Join Ongaha’s high-performing team and enjoy excellent infrastructure, hands-on support and opportunities to develop your skills.

• Enjoy a great rural lifestyle, just 10 minutes from Martinborough
• Modern, high-performing finishing operation with excellent infrastructure
• Supportive owners, great team culture and genuine career development
• To read more about the position and farm layout please visit – https://bit.ly/4eq6Sms

Your Role

As the Experienced Shepherd at Ongaha, you will work alongside the Farm Manager, playing a key role in the day-to-day management of livestock and farm operations. This is a hands-on position with a strong focus on stockmanship, finishing performance and growing stock to a consistently high standard. You will need 3–4 well-controlled working dogs.

You’ll be part of a close-knit team, contributing to a positive team culture while supporting and sharing your experience with junior team members. The role offers plenty of variety, with opportunities to embrace modern farming technology, including FarmIQ and Halter, and build relationships with stock agents, contractors and suppliers. There is also scope to take on greater responsibility and continue developing your career within a well-established, high-performing farming business.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong stockmanship skills, with a keen eye for livestock and a genuine interest in production, performance and watching stock grow out to a high standard.
• Excellent communication skills, along with a good sense of humour and the ability to build strong working relationships.
• A strong team player who enjoys working alongside others and supporting the development of more junior team members.
• Keen interest in production and the figures behind the business, with an ability to monitor stock performance and understand the bigger picture.
• Competent operating a tractor and happy undertaking general farm duties, including water systems, fencing and handpiece work.
• Computer savvy, with an interest in embracing new technology and learning systems such as FarmIQ, Farmax, Farm Focus and Halter.

What’s on Offer

• Join a well-established, modern farming operation with excellent infrastructure and a strong, supportive team culture where people are genuinely valued.
• Work closely with hands-on owners who are willing to share their knowledge, provide support and invest in upskilling their employees.
• Opportunity to take ownership of your responsibilities, gain further experience and progressively take on more responsibility.
• Gain valuable experience within a large-scale finishing operation, developing your stockmanship and production knowledge while working with livestock at scale.
• Work across a mixed land unit system, offering variety and exposure to different aspects of farm management.
• Embrace modern farming technology and systems, including FarmIQ, Farmax, Farm Focus, Halter and soil temperature monitoring.
• Develop your skills and experience in a high-performing operation that will help set you up for future career opportunities.
• Enjoy a great rural lifestyle, with Martinborough, Greytown and other local towns nearby, offering a range of cafes, restaurants, wineries and recreational activities.
• Accommodation is a recently renovated three-bedroom home, with the smaller bedroom set up as an office, a spacious living area and great surrounding outlooks and vistas.

About Ongaha Enterprises Ltd

Ongaha is a high-performing, family-owned finishing operation located in South Wairarapa, just 10 minutes from Martinborough. The 586ha home block (523ha effective), alongside a 250ha lease block, has benefited from significant investment and ongoing development. The business is focused on production, profitability, efficiency and sustainability. Its NZFAP Plus accreditation reflects a strong commitment to animal welfare, staff wellbeing, high farming standards and community engagement.

Hit APPLY or call Rural Directions on 06 871 0450 for a confidential chat.

Applications close Sunday 29th November 2026, APPLY NOW

Know someone who’d be a great fit?
Nominate a Mate and you could receive a $150 voucher if they’re successfully placed!
https://www.ruraldirections.co.nz/nominate-a-mate

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