Looking after what matters

For most farming businesses, gates often need to be left open as much as closed!

Contractors, neighbours, stock agents, shearers, vets, delivery drivers and whānau all move across farms as part of everyday life. Farming has always relied on trust, and that remains an important part of rural communities today.

Unfortunately, like many farming businesses across New Zealand, Whāngārā Farms has also experienced thefts and attempted thefts on our properties. Whether it is fuel, equipment or unauthorised access, rural crime continues to present challenges for farmers throughout the country, placing unnecessary pressure on businesses that already operate across large and often remote landscapes.

As a result, security cameras have now been installed across all Whāngārā Farms properties. And we couldn’t be happier!

This is not about changing the way we farm or closing ourselves off from our communities. Rather, it is a practical step to help protect our people, livestock, equipment and infrastructure, while providing an additional layer of security across the farming operation.

The cameras are positioned at key access points and are capable of recording vehicle movements and identifying registration plates where required. Their primary purpose is simple: to act as a deterrent. Experience across the rural sector shows that visible security measures can significantly reduce opportunistic offending while providing valuable information should incidents occur.

Protecting farm assets is about far more than replacing stolen equipment. Delays caused by theft can interrupt day-to-day operations, impact animal welfare, affect staff safety and wellbeing along with creating unnecessary costs that ultimately flow through the wider farming business.

At Whāngārā Farms, investing in practical systems that support the long-term resilience of the business is part of how we operate. Whether that means strengthening environmental management, improving livestock performance or enhancing farm security, each decision contributes to building a farming operation that is well equipped for the future.

To those visiting our farms for legitimate business, nothing changes. We look forward to continuing to work alongside our contractors, neighbours, suppliers and wider community as we always have.

For those considering entering our properties without permission, however, these cameras serve as a clear reminder that our farms are monitored, vehicle movements are recorded and unlawful activity will be reported to Police.

Looking after our whenua also means looking after the people, livestock and resources that enable it to thrive.