2 Jan 2016

Country Life Summer Edition January 2

From Country Life, 7:00 am on 2 January 2016

Golden Reflections

John Knight reckons he's shot and killed thousands animals during his hunting career, but decided to call it a day after being involved in a helicopter accident while hunting near Karamea. Once he had recovered from his injuries John bought a boat in Napier and went deep sea fishing, but now he's back on the West Coast and working a black sand gold claim near Harihari.

Ponds of Gold

Murray Barker has been farming goldfish for 37 years. His small goldfish farm at the foot of Mount Te Aroha produces between 200 and 400-thousand goldfish each year. The fish are couriered all around New Zealand and end up in pet shops, garden centres, veterinary practices and in lawyers offices.

Woosters of Orira

Orchard John Wooster's great grandfather bought a parcel of land in the upper reaches of Hokianga harbour in 1902. Woosters have grown fruit trees on the land ever since and these days John is still planting up a mixed orchard including many heritage varieties. Ironically he pulled many of them out years ago because the supermarkets didn't like them. The family also has its own cemetery on the land which includes the grave of Frank Wooster who died from injuries received in WW1.