Class-leading farm is keenly sought

Thanks to promising prospects for ongoing positive returns for sheep and cattle, interest is expected to be strong in a Tiniroto property being marketed by Bayleys in Gisborne.

The 1068ha Maranga Station property, located on sealed roads 30km from Gisborne, is made up of mostly healthy hill country, along with 40ha of flats and 60ha of second rotation pine plantation. The property is being sold by tender.

The bulk of Maranga sits 400m above sea level, enhancing its relative proximity to the coast by minimising frost days, with the top of the property touching 580m near Rimuhau Peak.

Maranga is regarded as a showcase property within the district, known for its consistent level of investment in both capital improvements and fertiliser application over the years, optimised with an exceptional level of farm management.

That recognition has extended to becoming a finalist in the 2015 Ahuwhenua Trophy awards that recognise excellence in Maori farming.

The property winters about 10,000 stock units including 2400 mixed age ewes, 860 hoggets and 1900 trade lambs. Cattle includes 200 breeding cows, and 600 rising one mixed type cattle and 100 three-year-old first calvers.

The property has also mustered killable goats for a local meat exporter. Running a split lambing policy has meant Maranga has been able to capitalise on lucrative Christmas market returns when the older ewes lamb first. The property on average has finished over 6000 stock units a year.

The tender closes on Wednesday, November 27.