The battle to control New Zealand’s largest farm is underway, with five applicants competing to run Molesworth Station in a once-in-a-generation decision over the future of the vast high country property.
The Crown-owned 180,000ha cattle station at the top of the South Island has been operated by Pāmu — formerly Landcorp — for more than two decades under a lease arrangement with the Department of Conservation.
But with that lease expiring at the end of June, DOC was now weighing competing proposals that could reshape how the station was farmed, conserved and opened to the public.
Steep, rugged and sprawling across inland Marlborough, Molesworth is regarded as one of New Zealand’s most well-known farming properties.
“At over 180,000 hectares, it is larger than Rakiura/Stewart Island, it’s larger than 10 of our national parks and it’s New Zealand’s largest farm,” a DOC spokesperson said.
“On top of that, it’s also this absolutely iconic drylands landscape.”
Five applicants are competing to run Molesworth Station as the Department of Conservation weighs new plans for farming, conservation, tourism and public access. (Source: BNZ Business Breakfast) (Source: Other)
Originally a sheep station, Molesworth shifted to cattle farming in the 1940s after the Crown took control of the land.
In 2005, fears that the property could be sold into foreign ownership saw the land turned into a protected conservation park managed by the Department of Conservation, which then leased farming operations to Pāmu.
Wrenn said the new process marked the first time it has run a competitive selection process for the lease.
"This is the first time that we’ve done a competitive process to find somebody new," she said.
"It’s a chance for us to set up a new lessee under the conservation legislation and that is a real guiding principle for us."
A key focus was ensuring whoever took over could balance running a commercially viable farming operations with protecting the station's conservation values.
"We are really looking to make sure that the lease agreement will reflect what’s needed to protect conservation values," Wrenn said.
"For example, we’ve got some areas that are already fenced off where there’s high value conservation plants. We’re looking to expand those."
She also signalled future operators may look to expand tourism opportunities on the station.
"We’re also open to ways to increase the value for New Zealand, so for example, farming operators may well wish to run a tourism operation at the same time, for example horse trekking, and using some of the buildings for that."
Public access could also change under a new operator.
"One thing I’m really interested to explore as we assess the proposals is how an operator will increase the recreational access — if there’s opportunities to say, increase how long people are allowed to drive cars through for the year."
DOC was expected to announce its preferred operator in the coming weeks before opening the decision up for public feedback.
SHARE ME