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2013 HORIZONS
Curwen and Marija Hare
Tuatahi Farm Partnership
SUPREME AWARD WINNERS
ALSO WINNERS OF:
BEEF + LAMB NEW ZEALAND LIVESTOCK FARM AWARD
and WATERFORCE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT AWARD
The Hares possess what the award judges
described as “an impressive, balanced approach”
to farming their 275ha (230ha effective) Waituna
West hill country property.
Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Sponsors
The judges commended the couple’s use of expert knowledge
to steer their business through the restraints of debt loading (a
legacy of land purchase at a high in the early 1980s) and their
property’s natural limitations due to contour, varied and some
heavy wet soils, limited natural water, and exposure to wind
“from all directions”.
In the past five years the Hares have reduced debt by downsizing
to one farm, and adopted a Horizons Regional Council sustainable
land use initiative plan (SLUI) for their property. These changes,
after farming on land that had been in the Hare family for 113
years, have heralded a significant shift in approach for Curwen,
but he’s happy with the transformation.
“It is having a major effect on our philosophy and how we
are running the farm,” says Curwen, who is enjoying the more
manageable debt level, the focus on just one farm and having
the SLUI plan at hand. The plan advises of soil types and land
use capabilities. Noted the judges: “This is an excellent example
of adapting outside knowledge to maximise production and
manage within some considerable natural limitations, without
having a detrimental effect on the environment.”
Regional Partner

Curwen and Marija Hare
Tuatahi Farm Partnership
SUPREME AWARD WINNERS (continued)
The Hares’ property ‘Ewanrigg’ sits in the watershed between
the Manawatu and Rangitikei catchments, north of Feilding.
Last year the farm wintered 1050 ewes, 350 hoggets and 200
dairy heifer grazers. Contour ranges between flat to moderately
steep; height is up to 430m ASL. “The views are great, but we
are quite exposed. It doesn’t matter which direction the wind
blows from we get it,” says Curwen.
Ewanrigg was purchased by the Hare family’s Tuatahi Farm
Partnership (including Curwen’s parents) in 1982 to complement
the neighbouring property, which Curwen’s grandfather came
to in 1894. Six years ago the heart-wrenching decision was
made to sell the original property ‘Tuatahi’ and keep Ewanrigg
“because we felt this place had more scope”.
When the Hares bought the farm there were only 13 paddocks,
including an 80ha block divided by three steep gorges. Now
there are 43 main paddocks. The steep areas account for about
25 percent of the farm area. Using the SLUI plan information,
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
seven kilometres of fencing around these gorges was completed
last summer. “It was all hard fencing, a major undertaking, but
worth it,” says Curwen.
They are part of the council’s possum eradication programme;
regeneration is already occurring and these areas are in the
process of being QEII covenanted. Nearly 12 percent of Ewanrigg
is now fenced and retired, including all the permanently flowing
streams on the property. “We are doing what we feel is right,”
says Curwen. “Hopefully we are making a difference, and it is
sustainable.”
All stock water on Ewanrigg is supplied by a two dam system.
Noted the judges: “Natural water isn’t abundant on the
property and the water that is available is very well managed in
terms of quantity and quality.” About two thirds of the farm is
gravity fed from the dams. A solar powered system pumps the
other third but has the capacity to water the whole farm in a
dry season such as this.
The couple embrace the sustainable farming concept that they
point out the information provided by the SLUI plan allows them
to pursue. “We are here for such a short time,” says Curwen,
“so what we do as farmers should be able to be carried on in
perpetuity, otherwise it’s not sustainable is it?”
Curwen candidly admits they probably wouldn’t have looked
at applying for a SLUI plan if it hadn’t been suggested to them
as part of their role as a Beef + Lamb monitor farm in 2008. In
the 2004 storm, which was the prompt for the SLUI, Ewanrigg
escaped relatively unscathed. “But I’m rather glad we did (adopt
the SLUI). It’s been a bit of a revelation.”
Curwen and Marija have three adult sons, Tim, Richard and
David.
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The strength of this entry is the sound knowledge and commitment to detail of Curwen and Marija.
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High producing, mixed pastures (including chicory, plantain) introduced to maximise weight gains in lambs and contract grazed cattle.
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Excellent riparian management and planting, stock production and grazing management; understands where to strive for improvements.
Maximising use of water resource; use of solar power to drive pumps

Richard and Rachel Steele
Retaruke Station
MASSEY UNIVERSITY DISCOVERY AWARD
MERIDIAN ENERGY EXCELLENCE AWARD
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
In an isolated area,
where the Wanganui and
Retaruke Rivers converge,
and adjacent to the
Whanganui National Park,
the Steeles operate their
1441ha predominantly
steep hill country property
with “vision and passion”,
according to the award
judges.
This active couple, whose three adult children are involved in
the property “on a daily basis”, are successfully combining living
and farming at Whakahoro with generating income from other
ventures including adventure tourism, roading contracting and
manuka honey partnerships.
The judges wrote: “A key strength is the collaborative and
innovative manner the family and staff work together to make
the diverse but complementary businesses work.” Conservation
and environmental considerations come first, “hands down”, says
Richard. “In 100 years you won’t be known for being great sheep
farmers, but what you did for conservation counts forever.” The
couple say they are driven by the admiration they had, in their
younger years, for “the optimism of old people planting trees”.
The Steeles have given Richard’s sister Rosemary land on which
an off-the-energy-grid home has been built. Rosemary moved
from Auckland and it “made sense” says Richard to build with
energy efficiency a priority. “The lines charges (for electricity)
out here are getting out of hand. At our place we have the fire
burning almost all year for hot water and cooking, there’s no
shortage of firewood!”
The 7500su farm is a base for their jet boat tours and flying fox
operation. Converted shearing quarters on the place form part
of son Dan’s Blue Duck Lodge eco-tourism and farming business
on an adjoining property. The Steeles enjoy that, between their
place and the Blue Duck operation, 18 people are employed.
“It’s not like living on a farm in the boonies,” says Richard with
a smile, “it’s an exciting and vibrant place to be, even for an old
fella like me.”
Son Rich, who his Dad proudly explains, “can fix anything and
build anything” shares his work between Retaruke and Blue Duck.
Daughter Anna, an accountant in Taumarunui, is home three
nights a week; her input to website and business administration
is “invaluable” say her parents.
The Steeles came to the area, an hour south of Taumarunui, in
1993 when they purchased the original 830ha Retaruke Station.
In 2005 they bought the 611ha property next door. 150ha is in a
forestry partnership where redwoods are planted in headwaters,
to mitigate a massive earthflow movement. They have retired
80ha of regenerating native bush and placed 119ha of mature
native bush under QE II covenant. This latter area contains
remnants of massive rimu, matai and kahikatea illegally logged
prior to Steele ownership. This bush does still have some large
trees standing however. Experts estimate some of the living
kahikatea to be 890 years old.
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Early realisation it was uneconomic to farm parts of the property; excellent management of riparian and native areas.
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Maximum use of firewood sourced on the farm for renewable energy; water supply pumped by hydraulic ram.
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Impressive integrated farming enterprise in conjunction with adventure tourism.
Helped develop a dwelling on farm independent of off-site energy, with view to doing more.

Ross Collier
Pentwyn Farms
BALLANCE AGRI-NUTRIENTS: NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AWARD
HILL LABORATORIES HARVEST AWARD
Ross operates his contracting business and farms
at Rangiwaea with an understanding of land and
soil resources that the award judges described as
“outstanding”.
Ross’ properties go up to an altitude of 883m ASL; the Central
Plateau is an area with harsh weather extremes and fragile
soils. The judges were impressed with his approach, noting,
“a management regime finely tuned and switched on to the
strengths and opportunities that the land resources provide”.
“Ross understands his own strengths and interests, enabling him
to develop a farming system that suits his needs along with the
needs of the environment in which he operates”.
Pentwyn Farms consists of three properties totalling 680ha
(670ha effective) of easy rolling to medium hill country south
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
of Waiouru, and a steadily growing agricultural contracting
business. Last year Ross wintered 850 cattle, 3100 ewes and
1100 hoggets. He employs two full-time staff and three casuals,
and says he considers soil and people “the two most important
assets”. He clearly values and enjoys the input of stock manager
Kevin Cross and machinery operator Fraser Bryant.
In 2007 Ross purchased from his parents Arthur and Robin the
home farm and a small block bought in 2000. In 2008 he added,
121ha 15kms to the southwest. The three properties complement
each other, the highest being “summer safe and snow country”
and the lowest being “summer dry and fly country”. Explains
Ross: “The grass grows through the summer at home, and I send
stock to the bottom block to finish in the winter.”
All cattle and about half the lambs are finished. Crops are
considered an important tool for combating “zero winter
growth” on part of the land, minimising soil damage and making
the most of growth. “Our summer growth is huge, the only way
to control it is to harvest it.” The agricultural contracting business
grew out of a desire to maximise machinery used on farm.
Ross traces his keen awareness of soil conservation and nutrient
management back to growing up in his area, and his family’s
experience farming bulls. In 1994 he worked in Canada on an
agricultural exchange and saw first hand the lasting result of
the ‘dirty 30s’ wind erosion catastrophe there. “I saw how easy
it was to wreck light soil,” he says, “and I was fortunate to be
staying with a progressive family that I learnt a lot from.” Ross
became close to his host family, who have four sons, and to
this day they maintain contact with regular visits between New
Zealand and Canada.
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Excellent nutrient management for the whole enterprise from pastures to crops; high quality reticulated stock water system.
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Commitment to improve all areas of production through measuring, monitoring and improving.
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Use of cropping to supply feed in a difficult winter environment; improved pasture and specialist finishing feed.
Excellent knowledge of soils and soil management and adaptive management to changing conditions.

Chalky & Lesley Leary and Robbie & Rachel Deans
Onga
PGG WRIGHTSON LAND AND LIFE AWARD
The Learys own Onga, a 715ha forestry, sheep
and beef property west of Hunterville, and the
Deans’ lease the pasture and own the stock.
In the eight years they have been working together, the two
couples have built up what the judges described as “a really good
relationship that works well for everyone”. The judges highlighted
the strength of, and goodwill around, the lease agreement noting
that, “this underscores the farm’s environmental health”.
Situated in the Mangahoe Valley, Onga’s contour ranges from
rolling to very steep. A Leary family operation for 40 years,
Chalky and Lesley have been farming there in their own right
since 1994.
Two factors influence the way the property is operated now:
The aim of Chalky and Lesley to assist young people into sheep
farming; and the February 2004 storm. The destructive storm
caused mass erosion on Onga, and it was also responsible for
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
the erosion of Chalky’s mindset that “one day we’d get rid of
all the gorse”.
“After that storm, on the eroded bits the gorse just came back
up like hair on a dogs back,” recalls Chalky. A decision was made
to gradually increase the proportion of the farm in pines and
poplars, and retire other parts. Currently about 100ha is in pines
and about 50ha is native bush or “spectacularly” regenerating
natives. Ironically, they are finding the gorse is “a great nurse
crop, natives are very tenacious”.
On the remaining 565ha, the Deans’ last year wintered about
5800su including 3800 sheep and 268 cattle. The couple
appreciate the opportunity to build their equity in such a
supportive leasehold arrangement. Says Robbie, “Chalky has
never been critical, only ever helpful.” And the Learys enjoy
having time for their extensive community involvement,
including Chalky’s position as Rangitikei District Mayor.
Chalky says the leasing of Onga is “doing what we can” to
address the difficulty faced by young people wanting to go into
sheep farming. “There is no pathway into ownership like there
is with dairying,” he says, “and it’s getting harder, with so many
farms being sold to next door, to make bigger places.”
But, he points out, the leasing is “not entirely selfless”. “We’ve
still got our lifestyle here on the farm which we love.” Both
couples are committed to their community. The Learys through
the Anglican Church, sports clubs, local body, and support of
farming industry groups, and the Deans’ through school, driving
school bus and dog trialling.
Chalky and Lesley have three adult children and three
grandchildren. Robbie and Rachel have two children, Henry (11)
and Charlotte (10).
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Mix of land, geology and soil types, each one farmed to its capability.
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Some smaller blocks on property in joint venture partnerships with non-land-owning friends.
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All very involved in community at local levels and beyond; huge community commitment.
Excellent lease relationship between Deans and Learys, an agreement working well for all concerned.

Paul McGlade and Robin Weir
Whareiti
DONAGHYS FARM STEWARDSHIP AWARD
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
On their 155ha property
just outside the township
of Owhango, Paul and
Robin are creating what the
judges have described as “a
wonderland of diversity”.
The judges wrote: “They are hard
working well-established farmers
who have downsized. This has
allowed them to concentrate on
their particular interests of creating
a wonderland of diversity and
growing quality stock.”
Paul and Robin have owned Whareiti for 12 years, initially running
it alongside two larger blocks ‘Kerry Hills’, which has been sold,
and ‘Pepperwood’, across the road, which is leased. Muses Robin:
“It’s sort of our retirement block, but sometimes we wonder
where the retirement bit comes into it!”
The property is 23kms south of Taumarunui. Contour is
moderate to easy hill country with significant areas of flat. Last
year 800 ewes, 200 hoggets and 100 cattle were wintered. All
lambs are finished on the property. Heifers and steers are off
the farm by two years old, thus minimising their impact on the
soil, water and biodiversity.
Paul and Robin have extensively developed the small unit that
was, in their words, “in need of a serious spruce-up” when they
bought it. Almost all the property has been refenced, with 14
paddocks now subdivided into 54 paddocks. There were five
water troughs and there are now 49, all gravity fed.
A network of dams has been established; the three main
streams have been fenced and around 13,000 plants have been
established “so far”. The judges commended this work, noting:
“A fantastic approach to water care creating areas of pond and
lake for biodiversity enhancement with plantings and waterfowl
habitat.”
Bird life is flourishing, with “masses” of tui as well as blue heron,
ducks and, excitingly, rare dabchicks. There are only around
2000 dabchicks thought to exist in the North Island so Paul and
Robin were understandably “thrilled” when they first spotted
some on a farm dam five years ago.
The couple are committed to environmental care and sustainable
land use; “we all need to do our bit”. Paul recalls childhood visits
to an uncle up the Wanganui River. “You could stand on the
bank and count the stones across to the other side, the water
was that clear,” he says. “Now you can’t, the stones are covered
in mud and slime. And its not just farming that has caused that.
To see it deteriorate like that, in your own lifetime, certainly
makes you think.”
The couple have a long record of community commitment
and Paul is a dog trials champion and judge. Between them the
couple have eight grandchildren, three married daughters and
one daughter-in-law. Sadly, Robin’s son Richard came home to
farm in 2003 but passed away with cancer in 2007.
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Balance between sustainable production, and development and protection of unique habitat.
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Fantastic approach to water care creating areas of pond and lake for biodiversity enhancement with plantings and waterfowl habitat.
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Water courses fenced and planted with natives sourced from district.
Native bush fenced and retired.

Te Uranga B2 Incorporation (owner)
and Dean & Lucy Marshall (sharemilker)
Paatara Farm
LIC DAIRY FARM AWARD
JUDGES’ COMMENTS
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Above average production for type of country; good stock health and conception rates.
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Waterways either already fenced or have documented plans to fence.
Water supply from natural sources, reticulated to troughs; catchments reverting to natives.
storage pond for effluent with much larger than consent requirement capacity.
• Lined
The team approach to
farming Paatara, a 158ha 350cow
operation northeast
of Taumarunui, was warmly
commended by the award
judges.
Coming in for special praise was the
working relationship between the
Marshalls and Te Uranga committee
of management member Vonda
Houpapa.
Noted the judges: “Dean and Vonda share a common passion
and vision for the development of the farm, and for the
community overall. Conservation comes naturally, it is just part
of what they do. They have immense pride in the property.
The attitude that you take responsibility, and ‘the buck stops
with us’ was very evident.”
Te Uranga B2’s landholdings total 2389ha comprising two dairy
farms, a sheep and beef unit, pine forests, and Nga Whenua
Rahui Kawenata, protecting its regenerating native forests.
The Marshalls are in their 10th season with Te Uranga. They
originally came to the Incorporation’s Koromiko dairy property.
However when Paatara, in the Ngakonui district, was added to
the portfolio they took on both properties.
Now, they have a 109ha dairy support block in their own right at
Owhango, the Marshalls have scaled back to just Paatara, where
they live with their children Rosie (14), William (13) and Emma
(11).
Paatara last season achieved 998.9 MS/ha from the 115ha milking
platform. The balance of the property is either retired and
planted in natives, or used as steeper support grazing. Contour
is majority rolling with some steep.
Dean, who worked in horticulture and commercial fishing before
getting into dairying, points out the Te Uranga management
committee were firmly committed to environmental stewardship
before he arrived, but says he welcomed the opportunity to
work with a shared philosophy. He describes a feature of his
approach as “a very low input system, making use of the grass
you grow”.
Less than 15 percent of feed is imported onto the farm and
nitrogen is applied “lightly, only as required, up to 160 units but
mostly around the 100-120 units”. A new effluent pond is greatly
valued, with up to 80 days storage and allowing the utilisation
of effluent over 40ha of the property.
They employ just one staff member, Tyson Mitchell, who first
worked for them fresh out of school and is in his second season
back there. “We have an exceptional relationship,” says Dean,
who, in keeping with his desire to encourage progression in
the industry, gives Tyson grazing on the Marshall property and
ensures the keen snowboarder’s days off coincide with Mt
Ruapehu’s best snow conditions!
Community commitment sits well with the Marshalls, and the
Incorporation, which has 760 shareholders, many of whom live
in the wider area. Dean and Lucy both hold leadership roles at
Ngakonui School and Te Uranga supports many causes including
a school bus and Taumarunui Speed Shears.

Te Uranga B2 Incorporation (owner) and Jack Valois (manager)
Upoko Farm
HORIZONS REGIONAL COUNCIL AWARD (for the integration of trees)
Sitting proudly under
Hikurangi Mountain, in
the Mangakahu Valley
northeast of Taumarunui,
Upoko Farm is much more
than a productive sheep
and beef farm.
This 1323ha (1123ha effective) of ancestral Maori land is also a
grazing unit for the Incorporation’s two dairy farms, a production
forest, has 120ha of Nga Whenua Rahui covenanted reserve and,
as manager Jack Valois points out, “is a work in environmental
progress”.
FIELD DAY
A field day will be held at the 2013 Supreme Winner’s property
at a date yet to be announced.
Name: Curwen and Marija Hare, Tuatahi Farm Partnership
Where: 586 Waituna-Tapuae Road, RD 9, Feilding 4779
For details, contact: Shelley Dew-Hopkins
Horizons Regional Coordinator
Phone: 06 328 2854
Mobile: 027 228 6239
Email: horizons@bfea.org.nz
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BALLANCE
FARM ENVIRONMENT AWARDS, VISIT: www.bfea.org.nz
The award judges described Upoko as: “A well run property
with a team focused on today’s farming issues.” And they
noted the people connected with Upoko had “a strong sense
of community and environment”. The property’s contour is
easy to moderately steep and last year supported 13,097 su,
including 7300 sheep.
Jack has been at Upoko since July 2011; the process of retiring and
planting unproductive and riparian areas was already established
when he arrived. He has readily embraced the philosophy but is
quick to highlight the role of the Te Uranga committee member
with the environmental portfolio, Vonda Houpapa.
Omeka Phillips is a long-term staff member on the property
and Casey Chadwick is a recent arrival. Jack has two sons Reece
(10) and Ben (9). His partner is Rochelle O’Hara.
Ballance Farm Environment Awards National Sponsors Regional Partner