FARM ACCESS AND VEHICLES
Farm tracks
Ninety seven percent of farmers had tracks to the major blocks on their farm. All were suitable for 4-wheel drive vehicles. Banks Peninsula farms were the only area which was not well tracked with only 66% having tracks to all major blocks. Twenty one percent of farmers intended to increase the number of tracks but this was mainly (70%) for reasons other than snow. Seventy one percent of farmers had a metal road to their gate with an average distance to the tar-seal of 17km in the high country to 2.5km on the plains. Half of all farmers experienced access problems to and from the farm, the proportion being similar for all farm classes.
Bulldozers
Two-thirds of high and hill country farmers used a bulldozer during the snows, the majority of dozers being hired. Approximately 6% of all farmers owned a dozer. Approximately one-third of downs and Banks Peninsula farmers used a dozer but only 6% of plains farmers.
Helicopters
Almost all (95%) of high country farmers used a helicopter during the snows (Table 15) and all used a private helicopter. However 58% also used an RNZAF helicopter. Banks Peninsula farmers were the next largest users of helicopters (71%) followed by 61% of hill country farmers. Downs and plains farmers did not use helicopters. Of the farmers using helicopters on Banks Peninsula, hill country and the high country areas, 94% used a private helicopter and 43% used an RNZAF helicopter. Farmers intended to increase the use of helicopters in the event of a future snow, largest increases being on downs, hill and Banks Peninsula properties.
Table 15: Use of Helicopters in the 1992 Snows (N=138)
| Used a Helicopter? | Source of helicopter | Would Use a Helicopter in | ||
| Farm Type | Private | Airforce | Future? | |
| Farm Type | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) |
| High Country | 95 | 100 | 58 | 95 |
| Hill Country | 61 | 95 | 36 | 76 |
| Banks Peninsula | 71 | 80 | 30 | 92 |
| Downs | 0 | 25 | ||
| Plains | 0 | 6 | ||
| Total | 37 | 94 | 43 | 51 |
Useful vehicles
Bulldozers were the most useful vehicles to high country farmers followed by helicopters, four wheel drive tractors and four wheel drive utilities, including landcruisers (Table 16). Hill country farmers found the same vehicles useful but put more emphasis on the use of dozers and 4 x 4 tractors. Peninsula farmers found helicopters to be the most useful followed by dozers, 4 x 4 tractors and utilities. Downs and plains farmers, generally subjected to less snow found more use of 2 wheel tractors and utilities.
Table 16: Useful Vehicles in the Snow
| High | Hill | Banks | ||||
| Country | Country | Peninsula | Down | Plains | Total | |
| Vehicle | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) |
| Utility - 2 wheel | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.4 |
| Utility - 4x4 | 16 | 11 | 15 | 19 | 13 | 14.4 |
| Truck - 4x4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 3.7 |
| Tractor - 2 wheel | 2 | 4 | 0 | 18 | 30 | 10.9 |
| Tractor - 4x4 | 20 | 27 | 15 | 18 | 33 | 23.9 |
| Tractor - with blade | 2 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 3.5 |
| Bike - 3 or 4 wheel | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 4 | 2.5 |
| Bike - 4x4 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3.8 |
| Dozer | 25 | 34 | 25 | 22 | 2 | 23.1 |
| Loader | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0.4 |
| Grader | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0.4 |
| Helicopter | 21 | 10 | 40 | 0 | 0 | 11.3 |
| Horse | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.7 |
Unsuitable vehicles
Two-wheel drive vehicles including bikes, tractors, trucks and utilities had limited use in the high country, hill country and Banks Peninsula (Table 17). Comment was made that if dozers are to be used that they be of large enough size to handle larger snowdrifts. Loaders also proved to be of little value in deep snow. Two-wheel drive vehicles including 3 and 4 wheeler bikes found difficulty in handling the snow on down country and plains properties and even 4 x 4 utilities had difficulty in coping with the drifts. As altitude increased the need for 4 wheel drive vehicles increased, ranging through to dozers and finally helicopters in steep inaccessible country.
Table 17: Unsuitable Vehicles in the Snow
| High | Hill | Banks | ||||
| Vehicle | Country | Country | Peninsula | Downs | Plains | Total |
| (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | (%) | |
| Utility - 2 wheel | 9 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 6.9 |
| Utility - 4x4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 5.9 |
| Truck - 2 wheel | 0 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 26 | 11.8 |
| Tractor - 2 wheel | 27 | 14 | 0 | 15 | 16 | 15.7 |
| Tractor - 4x4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 |
| Bike - 2 wheel | 27 | 28 | 0 | 15 | 19 | 21.6 |
| Bike - 3 & 4 wheel | 9 | 17 | 25 | 25 | 19 | 18.6 |
| Bike - 4x4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2.9 |
| Loaders | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 |
| All 2 w/drive vehicles | 18 | 8 | 0 | 20 | 6 | 10.6 |
| All except helicopters | 0 | 4 | 75 | 0 | 0 | 4.0 |
Machinery purchase
Many farmers found snowploughs and grader blades to be very useful for access and clearing snow from grass. Farmers were asked whether they intended to buy or make a snowplough. The results indicated moderate interest (20%) mainly from farmers on the high and hill country properties.
Would make/purchase a snowplough (%)
| High country | 43 |
| Hill country | 20 |
| Banks Peninsula | 0 |
| Downs | 14 |
| Plains | 0 |
| Total | 20 |
Eighteen percent of farmers indicated they will buy a dozer, a significant number considering the capital cost of the machinery. For those planning to hire a dozer, 73% knew where they could locate one promptly. This infers that one in four farmers who need a dozer are likely to suffer delays in getting one onto their property.
Contact for Enquiries
North Island
Phil Journeaux
Manager
North Island Regions
Sector Performance Policy
MAF Policy
Private Bag 3123
Hamilton
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 7 957 8314
Fax: +64 7 957 8315
South Island
John Greer
Regional Team Leader
Natural Resources Group
MAF Policy
PO Box 20 280
Christchurch
NEW ZEALAND
Phone: +64 3 943 1703
Fax: +64 3 943 1757
Contact this person
