We value the relationships that connect us to our people, our whenua, and our wider community. We know that when we work together in partnership, with trust, respect, and care, we create stronger outcomes for everyone. As the whakataukī says, “Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu” - adorned with the right feathers, the bird is able to fly. In the same way, it is through our partnerships and shared support that we are able to grow, thrive, and move forward together.
UNLOCKING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PUKEREWA STATION
In partnership with the Ministry of Primary Industries & PerrinAg
This investment funding, marks the start of an exciting new phase for Pukerewa, with work set to roll out from March 2026. In partnership with the Ministry for Primary Industries and PerrinAg, the project focuses on setting the station up for long-term success - lifting farm performance while strengthening environmental, cultural, and economic outcomes for the whenua.
The first step is understanding where things stand today. We’ll take a detailed look at soils, pasture, land classes, livestock systems, and the farm’s environmental footprint to build a clear baseline.
From there, we’ll explore future options. Using tools like Farmax and Overseer, we’ll model different farm systems and compare how they perform across productivity, profitability, greenhouse gas emissions, and water quality.
This process will be shaped alongside trustees and kaitiaki, ensuring the direction reflects shared goals and values.
Together, we’ll develop a practical transition plan for FY27, outlining what changes are needed, where to invest, and how to move forward.
Mapping will play a key role, helping visualise soils, slopes, erosion risks, and potential land-use changes. This will also identify areas for retirement, whenua management, and protection of wāhi tapu, guided by hui with kaitiaki.
All findings will come together in a final report, providing clear recommendations and pathways to support a low-emissions, sustainable future for Pukerewa.
Key outputs will include detailed farm maps, system modelling comparisons, a clear FY27 transition plan, and a final report outlining actions for long-term growth and emissions reduction.
This project is all about setting Pukerewa up for long-term success - improving farm performance while also strengthening environmental, cultural, and economic outcomes for the whenua.
GREENLEA PREMIER MEATS
In February 2025, we were delighted to host Greenlea representatives at Pukerewa for a meet and greet and farm tour. That visit offered a great opportunity to connect, exchange perspectives, and explore ideas for a collaborative farming partnership.
Since then, that relationship has grown into a strategic grazing agreement, where Pukerewa raises and finishes cattle through to the R3 stage.
Each season's group follows a steady progression from the previous one, with close collaboration ensuring herd health, performance, and quality remain at a high standard.
For reference, Greenlea Premier Meats is a respected, family-owned processor headquartered in Hamilton, renowned for supplying grass-fed, pasture-raised beef to more than 40 international markets.
BYL LIVESTOCK
In October 2024, we welcomed BYL Livestock to a meet-and-greet and guided tour of the property. The visit provided the opportunity to explore a strategic collaboration supported by investor backing.
The proposed partnership would combine Pukerewa’s pasture management with BYL’s livestock trading expertise to purchase and graze calves under a joint growth model.
Once completed, the venture is expected to deliver a solid profit share to Pukerewa when the calves are finished as R3s.
Established in 1995, BYL Livestock is a Cambridge-based livestock trading and brokerage business operating nationwide.
TE KUITI MEATS
Our farm has recently joined as a registered supplier, and TK Meats has already bought our first line of prime lambs through the program. Being part of the 5-Step Animal Welfare Rating Standard fits in nicely with our values - focusing on good stockmanship, calm handling, and raising quality lambs with care.
ANZCO FOODS
In November 2024, we met with a representative from ANZCO to discuss a potential investment partnership. Under the proposed arrangement, ANZCO would purchase weaner Angus - Friesian bulls on an interest-free basis for Pukerewa to raise and finish over a two-year period to a target live weight of 550kg’s.
Upfront stock without capital outlay lets Pukerewa use pasture efficiently for revenue via finishing fees. Premium program boosts market value through certified antibiotic-free, grass-fed status, aiding compliance and branding. ANZCO covers transport and provides specs/support, reducing some risks while locking in volumes for steady income.
ANZCO is a major New Zealand company specialising in the production, processing, and export of beef and lamb products. The company was founded in 1984 and has grown to become one of New Zealand's largest exporters, with extensive global market reach.
GROWING FUTURE FARMERS
We believe in growing strong leaders right here at home. We are committed to supporting our people to step up into management and leadership roles within the farming industry, focusing on continuous learning and development opportunities. When our people grow, so does Pukerewa - and that benefits everyone involved!
In December 2024, we became a registered farm trainer with the Growing Future Farmers (GFF) Charitable Trust. Our farm manager interviewed candidates for placement on Pukerewa, Hayward Vanstone joined our team in February 2025.
GROWING FUTURE FARMERS - WAIKATO OPEN DAY, 23 JUNE 2025
Our team spent the day at the Growing Future Farmers Open Day at Puketutu in Te Kuiti - and what a day it was! The event was all about giving students, young people, and anyone keen on farming a taste of what the two-year cadetship programme is like. There’s heaps of hands-on experience, real farm training, and NZQA-recognised learning in sheep and beef farming.
We enjoyed catching up with current students, farm trainers, and the GFF crew. Hearing their stories and advice about day-to-day life on farm and training was super inspiring. Guest speakers shared some awesome insights about farming careers and what it took to kickstart their journey in the industry.
It was a fun, friendly day packed with practical info, good chats, and plenty of inspiration for anyone thinking about a future in farming.
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HAYWARD'S REFLECTIVE FEEDBACK...
The team at Pukerewa - including peers, mentors, and whānau - have helped me to strengthen my confidence, aim high, and stay grounded in tikanga values. Their support has shown me how resilience and determination can shape a future in farming.
“I’m still early on in this journey, and every day is a new test - some days are tough with the early mornings and long hours, but that’s where you really learn what you’re made of. The challenges make the wins feel even better. Being out here on the land keeps me focused and proud of the progress I’m making. I’m driven to keep pushing forward, build my skills, and prove that with perseverance, good guidance, and the right attitude, anything’s possible. Farming isn’t just a job to me - it’s about caring for the whenua and animals, upholding values, and growing into someone who can give back to my people. This cadetship is teaching me that resilience is built one early morning at a time, and I’m ready for whatever comes next.”
TONGARIRO HIGH SCHOOL TRADE AGRICULTURE ACADEMY - FIELD TRIP TO PUKEREWA STATION
On 23rd September 2024, a group of tauira (students) aged 16–17 from Tongariro High School’s Trade Agriculture Academy joined us for a two-day, hands-on learning experience. The focus was simple - get involved, learn by doing, and understand how a rural hill country sheep and beef farm runs day to day.
Throughout the visit, tauira worked in small groups, rotating through practical activities that brought farming concepts to life. They measured pasture covers, weighed stock, and worked together to identify cattle ready for the meat works. These sessions weren’t just about the task - they were about understanding the “why” behind decisions, like how pasture quality directly impacts animal performance and farm outcomes.
We also brought in industry experts to widen their view of the sector. Virginia Tocher (Primary ITO), Brian Richards (Farmlands Agronomist), Jenna Paulsen (Farmlands Technical Field Representative), and Tom Aubrey (Greenlea Premier Meats) each shared their pathways, roles, and how they support farming businesses like ours. Their sessions were highly interactive, using demonstrations and group-based problem-solving to keep tauira engaged and thinking. It gave them a clearer picture of the different career opportunities available across the agricultural industry.
Outside of the field-based learning, we made sure there was time to connect and build relationships. Tauira, kaiako, kai manaaki and whānau took part in activities like fishing, eeling, pig hunting, and gathering kaimoana. Working together to prepare and cook the kai for a shared hakari added another layer of teamwork and pride, while also creating space to relax and enjoy the environment.
We wrapped up the wānanga with a poroporoaki, where everyone had the chance to reflect on their experience. It was an open and supportive space, where everyone could speak confidently about what they learned, the friendships they built, and the sense of achievement they felt. A strong theme throughout was the value of manaakitanga, teamwork, and stepping outside comfort zones - resulting in noticeable growth in confidence and self-belief.
Looking ahead, we’re keen to build on this momentum by developing a shared kawa to guide future partnerships. The goal is to create a clear and sustainable pathway for ongoing engagement, supporting meaningful education and training opportunities for rangatahi.
Pukerewa joined the West Waikato Coastal Community Catchment Group on 1 May 2025, adding to the collective effort to restore and protect our shared environment. Together, we contribute knowledge, resources, and practical action through riparian and native planting, wetland restoration, improving hill country soil and pasture resilience, and participating in catchment-wide water quality monitoring. We also collaborate to strengthen biodiversity and foster partnerships that enhance native habitats, reflecting our shared responsibility as kaitiaki of our whenua.
Through these joint initiatives - and by upholding the values of whanaungatanga, kaitiakitanga, and puawaitanga—Pukerewa joins others in nurturing a landscape and community where farming, people, and nature thrive together across the rohe.
He kupu whakataki | Introduction
Ko te hononga ki te whenua, te awa, me te takutai he taonga tuku iho mā tātou katoa. Mā te mahi ngātahi ka taea e tātou te tiaki, te whakaora, me te whakatipu oranga mō ngā uri whakatipu.
Our connection to the land, waterways, and coast is a shared legacy. By working together, we can care for these taonga and nurture wellbeing for generations to come.
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