32 | First collars due to arrive in September The 2,343 hectare station runs a sheep and beef operation across its 1,150 hectares of medium to steep hill country. Karen Phelps RURAL PEOPLE » Waitawhiti Station The Richardson family of Waitawhiti Station in northern Wairarapa believes that the introduction of Halter will bring big changes to their farming operation. “Many people still think of Halter as virtual fencing but it is so much more than that now,” says Lisa Richardson. “A lot of positives will come out of it and we are all very excited.” The first Halter collars are due to arrive in September and will go onto the rising one-year heifers with the remainder arriving at the end of October. “It will mean safer and easier management when moving breeding cows, without putting stress on the cows, staff, or anyone involved,” says Lisa. “The virtual exclusion capability also opens the prospect of protecting waterways and native bush areas without the cost and labour of permanent fencing.” The Richardsons are also expecting to be able to increase stock numbers through better pasture utilisation, either an additional hundred cows, 500 ewes, or a mixture of both. The station has retained 130 weaner heifers this year. An improvement in calf weaning weights of 20 to 30 kilograms is also in the sights. The 2,343 hectare station runs a sheep and beef operation across its 1,150 hectares of medium to steep hill country, with a further 660 hectares in forestry and 500 hectares in native bush. The ewe flock is Perendale-based crossed with Texel rams. Terminal rams are Beltex, supplied by Grassendale Genetics in Tinui, a recent change that has delivered tangible results. “We are now in our third year using Beltex genetics and have lifted the percentage of lambs killed off the mother to around twenty per cent with the remainder sold as store lambs.” The cow herd consists of 330 mixed-age Angus pure cows and 68 rising two-year in-calf heifers, with bulls purchased from Glanworth Angus near Pahiatua and Turihaua Angus in Gisborne with a first-time purchase this season from Tangihau Angus, also in Gisborne, adding further genetic diversity. They achieve a consistent calving rate of 92%. All progeny is sold and the family proudly supplies AFFCO with wool directed to Bremworth as part of its Elite Wool Growers Group, to which Waitawhiti has belonged for around eight years. All ewes run on a six-month shearing pattern. “It has a good New Zealand story and we can see our wool go from farm to floor,” says Lisa. “It is all scoured, spun and made into carpet in New Zealand.” The recent lift in wool prices has been welcome. “It has been a long time coming. We have super white, high-yielding wool. I am a wool classer, so I wanted beautiful wool, and we have always been passionate about breeding our ewes to produce high-quality fleeces. It is very exciting that we are Turihaua yearling bulls SPRING SALE 1pm, Tuesday 22 September 2026 28 yearling and 10 2-year old bulls on offer PAUL & SARAHWILLIAMS 021 189 4114 � paul@turihaua.co.nz � www.turihaua.co.nz are your heifer mating specialists. now getting rewarded for that.” The business also includes farm accommodation: Waitawhiti Country Retreat comprising of Neil’s Whare, a two bedroom cottage, and Knucklebone Lodge, which sleeps 14. The 2,343-hectare property has been in the Richardson family since 1864 when Charles Thomas Richardson first purchased it. The farm remains a family affair with Graham and Lisa, their son Charlie and his fiancée Xanthea, their daughter Zoe and her husband Cody all living on the farm. The arrival of two babies - Evie, born to Zoe and Cody in March, and Harriet born in May to Charlie and Xanthea - means the seventh generation of Richardsons has now arrived on the scene.
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