Latest news with #Waiuku
RNZ News
5 days ago
- Lifestyle
- RNZ News
Country Life: How an Auckland farm increased profitability
Nigel and Merrin Upchurch run Waitangi Farm, about 48-hectares in Waiuku, an hour south of Auckland. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life On Waitangi Farm near Waiuku, about an hour south of Auckland, pigs and cattle graze below solar panels. It's part of a growing trend of agrivoltaics, solar systems that run alongside agriculture. Nigel and Merrin Upchurch returned to her family farm about 10 years ago, after living in Amsterdam where Nigel worked as a motion designer and 3D artist while Merrin completed her doctorate in ecology. "For me the farm is a classroom for me to continuously learn," she told Country Life . Running the 48-hectare property has deepened her appreciation for farmers working to improve soil and water quality, while trying to maintain a profitable business. Follow Country Life on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , iHeart or wherever you get your podcasts. A desire to be outside and working with animals was part of the appeal for Nigel and Merrin coming home as well. "This farm is where I grew up so it was a real coming home for me. When we were living in Europe in Amsterdam, I really missed the animals and being outside." The couple started raising pigs as Merrin's mum Judy had planted a lot of fruit and nut trees. The pigs graze below and hoover up the excess windfall produce. They have a handful of breeding sows, a boar and young "boar-to-be", and when Country Life visited, two litters of six piglets each. "There was huge demand for the Berkshires because they've got a great rep," Nigel explained. "They're known as the Wagyu of the pork world and they are beautiful meat, nicely marbled, delicious quite frankly." Six hungry piglets enjoy their breakfast. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life Merrin said the domestic pork industry had taken a hammering because it was cheaper to import from overseas, where many countries had less stringent welfare standards. "There's nothing better than your own pork," she said. "Fattened on chestnuts and free-range like this, it's a completely different type of meat." The pigs are also fed foodscraps from a thrice weekly run to the local supermarket, which help add nutrients back into the soil. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life The couple also run pigs. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life The pigs are also fed foodscraps from a thrice weekly run to the local supermarket, which helps add nutrients back into the soil. Woodchips from fallen and felled trees on the property are added where the pigs roam during the winter months to reduce mud and absorb excess nitrogen. "With the amount of produce we're bringing into the pig areas there's actually quite a bit of nutrient coming into the areas. "This farm was actually run as an organic property for about 15 years, and so the inputs that have been added to the property in terms of fertiliser have all been natural products," Merrin said. From left: Woofers Tommy Falconer and Tilly Millson have been helping the Upchurches with feeding stock and planting native trees. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life Rotating stock including young mobs of heifers up to 200 kilograms also helps, as the cattle eat down the tougher grass the pigs don't like to eat. The couple aim to run the farm with as few external inputs as possible, with hopes to see it eventually become carbon-neutral, if not a carbon sink. It's why over 18 months ago they added over 3000 solar panels across 3 hectares of the farm. It's the first solar farm built and operated by Lightyears Solar. Lightyears Solar owns the panels and leases the land from the Upchurches. It operates the single-access tracking system which sees the panels follow the sun, Lightyears Solar co-founder and head of development Matt Shanks explained. "It works better with the livestock." The couple run mobs of young heifers, up to about 200kg, under the solar panels across 3-ha on the farm. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life The farm generates enough energy to power between 600-700 homes near Waiuku - about 2.4 megawatts or 2400 kilowatts. Even on a grey, drizzly winter day, as it was when Country Life paid a visit, the panels still generate about 25 percent of their usual production. It's an example of agrivoltaics, the practice of simultaneously using land for solar energy production and agriculture, such as growing crops or grazing stock beneath the panels. As one of the first large agrivoltaic set-ups in New Zealand, there was a lot of "learning along the way", Shanks said. Agrivoltaic operations are still at the experimental stage in New Zealand and typically include smaller grazing animals like sheep, so running young cattle has added challenges. Shanks recalled running experiments with bamboo poles across the paddock to work out the height needed to be able to run cattle below. The answer? About 1.6 metres off the ground, so the heifers are unable to cause mischief by eating the wires. The dual land use with young cattle grazing beneath has made the farm more profitable. "Per hectare this is now the most profitable part of the farm," Nigel says. Lightyears Solar co-founder and head of development Matt Shanks and farmer Nigel Upchurch. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life The couple run mobs of young heifers, up to about 200kg, under the solar panels across 3-ha on the farm. Photo: Gianina Schwanecke / Country Life It aligns with the couple's values and has also added environmental benefits. The solar panels provide shelter for the stock on wet wintry days and during the heat of summer. "This summer and autumn was really dry and we actually noticed the grass was greener under the panels, so we're getting less water evaporation," Merrin noted. While power generated from the farm currently goes back into the grid, the couple hope they will soon be able to run the farm and their house from the solar panels. "Something we're really keen on is reducing the carbon footprint of the property," Merrin said. In the meantime, new farms are going up around the country, maximising the amount of limited land for solar farms. Lightyears Solar has developed new ones in Canterbury and Wairarapa, with hopes to continue. Learn more:
RNZ News
22-07-2025
- RNZ News
Man who lost family in Waiuku crash speaks of 'unimaginable loss'
Frances Latu‑Vailea. Photo: Givealittle A man who lost his wife, daughter, and niece in a triple-fatal crash on the way home from school last week says his world has been shattered. Frances Latu-Vailea, her five-year-old daughter, Oneahi Vailea, and seven-year-old niece, Marly Tulua, died when their car left Masters Road in Auckland's Waiuku and crashed into a culvert in a wetland. In a social media post on Tuesday, Amanaki Vailea, spoke of his grief. "A week ago, my world was shattered by the loss of my beloved wife and our precious daughter. "The pain of their sudden passing is hard to put into words. "My wife was my better half, my confidant, and the steady heart of our home. Her love was unwavering and her presence brought warmth and light to everyone who knew her. She was not only my companion in life, but also my greatest blessing. "Our daughter was a beautiful soul, full of innocence, laughter, and a light that touched every corner of our hearts. She brought us joy beyond measure, and her absence leaves a silence that nothing can fill." He thanked everyone who had supported him as he faced an "unimaginable loss".
RNZ News
18-07-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
Auckland man sentenced in NZ's first 'zapper' tech tax cheating conviction
Photo: 123RF An Auckland man has become the first person in New Zealand to be convicted and sentenced for using electronic equipment to underreport sales and dodge tax. Gurwinder Singh was sentenced in the Manukau District Court this week to seven months' home detention on tax evasion charges and for possessing electronic sales suppression tools (ESST) to evade the assessment and payment of tax. IRD said Singh, who runs a pizza outlet in Waiuku, admitted he was hiding income from his tax agent so that he did not have to pay so much tax. "Singh's offending was planned, calculated and required ongoing financial manipulation," it said in a statement. Singh also claimed only two staff were employed when there were four. The total amount of tax avoided was around $200,000, composed of approximately $79,000 in GST, $100,000 in income tax, and $21,000 in PAYE. ESST technology, also known as "phantomware" and "zappers," connects to point of sale systems to underreport sales and reduce taxable income. The IRD has previously warned of a crackdown and harsh penalties for possessing ESST technology, because it posed a threat to the integrity of the tax system. Buying, possessing, and using ESST technology was made a criminal offence in 2022, with fines ranging between $5,000 for buying and possession, to $250,000 for using it. IRD has received an extra $64 million in this year's budget to boost tax collection and drive tax compliance. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- RNZ News
Mother Frances Latu-Vailea killed in Waiuku crash leaves behind three children including young baby
The crash site where three people died in a fatal accident on Masters Road, Waiuku. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel A mother killed in a triple-fatal crash alongside her young daughter and niece has left behind three children including her eight-week-old baby. Frances Latu-Vailea, her five-year-old daughter Oneahi Vailea and seven-year-old niece Marly Tulua died when their car left Masters Road and crashed into a culvert in wetland on Tuesday afternoon. A Givealittle page set up for the families said the "devastating accident" had left Latu-Vailea's husband suddenly widowed and the sole caregiver for their three sons, aged eight weeks, two, and 12. "We are raising funds to support both grieving families during this unthinkable time," the page said. The page said the money would help give Latu-Vailea's husband time to grieve without the burden of immediate financial pressures such as the mortgage and household bills. It would also provide essential support as he "navigates caring for their young boys and processing such an unimaginable loss", it said. Donations would also help support Tulua's family who are "also mourning deeply while caring for their own young baby and facing the pain of losing Marly, Frances, and Oneahi". "No words can ease the pain, but your kindness and support can help lighten the heavy load these families are carrying right now," the Givealittle page said. "Any contribution, big or small, will make a difference." Latu-Vailea worked as a court registry officer, and the head of the Ministry of Justice said staff were devastated at the sudden death of their colleague. Chief executive Andrew Kibblewhite said Latu-Vailea was a court registry officer for the Family Court, primarily based at Pukekohe District Court. He said she worked in many locations including North Shore, Manukau and Papakura, and the tragedy would have a huge impact on many people. Kibblewhile said he and his staff offered their deepest condolences to Latu-Vailea's immediate and extended family. "We are all thinking of Frances' family, and our wider Auckland kaimahi, and offering our support during this very difficult time," he said. The crash site where three people died in a fatal accident on Masters Road, Waiuku. Photo: RNZ/Calvin Samuel The deaths have also sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Waiuku community. "It's pretty devastating actually. It's a small town, most people know someone who knows them if they don't know them themselves," local Jennie Tapp said. "The fact that it was a woman and two children, it just blows your mind." Another resident Inga Anja Noom said Masters Road had a bad reputation. "We all feel sick because usually in a small town like this everyone knows somebody and it's a horrible stretch of road and it's not the first and it probably won't be the last. But yeah, no, it's heartbreaking." Noom said it was particularly dangerous in wet weather. "It's quite narrow, it's windy in the start up to it and then it's just one long stretch with humps in the road and bridges and stuff," she said. "And with weather like this in wintertime, the creeks are completely full on either side, it's really bad." Locals say the narrow, bumpy road will continue causing accidents until speed limits are enforced . Masters Road falls on the border between Auckland and Waikato and was a concern for both regions' councillors. Waikato district councillor Peter Thomson said it was often used as a shortcut around the more tightly managed main road between Waiuku and Pukekohe. "I've heard that it's been used as a bypass to the Waiuku-Pukekohe road, so people can feel that they can travel faster on this road rather than the Pukekohe-Waiuku road, which has got a number of speed cameras on it and is only 80 [kilometres per hour]," he said. Andy Baker, the councillor for Auckland's Franklin Ward which contained Waiuku, said the road was narrow and bumpy. "This road is predominantly straight, it runs from both ends, it's basically a straight line but it's very undulating and from what I can see where the crash was, it's in a dip, and there's a lot of trees around," Baker said. Masters Road sign, the road where three people died in a fatal accident. Photo: RNZ/Marika Khabazi But Baker said it was too early to determine if the road was a factor in the fatal crash. "I think it's a little bit premature maybe to say the road's at fault here or there's an issue with the road," he said. "I know that some locals have been concerned about some things, whether they were contributing to the crash, we won't know until the Serious Crash Unit do their report and eventually it'll run through a coroner's court." Resident Noom said Masters Road still needed speed cameras like the main Waiuku-Pukekohe road. "Well if they're going to do it on one side, they'll probably have to do it the other, and everyone will hate me saying that but this is what's happening," she said. "We had a crash there two weeks ago, they walked away from that one. We had a death there last year and it won't be the last." She said the crashes would continue until motorists were given a reason to slow down.
RNZ News
16-07-2025
- RNZ News
Waiuku locals call for speed limit enforcements after crash kills three
transport law about 1 hour ago Locals in the town of Waiuku are sounding the alarm over a narrow, bumpy road that claimed the lives of a woman and two children yesterday afternoon. Concerned residents have said Masters Road is too dangerous and will continue causing accidents until speed limits are enforced. A warning, this report by journalist Felix Walton contains distressing details.
