Station (New Zealand agriculture)
Encyclopedia
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Agriculture in New Zealand
Agriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
, is a large farm dedicated to the grazing of sheep and cattle. The use of the word for the farm or farm buildings date back to the mid-nineteenth century.
Some of the stations in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
have been subject to the voluntary tenure review
Tenure review
Tenure review is a process of reviewing the leasehold tenure of some high country land in the South Island of New Zealand. It currently involves 20% of the South Island or 10% of the total land area of New Zealand. Tenure review began with the passing of the Crown Pastoral Land Act...
process. As part of this process the government has been buying out all or part of the leases. Poplars Station in the Lewis Pass
Lewis Pass
Lewis Pass is a mountain pass in the South Island of New Zealand.The northernmost of the three main passes across the Southern Alps, it is higher than the Haast Pass, but slightly lower than Arthur's Pass...
area was purchased in part by the government in 2003. The Nature Heritage Fund
Nature Heritage Fund
The Nature Heritage Fund is a New Zealand Government funding body set up in 1990 for the purchase of land which has significant ecological or landscape features.It is administered by the Department of Conservation...
was used to purchase 4000 ha for $1.89 million. Birchwood Station was bought in 2005 to form part of the Ahuriri Conservation Park St James Station
St James Station, New Zealand
St James Station is a former high country sheep and cattle station in the South Island of New Zealand. It was renowned for its horse sales and covered an area of ....
was purchased by the Government in 2008.
Notable stations
- AkitioAkitioAkitio is a coastal community in the Wairarapa Region of the lower east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The Akitio River runs for approximately 35 kilometres in a southeast by northwest direction, leading to the town of Weber, on State Highway 52....
Station, formerly 50000 acres (202.3 km²) located in the Southern North Island province of WairarapaWairarapaWairarapa is a geographical region of New Zealand. It occupies the south-eastern corner of the North Island, east of metropolitan Wellington and south-west of the Hawke's Bay region. It is lightly populated, having several rural service towns, with Masterton being the largest...
and host to the touring English Cricket team in the 20th Century. - Castle HillCastle Hill, New ZealandCastle Hill is a location and a high country station in New Zealand's South Island. It is located at an altitude of 700 metres, close to State Highway 73 between Darfield and Arthur's Pass. It is private property....
Station, located on State Highway 73, is the location of a popular rock climbing area - Erewhon, named after Samuel Butler's book
- Marainanga StationAkitioAkitio is a coastal community in the Wairarapa Region of the lower east coast of the North Island of New Zealand. The Akitio River runs for approximately 35 kilometres in a southeast by northwest direction, leading to the town of Weber, on State Highway 52....
, Southern North Island, formerly 38000 acres (153.8 km²) - Famously associated to Ocean RacingOcean racingOcean Racing may refer to either yacht racing, in particular of the Maxi yachts; or multisport events with a significant Ocean related Swim or Kayak...
- and the CondorCondorCondor is the name for two species of New World vultures, each in a monotypic genus. They are the largest flying land birds in the Western Hemisphere.They are:* The Andean Condor which inhabits the Andean mountains....
maxi yachtMaxi yachtA maxi yacht usually refers to a racing sailboat of at least in length. It is also a Swedish brand of smaller sailing yachts.-Origin:The term maxi originated with the International Offshore Rule rating system, which in the 1970s and 1980s measured offshore racing yachts and applied a...
campaigns of the 1970's/1980's; and connected to the 1908 foundation of the UK's Stoke Park ClubStoke Park ClubStoke Park is a historic estate in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire. The Mansion is located amongst of parkland, lakes, historic gardens and monuments. The site is now a hotel, spa and country club....
. - Mesopotamia Station, associated with Samuel ButlerSamuel Butler (novelist)Samuel Butler was an iconoclastic Victorian author who published a variety of works. Two of his most famous pieces are the Utopian satire Erewhon and a semi-autobiographical novel published posthumously, The Way of All Flesh...
- Molesworth StationMolesworth StationMolesworth Station is New Zealand's largest farm, at over 1,800 km², and supports the country's biggest herd of cattle. It also hosts government science programs, such as research into bovine tuberculosis and related research into possums....
, New Zealand's largest farm now administered by the Department of Conservation - St James StationSt James Station, New ZealandSt James Station is a former high country sheep and cattle station in the South Island of New Zealand. It was renowned for its horse sales and covered an area of ....
, purchased by the Government in 2008 - Walter Peak Station, founded in 1860, is a 25,758 hectare working high country sheep station on the southern shore of Lake WakatipuLake WakatipuLake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
. It runs approximately 18,000 Merino and Perendale sheep and about 800 beef cows.
See also
- Agriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New ZealandAgriculture in New Zealand is the largest sector of the tradeable economy, contributing about two-thirds of exported goods in 2006-7. For the year ended March 2002, agricultural exports were valued at over $14.8 billion...
- Station (Australian agriculture)Station (Australian agriculture)Station is the term for a large Australian landholding used for livestock production. It corresponds to the North American term ranch or South American estancia...
- RanchRanchA ranch is an area of landscape, including various structures, given primarily to the practice of ranching, the practice of raising grazing livestock such as cattle or sheep for meat or wool. The word most often applies to livestock-raising operations in the western United States and Canada, though...
, the American equivalent - Sheep stationSheep stationA sheep station is a large property in Australia or New Zealand whose main activity is the raising of sheep for their wool and meat. In Australia, sheep stations are usually in the south-east or south-west of the country. In New Zealand the Merinos are usually in the high country of the South...
Further reading
- Philip Holden, (1993) Station country : back-country life in New Zealand ISBN 1869485186