Matakanui Station will represent Otago at the National Ballance Farm Environmental awards on June 18 after its big regional win last week.

Taking out the Regional Supreme award, owners Andrew and Tracy Paterson say it still hasn’t quite sunken in, but were “absolutely thrilled,” when it was announced.

The farm will be represented along with 10 other regional supreme winners in contesting the Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the New Zealand Farm Environment Trust in Wellington.

The national winner became the 2025 National Ambassador for Sustainable Farming and Growing.

Tracy said they just loved being able to share their story, and the public was invited to a field day on May 14, organised by the NZ Farm Environment Trust, to see the different aspects of their work for themselves.

Spanning 5,300ha, Matakanui Station has been in the Paterson family since 1958, with Tracy and Andrew working there since 2001 and taking over ownership in 2014. 

They have since transformed the farm with significant investment in irrigation, fencing and pasture development, while also restoring wetlands and improving water quality monitoring.

The Patersons run 22,000 Polwarth sheep on the property – producing fine wool for high-end brands – alongside 1,100 Hereford cattle and a thriving Polwarth stud.

Tracy said on her Facebook page they were quite shocked at the time to be given the award, “given the incredibly high calibre of finalists and the amazing work being done on each of their properties. 

“We can imagine this would not have been an easy decision for the judges. The evening showcased what is possible when farmers are true stewards of the land and each of the entrants demonstrate this.”

She said the award would not have been possible without the significant contribution of their team, “our Matakanui family,” and recognised both past and present employees that had assisted them to get to this point.

Judges praised Tracy and Andrew for their forward-thinking use of technology to inform animal management, water use and feed planning. 

Their use of genetics and on-farm testing addressed key animal health issues, and adjustments in their cattle finishing programme reflected a strong commitment to continual learning and improvement. 

Judges also noted the Patersons’ dedication to environmental stewardship, with 6.3ha of wetlands restored and partially planted and an additional 24ha set for protection this year. 

In collaboration with their neighbour, they were also protecting 132ha of alpine totara forest under a QEII Trust covenant, recognising its significance as the largest known stand of its kind in Central Otago. 

Tracy said the forest was regenerating, even as they continued to farm, and some of the trees were three to five metres tall, with a lot new ones in there as well.

“It really is quite something.”