Traditional farm ownership in NZ has been as an owner operator. Managers need to operate their farms and stock like it is their own or problems can arise.
Firstlly the Crafar saga and now this operation shows size without good managers and responsible leadership, can result in animal welfare issues.
Hands on responsibility is needed as things change fast. Weather, disease, markets, pests, and poor management can lead to stock going downhill fast.
Poor stock condition is not acceptable to the consumer or the regulatory authoritys that oversee animal welfare. It is also a bad look for NZ Inc and those that market our products.
MAF officials have taken action over the poor condition of sheep on a large West Otago property leased to a North Island farmer.The ministry's manager of animal welfare investigations, Alan Wilson, said when staff visited the Moa Flat property leased to the Tawera Land Company last month, they found insufficient feed for the "several thousand" animals on the property reported the ODT.
Mr Wilson said the farm was destocked with some animals sent to other properties for grazing, a management plan had been put in place and a vet appointed to regularly monitor the stock. Locals say the lessees went in to winter with insufficient feed for the number of lambs carried.
The Tawera Land Co has leased the 1300ha farm for the past three or four years.It has invested a large amount of money sowing crops and resowing pasture, turning what was a rundown property in to a lamb finishing operation turning over 100,000 prime lambs a year. Its sole director is Richard William Thurston and its sole shareholder is Kenneth William Thurston.
A West Otago local, who asked not to be named, said the lessee had a dispute with the farm manager and had outstanding bills, estimated at well over $50,000, owed to several creditors. A manager with the Tawera Land Co said the stocking issue had been resolved and issues with overdue accounts were being negotiated.
The New Zealand Farmers Weekly last week reported that Kenneth Thurston, who bought the closed Longburn Freezing Works near Palmerston North, has had two companies placed in receivership by Farmers Mutual Finance, Advanced Logistics and Property Food and Technology. A third, Aotearoa Coolstores, to which South Canterbury Finance is a secured creditor and reportedly owed $13.992 million, faces liquidation.
2 Comments
This guy is as bad as Alan Crafar.
The same Ken Thurston who was fined for pollution in the Manawatu.
The same Ken Thurston who cannot pay his interest bill, let alone his borrowings from Sth Canterbury Finance.
Now up for animal cruelty.
Our country does not need [ .... ] like these.....lock him away and throw away the key.
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