Ngāi Tahu to take pest management, commercial farming seriously at Molesworth Station

Ngāi Tahu says it will take pest management and commercial farming very seriously when it anticipates taking over the lease of the country's largest farm next year.

It is also considering extending the high country farm's tourism ventures.

Molesworth Station, is a 180-thousand hectare Crown-owned property that spans from Marlborough to North Canterbury, and is currently run by Pāmu or Landcorp. The farm has the country's largest herd of cattle, and a public road runs through parts of it.

Pāmu will stop running the farm next April and the South Island iwi has been selected through the Department of Conservation as the next preferred operator of the farm.

There were five applicants including a charitable trust proposal by ex-Molesworth manager, Jim Ward, who has been concerned about the future management - especially surrounding pest control.

However the chief executive of Ngāi Tahu, Ben Bateman says the iconic station will be in safe hands.

'No one should have any concerns around our intentions around looking after the whenua, around our strong commercial balance sheet and our commitment to doing what's best for the South Island.'

Bateman says the iwi is taking the potential lease of Molesworth seriously and describes it as a privilege.

He says Ngāi Tahu Farming is proud of its farming track record and will bring a lot of commercial heft and experience to Molesworth station.

High country farmers raised questions about how bovine Tuberculosis will be monitored and prevented, as well as the management of invasive Wilding pines along with rabbits and possums.

Bateman says there's no need for anyone to worry about the station's future management..

'It is a place of deep significance to us and we were keen to put our bid in.'

He says says Ngai Tahu is experienced in running South Island tourism ventures - such as Jet Boating and Glacier guiding - and may open more tourist opportunities on Molesworth station after discussions with its board.

The new agreement is not yet finalised. As the preferred operator, Ngāi Tahu Farming has been invited to apply for a concession - that's the formal permit required to carry out commercial farming on conservation land.

As part of the process, details will be laid out on how public access, and weed and pest control, will be maintained or improved at Molesworth.

The application will then be publicly notified, allowing people to make submissions before a final decision from the Department of Conservation.