Avatar mans up for farm duties
When Klaas and Janny Akkersma arrived in New Zealand from Holland in 1998 they brought with them a bucketful of hope and limited funds.
A NEW supplier in the side-by-side farm utility market, Avatar, offers two models: an 800cc an 1100cc, both with EFI petrol engines, CVT auto transmissions and, most importantly for hill country farmers, engine braking.
Built in China, these are designed and built for our arduous conditions. The fit and finish seen was much better than on previous machines from China. Their stylists are still copying some popular machines from America and Japan, but they are better at it.
We saw machines looking like a cross between a Can Am Commander and a Honda Big Red, in 2WD, 4WD and diff lock systems. With a solid looking chassis and suspension in an attractive durable plastic body, the machines look the part.
Suspension components, double A-arm setups front and rear, are solid and designed for work rather than a soft riding sports. Brakes are 4-wheel discs with a cleaning disc to help brake longevity. On display were components used in the Avatars, solid and substantial.
The display machines (2-seaters) had ROPs cabs with 3-point seatbelts. The base machines cost $14,995+GST for the V-twin 800cc model and $16,500+GST for the 1100cc.
The larger machine has a 4-cylinder engine from the Daihatsu Cherry car made in China.
A roof and windscreen are options for $1500 extra, and power steer is a $700 option.
Tel. 06 9748152
www.avatar-products.com
Potatoes New Zealand has congratulated Peter Reynolds of TA Reynolds Ltd in Pukekohe on being awarded the Horticulture New Zealand Bledisloe Cup, recognising a lifetime of service and contribution to New Zealand horticulture.
Signing up to a benchmarking tool is not about competition, but about improving collectively, says Ximena Puig and Alvaro Luzardo who are 50-50 sharemilkers at a 164-hectare (effective) dairy farm in Eketāhuna in the Lower North Island.
A leading British farming politician says he's impressed with the positive attitude of New Zealand farmers that he met during his recent trip here.
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
The Southern Dairy Hub (SDH), which runs a demonstration farm for South Island farmers, has a new general manager.
Esther Guy-Meakin has been announced as the new chief executive of the New Zealand Meat Board (NZMB).