Head Shepherd

7 days ago

Tikitiki Gisborne, New Zealand Pāmu Farms of New Zealand Full time NZ$60,000 - NZ$90,000 per year
  • Competitive salary
  • Health and life insurance
  • Three-bedroom home

Join a team that values growth, collaboration, and care for the land

THE OPPORTUNITY
We're looking for a skilled and motivated Head Shepherd to be part of a supportive and collaborate team on Panekiri Station. This is a key leadership role where you'll have the chance to apply your experience on a high-performing, people-focused farm that values teamwork, wellbeing, and care for the land.

Reporting to the Farm Manager, you'll be responsible for the day-to-day coordination of stock work, including planning and overseeing mustering, animal health treatments, and feeding. You'll work closely with other shepherds and staff, providing support, guidance, and hands-on leadership to ensure operations run safely and efficiently.

This role offers genuine variety - from working with sheep and cattle to being involved in breeding programmes, data collection, pasture management, and environmental care. You'll contribute to both the strategic and practical side of farming, helping to drive performance across all livestock while maintaining high standards of animal welfare and farm sustainability.

As Head Shepherd, you'll also be expected to take initiative, communicate clearly, and help foster a positive and collaborative team culture. With the support of an experienced Farm Manager and access to professional development opportunities, this is a great step forward for someone ready to take the lead on a dynamic and progressive property.

We're committed to supporting your growth- whether that's through developing your leadership skills, advancing your stock management expertise, or learning new technologies that make the job safer and more efficient.

THE FARM
Panekiri is one of Pāmu's largest farming operations, positioned next to Te Urewera National Park, just 40 kilometres northwest of Wairoa.

The station spans 8,982 hectares, including 5,200 hectares of effective rolling hill country, wintering 50,000 stock units.

Panekiri offers a fantastic lifestyle for individuals or families who value connection to nature, a strong community, and space to thrive.

About You
You're passionate about farming and animals, and you enjoy being part of a close-knit team that works together, supports one another, and takes pride in great results.

You Will

  • Enjoy working with animals and take their welfare seriously
  • Ideally, you'll have 3–6 working dogs, but if you're developing your team and have the right experience and attitude, we'd love to hear from you
  • Be organised, reliable, and self-motivated in your daily tasks
  • Communicate clearly and work well as part of a team
  • Be comfortable keeping accurate records and using farm technology (or keen to learn)
  • Take a proactive approach to health, safety, and looking after farm assets
  • Have a valid restricted or full driver licence

Benefits
We offer a competitive salary package, with wellbeing and family-friendly benefits such as enhanced parental leave, health and life insurance benefits, and up to 4% KiwiSaver matching. You'll also receive an extra day of leave over Christmas, plus ongoing training and development.

A three-bedroom home is provided.

APPLY NOW
Applications close
Sunday 23 November 2025
, and we will be interviewing candidates as we go.

If you've got any questions, please email Jordan Smith – Farm Manager:

To be eligible for this role, you must be available for an in-person interview and have unrestricted legal rights to work in New Zealand. We are unable to accept applicants on temporary work visas for permanent opportunities.
Pāmu provides a safe workplace and the successful applicant will be required to pass a drug and alcohol test and undergo a criminal background check prior to being appointed.

Our values are core to who we are at Pāmu and the way that we all work together. We are Grounded, Genuine, Bold, and Shoulder-to-Shoulder. To read more, click on this link to see them on our website. To see what it's like to work in our Dairy team, click on this link to see A Day In The Life of a Dairy Assistant at Pāmu, or to learn about what our Livestock team is all about, click on this link to see A Day In The Life of a Shepherd at Pāmu.

Pāmu is the brand name for Landcorp Farming Limited, and successful applicants will be employed by Landcorp Farming Limited.

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