Kyaria Warbrick (Ngāi Te Rangi) was the oldest of the grandchildren growing up on her grandparent’s Matakana Island dairy farm, “already helping out before I could even walk!”
Now she works as a shepherdess at Pukekauri Farm in Bay of Plenty and took some time out from a “a rough wet week!” to share her story with Verve.
“I just fell in love with the work, gaining experience with how to handle dry stock,” says the infectiously affable 18-year-old. “They’re quite different to your friendly dairy heifers! As well as helping my family in the milking shed, my grandad had his own mob of dry stock, and you bet I was in there drenching, weaning, tagging yearlings, and even castrating bulls.”
The experience inspired the youngster to enrol in agricultural courses during her final school years.
“While studying, I took a liking to beef and lamb farming as it challenged my abilities every day. Since then, I’ve never gone back to dairy farming.”
Pukekauri is a 300-hectare bull beef farm in Katikati, with an approximately 300-strong flock of ewes (“which all have to be lambed”) and “a mob of dairy grazers”. With the farm running along the back of the Kaimai Range, Kyaria says that there’s “plenty of steep hill country to keep us fit”. I ask about people’s general reaction to her role.
“When I tell them I’m a shepherdess, most people say, ‘Aww cool! So, you milk cows?’ It makes me laugh every time. I then explain to them that most of my days consist of walking in the hills, moving sheep and cattle, fencing, and even planting. What I love most about my job are the amazing places it can take you, from the mountaintop views to the wide-open country to getting hands-on dirty in the yards.”
Are there any aspects of the work you’re not so keen on?
“Not really. I like to give everything and anything a good try – you never know what could come up!”
Do you work with dogs too?
“Yes, we have five huntaways: two bitches, and three dogs. My two trusty boys, Blaze and Jock, accompany me most days to help round up the cattle and sheep – it’s just like having extra people, only faster! Our two pups, Jock and Rose, are now just over a year old and working really well out in the field.”
Kyaria says there have been numerous farmers and shepherds that have helped guide her, and two pieces of advice that stand out: “My boss reminds me every week that farming is like a game of chess, you have to think and plan out your moves. The second one is to have a try at everything that’s offered to you, no matter how it could look at the time, because you never know where paths could lead in the future.
“That’s also something I’d suggest to anyone looking to have a career in shepherding – as well as talking to people. Get your name out there, speak with farmers, ask to do relief work, because the next thing you know you could have a dream job!”
In June, the government announced that it was committing $473,261 to the Farming for the Future Leader’s Programme in order to “enable and empower women… to reach their farming leadership potential”.
Associate Agriculture Minister Meka Whaitiri says that the programme “aims to create more value, develop new practices and support our extremely capable rural women into the future” while ensuring “diversity in the primary sector leadership”.
Kyaria has been doing her bit to highlight the joys of working in the farming sector too with her regular Instagram posts.
“The main reason why I choose to share my journey on social media is because I just love my job so much. But also, for my friends and family and others who are considering a career in sheep and beef farming. The audience I really want my content to reach is those who don’t know or understand what it takes to end up with that piece of steak for dinner.”
Ever since signing up for social media, the shepherdess says she’s received feedback not just from those in the industry in Aotearoa New Zealand, but overseas as well. It has, she says, helped her develop new skills to take forward into her undoubtedly bright future, and I finish up by asking what she hopes that future holds.
“My dream is to shepherd down in the South Island,” she says. “With the open country, massive hilltop views, a good team of dogs, and potentially a horse. To live the country dream.”
