An interest in pest control three years ago in 2022, started a five year journey for Lund Road residents Brian and Annette Bates.

Brian and Annette attended a meeting at Pukekauri Farms’ woolshed and listened to Project Parore’s then new General Manager Brodie Davis talk to the Lund Road Care Group about pest control, fencing and planting. Brian asked Brodie if he could come and take a look at their situation.

They were interested in supplementing some wetland plantings they had begun 14 years earlier after they had fenced off a Te Mania tributary which bounded their property. Because the plantings were less than 10 metres from the fencing, Project Parore couldn’t help with any of the costs but Brodie suggested a radical plan to the pair…

“Hear me out,” said Brodie. “If you don’t like what I say, throw me out… have you ever thought of planting the whole ridge line and fencing all the steep land off?”

Brian said yes, but the cost would have been prohibitive. “Well,” said Brodie, “Have I got something for you two to consider…” So began their Project Parore journey and two years on they couldn’t be happier.

Annette and Brian had moved into their new home on their 3 hectare lifestyle block on Lund Road in 1997. They fenced off their stream and planted some natives around the stream edges. Stock was used to eat the grass and the pair annually fertilized their land. Some of their land was steep and erosion-prone with stock adding to the erosion by rubbing exposed soil. Stock walking on uneven ground was also a concern for Annette who could see how easy it would have been for some of their animals to break their legs.

Brodie’s “consideration” involved a contract between Project Parore, the Bates and the Bay of Plenty Regional Council. Funding support from both Project Parore and the Council made the cost of permanent fencing, planting and maintenance of the steep ridge line paddocks affordable for the Bates. So the Project Parore team came in in late 2022, fencing the paddocks, leaving 1 hectare of grazing still available to the Bates’. Planting of the 1.7 hectare area began in winter 2023, and the results speak for themselves.

Annette and Brian Bates survey the flourishing regenerative plantings on their property.

Looking across the steep sided valley on the Bates’ place, with the retired paddock faces clearly visible.

Two years on and the Bates’ are more than happy with the results. “Life is easier,” says Brian. “It was a no-brainer in the end. The money we saved from not using fertilizer on the steep paddocks is offset against the reduced stock numbers we run. We do less work because we have a smaller pastoral area but are no worse off financially. More time for hunting and fishing. The erosion problem has gone and we don’t have to worry about stock welfare. Bird life and seed propagation from them is amazing.”

It’s also safer for Brian and Annette farming their beefies. “With the steep land planted I am happy to take the quad bike over the rest of the block. I would never have taken it down the steep slopes to move the electric fences,” said Brian.

“The Project Parore crew are respectful and polite when they’re here, and they are a nice crew to work with,” says Annette. “Dealing with Braden Rowson from the BOP Regional Council has always been great.”

Brian is a keen gardener and seed propagator himself. He has supplied Peter Babbage, Project Parore’s top propagator with 100 totara seedlings he found on their property. These will be used on other Project Parore sites.

If you have any questions for the Bates please direct them through to Brodie 027 345 6698.

Does this sound like something you’d be keen to do on your place?

Call us 0800 45 47 42 or email contact@projectparore.nz