Putauaki Trust – Himiona Farm Profile

Putauaki Trust is a relatively new entrant into dairying having acquired Himiona Farm in 2006. The farm is situated on the Rangitaiki Plains between the townships of Te Teko and Edgecumbe. The original land they purchased was just 57ha in size and barely economic but it was opposite the Kokohinau Marae and so the land was spiritually significant. Himiona Farm was surrounded by a number of small blocks owned by whānau who are shareholders in the Trust. There is the added challenge that not all of these are side by side.

Since 2006, the Trust has acquired leases from many of these smallholdings and built up the milking platform to the current 177ha. Himiona Farm is currently running 570 kiwi cross cows and is on target to produce 240,000 kgMS this season. The farm is run by a variable order sharemilker who also employs two full time staff. The farm has a 40 aside herringbone dairy shed – a far cry from the quite primitive 'walk through' shed that was originally on the property.
The five-year plan would see more lease land acquired resulting in a milking platform of 213ha and 700 cows producing 280,000 kgMS.