Bruce McDougal

Manager of Papahaua Station

Family:

* Wife: Robyn who is a midwife for the Waimarino community and a valuable secretary for Bruce!
* We have four children: Rebecca, Raymond, Joseph & Amy, aged 32 yrs – 19yrs.
  • Role:

    * Manager of Papahaua Station, combined property of Papahau and Te Paenga Stations amalgamated in February 2008.
    * To develop this property to take this property from 42,000 stock units to 50,000 +.
    * The main aim is to supply store stock for Ohotu Station ( fattening unit)
    * The team employed currently comprises 6 permanent shepherds and 2 permanent casual fencers.
  • Experience:

    * 38 years experience of working on the land since leaving school.
    * Last five years I have been managing these properties for Atihau.
    * Previous to this I leased various properties in the Waimarino and casual worked for Atihau.
    * I have managed an intensive breeding and fattening property in Ohakune/Horopito from 1990 – 1994.

    On moving to the Waimarino in 1981, I managed a property we developed from bush to farm land at Horopito.

Steve Tapa

Manager of Tawanui Station

Role:

* Responsible for the performance and production of livestock on Tawanui Station
* To develop and improve the land in conjunction with the approved farm plan
* To transform Tawanui into the top 10% of hill country farms in New Zealand
* To organise and coordinate all labour, permanent and casual, to achieve the above objectives
  • Experience:

    * From High School, attended Telford Farming School (3yrs) which was fully funded by Morikaunui Incorporation.
    * Spent 6 years with Federated Farmers working on different blocks throughout the Central Otago Region.
    * I fulfilled my 2 year obligation to Morikaunui Incorporation working as a shepherd for 3 years. (Morikau Station)
    * Moved to Tawanui in 1980 and was a shepherd for 2 years.
    * I was Manager of Omerei Station for 9 years
    * I then moved back to Tawanui and have been here ever since.

Larry Walker

Manager of Te Pa Station

Role:

* Manage the day-to-day operations of Te Pa Station, which is the property that combined Pah Hill & Omerei stations.
* Responsible for 45,000su on 4100 ha.
* Developing the property to increase performance using crops followed with regrassing and increased subdivision and fertilizer
* Working with a team of 5 permanent staff and encouraging off farm training to increase skill levels.
  • Experience:

    * 37 years farming experience covering a wide range of farming practices including the following managers roles.
    * Large 70000su high country property for 10 years
    * Intensive finishing and cropping in the Manawatu for 2 years
    * Bull beef and deer farming with 400 velveting stags in the Rangitikei for 5 years
    * Land settlement course at Flock House over a 2 year period covering a diploma of agriculture in an accelerated form.
    * Pa Hill station manager for 4 years prior to the merger with Omerei. During that time we developed the property into a high performing unit and were winners of the Ahuwhenua trophy for excellence in Maori farming.

Rex Martin

Manager of Ohorea Station

I have been Manager on Waipuna Station since Dec 2004. I moved here with Lisa and our boys after farming 2 years at Te Rangi Station near Masterton as 2IC, 2 years as Stock Manager on Longview at Waitotora and 7 years as sole Manager on Koraenui at Hunterville. Overall I have 27 years farming experience including 3 years farming in the Otago region.
Waipuna has given me the challenge of redeveloping this hill country breeding and finishing farm. Over the last 5 years we have seen substantial changes to the fertilization program, cropping, infrastructure and stock performance. I work with a team of two permanent staff, plus casual help as required. I believe Waipuna has huge potential with more development. Scrub spraying, sub-division and new, exciting hill-country cropping will step this property up to the next level. One of the more restricting factors on the property is the gorges and tomos, which in some cases make our cattle losses unsatisfactory. To help overcome this problem we are working in conjunction with Horizons, identifying our least effective country and now have a pine-tree planting program in place. This should not affect our stock carrying capacity as we are developing the better identified country also.
Having a freehold property in the middle of Waipuna presents a problem with stock movement and farm management at times. Ideally this property would be purchased and run in conjunction with Waipuna. Prior to us living on the main block of Waipuna no-one had lived on the farm for over 15 years and had left the farm and buildings in poor state. With some finance and a lot of hard work the team have got Waipuna up and running, achieving good results and will continue to get better.
Waipuna’s highest point is at 740m running down to 340m, which gives us some early, warm country. With over 715 ha in bush reserve (Nga Whenua Rahui) spread over Waipuna, in which some of this has never been logged, makes this property an appealing, picturesque farm to visit and work on.
It is unfortunate that myself and my family are unable to attend the farm tours but would hope shareholders get the opportunity to visit Waipuna next time and see what a wonderful property they have… Atihau’s BEST property! (in my eyes).

Dean Francois

Manager of Ohotu Station

Role:

Bryan Thompson

Manager of Tohunga Station

Role:

Stephen Wilson

Manager of AWHI Dairy

Role:

* To manage the operations on this dairy milking property to achieve its designated function within AWHI’s integrated 1-farm operation:
* To optimise the productivity of the dairy platform and support land and the performance of the milking herd to achieve pre-set annual milk-solid targets.
  • Experience:

    * Born in the UK, married with 3 sons
    * 1979 – 1982: Askham Bryan College of Agriculture UK
    * 1987 – 1988: Farm Manager – Otorohanga – 200 cows
    * 1988 – 1993: Contract milking – Otorohanga – 200 cows
    * 1993 – 1996: 50:50 sharemilking – Karamea – 180 cows
    * 1996 – 1997: 50:50 sharemilking – Westland
    * 1997 – 2001: Herd Manager – Cornwall, UK
    * 2001 - 2002: Herd Manager / Tutor - Duchy Agricultural College, Cornwall, UK
    * 2003 – 2009: Irrigation / Senior Herd Manager - Hautapu