ARABLE CROP S ON THE P LAINS REPORT New Zealand lies in the southwest Pacific Ocean, 12,000 kilometres from Amsterdam. The travelling time is over 24 hours. The time difference compared with the Netherlands is 12 hours in winter and 10 hours in summer. New Zealand is the most isolated island in the world. The country closest to New Zealand is Australia, which lies at a distance of nearly 2,000 kilometres. The country is 6.5 times bigger than the Netherlands and has a moderate marine climate in most areas. Its size and weather conditions can be compared to those in Italy. It is at the same degree of latitude, but in the Southern Hemisphere. New Zealand is known for its rough beauty. In the Netherlands, it is also well-known for the famous ‘Lord of the Rings’ films, which picture the breathtaking beauty and majestic scenery of this country. The country consists of two big islands that are surrounded by many smaller islands. These two big islands are as different as chalk and cheese. The North Island is predominantly subtropical and very rough. You will find arable farming on the plains. The rough growth offers better conditions for sheep and beef cattle farming. The South Island boasts lowlands east of the mountains, where crop farming can be rather successful. The characteristic rough beauty can be found more in the west and in the south. Lifting according to demand As winters on the North Island are generally quite mild, it is hardly necessary to store the potatoes. Growers often lift their potatoes according to demand. On the South Island, which is much colder – on average – than the North Island, storage is necessary. There can be a sharp frost in winter, sometimes up to –8 Celsius. You can go sunbathing on the beautiful beaches, while you can also go skiing sometimes not more than one hour’s drive away in the mountains. New Zealand has a population of only four million people. Twenty-five percent live near Auckland, the biggest city of the country. The people born in New Zealand are called Kiwis. Kiwis are, in fact, On average, it does not rain enough during a season to grow crops such as potatoes optimally, for which reason dams have been built to irrigate plots of land during the summer. In the district around the town of You will find arable farming on the plains shy and very rare, fluffy, flightless birds. How do they compare with the inhabitants of the islands? They are both born and bred in New Zealand and can’t fly. The kiwis we know as fruit in Holland were not originally called kiwi but Chinese Gooseberry. These gooseberries were given the name of the famous birds for marketing reasons. Pictures and woodcarvings of these strange birds can be seen everywhere, at least in the many tourist shops the country boasts.. Dams are farmers’ property When driving and rambling across the vast plains or over the spectacular mountain passes, you almost always have a view of the New Zealand Alps. This mountain range is the backbone of the country and runs from the North Island towards the South Island, and is the main supplier of much clean, fresh water. Most of it flows straight into the sea. In some places at a speed of 300 cubic metres a minute. Irrigation is also well-known in New Zealand and with it also its limitations and issues. Timaru on the South Island – which also boasts a McCain factory – a big reservoir has been constructed. This provides the river with a constant supply of water throughout the year as a result of which fish stocks maintain their required level, and anglers and fishermen alike can continue to fish. The various farmers who live in the region and who own the dam can also order water on demand to irrigate their land. In addition, they produce electricity from the water flowing into the dam. At this moment, more than 80 percent of the electricity in New Zealand is generated hydrostatically. Irrigation of vital importance IA little towards the north, in the district of Christchurch, a popular potato growing area, the farmers also intend to start a water project so that a total of 60,000 hectares of agricultural land can be irrigated. Potato New Zealand is known for its rough beauty 26 Potato World 2009 • number 4 Pagina 25
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