Maranga Station

2015 Sheep and Beef Finalists

Maranga Station

Maranga Station is a typical East Coast hill country sheep and beef property and lies about 30 kilometres south west of Gisborne.

For the owners of Maranga Station it is the culmination of a challenging journey, hard work and sacrifice to create an economic property.

The land itself has a long and important history of great significance to local people. This area was a well traversed huarahi (pathway) for the coastal hapū Ngāti Hinewhanga, Ngai Tawhiri, Ngāti Ruapani, and the inland hapū of Rongowhakaata and its neighbours Whānau a Kai and Te Aitanga a Mahaki. The Ngāti Hinehika and Ngai Taane hapū from Te Reinga frequently brought tuna elvers from their water falls to replenish this meandering waterway.

lt has always been a good place to catch tuna. Both maunga Rimuhau and Rimuroa prior to the 1870s attracted titi (mutton birds) on their migrations to nest. These nesting places are still visible today. Each hapū had its own area and these were closely guarded. The arrival of cats and weasels with European settlement quickly saw the demise of the prized titi. The same applied to the weka after Bola in 1988.

Today Maranga Station has been transformed into a highly successful operation by Janice and Marty Charteris. Marty grew up on a farm at Mamaku near Rotorua and worked on farms at Reporoa and on the East Coast. He and Janice who was working in Ruatoria married in 1979 and Marty spent much of his life in the forestry business while Janice continued teaching.

In 1989 they purchased their first farm in the area – the 285 ha Wakelins Highcrest on which they ran 2,500 stock units. In 1995 they bought Gillingham’s Rimuhau and added a further 424 ha and 3,400 stock units to their farming operation. They also leased a further 56 ha before finally buying Maranga at which point they consolidated all in the land into Maranga Station.

The station now consists of 850 ha (effective) on which are run 6,000 Romdale sheep and 1,200 Angus cattle plus 600 goats, which are mustered annually. Killable goats are sent to the local meat exporter and any trophy heads are sold to the Game Parks. Marty and Janice have a split lambing policy with the older ewes lambing in July and younger stock in September. The early lambing means they cash in on the lucrative Christmas market but this also allows them to buy in lambs to utilise pasture between December and July, plus help avoid the dry months. On average they finish over 6,000 stock units a year on Maranga.

Maranga Station has mix of country – ranging from about 50 ha of flats to 500 ha of moderate rolling country, with the balance steep hill country. Over the years Marty and Janice have upgraded the farm infrastructure and environment. They have also progressively improved the pasture by over-sowing at the same time as they spread fertiliser on the property.

Maranga Station is another worthy finalist that demonstrates the setting and achievement of goals matched with on farm policies which maximise pasture utilisation and financial returns.