Andy Barker says he is breaking even at less than half the cost of an average farmer.
Ōtorohanga dairy farmer Andy Barker believes the district council he is joining could do better. Photos: Chris Gardner
Barker’s farm, nearly eight kilometres north of Ōtorohanga, is breaking even at $4.20 a kilogram – $4.48 less than DairyNZ’s predicted average of $8.68 against a payout of $10.21.
“We do everything in house,” the incoming Ōtorohanga district councillor said. “I believe in value for money. We generally don’t buy feed in, but in the drought, we bought a little bit of palm kernel in.”
He prides himself on his analytical approach.
Barker, who will be elected unposed to Ōtorohanga District Council’s Kio Kio – Korakonui Ward seat on October 11, plans to bring the same level of scrutiny to council finances when he takes his seat around the council table.
“I don’t think the council is performing properly, I think it can perform a hell of a lot better,” he said.
“I believe in efficiency. If one person can do what three people do, I would go with one.”
Ōtorohanga dairy farmer Andy Barker
Barker stood for election after complaining about a council decision he disagreed with, although he would not be drawn on the details of that decision.
“Two or three people came to me and asked if I would be interested in standing, so I thought about it for two or three months,” he said.
He was surprised and disappointed at the lack of competition.
“I think apathy is a real problem in New Zealand, people are not interested in their community anymore,” he said.
“It’s all very well sitting here, but until you get in and see the inner workings you can’t push for change. We will see how it goes.”
Barkers, born in Beattie Home and Hospital in Ōtorohanga, was raised on the family farm at Maihiihi.
“My mother’s family came here in 1850, my father’s in 1851. I’m tangata whenua,” he said.
He attended Korakonui School, Waikeria, Southwell School in Hamilton for intermediate education and St Paul’s Collegiate School in Hamilton for high school.
Barker began farming on his 370-hectare Ouruwhero Road farm about 35 years ago and quickly converted it to dairy. His 950-cow jersey cross herd produces about 300,000kg of milk solids a year on 300 effective hectares. He also runs a 150-hectare dairy grazing block at Waitomo.
“We try and keep all business internal,” he said.
He lives in a house transported onto the farm from afar with his accountant partner Lea de Rooy and is the father of three adult children who had flown the nest.
Rachel is a computer-generated image rendered for visual effects company Wētā FX in Wellington, Emma is a brand marketing manager for Fonterra and Jimmy is a Canterbury based arborist.
Barker is fiercely parochial about the King Country – in his mind it’s distinct from the Waikato region. He is not keen on the idea of Ōtorohanga amalgamating with other councils.
“I have got friends in Auckland, and they say Auckland’s amalgamation has not worked well,” he said.
When not farming Barker collects and restores vintage motorbikes.
He also enjoys hunting.
“We don’t realise how good we have got it here,” he said.
“It’s one of the best countries in the world to raise a family. There’s opportunity here. It’s a great place to live.”
Ōtorohanga dairy farmer Andy Barker believes the district council he is joining could do better. Photos: Chris Gardner
