March 31, 2015
Whanau plans secures farms
One of the finalists in this year’s Ahuwhenua trophy for Maori farming excellence says being able to work as a whanau gave them the start they needed to get their own farm.
Bart and Nuku Hadfield farm Mangaroa Station in the Ruakituri Valley northwest of Wairoa.
They and Nuku’s three siblings leased Mangaroa and the neighbouring Ruakaka station back in 2001, selling properties in Taihape and Whangamomona to fund the 22,000 stock units needed for the farm.
By running a low cost operation, including doing all the shearing themselves, they were eventually able to buy the properties seven years later.
Mr Hadfield says they took a collective decision to get ahead.
" We were full time shearers as well as running our farms at the time. We just seemed to be plodding away and not really getting ahead too much, so we decided we'd all pool our resources and have a crack. This opportunity came up we found a good vendor and gave us the opportunity and we went in boots and all so it's worked out really well for all of us " he says.
A field day will be held on Mangaroa Station on April 22.
FOR THE FULL INTERVIEW WITH BART HADFIELD CLICK ON THE LINK
https://secure.zeald.com/uma/play_podcast?podlink=Mjc2NjE=
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