Page 22 - NZ Herefords Magazine 2019 Edition

On Farm

Top hill country award for

Gisborne Hereford breeders

WORDS KATE TAYLOR PHOTOGRAPHS REBECCA WILLIAMS

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE REEVES FAMILY of the Mokairau their running of the properties and they work so well together.”
Hereford Stud for winning the Gisborne-Wairoa Federated As well as leasing out land on a per hectare basis for
Farmers Hill Country Farmer of the Year award in 2018. commercially grown sweetcorn or squash, the properties are
Mokairau is a 2867ha property (2288ha effective) running home to cattle, sheep and deer.
close to 22,000 stock units on four properties on the East Coast About 300 hinds produce velvet stags and venison. The 6000
north of Gisborne. Romney/Poll Dorset ewe flock supplies early season lambs.
Mokairau, the home farm at Whangara, has been in the family Driven by Nick, there is also a new sheep-milking arrangement
since 1926 – Peter and Christine took over from Peter’s parents, with Waimata Cheese.
David and Joy, more than 20 years ago, and are welcoming the On the cattle side, which makes up 70 percent of the stock
next two generations. Jon and Chloe Reeves run Waihapua, Sam units in the business, the stud has 300 recorded stud cows plus
Reeves and partner Leah Wilkie run Mangaroa, Sophie and Nick R2 and weaner heifers. Total cattle numbers in the business are
Land run Mangaone, which the Reeves purchased in February 2800 to 3000 including dairy grazers.
2018, and Peter and Christine run Mokairau. Two other sons, But the Hereford breed is where their passion is. The Mokairau
Richard and Matthew, work off the property. Ten grandchildren Hereford stud was established in 1954 by Peter’s father, David,
are also being nurtured into the Mokairau culture and farming life. after he purchased five cows from the Wilencote jubilee sale. David
“It’s the involvement of our whole family that we think makes was one of the founding members of the Eastland Hereford Club
Mokairau the successful operation it is,” Peter told the Gisborne in 1968 and president of the NZ Hereford Association in 1978/79.
Herald after the win was announced in April 2018. The Reeves have been DNA/sire verification testing since
More than 180 farmers and agribusiness people attended 2006 and moved to SNP technology in 2012 to collate an
their winner’s field day at Mokairau, where Peter Andrew from extensive database of information.
AgFirst described the Reeves as a highly motivated family team. The stud sold 31 bulls in 2018 for an average price of
“A key driver of their success is the way the family does a lot $6774, with the top price of $11,500 paid by Papanui Station.
of hard work to keep the costs down. They fire off each other in The 2019 sale will see an offering of 35 bulls.

More than 180 people attended Mokairau’s Farmer of the Year
field day.

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