Two full-time jobs keep Shaun busy

The Forks farm manager Shaun Tauti is a busy man. In addition to managing a 1700ha property near...
The Forks farm manager Shaun Tauti is a busy man. In addition to managing a 1700ha property near Shingle Creek, he also works as a livestock agent. PHOTO: YVONNE O’HARA
Following the advice of his wife, Sarah, to work smarter not harder, Shaun Tauti has two full-time jobs — and he is thriving on the challenges.

He has managed The Forks, a 1700ha property near Shingle Creek, in Central Otago, for Pukerau owners Richard and Renee Copland, for five years.

He is also in his second year as a livestock agent for Peter Walsh and Associates.

Originally from a sheep farming background in Tapanui, he played rugby in England for two years after leaving Blue Mountain College.

Once he returned, he started shepherding and worked his way into farm management.

He started a dipping, conveying and tailing contracting run, which he sold two years ago, to become a livestock agent.

He joined Peter Walsh and Associates last year, but the Covid-19 restrictions meant it was a tough first year for him, although he received support from the firm and clients.

That also meant utilising time management skills to work the two jobs.

"I really enjoy the livestock agent industry as it’s very challenging but rewarding.

"As The Forks is a breeding property it allows me to work off-farm, which I thank the owners for, allowing me to do it."

He lives on the property with his wife and children, Madison (13), Willow (5), Autumn (2) and Koa (6 months) and they love it.

As well as hunting and playing rugby for Roxburgh, he enjoys taking the family fishing on Lake Roxburgh as it only takes eight minutes to get the boat from home on to the water.

The Forks is two-thirds hill country, which faces north, so is extremely dry in the summer and bitterly cold in the winter.

The south-facing 360ha is more protected and holds on with grass continuing to grow during the dry periods.

"It has been a bit of a saviour for us," Mr Tauti said.

Three years ago he introduced Craigneuk halfbred genetics over the A mob, from which he sources replacements, and Okaruru Dorset Downs rams go over his B mob, for the terminal lambs.

"We have been working towards not being so reliant on one income stream, which is why we changed genetics to get more lambs and more meat goes out the gate. "We want to get more lambs on the ground and surviving," he said.

The top 200 are killed off the ewes at 17.2kg average and 1600 were sold as stores with the bottom 700 going to Pukerau to be finished during the winter.

The property has 800ha effective grazing and the other 900ha is only suitable as "spring summer country".

"Going forward, I’ve always wanted to own my own farm, which isn’t as easy as it used to be so I’ve got to work hard while I can but still try find the balance for my family.

"My wife, Sarah, is very supportive of what I do and understands my goals."

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