Editorial: Punching Above Our Weight
OPINION: With 10,500 dairy farms, New Zealand continues to punch above its weight around the world.
Over 150 farm businesses have now received vouchers through the Safer Rides pilot scheme which encouraged farmers to make their existing quad bikes safer by applying for a heavily discounted CPD via a redeemable voucher to the value of $400.
The initiative was spearheaded by Rabobank and led by Safer Farms, with support from ANZCO Foods, LIC, Craigmore Sustainables, PGG Wrightson, FMG Insurance, Silver Fern Farms and retailers Trax Equipment and Quadbar.
Safer Farms’ Farm without Harm Ambassador Lindy Nelson says there had been very high demand for the vouchers.
“In addition to the 110 vouchers already issued, we were able to provide a further 43 vouchers, thanks to additional funding from FMG Insurance, PGG Wrightson and Silver Fern Farms after the initial allocation.
“Forty per cent of the first allocation have already been redeemed via Trax or Quadbar, which is really encouraging.”
However, demand for the vouchers exceeded supply, she says.
“There were 88 applications that did miss out, but these farm businesses are still eligible for a 15 per cent discount on CPDs from Quadbar. We’re delighted FMG is also going to be running a client competition to win two CPDs.”
Safer Rides is part of Safer Farms’ Farm Without Harm strategy, designed to prevent harm from New Zealand’s farming systems.
Nelson, who farms in the Wairarapa, says the focus on CPDs was a result of farmers speaking up about how rollover bars had worked for them and saved lives.
From 2019 to 2023, there were 22 quad bike-related fatalities in New Zealand, with most involving rollovers and steep grades.
“For many farmers, quad bikes are an integral part of the job and installing a CPD on an existing vehicle can make it a safer option for you and anyone who is using that bike,” says Nelson.
“Crush protection devices provide space underneath an upturned quad bike by spreading the bike’s weight. This protects the rider by creating space for survival or allowing the bike to roll off the occupant.
“We urgently need to find ways to make quad bikes safer. Based on feedback collected from applicants, cost is a major barrier in purchasing a safety device.
“Farmers want to keep themselves and their people safe. There is a big job ahead to make safety devices more widely available for those who want it. We will continue working with our programme partners to implement a long-term plan.”
