April 2018
Welcome to the April edition of the Naki News
Congratulations to the Gibbs family
Federated Farmers Taranaki members, the Gibbs Family, recently took out the Supreme Award at the Taranaki Ballane Farm Environmental Awards.
Grant, Dinny & Leedom, who farm in Manaia, hosted a field day for nearly 40 people earlier in the month, showcasing their coastal farm.
As well as the regional Supreme Award, the Gibbs won the Ballance Agri-Nutrients Soil Management Award, DairyNZ Sustainability and Stewardship Award, Hill Laboratories Agri-Science Award, WaterForce Integrated Management Award and the Taranaki Regional Council Sustainability Award.
Stratford dairy farmers Daryl and Karyn Johnson, Dakm Farms, won the CB Norwood Distributors Ltd Agri-Business Management Award, the Predator Free Farm Award and the Farmlands People in Agriculture Award.
Tarata sheep and beef farmers Hans and Stephanie Michel, Tersana Farm, won the Beef + Lamb New Zealand Livestock Farm Award, Massey University Innovation Award and the Taranaki Ballance Farm Environment Awards Committee Farm Stewardship Award.
Hon Damien O'Connor is coming Taranaki
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The Hon Damien O’Connor will be visiting the region for the Federated
Farmers Taranaki AGM on May 18 at the Stratford War Memorial Hall. Other
guest speakers include MPs Barbara Kuriger and Jonathan Young. |
Federated Farmers Apprentice Scheme
Federated Farmers, in partnership with Primary ITO, launched a Dairy apprenticeship at the end of last year. Earlier this month a meeting was held in Inglewood to discuss the direction of the scheme in Taranaki. Federated Farmers Dairy chair Chris Lewis, Policy Advisor Nick Hansen, Primary ITO, MBIE, Federated Farmers Taranaki executive and local farmers discussed how to target the country’s best and brightest, and lift the quality of both workers and employers in the industry.
Apprentices will ‘earn while they learn’, develop their skills on-job and grow their careers. Employers will enjoy motivated staff and learn and grow throughout the apprenticeship too.
The local Taranaki executive are eager to see more employers register their interest. To register your interest 
Policy Update
Lisa Harper
Regional Policy Advisor
Councils consult on rates
Every three years councils produce and consult on 10 year budgets. These are critical for farmers, as they determine our rates bills. For the Feds policy team, this time of year is mad, with 72 councils consulting at once and hundreds of pages of documents per council to read. Taranaki councils are planning to spend quite a bit, with some significant rates rises proposed. We will support sensible spending on important infrastructure like roads, but push back on the ‘nice-to-have’ stuff that sends farmers’ rates up.
On the Road
Craig Sole
Taranaki Territory Manager
Tenancy practices on Farm – New Insulation Requirement by July 2019
There is a new legislative requirement for all homes by July 2019, which will mean homes will have to have insulation in the floor and ceiling where physically possible.
This affects you as a farm owner. If are providing rental arrangements for staff, sharemilkers/ contract milkers then you have an obligation to provide insulated housing. As a farm owner – you are also responsible for insulation of houses used by sharemilkers, for their staff.
If a farm owner is not compliant with the insulation requirements (July 2019), they will be in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act and could face some pretty hefty fines.
July 2019 is fast approaching so all owners should be arranging their insulation sooner rather than later.
Federated Farmers contract agreements will be upgrading to incorporate these change in legislation.
Diary Dates
April 16
SGM – Revision of the rules
Stratford TET Stadium
Starts: 7.30pm
May 18
AGM – with guest Hon. Damien O’Connor
Stratford War Memorial Hall
Starts: 10.30am
Taranaki Provincial Executive Committee
President:
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Donald McIntyre
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Vice-President:
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Dale Cook
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Dairy:
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Janet Schultz and Mark Hooper
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Sharemilkers':
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James Lawn and Matthew Herbert
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Sharemilker Farm Owners':
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Brendan Attrill and Othmar Hebler
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Meat & Wool:
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Nick Brown and Matt Newton
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Executive:
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Bryce Kaiser, Jonathan Ardern, Fiona Howatson, Niels Hansen, Scott Thompson, Julayne Thompson and Jason Rolfe
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Office Manager:
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Jessie Waite
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| Policy Advisor: |
Lisa Harper
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| Territory Manager: |
Criag Sole
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Thank you to our provincial sponsors
Federated Farmers Taranaki, 15 Young Street, Box 422, New Plymouth 4340
P 06 757-3423 E [email protected]