2005 Winners

2005 BFEA Heritage Restoration Award

Shireen and Francis Helps


When Francis and Steve Helps bought a 500 ha hill country property at Flea Bay on Banks Peninsula 36 years ago the farm was run down, but it had very high conservation values.

Over following years the brothers and their families set about carefully nurturing and improving the environment,
while at the same time developing a productive farm. This effort was recognised by the Ballance Farm Environment Awards when Francis and his wife Shireen received the Heritage Restoration Award.

Francis says that when they first bought the property they found remnant stands of red beech, and a lot of native regrowth in the valleys. The place had numerous archaeological sites, and “the first night I stayed here I didn’t get any sleep because of the penguins”. “To me and Steve it seemed worth protecting.”

Francis and Shireen have become heavily involved and passionate about conserving the white flippered penguin colony through providing artificial nesting boxes, monitoring and predator trapping. Three years ago they bought an additional 20 ha off a neighbour to increase the protected penguin habitat.

Native bush areas have been protected by QEII covenant, and Francis says streams that have been fenced off are now full of native fish, and they have top water quality. The integration of farming, conservation, and tourism has enabled the property to become financially sustainable.

Francis says they earn around 34 per cent of their income from the popular Banks Peninsula walking track considerably more than the wool cheque. “The return from the farm is good, but we'd be struggling without the track.”

The Helps brothers also own 200 ha of warmer hill country near Akaroa village which is the original home farm. Livestock is strategically moved between the properties. About 1650 Perendale Romney cross ewes are run on the Flea Bay property and 40 breeding cattle. All the young stock are run on the Akaroa property. They used to try to fatten all their lambs, but now some
are sold on contract as stores.

Francis says their stocking rates are more conservative than in the past. “I'm pleased with the quality of the stock and things I produce off the farm. After 30-odd years we've found what works and what doesn't work.

Back to top

© 2009 Environment Canterbury