By Tony Orman

… one of the greatest farming achievements NZ has seen. –Peter Newton

Mangaorapa Station, A Farming story Like No Other

Mangaorapa Station a 2370-hectare station near Porangahau in Central Hawke’s Bay was once described by high-country farming author Peter Newton as “one of the greatest farming achievements the country has seen.” 

This magnificent book on the southern Hawkes Bay station tells the story of the remarkable transition from a manuka/kanuka unproductive block, to eventually a large scale gold standard farming operation. 

In the 1940s it was considered a worthless area, but Billy Mouat and his two sons Don and Max, could see the potential. By dint of hard work, determination, resilience allied with vision, generations of the Mouats developed the station into a top class sheep, cattle and cropping station, with a later diversification to viticulture near 2000.

Determination in tackling the big project

It needed courage to tackle such a big project but determination and vision, and invaluable tools in bulldozers and custom-designed ploughs, they conquered the dense Manuka scrub by crushing and ploughing. In 1953 they purchased the adjacent Mangaorapa Top Block and in 1958 Bill Mouat’s father Don took sole ownership of the 4792-acre property.

Roads and bridges and buildings enhanced the farm’s infrastructure.

Steady improvements

In 1979 Bill Mouat and his brother Bryan took over ownership. Further improvements saw water storage dams, water reticulation systems and reserve feed silage pits introduced. Stock wise free-lambing, high fertility ewes were to the fore and in the late 1990s, Friesian bull beef numbers were increased in response to the export market.

The station became a premier sheep/cattle/cropping mega-farm and added further diversification with viticulture.

Impressive presentation

Today the property is not in Mouat family ownership but the book has recorded the dreams of the Mouat generations who doggedly pursued their vision by sheer Kiwi guts, sweat and determination.

The book’s 264 pages feature literally hundreds of original photos and documents.  Publishers Bateman Books have maintained their competent and impressive presentation to match the absorbing history. 

It’s a greatly impressive book and hey—it’s at a remarkably reasonable price. Very highly recommended.

Gold Under the Manuka: Mangaorapa Station, A Farming story Like No Other by Bill Mouat, is published by Bateman Books, recommended retail price $49.99