Our Story
Willie and Susan bought Middlehurst Station from the Stevenson family in 1998 and moved here with their four young children Sophie, Henry, Lucy and Skye. Prior to this, Willie and Susan managed Cecil Peak and Mt Nicholas in the Lake Wakatipu basin. After a quarter of a century, we are proud to be running the station and our businesses alongside our children. Together, we embark on this remarkable journey, uniting generations and sharing a vision to create a sustainable family business.
“We don’t look around and pat ourselves on the back and say we own all this, we look around and say we are responsible for all of this.” – Willie Macdonald.
Family Focussed
At the heart of our business is family. Each member of our family holds a pivotal role in the operation of both the station and our various businesses. Willie and Susan, as the guiding forces, skilfully oversee all aspects of the station and its diverse ventures. Sophie and Lucy manage the Farm Store, along with wholesale and DTC sales, while Henry oversees the station, and his fiancée Joy skilfully manages The Quarters. Although currently abroad on her OE, Skye eagerly anticipates her return, poised to assume the reins of the Farm Store's day-to-day operations. Our staff are like family too, Emma, Paul and Brogan all significantly contribute to our businesses. Together, we weave our collective passion into the fabric of our thriving business.
Landscape and Environment
Middlehurst Station is situated in the rugged, arid, and remote mountains of the Awatere Valley in Marlborough, on the South Island of New Zealand. The station covers 16,550 hectares of land, ranging from the rolling Awatere River flats to the peaks of the inland Kaikoura ranges. With elevations ranging from 550 meters to 2500 meters, Middlehurst Station has some of NZ’s most challenging high country farming conditions.
Commitment to Sustainability
At Middlehurst Station, we care deeply about the environment and the impact our business has on it. We believe in operating our business sustainably and with a conscious focus on protecting and enhancing our biodiversity. As a small business, we know that environmental sustainability can feel overwhelming at times, but we take it one step at a time, just like the saying goes, "how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."
We have noticed a growing interest and inquisitiveness from consumers, and regulators about our supply chain and how we operate our business. People are particularly interested in how we care for the whenua (land) and how we protect and enhance biodiversity. We have been working on various initiatives, such as creating QE11 covenants to protect and enhance natural and cultural heritage sites on our land.
We also prioritize animal welfare, traceability, and transparency in our operations. We have taken steps to protect and enhance our wetlands by installing fences and conducting extensive predator control.
We are also conscious and reactive to the climate and the planet, ensuring that our business operations align with our values and contribute to a more sustainable future. Our hope is that everyone will make more conscious and informed decisions about the food they consume. By supporting sustainable and environmentally conscious businesses like ours, we can all play a part in protecting and enhancing our natural environment for future generations.
