Of twenty two samples of oil labelled Avocado Oil researchers in America found that 82% were adulterated with other oils. Three labelled as extra virgin were in fact 100% soya bean.
The New Zealand Institute of Chemistry Oils group says that if international quality standards are not developed soon there is a real danger to New Zealand’s quality avocado oil industry.
Rotary volunteers Tamara Allerhand and Jim Law at the Wairio Planting .
The Wairio wetland is on the east side of Wairarapa Moana near the Boggy Pond. For the last 15 years a major restoration project has been underway spearheaded by Rotarian Jim Law and Ross Cottle of Ducks Unlimited (DUNZ). The project was divided into four stages and the first three are complete, with work now being done on stage four. The Rotary Club of South Wairarapa has given nearly $20,000 to this project over the years as well as providing volunteers.
In mid July Ducks Unlimited organised a planting day at Wairio. The planting area had been well prepared, after grazing cattle to knock down the tall fescue grass. The preparation included spot spraying, subsequent grubbing of remnant tall fescue from planting spots and some auger drilling of selected spots for 100 larger Kahikatea – all done by a great crew from Better Nature. Nursery plants, mainly manuka with some coprosma and other natives were also planted. The vision is that this northern area will one day be a magnificent kahikatea forest.
There were at least twenty volunteer planters, including members of the South Wairarapa Rotary Club, masters students from Victoria University of Wellington with Associate Professor Stephen Hartley, DOC staff and members of the general public and Ducks Unlimited, all supported by the Better Nature team. From the point of view of a planter, the pre-drilled holes for the larger trees were an enormous help. About 850 trees were planted in two hours … Continue Reading
“Water water everywhere and not a drop to drink”. This well-known line from ‘The Rime of the Ancient Mariner’ could have easily applied to the Wairarapa recently. Unlike the Ancient Mariner though, we weren’t becalmed near the equator but rather inundated by persistent rain, courtesy of a turbulent weather system, causing localised flooding and high lake levels.
It wasn’t the worst storm we had experienced by any stretch of the imagination but it did serve to remind us that we have little control over what nature delivers. It also reminded us of the fragility of many of the region’s infrastructure assets as roads succumbed to slips and bridges were closed due to high river levels.
The wild weather affected many people in various ways and at a recent meeting around the governance of Wairarapa Moana, Greater Wellington was challenged around its management of the lake levels which are dictated by, amongst other things, a Water Conservation Order.
When I enquired as to the actual water levels Graeme Campbell, Manager of Flood Protection, provided the following comment.
“We will have to check the recorded lake levels to be able to confirm what they were during the period being commented on but there is never any reason for us to elevate those levels unless those in Lake Onoke are elevated due to the closing of the mouth to the sea. The only time we open the gates to elevate levels in Wairarapa Moana is when we are unable to open Lake Onoke and the levels there are so high they are causing problems to those around the Lake. The levels may have been high but it would not be because we kept them high, more it would be as a result of high seas stopping us from opening the mouth and high river flows.” … Continue Reading
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