Greg Hart

type: #person
organisation / role: mangarara.co.nz farm / farmer
place: #nz

About

Greg and Rachel Hart's 610-hectare Mangarara Station, also known as "The Family Farm," is a pioneering model of regenerative agriculture in Hawke's Bay, New Zealand. Established with a vision of sustainable land management, the 610-hectare farm incorporates a diverse range of practices, including integrating livestock such as sheep, beef cattle, pigs, and chickens alongside tree planting for fruit and nuts. The farm's aim is to create a regenerative food system that positively impacts the environment and the community​.

One of their standout achievements was collaborating with Air New Zealand’s Environmental Trust in 2007, leading to the planting of over 85,000 trees over three years. This initiative transformed degraded hillsides into a vibrant ecosystem while fostering public access and education. They also launched a lakeside eco-lodge, built from repurposed materials, which hosts guests for retreats and educational programs.

The Harts continue to advocate for holistic farming by running educational workshops, and contributing surplus food to local charities. Their efforts have made Mangarara Station a beacon of how farming can restore ecosystems and sequester carbon.​

Videos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scRgGbjqoi0

News

Feb 14, 2025 - We are about to start direct marketing Mangarara Beef and Lamb again after a year off when the abattoir that was processing our stock stopped toll processing about this time last year. We have been in constant contact with Logan Wait who has just had a mobile abattoir signed off with MPI (earthfirst.org.nz) and we are expecting to process stock on farm in a weeks time and then we have to develop our farm shop and build our farm community of 'careholders' up again.