Kim Goodwin Kawera Ltd., Bull Farming Kim has farmed this semi-intensive bull farm for almost 40 years, implementing an excellent stocking policy that is tailored to the dry, variable climate. In 2020, about 365 bulls were sold and replaced with 300 Autumn-born dairy bull calves. Calves are bought from the same supplier each year, enhancing biosecurity and helping secure supply. Kawera uses a simple, pasture-based system that is flexible […]
Region: East Coast
Meet the BFEA Entrants from the East Coast Region
Our 2021 National Ambassadors share the secrets to their success and great tacos
Meet Hawke’s Bay farmers Linda and Evan Potter, and you wouldn’t pick they’re the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust’s current National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing and the recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy. And that’s just the way they like it. Incredibly humble but fiercely proud, they see their success as less about them and more as […]
Kaitiakitanga, sustainable farming and growing delicious food
Pania (Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, Ngati Kahununu) and Eugene (Ngāti Awa) are both from farming families that taught them to look after whānau and the land, and to work hard at both. Pania was raised by her grandparents in Te Urewera, while Eugene grew up on a farm in Taranaki. “Pania and I met at […]
Sustainable approach boosting productivity
More than 20,000 native plants have been put in, all waterways have been fenced and a comprehensive predator trapping network now covers the whole property. “We often think that if we do all this stuff, we’ll lose productivity. However, the combination of these things all add up, meaning our financial performance has increased dramatically,” Dan […]
2020 National Ambassadors and East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
The property ranges in height from 130 to 360m above sea level with the higher reaches of the farm giving great views across the Elsthorpe district. There is a focus on biodiversity and trees. As well as the regenerating QEII block, there is an annual pole planting programme for shade and erosion control, annual planting […]
2020 East Coast Entrants
Here are our wonderful 2020 entrants for the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards. We congratulate them all for becoming involved in the awards programme – it’s a privilege to have learned more about their food and fibre production businesses. Ryan Sanderson & Malinda Wynyard, Hollow Point Pastures — Matawai Dairy Contract milkers Ryan Sanderson and Malinda Wynyard, Hollow […]
Michael & Mandy and Richard & Jenny Loffler – Loffler Partnership
The 320ha property ranges from 30 metres above sea level to 150m. It is mainly a sheep and beef breeding and finishing farm with all animals sold prime off the property. It runs 1150 Coopworth-Romney cross ewes, 360 ewe hoggets, 100 Angus-Simmental cross cows, 33 replacement R1 heifers, 20 R1 bulls and 70 R1 steers […]
Dan and Billie Herries – Taramoa
Taramoa runs 9.7 stock units to the hectare, including 2136 Romney / quarter Texel ewes, 770 ewe hoggets, 100 mixed age Angus cows, 36 replacement R2 heifers and 30 R1 heifers. The farm is externally accredited by Global Animal Partnership (Step 4) demonstrating the high level of animal welfare and environmental standards needed for entry […]
Richard Clark – Waipaoa Forests
2020 finalist: Richard Clark of Waipaoa Forests – Farm forestry. Waipaoa Forests Ltd at Manutuke, south of Gisborne, involves a farm forestry business with a wetland development and glamping. The 160-hectare property, mostly steep, north-facing hill country, is owned by father and son team David and Richard Clark. It is in two blocks – Ross Block was purchased […]
George & Bobbi Williams – Mutuera Station
2020 finalists: George & Bobbi Williams of Mutuera Station — Sheep & beef. George and Bobbi Williams have leased the 1050-hectare Mutuera Station at Wharekopae from George’s parents Chris and Kaye since 2013. After travelling and working in the UK, George farmed with his Dad from 2008 before leasing the farm with Bobbi. Since then, they have focused […]
Ryan Sanderson & Malinda Wynyard – Hollow Point Pastures
2020 finalists: Ryan Sanderson & Malinda Wynyard of Hollow Point Pastures — Dairy. Hollow Point Pastures Ltd and contract milkers Ryan Sanderson and Malinda Wynyard can be found on the 325ha dairy farm, Homebrook, owned by Mark Anderson and Kathleen Wynyard. They’re not far from the Gisborne District Council’s western boundary at Matawai, where three metres of rain […]
2019 East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
Hawke’s Bay dairy farmers, Nick and Nicky Dawson, have won the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The couple have farmed the 186ha property, Glenelg, at Patoka in the Hastings district since 2001. Since then, the structure has evolved to become a 50:50 equity partnership with Opiki dairy farmers Stuart and Ann McPhail, trading as […]
Parkhill, BEL Group Winner Update
Extensive networking opportunities were a highlight of the 2018 National Sustainability Showcase for East Coast supreme winner Andrea Barry. She owns BEL Group, a dairy company based in Central Hawke’s Bay. She entered Parkhill Dairy Farm in the awards – one of nine farms under the BEL Group management umbrella – that was one of […]
Dave Read & Judy Bogaard – WAIAU STATION
Dave Read and Judy Bogaard have been farming Waiau Station near Frasertown in northern Hawke’s Bay since 1996. The 1213ha property is steep – mainly class six and seven – East Coast hill country. It is run in conjunction with the 592ha Allington Farm at Kotemaori, which finishes a lot of Waiau’s progeny. Together, the […]
Watergreen Tourere Partnership – PETE SWINBURN & SUZANNE HOYT AND BRUCE ISLES & DANELLE DINSDALE
Encouraging people to do the right thing for the environment is one of the reasons Pete Swinburn and Suzanne Hoyt entered the Ballance Farm Environment Awards. “We know this is important, not just for the environment, but for our agriculture industry, to be ahead of the game internationally,” Pete says. Suzanne, who works off-farm as […]
Nick & Nicky Dawson – Glenelg
2019 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Award Regional Supreme Winners Nick and Nicky Dawson have an extraordinary bond with their farm Glenelg. “When you put work into a farm, it’s part of your life. It’s not just a job or a business. It’s home,” Nick Dawson says about his family’s 186ha Patoka dairy farm. “We […]
2018 East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
Parkhill Dairy Farm at Ashley Clinton has won the East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards -entered by owner Andrea Barry and manager Craig Pennell. The win was announced at an awards dinner at the Napier Conference Centre on Wednesday night (March 28). They will host a field day in April. Parkhill was one of the […]
2017 East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
Trees have been grown on Maraetara by five generations of the Holt family and Philip Holt is still planting. Philip and Robyn Holt have farmed the original part of Maraetara near Bay View for 35 years. Some of the blocks now under the Maraetara umbrella have been farmed by Philip’s great grandfather and by two […]
2016 East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
Resilient, innovative and hard-working growers Graham and Marian Hirst are Supreme winners of the 2016 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards. The Hirsts run a 40ha pipfruit and blueberry operation spread over five blocks just south of Hastings. Their business has grown considerably since 1989 when they bought 11ha of bare land and planted 1.5ha […]
2015 East Coast Regional Supreme Winners
Central Hawke’s Bay sheep and beef farmers Alastair and Tracy Ormond and Alastair’s son Daniel are the Supreme winners of the 2015 East Coast Ballance Farm Environment Awards (BFEA).