It’s been about a decade since we took the plunge and took on part ownership of this little slice of paradise we call Wakaepa Farm — where the upper reaches of the Selwyn River flow right down to the bottom of our land.

Evan and Maureen Frew have run a land leasing business on the farm for yonks, and going into business with them has been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. Since the day we first stepped on the land, all the way up until now, we’ve grown to host 700 Red Hinds Deer, 450 Velvet Stags, 1200 Periendale Ewes, and 50  Angus Cows that graze on the fruits of Central Canterbury. Not to mention, we also share the farm with the local bees from Coalgate Honey, so there are plenty of hives that play a big part in keeping our crops healthy.

Nestled in the foothills, all 1100 Hectares of Wakaepa run behind Whitecliffs — a little village of about 500 people living in the rural South Island climate. Our hill farming operation  runs through here.        

There are plenty of places to get good meat, but the lack of local produce in Central Canterbury is what puts Wakaepa Farm in a prime position to cater for our community. We’re also big on sustainability and managing our carbon footprint — and so we should be. All of our animals are farmed in a natural environment where they are sheltered from the hills and bushland, and are also kept in small mobs. From the breeding stage to the final packaged product, every step is 100% controlled by us, and we’re pretty proud of that. We do as much of the work as possible ourselves, and then rely on our local businesses to support us with the finishing touches. While still young, we’ve got a whole lot of growth to come. Join us for the journey.