56 | Lake Hawea Station fully carbon zero Hugh de Lacy Farming as a solution to climate change rather than a prime cause of it is the lesson being drawn from Lake Hawea Station’s becoming the first farm in Australasia to be certified carbon zero. In gaining the Toitu Envirocare certification in 2020, Lake Hawea Station was able to demonstrate that it sequesters twice as much carbon as it emits, making it climate positive. Lake Hawea is a 6500ha sheep and cattle station near Wanaka in Central Otago carrying 10,000 Merino sheep and 230 Angus cows, and is owned by Justine and Geoff Ross. “Some of the narrative outside farming at the time of the certification was that farming was a problem in the fight against climate change,” Geoff says. “By showing that a farm can in fact be carbon positive, Lake Hawea Station proved that farming can be part of the solution in climate change..” The farm is exploiting its certification by applying it to its three main income streams: wool, meat and tourism. “The Merino wool is sold to fashion brands locally and off-shore with our partner Merino New Zealand as part of their ZQRX programme,” he says. ZQRX is a regenerative agriculture index that helps farmers to work with nature to continuously improve human, animal and environmental outcomes. It’s a further development of Merino NZ’s ZQ Lake Hawea Station accommodation. MEAT & WOOL » Lake Hawea Station programme established in 2006 as the world’s leading ethical wool index, setting standards for fibre quality, animal care and environmental and social responsibility. The RX in the ZQRX is shorthand for Regenerative Index, which carries the ZQ concept a step further by aiming at continuous improvement rather than just meeting the minimum standard. “Lake Hawea Station is experiencing both increased demand and increased premiums for our climate positive wool, because fashion brands want to be able to show their customers that their garments are not damaging to our climate,” Geoff says. “In fact some customers use the extra sequestration on farm to absorb some of their emissions in manufacturing and supply. “Clients acknowledge a premium for this, and while a premium is unquestionably being applied to wool, meat is the next opportunity for Lake Hawea Station.” Helping the farm earn a premium for climate positive meat has been the development by the meat co-operative Silver Fern Farms of its net-zero beef programme, and Lake Hawea is aiming to add lamb to the programme as it develops. The same principles as for beef and lamb are being pursued by the station in its third income stream, tourism, where it has just been placed on the Conde Nast Gold List for 2023, the only New Zealand company to make the list. “This was largely because of the carbon position on the working farm, and it is giving a significant boost to our accommodation and tourism business. “Agri-tourism is a growth business that Lake Hawea Station is tapping into, and along with the John 027 273 2480 Johnny 027 696 6758 www.contraxcentral.co.nz • Landscaping • Horticulture • Viticulture • Land Development • Irrigation • Transport • Roading • Water • Mole Ploughing • Land Clearing Pleased to be associated with Lake Hawea Station meat and wool programmes it’s showcasing New Zealand farming for what it can be – that is, climate positive,” Geoff says.
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