44 | RURAL PEOPLE » Waiorongomai Station Nimble approach on farm management Waiorongomai Station lambs around 3000 ewes and nishes 10,000 lambs. Untouched native forest creates bush lanes that connect the Rimutakas with Lake Wairarapa. Kim Newth In the South Wairarapa, Charlie and Karla Matthews are sixth generation owners of a very special farm, Waiorongomai Station, one of the oldest sheep and beef stations in New Zealand. Since 1850, successive generations of ‘Matthews caretakers’ have added to the station’s story, with Charlie and Karla proud to be a part of it and carrying the legacy forward into the future. Taking care of the land has always been at the heart of the Waiorongomai story. The property is some 3000ha in extent, with the effective platform comprising 1550ha. The remainder – just under half of the property – is in pristine native bush and wetlands. Through the generations, the natural environment has been respected and enhanced. “It is pretty unique to still have big stands of untouched native bush on some of our atland, effectively creating bush lanes that connect the Remutakas in the west with Lake Wairarapa on our eastern boundary,” says Charlie. Fencing to protect bush and wetland areas is an ongoing investment. Charlie says it is amazing to see how quickly newly fenced off areas ourish and thrive. The on-farm management approach is to simplify where possible in order to streamline day-to-day operations. Charlie and Karla employ a trim core team of four to cover fencing and shepherding, complemented by specialist rural contractors for jobs like putting in crops and shearing. While Waiorongomai breeds its own cattle, a former Speckle Park beef stud has ‘been and gone’ as it was taking too much focus away from the farm’s core business. Similarly, the station’s former Romney stud was sold some eight years ago after the couple realised the economics no longer added up. The focus today is on production and nishing. “We’re lambing around 3800 ewes and nishing 10,000 lambs. There’s no set policy on what we’re going to trade. Last year we didn’t buy any store lambs, while this year we bought 2500 to 3000. It all depends on where the opportunities are. On the cattle side, we’re calving 350 cows and buying in 200 to 300 weaner heifers each year plus other trading stock and nishing 800 to 1000 cattle a year.” The station sources maternal sheep genetics from Paki-iti’s ram breeding operation at Rangiwahia with an emphasis on growth, meat, reproduction, survival and worm resistance. “After we sold the Romney stud, we thought long and hard about where we would get our maternal breeding from. I knew Stewart [Morton] at Paka-iti pretty well as a straight-up guy and when I went and had a look at what they had I was impressed. Romtex from Paka-iti is a good maternal breed for us. We’re getting better lambs out the gate and, by putting our own terminal ram – a Texel-Suffolk cross - over that, we’re producing strong hybrid vigour.” Waiorongomai is a valued supplier of 100% grass-fed lambs to Ovation New Zealand Ltd, which strives to deliver consumers the world’s best quality lamb. Meanwhile, Charlie and Karla are relaxed about their three children – now starting to pursue careers of their own – making their own decisions on the future. “Whatever happens, this land will be retained and there are plenty of options ahead for us.” The silage team takes a break at Waiorongomai Station. 96171 Stewart Morton 06 328 5772 / 0274 453 110 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 R D 54, Kimbolton, Manawatu • pakiroms@farmside.co.nz paki-iti.co.nz to view our breeding programs PAKI-ITI ROMNEY & ROMTEX • 160 clients last year purchased or leased Paki-iti rams • Bred on a 870ha hard hill country property rising up to 637m asl (2090f asl) • • Romtex rams sold as 22th rams rt Morton 06 328 5772 • Andrew Morton 06 328 2856 PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK PAKI-ITI SUFFOLK & SUFTEX • Over 550 Suffolk, Suftex rams and ram hoggets sold and leased last season • Breeding for constitution, longevity, structural soundness and then performance • 13 years of wintering ram hoggets on hard hill country = constitution • Suftex rams bred for darkness Suppliers of Romtex and Suftex rams to Waiorongomai Station Waiorongomai Station Proud to support : info@lala.co.nz
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