Job Information Pack
Position Summary
Business Name: Papanui Estate: Papanui & Ferndale Stations – Turakina Valley Finishing farm - Feilding Breeding and Finishing block - Ohingaiti
Property Summary: Papanui & Ferndale Stations are family owned large scale hill country stations located at the top end of the Turakina Valley.
The Stations run a traditional sheep breeding operation with trade steers.
These two stations are supported by two finishing blocks, one in Fielding and the other in Ohingaiti.
Position Title: General Hand
Position Overview: This General Farm Hand role will offer a very broad range of tasks ensuring no two days at work are the same. There will be some flexibility with tasks as they will be determined by your skill-set.
There is a variety of work from digger and bulldozer operating, through to fencing, welding, carpentry and some stock work. The owners are happy for you to have a couple of working dogs but they are not a necessity in this role.
Ideally, our clients are looking for a practical minded person with a can-do attitude who enjoys problem solving.
You will need to have a reasonable level of competency with fencing as the role will involve R&M fencing and depending on your skill level some new fencing may be required.
You will be based on Papanui Station, but will be required to work on the other properties within this farming business as required.
You will be reporting to the Station Owner and once you become familiar with the farming operation the expectation is that you will be able to efficiently manage your own time in order to complete all day-to-day tasks.
Specialist Skills Required: • Fencing Skills • Practical general farm skills (carpentry) • Stock/yard skills • Machinery operating – (tractor/digger operating)
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• Communication skills • Self-starter/good time management skills
Duration of Position: Full time permanent
Proposed Start Date: Negotiable
Staff Structure: Farm Owner/Manager – Sam Hurley Stock Managers on Papanui & Ferndale Stations Shepherds - 3 Fencer General General Farm Hand – TBC Station cook
Partner Work Opportunities: There may be some work opportunities available.
Lifestyle Information
Accommodation: Accommodation is a recently renovated 3 bedroom cottage; with a new kitchen, new carpets and a lovely covered veranda with station views. Locate within the hub of the station with a nice garden.
Farm Location & Community Information: There is a strong rural community in the Turakina Valley with lots of community events such as local horse sports, fundraising events, Shepherd Shemozzle and Hunterville Rugby Club. It is 40 minutes to Hunterville and 30 minutes to Taihape.
Schooling: Primary School – Papanui Junction School – Year 1 to year 8 with bus at gate. Other options include Hunterville and Taihape Primary Schools.
Papanui Junction Primary School works in with both the Mangaweka and Pukeokahu Primary Schools to counter the effect of being smaller rural schools.
High School – There is an area school in Taihape, with high school boarding options in Marton, Whanganui and Palmerston North.
Farm Information
Farm Area (total/effective): 3300ha – Papanui 1580ha - Ferndale
Contour: (Flats, rolling hill, steep) Medium to steep hill country, with some croppable paddocks.
Rainfall: 1000ml
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Subdivision/Fences: Large extensive paddocks, with mainly conventional fences.
Woolshed/Other Buildings: Papanui Two 6 stand woolsheds, top shed has night pen capacity of 3000 and the bottom shed has a night pen capacity of 2000. All paddocks run into sets of satellite yards for docking. Two sets of cattle yards, one in the middle of the station and one at the front.
Ferndale 6 stand woolshed. Covered yards - 2000 night pen. Set of cattle yards. All paddocks have docking yards in them and a large set of satellite yards in the middle of the station.
Both properties have a work shop and implement sheds.
Weeds: Normal thistles (contractors for scrub spraying) 2 weeks a year out with prills
Water: All natural springs and dams
Tracks: The property is medium to steep hill country, but reasonably tracked throughout. There is machinery available to complete these tasks.
Machinery: The Fencer General & General have a side-by-side Tractors Bulldozers/diggers.
Farm Policy & Systems
Production System Extensive
Stock Policy - Breeds/Number: Papanui – 16,000 ewes Wintering 900 cattle – trade steers from yearlings through to 2.5 years
Ferndale – 8,000 ewes 500 trade steers
Maternal/Terminal Policy: Maternal - Kelso Romney ram Terminal - Blacked ram
Animal Health Practices: Best practice at all times
Cropping Policy: Some cropping on the finishing blocks that may require Ag work. There are plantain, chicory, rape crops for lamb finishing.
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Photos
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Map
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