Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November. We left the adrenaline capital of the world and headed north east for our final visit in New Zealand, and one which would be very special for Sheila, as she would be once again reunited with her cousin Janet who we had met by chance at the Christchurch Show. Janet and her husband David, farm near Pleasant Point, South Canterbury, and our inland scenic journey took us through Wanaka, Lindis Pass, Lake Tekapo, and Burkes Pass. These passes took us through some incredible tussock covered mountains and the remoteness of the area was reinforced by the absence of man and animal for large distances.
Lake Tekapo is 2300 feet above sea level and is an important source of electricity through hydro electric technology. (New Zealand has no nuclear power stations, and a huge controversy and public debate ensued when an American Warship wanted to dock in their territorial waters) We could not get over the cleanliness and the blue colour of the water in the lake. The answer could lie in the fact that the lake is fed from the Southern Alps which are untouched by pollution. We could see those snow capped mountains in the distance during most of the four hour journey. We hardly saw any sheep, except for the occasional Merino which is probably the only breed that could survive in these conditions.
The first thing that strikes you when you drive up to the large house at Raincliff Station is the oversized Welsh flag in one of the windows and the CYMRU number on the plate of the family vehicle. David and Janet purchased the station a few years ago after originally managing the station since 2002 for a large international cooperation. David was well known in Wales for his expertise in deer management and supply chain integration, and he has certainly needed these skills in addition to incredible vision, strong work ethic, and sheer bloody mindedness to make a success of a very challenging undertaking.
Raincliff Station comprises of:
Breeding block – 1850 acres, Finishing block – 1750 acres (1000 irrigated)
Rockpool unit (separate block for stags and bulls) – 670acres
A further 1250 acres is leased.
Wintered stock numbers – 2500 breeding ewes with all lambs finished. 400 – 500 hoggets that are put to the ram. 2000 breeding hinds and 800 – 1000 stags. 800 - I year old bull beef, 300 - 2 year old bull beef, 1250 dairy heifers on tack.
500 acres of winter feed. (Fodder beet, Kale or Swedes) 50 acres of potatoes, and 100 acres of barley.
The labour on the farm consists of David and six other members of staff, with help from Janet and the three children Eleanor, Brychan and Amelia.
While Sheila and Janet had a chance to catch upon family news, David took me on a tour of the farm and what I experienced in terms of financial investment in fencing, tracks, grassland quality and irrigation capability, left me in no doubt as to the commitment and long term plan the family have for the station. Once again I was reminded of the opportunities afforded within New Zealand for farming entrepreneurs but with the associated risks of an unsupported industry that often is affected by the ‘goings on’ in the financial markets of the world.
We left the Morgan family enthused and wishing them well and the success that they fully deserve for the efforts they have made to create a new life in New Zealand.
Next stop – Christchurch Airport and the flight to Sydney Australia!
Lake Tekapo is 2300 feet above sea level and is an important source of electricity through hydro electric technology. (New Zealand has no nuclear power stations, and a huge controversy and public debate ensued when an American Warship wanted to dock in their territorial waters) We could not get over the cleanliness and the blue colour of the water in the lake. The answer could lie in the fact that the lake is fed from the Southern Alps which are untouched by pollution. We could see those snow capped mountains in the distance during most of the four hour journey. We hardly saw any sheep, except for the occasional Merino which is probably the only breed that could survive in these conditions.
The first thing that strikes you when you drive up to the large house at Raincliff Station is the oversized Welsh flag in one of the windows and the CYMRU number on the plate of the family vehicle. David and Janet purchased the station a few years ago after originally managing the station since 2002 for a large international cooperation. David was well known in Wales for his expertise in deer management and supply chain integration, and he has certainly needed these skills in addition to incredible vision, strong work ethic, and sheer bloody mindedness to make a success of a very challenging undertaking.
Raincliff Station comprises of:
Breeding block – 1850 acres, Finishing block – 1750 acres (1000 irrigated)
Rockpool unit (separate block for stags and bulls) – 670acres
A further 1250 acres is leased.
Wintered stock numbers – 2500 breeding ewes with all lambs finished. 400 – 500 hoggets that are put to the ram. 2000 breeding hinds and 800 – 1000 stags. 800 - I year old bull beef, 300 - 2 year old bull beef, 1250 dairy heifers on tack.
500 acres of winter feed. (Fodder beet, Kale or Swedes) 50 acres of potatoes, and 100 acres of barley.
The labour on the farm consists of David and six other members of staff, with help from Janet and the three children Eleanor, Brychan and Amelia.
While Sheila and Janet had a chance to catch upon family news, David took me on a tour of the farm and what I experienced in terms of financial investment in fencing, tracks, grassland quality and irrigation capability, left me in no doubt as to the commitment and long term plan the family have for the station. Once again I was reminded of the opportunities afforded within New Zealand for farming entrepreneurs but with the associated risks of an unsupported industry that often is affected by the ‘goings on’ in the financial markets of the world.
We left the Morgan family enthused and wishing them well and the success that they fully deserve for the efforts they have made to create a new life in New Zealand.
Next stop – Christchurch Airport and the flight to Sydney Australia!
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