For their first ever conference, Wairarapa Branch really set a high benchmark.
What a fabulous success - congratulations to all those who gave so much for this event!
Contents (Archive):
- Introduction
- Conference Programme Summary
- Field Trip Choices
- Field Trip Outlines -
- (Post-conference event -
1 day Fig Workshop in Upper Hutt on 10 April 2006 - Fig Grower Survey form)
- Reviewed!
Conference Organisers were Barry Quinn and team
Conference Registrar was Tamara Allerhand -
Introduction - Background and Venue (Archive)
Wairarapa Branch is honoured to be hosting, for the first time, the National NZTCA Conference, in Masterton (2006).
Wairarapa (Glistening Waters) lies east of the Rimutaka and Tararua Ranges. It is bounded to the north by Hawkes Bay, to the south by Cook Strait and coastal seaboard with the Pacific Ocean.
The Conference will take place on the weekend before Easter, beginning at noon on Friday 7th April 2006, until 5 pm Sunday 9th. The venue is the Copthorne Resort Complex at the south end of Masterton. Accommodation is available within the complex, which has more than seventy rooms.
In designing the programme, the committee has followed the theme - 'Cultivating Bio-Diversity' - and we have lined up for you a number of local experts to talk on their special interests and we will be visiting places showcasing our region's tree cropping potential.
Included in the field trips will be options to visit everything from established olive groves, the various nut varieties, citrus, cider, saffron, milking sheep and various arboretums. We are delighted to offer you a pre-conference tour to 'Richmond' a formal garden of national significance. The only one of its kind in the southern hemisphere.
We would like to mention here that the Wairarapa region has many things to offer which could not be included in the programme, but may be worth a visit pre or post conference, for example:
- Pukaha Mount Bruce National Native Bird Reserve
- New Zealand's very own 'Stonehenge' at Ahiaruhe, east of Carterton
- Fell Engine Museum, Featherston
- Cobblestone Early Settlers Museum, Greytown
We have a very enthusiastic and dedicated committee who are looking forward to hosting your stay next April. See you there.
Barry Quinn
Organising Committee
Conference Programme Summary (Archive)
Full Conference Registration
The Conference ran from 1:00 p.m. Friday 7th April to the end of the field trip on Sunday 9th April 2006.
A pre-conference tour was held on Friday morning to "Richmond" - Formal Garden of National Significance and trees at Tauherenikau Racecourse.
Programme
Friday 7th April 2006
Afternoon - Delegates meeting.
Annual General Meeting and Official Opening followed by presentation on poplar/willow forage.
Evening social time with stalls offering local produce for sale, poster displays. Food Competition. Afternoon tea and evening drinks and nibbles provided.
Saturday, 8th April 2004
Keynote Speaker - Liz McGruddy talked about research into using our native plants for more than just throwing conservation funds at: examples examined included totara, totarole, flax and flax products
Business day topics
- A small business based on food and drink from lemons
- Legal requirements - small business structure
- Habitat farming
Field trips in the afternoon. Boxed lunch, morning and afternoon teas were provided.
The Conference Dinner, with entertainment, was held in the Rutherford Room at the Copthorne Resort Solway on Saturday evening, followed by presentation of the Don McKenzie Award to Mark Christensen, and the plant auction...
Sunday, 9th April 2004
Growing day topics
- Letting nature work for you
- Riparian planting/revegetation
- Gene banking and phyto nutraceuticals
- Integrated use of trees on farms
Field trip in the afternoon. Boxed lunch, morning and afternoon teas provided.
Field Trip Choices (Archive)
Friday 7th April 2006 (Morning 9-12 pm)
Pre-conference tour: "Richmond", Tauherenikau
Saturday 8th April 2006 (Afternoon 1-5 pm)
Trip 1.
- Akrotiri
- Olivo
- Hauiti
Trip 2.
- Sanders
- Kingsmeade
- Queen Elizabeth Park
Trip 3.
- Saffron
- Cider
- Fensham
Trip 4. Three Award Properties:
- Maunsell
- Egan
- Cameron
Trip 5.
- Tarrants
- Thompsons
- Liggins
Field Trip Outlines (Archive)
Friday 7th April 2006 (Morning 9-12 pm)
Pre-conference Tour
RICHMOND
(A formal Italianate garden, unique in New Zealand)
The only one of its type in the Southern Hemisphere
Richmond Garden is the result of a vision by John and Melanie Greenwood to create a formal garden, a place to enjoy peace and tranquillity.
They had both been impressed by the 16th and 17th century gardens in Italy and had observed that their tranquillity was achieved through the repetition of planting themes, straight lines, water and symmetry.
The Richmond property was bought in 1993. The most important things the property had to offer were its flat site, the availability of water, and the large area of north facing land. Formal gardens must be sited on the north face so that hedging grows evenly all around.
Melanie designed the garden soon after the property was purchased and the design has been implemented project by project with very little divergence since.
The garden achieves its harmony and continuity through the repetition of a few predominant species.
European beech - copper and green - is used extensively for hedging and forest trees.
Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) is hedged and pleached as well as linden limes (Tilia) which are also used as forest trees.
Buxus Sempervirens is used extensively and pulls the garden design together in the form of hedging and topiary.
Each garden room on the south side of the house is unique. This is the whimsical area of the garden and designed to make people smile.
The garden has recently been named a Garden of National Significance by the newly launched New Zealand Gardens Trust, an initiative of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. It featured in the May 2004 issue of the NZ House and Garden magazine.
Followed by a visit to a native block, Tauherenikau. The tree reputed to be the largest in the Wairarapa is there - a Kahikatea.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 1
AKROTIRI (Robyn Slater)
Enjoy this Mediteranean experience only five minutes from the Square in Martinborough. Akrotiri Estate has been producing award winning extra virgin olive oil for over five years from 1,000 trees.
Akrotiri is home to “Yum Products” where jams, jellies, chutneys and Marmalade are produced from the gardens and orchards. Eight hundred lavender plants produce essential oils and water.
The fully planted 18 acre property is not only planted in olives and lavender but also pine nuts, pistachios, almonds, hazels, chestnuts, macadamia, walnuts, pecans, figs (29 varieties), pomegranates, cork oaks and home orchard.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 1
OLIVO (Helen and John Meehan)
Olivo is the oldest commercial olive grove in the Wairarapa, planted in 1991.
The grove is thirteen acres in total. 8 acres of olives and 5 acres of garden. It is situated at the top of the Martinborough gravels close to the vineyards.
Olivo extra virgin olive oil uses only olives produced at its Martinborough grove. Varieties include: Barnea, Manzanillo, Leccino and Frantoio, Tuscan cultivars, South Australian Verdale and Picholine, a French olive, and Koroneiki, a Greek olive. This brings the total trees to just under 1000. Grove management is maintained to a high standard.
Olivo started producing award winning extra virgin olive oil in 2001 and each successive year the grove has gained top awards, culminating in 2004 with a Gold and Supreme Award for Best in Show. In 2005 Helen and John continued their winning way, receiving a Gold Medal in the Olives New Zealand, Wairarapa awards, and also a Gold Medal in the 2005 National Extra Virgin Olive Oil Awards held in Nelson.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 1
HAUITI (Richard and Dinah Airey)
In 1993 Richard and Dinah purchased their 2 hectare property in Martinborough and set about planting the property predominantly in lavender from which they extract essential lavender oil, distilled lavender water and a range of lavender soaps. Their products are avidly sought at Martinborough Fair Days (February and March) and at the Wine Centre in the Martinborough township.
Their interesting property is also planted with 130 hazelnuts (various varieties), cherries, olives, feijoas etc.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 2
Brian and Lynne Sanders
Brian and Lynne purchased this 8.01 hectare property situated at 4A Nursery Road, Homebush, Masterton in June 1997.
At the time of purchase the two four hectare blocks were basically bare paddocks with shelter belts and some screening in front of the shed. The shelter planted on the second block was still getting established and required replacement of about 60 Italian alders and 100 Veronese poplars.
Main Tree crops planted since 1997 include Hazelnuts (454), Chestnuts (approximately 400), Walnuts (172), Pecans (22), and Feijoas (103) which were mainly planted as a hedge, not as production trees. Other trees planted include a variety of about 25 fruit trees for home use; pears, apples, plums, nectarines, peaches, cherries, figs and an almond. Several pistachio, 3 pine nuts and 5 olive trees. A number of natives have also been planted, particularly alongside the creek, along with exotics mainly around their house site.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 2
“KINGSMEADE” SHEEP CHEESES
Janet and Miles King set out in 1998 with the purchase of a 12 hectare farmlet East of Masterton to build a dairy farm with a twist.
The venture began in 1998 when they selected and purchased 60 large framed crossbred ewes from a flock of 6000. These ewes were impregnated with imported East Friesian semen.
A month after their first lambing they began milking the ewes in their new shed, twice daily and “soft weaned” the lambs at the same time.
While milking sheep and making cheese from the milk is an ancient practise and art in other parts of the world, the concept was a rare one for New Zealand when the Kings conceived it for their place and everything they know they learned the hard way.
Initially the intention was to milk their sheep and sell the milk to a local cheese factory but this deal fell through and they set about to construct their own cheese making facility with all its inherent problems with health and safety.
Today there is a strong emphasis on animal welfare, with sound effluent disposal, fodder source, shelter belt plantings, detailed future planning and community involvement through tourism, schools and various club affiliations.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 2
QUEEN ELIZABETH II PARK, MASTERTON
When Masterton was surveyed in 1854 an area was set aside for “Public Reserve” on the site which is now Queen Elizabeth II Park, however, when the reserves were gazetted in 1861, “Masterton Park” (as it was known then) was included among the “Education Reserves”. (Land from which revenue was generated to provide schools). As a result the land was leased and vested for rough grazing. In 1870 an attempt was made to set the land aside for public use, but it was not until 1875 that the land was finally acquired for the town.
A publicly elected Trust was formed in 1877. One of the first Trustees was local nurseryman W. W McCardle who prepared plans for the park. The first major planting occurred in 1878.
Features of the Park include:
Queen Elizabeth Park Lake - “Lake of Remembrance” noted for its avenue of scarlet oaks which were planted to establish a Memorial Drive (commemorating WWII) around the northern side of the lake.
Sir Herbert Hart Native Aviary:
Opened in 1972 it contains about 200 birds. The aviaries are in two sections - one for native species and another for introduced birds.
Pownall Gates:
Named after Charles Alyner Pownall, Mayor of Masterton between 1890 - 1902.
Wairarapa Soldiers Memorial:
Bronze figurine sculpted by the Lynch brothers of Auckland, commemorating the last soldier off the beach at Anzac Cove.
The Hosking Garden:
A sunken garden established in 1967 on the remains of Baths which were badly damaged in the 1942 earthquake.
Edward VII Band Rotunda:
Completed in 1903 as commemoration memorial for the coronation of Edward VII.
Redwood Dendrochronology:
Remains of a giant Redwood estimated to be 114 years old which was struck by lightning during a storm in 1989.
Rose Garden, Fernery, Rhododendron Walk:
Recently rejuvenated by the Masterton District Council.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 3
SAFFRON (Prue Dodge)
At her saffron farm in Greytown Prue specialises in growing saffron (Crocus Sativus) corms.
All saffron grown in New Zealand originates from imported stock, some of it from Saffron Walden in England where the plant has been growing for centuries.
Saffron has been grown in the Wairarapa since the mid 1980's.
The saffron as we most regularly see it is actually the stigma of the saffron crocus flower. Dormant in summer, saffron flowers for about three weeks from the end of March, before the leaves or ‘grass’, which grow throughout winter and spring.
The flowers are picked and then stripped of all petals, leaving only the stigma, which is actually three parts joined together. The stigmas are dried in a dehydrator or oven, a vital stage where it is critical to have the correct temperature. Saffron is then kept in a cool, dark, dry place.
Interestingly, saffron is sold by the ”thread“ not by weight, so all the stigmas have to be counted when they are being packaged for sale.
Saffron is an extremely labour intensive crop as it requires careful weeding and the multiplying corms have to lifted and divided every three to five years. Lifting must be done from November to February and the corms replanted by mid March.
Corms range in size from about 2 cm down to tiny and should be planted out at 10-20cm spacings for large corms, in rows 20cm apart.
Requiring a well-drained and sunny site, saffron is a heavy feeder. Prue uses vermicast (from her own worm farm) and mushroom compost.
Prue's saffron farm gives a fascinating insight into a very different type of crop.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 3
“CIDER HOUSE” ORCHARD
Find out how cider is made with a visit to the Cider House Orchard in Longwood Road, Featherston.
Penny Elliott and David Brosnan established the orchard in 1991 with the purchase of a ten hectare block of farmland. In 1996 they sold their house in Wellington and went to live their dream in a large wood and mud-brick barn they built on the orchard.
Over the next decade they planted 600 traditional cider apple trees - namely Kingston Black, Sweet Coppin and Metus. It took a whole year to source traditional cider apple trees in New Zealand, two years to graft them and five years to produce a commercial crop. A further 2,500 Sturmer and Royal Gala apple trees were planted for export and grafted onto 106 and Cox Orange rootstock, also 600 olive trees.
The orchard is also producing its own olive oil and cider vinegar.
With an alcohol content of around 7% their Three River Cider contains half the alcohol level of most wines.
Extensive shelter belting was established, using both native and exotic trees, prior to planting the orchard.
Saturday 8th April
Trip 3
FENSHAM RESERVE
Wairarapa Branch, Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
When John Fensham, a Carterton farmer, died in 1943, his will made provision for the preservation for all time of a nine hectare block of primary forest at the “John Fensham Sanctuary for Native Trees and Birds”. A further 41 ha in pasture and scrub was to be leased to provide for his sisters, the last of whom died in 1978.
At this time the title passed to Forest and Bird and a further 19 ha of regenerating scrubland was added to the reserve. In the ensuing years much effort was expended on controlling problem weeds and making fences stockproof. Native trees were planted and regeneration on the hill block was rapid.
In 1994 a contractor was engaged to ringbark 100 wilding pines and it was around this time that the Fensham Group – around a dozen retirees charged with managing the Reserve – was formed.
Over the next four years group members ringbarked and poisoned a further 300 trees. Disintegration of these trees is now advanced, but by no means complete. Controlling seedlings is an ongoing task.
In 1996 the three-hectare wetland area was fenced to prevent cattle access and in early 1997 boundary fences were refurbished.
Monitoring programmes have been put in place to assess such things as water quality, mudfish populations, invertebrate diversity, vegetation development, rodent activity and bird populations.
A ring of bait stations ensures routine pest management and various exotic weed problems are dealt with on an ongoing basis.
The reserve is a popular destination for bush walkers, families and school parties.
Sunday 9th April
Trip 4
BALLANCE FARM ENVIRONMENT AWARDS 2005
This Field Trip encompasses three properties which won awards in the Ballance Inaugural Lifestyle Farm/Small Block Environment Awards and are each quite individual in their own way.
The first visit takes us to Pam and Brian Maunsell’s 14.57 hectare block. Oakdale is ten minutes East of Masterton and was purchased in 1984.
This is a carefully planned establishment of a wetland area and native plantings. These areas have been created from scratch and have been encouraged with lots of mulching and a good solar powered water system. The well designed areas fit into the existing contours of the land in a way that they look like they are there naturally.
We then visit Howard Egan’s (2005 Winner) 20 hectare property West of Carterton. In 15 years Howard has transformed Canada Flats from a swampy, gorse covered, block of land into a very successful private wetland and small economic farm.
With no previous farming experience Howard sought expert and competent advice from various sectors of the community such as the Greater Wellington Regional Council, Ducks Unlimited NZ, Fish and Game Council etc.
Our final visit takes us to Raupapa, Peter and Marion Cameron’s 4.6 hectare lifestyle block with extensive established shelter belt planting and concentrating on rearing a flock of 90 coloured sheep for their fleeces. This small farm is an excellent example of how shelter belts can encourage rather then inhibit good pasture growth and how shade and shelter ensure stock are well looked after in all types of weather conditions. There is also a well designed manageable irrigation system. Stock are backfed into paddocks so they don’t get bored on a small block...
With a little twist of the arm Peter might be persuaded to show us his Ferguson Tractor collection housed on the property.
Sunday 9th April
Trip 5
GORDON AND HEATHER TARRANT
Gordon and Heather Tarrant purchased their 4 hectare property in 1979. Over the ensuing five years they planted 60 Wilton Wonder Walnuts, 200 Hazelnuts of various varieties, 55 Chestnuts (1001 and 1005 varieties), 200+ mixed varieties of Feijoas and 14 Pecans (which have suffered extensive wind damage).
Shelter belting consists of Eucalyptus, Pinus radiata and Willows.
In 1984 they planted and extensive area of their property in every variety of cold climate culinary herbs. In 1990 they featured on the “Country Calendar” Television program. (The TV crew spent a whole week on the property filming). Gordon and Heather also produce honey from their own hives.
Sunday 9th April
Trip 5
SAUNDRIDGE CITRUS ORCHARD (Jan and John Thompson)
Saundridge is a 4.3 hectare block on Upper Plains Road and the
owners' aim is to develop the property into an interesting hobby
farm with a cash return from a variety of cropping trees.
It is in an area where there is potential for semi profitable,
sustainable lifestyle farming because of proximity to Masterton, quality
soils and generally good weather. However shelter for horticulture is
essential because of strong winds and the potential for heavy frosts.
The property comprises a citrus block, a walnut block and a small olive
grove. The olive grove and citrus area were prepared by ripping and
fertilising and the young trees were staked. The walnut tree sites were
dug with a digger, the excess stones removed and the holes filled with
soil.
The citrus, oranges, lemons, limes and mandarins, were planted in 2002
on raised beds, and the mandarins have produced a light crop in their
third year. All flowers were removed in the first two seasons. The grass
between the rows helps to create an environment for insects and birds.
Only individual trees have been treated with a copper or oil spray.
The walnut trees, planted in 2001, were mulched and protected with four
stakes and windcloth. Half a bucket of nuts were harvested this year.
The olive grove was also planted in 2001 with the Tuscan varieties
leccino and frantoio and also manzanillo. The trees are kept low to
avoid wind damage but even so some trees have been blown out of the
ground and had to be replaced. In 2004 they produced a harvest of 44 kg,
with an oil return of about 10%.
Sunday 9th April
Trip 5
TAUKAHIWI (Kevin and Lorraine Liggins)
Masterton orchardists Kevin and Lorraine Liggins purchased their 3.4 hectare property in 1980 which they called “Taukahiwi.”
class="tac"
In the late 1980’s apples from their orchard were exported to the United States, Europe and Asia Pacific. Today they sell from their gate apples, pears, peaches, plums and nectarines, the main reason being the drop in export prices due in part to China producing 35% of the world’s apples and pip fruit.
Lorraine and Kevin planted their entire orchard by hand including the extensive shelter belts around and through the 8½ acres. The soil is Greytown silt loam, and many of the apples are grown on 106 rootstock.
As time went by some of the apples were removed and replaced by pears, peaches, nectarines and plums, to give themselves some diversification. (Some of the Billington plum crop was so heavily laden you couldn’t glue another plum on the branch).
source ends, late November 2005. (Archive)
Archives
Earlier Conferences and Reviews