Ex-forestry land ready to graze

A substantial Taupo dairy grazing property, owned by large corporate farming enterprise Wairakei Pastoral Ltd, is now for sale.

Its four individually-titled landholdings (93-to-275ha), are for sale either individually, in any combination; or as an entire 675ha.

The land sits within the Wairakei Estate (25,723ha) precinct, containing 18 dairy units that Pamu, formerly Landcorp, has been operating — accessed via Tram Rd, a private road reached from St H 5.

Bayleys Rotorua is marketing this property, with tenders closing 4pm, February 8.

Rural salesperson Ben Hickson says Wairakei Pastoral converted much of the block from harvested pine plantings to pasture-covered paddocks and hillsides over the past decade. Now running dairy heifers, the land lends itself to all stock types, having strong wintering and soil characteristics. With underlying soil of mainly pumice-based loams, pasture allows deep grass rooting sustained by free-flowing drainage. Soil fertility has been paramount and with Wairakei Pastoral’s considerable resources the unit has become highly productive in a relatively short period of time through the application of lime, urea and superphosphate.

Throughout the conversion, soil was tested to ensure it was responding to fertilisation.

Shelter belts are established and fenced to provide protection for stock. These plantings add to the aesthetics and provide shelter and privacy. Shelter, protection and shade has been high on Wairakei Pastoral’s animal welfare agenda. The farm is serviced by 15m-wide laneways for efficient stock movement, with pasture separated into paddocks of about 2.5ha, segregated by high quality fencing. Trough water to paddocks is sourced from an offfarm bore and most of the land is mowable, so a fertiliser vehicle can operate safely. Two sets of concrete floor stockyards have races, weighing areas and water connections for washdowns.