Successful applicant

DOC has run a competitive allocation process for farming and commercial opportunities in the Molesworth Recreation Reserve, ahead of the existing farming lease expiring on 30 June 2026.

Ngāi Tahu Farming, a wholly owned subsidiary of Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu Group, has been selected as the preferred farming operator for Molesworth Recreation Reserve, and has been invited to apply for a concession. The concession application will be publicly notified.

Ngāi Tahu was selected as they have strong experience of farming at scale in the high country, and strong financial and business foundations offering long-term security, making them the best applicant for this opportunity.

Background

Molesworth/Rangitahi is an iconic drylands landscape with a rich history, deep cultural significance and hugely important biodiversity values. At 180,787 ha, Molesworth Recreation Reserve is slightly larger than Stewart Island and larger than 10 of the 13 National Parks.

There’s a long history of farming in the reserve. Molesworth/Rangitahi was transferred to DOC’s management as public conservation land in 2005. This was preceded by a farming lease being put in place under the Land Act for Landcorp Farming Ltd (trading as Pāmu Landcorp Farming) to farm the reserve.

All land and water-based commercial activity on public conservation land requires a DOC concession. As Molesworth is a recreation reserve, the new lease or licence will be under the Reserves Act 1977, processed in accordance with Part 3B of the Conservation Act 1987. This will better recognise the special ecological, recreation, heritage and cultural values of the reserve.

Next steps

As the preferred farming operator, Ngāi Tahu has been invited to submit a concession application for a lease and grazing license. This will be publicly notified so the public can provide feedback on what’s being proposed, which will be considered when setting the concession conditions.

The concession conditions will outline how the operation is to run, and how Ngāi Tahu Farming and DOC will work together for the benefit of Molesworth/Rangitahi. It will include conditions on public access and required conservation contributions from the operator.

As part of the concession process, details will be laid out on how public access, and weed and pest control, will be maintained or improved at Molesworth.

The conditions of any concession are set by DOC and are a requirement for the concession to be granted.

Timeline

Now a preferred operator is selected they will need to formally apply for a farming concession, which will be publicly notified. Check this web page for the latest updates.

The current operator Pāmu Landcorp Farming has had their lease extended to April 2027, post weaning season, to allow for the concession process to take place, and facilitate an orderly operator transfer.

Contact

If you have a question regarding this process, email Molesworth-Allocation@doc.govt.nz.