Cadet scheme finds new life at Putorino

Trustees of the Waipaoa farm cadet training organisation have described an offer to accommodate their cadets on stations north of Napier as “an unbelievably good match”.

The trust was down to its last cadets after Waipaoa Station was put on the market last year, and they could not find a suitable place to rehome their acclaimed farm training programme.

The Joan Fernie Charitable Trust (JFCT) has offered to accommodate their final cadets on one of its three stations, at Putorino in northern Hawke’s Bay.

“While we are still in negotiations with JFCT, the opportunity to base our students at Moeangiangi Station will change everything for us,” said Waipaoa Station Farm Cadets Training Trust chairman Tim Rhodes.

“This is a really exciting proposition, and we are very thankful to JFCT for supporting us and our work in growing skilled Kiwi farmers.”

JFCT Chairman Mike Barham said the trust was “extremely excited” about the prospect of bringing the farm cadet training programme to Moeangiangi and “it would be an incredible legacy for Joan Fernie”.

“Joan spent a lifetime farming and was passionate about it, as were her parents and ancestors.

“She would be delighted by what we are trying to achieve,” Mr Barham said.

JFCT has recently appointed new general manager Danny Angland to lead its farming operation, alongside new Moeangiangi Station manager Dan and Ange Jury.

It is also making plans to upgrade the infrastructure and buildings on the station to accommodate the training programme.

Along with allowing it to build its intake back to five new cadets each year, JFCT will enable Waipaoa Trust to expand its offering to include exposure to intensive livestock finishing.

“Hill country farm training, which will continue to be provided, has been its core offering at Waipaoa Station,” Rhodes said.

“The two trusts are also looking closely at other farm training operations to see what improvements can be made to the programme to take full advantage of the opportunities at Moeangiangi.

“Our main point of difference in all our training is that we work one-on-one with cadets, so that they come away with a sound knowledge of the theory and how to put it into practice.

“For example, all of our cadets learn how to break in and ride a horse, and train their own heading dog and huntaway.

“As a board, we will always have a commitment to the Gisborne area, but there will be many benefits to delivering our training programme in a less remote location,” Rhodes said..

“For example, with the cadets only 40 minutes from Wairoa or 50 minutes from Napier, they will be able to continue playing sport and taking part in other community activities for the two years they are with us.”

It was expected that training of the first intake of students at Moeangiangi Station will begin in 2026.

Details on waipaoa.co.nz or the Waipaoa Facebook page.