56 | nzdairy DAIRY PEOPLE » Waimakariri Lands Ltd ‘Has been awesome connecting with students’ Karen Phelps For dairy farmer Ben Purua the next chapter is about growing a business and creating opportunities for others. With his wife Nikki, Ben is working towards a transition farm that would help people leaving prison move into agricultural employment with practical skills, mentoring and support. The vision is a working farm where people can gain experience, build confidence and prepare for lasting careers in the industry. “We want to create a place where people can work, learn and have the support around them to move forward,” says Ben. “That includes everyday things like budgeting, cooking meals and having someone to ask when you’re unsure.” Ben also works alongside RAW (Reclaim another Woman), sharing his knowledge of farming and introducing people to opportunities within agriculture. “For me it’s about building relationships, turning up and helping people see what’s possible. Farming gives you responsibility, a team to be part of and something to work towards. There is real pride in learning those skills.” One of Ben’s highlights this year has been speaking at schools through Celebrity Speakers encouraging young people to find a sense of purpose and set goals for their future. “It has been awesome connecting with students and encouraging them to think about what matters to them and what they want to work towards,” says Ben. “Even small steps can take you somewhere you are proud of.” Currently managing 540 cows at Waimakariri Lands near Tīrau, Ben works within a System 5 dairy operation. The role requires careful planning around feeding, animal health, production and costs. His achievements include being named the NZ Dairy Industry Awards 2024 Central Plateau Dairy Manager of the Year and winning the Ahuwhenua Young Māori Farmer Award for Dairy. He was also a finalist for Young New Zealander of the Year. Now Ben and Nikki are exploring sharefarming opportunities as a step towards their wider vision. “It’s exciting but it’s a bit nerve-racking too. We love our farm owners and we are comfortable where we are,” says Ben. “But if we want to put this transition farm into action we need to take that next step ourselves. We have got a few opportunities we are working through and we want to find the right fit for our whānau and what we are trying to build.” Away from the day-to-day farm work Ben shares rural life through FarmUpNZ social media, bringing humour, honest moments and a connection to farming to that audience. The couple’s business, FarmUpNZ Clothing, brings cultural inspired designs into rural apparel. Currently managing 540 cows at Waimakariri Lands, Ben works within a System 5 dairy operation. “We wanted to create clothing we are proud to wear and that people can feel connected to. You don’t have to be a farmer to be part of it. It’s about family, hard work and backing one another.” Ben also is an ambassador for Meat the Need, a charity connecting farmers with communities by supplying donated meat and milk to food banks across New Zealand. “As farmers we take pride in producing food and being part of something that helps get it onto the tables families who need it means a lot,” says Ben. “It’s a practical way for our farming community to look after others.” Across their farming, clothing and community work, Ben and Nikki are focused on building something that creates opportunities beyond their own family. “We are proud of what we are building together and we are excited about where we can take it.”
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