Good Things Start on the Farm - High Peak Station: Pioneering Sustainability and Adventure

Added 9 months ago

By Hawke's Bay Future Farming Trust

Good Things Start on the Farm - High Peak Station: Pioneering Sustainability and Adventure

High Peak Station, located just an hour from Christchurch, is a vibrant working farm that thrives on deer, sheep, and cattle farming, alongside a flourishing beekeeping enterprise and tourism activities. Covering 3,760 hectares, this farm blends traditional agricultural methods with a strong emphasis on modern sustainability. Managed by an eight-way partnership that includes the Guild and Dunbar families, High Peak Station exemplifies a commitment to environmental stewardship.

Hamish and Simon Guild of High Peak Station have recently been named the 2024 National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing. Additionally, High Peak was honoured with the prestigious Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase. This recognition is well-deserved, and here's why:

A Legacy of Conservation

James Guild, father to Hamish and Simon, has been a steadfast advocate for New Zealand's biodiversity and landscapes throughout his career. He has chaired the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board and the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII Trust), which protects over 200,000 hectares of private land across the country.

Commitment to Environmental Stewardship

Sustainability is integral to High Peak Station's operations. The station boasts 160 hectares under QEII covenants, with plans to add another 130 hectares. These protected areas include riverbeds, native scrub, wetlands, and a red tussock lake reserve. Over 20 kilometres of waterways have been fenced off, and riparian planting has been undertaken to enhance biodiversity and safeguard river health. Additionally, the station runs a comprehensive trapping program to control invasive species.

Innovative Water Management

Addressing climate challenges, High Peak implemented a 100-hectare irrigation scheme in 2010. This gravity-fed system, which harvests surface water runoff, is both highly efficient and environmentally friendly in terms of water and energy use. The Guilds' approach marries New Zealand’s grass-fed pastoral systems with cutting-edge technologies and sustainable land management practices.

Hamish Guild expressed his gratitude at the recent win, saying, “It is an incredible honour to have been awarded the Gordon Stephenson Trophy and to be asked to represent the food and fibre sector as National Ambassadors. We accept this award on behalf of the generations that came before us, particularly our parents, James and Anna, who have dedicated over 50 years to developing High Peak Station.”

He added, “We also accept it in recognition of every other farmer striving for sustainability, especially the other nine NZFEA finalists who represent a very diverse group in many ways, each excelling in representing their regions and sectors.”

Looking ahead, Hamish Guild emphasised the station’s future sustainability goals: “Our intention is to continue seeking value for our products rather than focusing solely on production. This approach will enable us to assess sensitive areas of land more effectively and manage them better."

High Peak Station stands as a beacon of sustainable farming, demonstrating how agriculture, conservation, and tourism can successfully coexist and flourish.

Learn more about High Peak Station here.