Like the Robertsons, he’s concerned about the future of farming on the peninsula—and elsewhere. “Some of the banks have been down on farming for years. A few weeks ago I wanted to borrow $30,000 from the bank for some cattle. I’ve been with this particular bank forever. `No, I’m sorry, Mr Clearwater, we couldn’t possibly do that.’ Well, stuff them. A stock and station company rang me up a day later and offered me the $30,000, and more if I wanted it. Without farming, New Zealand is dead, but a lot of people don’t realise it.”