Norwood opens new Tasman dealership
Norwood has announced the opening of a new Tasman dealership at Richmond near Nelson next month.
Norwood has imported the biggest tractor yet seen in New Zealand -- a New Holland T9.670 scraper.
It sits 4.2m wide x 7.5m long.
The 600hp from its 12.9L, 6-cylinder turbo diesel engine is delivered to the ground by dual tyres all round, making the tractor an impressive sight.
The tractor is operated by Matt Mead, the owner of Earthwork Solutions, Gisborne. It is on hire from Norwood Hire Division, managed by Greg Moore.
Mead visited Australia where the tractors are more common. There he visited a customer who operates the same tractors and then settled on a scraper scoop for the New Holland to tow. He uses the NH T9.670 to pull a 28 cu.m K-Tec 1228 scraper, which it fills in no more than 30 seconds. Its fuel consumption is impressive at only 37L/hour.
“I have another smaller scraper, a 10.7 cu.m too, which is towed by a 295hp tractor,” Mead says.
“The T9.670 is moving twice as much dirt in roughly the same time while using less fuel.
“We also settled on the T9.670 to look at the option of towing a second K-Tec 1228 scraper in tandem.
“After seeing what the big tractor is capable of we are seriously considering doing this.”
To ease the load of the capital outlay, Mead has hired the T9.670 from Norwood Hire for the first 12 months of his operation.
He says having Norwood nearby in Gisborne as the local service centre was a big part of his decision making process.
OPINION: Political parties in New Zealand have a long history of supporting free trade agreements together.
New Zealand's high country farmers could soon gain greater flexibility to diversify their land use as the new Crown Land Legislation Amendment Bill is introduced to Parliament.
New Zealand farming history needs to be celebrated, says the New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards (NZCFSA) national coordinator, Anne Barnett.
Great weather, a large turnout and positive feedback.
Bark and ambrosia beetles could play an unexpected role in New Zealand's ecosystem, acting as tiny taxis for fungi.
New Zealand’s reliance on imported urea could soon be a thing of the past.

OPINION: Bouquets this week from the old mutt for Fed Farmers and Groundswell for continuing to resist the proposed Gore…
OPINION: In what world does old mate Christopher Luxon live?