Maria Puig and Mauricio Castellano of Maulen Partnership & Northland College Farm 

2025 Northland Finalists: Maria Puig and Mauricio Castellano of Maulen Partnership & Northland College Farm – Dairy

Maria Puig and Mauricio Castellano traded their office jobs in Uruguay for a Northland farming life – striking an impressive balance between business, education and lifestyle. 

They started contract milking at the 486ha property in 2023, grazing stock across the 176ha effective area. The farm is more than just a business – it’s also a hands-on learning environment for Northland College students, inspiring the next generation of farmers and returning profits to the school. 

Maria and Mauricio’s sustainability journey has included transitioning to a self-contained, once-a-day milking system – underpinned by a comprehensive animal health plan. While this initially put downward pressure on production, their strong focus on optimising production is boosting it back to original levels. 

Stock is now excluded from all waterways and the couple teaches sustainable farming practises to students. This includes a collaborative riparian planting project where students learn about climate resilience and how native planting boosts water quality.  

The couple has made significant strides in improving herd health and efficiency, plus actively mitigate the impact of climate change through genetics and tailored cropping. Regular soil testing guides fertiliser application, and various pest and weed control efforts are underway. 

The judges were impressed by the couple’s exemplary practices across all aspects of farming – in particular, animal care, biosecurity, business planning, pasture management, and health and safety.  

They also praised the stewardship of a 260ha forestry block that now features native plantings and naturally regenerating areas – helping to create an essential ecological corridor.  
 
Maria and Mauricio have a strong focus on continuous improvement and training, plus also maintain a healthy work-life balance by regularly stepping away from the farm.  

As well as being a farming business, Maulen Partnership & Northland College Farm is a platform for inspiring the next generation to take on the challenges of sustainable agriculture.