Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Award regional supreme winners Kerry and Paul Harmer, with their son Ben.
Outstanding commitment to environmental stewardship in the sensitive Ashburton Lakes catchment has helped Paul and Kerry Harmer of Castle Ridge Station win the regional supreme title at the Canterbury Ballance Farm Environment Awards.
The awards, run by the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust, celebrate excellence in sustainable farming and growing.
The Canterbury event took place in Christchurch last night.
The Harmers run just over 14,000 sheep, almost 800 cattle and about 230 deer at their 5930ha (5700ha effective) high-country property.
Their breeding operation produces high-quality Merino wool, sheep, cattle and deer, underpinned by a clear focus on reducing environmental footprint while maintaining a resilient and profitable business for future generations.
Judges said the Harmers demonstrated “an absolute commitment to long-term environmental stewardship while operating a viable high country business in a climatically difficult and sensitive catchment.”
Central to Castle Ridge Station’s approach is an extensive water monitoring and protection programme.
Working alongside their local catchment group and Canterbury University, the Harmers undertake regular surface and groundwater monitoring, generating robust data that informs farm management decisions and shows measurable improvements in water leaving the property.
They have fenced 17km of waterways to exclude stock and reduce erosion, while more than 3000 native plants have been established in riparian areas to enhance biodiversity and protect sensitive zones.
The Harmers said stewardship was central to everything they did.
“Not only is it our home and business, but it supports a vibrant local community – from our family and staff, to all those who interact with us and those who come to enjoy the landscape, flora, fauna and recreation opportunities.”
They said they realised they had a “huge responsibility” to look after all parts of the business and property.
“We are stewards for only a short period of time. We wish to leave the property in better heart than when we arrived and to look after the land and people in our care along the way.”
Judges also acknowledged their long-term commitment to innovation, noting their willingness to trial, evaluate and adopt new systems over time, and their openness in sharing knowledge with the wider community.
Their strong team culture and multi-generational involvement are also central to the business.
“We now have five generations of the family who have worked on this property in some capacity.
“Being able to work alongside different generations has been rewarding and refreshing.”
The Harmers demonstrate how environmental stewardship and productivity can go hand in hand by strategically reducing overall stock numbers to improve per-head performance, maintaining careful winter grazing practices, and focusing on producing strong, healthy, well-bred stock in a low-stress system.
The couple will join fellow regional winners from across the country in being considered for the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the NZ Farm Environment Trust’s National Showcase in Christchurch in July.
The recipients of the Gordon Stephenson Trophy then become 2026’s National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing.
Other Awards for Castle Ridge Station
Mike Arnold - LeaderBrand South Island Ltd
Ben and Wendy Croft - Windale Dairy Limited
Baden and Campbell Sommerville - Somerview Farm
Andrew and Amy Darling - Adar Farming Ltd
Stuart and Sara Russell - Ngatimaru Farming Company
The awards also showcased the Mid Canterbury Catchment Collective.
Formed in 2021, the collective now unites more than 200 members across 10 catchment groups, from the Southern Alps to the coast between the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers.
Backed by government funding, the collective drives freshwater improvements through GIS mapping, stream health assessments and eDNA testing, and planting and pest control.
Their work highlights how collaborative, farmer-led action can deliver measurable environmental gains at scale while supporting a productive farming region.
– New Zealand Farm Environment Trust