2009 Winners

2009 New Zealand Farm Environment Awards Trust Habitat Award

John Harrington

Te Mania Livestock

Te Mania Livestock is a running a big efficient, performance-oriented stud cattle farming operation while at the same time making significant gains in enhancing the natural environment.

Situated on the narrow coastal flats from Claverley to Conway Flat in North Canterbury, the well known, 80-year-old Te Mania Angus cattle stud has been owned by the Wilding family since 1932. Frank Wilding, who took over in 1952, now spends much of his time restoring native vegetation on the property, while Tim Wilding who took charge in 1982 has moved to off-farm business interests leaving the day-to-day management with John Harrington.

"I’m treated like part of the extended family," John says. "There’s obviously a lot of history with the stud. Management is now working hard to keep it at the leading edge of Angus genetics in New Zealand. It’s a challenge I enjoy." The 1700ha of coastal land is half owned by a family trust and half leased. This season it’s carrying 850 mixed age stud Angus cows and heifers, while 1200 stud Perendale and Texel ewes are run in a 50-50 partnership with neighbour Tim Anderson.

About 260ha are under irrigation, using a mixture of centre pivot, k-line, and hard hose irrigators. Water comes from the Conway River. "We are focused on what our clients want. That is performance-oriented traits which can add value to a client’s business." John says that running a large number of cattle puts a lot of environmental and population pressure on the animals and sorts out any deficiencies.

Frank started performance recording in the 1960s and that has continued to the point that Te Mania cattle genetics are highly sought after. He was also instrumental in starting Te Mania Australia in 1972, and although that is now a separate business the two Te Manias co-operate on genetic improvement. "Performance is one of the key things. Frank instigated it back in the '60s and we’re trying to carry that on now in a sustainable way and improve it," John says.

"Part of the strength of this operation is that we have a good team of people to make sure things are going in the right direction."

Included in the team is North Canterbury Angus breeder Lindsay Haugh who is involved with genetic selection. They try to source the best Angus genetics from around the world. The award judges said that Te Mania was an excellent example of a careful integration of farming with native areas to reduce effects on the environment.

They concluded that the land had been well-farmed for the last 80 years with a strong emphasis on producing bulls that shift well and produce the best returns for clients. The farm is situated in a prime spot. The narrow coastal flats are backed by the Hundalee Hills and are dissected by a series of bush-filled gullies feeding down to the sea. To the north, the majestic Kaikoura ranges rise out of the sea.

It is a truly spectacular location, and the owners and management team aim to keep it that way. Enhancing the environment and farming sustainably is a big part of the overall farming operation. "We don’t overuse nitrogen. With the waterways on the property we are very conscious of the need to minimise run off."

Fencing off and covenanting bush areas has been a critical way of buffering the waterways from the farming operation. So far 330ha have been fenced off to exclude bush and river margins, and 80ha of this are protected by QEII covenants. More of that will be covenanted and regeneration is being extended into new areas each year with seedlings grown by Frank.

Judges' Points:

• 330ha of Te Mania has been fenced off to protect native bush and streams.
• Over 80ha is covered by a QEII Trust Covenant with another larger covenant pending.
• This property has had three generations protecting and planting native vegetation.
• The well known Angus stud breeds high performance cattle.
• Te Mania is an excellent example of enhancing the environment while farming sustainably.

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© 2009 Environment Canterbury