Whāngārā Farms’ Farm Field Day draws record crowd for 2024

Whāngārā Farms’ Farm Field Day drew in a record turnout on a sunny East Coast day to its on-site annual field day for 2024. 

The event, held last month, attracted more than 170 registrations from shareholders and whānau and showcased the operations, regenerative plans, practices and taiao projects, and gave attendees an up close and personal experience on the coastal beef and sheep farms of Whāngārā Farms.

The day started at Whāngārā B5 Station on State Highway 35, where shareholders, whānau, tamariki and staff gathered with their 4-wheel drive vehicles, ready to take on the rolling country of Pakarae and Whāngārā B5 Farms.

Hats and sunscreen were essentials for what was described as the “perfect” East Coast day to be on the whenua as a whānau and roopu.

Those at the field day spent the day listening to kōrero (conversations) on the Farms’ activities from new Whāngārā Farms Chief Executive, Anthony Creswell; Whāngārā Farms Station Managers and their families, Whāngārā Farms Board Chair, Ingrid Collins, and; Whāngārā Farms Business Manager, Ray Leach.

They were shown the level of damage of the February 2023 Cyclones Hale and Gabrielle up close, and with commentary over a private FM radio channel available for all the vehicles, given details of the work that has been done to restore the whenua, paving the way for continued performance and production throughout the farming operations.

Attendees were excited to observe the mahi (work) that has been done to restore and grow the wetlands. 

As recalled by a Pakarae shareholder, “pastures with diversity in plants and farming practices that nurture our whenua are key to regenerative agriculture. It’s so great to see this taking place on our whenua and farms.”

It was at Pakarae Bridge and Pakarae Beach that attendees were also treated to special historical recaps and lessons in whakapapa from past-Pakarae Farm Manager, Phil Creswell, and Pakarae Farms Committee Chair, Stan Pardoe.

Creswell (Chief Executive) was pleased with the turnout, and thanks the Whāngara Farms station managers and their teams, operations staff, and BDO Gisborne staff for leading and coordinating a great event.