New Zealand farming families acknowledged for the century-plus ties to their properties were on the cusp of the biggest opportunity in this country's history, those attending the third annual New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards heard in Lawrence on Saturday night.
Agriculture Minister Jim Anderton, addressing an audience of 150, said the recent free trade agreement with China presented New Zealand farmers with the chance to meet the huge demands of consumers in that part of the world.
People on the Asian continent, numbering in their hundreds of millions, wanted fresh, well-produced meat, dairy products, fruit and vegetables and the demand would be massive, he said.
‘‘Now, do you know of any other country who can deliver that? I do and you're in it,'' Mr Anderton said.
While part of his address looked forward to the exciting future possibilities, he also praised the pioneering spirit of those families represented at Lawrence for their tenacity, fortitude and vision.
Too often, New Zealanders did not celebrate enough of the positives in the country, he said.
‘‘We're a young country and we need to celebrate more of the great things we do.''
The two sesquicentennial awards, recognising 150 years or more of the same family owning the property, went to farms and families in New Plymouth and Nelson.
The Jury farm, in the Taranaki settlement of Omata, was established when Elizabeth and Justinian Jury arrived in the area in 1841.
They were destined to become some of the earliest European farmers in the North Island, growing wheat, potatoes and barley.
In 1860, their land was the scene of a fierce battle with Maori - the battle of Waireka, during the New Zealand Wars.
As a result of this battle, three British soldiers were awarded the Victoria Cross and a fourth received the New Zealand Military Cross.
Today, the land is farmed as a dairy unit by Len and Heather Jury.
The founders of the Gibbs farm in Wakefield, near Nelson, James and Anne Gibbs, buried three sons in England before sailing for New Zealand.
Another son, William, died on the voyage.
After Mrs Gibbs died, Mr Gibbs moved to the Wakefield area.
One day, when looking for some cattle that had strayed, he found them on the land the family now occupies.
Mr Gibbs' great-grandson, Colin, and his son, Nigel, now farm award-winning Romney sheep and cattle on the property.
Other New Zealand Century Farm and Station Award recipients were -
Hamilton farm, Winton; George and Sharon Jupp, Waitara; Andrew Hayes, Kurow; Harrison farm, Taranaki; Stuart, Julie and Mark Paterson, Ranfurly; Roy Williams, Lawrence; Graham Dawson, Invercargill; Mark and Liz Hutton, Oamaru; Russell and Lynda Brodie, Temuka; Ross and Jane Hayes, Christchurch; Douglas and Robyn Irwin, Hedgehope; Richard Hicks, Cambridge; Malcolm and Margaret MacKenzie, Winton; Peter Wards, Wyndham; Stanley and Margaret Garrett, Tauranga; David and Jenene Irwin, Winton; Quentin Hooper-Smith, Dannevirke; John and Ivy Keenan, Invercargill; David Peat, Wanganui; Hammond family, Winton; Eric Worner, Geraldine; David Elliott, Hastings; Totara Estate (Morgan family, Dalziel family and Carrig family); Finlayson family, Whangarei; Crowe family, Winton.
