Looking ahead to possibilities for our contribution in the climate and biodiversity fight.
A brief introduction to Lake Hawea Station.
The book ‘The secret Wisdom of Nature’ by Peter Wohlleben says ‘Nature is like a mechanism in an enormous clock. Everything is neatly arranged and interconnected’. At Lake Hawea Station we all understand the delicate balance and that every entity has a purpose and a role in this unique ecosystem. We needed to liberate our minds. A new approach to farming this historic sheep and beef station, one that puts the ecosystem first.
The first step taken we took in 2018 was to fence a stunning mature Kowhai Grove. In doing so the Kowhai themselves, their seedlings and other juvenile natives were liberated from years of stock browsing. Then, we liberated a 35m strip along the lake. Planted twenty thousand plus trees - creating a new native forest and also fencing off the stations seven kilometres of lake front from stock.
Next, we looked to the critically endangered species. How can we support/liberate these? The Nationally critically endangered Western Grand Skink - the last wild population live in a small pocket, but were last seen in 2012 and presumed ‘exskinked’. A skink expert was recruited by LHS and with Finn Ross (scientist) and a group from Wildlands a five-year fight began to first find ... then survey and then support this tiny fragile population. None were found on the first day of survey in 2018, then we found a handful including a juvenile. Covid interrupted the campaign for pest management and surveying by team LHS, but a return in 2021 released the last wild population on earth is hanging in there. The team at Lake Hāwea Station supported by Professor David Norton in 2022 bought private funding from the UK based super brand Sheep Inc. to help this ongoing fight for these creatures. Nationally endangered Hebe Cupressoides is being surveyed and while healthy on the Station is threatened with not an abundance of regeneration. The threatened Nationally Vulnerable Oleria Fimbriata needs our help ... the Clutha Flat Head Galaxiid ... The NZ Falcon Karearea ... endemic and only 3,000- 5,000 breeding pairs remain ... the hope of supporting and liberating endangered and critical biodiversity is at once frightening and hopeful ...The cattle numbers were halved and the station began looking for revenue flow, soil and pasture management systems which will mean we can continue to do less with more.
The Merino sheep have been liberated as browsers to get the right mix of modern legumes such as lucerne and clover and native grasses in a regenerative approach. Each animal is a treasured contributor because all profit goes back into the many ecological projects of this 6.5 thousand-hectare land holding.
The ultimate goal of the station is to move from carbon neutral to carbon positive times ten.
Everyone working at @lakehaweastationlivingconsiders doing so a privilege not because their office is the stunning South Island high country but because they are liberating and legacy-making every day.
Thanks for your interest in our work with the Station,
Team LHS
The cattle numbers were halved and the station began looking for revenue flow, soil and pasture management systems which will mean they continue to do less with more.
The Merino sheep will be liberated as browsers to get the right mix of modern legumes such as Lucern and clover and native grasses in a regenerative approach. Each animal is a treasured contributor because all profit goes back into the many ecological projects of this 6.5 thousand hectare land holding.
The goal of the station is to move from carbon neutral to carbon positive times ten.
Everyone working at @lakehaweastationliving considers doing so a privilege not because their office is the stunning South Island high country but because they are liberating and legacy making every day.
Thanks for your interest in our work with the Station,
Team LHS
A modern & environmental liberation.
Deer Liberation
Lake Hawea Station is in the same catchment as the Lindis Pass where the first liberation of big game animals in New Zealand took place. As such the history and significance of the deer herd for New Zealand is Legendary. The first liberation took place not far from LHS in March 1871. The deer were presented to the Otago acclimatisation society by the 11th Earl of Dalhousie of Brechen in Scotland and shipped to port chalmers on the City of Dunedin and the warrior queen. Seven deer were liberated in this area after being shipped to Oamaru in the paddle steamer wallace and transported over the Lindis Pass by bullock wagon. These deer formed the basis of the world renowned Otago South Westland red deer herd. Fortunately in the area this original bloodline has not been tainted by farmed or foreign genetics.
