Stihl Launches BT140, Its First Battery-Powered Auger
With battery tools becoming more widespread and more importantly, productive and reliable, it was only time before we saw augers or post-hole borers.
FOUR OF NEW ZEALAND'S best are in Germany to compete in the world's premiere woodchopping competition, the Stihl Timbersports Series World Championships 2013.
Kyle Lemon, Shane Jordan, Adam Lowe and five-time series individual champion (STSWC) winner, Jason Wynyard, will join over 100 athletes from more than 20 nations in the annual event. The Kiwi's will be watched by an estimated 10,000 fans at the Porsche-Arena in Stuttgart over the next two days.
Gearing up for the new challenge they can testify that being an axeman is not for the frail. Accuracy, technique and power are what these hard men bring to bear on their wooden targets.
The first part of the STSWC, a relay competition, will take place on Friday (October 25). Contending countries in teams of four will face-off in four categories; the Single Buck, Standing Chop, Stock Saw and Underhand Chop, to determine the best Timbersports team in the world.
To determine the best individual, a competition will take place the following day in a six-category event, made up of three sawing skills; Single Buck, Hot Saw and Stock Saw and three chopping skills; Standing Chop, Underhand Chop and Springboard Chop.
From Massey in West Auckland, Wynyard is determined to continue his winning streak of four consecutive wins as Stihl Timbersports Series World Individual Champion. He has dedicated 25 years to woodchopping and has won 110 individual world titles.
Wynyard, along with team members, Lemon, Jordan and Lowe are tipped to be team favourites in 2013 – testament to their solid showing of skill, speed and strength over the last three years.
Stihl New Zealand marketing manager Stace Hall says the championship is thrilling to watch and be involved with.
"These men are highly trained and use immense strength to chop and saw their way to victory. We are proud to sponsor this fantastic event and wish the New Zealand team all the best in 2013."
The Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners (the College) and Hauora Taiwhenua Rural Health Network are calling for investment in a proposed new training pathway for rural GPs, warning that many rural practices are struggling to recruit while a large share of the existing workforce nears retirement.
Federated Farmers has called on Central Otago District Council (CODC) to drop or vote down a plan to truck sludge from Alexandra and Cromwell to farmland near Lauder, warning it would compound an "outrageous" situation created by a separate council's decision weeks earlier.
Synlait has swung to second-half profit as operations stabilise, but the dairy processor still posted a $75.4m annual loss.
LIC shareholders have elected a new North Island representative to the co-operative's Board, along with five representatives to its Shareholder Reference Group (SRG), following the company's Annual Meeting held in Invercargill.
Farmers across parts of Southland and South Otago are continuing to deal with difficult conditions after a prolonged run of wet weather, with pressure building around feed supply, stock management, pasture damage, farm infrastructure and everyday workloads.
Federated Farmers says it welcomes Labour's commitment to reviewing the Sharemilking Agreements Act, calling on other major parties to do the same.