Meet Cam, Minaret Station's Head Stockman
/30 June 2022
Not your typical New Zealand High-Country Station
Minaret Station, located at the northern end of Lake Wanaka, is not a typical New Zealand high-country station. Spanning 50,000 acres, this station remains one of New Zealand’s most remote properties and is accessible only by helicopter, fixed wing plane, or boat. The station is made up of six river valleys, some of which stretch to Mt. Aspiring National Park. Minaret Station is home to some 10,000 deer, 500 sheep and 1000 cattle, raised for supply to premium export and domestic markets.
Each day on Minaret Station is busy and ever-changing based upon seasonality. Being part of the Minaret Station family for over four years now, Minaret’s Head Stockman, Cameron Cox, initially found his passion for farming growing up in Taranaki where he would help his uncle on his sheep & beef farm during his high school years. Making the most of the surrounding mountains Cam would find any opportunity possible when not at school to test his hand at pig hunting and the likes, which has helped spur his passion and love for the outdoors, vast mountainscapes and farming.
From Cam’s point of view, no two days at Minaret Station are the same as he continues to help foster the sustainable farming practices established at Minaret Station. Life on Minaret Station is unique, and Cam shares some of the aspects that make managing this station unlike any other.
“My role is vast and diverse, focusing on all stock on the property from shifting to drenching and drafting the sheep, cattle and deer on the farm. Other days will see me out on a tractor helping with other jobs that always need to be done”.
One of the busiest times of the year is autumn when fawns (a young deer in its first year) are being weaned and the hinds (female deer) are being scanned. The winter months consist of managing stock levels and moving deer and cattle around the station to where their winter feed is. Spring brings new life and velvet season for the deer, which requires all hands-on deck to ensure the velveting process is completed in a safe and timely manner for the animal. Late in the spring/early summer the sheep are shorn to prevent overheating during those warm summer months. Stock are then moved into grazing all summer long, as the farm team take the opportunity and shift focuses to other demands of the farm.
The remote location of Minaret Station creates a unique farming environment, presenting its own challenges. As there is no road access to the station, a high level of complexity is added to day-to-day logistics when organising stock, staff and resource.
“The lake definitely makes Minaret Station different to a lot of other stations. We can’t just zip to town if we run out of milk so we always have to be on the ball, communicate and plan ahead”
While Minaret Station provides a strong testimony to the rugged nature of high-country living, the longer summer days shine light to the elements that makes this corner of the world and its unique heritage unlike any other place. The team is extremely tight-knit and love making the most of after-work activities such as jet boating, BBQing, hunting and fishing.
Guest’s staying at Minaret Station have the unique opportunity to gain a special glimpse into this unique high-country lifestyle themselves when experiencing our Minaret Station Highlights experience. Guests enjoying this experience begin their day with a stunning hike down the valley from the Alpine Lodge with their guide. They will then be picked up by helicopter and flown onto the 50,000-acre farm where they will enjoy a combination of private farm tour, lake fishing, gourmet lunch and the opportunity for further exploration on this private property.
Life off the farm
Cam certainly makes the most of his weekends off the farm catching up with friends and family in Wanaka. He loves getting out on Lake Wanaka fishing for trout, and when time allows, continuing his passion for hunting and exploring new country.
“Being based at Minaret Station allows me to fuel my hunger for hunting and having such a playground keeps me busy on the weekends! I love getting out stag & chamois hunting or out on Lake Wanaka on the jet boat. Even though we work hard during the week, we make the most of the playground we are lucky enough to live in after work and on the weekends”.
