🔥 Trending Ngāi Tahu Farming Selected to Operate New Zealand's Largest Farm

Ngāi Tahu Farming has been selected as the preferred operator for Molesworth Station, New Zealand's largest farm ²⁴. This decision was announced by the Department of Conservation (DOC) on Friday, July 31, 2026 ¹⁴.

Details of the Announcement

• Preferred Operator: Ngāi Tahu Farming, a subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Group, has been chosen by the DOC as the preferred farming operator ¹²⁴.
• Next Steps: Ngāi Tahu Farming will now be invited to apply for a concession to farm the station ¹³. This indicates that while they are the preferred choice, the formal agreement is still pending.
• Scale of Molesworth Station: Molesworth Station, formally known as the Rangitahi/Molesworth Recreation Reserve, spans over 180,000 hectares ¹²⁹. It is Crown-owned land administered by the DOC ¹.
• Previous Operator: The station was previously operated by Pāmu (formerly Landcorp) for over 20 years ²⁶⁹.
• Significance: This move aims to ensure the iconic Molesworth Recreation Reserve thrives into the future ⁴⁵.

Background on Molesworth Station

Molesworth Station is an iconic high-country farm located across inland Marlborough and North Canterbury ⁹. It is primarily run as a cattle farm ⁹. The Department of Conservation manages the land, balancing conservation values with sustainable farming practices.

Why Ngāi Tahu Farming?

Henry Weston, DOC's Deputy Director-General Regional Operations, stated that Ngāi Tahu Farming was selected from five applicants ³⁴. Federated Farmers also noted that Ngāi Tahu Farming is a credible South Island farming operation with the necessary scale, experience, and financial resilience to manage a property like Molesworth ⁸. Their selection suggests a recognition of their capability to operate a large-scale agricultural enterprise while potentially aligning with the conservation goals for the reserve ⁴⁸.