Shepherd General

Mōkai te ngākau. He whenua he oranga. E ū ai ki te pae roa

The land sustains and nurtures as we reach to the horizon

Tūaropaki Trust is an Ahu Whenua Trust under the auspices of Te Ture Whenua Māori. There are more than 2,700 Owners, a mix of individuals, Whānau Trusts and Kaitiaki Trusts, all descended from the original Owners. The Trust is a kaitiaki for ancestral taonga and manages complex business interests in the food and energy sectors, with assets valued at approximately $1 billion.

Ngā mātāpono | Our values

• Whakapono – Inner belief in the Tūaropaki vision
• Kia Ū – Commitment, diligence
• Kia Manawanui – Courage, adaptability, strategic foresight and humility

Te tūranga | Your Role

We are looking for a motivated Shepherd General to join our dedicated Station Team, reporting to the Station Manager. This is a role for someone who is building their skills and confidence in the Shepherd General space — you bring the foundation, the drive, and the work ethic, and we’ll back you to grow. Your stock skills and practical farming knowledge will be put to work every day, and you will need to be equally comfortable contributing as part of a close-knit team and taking the initiative when working independently.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and carry out stock work, including mustering, yard work, and stock movements
• Perform docking, crutching and general animal health tasks with confidence
• Handle working dogs to a high standard — candidates will be expected to demonstrate their ability with their team of dogs
• Work competently on horseback, with your own saddle and tack
• Carry out fencing and general repairs and maintenance to a high standard
• Operate tractors and farm vehicles as required
• Maintain accurate records and contribute to Health & Safety practices including incident and risk reporting and hazard identification.
• Contribute positively to team goals while taking ownership of your individual responsibilities

What You’ll Bring:

• A background in Growing Future Farmers (GFF) or equivalent practical farming experience
• A minimum of two years’ experience in a shepherding or similar farming role
• Strong working dog skills — a minimum of two dogs and a pup, well controlled, with the ability to demonstrate how they work
• Confident horsemanship with your own saddle and tack (preferred but not essential)
• Proven fencing skills and the ability to demonstrate them
• Handpiece experience for docking and crutching
• Tractor experience (advantageous)
• Experience using Farm IQ (advantageous)
• Full disclosure of any pets
• The ability to work cohesively within a team and independently, bringing energy and initiative to both
• A strong work ethic, self-motivation, and a genuine passion for farming

You’ll thrive in this role if you’re proactive, bring a positive ‘can-do’ attitude, and take pride in doing things well. Most importantly, you’ll be a collaborative team player who embraces station life and everything it brings.

Why join us?

Tūaropaki Trust is a values-driven organisation with deep roots in the land and a commitment to the long-term wellbeing of our whānau and community. You’ll be joining a supportive, close-knit team that invests in its people — where your skills are recognised, your development is encouraged, and there is real room to grow into the role and beyond.

Questions?

For more information about the role or to apply, please contact Layla Steigenberger at [email protected]

Please note: Applications will close if a preferred candidate is identified prior to the closure date.