Omapere is a 902ha (effective) mixed sheep and beef property which borders Lake Omapere and, since 2007, the present trustees of the property have embarked on an extensive strategic plan to improve the farm.
Until the 1950s the land had separate titles occupied by individual whanau owners who used the land for food gardens and small dairy units.
Under the Maori Affairs Act 1953 the titles were amalgamated and, during this process, the Crown acquired a substantial shareholding. But since 2007 trustees and shareholders have bought back shares and the trust now owns 54.86 per cent of the shares and is determined to keep buying until it gets full ownership of the whenua.
In the past the farm ran a combination of sheep and beef. The planned move away from sheep to beef has largely been driven by better returns for bull beef and poorer returns for wool, sheep and lamb.
The farm is mainly undulating country with some flats, making it ideal as a finishing farm. The bulls are bought in as rising one-year-olds and then sold on as two-year-olds. The stock are fed only grass.
Part of the Rangihamama land was converted to dairy about three years ago and about 500 cows are now being milked.
The farm, which carried 3224 sheep and 973 cattle in 2013/14, was stocked with 2172 sheep and 1118 cattle in 2015/16.
A manager and three staff run the farm, reporting to a farm committee consisting of a consultant, a shareholder, the trust's accountant and a trustee chosen for their specialist farm knowledge, skills and attributes.
Farm profit before tax was $83,600 in 2013/14 and $258,555 in 2015/16.
The trust has set up annual tertiary education scholarships totalling $50,000 for descendants of the 3000-plus shareholders.
Fifteen houses have been erected in a papakainga project on trust land outside Kaikohe. Other trust developments include forestry and a partnership to produce manuka honey.
"It's a very dynamic business," trustee Bruce Cutforth told The Country. "We're happy campers and it's great to be part of this team."
