When Max and Lois Harrison were recently honoured at the New Zealand Century Farm Awards, they, in turn, were honouring their pioneering ancestors.
The Harrison family, from the Catlins, was one of 22 families from around the country who attended the awards in Lawrence, recognising New Zealand farming families with a connection to the land of at least 100 years.
Their 333ha sheep and beef farm, which runs from Newhaven Settlement to the far end of Cannibal Bay beach, has been in the family since 1895.
It was originally settled by Max Harrison's grandfather, John Edward (Ted) Harrison, whom he described as a "tough bugger".
Half the property had been sandhills, there was quite a bit of swampland and it had taken a lot of hard work, with all the bush there, to develop.
To help his family, Ted Harrison used to walk to the coalmine at Kaitangata to work, returning home late on a Saturday and leaving again on Sunday night. His wife had to shoot pigeons for family meals.
Max Harrison left school at the end of 1963 and worked on the farm plus doing shearing.
He went into partnership with his father, Cecil, in 1969 and now farms in partnership with his wife.
The couple's son, Nigel, works in the mining industry in Australia and hopes to eventually take over the farm.
Receiving the century farm award paid tribute to pioneers like his grandfather and grandmother who came into the bush and had a tough life, Mr Harrison said.
Even for his own parents "things were never easy". His mother brought up a family of four, yet did not have electricity until the mid to late 1950s, there was "not an overly adequate" water supply and she did washing using a copper.
Mr Harrison said it was unusual having sea lions for neighbours, but they were less endearing when flopping into and out of water troughs.
Mr and Mrs Harrison said they have been enjoying the best season for sheep and beef farmers for many years.