Tutumatai to be monitor farm

Beef + Lamb NZ has confirmed that Tutumatai Station near Ruatōria is to be a Whenua Māori monitor farm — the first one on the East Coast in about 20 years. A field day will be held there to kick off the programme on Friday, March 1, discussing stock policies, farming practices and so on. Pictures supplied

Tutumatai Station, located in Ruatoria, has been confirmed by Beef+LNZ as a local Whenua Māori monitor farm under the programme title “He Kai Kei Aku Ringa”.

B+LNZ’s Māori agribusiness adviser Pania King championed Tutumatai Station being considered for the programme.

Thanks to her efforts, and the efforts of the Tutumatai Station farm manager Cam Brown, the station has been confirmed in He Kai Kei Aku Ringa.

The programme is being promoted, resourced and supported by B+LNZ for a two-year period, with the option of a third year, starting on March 1.

The monitor farm programme B+LNZ ran at Waikura Station at Tiniroto for a number of years worked brilliantly for the station, and for the wider farming community.

“It’s great to see a monitor farm back on the Coast,” said B+LNZ senior extension manager Mark Harris.

“It has been about 20 years since there was one up there.”

Tutumatai is a 970ha sheep and beef breeding and finishing property located in the Mangaoporo and Tapuaeroa Valleys in Ruatōria.

The station leases a number of surrounding land blocks, adding to its scale and diversity in climate and land class.

In total, Tutumatai Station farms 1940ha, 1210ha of which is effective, with 35 percent of the land farmed as class 6, 7 and 8 hill country with the balance of land being flat-to-easy contour.

Tutumatai carries 10,300 stock units made up of Romney sheep and Angus cattle.

The owners of Tutumatai Station manage two radiata pine forestry interests that are registered in the Emissions Trading Scheme.

They also have an ongoing relationship with Ngati Porou Mānuka, which has hives spread across six apiary sites, targeting high-value UMF honey.

A field day is to be held at the station, at 307A Mangaoporo Valley, on Friday, March 1 from 9am-3pm.

“The field day is the first of several field days to be held annually under the Ngati Porou Ahuwhenua Discussion Group, with the steering of the programme being supported and resourced by Mrs King and facilitated by Moana Puha.

“It promises to be a fun-filled day connecting whānau and whenua,” Pania said.

“I encourage farmers and others to come along, listen, and join in on discussions as we take a closer look at what is involved and how Beef & Lamb NZ will be resourcing and supporting on-farm operations at Tutumatai Station.

“B+LNZ’s genetics team will be joining us as we cover topics that include governance and decision-making, stock policies, animal health, feed management, achieving targets, compliance and more.”

The proprietors Rotokautuku XIC Incorporation came into being on January 26, 1951.

“Prior to this, our tipuna, Raana Walker, acquired the lease in 1921 and farmed the property before the incorporation was registered,” said Rotokautuku XIC Incorporation chair Ed Kawhia.

“Tutumatai Station is the name of our farm.

“The station takes its name from the 473 metre hill, which is the dominating feature of the farm.

“Tutumatai was named by our tipuna Uepohatu, along with Tutuokura as her sentinels, that overlooked the lands that came under her mana,” Ed said.

“Over the years the station has changed to meet the challenges of our environment, our erosion-prone soil and distance from a major centre.”

In 1988 the incorporation purchased a 40ha finishing property in Ruatōria township.

“In 2013 we established a modest pinus radiata forest of 151ha, which we registered with the NZ ETS in 2022,” he said.

“In 2016 we purchased 200ha to maintain the land available for farming.”

Tutumatai’s vision statement reads: “Ko te whakapūmau i te mana o ā tātou whenua, hei oranga ai mō tātou.”

“To retain forever the essence of our land to sustain prosperity for generations.”

Mr Kawhia said at the heart of that vision statement was Tutumatai.

“Tutumatai represents a sacred thread connecting us to the land and to ourselves . . . Mai ngā toto! Mai ngā whakapapa! . . . signifying our connection through blood, and our connection through genealogy.

“This connection is at the core of our identity and our responsibility as stewards of the land.

“Located in the heart of He Wiwi Nati, we are Ngati Porou and proudly Māori-owned.

“With a shareholding of 68 owners, we envision a farm business that thrives and delivers on our promise.”

Tutumatai Station employs Cam Brown as its farm manager and Shane Sergeant as a general shepherd.

“We are fortunate to be in a position to employ Cam, because Cam is family,” Ed said.

“Cam’s mother is a shareholder, and Cam’s grandmother Henrietta (Aunty Henri) was an original shareholder.

“He is responsible for all on-farm management decisions, including all aspects of production, livestock, our environment, staff management and annual plans.”

■ Tutumatai Station carries 500 Angus breeding cows, including replacements, and 4500 Romney ewes and ewe hoggets.

Annually 350-550 five-year terminal ewes are brought in.

All male cattle are retained as entire and are killed either as R2-year-olds or at 30 months at 300kg/cw.

Some heifers and lambs are traded, with the exact numbers being determined by seasonal and market conditions.

A recent stock policy change has seen Tutumatai Station committing to a hogget and heifer breeding programme, with a focus on improving fertility and maternal uptake in its sheep and cattle breeding herds.

The first progeny of this policy change were born this financial year.

Liveweight targets of 42kg hogget and 320kg heifer at mating are prioritised through this policy.

■ Pania King said of Friday’s field day, “Being mindful of our weather, bring appropriate clothing, closed boots, a hat and, if available, a 4WD ute, offering enough seats for everyone to join in on the farm tour.

“Lunch will be kindly provided by Beef+Lamb NZ.

“We look forward to seeing you all soon.”