Our Story

Fred is the 5th generation of the Gane family to farm the family property "Park Farm". Kaituna Ridges was added to the business in 2021.

Samuel Gane departed England on the 24th of May 1866 as a 15 year old boy. 3 months later he arrived in Nelson, but he didn't stay long, opting to head east to Blenheim where he and his brother James started a Blacksmith. A few years prior to Samuels' arrival, his eldest brother Francis took on a lease of 150acres on the Wairau Plains northwest of Blenheim in 1863. Samuel took over the lease in 1875 and purchased the property in 1880. Park Farm is the name of the family property we still run today in conjunction with Kaituna Ridges. It now covers 220acres mostly growing Sauvignon Blanc, with some small areas of Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris.

Meanwhile Samuel decided that farming was something he wanted to pursue and purchased the property he and his brother had been leasing in 1870. He named it "Park Farm" after the Park Farm estate his father managed back in England.

Picture: Samuel with his wife Mary-Louisa (front middle) third great-grandparents of Jonty, Katie, Frankie and Poppy. Percy Gane (back right), Samuels son eventually succeeded his father on Park Farm

Born in 1888, Percy and his wife Eve took on Park Farm in 1921. Percy won many awards for his Clydesdales at the local Agricultural and Pastoral shows. He and Eve farmed through the depression of the late 20's, farming a small dairy herd alongside the cropping operation. Percy also ran around 200 head of sheep that he would buy in annually, selling the ewes and the lambs at the end of the season. Three children were born to Percy and Eve - Flora, Beryl and Norman.

Norm was a big strong man. Alongside his 'pocket rocket' wife Erline (who stood all of about 4 foot tall) Park Farm was extended another generation. Norm had a few better years of farming, notably including the "wool boom" of the 1950's. He was an early adopter of the Perendale sheep breed in the late 1950's which was obtained by crossing Cheviot rams to Romney ewes. The dairy herd was no longer, but sheep numbers did peak at 900 head under Norm, alongside the cropping rotation.

Under Murray and Vicky's management, the family property took on the most major changes yet. The Perendales were sold and over time cropping made way for a completely new crop - grapes. In 1987 the first vines were planted and although different varieties are still grown on Park Farm, Sauvignon Blanc eventually would dominate - as it does on almost all arable land in the wider Marlborough region today.

"Kaituna Ridges is the latest chapter, however there are many people involved in the Gane family story besides us. My brother Sam, sister Georgie and their families. Our cousins, neighbours, friends - spread all over the globe. It is our pleasure to carry on the legacy at Park Farm for everyone that has gone before us and continue writing chapters in this farming families' book. Kaituna Ridges adds high quality food and fiber that matches the fruit already produced. We are merely custodians and excited to teach the next generation the gift of living from the land"

-Fred

Kaituna Ridges is 2000 acres running from sea level to 2713ft. Nestled against the Pelorus Sound and Havelock township, this farm has an important place in the local community. Sheep, including a Romney and Suffolk/Suftex stud, cattle and tourism are the main enterprises on-farm.