31february 19, 2014 Mahurangi Matters feature

TRUCK EXCAVATOR

Contracting

HIRE

p 09 425 7214 m 021 951 518 e robmackisack@xtra.co.nzFREE MOBILE CALLS FOR USERS

EXCAVATOR HIRE • ROLLER GRADER • DRAINLAYING ROADING • BUILDING SITES • FOOTINGS • HOLE BORING

POLE DRIVING • METAL SUPPLIES / TOPSOIL • LOADER HIRE

Everything in one place... Friends, Family, Farming, Fun!

www.northlandfielddays.co.nz | Phone 09 439 8998

Entry: Adults (16yrs +) $15 Children (5-16yrs) $5 Under 5s – FREE

See You There!

State Highway 14Dargaville

27th February – 1st March 2014The largest Agricultural Event in Northland

Local businesses are getting ready for the Northland Field Days after a mixed season for farmers, with high milk prices but low rainfall in some areas.Matakohe farmers Peter and Sheryl Tonkin are heading to the Field Days for their products Dam Weed Guard and Advantage Feeders and have been going to the event for nearly 25 years.Although business has been going well, drought continues to affect the region, Sheryl says. The stock still haven’t recovered from the last drought, and Northland has missed out on a lot of rain.“It’s not as bad as last year, but on top of last year it’s really having an effect,” Sheryl says.The couple visit Field Days events around the country and they would like to see more done to improve the Dargaville event. They are concerned that high ticket prices may be deterring some people.However, Chapel Olive Oil, based in Paparoa, is happy to be going to the event for their fourth year.Verity and Barry Baines say it is a great chance to get out and sell some oil.“We did quite well last year, and people will be looking out for our stall again. And we now know some of the other food stalls who go along every year. It’s a wonderful day, as long as it doesn’t rain,” Verity says.Last year was a bumper olive season, but this year’s crop looks a little down after a windy summer, she says.NZ Solar Northland will be showcasing how solar can help you save on power around the home and out on the farm. Warren and Wendy James started the business in Wellsford in January, taking over distribution for

the Northland area for NZ Solar.Solar can be used in a variety of rural settings, Warren says, from water heating for milking sheds, powering irrigation pumps, through to powering electric fences. And with good milk prices and a better season than last year, hopefully farmers have a bit to invest in making the switch to solar, he says.“We are talking to farmers and stock agents all the time and they’re certainly a bit happier this year,” Warren says.Water Flow NZ, based in Maungaturoto, is heading along to the Field Days to showcase its sewerage system.Marketing manager Dean Hoyle says the system uses worms to break down sewerage so doesn’t use any electricity and has low maintenance costs, and the grey water from the system can be used on the garden. Warkworth Stihl will be showcasing the Canycom climbing mower at the Northland Field Days.Owner Ra Bremner says the mower is especially designed to climb steep terrain and can cut through anything from gorse bushes through to small trees.The mowers are made by a company in Japan that once made Samurai swords, and this heritage has been passed through to the mower blade, she says.Ra and her husband Mike bought the business in 2012, not long before drought began to affect the region.“That was a tough time to start out. We had ordered in the season of stock and it sat there. Grass just wasn’t growing. But we got through that and this year’s better. The community has been really supportive,” Ra says.

locals head to dargaville

Call in and see Doug 09 423 7788 / 027 486 4934

343 Rodney St, Wellsfordwww.polandmotors.co.nz

FIELD DAYS DEALS NOW ON!!

SEE YOU AT THE NORTHLAND FIELD DAYS

ON SITE 266

27 februarY - 1 MarCh 2014NORTHLAND FIELDDAYS

32 Mahurangi Matters february 19, 2014 featurefielddays feature

People heading to the Northland Field Days, from February 27 to March 1, will be able to eat a possum burger, pat a miniature horse, and race a lawn mower, among a host of activities on offer for the weekend.Northland Field Days president Lew Duggan says the committee has been working hard to make sure there is something for people of all ages.Mini possum burgers will be served at the Northland Regional Council’s marquee, continuing the tradition of serving wild food treats — most made from pests —  as a fun way of attracting visitors. Previous years’ wild food treats have included wasp larvae ice-cream, possum and goat meat pies, possum pate and wild rabbit sausages.The regional council’s events and partnerships coordinator, Natasha Stubbing, says the meat is sourced from about 100 possums trapped in the Maungakaramea area near Whangarei. The possums are being sent to Whangarei’s O’Dwyer’s Butchery for boning and mincing in a process expected to yield about 40kg of meat — enough for roughly 1400 mini burgers. The burgers are a way to boost visitor numbers to the council marquee to view displays and speak with staff about the more serious side of the regional council’s work, Natasha says.“Council specialists across a range of fields will be available to offer advice or chat about land-related issues people may have,” Natasha says.Mr Duggan says there will also be

plenty of things to see and do with competitions including lawnmower races, dog trials, and tractor pull and logger sports, and a number of new events are scheduled.“There is so much to see and do. It doesn’t matter what age you are, where you come from or what your interests are, you’ll see something that appeals to you.”On Saturday March 1 radio station Classic Hits will be running gala games near the headquarters, allowing visitors to take part in a range of family competitions from wife carrying, dunking for apples, to sheep racing and more.Children, and the young at heart, will be able to pet and feed animals including turtles, chickens, ducks and a miniature horse, or ride around the event on a cart pulled by a team of Clydesdale horses.The Tru Test Group site will hold a live auction three times a day and Radio Hauraki will also have the “Win your weight in meat” competition.The Northern Wairoa Vintage Machinery Club and chainsaw carvers will also have sites.Jamie Mackay, host of The Farming Show on Radio Sport, will be broadcasting live from the Field Days on Friday.Free parking is available close to the showgrounds with regular public transport running to and from the event.Info: northlandfielddays.co.nz.

Possums and ponies will feature at northland field days

A slice of art will be on show at Northland Field days when chainsaw carvers again transform logs into lizards.

3 Morrison Drive, Warkworth | 09 945 0090 | mowercare.co.nz

*5 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL OUR PRODUCTS *conditions applyTOOL SERVICING & REPAIRS

“Real boys sell real toys”

Don’t hoe the grass MOW the GRASS

Grillo Climber CL7.13

Other Grillo models available

Mows slippery wet slopes SAFELY

Solo Ride-on MowersMade in Italy

Made in Germany

Solo Chainsaws Solo Garden Hand Tools &

Sprayers

Solo Brushcutters

from $399

$199

Made in GermanyThe GRILLO CLIMBER has been proven in use over many years in New Zealand our range of Italian made machines can transform your property and allow you to mow when you want to – not when conditions dictate.

Call Daniel NOW on 09 945 0090 to book a demonstration of a Grillo Climber on your property. We stock a range of Grillo machines and our team of young professionals are dedicated to helping customers in the local community. Full service workshop and backup available.

$3999

33february 19, 2014 Mahurangi Matters featurefielddays feature

ATV Spring Deal Dealer Ads.indd 6 31/10/13 4:12 PM

OR REPAYMENTSuNTil 2014*

NO DEPOSiTNO iNTEREST

*Offer available between 1/6/2013 and 31/7/2013. Credit and lending criteria and fees apply. Ask in-store for details. The prevailing interest rate will apply to any balance outstanding on the expiry of the interest free deferred payment

period. While stocks last. Finance offer available on selected 2 and 4 wheel farm bikes at participating Honda Dealers only. GE CreditLine and Gem Visa are provided by GE Finance and Insurance. Terms and conditions apply.

www.honda-motorcycles.co.nz

ATV Finance offer FINAL.indd 9 22/5/2013 10:31:27 AM

Honda Warkworth10 Morrison Drive Warkworth. Ph.09 425 9498

www.husqvarna.com

OFFER RUNS OUT VERY SHORTLY - DON’T MISS OUT

Contact Honda Warkworth now!

SEE YOU AT THE SHOW

KIWI WELLDRILLERS NZKEVIN BROWN LTD4th Generation Well Drillers

Ph 0800 822 822Email: kevin@kiwiwelldrillers.co.nz

www.kiwiwelldrillers.co.nz

WATER BORES• No Water - No Pay Basis

• Ground source heat loop holes

• All permit requirements

• Specialising in non-corrosive bore construction with a

lifetime guaranteeALL IN ONE - NO OBLIGATION,

TOTAL QUOTATIONAs the original Kiwi Welldrillers,

we pride ourselves on our professionalism, integrity and reputation, for a job well done.

Please feel free to call for a reference.

KEVIN BROWN LTD4th Generation Well Drillers

Popular events such as the tractor race and the Clydesdale draw carriage will be heading back to Northland Field days this year.

34 Mahurangi Matters february 19, 2014 local Entertainment

We would like to thank the Matakana Country Park and all our special Properties

WALK - RUN - CYCLE - WHEELCHAIRFrom 2pm, Saturday 1 March 2014 • Matakana Country Park

A 7km charity fun run/walk (not suitable for pushchairs, skateboards & scooters) or an 11.5km cycle or a 3km wheelchair/mobility scooter through private vineyards, olive groves and orchards,

with live music, costumes, and spectacular views along the way, fi nishing back at the marquee. After the walk, run, cycle, wheelchair exertions the festivity continues with food/refreshments and

entertainment will continue at Matakana Country Park. A seated spit roast dinner is a new feature this year.

All proceeds to the Matakana-Omaha-Point Wells Walkway/Cycleway

Entries $15 to $30, enter online at www.matakanafruitloop.co.nz

For photos and updates “like” our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/matakanafruitloop

Metroscaff Limited

SOLDSOLD

SOLD

localEntertainmentKiwi composer Claire Cowan will be collaborating with touring Spanish Flamenco dancer Isabel Rivera Cuenca at the Sawmill on March 9.Claire has worked with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, has composed scores for TV dramas including the Billy T James movie Billy, and her works have been performed by soloists and ensembles throughout the USA, NZ, Europe, Japan and Australia. Claire and Isabel met in Auckland last year. “I had been studying flamenco dance for the past year-and-a-half, and was really keen to collaborate and write compositions in the style,” she says.She says the influence of flamenco rhythms are already finding their way into other works.“It’s a bit of a change. All of the rhythms are very different, very Spanish, and different to anything I’ve done before. But it all comes naturally to Isabel who has absorbed it growing up in Spain.”Flamenco dancing is a family affair for Isabel and she been dancing since she was five.She came to New Zealand last year in the first leg of a world tour, intending

Fun for the whole familyIt might be called Children’s Fun Day, but teenagers and adults are also welcome at a family sports day being held in Wellsford next month.The annual event will take place this year on March 2, from midday to 4pm at Centennial Park.The acting co-ordinator of the Wellsford District Sport and Recreation Collective, Lynette Gubb, says plenty of fun activities have been organised for families, including obstacle courses, family competitions and inflatable games, as well as bouncy castles, water walkers, rides, face painting and a lolly scramble.There will also be spot prizes, giveaways, a sausage sizzle and drinks for sale.The aim of the day is to celebrate national Children’s Fun Day, and to promote physical activity.Activity cards will cost $3 each for up to 10 activities, but early birds can get two tickets for $5 from Woody’s Winners, Clever Endeavours, and Wellsford Sport and Leisure.Info: wendy 423 8194.

flamenco concert at leigh Sawmill

to stay just one month, but loved the country so much she’s stayed on.The band consists of Claire on piano and cello, Alex Taylor on violin and saxophone, Eric Scholes on bass and Isabel providing the rhythm through dance. The group played two packed concerts in January and, buoyed by the

success, planned a North Island tour.Claire’s other music project, Blackbirds, involves bringing orchestral music to new audiences, and she hopes to play in Leigh again before the end of the summer, she says.Tickets cost $25 on the door or $20 presales from undertheradar.co.nz.

Spanish Flamenco dancer Isabel rivera Cuenca will be dancing at leigh Sawmill as

part of her world tour.

tiCket giVeaWaYWe have two tickets to give away. Email news@localmatters.co.nz with Flamenco in the subject line to be in the draw.