Landcorp - Crown Ownership Monitoring Unit

LANDCORP ACHIEVERS 2009/2010LANDCORP PEOPLE HAVE BEEN RECOGNISED FOREXCELLENCE IN THEIR WORK.DEER INDUSTRY NEWSENVIRONMENTAL DEER FARMINGWEST COAST CONSERVATIONTIM AND TRISH SMITHOF MARAROA STATION,SOUTHLAND, HAVE EARNEDMAJOR RECOGNITION THISYEAR FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEERFARMING AND ENVIRONMENTALSUSTAINABILITY.The Smiths and Mararoa (seepages 35-37) won the ElworthyEnvironmental Award, under the principal sponsorship of Deer Industry New Zealand.The Smiths won four other awards for farming innovation, sustainable land and wateruse, and protection of water quality.The Elworthy Award recognises best practices for sustainable and profitable deerfarming, and promotes the adoption of these on all deer farms in New Zealand.In making the award to the Smiths and Mararoa, the judges highlighted the balanceachieved on the property between environmental protection and the business offarming. They were impressed by many aspects of Mararoa including the monitoringof water quality, the importance given to stock feed, the strength of labour and safetymanagement, and the effort given to community relations.Tim and Trish Smith were also winners of the separate New Zealand Landcare TrustAward for Excellence and Commitment to Sustainable Deer Farming. The judgeshighlighted the commitment on Mararoa to protection of valuable streams, vegetationand biodiversity, and the Pelton wheel pump as an innovative solution for stock waterreticulation. The Smiths were recognised further with the Duncan and Company Awardfor Excellence, Innovation and Vision in a Demanding Environment.The Ballance Southland Farm Environmental Awards (BFEA) also put a spotlight onMararoa. The Massey University Discovery Award went to the Smiths, in recognition ofthe Pelton wheel innovation. They also won the BFEA Water Quality Award. Reflecting onall this recognition, Tim Smith says: “I developed a vision early on after talking to variouspeople about land management on Mararoa, and seeing what damage can be done towaterways and land through poor management. Then, we’ve done lots of planning tobring together the people and resources needed for Mararoa to be where it is today.”The Department of Conservation has recognised Landcorp for a valuable contributionto West Coast conservation through the company’s commitment to covenantingwetlands and native forest areas on the company’s properties in this region. At the awardpresentation, September 2009, were (from left to right) Mike Copeland (QEII West Coastrepresentative), Chris Kelly, Graeme Mulligan, Gerry Soanes, Bruce Hunter, and Julie andPaul Hateley.DAIRY INDUSTRY WINNERSPAUL MAHONEY OF POUARUA J ON THEHAURAKI PLAINS WON SOUTH AUCKLANDDAIRY FARM MANAGER OF THE YEAR IN THE2010 DAIRY INDUSTRY AWARDS.Paul and wife Stacey (below) also won meritawards for Human Resources and FinancialManagement in the South Auckland region. Theywon the same two merit awards last year.Paul and Stacey joined Landcorp on the Pouaruacomplex in July 2007 and they were managingthe G unit there when this year’s awards weremade. Since then, they have moved onto thebigger J unit with responsibility for its 1,250dairy cows and five staff.Paul is now in his 17th year of dairying and wasmanager on a private farm at Mercer, SouthAuckland, before joining Landcorp. He intendsa long-term career in the company. “Once Ihave learned the ropes more, I would be keento move up to a Farm Business Manager role,”he says.Dion Soutar of the Endeavour Farm (LandcorpPastoral) was placed third in the Central PlateauDairy Farm Manager of the Year competition,while winning the Westpac Financial Planningand Management Award in this region. BradyMitchell, who is Production Manager onResolution (Landcorp Pastoral), won DairyTrainee of the Year in the Central Plateau.Meanwhile in the Far North, Julian Reti-Kaukauof Sweetwater was placed third in that region’sDairy Trainee award.Well done to Paul and Stacey, and to Dion,Brady, Julian and to all other Dairy IndustryAward entrants who did Landcorp proud in2009/10!15