Good things start on farm - High Peak Station: leading the way in sustainability and adventure

The Guild and Dunbar families

High Peak Station an hour from Christchurch, is a working farm, deriving its income from deer, sheep, and cattle farming, along with a successful beekeeping operation and tourism. Spanning 3,760 hectares, its traditional farming practices are underpinned by a focus on modern sustainability. The farm is managed by an eight-way partnership, including the Guild and Dunbar families.

Recently, Hamish and Simon Guild of High Peak Station were named the 2024 National Ambassadors for Sustainable Farming and Growing and High Peak was awarded the prestigious Gordon Stephenson Trophy at the National Sustainability Showcase. And we can see why:

A legacy of conservation

James Guild, Hamish and Simon’s father, has championed New Zealand's biodiversity and landscapes throughout his career. He chaired the Canterbury Aoraki Conservation Board and later the Queen Elizabeth II National Trust (QEII Trust), which preserves over 200,000 hectares of private land nationally.

Commitment to environmental stewardship

At High Peak Station, sustainability is woven into every aspect of their operations. The station has 160 hectares under QEII covenants, with plans to add another 130 hectares. These protected areas include riverbeds, native scrub, wetlands, and a red tussock lake reserve. Additionally, over 20km of waterways have been fenced off, and riparian planting has been undertaken to enhance biodiversity and protect river health. The station also runs a comprehensive trapping program targeting invasive species.

Innovative Water Management

In response to climate challenges, High Peak implemented a 100-hectare irrigation scheme in 2010. This system, which harvests surface water run-off, is gravity-fed and highly efficient and environmentally friendly in terms of water and energy use. The Guilds' approach to farming combines New Zealand’s grass-fed pastoral systems with new technologies and sustainable land management practices.

Hamish Guild expresses his gratitude at the recent win, “It is an incredible honour to have been awarded the Gordon Stephenson Trophy and be asked to represent the food and fibre sector as National Ambassadors. We accept this award on behalf of the generations that came before us, particularly our parents, James and Anna, who have dedicated over 50 years to developing High Peak Station.”

“We also accept it in recognition of every other farmer striving for sustainability, especially the other nine NZFEA finalists who represent a very diverse group in many ways, each excelling in representing their regions and sectors.”

Guild says, looking ahead in terms of sustainability “Our intention is to continue seeking value for our products rather than focusing solely on production. This approach will enable us to assess sensitive areas of land more effectively and manage them better."

 High Peak Station is a beacon of sustainable farming, offering a model of how agriculture, conservation, and tourism can thrive together.

Find out more about High Peak Station here.