• Located in the rural district Bideford, just outside Masterton.
• Join a family-owned farm with a strong team and the opportunity to grow your skills.
• Fine-tune your dog handling skills through regular mustering.

Your Future Workplace

Sulphur Wells is a family-owned and operated sheep and cattle breeding property located just 8.8km east of Masterton in the rural Bideford district. The farm carries around 11,000 stock units, with approximately 60% sheep, 38% cattle, and 2% deer, and operates a flexible farming policy that adapts to seasonal conditions and market opportunities.

The property is distinctive, featuring QEII covenant areas, pockets of scrub, and high-quality open country. Its summer-dry terrain offers a mix of flats, rolling hills, and steeper country, providing excellent mustering and strong operational versatility.

Your Role

Our clients are seeking an enthusiastic Shepherd General to join their team in a varied role that combines stock work and general farm duties. The position requires solid farming experience, strong practical skills, and a proactive, can-do attitude. During the busy summer period, the focus will be on mustering and yard work with 2–3 working dogs, supported by a sheep handler for weighing and crutching.

General farm duties include fencing and maintenance, with the benefit of farm-owned equipment such as a post rammer. The successful applicant will be a reliable team player with a good sense of humour, capable of working independently, taking on increasing responsibility, and organising their own workload effectively.

What You’ll Bring:

• Experience with all aspects of stockwork - confidence in mustering, yard work, and animal health treatments.
• Competent handling a team of 2–3 working dogs across varied terrains.
• Ideally, experienced with practical farming & fencing skills (mainly R&M) including handpiece and water.
• Ability to work both autonomously and in team.
• A good level of communication.
• Strong attention to detail, with good observation skills.

To read more about the position and farm layout please visit – https://bit.ly/4sGi1o4

Why You’ll Love This Job

• Work within a family-owned operation with a strong team environment where there is the chance to further your skills and progress your knowledge. 
• Enjoy a varied role with a mix of stock work and general farm duties across diverse terrain.
• Learn from experienced operators in a collaborative setting.
• The mustering on offer will enable you to fine tune your dog skills.
• Opportunity to take on increasing responsibility and grow toward more senior farm roles.
• Develop both stockmanship and practical skills using quality infrastructure and equipment.?
• Accommodation is a Healthy Homes-certified three-bedroom cottage featuring a spacious master bedroom, two smaller bedrooms, and a lounge with a wood burner.
• The farm is in the friendly rural community of Bideford, offering social activities like ladies’ nights, darts, and equestrian events.

Applications close Sunday 19th April 2026

Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

This employer is not accredited.