High performer in Manawatu ‘Perfect first farm’ found in Dannevirke

TENDERS CLOSE on July 6 for the largest farm in 15 years to come on the market in the Manawatu. The 1181-hectare Potaka Station, off Reu Reu Rd, Halcombe, is 30 kilometres north of Feilding.

‘‘We think Potaka is probably the best developed breeding and finishing unit that we have seen,’’ Peter Barnett, of NZR, says.

‘‘It has a wonderful balance of country and over the past 30 years there’s been significant capital investment.

‘‘The focus is on feeding young stock well, evidenced by the fact that both the Wairere-bred romney hoggets and angus yearling heifers are mated.

‘‘With survival-to-sale lambing percentages normally over 145 per cent, most lambs are finished to 18 kilograms.’’

The original Potaka property of 720ha has been in the same hands for 37 years; a bounding 471ha block, known as Arata, was added six years ago (with access to Pararorangi Rd, Waituna West).

‘‘The two blocks fit well together,’’ Barnett says.

‘‘And major capital works have enhanced this with kilometres of new fencing, laneways, two new sets of sheep yards plus refurbishment of the woolshed and home.’’

He says there are large areas of flat and cultivable-type country in various river terraces and rolling country close to the main facilities at both ends of the property.

‘‘The mainly medium-type hills are well serviced by tracking and access to lanes, with around 70 per cent of the station trough-watered.’’

Most of the water is sourced from a deep bore and the rest from spring-fed dams, Barnett says.

‘‘There are also significant areas of bush in gullies on the property, creating potential for beehives, while six kilometres of Rangitikei River frontage and several large duck ponds offer a number of recreational options.’’

Potaka’s three dwellings – two houses and a cottage – have been refurbished and the former shearers’ quarters renovated to form an attractive farm stay option with 10 beds.

‘‘This high-performing station is being marketed as one operation, but there is potential to buy either block separately,’’ Barnett says.

‘‘Whether it’s fences, livestock handling facilities, soil fertility, drainage, pastures or homes, Potaka has had levels of input few properties could rival.

‘‘All a new owner needs to do is just turn up and farm.’’ A DANNEVIRKE sheep and beef farm with an asking price of $1.3 million (plus gst) combines balanced contour with stocking capacity of about 2200 units.

The 275-hectare property, at 1264 Mangatuna Rd, is for sale for the first time in 26 years.

‘‘It’s the perfect first farm,’’ Jerome Pitt, of For Farms, says.

‘‘It has about 227 hectares of effective grazing land, rolling to medium steep contour and a central dam for gravity feeding water to troughs to easy rolling country.’’

A stream waters the back of the farm and annual rainfall averages 1200-1400 millimetres (as measured by owner and neighbours).

Improvements include a three-stand woolshed with a covered yard and a fourbedroom house that was built in 1976. It

ADDRESS Reu Reu Rd, Halcombe, Feilding. AGENT Peter Barnett, phone 027 482 6835 VIEWING By appointment.