Business South June 2021

24 | Central Otago - Matakanui Station REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Farming for the future at Matakanui T T Richard Loader The 8700-hectare property embraces 2000 hectares of flat to rolling land with the remainder being hill country. C entral Otago sheep and beef property Matakanui Station is in development mode and owner Andrew Paterson reck- ons the farm has spent more than it has made over the last couple of years, with 99% going to the local community. “Well that’s what happens when you’re in development mode,” says Andrew. “Over the last couple of years we’ve been upgrading our irrigation infrastructure, im- proving pastures and freeing up land to put lucerne and ryecorn in. “There’s also quite a lot of subdivision. The local businesses are very good and they’re good to us. We buy a lot of posts and fencing gear through local timber and farm sup- ply merchants in Cromwell and Alexandra. Then you have the engineering and trucking companies in Omakau, and local agricultural contractors.” The onset of the Coronavirus and its impact on prices has caused a slow down of devel- opment but Andrew sees that as a temporary measure. “We’ve been looking at the tourism side. We have a lot of rocky outcrops and really cool spots on the farm that we’re quite keen to put some huts on once the tourists come back. People can do an overnight visit or spend a few days in the farm to get that ‘out in the country’ experience.” Andrew took over the management of the property from his brother and father in 2004, commencing the long haul development journey. A decade later Andrew and his wife Tracy bought the property that has been in the fami- ly for three generations. Andrew says the Paterson family has always farmed for the next generation who normally take ownership very early on. North of Alexandra and a stone’s throw from Omakau, the 8700-hectare property embraces 2000 hectares of flat to rolling land with the remainder being hill country. From its lowest point of 200 metres above sea level the farm rises to 1600 metres at its highest point. At the dry end of the Manuherikia Valley, the farm is situated in a tough climate to farm with extremely dry summers and very cold winters. About three thousand hectares is high alti- tude summer only country and there is a lot of matagouri covering the hill country. “Over the years we’ve burnt the matagouri but it just keeps coming back with a sev - en-year cycle,” says . “Some of the best country is covered in matagouri so we’ve been spraying more of it in recent times to try and open the land up.” With an emphasis on high quality wool and meat the farm is home to fine wool poleworth sheep, last year putting 21,000 through the shearing shed. The farm’s biggest contract is with Ice- breaker but stud show fleeces are also sold to Touch Yarns in Clyde who transform it into high quality yarns. “We have a lot of rocky outcrops and really cool spots on the farm that we’re quite keen to put some huts on once the tourists come back.” Leading accounting and business professionals - providing specialist advice to farming, business and rural communities for over 60 years Proud to partner with Matakanui Station 69 Tarbert St, Alexandra | (03) 440 0100 | www.iclca.co.nz FOCUSED ON YOUR FUTURE OMAKAU AG & EARTH Specialising in Earthmoving, Rutbusting & Agricultural Cultivation Proud to Support Tracy and Andrew at Matakanui Station General Farm Work Including Full Cultivation Service Including • Ploughing • Heavy Discing • Speed Discing • Cambridge Rolling • Aerating & Ripping • Levelling & Contouring AND MUCH MORE! Graeme Paton 027 221 6182 Cameron Paton 027 223 3191 omakauag.earth@gmail.com • Tree & Land Clearing • Drain Clearing • Irrigation Pivot Contouring • Irrigation Pipe Trenching • Mole Ploughing • Gravel Tracks/Lanes • Rutbusting Pivot Ruts Supplier of Gravel & Topsoil The meat is sold to Alliance for its Silere programme, while stud rams are sold to local farmers. “We also have 1200 cattle on the farm at the moment and their progeny goes to Alliance’s ‘Hand Picked’ programme to be sold into restaurant chains.” In addition to Andrew and Tracy, the station also provides employment for one tractor driver, two shepherds, a stock manager and a couple of casual workers.