New Zealand radio broadcaster, self-confessed 'Wanna Be Tradie', and all-round nice guy.
"If you're worried about not being able to use the machine, you're looking at a guy with all the gear and no idea and look what I did here."
Join Vaughan as he puts our 4044R compact utility tractor to the test on his property north-west of Auckland.
You'll love seeing the versatility of what the 4044R can achieve for your rural property.
Oh, did we mention the cute animals?
Follow us to see how else Vaughan is using the 4044R for his DIY projects.
Join Vaughan as he teams up with KJ, Seddon Park's Turf Manager, for an exciting lawn renovation project at his acreage near Auckland.
If getting your lawn up to scratch is on your to-do list, watch as Vaughan and KJ transform an uneven, bare patch of soil into lush green grass, ready for its first mow with the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak™ Mower.
Don't miss out on this incredible transformation!
[Music] Hi everybody, it's me, Vaughan. Today we've got a big job on our hands. We're doing a lawn renovation. Now we've got the best equipment for the job with the John Deere, but we need the best person for the job and that's where my new mate KJ comes into it. [Music] And look he's just arriving right now. What fortuitous timing that he should arrive right as I point at him. KJ, good to see you mate. Good day mate, how are you? Very well, thank you. Now this isn't the sort of, uh, turf you're probably used to cuz you turf manage Sedden Park in Hamilton. Yeah, I do mate, yeah. You don't run a big, knotty kikuyu? Uh no. Okay, well we've got a bit of a problem. Love problems mate. What have we got? Let's go and solve it now. I'll show you what we've got. Here is the problem that needs a solution. The new septic tank went in in March. It was a real mess. Over winter it's kind of settled down. Spring, we've had a bit more growth come through, but as you can see it's all uneven, bumpy as. Well, what do you reckon? Well, I think what we need to do, the first thing is get your levels right. So, we're just having a look here, you can kind of see. We're going down have a look here cuz this is the, this is the dance floor, right? This is the dance floor. I can just see that there's a lot of work needed on your levels. What I propose we do, we might just get in and shave all this down. We'll get in some soil and compact it all. And we'll spread it around, get it nice and level. Smooth it all out, sew it with a bit of kikuyu seed. Bit of starter fertilizer on it and then I'll love to see you put a bit of water on it, mate, and then sunshine and beautiful grass growing. Yeah, pretty easy really, eh? Sounds it... kind of. [Music] Looks like, have a look. It shows up that the levels are pretty bad. If you just throw this rake across here, you can kind of see the gap that we've got under there. Can you, uh? Now I get to drive the tractor? Bring some soil. [Music] Another one down there. Good job, mate. Oh, thank you. I think that's looking pretty good so far. So, I'm going to introduce you to a bit of technology in the turf world. So, how we level this now is called a rake. Oh okay, I've heard about these things. Yeah, you know that we can spend getting the levels right, there's a few little areas that are not perfect. I can imagine you could lose hours chasing perfection. Weeks. Weeks...get me on a rake. Let's level this thing. Let's go. [Music] He's on the tractor; I'm on the rake. I've got this wrong, haven't I? [Music] It's just, what they call a lawn leveler. Look at that! Alright mate, so we'll just close that off for a start. We'll chuck the seed in. [Music] [Music] Now the best thing about it is you're putting on some a seed starter or a fertilizer starter. Okay. Okay so what it is npk it's got nitrogen. Yep. Phosphorus, potassium and you will have a higher um phosphorus which helps root development. So, I always love to put a starter on. Okay. Because what you want is for any new seed, whether it's kikuru, like what you've got, or whether it's any other variety of seed. You want the roots to go down, cuz that is the, that is the key. Get the roots down, cuz that's where all the strength of the plant will come from. Do the honors mate. It's like pouring champagne, isn't it? Look at that. [Music] Put it there. How good? So good. How good? Ah it already looks so much better, doesn't it? And the grass hasn't even grown yet. You wait; we haven't totally finished. Water. If it doesn't rain, should I be watering it every day? Yeah, you just need to watch it just doesn't want to dry out. This is good. Mate, you've done it before. Yeah, I've watered a couple of things in my time. Yeah, you just don't want to have it blowing down in a jet, so that's perfect. This is peaceful, isn't it? This is the good stuff. Well, I mean, I can, I can ruin it from here, but here's hoping I don't. We'll see you in 6 weeks. Can't wait. I'm puddling. I was talking, I was distracted and now I puddled. Oh KJ! G'day, how are you going? I'm good sun's shining, grass is growing. It's grown? Will you show me? Come on, have a... Fantastic, can't wait to see it. Well, here it is. Too much grass. So it's a very dry summer here, so I've been watering it every day and well here's the result. So we now need to have a bit of a plan for what we do now, eh? I assume mow it, but not with these. You reckon? No. What do you got to mow with? I got a John Deere. Stop it, have you? I do. Snuck up on you. It's not going, is it? it's just electric. It's electric? Does the job too. Let me show you. [Music] Last time that we were here there was no grass. Holes, bumps, clay, mud, it was a real mess full of... anything that was growing in it was a weed. Look at it now, looking great! You look very proud. Very proud to see my summer's work come to fruition. Can I leave you a tip? Yes, please. One of the wee things, people don't mow their lawns enough. So, I always say mow it often, right? So the more times you mow, you can just keep tipping the leaf and that will help it to thicken up a bit as well. Mhmm. Mate, it's been an absolute pleasure. I look forward to, perhaps, coming back and celebrating another glass of water here, and mate, it's been outstanding. How are you with hedges? I've got more jobs that need... Have you? Bring it on.
Join Vaughan as he teams up with KJ, Seddon Park's Turf Manager, for an exciting lawn renovation project at his acreage near Auckland.
If getting your lawn up to scratch is on your to-do list, watch as Vaughan and KJ transform an uneven, bare patch of soil into lush green grass, ready for its first mow with the John Deere Z370R Electric ZTrak™ Mower.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
When NZ broadcaster Vaughan Smith crossed the ditch to team up with Aussie Content Creator Phaedra Rodriguez @phaedragardeness, magic happened!
Together, they built the ultimate chicken coop setup—and the John Deere 4044R was the unsung hero of the day.
From clearing concrete to tilling soil and digging post holes, the 4044R made light work of it all, paving the way for some seriously happy hens.
Watch the full transformation and see the final masterpiece come to life!
Teamwork really does make the dream work!
When NZ broadcaster Vaughan Smith joined forces with Aussie content creator Phaedra Rodriguez, the result was pure magic—a chicken coop setup like no other. With the John Deere equipment on the job, everything from clearing concrete to tilling soil and digging post holes was a breeze. The real winners? Some seriously happy hens!
Watch the full transformation
The 4044R is specially designed to make your life easier! With our easy eHydro™ transmission, Twin Touch™ foot controls allow you to effortlessly switch between forwards and backwards, no clutch needed. Standard Hitch Assist makes the rear hitch faster to use and safer. The three function self-levelling Loader gives you complete versatility, and the standard air ride seat keeps you comfortable and productive all day long.
Meet the Z370R ZTrak™—John Deere's all-electric zero-turn mower that brings you quiet power, zero emissions, and a flawless cut. Mow up to 2 acres per charge* and enjoy the future of lawn care—no fuel, no fuss, just pure mowing freedom.
Features:
Winner of John Deere's Australian Content Creator Competition 2025.
With a flower farm in Yackandandah and a huge to-do list, Phaedra's getting a helping hand from some John Deere equipment. Watch her turn big projects into blooming reality.
Whatever the size of the equipment you're riding or the land you're riding it on, you'll always receive a warm welcome at your local John Deere dealership. There you'll be met by a friendly team who'll remove any stress or worry and help find the right solution for your needs. So, drop in and say hi. We'll roll out the green carpet for you.
*Actual mowing area per charge will vary based on conditions and attachment usage.
**Term limited to 5 years or 200 hours used, whichever comes first, and varies by model.