| 31 Whitestar Station: A Legacy of Farming The station runs 320 breeding heifers as well as 500 romney-perendale ewes. Aimee Wilson RURAL PEOPLE » Whitestar Station Nestled on the northern Coromandel Peninsula, just 1.5 hours from Thames, Whitestar Station has stood the test of time - nearly 150 years of continuous farming by the same family. In 2025, the Evans family will proudly celebrate their Century Farm Award, recognising six generations of hard work, resilience, and dedication to the land since the first 50 acres were purchased in 1876. Now spanning 1140 hectares, the station is currently managed by Karl and Tellic Evans, who took over from Karl’s parents in 2023. While the farm has adapted over time, its roots in livestock farming remain strong. Today, the couple run 320 breeding Hereford cows, 50 replacement heifers, and a select group of stud bulls for mating. Although sheep numbers have decreased significantly from the 5,000 once grazed on the land, they still manage a flock of 500 RomneyPerendale ewes. “We carry a deep and enduring gratitude to the generations before us - whose unwavering commitment, resilience, and love for this land laid the foundation that allows us to continue farming here today,” Karl and Tellic say. “Their legacy lives on in every fence line, paddock, and the footsteps we follow.” This deep sense of stewardship is further evident in the farm’s 360-hectare QEII covenanted podocarp forest, which was protected in 2007 by Karl’s grandfather. The covenant ensures this valuable native bush, rich in biodiversity and home to kiwi, waterfalls, and remnants of the area’s gold-mining past, remains untouched by development. While farming remains central to Whitestar Station, diversification has played an important role in ensuring its long-term sustainability. A farm stay lodge was established in 1991, followed by the renovation of the old shearers’ quarters to welcome guests. The tourism offering has grown steadily, and today includes two off-grid eco bush cabins - originally built by Karl’s grandfather using his own hydro-electric power system. Recent upgrades have added WiFi, and solar power is on the way, further enhancing the sustainability of the experience. Over the busy summer months, the accommodation side of the business is essential to the station’s viability. Campers and holidaymakers explore the network of private trails across the property, many winding through untouched bushland, spring-fed creeks, and historic gold-mining relics. The station’s name itself - Whitestar - pays homage to this gold-mining history: stars once marked successful claims and even inspired the name of a kauri boat built from timber milled on the property. Looking ahead, Karl and Tellic plan to clear and expand more trails, encouraging exploration of hidden waterfalls and forgotten mining shanties. Their two children, now 18 and 15, are already showing interest in continuing the family legacy - an encouraging sign that the story of Whitestar Station may extend to a seventh generation. In May, the couple will travel to Lawrence, Otago - coincidentally another gold-mining town - to receive their Century Farm Award, joining over 630 families across New Zealand who have achieved this rare milestone of long-standing commitment to the land. WHYTELINE.CO.NZ 39 PUKE ROAD, PAEROA 07 862 8783 PROUD TO SUPPORT WHITESTAR STATION PROUDLY SUPPORTING WHITESTAR STATION
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