The Rural Voice, 1992-11, Page 36Travel
New Zealand's `runs' farming in a BIG way
They call it Southland and New
Zealand farmers say it will never let
you down, although the ride is
occasionally rough along the way.
Farmers in the southernmost
province of New Zealand's south
island operate properties much bigger
than those in the more heavily
populated north island, altering as
little as possible what nature has
provided to make a living. And the
largest of the large privately owned
stations or "runs", as the farms here
are called, is Glenaray, a 60,000 -
hectare block of highland sweeping
up and westward from the Waikaia
River to the Garvie Mountains.
At one time large stations
predominated in Southland but when
the government decreed that they be
broken down into smaller blocks of
land for settlers arriving in the late
1800s they gradually disappeared.
But because few previous owners had
been able to financially withstand the
unpredictable hardships encountered
in operating Glenaray, there was
scant interest from anyone wanting to
farm the tussock -covered hills
comprising half the property. One
man, however, was up to the task,
George Pinckney, a native of England
who purchased Glenaray in 1898,
along with his two brothers-in-law
Jack and Bernard Tripp. His
descendants now operate the station
which has not only survived until
today but has grown over the years to
rather remarkable proportions.
Roaming from the lower hills at
600 feet above sea level to the tops of
the high country at 6,800 feet are
65,000 sheep, 3,500 head of cattle,
3,000 deer and 80 horses. Under
cultivation are 5,000 hectares, used
mostly for improved pasture or
providing winter feed in the form of
kale and swedes. There is a work
force of 25 on the station including
seven shepherds, two full-time tractor
drivers, three full-time fencers, a
cook, a gardener, a mechanic, office
staff, 90 working sheep dogs and, oh
yes, a helicopter pilot.
When it is 75 kilometres from one
end of a property to the other, most of
it through mountainous terrain, a
32 THE RURAL VOICE
regular farm truck will hardly do, so
Glenaray has its own Hughes 500
turbine helicopter, regarded as "just a
general tool". Valued at $1.1 million
new, it can shorten a task of rounding
up livestock which might take two
days down to half an hour, said Ian
Sowden, manager of Glenaray. It is a
position he describes as "the best job
in New Zealand".
Like many young New Zealand
men who began farming careers
mustering sheep in the high country,
Sowden, 56, had hoped to purchase a
sheep station. Increasing land prices
ended that dream so he has spent his
years in agriculture managing stations
for other people. Managing Glenaray
Story and photos
by Bob Reid
for the past eight years has provided
unique opportunities and broadened
his outlook on agriculture.
"Not too many farmers can take a
helicopter ride any morning," he said.
But an aerial tour of Glenaray clearly
indicates there are many more
activities Sowden must keep an eye
on from ground level as well. One
moment he is directing a work crew,
momentarily at an impasse, as to
where he wants the corral, then he is
providing advice to a young man
breaking in a horse, then it's off to
the office to make several phone calls
Glenaray homestead building from
the air—farming on a grand scale.
supposed to have been made two
hours earlier.
He pointed out that the two main
private roads crossing the station are
often busier than the highway
running past it. Between contractors
carrying out various projects and the
daily routine of caring for stock,
maintaining and improving the
property handled by staff, Glenaray
resembles a self-contained working
community rather than just part of the
countryside.
There is a sizeable market at the
station itself where 800 sheep per
year, along with a few horses, are
needed to feed the dogs along with a
further 400 mutton for employees.
Fifteen thousand lambs are sold for
finishing on grass at an annual sale
on the property.
It is late August, nearly the end of
winter and Glenaray has just finished
shearing most of its Romney and
Romney -Merino cross sheep. The
more gifted members of the 18 -man
shearing gang can do up to 230 sheep
per day using blades rather than
electric clippers so as to not disturb
the grease near the skin and leave a
longer coat of wool for protection
against inclement weather. Income
from wool provides over half the $3
million (NZ) annual income. Of