Ngāi Tahu will become the new lessee of the largest farm, Molesworth Station.

The Molesworth Station farm covers an area of 180,000 hectares. The land, owned by the Crown, extends from Marlborough to North Canterbury. Today, operational management of the site is carried out by Pāmu (formerly known as Landcorp), however, the company will cease its activities on the territory in April next year.

The Ngāi Tahu tribe was selected by the Department of Conservation following a review of five applications, including a proposal from the charitable trust of the former farm manager, Jim Ward. During the selection process, representatives of the high-country farming community expressed concerns regarding the control of bovine tuberculosis, as well as the management of invasive pine species, rabbits, and possums.

Ngāi Tahu executive director Ben Bateman stated that the iwi (tribe) takes its responsibility for the future lease seriously and views work at Molesworth Station as a privilege. According to Bateman, Ngāi Tahu Farming plans to use its agricultural expertise and commercial resources for the effective management of the station, as well as to guarantee the preservation of land resources.

The organization is also considering the possibility of expanding tourism activities on the farm, building on its experience in developing similar projects on the South Island, including glacier hiking and jet boating. The decision to launch new tourism initiatives will be made after discussions with the board of directors.

Currently, Ngāi Tahu Farming has been invited to submit an application for a concession — an official authorization to conduct commercial agriculture on conservation land. The process includes the preparation of a plan for pest and weed control, as well as the organization of public access to the territory. Once submitted, the documentation will be subject to public consultation, following which the Department of Conservation will make a final decision.