Sustainable Northland grazing block

The property at 945 Waiotira Rd includes a three-bedroom homestead and an adjacent orchard and greenhouse complex. Photo / Supplied

A Northland cattle finishing farm and run-off grazing block is for sale, complete with a self-sustaining animal watering network and forestry block.

The 63ha property in Waiotira, just south-west of Whangarei, has easy-to-rolling grazing paddocks, bordered by 18ha of 18 to 27-year-old pinus radiata and cypress trees. Also, about 5000 poplars are planted along fence lines and gullies, providing shelter and shade for animals.

The farm's grazing platform of perennial ryegrass consists of some 45ha of pasture, divided into 28 well-fenced paddocks. A series of earth dams supply water to all water troughs throughout the farm by gravity using the natural elevation on the land.

Grass carp were introduced to control aquatic weed growth in the dams in 2004, although it's unknown how well they established. Average annual rainfall of the area is around 1500mm.

The property at 945 Waiotira Rd, and is being marketed for sale by auction at 1pm on July 6 through Bayleys Whangarei.

Rural specialist Vinni Bhula says it stocks 75-80 cattle, either for finishing or in a run-off capacity.

The farm features a self-sustaining water collection/irrigation network. Photo / Supplied

"The grazing infrastructure — including the fencing, yards, and water supply — is in great condition, and the property is easily accessed by either four-wheel drive vehicles, tractor or quad bike. It has been operated from a lifestyle business perspective for almost three decades, with a focus on sustainability and soil health. The farm is being run at conservative stocking levels to ensure pasture and soil integrity," says Bhula.

Soil types on the property consist of predominantly of Waiotira clay and Waiotira clay loam.

Building infrastructure comprises:

• A north facing three-bedroom homestead, with a substantial adjacent orchard and greenhouse complex producing apples, plums, lemons, oranges, satsuma mandarins, bananas, figs, peaches, persimmons, feijoas, guava and grapefruit.
• A recently re-roofed two-stand woolshed with wool baler and shearing equipment.
• A half-round hay barn and a small workshop.

Bhula adds that a nearby niche wood processing mill could eventually be supplied with the poplar timber given the specialist equipment required to process it.

"A new owner might realise a substantial return from future wood asset sales."