Page 147 - 2020 NZ Hereford Magazine

Our Breeders

A life dedicated

to others –

David Reeves

1931 to 2019

WORDS SID HAIN
PHOTOGRAPHS KATE TAYLOR / SUPPLIED
THE LATE DAVID REEVES played a huge role in the development
of Herefords on the East Coast.
Born in 1931, he rode a pony cross-country to the Mihiwhetu
School, inland from Whangara, then went on to Hereworth and
Christ College. David’s DNA from rich Scottish descent was
always going to flow through to farming. The wide-open spaces of
Waipaoa and Moonlight Stations and mustering 27,000 wethers
for shearing was just another day’s work for this young shepherd.
David returned home to help his father, Stan, who was the
president of NZ Federated Farmers.
About this time a young girl travelled down from Auckland
to help Ian and Sue Fraser of Hikatu Herefords with their young
family. This was a great opportunity to invite young David down
for dinner to meet Joy, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
In 1968, Gisborne Hereford breeders were asked to draw up
an itinerary for 32 Texan Poll Hereford breeders. As there was no
official organisation it was mooted that an official Hereford Club
should be formed. David became the set-up chairman for what
became known as the Gisborne Hereford Cattlemen’s Club and
became its first president. This club became the forerunner of
area clubs throughout the country, with a mission statement to
‘promote Herefords and the purity of the breed’.
David always believed we should be breeding hill country
bulls for hill country clients. The massive frame scores along with
reduced fat – looked upon as a health problem – did not sit well
with David’s thinking of wonderful open air, grass-fed, hill country
cattle. Worse was still to come when 40 years ago, 30,000 to
40,000 cows were replaced with pine trees on the East Coast. In
total horror, David spoke of this often. Thank goodness he never
saw the state of the roads we now drive over.
David’s many interests included the Hawke’s Bay Regiment
part of the New Zealand Army Volunteer Reserve, where he rose
to become an officer. While practising coming to attention with TOP TO BOTTOM: The late, great David Reeves; David with
Mokairau Shane, winner of the Meat and Wool Cup at the Gisborne
a ceremonial sword, he managed to pierce a hole in the ceiling, and Hawke’s Bay A&P Shows in in the mid-1980s; A younger David
much to the horror of the family. Reeves with a team of dogs on Mokairau.
David received a 50-year citation from then Prime Minister
Jim Bolger for work with the National Party, he also served on the local combined sale. Between them they knew the perfect
the Whangara School board as chairman for 21 years – perhaps skeletal kitset required for an athletic bull: it’s called structural
penance for having six children – and filled many vacancies in soundness. It was always a great morning learning so much from
the busy district. Federated Farmers was a passion and he great masters.
served locally and also on the Electoral Committee for the New David and dear, patient Joy, will be ever remembered for giving
Zealand meat and wool boards. such an unselfish and wonderful start in life to their six children.
David became a mentor to younger members and both he At last count, Joy and David had 21 great-grandchildren.
and Angus breeder Toby Mullooly always inspected sale bulls for Sadly, we say haere ra to a gentle giant and a people person.
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