josiah Karapani

Jones has named the same line-up that took the field against Tonga last week, although that wasn’t the one he originally named.

Before kick-off, he lost Mulitalo and reserve forward Nelson Asofa-Solomona to injury, and had to reshuffle his backline, moving McLean to the wing, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to centre and bringing Kini into fullback.

Kiwis half Kieran Foran in action against Tonga during the Pacific Championships. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

That configuration performed well, so it stays intact.

Veteran half Kieran Foran, 35, will make his final appearance for his country, 16 years after debuting as a teenager, after already retiring from the NRL at the end of last season.

Brisbane Broncos forward Xavier Willison made his Kiwis debut last week against Tonga and will again come off the bench.

Isaako, Erin Clark, Moses Leota and Isaiah Papali’i have all turned out for Samoa previously, while several others are eligible.

Player to watch

The injury that brought Keano Kini into last week’s starting line-up may have saved the Kiwis’ Pacific Championship hopes. Not that Nicoll-Klokstad deserves to be dropped and thankfully he is versatile enough to find a place in the centres, but Kini provides the x-factor that may make a difference, as the big Samoan forwards tire.

Samoa: 1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 2. Brian To’o, 3. Izack Tago, 4. Deine Mariner, 5. Murray Taulagi, 6. Blaize Talagi, 7. Jarome Luai (captain), 8. Francis Molo, 9. Jazz Tevaga, 10. Payne Haas, 11. Jaydn Su’A, 12. Simi Sasagi, 13. Junior Paulo

Interchange: 14. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 15. Benaiah Ioelu, 16. Terrell May, 17. Josh Papalii

Reserves: 18. Ata Mariota, 19. Ativalu Lisati, 20. Clayton Faulalo, 21. Lyhkan King-Togia

The only change from the team that beat Tonga sees Su’A replace second-rower Jeremiah Nanai, who suffered a shoulder injury in that encounter.

Coach Ben Gardiner originally named Tevaga and Papalii to start at hooker and prop for that game, but switched them back to the bench before kick-off, replaced by Ioelu and Molo. Tevaga has again been named to start at dummy half, but Papalii remains on the interchange.

Tuivasa-Sheck has previously captained the Kiwis, before switching international allegiances. Taulagi, Haas and Papali’i have all represented Australia, while several others have played State of Origin for NSW or Queensland.

Player to watch

Front-rower Payne Haas is a force of nature and one of the main reasons Brisbane Broncos took out the NRL premiership this season. The last meeting between these two teams was his Samoan debut and the Kiwis will need to neutralise him to win the forward battle.

Payne Haas in action for Toa Samoa against the Kiwis. Brett Phibbs/www.photosport.nz

Venue

When the Pacific Championship draw was announced, New Zealand was allocated two blockbuster games against Samoa and Tonga in Auckland, but the final was strangely scheduled for Sydney.

With the Kangaroos currently touring England, Australia would be unrepresented in the men’s showcase and, given the three teams in contention, it seemed weird that the decider shouldn’t also be held in the city with the world’s largest Polynesian population.

Brisbane hosted the Samoa v Tonga clash, with about 45,000 cramming into Suncorp Stadium. Given the patronage, commentators wondered aloud if the NRL had undersold the competition final by staging it at a venue with only 30,000 capacity.

“CommBank Stadium is one of those stadiums where you’re right on top of it and the sound doesn’t get released anywhere, it just bounces off the walls,” former NZ and Samoa international, and now Kiwis selector, Monty Betham told RNZ’s Midday Report. “The atmosphere will be unbelievable – you’ll be able to hear it at home.”

What will happen

Both teams took a step up in their respective games against Tonga, with Samoa (28) enjoying a better points difference than the Kiwis (24).

The winners will be the team that finds another gear and adjusts better from their previous meeting.

The speed of Kini and McLean in the open field could prove the difference in a Kiwis victory.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Teenager charged after staff member injured at Youth Justice residence

Source: Radio New Zealand

Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence. RNZ / Kim Baker Wilson

A 15-year-old boy has been charged with assault with a weapon after a staff member was injured at a Youth Justice facility in Auckland.

A police spokesperson said they were called to a residential facility on Kiwi Tamaki Road in Wiri about 7.30pm on Sunday, following reports of an assault.

Auckland’s Korowai Manaaki Youth Justice residence is on the road.

Oranga Tamariki acting deputy chief executive youth justice services and residential care Neil Beales earlier confirmed a staff member sustained minor injuries from the incident.

The youth was expected to appear in the Manukau District Court on Monday.

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Country Life: Jemma Ostenfeld, a heritage seed collector with an eye on the future

Source: Radio New Zealand

Jemma Ostenfeld RNZ/Sally Round

Growing up gardening with her grandmother sowed the original seed for heritage seed collector and grower Jemma Ostenfeld.

Originally from Australia’s Gold Coast, she’s been in New Zealand five years and after learning the ropes of seed collecting in Hawke’s Bay, she now collects and sows heritage varieties on a patch of borrowed land at Poroporo in eastern Bay of Plenty.

She grows the seedlings and heritage crops and sells her produce at farmers’ markets in the region.

“I try for over 100 years old – they hold the memory of all the times that they’ve been grown before, so they have more resistance to pests and disease and any environmental conditions like drought,” she told Country Life.

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It takes Jemma a good few hours to sow each batch of seeds RNZ/Sally Round

Heritage seeds are from a plant that has reproduced naturally through “open pollination” and been passed down through the generations.

They are “true-to-type”, Ostenfeld explained, meaning the plant that grows from them is genetically identical.

They can be traced back to early seed catalogues and in the case of traditional Māori vegetables – kamokamo and beans for example – can go back centuries.

When Country Life visited she was in her hand-built greenhouse sowing a heritage lettuce variety from a trusted collector in Northland.

“Every time a seed is grown, it will take on those environmental conditions from that season.

“If it’s grown in a different soil type, it will become adapted to that soil type, plus all the different soil types that it’s been grown in before, so by diversifying the environment that the seeds are grown in, it’s going to take on more qualities of pest resistance, of resistance to harsh environmental conditions, so it gets stronger and stronger year after year.”

Jemma grows out her seedlings too RNZ/Sally Round

Jemma considers herself a large-scale home gardener RNZ/Sally Round

She found her passion for seed collecting on her initial travels around New Zealand, connecting with growers and others in the small seed collecting community.

“A lot of the seeds that have come into New Zealand have been smuggled in by like people in the war, sneaking them in their socks, or a lot came over with the Dalmatian gum diggers as well. So they originate in other countries, and then they come here, and they’ve got these amazing stories.”

Ostenfeld has been passed on a few different varieties and been approached to take on a whole seed collection by someone who wants to ensure his seeds are well looked after.

“Sometimes it gets to a point where families can’t necessarily look after those lines anymore, but they still want to keep that seed alive, because it means so much to them.

“It’s one of those things that’s it’s hard to ask for, I think they come to you when the time is right.”

Jemma sources her heritage seeds from trusted suppliers, grows them out and collects her own RNZ/Sally Round

Ostenfeld leads an off-grid life at present in the remote valley, sowing weekly in the spring and watering by hand, heading to farmers’ markets with her certified organic produce at the weekend.

She’s also an educator.

“I’m kind of turning into a mini garden centre trying to provide the average home gardener with the tools to be able to grow healthy food in their garden, as well as education and engagement through workshops.”

She must abide by international seed-saving rules, ensuring strict germination rates, adjusting her growing routines to ensure the best outcome.

She also ensures she can pass on the history of the seeds.

Labelled seedlings at The East Field RNZ/Sally Round

“Before I sell them, I make sure that I go into a deep dive of where they originate from. It might be a plant breeder in the 1800s.”

Seed libraries should be sprinkled around the country, she believes, to ensure seed security in case of major events like Cyclone Gabrielle and Covid which disrupted distribution, she said.

“When we were all locked down, there was such a high demand for seeds that those people almost sold out of a lot of their ranges.

“I think the more people that are growing and saving heritage seeds and distributing them out across the country creates a more secure food system for us.”

Ostenfeld is on the look out for a new patch of land to lease or collaborate on in the Bay of Plenty which has ideal growing conditions, she said.

Learn more:

  • Find our more about Jemma Ostenfeld here

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

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Country Life: A Kiwi’s life in the world’s largest dairy farms

Source: Radio New Zealand

Berwick Settle Supplied

From extreme heat to extreme cold, the cows which have been in Berwick Settle’s care live in some challenging situations.

Over the past two decades, the former Southland sharemilker has helped set up dairy farms in Cambodia, China, Vietnam and Russia.

His first introduction to fully housed dairy operations, where cows are fed rations in huge barns, was in Indonesia.

Milking 1200 cows in very warm temperatures “on the side of a volcano” was different from the New Zealand pastoral system where cows mostly forage paddocks for their feed and only come to the shed at milking time.

He went on to help set up one of the first of China’s very large dairy farms – 10,000 cows with a tourism operation alongside – in China’s dairy farming central, Houhot, in Inner Mongolia.

In some of the Asian countries he’s worked temperatures can get up to 39C with very high humidity, so managing heat stress is critical, he told Country Life.

“If you don’t get it right, production can crash. Reproduction can drop down to about 10 percent conception and [there are] a lot of abortions, and animal health issues also increase massively.”

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Settle said there is a lot of science and developing technology involved in keeping the cows cool, including sprinkler systems and huge fans.

“When the cow comes to the feeding line, a sprinkler goes on them, they sprinkle them for about 30 seconds, and then the fan blows on for about four-and-a-half minutes.

“So, it’s exactly the same situation where you hop out of a swimming pool on a windy day, you cool down very quickly”.

The Houhot operation allowed tourists to watch the cows milking in the multi-parlour arrangement.

“A 50-a-side parallel herringbone, a 60-bale rotary, a two-by-eight herringbone and a robotic milker all in the one facility.”

They would watch from a visitor’s gallery “so they could sit, walk around and see all the different parlours milking and the cows coming in and out”.

Settle also spent three years managing operations at Hua Xia Farms near the Chinese capital Beijing. It grew to five farms with 35,000 cows.

One of three barns a the dairy hub in Russia Supplied

Cleanliness and management of manure are also challenges with such a high density of animals indoors, he said. There are several steps to make sure udders are clean before milking in such an environment.

“Trying to get some sort of, you know, sustainability practice into the farming operations is very difficult.

“The number of animals per hectare … is incredibly high, so all of the manure needs to be dealt with and carted off site. So you must have good systems around how you deal with your manure.”

At present, Settle is based in Russia working with the Vietnamese company TH Milk resurrecting a dairy farming hub at Efimsevo, southwest of Moscow and not far from Kozelsk. Here there is the challenge of extreme cold – it can reach -25C.

Berwick Settle, second from left with translators and calf team leaders in Russia. The calf barn is in the background. RNZ/Sally Round

Barns are well insulated but not heated, and water troughs must be fitted with elements to keep the water from freezing.

But his latest assignment has more than just climate challenges to deal with, as Kozelsk is a base for several Russian missile regiments. The farm site is next to a strategic missile base, and drone attacks are constant reminders of the war with Ukraine.

Settle said they were “part of everyday life here”.

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Farmers urged to install crush or rollover protection after quad bike death

Source: Radio New Zealand

Crush protection on a quad bike. supplied ACC

WorkSafe is urging farmers to install crush protection or a rollover guard on quad bikes following another death in the Far North.

Emergency services were called to a rural property east of Broadwood, in North Hokianga, about 4pm on Thursday following a quad bike accident.

A man died at the scene.

Police, Broadwood Fire Brigade and St John Ambulance responded.

St John sent an ambulance and a rescue helicopter to the remote property.

A WorkSafe spokesman said an investigation was underway, and the agency “strongly recommended” farmers install a crush or rollover protection device on their quad bikes.

He said farm vehicle incidents were one of the top two causes of workplace deaths in New Zealand, which was why agriculture was a priority sector for WorkSafe.

WorkSafe data shows 79 people died in work-related quad bike accidents between 2006 and 2023, with eight of those fatalities in Northland. Waikato had the highest number of deaths, 17, of any region.

The majority of those occurred on farms.

Between 2010 and 2023 just under 700 people were seriously injured using quad bikes at work.

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Mt Algidus Station could be yours, if you have $50 million

Source: Radio New Zealand

Mt Algidus Station. Sotheby’s / supplied

One of the country’s most storied high-country stations is on the market.

Offers of $50 million or more are being sought for Mt Algidus Station, a 22,120-hectare property in the Southern Alps.

Author Mona Anderson lived on the property for 33 years, and detailed her time there in the book A River Rules My Life.

The station – secluded at the confluence of the Wilberforce, Rakaia and Mathias rivers near Canterbury’s Lake Coleridge – was also home to politician William Rolleston in the 1860s.

Mt Algidus Station. Sotheby’s / supplied

Sotheby’s International Realty sales associate Matt Finnigan said the vendors, who had lived there for two decades, had added a four-bedroom residence with living areas, a library, drawing room, office and pool cabana, as well as a two-bedroom flat.

The property also included a three-bedroom farmhouse for guest accommodation – with an additional out-house bedroom and standalone bedsit, along with a woolshed and sheep yards, the old shearers’ quarters and other dwellings.

“You very seldom find high country farms that have had this level of capital investment in terms of infrastructure and staff housing and industry farming improvements,” Finnigan said.

Mt Algidus Station. Sotheby’s / supplied

Sotheby’s was marketing the property domestically and internationally with an advertising campaign in The New York Times.

New Zealand buyers were still the primary audience, Finnigan said.

“If you look at the last seven years or so, [Overseas Investment Office] applications have been almost non-existent for such properties. What we have realised is actually there’s a large expat database there. You just need to look at our sales for that period – they’ve all been Kiwi or resident buyers.

Mt Algidus Station. Sotheby’s / supplied

“So advertising offshore, as we do with all our good real estate, captures that audience.”

The station was a working high-country farm with high stock units and a small permanent staff, Finnigan said. But he expected prospective buyers would be attracted by its history and lifestyle opportunities.

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Foreign investors buy forests, lily bulb plant and meat plant stake

Source: Radio New Zealand

Oceana Gold purchased more than 5 hectares of land at Hauraki District small town Waihi. 123RF

A lily bulb processing plant, production forests and land for a gold mine buffer zone are some of the latest purchases by international investors through the Overseas Investment Office (OIO).

Land Information New Zealand/Toitū Te Whenua recently published its latest decisions to approve overseas investment for September.

Global bulbs firm ends after 164 years

After nearly three decades running a flower bulbs processing business in mid-Canterbury, Dutch-owned firm Royal Van Zanten Flowerbulbs sold its New Zealand business.

The Hillegom-headquartered company bred and grew lily and tulip bulbs for more than 160 years, and first opened in Aotearoa in the late 1990s, supplying bulbs in the off season for Northern Hemisphere growers.

It moved from South Otago to Rakaia in 2000.

By 2018, the company was sold out of the Veldhuyzen van Zanten family ownership by investment firm Nimbus, and the breeding and processing firm was later split up for sale.

It sold its 8.6 hectare Rakaia nursery and packing facility to Dutch-owned Onings Holland Flowerbulbs in Poeldijk, according to the OIO decision in September.

Bulbs went to customers in Asia, Europe and also India, Australia and Mexico.

The OIO decision said the new owner planned to invest in facilities on the farm.

Gold mine neighbours’ land bought to buffer

The largest gold producer in New Zealand, majority North American-owned Oceana Gold purchased more than 5 hectares of land at Hauraki District small town Waihi to create buffer zones for its mines.

The company owned by Vancouver-headquartered OceanaGold Corporation discovered, extracted and processed gold ore at Waihi and Macraes in New Zealand.

It acquired the Waihi mine in 2015 and said on its website, 8 Moz (million ounces) of gold was produced here to date.

A Waihi mine expansion was sought through the government’s fast track legislation.

It spent more than $5.7 million across the three land purchases around Willows Road and Trig Road North that were used for residential and lifestyle purposes.

The land will be leased back for residential use while mining is ongoing.

“The main benefits to New Zealand are likely to include economic benefits associated with greater efficiency and improved viability of mining projects currently underway in Waihi,” read the OIO decision.

Meat processor’s new alliance

Late last month, farmer-shareholders in red meat co-operative Alliance Group voted in favour of Irish-owned Dawn Meats Group buying a 65 percent share of the firm that runs six processing plants across Aotearoa.

The $250 million purchase featured in the OIO decisions in September ahead of the vote, that was later sweetened by an extra $20m.

The decision showed Delmec Unlimited owned by Dawn Meat Groups will give the firm indirect freehold interest in more than 1,200 hectares of land and a further 387 hectares.

The OIO decision said the main benefit to New Zealand was likely to be the improved viability of Alliance plants and retention of employment.

Production forests

More overseas investors have bought millions of dollars of productive forestry land, including another for the parent company of furniture giant Ikea.

Ingka Investments purchased 219 hectares of land on Burma Road in rural Bay of Plenty southeast of Whakatāne from local firm Rawhiti Forest Farm.

Eighty-three hectares of it were productive pinus radiata and exotic forests, and production forestry will continue here with harvest starting next year.

Property data online shows it sold for $2.3m in early October.

Meanwhile, a large production forest in the South Island’s Clutha District was sold for nearly $10m by the European Union’s second largest asset manager.

Majority French-owned Future Forests NZ – owned by BNP Paribas Future Forest Fund SLP – purchased 634 hectares at Table Hill from local company Divers Farms, of which, 465 hectares was productive forest.

It will continue to be used for forestry.

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