Richard and Suze Redmayne are working to make their farm sustainable for generations to come. Photo / Alan Gibson / Gibson Images
Richard and Suze Redmayne are working to make their farm sustainable for generations to come. Photo / Alan Gibson / Gibson Images
A deep understanding of the land and a commitment to take care of it for future generations is what anchors the Redmayne family to Tunnel Hill farm at coastal Turakina in the Rangitīkei.
Richard Redmayne is the fourth generation to farm at Tunnel Hill, and with his wife Suze, and their children Sam, Ruby and Sophie, the family are creating revenue streams on their farm that will keep it sustainable for generations to come.
It’s not an easy 1005ha property to farm — mostly river silt and clay, cut through with sand dunes that run from one end of the property to the other.
Decades before it was fashionable, Rich and Suze realised forestry plantations would both solve a problem and meet a need for their farm.
The Redmaynes started to work their way through the property, subdividing the dunes and planting them with trees.
“Our philosophy is about matching the right operation to the right soil type — so it’s part of a plan that a sand dune with trees on it provides income, shade, and shelter,” Rich said.
“Without trees, you just have a fragile piece of land that can potentially erode.”
In an extensive and long-running environmental plan, the property has been fenced more than 40km to protect 240ha of trees.
“We have planted trees every year since 1992, about 7 or 8ha a year, so it’s a fully sustainable forest now,” he said.
“It means we can cut some down every year and replant.”
Creating revenue streams separate from their main sheep, beef and maize farming was also the driver for creating Coastal Spring Lamb and Coastal Lamb.
Since their launch in 2010, the Coastal lamb brands have become one of the leading branded lamb products sold into food service and select supermarkets across the North Island, as well as Asia, the Pacific, the US, Europe and Mauritius.
Tunnel Hill farmer Richard Redmayne says his Coastal lamb brands are naturally seasoned by the salt from the sea. Photo / Alan Gibson / Gibson Images
The Redmaynes have expanded the business to include 16 other lamb producers around the North Island coastline to meet the growing demand for their succulent, tender lamb.
“The secret is definitely the pasture the lambs are raised on,” Rich said.
“They feast on lush ryegrass mixed with clovers and herbs, naturally seasoned by the sea.”
He said being close to the sea meant pastures were lightly dusted with salt.
“It gives the lamb a clean taste.”
The warm coastal location and free-draining soils create the perfect environment for early lambing, which usually begins in June.
The Redmaynes run 3500 ewes and bring in a further 2000 lambs that are finished on the farm.
Other livestock include 300 Angus cows that are mated to Hereford bulls, with all calves sold as weaners.
The Redmaynes irrigate parts of their Tunnel Hill farm. Photo / Alan Gibson / Gibson Images
While all systems are set up to take advantage of the area’s mild winter, there is a 60ha irrigated lamb and finishing platform to protect summer production.
An additional 90ha of maize is grown on a mix of sand and alluvial soils irrigated by a centre pivot.
About 1300 tons of maize grain is produced annually, which is used in the dairy and poultry sectors.
There are 25ha of wetlands on the farm with wildlife corridors created across the farm through historic water channels and tunnels.
“Everything we do is future focused,” Redmayne said.
He believed adding value through different revenue streams was something his great-grandfather, who bought Tunnel Hill in 1936, would have been proud of.
“I really believe our business is sustainable because when you are on a farm for 100 years, you are thinking about the future all the time.
“We are always thinking about how to look after the land to give us the best value, and our children keep us motivated to look after the environment for their future success.”
