Introduction

Visit farming heritage sites that illustrate the importance of agriculture in New Zealand since the arrival of European settlers.

Farming has been the mainstay of the New Zealand economy, but New Zealand has developed relatively few farming heritage sites, reflecting the urban bias of popular history.

An important aspect of establishing farming was the importation of good quality breeding stock, and sites like Somes Island and Quail Island Animal Quarantine Stations recall this activity.

Practically every bit of farmable land was converted into farms, and Government policy fostered small farmers. Farm buildings on Urupukapuka Island recall the era of the small farmer. Today the trend is towards amalgamating farms into larger units.

The following sites managed by DOC can be visited and represent the general farming theme:

Northland

Auckland

  • Browns Island, farming sites, 1840
  • Farm settlement sites, Motutapu, 1840
  • Harataonga Homestead, Great Barrier Island, 1906
  • Hobbs Beach, Tiritiri Matangi 1896
  • Kawau, mine company stockyards and Grey’s dairy 1840s-50s
  • Moirs Hill Farm Settlement, Warkworth, 1859
  • Motuihe Island, animal quarantine, 1870
  • Motuora Island, farming settlement 1912
  • Reid Homestead, Motutapu, 1901

Waikato

East Coast/Hawke's Bay

  • Former Pendlehill Homestead, Napier, 1875
  • Kuripapango Woolshed, Napier, 1881

Wanganui

  • Bridge to Nowhere, Mangapurua Valley, 1936
    Mangapurua Valley Soldier Settlement, Wanganui, 1919 – 1943

Wellington

  • Caretakers Cottage, Matiu/Somes Island, 1915
  • Glory Bay Cottage, Pitt Island, c1865 
  • Maximum Security Station, Matiu/Somes Island, 1970
  • Meat Safe, Matiu/Somes Island, c1914 
  • Ova Transplant Station, Matiu/Somes Island, 1970
  • Quarantine Stables, Matiu/Somes Island, 1916
  • Shields Flat Historic Reserve 
  • The Whare, Kapiti, 1880
  • Woolshed Mana Island, 1867

Nelson/Marlborough

  • Golden Bay, Whariwharangi Hut 1896
  • Golden Bay, Ngarata' Homestead, 1914
  • South Marlborough, Onamalutu Cob Dairy, 1885

Canterbury

  • Cairn of Peace Historic Reserve, 1967 (Not AMHP Reserve vested in Selwyn DC)
  • Chalmers Farm, Chalmers Track and dry stone dykes, 1860
  • Coton's Cob Cottage Historic Reserve, 1866
  • Forrester’s Farm homestead site, 1860
  • Lyttelton Scenic Reserve, Major Hornbrook’s Track, 1860
  • Mt Pleasant Bluff Track, Colonial Sheep Dip site, Evans Pass, 1850
  • Quail Island Recreation Reserve,1888
  • View Hill Scenic Reserve, 1900

Otago

  • Coastal Otago, Sir John McKenzie Memorial Historic Reserve, 1929

Southland

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