November 9, 2025 • 9 mins
Dean Rabbidge says while the season has been a difficult one, there is always a way to get the work done without being too blinkered regarding your your focus.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:12):
Welcome back to the muster on Hakanui. Now, thanks to
the South and Ural Support Trust, we're talking to various
farmers and people involved with the farming industry from around
the South after the weather events of just about two
and a half weeks ago. Now I suppose with those
wins and what people are doing to change their mindset
and just to get through the tough times. This afternoon
(00:35):
we're speaking of Dean Rabbage farming at Glenham and just
kind of to Deno about what he does as well,
just when he looks at the work cload, putting things
in perspective and telling us about how he faces time,
how he faces situations when times are trying. Of course,
this is all thanks to the Community Trusts South as
well for their support. Dean. Good afternoon once again, and
(00:55):
welcome good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Andy.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Firstly, over at Glenn and where you were based, how
did you fear a couple of weeks ago?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Ah, Well, to be honest, we were everybody here was
off farm, so we come home to a few things
to tidy up like everybody else. But yeah, trees and
roofs and a few lending motels like there's just just
the same as everybody else. Really, we're just probably were
but fortunate and it hasn't damaged any or blocked any
(01:23):
excess or major infrastructure of things like that, apart from
the wall shed roof was gone. But yeah, it's just
stuff that's going to take a long time to tidy up.
And we're just going to wait for a digger in
the queue because it's just the scale or the size
of the trees that are down and probably but don't
beg for me to tackle with the tractor in my chainsaw.
So we'll just wait and get it done properly and
(01:45):
do it once and do it right.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
You say you're off farm when the wind events occurred.
Were you nervous as to what you were coming home to?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Uh? No, I've had a few reports. There's people come
and checked up on things and send me some photos
and yeah, so it wasn't too surprised about what we're
coming home to. But yeah, it got actually got stuck
on the west coast because half past of closed due
to another weather event. So come home for Canterbury in
the end and picked up a generator and timur and
(02:15):
plugged all in and had it going for twenty minutes
and come back on. So yeah, Mury, Yeah, we knew
what we're sort of expected when we got hammittes. For sure.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
There's never a great timing for a situation like this.
And Andrew Kochman of Venyous Feats made it made the
observation if it had happened now in a dairy farming
sense of AI in full swing, would have been an
absolute nightmare. But it the same token too, if it
had happened during the middle of September during lambing, that
would have an absolute nightmare.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, it would have been. I suppose, like you said,
there's no never a good time for such a massive,
large scale weather event like that. But I suppose with
the sheep and beef had on, Yes, it was not
a bad time. Lemming was all about finishing. People may
have had a few hobbits holding on to the end,
but apart from that, everybody sort of all the lambs
(03:08):
and news are in a position they could handle an
event such as that. It just may have held up
a bit of tailing for another couple of days, and
it's caused a bit of fencing damage where the bigger
trees have lifted up fences and so may have had
a couple of mobs boxed up a little bit, but
at the end of the day, it's everyone was still
safe and alive in that respects So I don't think
(03:30):
we've got too much to complain about really.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
So where you were based at Glennam that you took
a bit of time just to go around and evaluate
the situation before you made a plan, was it at
that stage?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Ah? Yeah, we suppose we did and figured out what
was the priority. Yeah, that which when I said we
didn't have any excess spot, there's a couple of trees
down across gateways, but yeah, I've been remembered quite quickly.
And then getting trees off the workground paddicts. We were
trying to get crop in Young Gray too as the
next priority, I guess. So yeah, sort of we did
(04:04):
sort of triarche things as we drove around Havelock and yeah,
tech that in that respect.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, triage just so where'd you associate with health and
hospital more than farming, But pretty much is what the
situation dictated, right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Yeah, exactly. And talking to the contractors and some other
contractors around the country. They've sort of been talking to
all their clients and sort of prioritizing over that around
that sort of stuff too. So there's obviously people that
needed treasure for pair restoration, getting water schemes back on
for stock and so forth. So yeah, like I think
(04:40):
everybody's been across the province has been very understanding in
that respect, and and you can see that if their
situation isn't production limiting and any effect, that they might
just have to wait away bit longer. So yeah, but
I believe that most people have got pair back on
now and that's so yeah, it's just just to clean
up to go really. So yeah, I guess the first
(05:04):
week everybody's sort of ran on the dingline a little bit.
But now the severity of some people's tidy up in
restorations coming to the fore, Yeah, the significance of it
could start to take us told.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yes, so you reckon. This is the time that people
need to understand that they're going to any concerns I
need to help, I had to got to reach out
and nextually talk to people.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, exactly. Just just encourage people to keep keep in
touch with their neighbors and touch base and if you're
seeing the event happening, just you take the ten minutes
to get off farm like so I know that Glennham
here we have the coffee card at the haul every
Friday eighteen thirty, so you always make a point of
getting down there and catching up with the locals. So
(05:49):
I'm sure, I'm not sure. I know there are lots
of events like that going on around south and at
the moment too. So yeah, just encourage you, but just
to take team and go and have a coffee and
heyn and catch you pre a bit before getting back
and getting into it. But at the end of the day,
we will get through the tidy up. It's going to
take a while, but I'm sure there's going to be
some positives come out of it. I can take the
(06:11):
opportunity to fux a few fences or reline a few
things and stock up the woodshed for winter, I guess.
So yeah, we'll get there. It'll take a bit of time,
but we will get there.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And that's the thing, and that's the one real silver
lining out of this is ironic as it sounds, is
that we'll supply for next season. People will get ahead
of the eight ball.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I don't think it will just be next season. I
think you to come as well.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, Chainsaws as well. It's one thing getting on the
chainsaw and cutting just a couple of logs up, Dean,
but it's another thing going in there days of work
ahead of you. But fortunately there are chainsaw safety workshops occurring.
For example, take a real Support Trust. They've got stuff happening,
They've got events happening, sorry Lawrence Tapanoi, Clinton and Oweck
(06:55):
over the next couple of weeks. So yeah, I urage
people to go along to these as well and just
make sure you've got an understand him because these things
can be lethal.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, especially with all the root structures still touch these
trees like effectively they're still fully loaded lying down, if
that makes sense. So yeah, A serfain doubt to stay
away from it because I know it's quite easy to
get a bit complacent but out of confident, and I
know that I've probably been guilty of that at times myself.
So yeah, But touching on those community events, if anybody's
(07:29):
wanted to know when they're happening or anything like that,
just there a Facebook stalk of the South and Yal
Support Trusting. I know that Katrina's bloody awesome keeping all
those events up up to date and sort of yeah,
promoting them so you'll soon find find something that's close
to you and get involved.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Yeah, Katrina's doing a sterling dive truck, keeping everybody in
the loopers to what's going on, because, like you say,
this won't be a five minute fat and that's the
big thing to keep them in the back of your mind.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, exactly, Like I can't us getting tied it up
until well until next year now, especially with the workload
that's coming on now getting one to crop so in
young grass, I mean, gee, heavensbread, we're not far away
from well, I know some people already are drenching lambs
at first and then before we not we're talking about wanning.
So yeah, the calendar is getting pretty full quickly. So
(08:21):
unless yeah, we're just taking attune unless it's going to
be a real production limiting clean up. Yes, we've done
and we're just going to park it until we find
the time to get it done properly.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Just finally, Dan, how's your grass situation looking there?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I think it's grown more in the last four days
than the here's in the last four months, to be honest,
amazing what a but a heat does the farms changed
color and sort of driving around the pedix now sort
of again being able to breathe a bit instead of
juggling ten years from here to there to try and
make things look a bit better. So yeah, it's definitely
(08:58):
definitely on the treating in the right direction now, Andy,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Good on your Dean Rabbage. Always appreciate your time on
the muster.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now, where's any Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Deane Rabbage of Glennam. Thanks for the self and Ural
Support Trust, remembering if you need to reach out for
a bit of a yarn I eight hundred seven eight
seven two five four for a confidential chat chat Self
and Lural Support Trust remembering problem shared is a problem
halved And of course this is brought to you by
the Community Trust South. Jill Nayler of Real Woman, New
(09:30):
Zealand's Up Next and Andrew Walsh in a twin five
genetics
Welcome back to the muster on Hakanui. Now, thanks to
the South and Ural Support Trust, we're talking to various
farmers and people involved with the farming industry from around
the South after the weather events of just about two
and a half weeks ago. Now I suppose with those
wins and what people are doing to change their mindset
and just to get through the tough times. This afternoon
(00:35):
we're speaking of Dean Rabbage farming at Glenham and just
kind of to Deno about what he does as well,
just when he looks at the work cload, putting things
in perspective and telling us about how he faces time,
how he faces situations when times are trying. Of course,
this is all thanks to the Community Trusts South as
well for their support. Dean. Good afternoon once again, and
(00:55):
welcome good afternoon.
Speaker 2 (00:57):
Andy.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
Firstly, over at Glenn and where you were based, how
did you fear a couple of weeks ago?
Speaker 2 (01:03):
Ah, Well, to be honest, we were everybody here was
off farm, so we come home to a few things
to tidy up like everybody else. But yeah, trees and
roofs and a few lending motels like there's just just
the same as everybody else. Really, we're just probably were
but fortunate and it hasn't damaged any or blocked any
(01:23):
excess or major infrastructure of things like that, apart from
the wall shed roof was gone. But yeah, it's just
stuff that's going to take a long time to tidy up.
And we're just going to wait for a digger in
the queue because it's just the scale or the size
of the trees that are down and probably but don't
beg for me to tackle with the tractor in my chainsaw.
So we'll just wait and get it done properly and
(01:45):
do it once and do it right.
Speaker 1 (01:47):
You say you're off farm when the wind events occurred.
Were you nervous as to what you were coming home to?
Speaker 2 (01:53):
Uh? No, I've had a few reports. There's people come
and checked up on things and send me some photos
and yeah, so it wasn't too surprised about what we're
coming home to. But yeah, it got actually got stuck
on the west coast because half past of closed due
to another weather event. So come home for Canterbury in
the end and picked up a generator and timur and
(02:15):
plugged all in and had it going for twenty minutes
and come back on. So yeah, Mury, Yeah, we knew
what we're sort of expected when we got hammittes. For sure.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
There's never a great timing for a situation like this.
And Andrew Kochman of Venyous Feats made it made the
observation if it had happened now in a dairy farming
sense of AI in full swing, would have been an
absolute nightmare. But it the same token too, if it
had happened during the middle of September during lambing, that
would have an absolute nightmare.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, it would have been. I suppose, like you said,
there's no never a good time for such a massive,
large scale weather event like that. But I suppose with
the sheep and beef had on, Yes, it was not
a bad time. Lemming was all about finishing. People may
have had a few hobbits holding on to the end,
but apart from that, everybody sort of all the lambs
(03:08):
and news are in a position they could handle an
event such as that. It just may have held up
a bit of tailing for another couple of days, and
it's caused a bit of fencing damage where the bigger
trees have lifted up fences and so may have had
a couple of mobs boxed up a little bit, but
at the end of the day, it's everyone was still
safe and alive in that respects So I don't think
(03:30):
we've got too much to complain about really.
Speaker 1 (03:33):
So where you were based at Glennam that you took
a bit of time just to go around and evaluate
the situation before you made a plan, was it at
that stage?
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Ah? Yeah, we suppose we did and figured out what
was the priority. Yeah, that which when I said we
didn't have any excess spot, there's a couple of trees
down across gateways, but yeah, I've been remembered quite quickly.
And then getting trees off the workground paddicts. We were
trying to get crop in Young Gray too as the
next priority, I guess. So yeah, sort of we did
(04:04):
sort of triarche things as we drove around Havelock and yeah,
tech that in that respect.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Yeah, triage just so where'd you associate with health and
hospital more than farming, But pretty much is what the
situation dictated, right.
Speaker 2 (04:20):
Yeah, exactly. And talking to the contractors and some other
contractors around the country. They've sort of been talking to
all their clients and sort of prioritizing over that around
that sort of stuff too. So there's obviously people that
needed treasure for pair restoration, getting water schemes back on
for stock and so forth. So yeah, like I think
(04:40):
everybody's been across the province has been very understanding in
that respect, and and you can see that if their
situation isn't production limiting and any effect, that they might
just have to wait away bit longer. So yeah, but
I believe that most people have got pair back on
now and that's so yeah, it's just just to clean
up to go really. So yeah, I guess the first
(05:04):
week everybody's sort of ran on the dingline a little bit.
But now the severity of some people's tidy up in
restorations coming to the fore, Yeah, the significance of it
could start to take us told.
Speaker 1 (05:18):
Yes, so you reckon. This is the time that people
need to understand that they're going to any concerns I
need to help, I had to got to reach out
and nextually talk to people.
Speaker 2 (05:28):
Yeah, exactly. Just just encourage people to keep keep in
touch with their neighbors and touch base and if you're
seeing the event happening, just you take the ten minutes
to get off farm like so I know that Glennham
here we have the coffee card at the haul every
Friday eighteen thirty, so you always make a point of
getting down there and catching up with the locals. So
(05:49):
I'm sure, I'm not sure. I know there are lots
of events like that going on around south and at
the moment too. So yeah, just encourage you, but just
to take team and go and have a coffee and
heyn and catch you pre a bit before getting back
and getting into it. But at the end of the day,
we will get through the tidy up. It's going to
take a while, but I'm sure there's going to be
some positives come out of it. I can take the
(06:11):
opportunity to fux a few fences or reline a few
things and stock up the woodshed for winter, I guess.
So yeah, we'll get there. It'll take a bit of time,
but we will get there.
Speaker 1 (06:21):
And that's the thing, and that's the one real silver
lining out of this is ironic as it sounds, is
that we'll supply for next season. People will get ahead
of the eight ball.
Speaker 2 (06:30):
I don't think it will just be next season. I
think you to come as well.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
Yeah, Chainsaws as well. It's one thing getting on the
chainsaw and cutting just a couple of logs up, Dean,
but it's another thing going in there days of work
ahead of you. But fortunately there are chainsaw safety workshops occurring.
For example, take a real Support Trust. They've got stuff happening,
They've got events happening, sorry Lawrence Tapanoi, Clinton and Oweck
(06:55):
over the next couple of weeks. So yeah, I urage
people to go along to these as well and just
make sure you've got an understand him because these things
can be lethal.
Speaker 2 (07:04):
Yeah, especially with all the root structures still touch these
trees like effectively they're still fully loaded lying down, if
that makes sense. So yeah, A serfain doubt to stay
away from it because I know it's quite easy to
get a bit complacent but out of confident, and I
know that I've probably been guilty of that at times myself.
So yeah, But touching on those community events, if anybody's
(07:29):
wanted to know when they're happening or anything like that,
just there a Facebook stalk of the South and Yal
Support Trusting. I know that Katrina's bloody awesome keeping all
those events up up to date and sort of yeah,
promoting them so you'll soon find find something that's close
to you and get involved.
Speaker 1 (07:47):
Yeah, Katrina's doing a sterling dive truck, keeping everybody in
the loopers to what's going on, because, like you say,
this won't be a five minute fat and that's the
big thing to keep them in the back of your mind.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Yeah, exactly, Like I can't us getting tied it up
until well until next year now, especially with the workload
that's coming on now getting one to crop so in
young grass, I mean, gee, heavensbread, we're not far away
from well, I know some people already are drenching lambs
at first and then before we not we're talking about wanning.
So yeah, the calendar is getting pretty full quickly. So
(08:21):
unless yeah, we're just taking attune unless it's going to
be a real production limiting clean up. Yes, we've done
and we're just going to park it until we find
the time to get it done properly.
Speaker 1 (08:33):
Just finally, Dan, how's your grass situation looking there?
Speaker 2 (08:37):
I think it's grown more in the last four days
than the here's in the last four months, to be honest,
amazing what a but a heat does the farms changed
color and sort of driving around the pedix now sort
of again being able to breathe a bit instead of
juggling ten years from here to there to try and
make things look a bit better. So yeah, it's definitely
(08:58):
definitely on the treating in the right direction now, Andy,
that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (09:02):
Good on your Dean Rabbage. Always appreciate your time on
the muster.
Speaker 2 (09:05):
Now, where's any Thank you.
Speaker 1 (09:09):
Deane Rabbage of Glennam. Thanks for the self and Ural
Support Trust, remembering if you need to reach out for
a bit of a yarn I eight hundred seven eight
seven two five four for a confidential chat chat Self
and Lural Support Trust remembering problem shared is a problem
halved And of course this is brought to you by
the Community Trust South. Jill Nayler of Real Woman, New
(09:30):
Zealand's Up Next and Andrew Walsh in a twin five
genetics
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