Kubota joins forces with Hurricanes
Japanese agricultural equipment maker Kubota will have its stamp on the home jersey for the Hurricanes.
Farmers and lifestyle block-owners can cash in on the wave of motorhome tourists here for the Lions rugby tour, says the developer of an app called CamperMate.
The app is pre-installed on Tom Tom in Maui, Britz and Mighty rental vehicles. It will enable drivers to ‘rent’ a small plot for their vehicle.
Adam Hutchinson says the app will alert 35,000 tourists a day to 1700 camping locations.
He got the idea from seeing motorhomers’ liking for recreation clubs’ carparks. How about also scenic farm spots and lifestyle properties, he thought.
Rugby tourists are likely to relish an alternative to tar-sealed overnight stops, and chose locations off the beaten track, he claims.
“With freedom camping regulations changing there’s a rise in motorhomers seeking smaller spaces.... Drivers of certified-self contained vehicles need only a driveway for the night.”
Tourists book a listing through the app and CamperMate handles the credit card payment, which triggers an email to the host with guest details.
Within a week, the company pays the host 80% of the total revenue.
“We manage the entire booking process and deposit the revenue directly into your account once a week.” CamperMate charges 20% commission to cover its merchant, booking and credit card fees.
Property owners conscious of their health and safety obligations when hosting can get data specific to their property to give to guests through the app.
Also to keep legal, CamperMate only takes a booking for a single vehicle per night. That’s why it offers a rate per vehicle rather than per person.
A host can decide their own nightly rate per vehicle, Hutchinson says. He suggests $10/vehicle for a basic parking space with no amenities.
“And increase the price if offering water, power, shower, toilet, wifi, a welcome drink, homemade snacks, etc. Location, privacy and stunning views also add to the value.”
All that’s needed is a private flat area to park a motorhome safely overnight. The property owner can specify whether a site is suitable for self-contained or non-self-contained vehicles.
A further ten commercial beef farmers have been selected to take part in the Informing New Zealand Beef (INZB) programme to help drive the uptake of genetics in the industry.
This morning, NZ Young Farmers (NZYF) has announced that Cheyne Gillooly will take over as its chief executive in June.
The message for the 2025 World Bee Day is a call to action for sustainable practices that support bees, improve food security, and protect biosecurity in the face of mounting climate pressures.
Consumers around the world are willing to pay more for products containing dairy and this is driving demand for butter and cream, says Fonterra.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters often describes NZ as a small and isolated nation situated 'just north of the penguins' but says in terms of global affairs, NZ and other small nations should be judged on the quality of their arguments and not the size of their military.
Use of agricultural drones by contractors in New Zealand is soaring.
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