Page 5 - OPE September 2019

CLIPPINGS
Local and International News
Calling budding young gardeners!
BATTERY TAKES OFF IN MUNICIPAL SETTINGS
TWO FURTHER EXAMPLES of
why the professional use of battery-driven outdoor power in the USA is taking off.
• AGZApicksSTIHL–TheAmerican Green Zone Alliance (AGZA, see www. agza.net) has joined with STIHL to support its independent nationwide campaign advocating for the use
of battery-electric equipment in professional applications. As part
of its Green Zone education and certification programs, AGZA was founded to “give customers and ground crews credible advice on which manufacturers and tools
are capable of commercial work production and which can actually replace gas machines”. AGZA will endorse the STIHL AP line (along with a few other brands of AGZA Approved commercial-grade battery- electric equipment) in its advocacy
to mayors and city councils, public works departments, sustainability organisations, and academic, municipal and commercial crews.
• Michiganbanontwostrokes–
From the end user perspective
now, University town Ann Arbor in Michigan has joined some 170-odd other US cities in reconsidering
how outdoor power equipment is used in their inner cities. In Ann Arbor’s case, it’s banned the use of two-stroke petrol leaf blowers and other gasoline-powered two-stroke equipment within its downtown area. Battery powered equipment
is now mandated, along, perhaps surprisingly, with less noisy four- stroke engined gear which doesn’t “spew emissions” into the central city air. City employees have a year to finish using their two-stoke gear and then only in certain cases.
YATES IS RUNNING its Budding
Young Gardener competition again, with a great prize of a trip for four to Hawaii up for grabs.
Kids enter online in one of seven different regions around NZ with a nationwide winner selected from the regional winners by judges including gardening guru, Ruud Kleinpaste.
Entrants complete an entry form, answer a number of gardening questions and submit a short video or photographs sharing their garden and what they get up to in it.
The seven regional winners win a Yates
Budding Young Gardener Hamper worth $300+ while the overall winner will be off to Hawaii with their family for a five-day visit will include flights, accommodation and a rental car plus tickets to some of the islands wonderful natural attractions.
The grand prize also includes spending a day in your garden with a Yates horticulturist picking up skills and tips.
Entries close on 6 October 2019 and the Grand Prize Winner will be announced during National Gardening Week (21-28 October).
www.yates.co.nz/budding-young-gardener/ www.yates.co.nz/nationalgardeningweek
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Options
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freephone 0508 4 HANSA hansaproducts.co.nz
moreat facebook.com/NZOPEmagazine
SEPTEMBER2019 NZOUTDOORPOWEREQUIPMENT 05
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