Waikato / Beef, Dairy grazing
Luke Campion
Hope Hill Farm
4 Feb 2026
A strategic shift from traditional drystock farming to a model that includes horticulture is transforming Hope Hill Farm into a robust, future-proofed agribusiness.
The farm is an equity partnership between Kevin Burke, Tony Shergold, and farm manager Luke Campion. Cattle are run across 225ha of the 272ha Waikato property, while 7.2ha was recently planted in kiwifruit.
Before the orchard was planted, the business had relied solely on dairy heifer grazing and beef trading. However, the directors pivoted to kiwifruit after quickly recognising the limitations of small-scale drystock farming.
The directors plan to expand the orchard to 12ha, using it to generate profits that enable reduced stocking rates and subsequently less pressure on soils across the rest of the farm.
A rigorous, analytical approach is behind the transition. The judges were impressed with how the team made an early investment in farm mapping and analysis which has since driven informed decision making.
Efficiency is central to their approach, with every infrastructure project executed with precision. This includes installing new water systems and lanes, along with the orchard’s advanced frost management and irrigation technology.
Sustainability is woven directly into the business model rather than being treated as an afterthought. By retiring steep land and restoring waterways with extensive native planting, the team has boosted the farm’s biodiversity while making the property easier to manage.
The judges praised the impressive environmental outcomes which have gone hand-in-hand with the development of the farm.
The team’s stewardship of the land goes further by honouring the property’s significant history. The farm was the site of a Māori parliament in the 1800s – a legacy the team intends to preserve through a planned memorial and educational access.
Through continuous improvement and a flexible, informed management style, Hope Hill is demonstrating how data-driven diversification and sustainable land use can be balanced in a profitable way.
