Experienced Shepherd

Sheep & Beef Hill Country — 25 minutes east of Martinborough, Wairarapa

Lagoon Hill Station is a 1,100 ha hill country property running 10,000 stock units, where the job is predominantly stock work — with a real chance to build your understanding of the wider business.

Lagoon Hill Station sits in a well-regarded farming district 25 minutes east of Martinborough. At a glance:

•      1,000 ha of predominantly medium to steeper hill country, with 130 ha of cultivatable flats

•      7,000 stock units — Romney and Coopworth ewes with a hybrid influence coming through, and Angus cattle with the introduction of Halter on the horizon

•      On-farm lamb sale in December, with some specialist finishing planned going forward

•      Good infrastructure, including well-set-up satellite yards around the property

The station is working through a programme of changes to better fit its goals, so it’s a good time to come on board and be part of where it’s heading. You’ll work alongside the Farm Manager and be trusted to work independently to a high standard.

A high percentage of this role is stock work with some fencing, digger and tractor work and general farm maintenance as needed.

You don’t need to be able to do it all. If your stock work is strong, the rest can be learnt on the job with training provided.

The station is happy to share its goals with you and help you build skills beyond the day-to-day, including feed budgeting, genetics and breeding decisions, fertiliser and cropping and understanding financial targets and budgets.

If you’re keen to step up over time, this is the kind of grounding that gets you there.

Ideally, you’ll bring:

•      Solid shepherding experience, ideally on hill country, and confidence across all aspects of sheep and cattle work

•      A team of 4–5 well-mannered working dogs — this is essential

•      High standards and real attention to detail

•      The drive to keep developing across all aspects of farming

•      The ability to work well alongside the manager and just as well on your own

•      Good communication skills

•      A willingness to turn your hand to general farm work

·         A stock-focused, hill country role with most of your time spent out with your dogs

·         Hands-on development in feed budgeting, genetics, fertiliser, cropping and farm financials

·         Good infrastructure and well-set-up satellite yards across the property

·         Regular rostered time off (some weekend work is required)

·         Shared accommodation

·         A competitive remuneration package reflecting the experience and capability you bring

·         A great local community — Martinborough has a strong dog trial club and a good local rugby club, plus the town’s cafés and wineries 25 minutes down the road

If you’ve got a good team of dogs and take real pride in your stock work, we’d love to hear from you. Recruitment for this role is being managed by Primary Growth Partners.

Earlier in your shepherding career? Lagoon Hill Station may also have room for a keen junior shepherd. If you’ve got a couple of dogs coming on and want to learn on a well-run hill country station, we’d still like to hear from you — just say so in your cover letter.

To apply, please send your CV, a cover letter (tell us about your experience and your dogs) and contact details for two work-related referees to Angie at: people@pgpartners.nz.

Applications will be reviewed as they are received.

Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand and hold a current driver licence.