| 87 Turanganui Romneys Mike Warren 027 446 5312 or 06 307 7841 Guy Warren 027 848 0164 William Warren 027 824 9327 Proud supplier of Maternal Genetics to the Hokotehi Moriori Trust ‘A good opportunity to slightly grow’ The trust’s Chatham Island’s farming operation comprises Kaingaroa Station, covering 4800 hectares on the northeast of the main island, Rekohu, supported by a 1000-acre fattening and finishing block at Henga in the west. The synergy of a newly-leased 400 hectare block and the promise of a reliable shipping service will be game changers for Hokotehi Moriori Trust’s farming operation, manager Levi Lanauze says. The trust’s Chatham Island’s farming operation comprises Kaingaroa Station, covering 4800 hectares on the northeast of the main island, Rekohu, supported by a 1000-acre fattening and finishing block at Henga in the west. “We’ve taken on the small neighbouring property to the east [of Kaingaroa Station ]. The farm owners were wanting to reset after the passing of the elderly owner. We’ve leased it for a while to ease their pressure, but also give us an opportunity because they’ve got a relatively new woolshed and we’re wanting to replace ours. “It’s a good opportunity to slightly grow and to put some much-needed love into our own infrastructure while we’re using someone else’s.” The lease block is prime land that has been well maintained in terms of fertiliser input and gorse control, and will primarily be used for lamb fattening, along with carrying ewe hoggets and a few young stock cattle. Once the new shipping service is running in 2027, it will provide much needed certainty compared to the long-standing unreliability of the aging Southern Tiare. “It gives us a bit more scope to hold lambs and continue putting weight on them,” Levi says. Lambing starts early on HMT’s farm’s, on August 1, with the aim of having tailing completed by the first week of October, weaning around mid-November and to beat the pre-Christmas shipping bottleneck, however the ability to achieve this depends on there being no breakdowns on the Southern Tiare. During a visit late September 2025, associate minister of transport James Meager confirmed a joint venture between McCallum Bros and Nova Marine Carriers will procure a new 78 metre vessel, a significant milestone designed to service the specific needs of the Chatham Islands. In a media release, Mr Meager acknowledged the challenges Chatham Islanders had faced. “Due to the unreliability of the Southern Tiare we’ve seen examples of petrol running out, diesel supplies nearly exhausted, and livestock unable to be moved resulting in widespread culls. This deeply impacts livelihoods and wellbeing and must be resolved,” Mr Meager said. HMT’s farming operation has been one of the businesses limited by the Southern Tiare, and the new ship will be a great relief, Levi says. “I think they’re going to do about 16 voyages a year and the ship will hold 5000 stock units.” This stock capacity will be about double that of the Southern Tiare. “The farming community will really have to step up to meet the demand otherwise we’re going to have a vessel that’s not being utilised which is great RURAL PEOPLE » Hokotehi Moriori Trust Russell Fredric for a farm like us; we’ve got all the scope in the world really.” HMT annually ships around 5000 to 5500 sheep and 200 cattle to both the North and South Islands of New Zealand. While any change in the farming system will still be subject to new ship’s seasonal schedule and the demands of other users, Levi is optimistic about what the future holds. “A hundred percent, we will look to intensify our farming operation in just about every part of it.” “The farming community will really have to step up to meet the demand otherwise we’re going to have a vessel that’s not being utilised which is great for a farm like us; we’ve got all the scope in the world really.” Chris: 027 4888 635 Email: info@koanuiherefords.co.nz www.koanuiherefords.co.nz
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