NZPhotographer Issue 46, August 2021

I live and work in the stunning alpine village of Hanmer Springs in the South Island.
My photographic career has evolved over several years and I have been very
fortunate to have been able to work and play in rural New Zealand. Raised in
Christchurch, I shifted into the country as a young adult where I worked in wild
animal pest control and had the privilege of working on several farms in some
stunning locations before moving to Hanmer Springs several years ago where I
became involved in the adventure tourism industry. My choice of careers and
location have allowed me to indulge in my passion for photography.
www.gavinmartinphotography.com
WILD HORSES OF ST JAMES
Every second year wild horses are mustered in from what was New
Zealand's largest privately owned high country station.
Farmed by the legendary Jim Stevenson from 1927 until the property was
sold to the Government in 2009 and turned into a DOC conservation
estate, St James is nestled against the northern end of the Southern Alps
and encompasses the Spenser Range of mountains.
It's a majestic and rugged area of over 80,000 hectares and supports a
herd of 80 Wild horses who have roamed the Upper Waiau River & Ada
Valley area for over 80 years. The numbers are kept in check with the
biannual sale carried out by descents of Jim Stevenson.
The horses are mustered and driven around 60 km’s from ’The Ada’ to the
yards in the Clarence Valley where people come from near and far to
admire and purchase the hardy sought after horses.
NZPhotographer
August 2021
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