Oneriri Station
A sheep and beef farm on a peninsula of the Kaipara Harbour, 1.5 hours north of Auckland.
A sheep and beef farm on a peninsula of the Kaipara Harbour, 1.5 hours north of Auckland.
Oneriri Station is a privately owned beef and sheep farm of 3,500 hectares, situated on a peninsula on the shores of the Kaipara Harbour, 1.5 hours north of Auckland. The station sits at the confluence of three salt rivers, with approximately 45 kilometres of coastline and 300 hectares of regenerating native forest holding large tracts of kauri up to 500 years old.
Oneriri Station has 2,600 hectares of effective farmland. The landscape is rolling to hill country with well-formed private roads, and the station carries 9,500 breeding ewes, 300 breeding cows and 1000 Friesian bulls.
Aerial photo: LINZ, CC BY 4.0
Looking S Drag the panorama or click on the map to look around. Pick a site on the map to move there, or a camera to see its latest still.
Every fence line and paddock on the station, mapped over an aerial photo of the Oneriri peninsula. Tap the map to see it full screen, or open the full size version to zoom right in.
The farm runs a breeding cow mob of 850 and a ewe flock of 6,500. All stock are finished on the property.
1150 1yr old Friesian Bulls are purchased at 300-320kgs liveweight in November and December and sold the following November and December at 600-620kgs
80, fifteen-month-old, Angus Shorthorn cross heifers are mated to Santa Gertrudis Sires. 170, two- to six-year-old, Angus Shorthorn cross cows are mated to Shorthorn Sires. Together they produce 225 calves each year. All the progeny is either retained for breeding or sold for slaughter as reach target liveweights.
7,500 Romney ewes are mated to Romney rams. 2,000 Romney ewes are mated to terminal sires. Together producing 13,500 lambs annually. 2,800 ewe lambs are mated to terminal sires producing a further 2,500 lambs. 12,500 homebred lambs are sold each year with a further 5,000 to 6,000 traded. The Station sells lambs throughout the year with the majority being sold when prices are at their highest from June to November. The sheep flock produces 90 – 100,000kgs of wool per annum. The sheep are shorn every six months.
Oneriri Station is committed to protecting and fostering the growth of indigenous forest, fauna and birdlife on the peninsula. The station is a member of the Oneriri Peninsula Landcare Group, a partnership between the four landowners that occupy the peninsula and the Northland Regional Council.
The objective is to create safe and sustainable indigenous forests that allow native flora, fauna and birds to flourish. To this end, a successful predator control program commenced in 2004 and has expanded to a network of 500 traps and 1000 bait stations reducing possums, rats, cats and mustelids to very low levels. A dramatic improvement in new forest growth is evident, along with higher levels of bird sightings. Oneriri Station is currently undertaking a joint venture with Predator Free Aotearoa to eradicate possums from peninsula.
Four full-time staff run the station: a farm manager, two shepherds and a fencer and a water technician. All staff live on the farm, every house is on a school bus route, and the area has good primary and secondary schools.
Picnics on Oneriri Beach, the Hargreaves family, the old homestead and woolshed, and the bulldozers that broke in the hill country. Photos from the station's own albums and the Albertland Heritage Centre.
The harbour presents wonderful opportunities for year round fishing. Mangawhai Heads and the east coast surf beaches are only 45 minutes drive, with the Warkworth area, the Farmers Market, local vineyards and the Goat Island Marine Reserve 1 hour south. A great day trip further north is the Matakohe Museum, Kai Iwi Lakes and the chance to discover the great Kauri Coast.
