Maori-owned orchards bounce back from cyclone damage
A large Māori-owned kiwifruit business that was badly damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle has bounced back with a vengeance.
The New Zealand Deerstalkers Association (NZDA) will host a charity event this weekend in aid of those impacted by Cyclone Gabrielle.
The Hunters Helping Hunters event will take place on Saturday, 25 March at the NZDA Hastings Branch Clubrooms.
“Cyclone Gabrielle has left New Zealand in shock,” the organisation says.
NZDA has three branches – Napier, Hastings, and Wairoa – in the worst affected areas.
“Members from these branches have suffered significant loss, and while insurance will cover many items, it often devalues sporting goods,” the organisation says. “This has a direct impact on hunters, who may have spent a lifetime collecting equipment, only to find they now have nothing.”
“Hunting is a part of New Zealand’s culture and identity. Many people envisage hunters in the image of Barry Crump, wearing a bush shirt and Stubbies, and carrying his trusty .303 rifle,” it says.
“The sport has come a long way since the days of a Good Keen Man, but the challenges of tracking down a wild animal and carrying it home are still the same. Hunters still play a vital role in animal management and, in many areas, wild big game is a staple on the family table.”
NZDA says its members from outside the cyclone-impacted areas have asked what they can do to help.
“With the roar now upon us, we believe that supporting hunter will be critical for sustaining these communities. We have collected donations of hunting and outdoor equipment from our members throughout New Zealand and these will be distributed this weekend via the NZDA Hastings Branch.”
NZDA says all donated items are being offered on a first come, first served basis to both NZDA members and hunters from the wider community.
Recent rain has offered respite for some from the ongoing drought.
New Zealand's TBfree programme has made great progress in reducing the impact of the disease on livestock herds, but there’s still a long way to go, according to Beef+Lamb NZ.
With much of the North Island experiencing drought this summer and climate change projected to bring drier and hotter conditions, securing New Zealand’s freshwater resilience is vital, according to state-owned GNS Science.
OPINION: Otago farmer and NZ First MP Mark Patterson is humble about the role that he’s played in mandating government agencies to use wool wherever possible in new and refurbished buildings.
For Wonky Box co-founder Angus Simms, the decision to open the service to those in rural areas is a personal one.
The golden age of orcharding in West Auckland was recently celebrated at the launch of a book which tells the story of its rise, then retreat in the face of industry change and urban expansion.
OPINION: The appendage swinging contest between the US and China continues, with China hitting back with a new rate of…
OPINION: The irony of President Trump’s tariff obsession is that the worst damage may be done to his own people.