Kia ora whānau,
Firstly, we wish to acknowledge the passing of Dave Holes. A whanaunga, a kaimahi on the station, a mate and just a bloody good guy. Moe mai ra ehoa.
This is the first of what we hope will become a regular update from the Committee of Management.
By providing regular updates through our website, we hope to give whānau a clearer picture of the activities taking place across the station and a better understanding of the reasons behind decisions being made.
We hope you find this update both informative and interesting. Let us know.
A Station in Rebuild Mode
Farming at Owāhanga has always come with its challenges, and those challenges continue today, particularly with the increasing frequency and severity of weather events.
The station is currently in a significant rebuilding phase across many areas of the operation. This includes renovations to farm buildings, ongoing cyclone-related track and fence repairs, and the long-awaited commencement of the Mataikona suspension bridge rebuild.
One of the most important areas of focus at present is staffing. Moving away from the use of casual farm staff and investing in permanent kaimahi is a key part of building a positive culture and a strong team environment.
We are pleased to have recently confirmed the employment of two talented young shepherds who will join our current Head Shepherd, Tawera Rautahi, under the leadership of Station Manager David Strong (Bowie). More about them later. Together with the extensive experience of long-serving kaimahi Paul Peeti, we are confident this team will help drive the station forward and achieve positive outcomes for shareholders.
We are fortunate to be able to access revenues through carbon credit sales to fast-track all the deferred repairs and maintenance, including the bridge rebuild.
Taking Advantage of Strong Markets
Livestock prices are currently at record highs. While farming markets can change quickly and there is no certainty about how long favourable conditions will continue, the current environment presents an opportunity to invest in areas of the farm that have required attention for some time.
Over the past year, the Committee of Management has been developing policies and procedures that we hope will stand the test of time and provide a solid foundation for farm and governance operations well into the future.
Our farm advisor, Joel Hensman from Perrin Ag has proved to be a very valuable part of the management team, and we continue to appreciate his input. As a result, we have recommenced several important programmes, including:
- Intensive gorse spraying operations
- Catch up fertiliser application
- Water scheme upgrades
- Ongoing fence maintenance and repairs
There is still much to do in relation to genetics, pasture species, soil health and animal husbandry, but we have a plan that will see progress over the next 5 years. These initiatives are essential for maintaining productivity and ensuring effective stock management across the station.
Looking After the Land
Pole planting will once again take place this winter to help protect key access tracks and stabilise erosion-prone areas. Pest control remains an ongoing challenge, with plans in place to reduce the impact of pests on both productive farmland and our regenerating native ngahere. Protecting and enhancing these areas remains an important priority for the incorporation.
Building Improvements
Significant progress has also been made on improving farm accommodation and infrastructure.
Completed projects include:
- Full renovation of the two-bedroom shepherd’s house
- Full renovation of the Peeti home
- Completion of the single men’s accommodation
- Replacement of a substantial section of the woolshed roof iron
The remaining shepherd’s house is next on the renovation schedule, with work having already commenced.
These improvements ensure that our staff accommodation is fit for purpose and capable of serving the station well for many years to come.
Investing in Resilience
As part of our resilience strategy, the station has purchased a 13-tonne excavator to undertake on-farm track maintenance and other critical infrastructure work.
Recent extreme weather events highlighted the challenges and risks associated with limited farm access. Having our own machine will significantly improve our ability to respond quickly to damage, maintain access routes, and create a safer working environment for staff.
This investment represents an important step in strengthening the station’s long-term resilience.
Strategic Planning 5 – 10 Years Ahead
It has been a challenging time for all farming businesses, and it made sense that, as a pretty new CoM, we needed to have a clear plan ahead of us. With a full muster of our members, we spent a full day brainstorming our why and how we turn that into on-the-ground actions for sustainable outcomes.
Your CoM has arrived at a place where the commitment to serve our shareholder whanau and the whenua we each treasure outstrips any other distractions. We are eager for the pathways ahead and want to continue to build whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, kaitiakitanga and pakihi Māori.
We still have some work to do with our strategic plan. We look forward to sharing it with you soon.
Looking Ahead
There are a number of exciting projects currently in the planning stages. These initiatives are expected to deliver long-term benefits to the incorporation and bring positive environmental outcomes.
We have an obligation to care for and protect our whenua for future generations. We look forward to sharing more information about these projects as they progress.
Thank you for your continued support and interest in Owāhanga Station. We look forward to keeping whānau updated through future reports.