Nestled at the head of the fertile Mangatawhiri Valley, Te Kainga Farm is a 600 acre sheep and beef property. Farmed in the Lyons family for four generations, the land has been cared for and improved since my great grandfather, Robert Lyons walked onto the original 200 acre block back in 1867. Being the first settler in the area the local road was named Lyons Rd, and is still called so today.

Made up of 350 acres of easy to medium hill country and 250 acres flat. Te Kainga is a well suited mixed sheep and beef farm. Pockets of native bush and wetland gullies rich in native flora and fauna add to the farms diversity. The Mangatawhiri stream is the jewel in the crown of Te Kainga. The lovely meandering stream flows fresh from the Hunua ranges and through our farm. Providing excellent stock water and that restful charm of running water it adds to the beauty of Te Kainga. It is popular with friends and family for the summer picnic or weekend walks.

Two stands of recently covenanted virgin native bush remind us of the old Te Kainga, when my ancestors first settled in 1867. Manuka clad hills are now the productive hill country where our lambs and cattle are grown. Swampy flats feeding the Mangatawhiri Stream were drained and cleared to leave fertile paddocks growing high quality grass. Perfect feed for finishing our livestock to leave the farm in top condition

Our animals are free to range and feed, solely on high quality pasture, with a low chemical input policy. Whilst not yet organic we farm our stock as naturally as possible. Herbal and homeopathic remedies are always used first, before more conventional approaches in our animal health plan. We use natural fertilizers such as reactive rock, worm castings and seaweed based compounds to create a balanced organic system for our grass and animals to grow on.

All our beef is bought in as 4 day old calves from local dairy farms. They are then hand reared by Cherry and Jamie through the winter. We choose Friesian/Hereford calves for their gentle nature,excellent growth rates and lean carcass composition. Grown on Te Kainga, they have proven to produce lean tender meat of the highest standard.

We have a flock of 1000 Romney ewes on Te Kainga. Our lambs are born and raised on the hill country each winter and our ewes do a great job of rearing top lambs. Our ewes are crossed with South Suffolk rams. The resulting lamb is very early maturing and produces a big carcass.