Feature photo – Mark Anderson on his farm in Southland, New Zealand | photo by Camilla Rutherford
Arriving in the North Island
We arrived in Auckland early on a Monday morning, ready for the days ahead. With a hire car packed, we headed south to Cambridge to meet fellow Holistic Management educator, Hugh Jellie. Surrounded by horse farms and the global dairy hub of Fonterra, Cambridge reflected how central dairying is to New Zealand’s economy.
As we travelled through the North Island, our conversations focuses on the impact of dairying and the pine plantations scattered across the landscape. Driving the Desert Road to Wellington brought home a clear lesson: how land is managed determines whether it moves towards abundance or decline.
Crossing Cook Strait
A rare calm crossing of the Cook Strait gave us time to reflect before heavy rains set in. On the South Island, waterlogged soils and fragile hillsides told a story of pressure on the land. We also passed bare paddocks and failed winter crops—signs of systems under strain. Yet, the landscape still held great potential.
Near the southern tip of the island, hope came into view. On Mark Anderson’s farm in Southland, the land was healthy and productive. Soil was covered, livestock radiated good health, and diverse winter crops grew strongly alongside hay bales being grazed directly in the paddocks. In contrast to the monoculture fodder beet we had seen elsewhere, here was a multi-species system that supported animals, insects, and birds alike.
Mark Anderson managing cattle grazing on his Southland farm | photo by Camilla Rutherford
The difference was management. Mark avoids overgrazing and ensures long recovery periods before livestock return. A practitioner of Holistic Planned Grazing, he showed us how timing and careful decisions keep his pastures in balance.
This journey through Aotearoa highlighted what becomes possible when land health is prioritised. Across New Zealand, as in Australia, many farmers are working to regenerate their soils while staying economically viable. One challenge remains: bridging the gap between farmers and eaters. Too often, cheap, highly processed food replaces whole, nourishing food, to the detriment of both people and landscapes.
Looking Ahead
What is the solution? Perhaps it begins with a simple act of raising our awareness. Next time you sit down to eat, ask: Where did this food come from? Is it supporting both my health and the health of the land?
When farmers and communities come together around these questions, the result is more than farming—it’s the basis of a balanced future.
