Guest Post: Molesworth Station

Guest Post by Gravedodger on No Minister

A reasoned argument from one who understands how to relieve Pamu of Our Largest Station, Molesworth.

At present Pamu the current “Woke” iteration of the Government Lands and Survey farming department actual farming the vast estates still in Crown ownership returning often paltry returns when compared to private enterprise farming opperations is about to announce the future ownership and management strategy for the 500, 000 acre high country station on the southern boundary of Marlborough that was abandoned to the Crown due largely to rabbits and poor prices c1930s then added to with parts of St Helens after three farms were created on the Hanmer Plains for returned soldiers in 1949 and Tarndale Station also abandoned as run country.

The resulting land mass larger than Stewart Island and far and away the biggest single land area being farmed came under the Management of Lands and Survey and the first of only two Managers Bill “Bull” Chisholm since that creation, who immediately destocked the land from sheep grazing and began the Cattle herd that remains iconic.

Chisholm was succeeded by Jim Ward who now wants to create a ” large” “Farm Park” allowing any and all its owners, New Zealand citizens, to wander roam and enjoy the sheer magnificence of a reminder as to what those runholders faced across the alpine regions of the South Island. Under Ward’s plan the Station reinvests all profits from the Cattle herd back into weed and pest control to maintain year round access for adventurous New Zealanders to enjoy with tramping camping cycling and just experiencing the last of the great outdoors.

Now in an extension of the economic disastrous purchase of South West Neighbouring property St James Station by Helen Clark because she enjoyed walking the St James walkways, Jim Ward sees an opportunity to do similar for Molesworth except his plan has an estimated gross annual income of in excess of half a million returned to improve the Capital asset we all share ownership of.

However but the Greedy successors to the musket warring Kapity hoards in their colonisation of the South Island maori in sacking first Kaiapoi then moving on to those residing on Banks Peninsula where their ideas of occupation had nill / zero notions of co governance, where their colonisation was conquest, enslavement and some fresh protein suddenly see the in excess of NZ$500, 000 as a swag too good to pass up having notions of including the station we all own into their expanding business empire as a source of cattle for finishing on the already acquired lands on the Canterbury Plains.

Jim Ward having been the custodian on our behalf for the last quarter century knows full well the encroaching wilding pines invading from The Leathem, a tributary of the Wairau River to the north, other weeds and pests including an expanding feral deer population, along with the creation and maintenance of safe walkways and cycle ways along with maintaining and creating the Station buildings and additional lodgings for part owning citizens looking for adventure will consume every dollar the Station can create as income.

I am guessing the descendants of Te Raupara’s marauding slaughtering Colonists and surviving remnants of the subdued natives will in all likelihood be rewarded for nothing contributed and Jim Ward and his nationalist citizenry including Mark Inglis double amputee who conquered Everest will be gazumped and Our Big land will be swallowed into Ngai Tahu’s empire with restricted access and other constraints of ownership resulting.

It is right and proper that Pamu's stewardship be ended as their economic management of an estimated 900, 000 acres is remarkable only for its appalling returns compared to commercial farming enterprise remaining exposed but the pressures that triggered Jim Ward’s departure alleged to be based on serious differences with the numpties who oversaw the Station for DOC will remain obscured.

There are Neighbouring properties remaining in profitable private ownership including Muller Station, Muzzle Station and until Clarks ill advised intervention St James now destocked surviving the harsh challenging unique environment

Jim Ward’s suggestions now referred to by insiders as “The Station for the Nation” are a worthy way forward, Ngai Tahu are already well compensated let those who know and understand what can be achieved for all New Zealand to do their best.

Lying on the northern door step of expanding Hanmer Springs the basic infrastructure is all ready for the expansion Jim Ward’s promotion of The Station of The Nation envisages.