Shamarra Alpacas
Frank and Anya Walkington relocated from a small island in the Caribbean to New Zealand after a holiday here. They started out with only five Alpacas in the picturesque Banks Peninsula and now have over 160 Alpacas producing over three tonnes of wool annually, selling handcrafted knitwear through their online store.
Waimumu Downs
Chris and Desiree Giles say owning Waimumu Downs is a dream come true. After converting the farm to dairy, Chris and Desiree’s passion for the environment has led them to create the Waimumu Downs Project, a community nursery that works with local schools, the local catchment community and iwi to educate young people about sustainable farming.
Dreamview Creamery
Raglan-based dairy farmers Bronwyn and David Hill were inspired by their daughter Jess to create their sustainable milk production outfit, Dreamview Creamery. Their raw and pasteurised A2 milk, served only in reusable glass bottles to reduce plastic waste has so far meant 150,000 fewer plastic bottles in use in New Zealand.
Totally Vets
Totally Vets is a privately owned veterinary company consisting of several vet practices in the Lower North Island. Alongside offering comprehensive on-farm and in-clinic services, Totally Vets are proud to support the rural communities they operate in - they sponsor local schools, young farmers clubs, dairy industry awards and host regular farm training events.
Noaro Farms
From sheep, beef, and potatoes in the 1930s, through to the innovative arable farm it is today, what has stayed the same at Noaro Farms is the family who runs it. Adrian Noaro is the latest to take on the mantle of running the family farm, following in the footsteps of his grandfather who moved over from Italy in the 1930s.
Mac Hops
With five generations of farming under their belt, the McGlashen family are at the heart of the hops growing community in the Tasman region. Primarily run by Brent McGlashen and his brother-in-law Owen, the orchard boasts 19 commercial varieties on over 100 hectares. Mac Hops is a family operation with family members involved in all stages of the process.
Ohana
On a clear blue day, you can see glimpses of Auckland city from the cliffs of Rob Craw & Amelia Hodder’s Coromandel farm they manage. Farming their whole lives, the pair show exceptional rural spirit by not only running a successful sheep and beef farm but by being leading figures in the wider rural community.
Tunapahore
Tunapahore is located off sun drenched State Highway 35 on the North Island’s East Coast, near the beach town of Opotiki. The farm consists of 376ha of dairy and kiwifruit orchards, with a portion of the land left to regenerating native forest. After taking over the running of the land in the 1980s, the Tunapahore committee has been a showcase for Māori agribusiness and was a finalist in the Ahuwhenua Trophy - Excellence in Māori farming in 2021.