The following articles have been submitted by our volunteers and anyone who has an interest in all things New Zealand. Contributions are most welcome so please contact us.
(The mighty Whanganui river is the longest navigable river in the country. Photo credit: Take Two Photographers Ltd 2009.)
Ancestral roots are important to all of us as a foundation for identity and for giving us a sense of belonging. They become particularly relevant to those of us who’ve chosen to live our lives on the other side of the planet where we raise children who are lucky if they get to see one set of relatives more than once or twice in their lifetimes.
The Royal Ulster Rifles, then our local Regiment, was the only British one to have both its regular Battalions involved in ‘Operation Overlord’ which was the largest amphibious invasion in the history of warfare when the Allies landed on the Normandy coast of France.
WEE Fergies and old Fords are known well by rural folk, but can they tell a pulper from a horse walk? Do they know farming machinery used before Harry Ferguson arrived with modern tractors? A visit to The Ballance House will tell you more…
The Ulster New Zealand Trust welcomes the new Honorary Consul for New Zealand.
With dual citizenship of the UK and New Zealand, Caroline tells us she was delighted to be appointed Honorary Consul for New Zealand in September 2023, and is very much looking forward to fulfilling this role.
THE BALLANCE FARM ENVIRONMENT AWARD 2023
In far off New Zealand a passion for farming with a holistic approach and bringing off-farm skills into the business has gained Otago farmers Steven and Kellie Nichol the Ballance Farm Environment Award 2023. An award sponsored by farmers’ co-op Ballance Agri-Nutrients Ltd, which was formed in 2001 when four existing farm suppliers came together.
RALPH GREY, the only son of a Wellington accountant married to a teacher, was a New Zealand lawyer destined to become the last Governor of Northern Ireland. As Lord Grey of Naunton he served with quiet distinction in troubled times from 1968 to 1973. As the ‘Troubles’ spread across the Province the affable Kiwi reported that “All sides have been extremely nice to me. I only wish they were a little nicer to each other!”
Almost 250 years after the first sheep arrived in New Zealand an Ulsterman is providing revolutionary new genetics to the largest private ram breeding operation in the country.
For centuries man has been moving a large range of wildlife species - animals, birds, and plants from their native parts of the world to new areas and habitats. Find out about the effects of introducing many species of deer and some other game animals into New Zealand which eventually proved detrimental causing erosion to fragile habitats.
John Ballance was by no means the only Ulster voice calling for equality of opportunity in New Zealand during the late 19th century. Another native of Ulster has been recalled for her efforts to ensure the new nation was based on fairness for those working in factories. The Ulster History Circle has erected a blue plaque at Killeshandra Church of Ireland, Co Cavan, to commemorate Margaret Scott Hawthorne (1869-1958).
Ken Patterson and his wifeI live in Moira and back in July/August 2015, he advertised a small tent for sale on Gumtree. Ken got a phone call from a guy named Shannon (Shan) Mako, a New Zealander who was coming here to see the Ulster Grand Prix motorcycle race at Dundrod. He needed a tent so he could stay at the spectator 'village' area at Dundrod.
Leading New Zealand farm supply co-operative Ballance Agri-Nutrients is now a proud supporter of the Ulster New Zealand Trust as upgrading The Ballance House display continues.
Julian and Patricia left Cherbourg in France in 2017 planning on a five year trip to sail around the world. Their sailing boat is an aluminium Allures 45.9 called A Capella of Belfast. On the way to New Zealand they visited the Caribbean, East coast of America, Bahamas, Jamaica, Panama, French Polynesian, Samoa and Tonga so quite a trip. A visit to New Zealand was always planned but an eighteen months stay in New Zealand was an unexpected delight. In the end due to the pandemic they decided to ship their boat back to the UK. A Capella of Belfast is now in Bangor marina, but will be moored in Strangford when the weather improves.
In the inter war years several farming families, including the Troughtons and the Winters, from around Portadown successfully started a new life in distant New Zealand. A country that gave them great opportunities to build up their own businesses and enjoy a much better lifestyle than Northern Ireland in the hungry thirties.
Many people on this side of the world with perhaps only a passing interest in trees will be aware of the huge redwood trees found in California, the tallest trees found anywhere. Less well known is that in New Zealand there are magnificent trees not as tall, but massive in their girth. These are the Kauri pine (Agathis australis) which fossil records indicate date back to the Jurassic period.
David Mark: From Islandmoyle, Cabra County Down to Gore, New Zealand. David left Ireland for New Zealand in 1910 and moved to Gore in South Island where he found employment working on farms with teams of horses putting crops in and helping with the harvest.
Despite popular belief, wine has had a long, torturous, and fascinating history in New Zealand, and with plenty of influence from those with Northern Ireland roots.
YOUNG Mums are busy and organised, but New Zealander Gabrielle Burns takes the concept of 'busy and organised' to a new level, including volunteering at The Ballance House, when time allows!
Back home on the family farm near Newtownards after four years overseas Jenny Martin, 26, has brought home wide experience of managing livestock and people.
Sadly the recent period of lockdown has not only distanced all of us from friends and family but it has not allowed us to present suitable farewells to some great friends who have passed on. This has also hit us here at the Ulster New Zealand Trust through the recent much lamented deaths of Professor Hilary Bracefield and Mrs Helen McClenaghan OBE.
Lynne, a daughter of UNZT office holders Freddie and Yvonne Hall, is on a prolonged visit home from New Zealand with her husband and two children. Here Lynne recounts a life of adventure and achievement.
The Ulster New Zealand Trust at The Ballance House
118a Lisburn Road, Glenavy, BT29 4NY. Charity Commission NI Number: 100338
Email: info@theballancehouse.com
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