Emigrating to NZ from the UK to farm - Observations and advice?

[FonterraFarmer]

They do have a sort of a hitch thing for feeder wagon but it's a bodge at best

No, most just leave the feedout wagon perminantly attached to the tractor, only need a quick hitch when the Deere catches fire (6400 now replaced by a 6505)

 

[multi power]

No, most just leave the feedout wagon perminantly attached to the tractor, only need a quick hitch when the Deere catches fire (6400 now replaced by a 6505)View attachment 402514

So how do you fill the wagon?

 

[michael N123]

So how do you fill the wagon?

They must have a seperate tractor for every impliment and job

 

[FonterraFarmer]

So how do you fill the wagon?

JCB in that case , or one of the other Leaping Goats, thats the Kaimai's in the background too.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

They must have a seperate tractor for every impliment and job

Now, now, I thought they only did that in the EU and UK!

 

[kiwi pom]

They must have a seperate tractor for every impliment and job

Round here they drop the feeder off to load, a lot of tractors have quick hitches like these.
http://www.allfarmengineering.co.nz/silage-wagons-quick-hitches/
Anything heavy goes on the draw bar.
Plenty of 7 or 800 cow units round here with just 1 maybe 2 loader tractors (cab optional) bale feeder/silage wagon a mower a heavy roller maybe a small direct drill and that's about it.

 

[pear]

Sod the farming, you're there for the whole Lions tour!

 

[devonshirekiwi]

You are welcome to come and have a catch up with us, one hour south of Christchurch.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Sod the farming, you're there for the whole Lions tour!

Who?

 

[multi power]

Round here they drop the feeder off to load, a lot of tractors have quick hitches like these.
http://www.allfarmengineering.co.nz/silage-wagons-quick-hitches/
Anything heavy goes on the draw bar.
Plenty of 7 or 800 cow units round here with just 1 maybe 2 loader tractors (cab optional) bale feeder/silage wagon a mower a heavy roller maybe a small direct drill and that's about it.

1050 cows where I was
Fiat 88-94 dt
Case 970 ,both had loaders
Tipper trailer
Huge big roller
Mower
Grader blade for tracks and that was it
Oh and feed out wagon of course

 

[Hilly]

Isolation for me is when your nearest town is 20 minutes away but only has one supermarket which closes at 8pm weekdays and 6pm weekends. I never could find a job I liked with short hours so always ended up driving at least an hour further to do an evening shop.
Try getting a taxi home from an occasional night out and you'll discover the definition of isolation when you're handing over a 3 figure sum to the taxi driver

PS didn't mean to quote kiwi poms post just my fat fingers again

Sounds great, its on par with where i live.

 

[FonterraFarmer]

Still be a twit moving feed trailers an stuff about tho wont it

Not here, feedout wagon stays on the same tractor, and the bale feeder stays on the 3000, everything fed out in the paddock, no feed pad here.....

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

I have just been watching a video that says most shops take EFTPOS cards (Debit cards here) and credit cards but in the rural areas few take credit cards. The video also said that most european issued EFTPOS cards won't work in NZ. Is that right?

I'm looking at hiring a car for the visit and thinking a small SUV would be worth while as I could be on some very rural roads at times. Any thoughts? Who would be good to hire from? I spoke to a very helpful lass at Apex Cars who said "First Choice Rental" do a wider range of 4x4's than most and some diesels. Thoughts?

Cheers.

 

[pear]

I have just been watching a video that says most shops take EFTPOS cards (Debit cards here) and credit cards but in the rural areas few take credit cards. The video also said that most european issued EFTPOS cards won't work in NZ. Is that right?

I'm looking at hiring a car for the visit and thinking a small SUV would be worth while as I could be on some very rural roads at times. Any thoughts? Who would be good to hire from? I spoke to a very helpful lass at Apex Cars who said "First Choice Rental" do a wider range of 4x4's than most and some diesels. Thoughts?

Cheers.

When I was there and finished work I hired a car. I used a company called 'rent-a-dent'! It sounds a lot worse than it is! The Kia dealer in town were rent-a-dent agents and I had a 5 door Kia something, for about a month. When I dropped it off, the dealer (his name was Bob Driver and was on TV all the time during ad breaks saying "come on down to Bob Driver autos...") sorted another car for me- a land cruiser to pick up when I went up to north island. They had a good selection of cars and were a lot cheaper than the main stream hire companies.

 

[multi power]

I have just been watching a video that says most shops take EFTPOS cards (Debit cards here) and credit cards but in the rural areas few take credit cards. The video also said that most european issued EFTPOS cards won't work in NZ. Is that right?

I'm looking at hiring a car for the visit and thinking a small SUV would be worth while as I could be on some very rural roads at times. Any thoughts? Who would be good to hire from? I spoke to a very helpful lass at Apex Cars who said "First Choice Rental" do a wider range of 4x4's than most and some diesels. Thoughts?

Cheers.

My Natwest credit card didn't work, but that was before we had chip and pin, kiwis have had it for many years

 

[holwellcourtfarm]

When I was there and finished work I hired a car. I used a company called 'rent-a-dent'! It sounds a lot worse than it is! The Kia dealer in town were rent-a-dent agents and I had a 5 door Kia something, for about a month. When I dropped it off, the dealer (his name was Bob Driver and was on TV all the time during ad breaks saying "come on down to Bob Driver autos...") sorted another car for me- a land cruiser to pick up when I went up to north island. They had a good selection of cars and were a lot cheaper than the main stream hire companies.

It seems that "Rent-a-Dent" is actually the company that used to be "First Choice Rental". I was looking at their website earlier and, you're right, they are cheaper. I can rent a new X-Trail for 23 days for under £900 all in.

A mate who went there for 3 months and stayed for 16 suggested buying an old banger and scrapping it when I'm done but I don't think I'll be able to spare the time finding one and mucking around, unless any TFF members in NZ have a suitable candidate motor?

 

[FonterraFarmer]

I have just been watching a video that says most shops take EFTPOS cards (Debit cards here) and credit cards but in the rural areas few take credit cards. The video also said that most european issued EFTPOS cards won't work in NZ. Is that right?

I'm looking at hiring a car for the visit and thinking a small SUV would be worth while as I could be on some very rural roads at times. Any thoughts? Who would be good to hire from? I spoke to a very helpful lass at Apex Cars who said "First Choice Rental" do a wider range of 4x4's than most and some diesels. Thoughts?

Cheers.

I use EFTPOS for just about everything, haven't needed or had a credit card since 92.Would one expect currency exchange rate fees if a UK credit card is used for transactions with other currencies. As for rental cars, plenty of companies like Budget/Avis/Hertz, 4x4 would be handy , but not essential, no advantage going for diesel either, what little you gain of fuel economy, you will loose on R+M and Road User Charges. I'd suggest the likes of a Toyota Rav 4/Hyundai Santa Fe/Mazda CX5/Mitsubishi Outlander, plenty of space, 4WD and fairly decent ground clearance.

 

[gadgewalker]

I am going to jump on this thread if thats ok....saves starting another!!

Myself and gf thinking about heading out next year for a year or two, we are 26 and 27. She is a full time english teacher and from a quick look seems to be a decent amount of jobs for teaching cover all round the place.

I am just about to sit my RICS (land agent, enemy I know) and have my own sheep flock with a couple of hundred ewes (Partnership with a mate). NZ romney and crossed to a cheviot..tup bloodlines from Orari Gorge via Wales!

Worked on dairy/arable/sheep farms and obviously run my own small flock now so happy enough to turn my hand to anything. Not sure what demand there is for land valuers/sales in NZ which is my day job over here?

Biggest question is where to go...want to find that balance between work and seeing/enjoying the country. Love to be on a big sheep/beef place to get ideas and bring home but the gf will not want total isolation. Play rugby, big into snowboarding, gf plays hockey so good to find out what sort of places you guys would recommend researching and taking a look at?

North Island looks pretty incredible and South Island seems more like home in places...

Anyway cheers in advance

 

[Irish NZ]

I am going to jump on this thread if thats ok....saves starting another!!

Myself and gf thinking about heading out next year for a year or two, we are 26 and 27. She is a full time english teacher and from a quick look seems to be a decent amount of jobs for teaching cover all round the place.

I am just about to sit my RICS (land agent, enemy I know) and have my own sheep flock with a couple of hundred ewes (Partnership with a mate). NZ romney and crossed to a cheviot..tup bloodlines from Orari Gorge via Wales!

Worked on dairy/arable/sheep farms and obviously run my own small flock now so happy enough to turn my hand to anything. Not sure what demand there is for land valuers/sales in NZ which is my day job over here?

Biggest question is where to go...want to find that balance between work and seeing/enjoying the country. Love to be on a big sheep/beef place to get ideas and bring home but the gf will not want total isolation. Play rugby, big into snowboarding, gf plays hockey so good to find out what sort of places you guys would recommend researching and taking a look at?

North Island looks pretty incredible and South Island seems more like home in places...

Anyway cheers in advance

Think you've got the north and south island confused.

Christchurch area or taupo area would be your best bet for work and play.

 

[kiwi pom]

Get yourself a working holiday visa, got to be under 30 I think then you can cruise around and find work in different areas, find an area you like and build up a few contacts. Unless its changed a work visa would tie you to one job, so if you didn't like it you would be stuck there. A working holiday visa means you can just move on.