We’re a little bit country…………and a little bit city savvy, too……… with a whole lot of heart!!!
Category: River cruise
Franklin………our changing face
Franklin – our wee patch of NZ, like many others I guess, is ever changing, as the years move on…….
Just one instance is –
Pokeno, our neighbour down the road in the Northern Waikato part of Franklin, has been through many changes over the years – going from a fairly busy village as per our photo, to an area by-passed by the modernisation of the highway/motorway and now back again towards being a busy town with it’s new and increasing housing areas.
The town also has Yasihili, the new Infant Formula Factory, being built. It will be interesting to see how this helps to build the region with employment, visitors and growth in general!
Yashili is part of a major group that leads the dairy market in China. To help us achieve our preeminent position there, we have been a longstanding importer of New Zealand milk powder. Now we are taking that one step further – we are not just sourcing our milk powder here; we are producing our finished goods here. Our $200 million investment in Pokeno focuses on the development and construction of a 30,000m2 manufacturing plant. Our annual production capacity of around 52,000 tonnes of infant formula products will supply the rapidly growing and increasingly demanding Chinese market.To help us achieve our potential in New Zealand we are looking for the brightest and best people in dairy manufacturing to come on board with us. We have job opportunities in manufacturing, supply chain and quality management. Come and join us and be part of our team that is putting Kiwi expertise on the world’s stage.Yashili is one of the “big three” producers of infant milk formula for the domestic market in China. Our two leading brands, Yashily and Scient, and the more recently introduced Merla brand account for more than 80 per cent of Yashili Group’s total business. Yashili is also one of the leading suppliers of soymilk powder, cereal, rice flour and milk powder for adults and teenager to the Chinese market. Our products are sold in just over 105,000 retail outlets in China. In July 2012, we were named among the top 500 Most Valuable Brands in China for the ninth consecutive year. Yashili Group employs over 5000 people and reported an annual turnover in 2011 of NZ$566 million. We are publicly listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. In June 2013, China Mengniu Diary Company announced plans to acquire Yashili Group. Mengniu, China’s largest producer of liquid milk products, is part owned by China’s state-backed agricultural and food industry supplier COFCO.
Building Future Capacity
China’s infant formula market is expected to grow to NZ$32 billion by 2017, according to Euromonitor data. The increasing demand for infant milk formula is being driven by families shifting from rural locations to the cities, a stable birth rate, more mothers going out to work, and increases in disposable income. The challenge for Yashili and other manufacturers is to keep pace with demand while maintaining a high level of quality control. That’s why we have looked to New Zealand and its internationally recognised expertise in the manufacture of quality milk powder to build our newest dairy processing. Yashili already promotes the high quality of New Zealand-sourced milk content in our premium brands. We have imported milk powder from New Zealand for over 10 years and we have used New Zealand milk powder exclusively in our infant milk formula since August 2010. Now we are adding further value to our product with Kiwi manufacturing expertise, and the support of the country’s skilled labour force.
around Franklin
around Franklin Country with a few more pics
So come stay and play here in Franklin Country – there’s along weekend coming up waiting for you!!
…and the history continues in Franklin…..
Further to my blog about marking our history in Franklin, (as we are in the years of having notable historical events to recount), is a little info about connections to possibly one of the most famous kiwi warships, HMS Archilles – being the first NZ unit to engage the enemy in WWII.
A movie was made about the Archilles part in the war – this 1956 poster advertising the movie – 
When the cruiser HMS Achilles opened fire on the German ‘pocket battleship’ Admiral Graf Spee in the South Atlantic, at 6.21 a.m. on 13 December 1939, it became the first New Zealand unit to strike a blow at the enemy in the Second World War. With the New Zealand ensign flying proudly from its mainmast – as battle loomed, a signalman had run aft with the ensign shouting ‘Make way for the Digger flag!’ – Achilles also became the first New Zealand warship to take part in a naval battle.
The 82-minute engagement between the Graf Spee and its three smaller British opponents – Achilles, Ajax and Exeter – was inconclusive. All four were damaged, with the British ships suffering 72 fatalities (among them two New Zealanders) to the Graf Spee’s 36. But the German warship’s subsequent withdrawal to the neutral Uruguayan port of Montevideo, and its dramatic scuttling by its own crew on 17 December, turned the Battle of the River Plate into a major British victory – and a welcome morale boost for the Allied cause.
Achilles’ role in the battle was a special source of pride for New Zealanders, who welcomed the ship’s crew home at huge parades in Auckland and Wellington in early 1940.
The original Admirals Barge that was aboard the Archilles, was found on Waiheke Island and a Waiuku local managed to purchase the barge for restoration.
Franklin, as with other parts of the country and the world, has it’s share of history – albeit, younger than overseas, but history none-the-less! and here we have descendants of crew who served on the Archilles, as I can personally vouch for.
…and here we are – 2015!!
Where DID 2014 go?
The beginning of a new year with new plans and prospects. Franklin is no different in that respect as we have such a lot on the agenda again this year! BUT we do have such awesome events.
If you are a racing fan, then the end of this month at Hampton Downs (officially in the North Waikato, but we still call that area our southern Franklin!!) is the Fifty Plus Formula 5000 lineup
An unprecedented turnout of Formula 5000 cars looks set to secure the 2015 Gulf Oil Howden Ganley Formula 5000 Festival’s place in motorsport history as one of the largest ever gatherings of the iconic race cars.
The organisers are confident fans will see 50 plus of the V8, 10 and V12 powered machines, with cars covering all years of the F5000 formula’s life, and most if not all of the manufacturers who built cars for the series which ran in various guises in the USA, Europe and Australasia between 1968 and 1982.
The 2015 event – which stretches over the weekends of January 16-18 and 23-25 at the Hampton Downs circuit in the North Waikato – is a celebration of both the Formula 5000 type of racing car and driver Howden Ganley. Unheralded Kiwi Ganley’s story is a fascinating one that took the former team mechanic to sports cars, F5000 and the dizzy heights of Formula One.
It also marks the first ‘Formula 5000 World Series’ – the champion of which will be crowned after the last race of the second weekend of the Festival. At least one full grid of Formula 5000s will race during the Festival, and that could mean as many as 35 of the earth-shaking single seaters roaring around the Hampton Downs track almost five seconds a lap quicker than the best ‘V8 taxi’ is capable of
..and while you’re over this way, why not stay awhile and head to Waiuku for the Movies in Parks Rocky Horror Picture show on the 16th Jan? 
February, on our calendar here in Franklin has the “Splore Festival” at Tapapakanga Regional Park. So get set for summertime fun and music by the water!
Simply put Splore is a boutique music and arts festival like no other.
In March we have some celebrations of the area and our own Taste Festival…so keep an eye out for more info here AND get your accommodation booked (if you can!!) and come stay a while !!
A little bit more…
So, Franklin region has had some great weekend activities happening lately, what with the Targa, Swap Meet and more!!
This weekend, we get the chance to check out a bit more historical stuff again – the Karaka Vintage Day on Sunday as well as Tuakau’s 100 year celebration of the Post Office, which is now the local museum.
Like most regions, we have a few historical interest opportunities….
A wee while ago, a piece was written about some of the history of Cameron Town, here in Franklin.
There have been people over the years looking to visit Cameron Town, but in fact the only remaining physical memory of this place is the name – Cameron Town Road.
150 odd years ago, Camerontown was a British Army Supply depot, which, after the New Zealand Wars of 1863, became a small settlement. It was named after the British commander, Lieutenant General Duncan Cameron.
Although the road link to the original Cameron Town no longer exists, other than as access to the properties there, there is still the opportunity to use the Waikato River as a pathway to get an idea of how things were in the 1800’s.
Our local kayak guide is one means to experience the river and what it has to offer.
Merry Christmas
Wishing one and all a very merry, happy and safe Christmas that brings all the best that you could wish for.
Tuakau – Franklin or not?
When I was a wee sprocket, my family and I moved to the Franklin district – Tuakau to be exact, for my dad’s work.
Tuakau was a “borough” with it’s own Borough Council, within the Franklin District. It became a Borough in 1955 until 1989, when the whole Franklin region became part of the (then) new District Council and Franklin stretched as far south as, at least, Pokeno. So you see, we still consider what is now known as the Northern Waikato, to be part of Franklin, the way it has been for so many years.
When I moved to the area, Tuakau was quite a thriving country town (from what I can recall).
There was a (what seemed to me in my childhood) large store – Wallace Supplies, I think it was called – that had everything; from a hairdresser to the local mercantile for farming goods and feed; umbrellas, you name it, they stocked it! It was on the site of the current hotel carpark – the hotel has been completely overhauled tremendously by it’s current owners, and does great meals. The hotel was originally established in 1882 and had 21 rooms. William James Priest was the proprietor at that time.
There were also a number of local dairies – one up beside the Town hall and a couple further down the street and I’m sure they were called “milk bars”. The one closest to the railway end of town, had booths where you could sit and have your milkshake (although we weren’t allowed to go into that one – but grandad used to buy us icecreams from that one when he came to visit and pick us up from school!)
The Dairy factory was still in operation and was one of the earliest “creameries” established – erected in 1888, but now long since closed in it’s original form.
We had a taxi stand. The “pictures” (cinema) were shown in the town hall – I can remember going to see the movies “Papillon” and “Love Story” !!
The Heartland TVsome years ago, replayed a programme that was filmed in Tuakau. It showed the “bikies” parked outside one of the milk bars and some of the locals working at the chook farm up Browns Road……I wouldn’t mind getting a copy of that one, even though it was filmed before I can remember, to watch again!
and the train stopped in Tuakau!!!- well for a while anyway, until “progress” put a stop to that. The station was originally opened in 1875 and had, at that time a “ladies waiting room” as well as a Postal and Telegraph office and a ticket office. I can still remember the uproar when the station was to be demolished! Also, the bus service was slightly more regular than it is now, but like all progress, Tuakau soon started to go backward, and many of the shops and businesses closed.
The Tuakau Museum was once the Post office (opened in 1912 until 1983), in my young days, where you took your savings book and money to have the teller hand write your deposit and new balance.
Now though, Tuakau is once again beginning to grow with lifestyle blocks, cheaper(or should that read more affordable) housing, new businesses and on the river (beside where the original township was planned to be, way back when) is the Discovery Rivercruises Houseboat.
Ian and Judy have a great houseboat that they have put such a lot of time, effort and money into, that takes discerning clientele on a river cruise. Ian has discovered such a lot of the history of the river and enjoys telling it to whoever he can.
It is a great way to spend a weekend while taking time out from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The houseboat has luxurious bedrooms with their own ensuites, a spa pool and more! and from the Alexandra Redoubt, above the river, you can get a great view, much as the British soldiers did in the early days of the Land Wars.
Many of the old family names are still around the area, the original settlers such as the Madills, Lapwoods, Bookers
Tuakau has also produced a number of people who have become famous around the world in varying industries(I’ll go into that in another blog, so keep an eye out!)
If anyone has any other memories of Tuakau, in the Franklin region!! let me know 🙂
Gear up for your next short break!!
This coming weekend (yes, talking about the weekend when we have only just had one!) is Queens Birthday weekend and if you haven’t already had a short break, this could be the right time to try something different. Why not give the Franklin region (south of Auckland city) a visit?If you are after a bit of an adrenalin rush, a visit to Spookers could help with that, or if something a little more relaxing is in order, how about get in touch with Ian and Judy at Discovery River Cruises. They will make you welcome for a day cruise or an overnighter on their very comfortable houseboat, complete with spa!!
Or, our very own Castaways on the hill overlooking the black sand beach of Kariotahi on our west coast, where the ladies can have some pampering at any one of the regions day spas, (although without having to move too far from the beach you will find Bersanti Spa) and the men can do some clay bird shooting or four wheel driving over the west coast hills
…….ok..so maybe the men want some pampering too, and the ladies, clay bird shooting ( I know that I enjoy the clay bird shooting and the spa!!) followed by a meal at Agave Restaurant where the food is absolutely perfect, as is the case with most of our dining in the region.
Whatever takes your fancy, you are sure to be able to find it here in Franklin Country
franklincountry 
