Quad safety promoted as part of the product
It's hard to believe that quad bikes or ATVs have been around for about 50 years – even longer if you add in the balloon-tyred trikes that first appeared in the Bond movie Moonraker.
Clic Wheel Systems quotes farmers John and Deborah McIntyre, of Nuhaka, Hawke’s Bay, as saying that anyone who feels strongly about the safe use of quads should be fitting dual wheels.
Safety helmets are of limited use in keeping farm quad riders safe, says McIntyre. “My analogy is that a helmet is the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff – really only helping to prevent head injuries – whereas dual wheels stop you from going over the cliff.
“I get frustrated seeing news media asking for ways to make quads safer when there is something that does.
“My father and I farm on a sheep and beef farm on hill country in northern Hawke’s Bay and we have duals on both our quads. We feel almost naked when we go around the farm without them fitted.
“Dual wheels [cost more] but that is nothing compared to the cost of losing a life or getting a broken back. We had the Department of Labour up for a visit and the inspector was very impressed.”
Tel. 07 347 2292
Matt McRae, a farmer from Mokoreta in Southland who runs a sheep, beef and dairy support business alongside a sheep stud, has been elected to the Beef +Lamb NZ Board as a farmer director.
Ravensdown's next evolution in smart farming technology, HawkEye Pro, was awarded the Technology Section Award at the Southern Field Days Farm Innovation Awards in February 2026.
While mariners may recognise a “dog watch” as a two-hour shift on a ship, the Good Dog Work Watch is quite a different concept and the clever creation of Southland siblings Grace (9) and Archer Brown (7), both pupils at Riverton Primary School.
Philip and Lyneyre Hooper of the Hoopman Family Trust have tonight been named the Taranaki Regional Supreme Winners at the Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
We are not a bunch of sky cowboys. That was one of the key messages from the chairperson of the NZ Agricultural Aviation Association (NZAAA) Kent Weir, speaking at an education day at Feilding aerodrome for 25 policymakers and regulators from central and local government and other rural professionals.
New Zealand's dairy and beef industries say they welcome the announcement that the Government will invest $10.49 million in the Dairy Beef Opportunities (DBO) programme.
OPINION: Expect the Indian free trade deal to feature strongly in the election campaign.
OPINION: One of the world's largest ice cream makers, Nestlé, is going cold on the viability of making the dessert.