Page 17 - Hereford Magazine 2021

Stuart (right) and George Whitelock with a huge wild pig caught Three-quarters of Otapawa is now surrounded by newly planted
on Otapawa. pine trees, as can be seen behind this cow and calf.

The effective area is 2800ha as there are 700 hectares of
fenced native bush, including manuka. After their forebears
spent so many years clearing bush, the newest generations
have been working hard to put some of it back. Maria says
every time fences are replaced or repaired, they’re looking
for ways to realign them, to fence off creeks or unproductive
pieces that need to be planted.
In partnership with the Horizons Regional Council, they’re
clearing willows, fencing and planting natives on their 7km
stretch of the Tiraumea River. Another joint project is draining
the base of a big landslide that formed after an earthquake in
1942 in a bid to reduce sediment going into the river.
Pine trees are causing bigger headaches for the Robbies.
About 4000ha in the local area has been planted in pine trees,
which surrounds three-quarters of Otapawa. Maria would
have loved to see more natives than pine trees, especially in
the places that do need to be retired, but hates the blanket The Otapawa team (left to right) Andrew Hancy, Raa Katene,
forestation of perfectly good farmland. Douglas Robbie, Stuart Robbie and Lucy Collin (with dogs Jock,
“There are no subsidies for us to integrate trees into our Lizzy and Rose).
farming operation; we’re losing full farms to trees. It has
destroyed our community. Tiraumea is no longer basically, it’s Otapawa success is a team effort
just us … and trees.”
Douglas has been a member of the local rural fire brigade The Robbies are the backbone of the Otapawa operation but
for more than 30 years and Stuart has recently joined, mainly Stuart and Douglas agree they couldn’t do it without the great
because of the forestry. team behind them.
“We want to make sure we’re prepared for the high fire risk Douglas explains he and Stuart do a lot of the physical
that forestry poses to our business. We have diverted the water work such as mustering, plus the farm employs shepherd,
scheme to the fire shed so they can fill up the tanks as fast as Lucy Collin, who was captain of the Future Beef NZ team at
they need to. Having water on tap down there is imperative.” the World Hereford Conference’s Young Breeder Competition.
Future pest control is also a worry. Full-time general hand Andrew Hancy is the partner of
“I can see us having a quarter or half a labour unit on pest Douglas’s daughter Tina.
control in three to four years – weeds, wilding pines and pigs, “We’re the advisors,” says Marlene, smiling at Donald.
deer, possums and rabbits. We already have a big enough Casual workers or contractors are brought in when needed,
problem with feral pigs and that’s only going to get worse with including three fencers (via Hayden Morrison) who go out to
forestry all around you.” the property working for several months at a time building
There’s a momentary lapse in the conversation as Stuart new fence lines.
brings out his ‘pig porn’ photos of a 168kg wild pig caught the The farm owns a 15-tonne digger, which is handy, as Andrew
previous week. is also an experienced digger driver.
“He was huge. They eat live lambs, so you have to wonder “And a qualified builder. He’s versatile, and having no
how many that guy has had in his lifetime. We’ve seen him on farming background makes no difference. Today he’s taking
camera and had a couple of goes at him, so there were a few lambs to the Feilding sale. Yesterday he was dagging.”
fist pumps when we got him,” Stuart laughs. All of the younger generation help with casual work on the
farm throughout the year. Dara does the farm books and is

Year 2021 HEREFORD MAGAZINE 15