The people behind KMR: Tim Short and Kirsty Laws – Kuwara Farm

Tim Short and Kirsty Laws are staying true to their desire of having minimal sediment and nutrient run-off into the Kaipara Moana – and no stock wandering into the mangroves.

And thanks to their partnership with Kaipara Moana Remediation, the couple say they are very proud to be a small part of the huge achievement to date with what looked like an impossible task a few years ago.

In partnership with KMR they have undertaken four projects in recent years to protect significant wetlands, remnant native bush and waterway margins. So far, this has involved 3.7km of new fencing, and planting 2156 natives within .37-hectares.

“We would never have got this done without KMR’s financial support. They have been very easy to work with, coming up with practical and achievable contracts that meet everyone’s objectives,” say Tim and Kirsty.

They say working with KMR has helped them develop respect and a clear vision for the Kaipara and what it should be by working together to get things done without niggling about the little issues that are not perfect.

“We would encourage people not already working with KMR to just get on with it and get your coastline, streams and wetlands all fenced and planted because the results are wonderful,” they say.

Tim and Kirsty are owners of a traditional 400-hectare sheep and beef farm at Tāpora where with the help and guidance of farm manager Brad Douglas the property is home to 1300 Romdale breeding ewes and 150 (mainly Hereford) breeding cows.

Since buying the property nine years ago they have invested heavily in caring for the land and the environment.

“We have fenced a total of 10km – about half of that with Kaipara Moana – and planted over 80,000 trees. These were initially provided by the Te Uri O Hau nursery and we have done a recent planting of ~4000 trees along the margins of a wetland sitting below a DOC scenic reserve.

“Over half the trees have been grown by Kirsty from local seed in our small nursery. We are lucky to have a very capable and hard-working farm manager Brad Douglas, who is also totally on board with this programme and has worked beyond the call of duty to put most of the posts in the ground.

The waterways are the meandering estuaries and mangroves of the inner Kaipara Harbour. They looked terrible before planting began, with clay run-off smothering the mangroves on the land margins and cloudy water with few shellfish and crabs.

“Apart from a significant moment after Cyclone Hale, the water clarity has improved hugely and there are many more crabs and shellfish. We are also starting to see more fish and birdlife on the inner Kaipara Harbour.”

Tim says the farm has extensive frontage onto the mangroves of the inner Kaipara. The coastal margins are mostly highly productive – class 3-4 – easy country but had almost no fences to keep stock out of the mangroves when they took on the farm.

“Including earlier work supported by Auckland Council we have fenced 10km of the riparian margins. We have also fenced a wetland that sits between a DOC Scenic Reserve and the estuary.”

Tim and Kirsty hope future generations will take pride in the most amazing harbour that really needed to be cleaned up to preserve its birdlife and fisheries.

Tim balances a career as an Anaesthetist and Kirsty as a GP alongside their farm commitments, aiming to spend three days a week on the land.

“We have family and friends to help with the planting in winter which can be fun as well as hard work.”

But it is all worthwhile they say and they plan to continue working with KMR for some time to come.

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