Gin-clear stream water, brown trout and a great Matawai farm

A fantastic farming opportunity has presented itself in the sought after, close-knit rural community of Matawai. Halfway between Gisborne and Opotiki – Matawai is like a snapshot of New Zealand at its best with beautiful clear streams and native bush providing the perfect environment to bring up the family.

Social lives are focused around the school, the squash club, the local pub and the township in general. It’s a relaxed pace of life and one where the locals look out for each other and welcome newcomers and visitors.

The 339 hectare freehold property - with an adjoining 154 hectare leasehold block with a lease in place until the middle of next year and a right of renewal for a further 5 years - provides very good returns as a dairy grazing and sheep and beef finishing unit.

“With 75 hectares of flats and hay country, it’s certainly a property that’s well set-up for dairy grazing and could hold appeal for dairy farmers in the area who require a run-off property,” says Tony Rasmussen of Bayleys, who is marketing the property.

“Contour-wise there’s around 15 hectares of flats, while the rest is medium hill country with some steeper sidings. With the lease block added into the mix, there’s an affordable opportunity to increase the scale of the farming operation without having to outlay capital on that extra 154 hectares.”

Kiriroa Farm - 2.5 kilometres up the Motu Road from the Matawai Township - will be auctioned by Bayleys next month presenting an opportunity for a new owner to be part of this friendly community and Mr Rasmussen says the property is attracting a lot of attention.

“We have had encouraging enquiry levels on this property and we are getting calls daily from people outside the Gisborne area keen to secure land in the region. There are a number of reasons for this; the main one being that land in the area is affordable and realistically-priced when placed in a national context,” explains Mr Rasmussen.

“Because rural land around Gisborne didn’t climb to the dizzying heights of some other regions, there has not been the significant re-adjustment of values seen elsewhere. Add in the desirable lifestyle opportunities and the favourable climate that characterises the Gisborne region and it’s clear to see why the phones are ringing.”

David and Lisa Fraser have farmed Kiriroa Farm for two years having bought the property in ‘summer safe’ Matawai following many successful years of dairy farming in the Bay of Plenty.

“Farming has been very good to them but now they are moving closer to extended family and looking to pursue other challenges – perhaps based on a charter fishing operation as David is a keen game fisher,” says Mr Rasmussen.

The property is subdivided into 60 paddocks with a mix of two-wire, four-wire and conventional fencing and significant investment has been made on upgrading access tracks on the property. The main track can handle large tractors and machinery needed for the cropping areas of the farm.

“From a stock movement perspective, the property is easily-managed with strategically-located laneways and well-placed yards with combination yards at the front and back of the property and sheep yards in the middle of the farm”, says Mr Rasmussen.

As well as being known for turning out good stock, the Matawai-Motu area is world-renowned for its brown and rainbow trout fishing and hunting opportunities with international anglers catching on to the potential that the Motu River holds and hunters recognising that there’s plenty of deer in the hills.

“The Motu is nymph and dry-fly fishing country and the brown trout are pretty abundant in these parts. It’s just the icing on the cake for a farmer who also likes to fish – you wouldn’t get much better!”

“There’s a spawning stream running through Kiriroa Farm and an enterprising new owner could perhaps add another income strand to the farm by opening up the property to fishers and hunters – perhaps providing accommodation and other facilities,” says Mr Rasmussen.

The five bedroom villa is set in mature grounds with sheltered verandahs and decking areas to take advantage of the views across the Motu River and on up the valley. The Frasers have renovated the villa installing insulation, double glazing, a free-standing fire with wetback and a heat pump to ensure efficient power consumption and cosy winters. The improvements to the house have been well-thought through and there’s been no expense spared.

“This is a really aesthetically-pleasing farm. There are the bush backdrops, the gin-clear streams and a well-maintained air about the place. A family could make a great life here – the house is roomy and child-friendly and Matawai School goes through to Year 8 so for a family with youngsters it’s ideal,” says Mr Rasmussen. “Why not get away from the hustle and bustle of other areas?”

Kiriroa farm goes under the hammer at Bayleys Gisborne on 19 March. For further information, contact Tony Rasmussen on 06 868 5188.