Business Rural Summer 2021

| 65 rapidly from its small beginnings RURAL SERVICES » High Country Contracting High Country Contracting staff utilise drones with thermal cameras to locate the position of animals. “We have three hunters with indicating dogs who work closely with our drone pilots on these opera- tions. Once the animals have been identified we can then go in and deal with them. It makes for a much better use of our human resources and gives better results in terms of numbers eradicated.” To date we have utilised this technology on wallaby, possums, rabbits, hares and hedgehogs. Asked whether demand for their services is outstripping the current number of staff engaged, Gerrit says they are always looking for good, keen, hard-working people. “We can train them up with the necessary skills, we just need the right attitude.” Balancing the tasks associated with eradicating pests, both flora and fauna, the company also un- dertakes the ecologically important task of introduc- ing back native flora. Any tree planted is sourced for the region it is accustomed to growing in. Precision Spreading rrspreading.co.nz Call 03 302 8650 info@rrspreading.co.nz 55 Line Road, Methven, 7730, Mid Canterbury. KEN GRAVE | MICHELLE HAWTHORN | GEORGINA HAMILTON | CRAIG O’CONNOR Level 1, 24 The Terrace, PO Box 244, Timaru 7940 P. (03) 687 8004 | E. email@gressons.co.nz Also in Geraldine at 3-5 Wilson Street, Geraldine | P. (03) 693 9332 Freephone 0800 684 882 CONTACT: “We’re about restoring small areas to it’s former state with vibrant biodiversity values, including restoration of wetlands impacted by land activity.” Weed and pest management is also a critical activity, particularly after an area has been freshly planted. Young trees need help establishing to a certain size and, once reached, can fend for themselves. Wilding pines spread through wind-blown seed and are a real issue. “We’ve dealt with the areas where the pines are sparsely scattered, and now we’re turning our at- tention, with the MPI funding, to get into those areas where infestations are much denser. Once cut, a paste is applied to the stump, stop- ping any possible regrowth.” One of the perks of working in this sector is ex- periencing parts of the country that very few people get the opportunity to see. For Gerrit and the team, that’s a great privilege that comes with job.