26 | The Camerons have also looked for ways to strengthen the business, diversifying revenue streams beyond livestock. “You cannot beat NZ Wool it is naturally grown from grass” Main West Coast Road, Yaldhurst, RD 6, Christchurch 7676, New Zealand Phone: 027 432 4353 Email: ywlwool@nzwool.com Web: www.nzwool.com RURAL PEOPLE » Durham Farm • from page 25 Romney sheep and Angus-Hereford cross cattle have stood the test of time on the islands, Gary says. “They’re proven here. If you go too far into the other breeds, they struggle,” he says. Sitting 830-odd kilometres east of mainland New Zealand in the Roaring Forties, the Chatham Islands are no easy place to farm. “We get wind most days, and it can come from different directions on the same day,” Gary says of his southern block. “You’ve got to be resilient to live here. Full stop.” When the Southern Tiare spent months out of service over several years, Gary says farmers found the going tough. “Farmers tended to head back inside their gates,” he says. “We became very individual.” In response, they’ve re-established Federated Farmers and formed a catchment group, which Gary plays a leadership role in. Eileen was born on the Chathams, and is fifth generation. “I’ve been here just over 50 years, so I say I’m a relative newbie, but, you know, I love the place,” Gary says. On their second block, the couple have fenced off 25 hectares and planted 30,000 native trees, all propagated on the island. “We’re treating it like a legacy block,” Gary says. “We’ll keep finding new areas to plant - we’re sort of jogging on now, so we want to leave something behind.” The Camerons have also looked for ways to strengthen the business, diversifying revenue streams beyond livestock. “It all helps,” Gary says. “It helps your sustainability.” A chunk of land has been leased for the Point Durham wind farm, which began operating late last year. “It’s owned by Chatham Island Electricity Limited,” Gary says. “The aim is to hopefully reduce or hold power prices, because it’s pretty pricey power here and we’re very much reliant on diesel. They’ve been hugely beneficial to our community.” The farm is also welcoming tourists into the woolshed for a bit of a tour and some morning tea. “We have a yarn about farming and the island, and it seems to be reasonably well received,” he says. “With our prime steers the Whiteface are first out the gate.” - Patrick Henderson HINAU STATION 8TH JUNE 2027 Stuart Robbie 027 8484408 James Robbie 027 5263727 FULLY GUARANTEED FREE DELIVERY PROUDLY SUPPORTING DURHAM FARM WITH QUALITY HEREFORD BULLS
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