Business Rural North Autumn 2021

| 7 RURAL PEOPLE » Makowhai Station: Matthews Family Farms woven into fabric of historic station then focused on his front country farms, one of which he still lives on today.” Makowhai continues to be farmed for sheep and beef, running 22,000 stock units on Tarkiri. That operation sits along side Settlers Honey, a significant beekeeping and honey processing operation established by Henry, his sister Melody and their families. Flo says the irony is not lost that while her father and brothers aimed to go over the whole farm every three years cutting manuka, then known as scrub, the same land now is valued for its regenerating manuka. There is also a diverse range of tourism activi- ties on the farm with trail and mountain bike rides, four wheel driving, hunting and horse trekking. “There has always been an interest in breaking in wild horses, working towards developing a versatile Makowhai Station sport horse suitable for stock work and trekking but also successful in the show jumping ring or reliable on the hunt field.” PHOTOS: Brianna Wallace (top left) great, great grandaughter of Sophie and Joseph Haddow and Elizabeth and Frank Matthews and fifth generation on Makowhai Station competing on a Makowhai bred horse. Photo Elle Steele Photography. Crossing the Waitotara River via the Makowhai bridge, engineered and built by Henry Matthews, great grandson of Sophie and Joseph Haddow and Elizabeth and Frank Matthews. The New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards programme aims to capture and preserve the stories of this country’s early farming pioneers. Eligible families can submit narratives of their farm history, together with copies of related photographs and supporting documents which are then archived at the Alexander Turnbull Library in Wellington, ensuring all records are kept in perpetuity. Now in its 14th year, the awards claim over 500 families from throughout New Zealand as part of its exclusive group of centenarians and sesquicentenarians. TRACTORS FARM EQUIPMENT HEAVY MACHINERY KEEPING YOUR SEASON ON TRAC Joe Crawford • 027 330 3056 cnr Guyton & Hatrick Streets • Wanganui joe@tracmac.co.nz • 06 345 8855 “There was a shilling subsidy per snout and tail which would get quite smelly before the of Department of Agriculture representative’s visit! Ammunition was supplied by the mailman in exchange for suckers sold in his butcher shop.”