Preventing livestock on your property from accessing any running water source, such as a stream or a river, will help improve water quality. This quality will be beneficial for both downstream users of the water and for natural inhabitants.
Use fencing on your lifestyle block to help keep livestock well away from water sources. Use some plants or trees on your property to act as a natural buffer to catch nutrient runoff from your lifestyle block, protecting neighbouring properties.
Most New Zealand areas have a relatively consistent amount of rainfall throughout the year, but there are regional variations, which are largely dependent on the landscape. The West Coast of the South Island is the wettest part of New Zealand. The East Coast of the South Island is the driest, due largely to the rain shadow caused by the Southern Alps.
Despite regular rainfall, some areas of New Zealand will suffer from occasional droughts. The year 2013 saw one of the worst and most widespread New Zealand droughts. That drought affected southern Northland, Auckland, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, the central North Island, Gisborne, Hawkes Bay, the Wairarapa, and parts of the north and west of the South Island, for over a month.
Previous droughts occurred in 2007, 2008 and 2010, so the 2013 drought is not an isolated case. If you are purchasing a lifestyle block, you should definitely consider rainfall and the effects on your land if it does not arrive. The National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA) is the authoritative source for weather information in New Zealand. It's a Crown Research Institute established in 1992.
Farmers in the region you’re moving to will also be good resources to help you understand the long term weather trends, and the best ways to cope with weather up's and down's. Our First National Rural Specialists can really help too. Contact us now, and we’ll happily share our comprehensive rural expertise with you.
Due to high rainfall, New Zealand is not generally at risk from wildfires, except in the drier summer months (November to February), or during drought periods.
To reduce fire risks generally on your lifestyle block, keep your property grasses cut regularly, and ensure that there is plenty of clear space (without dry grass or wood items) around your lifestyle block houses, sheds and buildings.
Fallen timber occurs naturally on farms and lifestyle blocks. It can form the basis of native habitats, and it contributes to a healthy eco-system by helping native fauna to flourish. Fungi growing on rotting timber will also help to recycle nutrients back into your soil and nourish the next generation of plants. If fallen timber does pose a fire threat, simply relocate it to a safer place on your property.
For information on New Zealand fire risks, visit the National Rural Fire Authority.
Water infected with or tainted by algae can be poisonous to humans and livestock. It should be avoided in all cases. Boiling algal water will not make it safe to drink.
Do not drink or swim in algal water. Don’t rinse vegetables or fruit in it, or cook with it. Don’t wash your clothes in it, as the algae can cause rashes and infections. Don’t eat shellfish or fish caught in it, as the fish may have ingested the algal water.
Take extra care not to spray or flood irrigate pastures or crops with it. If you do use algal water on your farm by mistake, you could infect your entire food crop.
Cyanobacteria, better known as blue-green algae, is a bacteria than can be harmful to humans and animals. While it occurs naturally, it can be inadvertently encouraged to bloom when nutrients like phosphorous are introduced to waterways by humans. Many popular cleaning products use phosphorous in their formulations.
To avoid algal bloom outbreaks, limit the amount of nutrient run-off from your property entering waterways. Avoid excessive use of farm fertilisers and maintain good farm vegetation to act as a natural nutrient run-off buffer. If you don't have good lifestyle block vegetation areas, move any livestock further away from waterways.
Other things you can do to reduce the risk of algal bloom outbreaks include:
- Minimise the amount of time soil remains exposed to wind and water. Don’t work soil too much, or work it too far ahead of planting
- Practice minimum soil cultivation techniques to maintain soil structure
- Avoid cultivating very steep slopes of soil where limiting runoff will be difficult
- Use green manure crops and work them into the soil regularly
- Use crops that cover the soil where you can. This helps prevent soil erosion
- Use buffer strips of dense vegetation in steep locations to catch runoff
- Use surface drains or diversion banks alongside dams and rivers
- Leave natural drainage areas on your lifestyle block grassed. This helps with drainage, and reduces the amount of runoff as water is absorbed into the soil
- Build culverts and bridges or hard crossings for stock, and vehicle crossings
- Maintain quality of stream banks with solid grass cover, trees, shrubby plants and native grasses
- Keep livestock away from streams and waterways by using traditional or electric fencing. Livestock may get sick if they consume algal water. They may also spread algal water across your property, causing further blooms
While New Zealand may not have the weather extremes that farmers in Australia and other countries have to contend with, it's still important that your livestock are well cared for during hotter periods. Ensuring that your livestock have access to a plentiful and clean supply of water is essential. If your lifestyle block is in an area that attracts a lot of sunshine, provide shelter and tree shading for your animals.
The use of chemicals on any farm in New Zealand is governed by the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act, which is administered by the Ministry for Primary Industries. This Act covers the importing, manufacturing, selling and use of all agrichemicals. It also list chemicals and substances that are prohibited by law.
If you intend to use chemicals on your lifestyle block, you must familiarise yourself with your obligations as early as possible. The consequences of misuse could be highly damaging for the local environment, and for neighbouring farms. Severe fines and penalties may also be issued to you, causing financial stress.
The Ministry for Primary Industries website contains a wealth of useful information.
Organic farming is an approach that aims to work with the surrounding natural environment, rather than fighting against it. Only natural fertilisers and chemicals are used, and in some cases these are totally excluded. Some people say that they can taste a noticeable difference when eating organic foods instead of produce that is intensively farmed. Prices of organic groceries are generally higher in supermarkets.
Organic farming can make soil heath harder to maintain, and pest control is more difficult. Weeds must also be tolerated and managed, but not eliminated.
The basics of organic farming involve:
- Achieving healthy soil without chemicals
- Managing mildews, fruit flies and scale insects in citrus fruits
- Managing internal parasites in sheep without chemicals
- Managing other pests and diseases without chemicals and drugs
There are a large number of resources available about organic farming. A simple Google search will provide many websites and book choices for you to consider.
Some lifestyle block owners successfully make a living by growing and selling certified organic produce. Talk to your First National Rural Specialist for advice.
The best way to improve the quality of your soil is to grow green manure crops such as clover and vetch on your lifestyle block. These crops can be grown during the winter and then be cut down and dug into the soil. The dying plants add nutrients and organic matter to the soil, improving the overall soil quality.
There are plenty of green manure crops you can choose to grow in New Zealand’s temperate climate. These crops include mustard, lucerne, blue lupin and marigolds. Broad beans are a nice option if you want a crop you can harvest during winter.
Contact local nurseries or agricultural organisations to discuss your lifestyle block farming plans and to find out which crops might be most suitable for your land.
If you have any remaining questions regarding lifestyle blocks, please contact the friendly First National Real Estate team for guidance. We're here to help you.
Lifestyle blocks are very common in New Zealand, and most major insurance companies offer lifestyle block insurance policies tailored to your needs. These policies typically cover home and contents, accidents (including liability), farm buildings, farm equipment and vehicles, and livestock and other animals.
Depending on the level of income you receive from your lifestyle block, you may want to consider additional insurance. Insurance policies will typically cover loss of income from adverse events (droughts, severe frost, animal sickness or even rustling). Your insurance broker can advise on the right insurance policy types and the appropriate level of insurance cover you need (if any is required).