David & Di Chamberlin
South Ponui

Stewardship and sustainability define the farming approach at the historic South Ponui Island farm, with traditional agriculture today complemented by ambitious conservation strategies.

For nearly 50 years, fifth-generation farmer David Chamberlin has worked at the farm which has been in his family since 1853. Located 30km east of Auckland in the Hauraki Gulf, South Ponui Island features the Chamberlin’s 587ha (365h effective) sheep and beef farm, along with large tracts of native bush and beautiful beaches.

David and wife Di run 1,000 Romney ewes and 300 cattle across the southern farm, with the operation distinguished by its unique integration of biodiversity.
The farm’s environmental footprint is being reshaped through the fencing off of 222ha of bush and wetland – a native area that acts as a natural filter for the catchment. The sanctuary has become a haven for North Island brown kiwi which were introduced in 1964 and is regularly visited by research teams.

At the heart of the native regeneration is an on-site nursery that produces 8,000 native plants annually from locally sourced seeds, with 3,500 planted on the island every year. In a creative approach to land management, a resident population of donkeys is used to naturally control weeds.

The island features a Christian camp that has operated since 1931 and hosts 2,000 visitors annually. The community connection is being enhanced further through a new Tawapou Trail project that aims to inspire future environmental stewardship. Currently comprised of a growing network of walking tracks, the project also includes plans to build an education centre.

As succession planning begins, the farm stands as a testament to the family’s heritage and a tribute to David’s late first wife, Ros, who passed away in 2020. It’s a great demonstration that productive farming and deep ecological stewardship can coexist in the Hauraki Gulf.