Job Details

Category: Sheep and Beef
Location: Taihape

Rural Directions

Shepherd | Mangaohane Station

• Located 50 minutes north-east of Taihape, with river and hill country on your doorstep.

• Fully supported role with accommodation, meals, and leadership opportunities.

• Develop large-scale mustering and stock handling skills on a 4,840ha station.

WHERE
Rimanui Farms Limited is a large-scale farming business operating sheep and beef cattle farms across the North Island and dairy farms in Canterbury. The business includes some of New Zealand’s most iconic farms.

Mangaohane Station is one of the three Rimanui Farms in the Central North Island, located between the Rangitikei River and the Ruahine Forest Park. Based approximately 50 minutes north-east of Taihape on the Taihape-Napier Road.

The property spans 4,840 ha, made up of 1,791 ha of flats to rolling hills, 1,175 ha of easy hill country, and 662 ha of steeper terrain. This diverse mix has consistently carried over 40,000 stock units in recent winters, with a sheep-to-cattle ratio of around 66:34. The farming operation is based on 19,000 Romney ewes and 1,200 Angus cows.

 

WHAT
Due to the Senior Shepherd obtaining a Head Shepherd position, Mangaohane Station is now seeking a Shepherd with 2–3 years of farming experience, ideally including time spent on hill country. This is a great opportunity to further develop your skills on a large-scale breeding and finishing station.

You’ll be joining a team of six shepherds, so teamwork is key. Alongside your day-to-day responsibilities, you’ll help support and mentor junior shepherds, particularly in mustering and dog handling. As a more experienced shepherd, your primary focus will be stock work.

You’ll need a capable team of 4–6 working dogs for mustering large mobs of sheep and cattle, as well as for yard work. Stock work is carried out using both bikes and horses. During the winter, you’ll also have the opportunity to break in your own horse.

To read more about the position and farm layout please visit – https://bit.ly/4n12QmK

 

WHO
Our client is looking for a Shepherd with excellent dog-handling skills, a safe and practical approach to stock work, and the ability to work effectively within a team. The below are also key to success in this role:

• A safe operating mindset
• Good understanding of mustering and stock handling.
• Well controlled team of 4-6 working dogs.
• Experience on hill country preferred.
• Be able to communicate and work in a team.
• Have good attention to detail.
• Strong work ethic.

WHY

• Great support systems in place with manager and head shepherd who are willing to pass on knowledge and up-skill their employees.
• Provides the opportunity to gain further responsibility.
• Opportunity to work within an inclusive farming environment, where there is the chance to further your skills and progress your knowledge.
• The farming business provides an excellent work culture and values their people.
• Opportunity to work on a large-scale breeding & finishing operation, that has excellent infrastructure established.
• It will give you large scale mustering opportunities, enabling you to fine tune your dog skills.
• Some ownership with your tasks.
• Opportunity to break in your own horse.
• The Station bounds the Rangitikei River; there are plenty of opportunities for outdoor recreation with hunting and fishing on the doorstep. The station is 1 hour 30 minutes from the ski fields.
• This is a fully found position with accommodation in the single quarters. The cookhouse provides 3 meals daily.

TO APPLY PLEASE VISIT OUR WEBSITE – WWW.RURALDIRECTIONS.CO.NZ/JOBS

Applications close Sunday 28th September 2025

Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

Date Posted: 2025-09-11