Business Central July 2021

38 | Farming for the future is the aim Waka Dairies is a strategically focused entity, investing heavily in capital assets such as shelters, ponds, in-shed feed, machinery and technologies that support its farming practices. Below, looking after staff is a key plank of the farm’s ethos. T from page 36 REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Tararua - Waka Dairies Located in the Te Rehunga district, south west of Dannevirke, Waka Dairies sits along side the Ruahine Ranges and part of the farm has been in the Phillips’ family for over 110 years. Embracing a milking platform of 244 hec- tares and a 53 hectare support block, the farm is home of 650 kiwi cross cows, each produc- ing 650 kilograms of milk solids annually. Milk solids refer to the dried powder left af- ter the water content has been removed from liquid milk and is the basis upon which dairy farmers like Michael get paid. As Waka Dairies CEO, Michael is supported by a team of eight full time equivalent staff, including six permanent employees. “Our focus is on achieving a fiscally repeata- ble business year-on-year with a strong dollar per hectare return,’ explains Michael. “We’re currently transitioning to a full au- tumn calving system partly because we grow more feed in the winter than we do in the summer, and it also fits with when we grow our sugar beet supplement. “But it also makes sense from a work management perspective. Moving away from spring calving enables us to split the animal and peak land management functions apart, spreading the workload through the seasons.” Caring deeply about doing things right as well as doing the right thing, Waka Dairies is a strategically focused entity, investing heavily in capital assets such as shelters, ponds, in- shed feed, machinery and technologies that support its farming practices. Weekly staff meetings have a strong focus on developing a happy workplace culture em- bracing a safe environment and spirit of team dynamics to achieve the common goal. Particular importance is also placed on mental health in an environment that can often be stressful, working in isolation and in the media’s harsh spotlight. Michael suggests while dairy farming itself is not where his passions lie, he is driven by working on and within high performing teams and environments. “I would like to further those passions into other governance and directorship roles. “Waka Dairies has been fortunate that I’ve been able to complement my business management drive with the passion and dairy farm expertise of our Operations Manager, Andrew (Bubbles) Evans.” Reflecting upon the past year, Michael says Covid strengthened the position of healthy, wholesome, efficiently produced foods. “Fonterra has been well positioned to gal- vanise this, which is reflected in its Farm Gate Milk Price. “Dairying and Tararua are exciting places to be for any driven individual to build on the opportunity present here.” 43 years in tractor industry Workshop & field service Hydraulic hose service Total Oil distributor Factory trained mechanics Engineering Air conditioning YOUR SPECIALIST SALES & SERVICES TEAM Y O U R O N E S T O P T R A C T O R S H O P , U S E T H E B E S T 8 Makirikiri Road, Dannevirke Ph 06 374 7731 Craig 027 246 8540 Proud to be associated with Waka Dairies “Proud to support Waka Dairies” Otanga Street, Dannevirke OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: • CERTIFIED WELDING • GENERAL ENGINEERING • STAINLESS / ALLOY • ASME PIPING • TRANSPORT & STRUCTURAL • SITE MAINTENANCE • HYDRAULIC HOSES