Wednesday, 29 January 2025 07:55

Tractor therapy

Written by  Peter Burke
Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard was back on his dairy farm in Manawatu this summer break - his unique way of winding down Associate Agriculture Minister Andrew Hoggard was back on his dairy farm in Manawatu this summer break - his unique way of winding down

While many MPs have been busy taking holidays in maybe exotic places, for Andrew Hoggard it's back to his old job as a dairy farmer during the so-called 'summer break'.

He says he's been using the time to fill in for his staff as they take their holidays, but some of his plans have been thwarted by the rain which has been something of a constant in the Manawatu.

He says he planned to reinstate some fences that got taken down when he had new staff accommodation built on the property. But he says doing carpentry with power tools in the wet was not a goer and his plans were running behind schedule.

But the transition from Feds to Parliament has allowed Hoggard to indulge in politics for a little longer.

He admits that life without some involvement in politics would have driven him 'stir crazy' and forced him to watch TV news and scream at the television.

Parliament is described by some as a 'zoo' and Hoggard has his own unique way of winding down after a week in it.

"I call it tractor therapy - recreational cultivation - something that involves me going around and around in circles on the tractor. After spending all week listening to the screaming and squealing from across the aisle in Parliament, it's good to listen to the diesel engine just purring away," he says.

More like this

Full cabinet

OPINION: Legislation being drafted to bring back the controversial trade of live animal exports by sea is getting stuck in the cogs of Cabinet.

New freshwater farm plans 'practical and affordable'

OPINION: Entering Parliament back in 2023, I wanted to help put the fun back in farming. After six years of Labour, rural New Zealand was tired of the relentless waves of red tape and compliance, draining joy from people who just want to work the land.

Featured

Will big be better?

The government has unveiled yet another move which it claims will unlock the potential of the country’s cities and region.

Primary sector future hailed

The government is hailing the news that food and fibre exports are predicted to reach a record  $62 billion in the next year.

National

Rural bias?

OPINION: After years of ever-worsening results from our education system, the startling results from a maths acceleration programme stood out like…

Machinery & Products

» Latest Print Issues Online

The Hound

Yes, Minister!

OPINION: The release of the Natural Environment Bill and Planning Bill to replace the Resource Management Act is a red-letter day…

Two-legged pests

OPINION: Federated Farmers has launched a new campaign, swapping ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ for ‘The Twelve Pests of Christmas’ to…

» Connect with Rural News

» eNewsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter