Fieldays Exhibitor 2008 Issue 3 - Wintec

Friday 13/06/2008 Issue 3
Tractor tot
A youngster at Fieldays tries out a big toy
SITTING PRETTY
Don’t pooh-pooh Adam’s new
invention
Page: 6
HOT POTS
Firefi ghters show their skills in
the kitchen
Page: 7
CHEERY CHAPS
Bachelors get pom pom tips
from the experts
Page: 8
Call 0800 2 WINTEC (0800 2 946 832), text ‘info’ to 8283 or visit www.wintec.ac.nz
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PHOTO: Naomi Williams

2 Fieldays Exhibitor
The Exhibitor
Fieldays Exhibitor is created
by Wintec students and
distributed to exhibitors at
Fieldays.
The Exhibitor has been
published since 2003 and
was last year recognised
by the NZ National Fieldays
Society for its Outstanding
Contribution to the Success
of Fieldays.
If you would like to contact
the team at the Exhibitor with
feedback, story suggestions
or to discuss sponsorship
opportunities, please email
julie.starr@wintec.ac.nz
Inside
A whip-cracking good
time........................page 5
Simple works best with
avocados..............page 6
Contributors
EDITOR’S BENCH
Julie Starr
Editor in residence
Charles Riddle
Kirsty Armstrong
Jeremy Smith
JOURNALISTS
Karla Akuhata, Kelly
Badman, Shaun Bamber,
Julian Beresford, Sophie
Boladeras, Matt Bowen, Balaji
Chandramohan, Amanda Gray,
Mary Holmes, Janine Jackson,
Matt Mylchreest, Luke Parker,
Sarah-Lee Ryan, Ben Stanley,
Katie Stone, Robin Thomsen,
Aaron Goile, Bianca Kaipara,
Courtney Mellor, Aden Morunga,
Nakita Wairepo, Amanda
Wisnewski’
DESIGNERS
Gemma Conn, Emerson Moore,
Ilana McMorran, Lesley Daniel,
Michelle Haselden
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tammy McCloughen, Kelly
Petersen, Trish Macky, Naomi
Williams, Kirstie Smith, Kai
Fisher, Claire Goldsworthy,
Alysse Brown, David Cook
Sponsors
We would like to thank our
sponsors, Gallagher Group
and Print House Ltd, for
their valuable support.
Proudly Supported by
We’re not creaming
it, say dairy farmers
By Karla Akuhata
Dairy farmers are annoyed
the public thinks that they are
creaming it.
Last month when Fonterra announced
it would increase the
forecast payout from $7.30 to
$7.90 per kilogram of milk solids
many, including the Green Party,
claimed dairy farmers were getting
rich off the price of milk.
However, ASB rural bank manager
and former farmer Glenn
Holmes disagrees with reports
that many dairy farmers have it
easy.
“What has not been reported
is that the cost side has gone up.
And I think that is something that
the media don’t do well.
“They talk about this massive
increase in income but never a
word about how the costs have
increased. Income has gone up in
dollars but all those dollars have
been spent in restoring feed on
the farm. So the net result is no
different from last year.”
Holmes believes that the impact
of the drought and the subsequent
rise in the cost of supplementary
feed is not being
taken into consideration when
the media report that the average
New Zealand farmer is now
earning an annual income of
$800,000.
The Great Indoors with Kingsley Field
Day Two was at least as good
as Day One, and Day Three is
likely to be at least on a par.
We’ve been inundated, right
from the get-go on Wednesday,
and it’s by a group of people
who are seriously in a buying
mood.
Sure, there’ve been the tyrekickers,
and those who were
simply out to see what there
was to see, but for the � rst two
days of the Fieldays there was
a steady and solid stream of
people who knew exactly what
they wanted - and they wanted
to buy it right now.
On numerous occasions I
had young farming couples
who were buying not just for
themselves but also for farm
“The drought has made life
tough for all farmers. The price
of feed has risen astronomically,
for instance next year’s price of
maize silage is nearly double
what it was 12 months ago.
“So that is a signi� cant cost increase
and that is because we are
short of feed around the place.
Even despite the fact that the
grass is growing we are still short
on feed.”
“
They talk about
this massive increase
in income, but never
a word about how
costs have
increased.
”
And with the price of petrol
now over $2 a litre, Holmes says
that the increased fuel costs have
impacted on the costs of running
a farm.
“Increases in oil prices mean
just about everything. They have
an effect on freight, obviously,
even on the price of clothing.
“So I think you can say that
there has been a dramatic effect
on the farm-cost side of the
employees, and they wanted
multiples in gumboots, rain
coats, bib-fronted overalls and
other such goods.
They were happy to write out
cheques or sign Visa slips for
upwards of a $1,000 a time.
There were others - trampers,
hunters, orchardists, retired men
who “just like to keep an eye
on the young fella on the farm”
– who also wanted similar attire.
And there was plenty of talk
about farming too.
Mainly the talk was upbeat
– yep, the drought had been
harsh, and some farmers spent a
heap on buying in stock food.
But mostly they were sure
things were going to get better.
Farmers from the Bay of
budget with the drought and rising
oil prices.”
However, Waikato Federated
Farmers president Stew Wadey
has been pleased with the media’s
coverage of the payout.
“It was all pretty accurate. I
mean there was a bit of poetic
license taken from some of the
journalists, and I am mostly talking
about the business writers,
but I have no problem with that.
It has been factual, no airy fairy
stuff.”
The Ministry of Agriculture
and Forestry has predicted that
global dairy prices will ease over
the next few years as major exporting
countries increase supply
and developing countries expand
domestic production.
However, New Zealand export
prices in US dollars will continue
to increase in the longer term as
rising middle-class incomes shift
preferences from cereal-based
foods to protein-based foods.
Also the demand for dairy
products is still growing and
the Common Agricultural Policy
reforms in the European Union
mean that the outlook for dairy
products continues to be promising.
The � nal payout for the 2007/08
season will be announced in September
and the forecast for next
season is already $7.
Plenty were happiest – they
have had a number of reasonable
rain showers in the past
two months and say it’s been
enough to get them through.
Others, from the Waikato
region, are still skimping but
say it’s not as bad as it was in
March.
“We’ll know how bad it’s
going to be this time next
year,” one said.“We’re doing
all right in the meantime.”
Farmers are like that - they
invariably talk about “we”
rather than “I”. It’s all about
being part of a community.
And that community has
been having a good time and
a fair spend-up at the Fieldays
so far.

Kiwi ingenuity shown in
Fieldays top inventions
By Sophie Boladeras
Invention competitions have
proved popular at this year’s
Fieldays – not surprising given
they have been running for the
entire 40 years.
The judges found a consistent
theme of simple and effective
solutions to common farm problems
were prominent when they
announced the winning entries
in the Fieldays Innovation Centre
yesterday morning.
The awards are broken into
two major sections, Equipment
and Inventions. The Invention
of the Year is named the Golden
Standard award and there is also
an award for young inventors
under 25.
Inventions category Merit
Awards were presented to Alex
Taylor from Morrinsville for his
post-puller and to Richard Pilbrow
for his Automatic Gate
Opener.
The 2008 Golden Standard was
awarded to Morrinsville man
Murray Lopes for his ultimate
mobile gate post. Mr Lopes became
frustrated with the gates he
was using to shift stock around
the farm and, in the true tradition
Environment Waikato is to be the
sponsor of the Premier Feature at
Fieldays next year to be entitled
“My Land, Our Environment”.
The announcement was made
today by Environment Waikato
chairman Peter Buckley and
Fieldays chairman Lloyd Downing,
who are both Waikato dairy
farmers.
The Premier Feature is at the
heart of the Fieldays site and is
a major part of event marketing.
“My Land, Our Environment”
will showcase the New Zealand
FANCY STUFF: Some of the winning entries in the inventions category
of farmyard inventors, thought
there had to be a better way. His
innovative invention is a simple
addition to standard gates and
fencing that provides the � exibility
to create pens and folding
gates, creating stock drafting solutions
on-farm.
Cameron Ardern received
The Young Inventor of the Year
award for his multipurpose
feeder. The versatile feeder caters
for the changing needs of calves
and supplies them with a range
of sustenance including molasses,
palm kernel, hay and meal.
Judges referred to Ardern’s invention
as a “practical solution to
rural environment and
discuss ways of protecting
it so future generations
can continue
to enjoy economically
rewarding lives.
“Being associated
with this Premier Feature
is a great way for
Environment Waikato
to promote its vision
of an economically rich and environmentally
sensitive agricultural
sector in our region,” said
Cr Buckley.
“The regional council
is very keen to work
side by side with farmers
to help them farm
successfully in a way
which minimises any
negative impact their
operations have on the
environment.
“Our sponsorship
of ‘My Land, Our Environment’
will be a very useful
way of getting our environmental
protection messages across,”
said Cr Buckley.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2008 Fieldays Exhibitor 3
Bite of the Day
Wok-fried mussels
By Aden Morunga
Today’s bite of the day is
wok-fried mussels presented
by Mussel Madness.
The fl amed mussels are
accompanied by shallots,
garlic, chilli, pineapple and
topped with coconut cream.
Mussel Madness was
created two years ago by
Fabian and Carmen Steel,
who fast became known for
their fantastic Jumbo Mussel
Fritters.
To put it simply, this is dish
is a fusion of ingredients that
produces a hot and tasty
dish that can be enjoyed
as you walk through the
exhibits.
The wok-fried mussels can
be found on J road.
Environment to feature strongly at next Fieldays
PHOTOS: Stephen Barker
a real problem”.
The Equipment of the Year
Trophy was awarded to Technipharm
International for the Se-lect
A Cow Split Drafter, a solution
that integrates speed detection
technology and a split drafter to
provide inline drafting.
The Software Entry of the Year
Award went to Gallagher Animal
Management Systems ‘Smart
TSi’, a touch screen rugged computer
which incorporates weighing
and animal management
software. Judges said that “the
durability of the product takes
animal management out of the
of� ce and back onto the farm.”
Dairy NZ wins best Premier Feature site award
The best site awards announced
last night saw Dairy NZ (PA16)
win Best Premier Feature site.
Other awards included:
Best Mystery Creek Pavilion Site:
Milk Bar (PD10). Merit: Telecom
(EM20 and 21).
Best Indoor Site: LIC (LIC
Building). Merit: Southern Clams
(Kiwi’s Best). Best Large Outdoor
Site: Goughs (E105-107). Best Medium
Outdoor Site: Husqvana
(G76, F75, K7-9). Merit: Bell-Booth
(C4, N26-28). Best Small Outdoor
Site: TRS Tyre & Wheels (B57).
Best Eastern Exhibition Site:
Village Stone (EAST13). Merit:
Horizons Regional Council (O9-
11). Best Food Site: Wild Bills Rib
House (C Street). President’s Site
Award (best long-time exhibitor
site, a special award for 40th
anniversary): Gallagher Group
(Gallagher Building).
Thought Wall
It beats a
day at the
of� ce
Mr Downing said having a
“My Land, Our Environment”
theme for Fieldays’ Premier
Feature next year was very relevant
given the environmental
challenges associated with farming.
“It’s timely to have our main
feature next year focused on solutions
to these challenges.
“The farming sector is very
aware of the need to strike a good
balance between economic ef-
� ciency and environmental protection.”

4 Fieldays Exhibitor
FIELDAYS FUNK: entertaining the crowds every night
Funk band in the ‘zone’
By Sophie Boladeras
Late Eighties Mercedes, a ninemember
swing funk band, are
at the centre of the revelry at the
Party Zone and will be belting
out tunes every night.
This Hamilton band have performed
at an impressive array of
events and corporate functions,
including gigs for Parachute,
Vodafone NZ, TVNZ, The NZ
(Axis) Advertising Awards, A1
Grand Prix, V8 Super-cars and
the Flight-Centre National Ball.
Late Eighties are in� uenced by
many styles of music from ‘emo’
to metal and Rod Stewart, and
PHOTO: Kai Fisher
perform covers of songs by anyone
from Britney Spears to Stevie
Wonder.
The band describe themselves
as being the ultimate entertainment
package and are all about
having fun and putting on a good
show.
The high-energy group don’t
come from a signi� cant farming
background.
“We have done a stint of blueberry
picking… but that’s about
it,” member James Hannah said.
Late Eighties Mercedes are
keen to have a good time at Fieldays
and encourage everyone to
come to the Party Zone.
FACE IN THE CROWD
Olivia Charles, 4, from Ohaupo
Is this your fi rst time at Fieldays?
“Mmm hmm.”
Who picked out your outfi t?
“I did.”
(Her mum has the same pants but opted
not to match her daughter today.)
What are you hoping to see at the
Fieldays?
“The cows and the other animals.”
What has been your favourite thing
so far?
“My hot chocolate.”
Young Farmers turns 40
By Balaji Chandramohan
The Fieldays this year shares its 40th anniversary with the Young
Farmers Competition which has its � nals next month.
The contest is run by New Zealand Young Farmer (NZYF) organisation
which had its 75th anniversary last year. National Bank
is the main sponsor for the contest. Headquartered in Methven,
the Young Farmers is a social development group mainly targeted
at people aged under 32.
NZYF co-ordinator Brooke Mullooy said: “We want our members
to see our commitment in social development and the Fieldays
serve as a wonderful opportunity.”

Cracking good time on offer
A CRACKER: Ashley Turner demonstrates his skills
By Rob Thomsen
Visitors to the Karaka Whips
exhibition are in for a cracking
experience.
And if you are brave enough to
pick up a whip yourself, you can
get a lesson in how it is done.
Whips are commonly used in
farming, particularly for cattle
work.
The whips are not normally
used directly on an animal, as the
crack of the whip is suf� cient to
make them move away.
But Karaka Whips owner operator
Ashley Turner says you
can use them on feisty animals.
“They make good protection.”
Karaka Whips are produced as
a quality work tool. Made out of
durable synthetic materials, they
range from 1.1m to 4.9m.
Unlike leather whips which
need frequent maintenance, synthetic
whips require no more than
an occasional clean with water.
Turner is happy to demonstrate
his whip-cracking prowess,
including using two whips at
the same time.
“Once you know how to use
a whip, you can come up with
some amazing ways to crack it.”
The whole Turner clan – Ashley’s
wife Carol and sons Sean,
11, Callum, 10, and Logan, 8 – get
involved in whip cracking.
Accidents happen. “The whip
does hit me sometimes but you
get used to it,” says Sean.
Karaka Whips is a family
owned business and the whips
are made on the Turners’ property
in Masterton.
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2008 Fieldays Exhibitor 5
PHOTO: Trish Macky
What’s On Today
Friday June 13
9AM Wiremark and Cyclone
Fencing Championship Silver
Spades fi nal in the fencing
area
8.30AM to 3.30PM Waikato
Draught Carving Competition
FROM 10AM Rural
Bachelor of the Year events
10.00AM and 2PM Ag
Art Wear Competition at
Spantech Pavilion
11AM, 1PM and 2.30PM
Suzuki Extreme Air
demonstration
11AM and 2.30PM NZ
Cutting Horse demonstration
in Area 4
11.45AM Al Brown presents
‘Hunger for the Wild’ recipe
12.30PM and 2.30PM
Supermodifi ed Tractors roar
into action
3PM Possum Fur Fashion
Design awards

Fieldays Exhibitor
Don’t pooh pooh this idea
By Aaron oile
The � rst year of lawnmower racing
has inspired the creation of a
motorised toilet.
The Sportaloo is the latest creation
by Adam Pendred of Tauranga.
Pendred owns a mower shop in
Tauranga, and is at the Shindaiwa
stand on G Street at the Fieldays.
While he has some faster, more
traditional, mowers for racing, it
is the four-wheeled novelty racing
toilet that is catching the eye.
Pendred found the toilet in a
scrap heap at a local school and
thought it was too good to throw
away.
“The rest of it is made completely
from lawnmower parts –
the frame is made of lawnmower
handles and the wheels are from
ride-on mowers,” he said.
Complete with a roll of toilet
paper on one side, the creation
is said to reach speeds between
10 and 12 km/h and is proving
popular with site visitors.
Pendred started racing when
he modi� ed an old mower to
compete in a mower race for a
school gala fundraiser.
In 2006 at the Fieldays, he
started riding round on a hot-rod
type mower, resulting in of� cials
telling him off.
Ironically, the of� cials asked
him back to compete in the mower
racing this year.
Pendred is racing against three
other competitors before the
Avocado tube eases picker’s task
By Luke Parker
With a drive for cheaper alternatives,
and a touch of Kiwi ingenuity,
father of seven Warwick
Gilmour has created a new userfriendly
invention – the avocado
picking tube.
Three years ago, Gilmour came
up with the idea after yet another
tiring day up a ladder in the orchard.
He went down to a friend’s
local hardware store and bought
a two-metre plastic stormwater
pipe with a 90mm diameter.
After experimenting, he realised
that if he placed the pipe
over the avocado and pushed, its
stalk snapped, and it slid down
the pipe into the palm of his
hand.
For greater productivity, he
modi� ed his contraption by cutting
two L-shaped incisions into
SITTIN PRETTY: Adam Pendred tests the Sportaloo
weekend and he is modest about
his chances.
“I’m expecting a top three � nish,”
he jokes.
His racing mowers can reach
80 km/h but will be racing at a
safer speed of 40-45 km/h.
the picking end of the pipe, and
made an extension with a socket
and inner piping, for those “hardto-reach”
avocados.
It now has a possible reach of
up to � ve metres.
The stalk is slid into the Lshaped
incision, and after a simple
twist and push, the avocado
is released, sliding to freedom.
Gilmour says, “I’ve come up
with cheaper alternatives… not
so much new ideas. It’s more I
try to � nd another way… another
option.
“If I can save someone a broken
arm from falling off a picking or
hydro ladder, then I’ll be happy
and feel like I’ve succeeded.”
There are other pipe-picking
products on the market, but these
are laden with technical cutting
systems and accessories.
“The less of that stuff I can put
on the better.”
PHOTO: Kelly Petersen
He treats the racing event as
a bit of fun but it also helps him
promote his shop and his products.
“It helps draw people to the
business and they see the likes
of the Sportaloo and think, wow,
that’s a hard case,” Pendred said.
Gilmour wants to gauge public
and investment response to
his new invention at Fieldays,
and intends to manufacture the
tubes by hand, supplying local
avocado growers.
The tube will cost around $30.
EASY REACH: Warwick ilmour
Vintage
tractors are
still pulling
their weight
By Mary Holmes
A 90-year-old hacksaw, old
stationary engines and 1920s
tractors are all in action down
on History Lane.
The Waikato Vintage Tractor
and Machinery Club have
an impressive exhibit of the
working machines and tractors
they have restored.
Mystery Creek has a
permanent tractor feature
but they are not working
machines. Eric James who
has been a club member since
1989 says, “We like the gear
to be going, like they used
to once, so we like to restore
them.”
John Dickson found his 1928
Hart-Parr tractor as a wreck
lying under a tree, and spent
three years putting it together.
“This is our second love, we’re
lucky to have wives who
tolerate it.”
There is a 1938 Lanz Bulldog
tractor from Mannheim,
Germany which, says Eric
James, “blows beautiful big
smoke rings” when worked
hard.
Bill Troughton has a 1952
Lanz Bulldog. The two-stroke
diesel has one cylinder, 40
horse power and he says it’s
pretty economical to run.
He also owns an older one,
built in 1931.
As well as the tractors there
is an impressive display of old
stationary engines.
Bill Troughton owns 40-50
of these, and 90 per cent of
them work.
“It’s a full-time job just
keeping them going.”
Graham Freegard has been
baling hay for 54 years and
bought his 1958 New Holland
Super 17 baler about six years
ago. “It still bales a couple
of thousand hay bales every
year.”
There are a couple of old
vintage ploughs on display,
and a wagon built around
1910-20, owned by Ron
Arnott, and pulled by two
Clydesdales.
Willy Willetts, the president
of the club, says, “You could
use all the machines tomorrow
to go collect hay.”

If you fancy the strength of
your kick there’s a chance you
could win a car for six months.
The fastest ball-kick into
the net during Fieldays,
as calculated by the Jugs
Professional Sports Radar,
gets to keep the brand new Kia
Rio Diesel for six months with
fuel included.
Kia Motors sales and
marketing manager Jason
Groube said the car was
capable of getting 100km out
of 4.5 litres of fuel and was
brought in especially for the
Fieldays.
“The Sportskick Challenge
is a great way to interact with
people coming through,” he
said. “It’s a bit of fun.”
Kia is the principal sponsor
of the Euro 2008 international
FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2008 Fieldays Exhibitor
Rural folk shown fi re risks
By Shaun Bamber
Rural property owners face a
higher risk from � re than their
urban counterparts and need to
be more aware of the dangers
and how to avoid them.
That’s the message the New
Zealand Fire Service continues
to put across to the rural community
at Fieldays.
Their kitchen � re demonstration
trailer is set on � re every
hour dramatically illustrating
how quickly and easily a simple
pot � re can get out of hand.
Todd O’Donoghue, � re safety
of� cer for the Waikato and Bay of
Plenty region, has been attending
Fieldays for the last eight years as
a � re safety advocate.
Primarily involved in education,
legal compliance and � re
investigation, he delivers the � re
safety message at public events
around the district.
Leaving a pot of cooking oil
on the stove, he demonstrates the
right and wrong way to put out
a fat � re.
Smothering the � re with a pot
lid, a wooden chopping board, or
a damp tea towel is recommended.
Water, however, is not.
From a safe distance and
kitted out in full safety gear,
O’Donoghue dumps a cup or so
of water on the � aming pot.
Instantly, � ames leap up to 3m
By Katie Stone
From a family-owned fruit and
vegetable shop to a world-famous
business that produces 26
million bars a year; Annies is a
classic Kiwi success story.
In 1986, Ann Giles’ husband
bought her a dehydrator. She
began experimenting with converting
apples into dried fruit
leathers, and soon her humble
dehydrator was 26 trays high. A
second dehydrator also reached a
height of 26 trays. It wasn’t long
before the demand for the sweet,
chewy fruit leathers outstripped
the capacity of both dehydrators
and the couple invested in a commercial
drier.
Today, Annies produces an
extensive range of 100 per cent
dried fruit bars. All products are
free of added � avours and arti� -
cial ingredients, making them a
great alternative to fresh fruit.
HOT POT: a fi refi ghter demonstrates how uickly a pot of oil can ignite
in the air, causing many in the
crowd to take a step backwards.
It’s a popular and striking
demonstration.
While the � re service has long
maintained a presence at Fieldays,
this is the � rst time they’ve
done so in conjunction with
Farmers Mutual Group (FMG),
Sweet treats successful et your kicks here...
Founders Graeme and Ann
Giles still work in the factory and
Ann is the name and face behind
the product packaging.
Regional Sales and Marketing
Manager Stephen Julian said
there is more to Annies than just
business.
“She’s very believable, very
passionate and engrossed in the
company,” he said.
Annies is also a major player in
Mission On, a Government-wide
initiative campaign that encourages
healthy eating in schools.
Annies is also a sponsor of Bike
Wise and Starship Hospital.
“The biggest thing for Annies
is giving back to the community.
It’s not about the money; we’re
trying to help people by delivering
a healthy, cost-effective solution
for everyday lifestyles.”
Based in Blenheim, Annies operates
three factories and exports
70 per cent of its products.
New Zealand’s leading rural insurer.
It’s a mutually bene� cial association,
as FMG’s focus this year
is on risk management and prevention,
which coincides with the
� re safety message.
FMG offers insurance discounts
to homeowners with
By Luke Parker
PHOTO: Naomi Williams
PHOTO: photographer here
smoke alarms installed and � re
extinguishers on hand.
They’ve attended Fieldays
since the beginning and have
been servicing rural New Zealand
for more than 100 years.
Check out the � re safety demonstration
at the FMG site on Innovation
Lane.
soccer tournament under way
in Europe.
Earlier this week Sam
Russo was leading the kick
challenge with 116km/h.
Following in second place was
Wintec Sports and Exercise
Science student, Kieran Hill, at
106km/h.
“I have a bit of a bad knee
at the moment… I think I’ll
come back a bit later and have
another crack,” Hill said.
Launched at this year’s
Fieldays, the Kia Rio Diesel
has a 1.5 litre engine. “We are
running the Kio Rio Diesel $10
Challenge where, based on
fuel effi ciency, the car can run
from The Dome (Fieldays) to
Auckland, Tauranga or Turangi
on $10,” Groube said.
The ball-kick challenge is
staged at the Kia stand in The
Dome.

8 Fieldays Exhibitor
CHEERY CHAPS: The bachelors go through their paces with the Suzuki Cheerleaders
Boys get
pom pom
tips from
the pros
Avian death-merchant Neale
Blaymires is back at Fieldays
again with his Magpie Trip-
Trap.
The traps allow farmers to
eradicate the cunning black
and white bird and protect the
native bird population on their
properties.
The trap � rst appeared at
Fieldays in the inventions section
in 1999.
Most of Blaymires, annual
sales come from Fieldays and
the months following when orders
come in from around the
country.
“It’s good to have the contact
with the people…they come up
with good suggestions for the
traps,” Blaymires says.
It’s suggestions from punters
that have seen Blaymires add
By Janine Jackson
Behind every Fieldays bachelor
there’s a charming cheerleader.
In between performing for
various exhibitors, eight Suzuki
cheerleaders are on hand to put
the bachelor blokes through
their paces.
From judging their culinary
skills in a breakfast cook-off to
modelling farm fashion created
by the bachelors the cheerleaders
will appraise the lads’ knack
with the fairer sex.
Yesterday the cheerleaders
helped the bachelor boys
entertain a crowd at the Village
Green with an unrehearsed
dance.
Cheerleader Angela Clements,
who studies at Wintec
when she’s not cheering, was
impressed with their moves.
Fieldays Exhibitor has been recognised by the NZ National Fieldays Society for its Outstanding Contribution to the Success of Fieldays
PHOTO: Kelly Petersen
“They managed pretty well
under the circumstances,” she
said.
As well as performing at
Fieldays the girls cheer for the
Chiefs, Waikato Pistons basketball
team and the Air NZ
Waikato rugby team.
The winner of the Fieldays
Rural Bachelor of the Year competition
will be named tomorrow
at 1pm.
Aggressive magpies meet their match in trip-trap
By Janine Jackson
TRAPPED: Neale Blaymires with his redesigned magpie trap
mirrors to the trap and alter the
instructions along the way.
Although Blaymires has a
copyright on his trap this has not
prevented a dodgy customer in
the UK from counterfeiting and
selling the magpie trap on Ebay.
“I’ve tracked the guy through
my invoices two years ago when
he bought a trap from me,” he
says. Although too expensive to
take legal action he has successfully
had the traps pulled from
Ebay.
Blaymires decided to wage war
on magpies at his own property
in Te Puke but realised that the
birds quickly became gun-shy.
The traditional Larsen trap
proved to be unreliable as well
but Blaymires altered the original
design and hit upon the
Magpie Trip-Trap.
Magpies are notorious for being
highly aggressive when defending
their nesting territories
and driving away native birds,
such as kereru, bellbirds and
tui.
Where there’s a large population
of magpies there will be a
decrease in the numbers of native
birds, Blaymires says.
One of Blaymires’ � rst customers
was a woman in Ikamatua
on the West Coast who
was being attacked by magpies
when she was out horse-riding.
“It must have worked – she
hasn’t come back,” he says.
Magpie attacks on humans
are few and far between, he says,
although there have been stories
about cyclists in Christchurch
being plagued by assaults.