Meet the lifestyle block owners doing their bit one pest at a time
Michael Van de Elzen, lifestyle block owner and FMG client, and Montana Kerr, FMG lifestyle advice and insurance specialist, met with FMG lifestyle block clients Shona and Philipp Oliver in Taupaki to talk about their vision to eradicate pests from the area. At FMG we’re all about partnering with people like Shona and Phillip who are passionate about protecting the environment, from the eradication of pests to cleaning waterways.
If you live on a lifestyle block you too might be able to relate that it’s not all rainbows and butterflies, Phillip jokingly says it's ‘No Lifestyle Block’ it’s a ‘Life Sentence Block’. But with all the challenges there are many rewards, one of which being able to create a safe haven for native birds like kererū, shining cuckoo (pīpīwharauroa), ruru (morepork), and tui, by trapping rabbits, possums, ferrets, stoats, and rats. They are also extremely passionate about clean waterways, reducing sediment running into the Kaipara Harbour, and restoring life in streams.
Watch their story below, and if you would like to find out their top tips for pest eradication and waterway management keep scrolling.
Learn more lifestyle tips
Build a simple possum trap
Possums eat 21,000 tonnes of our native forests a night.
Preventing pests like possums
Getting serious about eradicating pests to protect native flora and fauna in New Zealand.
Testing waterways
How do I test my waterways?
Living the dream
Many lifestyle block owners are also business owners, it’s an inspiring yet gruelling feat to accomplish.
Lifestyle blocks
There's a lot to think about on a lifestyle block. Whether you're just starting out on a lifestyle block, or getting serious about life in the country, we've got advice on how to avoid common mistakes that lead to damage, and claims with FMG.