Coromandel covenants
Peter and Margaret Simpson have 389ha of which 280ha is pasture and the remainder is native bush and forestry. Son John Simpson also lives and works on the farm. The property was purchased in the 1920s by Peters father in an unimproved state and the family began milking 30 dairy cows by hand, while breaking in more land to extend the milking platform and run dry stock. The bush cover was all second growth ti-tree with some younger native trees. About 20ac a year was cleared, burnt, ploughed, disced and sown, initially with horse teams and then bulldozers and heavy machinery from the 1950s onwards. The pace of development picked up with aerial topdressing. In 1950 Peter and his brother Harry took half the farm each and milked 50 cows each. Peter subsequently bought back his brothers land and made the land one farm again.
Thirty years ago Peter got rid of his 170 dairy cows, which had supplied the Mercury Bay Dairy Co until 1970 and the NZDG factory at Paeroa after that.
The property now carries sheep and cattle. The farm is all Waihi ash soils, with 36ha of flat country and the rest medium to steep hill country. The Romney ewe flock once was as large as 2500 but is now 700, which are mated to Poll Dorset rams to increase emphasis on lamb production and reduce emphasis on wool production. The progeny are used for replacement ewe hoggets and for lamb finishing. 300 ram lambs are purchased for finishing each year, between February and July.
The cattle are all purchased, not bred on the property. At present the cattle consist of 120 Friesian weaner bulls, 150 whiteface steer calves and 80 rising 2yo steers. The weaner bulls are purchased at 100kg in November and sold in July to finishers. Whitehead steers are bought in as weaners for finishing on the farm.
The property utilises conventional set stocking and winter rotations, not cell system grazing or Technosystem.
The property is not undergoing any development or regrassing, but Peter is using Bio Fert instead of superphosphate or high-analysis fertiliser. It is a lime mix which is promoting clover growth without acidifying the soil.
A sheep farm of 185ha on the coast adjoining the Simpsons farm has been owned by the Wells family since 1927, when Renn Wells grandfather purchased. Renn also has a 100ha farm nearer Whitianga which was dairying for 98 years until this year, the first as a dry stock farm. Renn will now work both properties together.
The 185ha farm has a commanding position on the coast north of Whitianga and also contains the lower southern and eastern slopes of Mt Mangatawhiri. It runs 1000 ewes and 400 replacements, and contains a three-stand woolshed and covered yards, along with a shanty which the Wells have used as a holiday bach. All lambs have been sold store up until now, but they will be taken back to the Whitianga farm for finishing.
Access to this property is through Simpsons.
Renn is actively encouraging the kiwi restoration and the pohutukawa project.
The Simpsons have two open space covenanted areas, when are clauses added to the land title over specified natural features of the property to secure them for ever, beyond the ownership of the present occupier. These covenants were arranged 12 years ago, with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, and consist of 51ha of regenerating native bush and 9ha of beach frontage, mainly pasture.
Peter Simpson says the 51ha of covenanted regenerating bush has a wide variety of native trees, including rimu, rata, kanuka, small kauri and birches, but nothing is large. The bush zone is on the lower slopes of Mt Mangatawhiri, 330m, which is a prominent landmark on the Mercury Bay coastline. There are tracks to the top of the mountain, which carries a TV transmitter.
Work is underway on Mt Mangatawhiri to get rid of predators like possums, rats and mustelids to encourage the breeding of kiwi. Peter Simpson remembers kiwi on the farm and in the bush when he was younger, and believes they are now returning.
The 9ha beach frontage covenant includes the riparian rights, which were attached to the land holding. Those riparian rights would be lost to the Crown if the coastal zone was to be subdivided and sold. Under the QEII covenant that cant happen, now or in the future. Peter and John are allowed to continue to graze the area at appropriate times of the year, and they allow access to campervans and picnickers, not so much campers. However, they want to be asked for access in every case, because of farm management issues and, in the case of Mt Mangatawhiri, so they know when someone is tramping and can raise an alarm if that person doesnt return.
In all the years of providing public access, the Simpsons have never had an incident of damage or theft.
Renn Wells established a QEII open space covenant on the title over the whole 185ha coastal farm, protecting the outstanding rural and natural landscape from being developed, but allowing for farming activities. The prominent farm is highly visible from Whitianga and from the whole coast of Mercury Bay.
From the water, a large section of the views of the coast and mountain is contained within the farm. It will now be protected from subdivision and development for ever. Renn says the land is not suitable for development, because of regular land movement.
Farm management will not be adversely affected by the covenant, which allows continued pastoral farming. There is permission to build one dwelling and cut some scrub if necessary. Any earthmoving must be minimal, no trees can be felled and weeds must be controlled. A fencing project is underway on the farm, to fence off a stand of bush on the coast. Some 1.8kms of eight-wire fence is being constructed, with funding from three agencies.
Both Simpson and Wells families have forgone any subdivision and development profits in the future by putting covenants on their coastal properties. They are not alone in the Whitianga area, where a number of others have also been registered. These areas will remain in present or improved state of environment for the enjoyment of future generations of New Zealanders.
Hamish Kendal is the QEII National Trust representative for the Hauraki/Coromandel region.
Private property rights are not jeopardised by a covenant, for instance visitor access is only with permission of the land owner, who also retains all ownership and management rights. A management plan may be prepared with the landowner when a covenant is established, which sets out ongoing management objectives and provides guidance on such aspects as species management, pest control and restoration methods.
On February 1, 2006 there were 2255 covenants registered nationwide, with an average size of 37ha. In the Waikato regional council area, which includes Coromandel, there are 350 registered covenants and another 99 awaiting registration. This is the second largest number of covenants by regional council in the country. In New Zealand, the area of land under covenants is approaching 100,000ha, out of 26 million ha.
A QEII representative visits each covenant every second year to monitor its condition. These visits are a valued opportunity to meet with landowners, share their pleasure in observing positive change, discuss any worries they have and work out together the best ways of managing their covenants.
Thirty years ago Peter got rid of his 170 dairy cows, which had supplied the Mercury Bay Dairy Co until 1970 and the NZDG factory at Paeroa after that.
The property now carries sheep and cattle. The farm is all Waihi ash soils, with 36ha of flat country and the rest medium to steep hill country. The Romney ewe flock once was as large as 2500 but is now 700, which are mated to Poll Dorset rams to increase emphasis on lamb production and reduce emphasis on wool production. The progeny are used for replacement ewe hoggets and for lamb finishing. 300 ram lambs are purchased for finishing each year, between February and July.
The cattle are all purchased, not bred on the property. At present the cattle consist of 120 Friesian weaner bulls, 150 whiteface steer calves and 80 rising 2yo steers. The weaner bulls are purchased at 100kg in November and sold in July to finishers. Whitehead steers are bought in as weaners for finishing on the farm.
The property utilises conventional set stocking and winter rotations, not cell system grazing or Technosystem.
The property is not undergoing any development or regrassing, but Peter is using Bio Fert instead of superphosphate or high-analysis fertiliser. It is a lime mix which is promoting clover growth without acidifying the soil.
A sheep farm of 185ha on the coast adjoining the Simpsons farm has been owned by the Wells family since 1927, when Renn Wells grandfather purchased. Renn also has a 100ha farm nearer Whitianga which was dairying for 98 years until this year, the first as a dry stock farm. Renn will now work both properties together.
The 185ha farm has a commanding position on the coast north of Whitianga and also contains the lower southern and eastern slopes of Mt Mangatawhiri. It runs 1000 ewes and 400 replacements, and contains a three-stand woolshed and covered yards, along with a shanty which the Wells have used as a holiday bach. All lambs have been sold store up until now, but they will be taken back to the Whitianga farm for finishing.
Access to this property is through Simpsons.
Renn is actively encouraging the kiwi restoration and the pohutukawa project.
The Simpsons have two open space covenanted areas, when are clauses added to the land title over specified natural features of the property to secure them for ever, beyond the ownership of the present occupier. These covenants were arranged 12 years ago, with the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, and consist of 51ha of regenerating native bush and 9ha of beach frontage, mainly pasture.
Peter Simpson says the 51ha of covenanted regenerating bush has a wide variety of native trees, including rimu, rata, kanuka, small kauri and birches, but nothing is large. The bush zone is on the lower slopes of Mt Mangatawhiri, 330m, which is a prominent landmark on the Mercury Bay coastline. There are tracks to the top of the mountain, which carries a TV transmitter.
Work is underway on Mt Mangatawhiri to get rid of predators like possums, rats and mustelids to encourage the breeding of kiwi. Peter Simpson remembers kiwi on the farm and in the bush when he was younger, and believes they are now returning.
The 9ha beach frontage covenant includes the riparian rights, which were attached to the land holding. Those riparian rights would be lost to the Crown if the coastal zone was to be subdivided and sold. Under the QEII covenant that cant happen, now or in the future. Peter and John are allowed to continue to graze the area at appropriate times of the year, and they allow access to campervans and picnickers, not so much campers. However, they want to be asked for access in every case, because of farm management issues and, in the case of Mt Mangatawhiri, so they know when someone is tramping and can raise an alarm if that person doesnt return.
In all the years of providing public access, the Simpsons have never had an incident of damage or theft.
Renn Wells established a QEII open space covenant on the title over the whole 185ha coastal farm, protecting the outstanding rural and natural landscape from being developed, but allowing for farming activities. The prominent farm is highly visible from Whitianga and from the whole coast of Mercury Bay.
From the water, a large section of the views of the coast and mountain is contained within the farm. It will now be protected from subdivision and development for ever. Renn says the land is not suitable for development, because of regular land movement.
Farm management will not be adversely affected by the covenant, which allows continued pastoral farming. There is permission to build one dwelling and cut some scrub if necessary. Any earthmoving must be minimal, no trees can be felled and weeds must be controlled. A fencing project is underway on the farm, to fence off a stand of bush on the coast. Some 1.8kms of eight-wire fence is being constructed, with funding from three agencies.
Both Simpson and Wells families have forgone any subdivision and development profits in the future by putting covenants on their coastal properties. They are not alone in the Whitianga area, where a number of others have also been registered. These areas will remain in present or improved state of environment for the enjoyment of future generations of New Zealanders.
Hamish Kendal is the QEII National Trust representative for the Hauraki/Coromandel region.
Private property rights are not jeopardised by a covenant, for instance visitor access is only with permission of the land owner, who also retains all ownership and management rights. A management plan may be prepared with the landowner when a covenant is established, which sets out ongoing management objectives and provides guidance on such aspects as species management, pest control and restoration methods.
On February 1, 2006 there were 2255 covenants registered nationwide, with an average size of 37ha. In the Waikato regional council area, which includes Coromandel, there are 350 registered covenants and another 99 awaiting registration. This is the second largest number of covenants by regional council in the country. In New Zealand, the area of land under covenants is approaching 100,000ha, out of 26 million ha.
A QEII representative visits each covenant every second year to monitor its condition. These visits are a valued opportunity to meet with landowners, share their pleasure in observing positive change, discuss any worries they have and work out together the best ways of managing their covenants.