24 | The river swelled to three times the size The Crawshaw family has farmed in the small rural settlement of Nuhaka, between Wairoa and Gisborne, since 1971. Recent bull sales have remained strong. Karen Phelps Kenhardt Angus stud in Nuhaka, northern Hawke’s Bay, is finally turning a corner after facing significant challenges in the wake of Cyclone Gabrielle’s devastating impact. “The river swelled to three times the size and took out the fence line. Some fences we’ve had to put up four times as more debris from the cyclone has washed down in subsequent rains and taken down fences again,” says Grant Crawshaw, who has managed the stud operation for over 40 years. The cyclone’s aftermath forced significant changes to daily operations at the 1,200-hectare property. “You just box on. We had to do a lot more walking because the ground was too wet for horses. We have also lost a lovely home to land subsidence,” says Grant. The farm received funding from the regional council to clear slash on the flats but ongoing challenges included managing soil pH levels affected by silt deposits. “After the cyclone the pH was 8. So we tried to put oats and grass but it wasn’t successful. Three-quarters of the paddock was silt so we had to keep feeding it Cropmaster 20 to reduce the pH. Then we got a good crop of rye and clover,” explains Grant. The farm also lost some land to river erosion, adding to existing challenges on the property, which includes a 121-hectare earth flow moving towards the Nuhaka river. Over the years the earthflow has buried the woolshed and cattle and sheep yard infrastructure. “The farm used to be 14 paddocks, now it’s two paddocks. About ten years ago 4ha of forestry was ready to harvest then the ground moved like a wave and the pine trees slipped like pick up sticks. We’re planting a lot of poles to try and soak up some of the water but it’s so deep seated that there isn’t much we can do about it. We run dry stock on this land.” The Crawshaw family has farmed in the small rural settlement of Nuhaka, between Wairoa and Gisborne, since 1971. Migrating from the South Island, the Crawshaws brought with them the Kenhardt Angus stud. Grant and now daughter Nancy have followed an intergenerational interest in Angus cattle. Today the farm runs over 300 registered stud cows and maintains a small New Zealand genetics base, alongside 4,000 breeding ewes and other trading cattle. The stud has built its reputation on producing hardy, long-lasting bulls. “What makes our cattle special is the reputation they have for doing the job and growing on to be big bulls — they don’t melt or fade away. They’re run as a commercial operation,” says Grant. “The national average is two and half years but we have stations with Kenhardt bulls of eight to ten years old still working.” RURAL PEOPLE » Kenhardt Angus Recent bull sales have remained strong despite the challenging conditions, says Grant, who, as an East Coast breed inspector, maintains strict standards, particularly regarding temperament and structural soundness. The farm operates across varying terrain, with 5% flat land, 75% disc-able hill country and 20% steep country. It maintains a sheep-to-beef ratio of 55:45. Recovery work continues, with more fencing still to be completed. Good fencers remain in high demand throughout the region as farms work to restore their infrastructure. Despite these challenges, Grant remains optimistic about the future. “Sheep, beef and wool prices have turned a corner this year and it’s looking more positive,” says Grant, who has recently overcome cancer for the second time and urges people to be proactive about their health as early detection leads to better outcomes. “So onward and upward.” Kenhardt Bull Sale: 26th June 2025 10am sale SH2 Nuhaka. KENHARDT ANGUS PROUD TO BE WORKING WITH
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