Yarning for connection
The Gane family at home at Kaituna Ridges, where farming, conservation and connection go hand in hand. Photo: David James
At Kaituna Ridges, high above Havelock and the Pelorus Sound, Fred and Nikita Gane are weaving together farming, tourism, conservation and community – one woolly thread at a time. Alistair Hughes discovers how the couple’s vision is spinning a fresh take on rural life.
Kaituna Ridges farm, situated above Havelock and the Pelorus Sound, has far more going on within its 2000 acres than the plentiful sheep and cattle stock alone suggests. As well as hosting regular community events and regional dog trials, the Gane family educates visiting American tourists, one bus-load at a time, about the virtues of New Zealand wool. And they have even begun an innovative business enterprise.
“You’ve got to diversify,” says co-founder Nikita Gane. “I think wearing multiple hats has become very common in the agricultural sector.”
Nikita has lived here since 2021, after she and her husband Freddy moved from his family’s farm in Rapaura. After both graduated from Lincoln University with degrees in viticulture and oenology, taking over Park Farm vineyard in Selmes Road seemed a natural step. Established by Samuel Gane in 1867, the last few hectares had just been turned over to grapes and the newly-qualified couple looked set to be added to the five-generation list of family custodians.
“But it’s funny where life takes you sometimes,” says Nikita. Fred always had a passion for working with farm dogs and this brought him into the orbit of Paul and Muff Newton, the then-owners of Kaituna Ridges. Fred was so impressed when he helped out on their farm that he asked if they could let him know if they ever decided to sell up.
“And of course, that phone call happened,” she laughs. “It was probably five years too early, especially in the middle of Covid, but interest rates were low, so everything looked promising.”
The family had not long settled into their spectacular new Pelorus environment when they were approached by a local tourism company asking if they’d like to host farm tours.
“That's where the seed was planted,” says Nikita. “Americans love their dogs, so they’re very impressed when they see Fred working the sheep dogs, and then they'll come into the woolshed where I put on morning tea. Fred will shear a sheep, and we talk about New Zealand farming practices and the benefits of natural fibres.”
The visitors leave generally awed and envious by their glimpse into a Kiwi farming lifestyle.
Fred goes on to outline some of Kaituna Ridges' other activities.
“We host a lot of public events, and that's really a continuation of the previous owner's policy. Muff really wanted us to keep the connection with Outward Bound that she established, which we have – but we have always been community minded anyway.”
Regional dog trial championships are a passion of Fred’s, and with him and Nikita both on the committee they don’t mind the intensive hours of organisation involved in hosting the event.
Fred describes their farm as ‘the Wither Hills’ of Pelorus, where people come and go as they please. “People that appreciate the property are very welcome to come and enjoy it, and we feel that's part of our role as custodians.”
The annual Kaituna Ramble, a charity-raising 12km loop course on the farm is a regular fixture on the community calendar.
“Fundraising for schools, or in this case, the preschool, is important,” says Fred. “We're very happy to be able to help our local community. We are in the business of people. Really. It doesn't matter whether it's our public involvement, or our wool company, or just the general livestock operation.”
Nikita and Fred have also recently launched a business venture which sees the best qualities of two different types of wool innovatively combined.
“We are in the throes of some pretty major developments here,” explains Fred. “About 50% of what we do is our ‘Romino’ jersey, which is a Romney ‘strong wool’ knit, bonded to a Merino knit, so it feels like one fabric. So you end up having the comfort factor of Merino against your skin, with the virtues of a very hard-wearing wool on the outside.”
Fred admits the superb international promotion of Merino, which has seen more Americans recognise the brand than that of the All Blacks, has really helped.
“Locally bought Merino is actually adding the value to our wool for us, and then the other 50% of our wool goes into felt, which we're using to make bags.”
Despite their entrepreneurialism, Fred and Nikita always put family first, and believe a New Zealand sheep and beef farm upbringing is the best anywhere in the world. They have learned that space is important for their daughters Katie, Frankie and Poppy, and son Jonty.
“More than anything, I think it's learning how you interact as a human being with the environment,” says Fred. “It's about getting muddy, swimming in a river and catching eels or riding a motorbike or a horse or whatever it might be – it’s all outside.”
Nikita adds that the connection to people is also important: “Because we are surrounded by fewer people in the country, you learn the importance of people, we all have different skills, and we all offer each other different things.”
The couple lament that this connection with humanity and nature seems to be more and more at odds with what is becoming the average family lifestyle elsewhere.
“Being raised on a farm also offers kids discipline and work ethic,” adds Fred. “There are morning chores which have to be done because if you don't feed the chickens, you won't get eggs, and if you don't collect the firewood, you won't have a warm house. Whereas in the city you flick a switch and it instantly happens. I think it's a useful way to raise kids.”
Maintaining this special environment they raise their family in is another priority.
The Kaituna Ridges farm environment plan covers everything from the livestock operation and its influence on the environment, but also the 126 hectares of native bush itself.
Nikita and Fred believe it is a useful standard, and they have commissioned studies into the composition and ecological significance of the surrounding forest. This will help employ strategies ensuring their farming practices harmonise with the natural regeneration and ecological processes.
“We’re also trying to showcase that modern farming systems can co-exist with native flora and fauna, " says Fred. “Many think of our native bush as a very fragile system but it's actually massively resilient. Otherwise it wouldn't be here.”
Further adding to the natural splendour of the property, Nikita and Fred have a few breeding pairs of New Zealand Falcon/kārearea and have recently discovered a small colony of native bats.
“They've just recently expanded into our area from Pelorus, so we're certainly interested in trying to conserve and regenerate them to ensure that they're thriving rather than just surviving.”
Nurturing local wildlife, a young family, community connections, livestock and a growing business is a lot for anybody to contemplate, but they all matter deeply to Nikita and Fred.
“It's crazy how things can turn out,” laughs Nikita. “We trained in viticulture and here we are in tourism, clothing and sheep and beef.”
“Quite a few of the Americans say to us: 'you guys have such a beautiful lifestyle’,” adds Fred. “I think interaction with the environment and each other is key, and in the country we still foster that. It's pretty special.”
Kaituna Ridges