The New Zealand Century Farm and Station Awards aim to capture and preserve the history of our country’s farming families. Each month we will share stories from Farmlands shareholders who have worked their land for 100 years or more.
Irish Eyes on The Prize A big family and even bigger dreams for the man from Annascaul Nestled beside the Kaupokonui River in Manaia lies 52 hectares of land, farmed by four generations of one family for 108 years. Around 1880, Michael Landers travelled by boat from his birthplace of Annascaul, County Kerry in Ireland to New Zealand. He married Mary O’Sullivan in 1889 at St Mary’s Cathedral, Wellington. After their marriage, they travelled to Williamstown in Victoria, Australia where they worked and raised their first three children – Bridget, Mary and John Joseph. They returned to New Zealand around 1894 and settled in Manaia and had another three children – Laurence, Francis and Eileen. In 1911, Michael Landers purchased two blocks side-by-side between the Kaupokonui River, Lower Glenn Road and Main South Road in Manaia.
| Back: Patricia Margaret (Trish), Theresa Anne, Anthony Gerard (Tony), Dennis Patrick, Owen John. Front: Colleen Mary, John Patrick (Jack), Trevor Michael, Margaret Leonie, Roger Peter.
The farm transferred to their eldest son,
Trevor. Jack milked 180 Jersey cows and
John Joseph in 1946. John Joseph
walked every day to get the cows in.
farmed this land with his wife, Fanny
From the late 1980s their son, Anthony
and raised their seven children – Mary, Eileen, Kathleen, Josephine, Michael, John (Jack) and James (Jimmy). The farm was transferred to their son, John Patrick (Jack) Landers in 1965.
farmed with his father. Tony eventually went 50/50 sharemilking and after Jack’s death in 2008, then leased
Jack farmed this land in partnership with
the farm. After Margaret’s death in
his wife, Margaret Leonie and raised
2016, they continued to lease until
their eight children – Owen, Dennis,
today. Succession of all or part of the
Trish, Theresa, Tony, Roger, Colleen and
farm is currently being looked at.
| Back: Laurence Albert Patrick, John Joseph (Jack/JJ), Francis Michael. Middle: Bridget Johanna, Michael, Mary, Mary Eileen Maude Ellen. Front: Eileen Margaret.
60 | THE FARMLANDER
Gerard (Tony) came home and
| From left: Josephine Bridget (Josie), Mary Margaret, Kathleen Agnes (Kath), Eileen Frances, Frances Josephine (Fanny), John Joseph, Michael John, John Patrick (Jack), James Brian (Jimmy).
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