A suite of five Northland drystock farms totalling about 2,068 hectares with a proven history of top livestock performance is for sale.

Tenders are invited for the five farms, either individually or a combination, by 2pm on April 29th with Tony Grindle and his sales team at Bayleys Whangarei.

The five farms are the legacy of Northland farming identity Terry Robinson and his wife Lois who developed the land over more than 60 years.

Terry, or ‘TA’ as he was commonly called in the district, was a mentor and employer of many young people over the decades. He was highly respected for his ability to breed and finish big bullocks and other livestock on good hill country.

Grindle says TA was more ‘old school’ rather than ‘modern-day’ farmer, and preferred horses and dogs for stock work. He was also a renowned dog trialist throughout New Zealand.

“The properties have produced truckloads of finished cattle off grass, supported by his dedication to annual fertiliser applications, while keeping hay and silage to a minimum,” Grindle says.

“TA was also a great sounding board to many rural professionals and aspiring farmers, and loved discussing cattle, sheep, dogs, pine trees and anything farming, while always looking for opportunities with them while sitting in his chair at the kitchen table on the home farm.”

Listing the farms for sale is the culmination of more than two years planning and preparation by the next generation of the family, following the passing of both Lois and Terry in 2023. It has included a substantial investment in fencing, roading, stock handling facilities, houses and infrastructure across all five properties.

The original farm, Onewa in the Okahu district, was bought in 1963 and is about an hour’s drive west of Whangarei and 20 minutes east of Dargaville. Now 825 hectares in size, it served as the foundation for Terry and Lois to expand their business with the purchase of another four standalone properties in the district, all of which can be seen from vantage points on Onewa.

Adjoining Onewa is Three Way Farms, 127 hectares owned by Robinson family members which has always been farmed in conjunction with the original home farm.

About 15 minutes east of Onewa is Krater Station, a 450-hectare property in the Whangarei District, and nearby to the west is Weona, totalling almost 199 hectares. Further south-west towards Ruawai is Gunado, totalling almost 475 hectares.

Titles are pending to complete the final stage of a subdivision at Gunado. The family will retain one of the lots comprising 44 hectares of mature kauri bush and some grazing land, leaving 430 hectares of farmland for sale.

Grindle is expecting strong interest from a range of buyers, including some keen on the entire package of five farms or neighbours and others looking to expand their own farming businesses in an area considered summer safe with reliable rainfall, productive soils and a regular fertiliser history.

“All the farms have been farmed traditionally with a strong emphasis on pasture growth, breeding, animal health and achieving optimal weight gains in a short period,” he says.

“There is scope for further improvement in production off all the farms with more subdivision and developing the existing water reticulation systems which was the next big phase of development planned by the Robinson family.

“Potential buyers will see these are clean farms with hardly a gorse or blackberry bush in sight. The land has been well grazed and weeds kept to a minimum.”

About 80 percent of the total area is tractor country, opening up the possibility for crops to increase carrying capacities.

Two current staff have been working for the Robinson family for decades and all existing staff are keen to stay on if the opportunity arises once new owners are found.

Grindle says the Robinson family will not accept any offers before the closing date for tenders at 2pm on April 29th, 2025.

For more information, contact Tony Grindle on 021 432 308 or email tony.grindle@bayleys.co.nz