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Millions of dollars are being invested in a new farm-based cadet training facility in Hawke's Bay.

Moeangiangi, a 3600-hectare sheep and beef farm located 40 minutes north of Napier, will take over from the Waipaoa Farm Cadet scheme, which operated for 17 years in the Gisborne district but ceased earlier this year following the sale of the station.

The farm is one of three properties managed by the Joan Fernie Charitable Trust (JFCT), established in 1977 by Joan Fernie, who owned Chesterhope Station near Napier and Hastings until her passing at age 91 in 2007.

Trust chair Mike Barnham emphasized the importance of training young people for the farming industry, citing a significant shortage of skilled workers. He noted that supporting the initiative was a straightforward decision for the trust.

The Waipaoa board visited Moeangiangi and saw it as an ideal location for the cadet training farm. 

While committing to the project was easy, Barnham acknowledged the challenges ahead, including establishing the necessary infrastructure for the training facility.

The trust plans to invest approximately $3 million in the development, which will include new accommodation, a cookhouse, and a lecture theatre.

The cadetship will be a two-year program, with the first intake of five students expected in 2027. Modeled on the former Waipaoa scheme, it aims to provide an intimate, focused training environment distinct from larger programs like Smedley, which are consistently oversubscribed.

Information about the program will soon be released to attract young people and potential supporters in the agriculture sector.

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