Country Calendar returns to station

ON THE LAND: Waiorongomai Station farmer Charlie Matthews and his wife, Karla. PHOTOS/FILE

Waiorongomai farmer Charlie Matthews can't remember the first time Country Calendar visited his South Wairarapa station, but he remembers the second and the third.

This Saturday the 3000ha station, situated between Lake Wairarapa and the Rimutakas will feature on the long-running country show on TV One for the third time.

The first time was in 1977, when Charlie was 5 years old and his parents, Raymond and Susie, were running the station.

The TV crew visited again in 1998, as Charlie was taking over from his dad.

Three weeks ago, they called out again for three days of shooting, in appalling conditions, said Charlie.

Asked what the theme of the show will be, Charlie said that's a hard one to answer. "It's the middle of winter, horrendous, 30 hours of footage, lots of interviews, condensed down to 20 minutes ... "

The historical aspects will likely feature again. Charlie, with his wife, Karla, is the sixth generation to farm Waiorongomai, following from Charles and Elizabeth Matthews who established the station in 1850.

Last year the Matthews featured in the Times-Age on cross-breeding Canadian Speckled Park cattle with their Hereford, Angus and Shorthorn beasts, and promoting Waiorongomai Beef as a locally-sourced product on the shelves at Fresh Choice in Greytown.

The station, flanked by lake and native bush, is also an accommodation venue, using former farm dwellings. Charlie said his children loved the filming.

"They've got footage of the kids riding mountain bikes, working with me."

His parents, who are retired in Greytown, came for the filming and interviews.

"It was pretty crappy weather.

"But the day they left, the lake was like glass." Waiorongomai Station and the Matthews will feature on Country Calendar on Saturday, 7pm on TV One.