Our Team
With over 150 years of study and 150 years of experience between us, we are confident that we have the experience and know-how to give you the expert advice you need to optimise the productivity and profitability of your farm.
Kelvin Mansfield
Manager
It’s safe to say Kelvin has a solid grounding in North Otago’s pastures, farm, merchandise, and the grain and seed industry.
Starting out his working life on the shop floor of Farmlands back in 1993, Kelvin quickly moved up the company career ladder. From a technical field role in Central Otago to a manager of Farmland’s Alexandra branch, Kelvin was still keen to step it up. So he took on the Otago Regional role for CRT for five years before returning to a branch manager role in Kurow and eventually with us here in Oamaru.
Focussed on managing an independent company and team, Kelvin’s number one goal today is to add value to our clients.
Gerard Dawson
Assistant Manager
Part of North Otago Pastoral Services since its formation back in 1991, Gerard manages the day-to-day running of our store.
He also takes care of all our merchandise orders and administers our grain contracts. With an extensive career in the agricultural industry, Gerard has worked in various grain and seed roles since 1976 for companies including North Otago Farmers’ Co-operative, Hodder and Tolley Ltd, and Elders Pastoral Ltd where he met and worked with Barry Compton, the co-founder of North Otago Pastoral Services.
Matthew Paton
Senior Agronomist
Key Account Manager
Part of the team since 2007, Matthew started out as one of our shop assistants before he became an agronomist in 2011.
Now specialising in all aspects of forage agronomy, Matthew goes out on farm visits to identify issues in pasture, forage and crop systems for our clients.
He then advises them on the best holistic solutions and responses, and helps source and implement these so they can get a higher return from their land.
Nick Walters
Agronomist
Having worked as a technical field rep within the arable sector since 2002, Nick partners with a broad range of our dairy, sheep and beef clients.
Specialising in arable production crops, including brassica, cereal, ryegrass and other small seed production, the pastural knowledge Nick has gained over the years is invaluable to our clients. Working for the likes of Germinal Seeds, PGG and PGW in both the North and South Islands, Nick brings an in-depth, well-rounded view of New Zealand agriculture to his role here at North Otago Pastoral Services.
Craig Direen
Agronomist
Craig has been working in the agricultural industry since graduating from Lincoln University in 1995.
This has included working on stock and arable farms in New Zealand, Australia and the United Kingdom, as well as sales roles in veterinary and machinery industries. However, Craig has been largely focused on Agronomy since 2004. This experience allows Craig to assist farmers to develop and refine their farming management in order to improve efficiency and production. Because of this, he has become an integral part of the operation of many long-term clients within North Otago.
Craig Welch
Store Manager
Retail Assistant
A former dairy worker, Craig joined North Otago Pastoral Services in 2013 and he’s been helping our customers with their farm supplies ever since.
In charge of receiving stock from our suppliers and making up customer orders, Craig has a thorough understanding of current and emerging agricultural products, and he uses this knowledge base to help our customers choose the best product for their situation.
Harry Gibson
Seed Mixer
Working in our onsite seed and grain mixing and treatment plant.
Harry is responsible for every stage of the seed-mixing process.
He also carries out poncho and gaucho seed treatments for our clients and helps out wherever else he’s needed.
Harry arrived in New Zealand from Scotland in 1994. He come from a crofting family background. He has been involved with farming all his life and was also involved in some breakthrough farming technique’s that are now common practice. Harry moved to North Otago in 2003 to manage farms at Kakanui until a slight change of direction in 2011 seen him driving a fertilizer spreader out of Kurow. Harry likes to think that through his work ethics he has earned the respect of those he has worked for and with. In the past he has been involved with a local Rural Fire Brigade and the local Search and Rescue. Harry was also honoured to have been made a life member of the Kakanui Offshore Fishing Club.
Paul Borrie
Seed Mixer
Working in our onsite seed and grain mixing and treatment plant.
Paul is responsible for every stage of the seed-mixing process.
He also carries out poncho and gaucho seed treatments for our clients and helps out wherever else he’s needed.
Paul was born and bred in North Otago. He has spent most of his life in the North
Otago area, being closely associated with the agricultural sector. After
completing a B.Com Ag at Lincoln University, he worked in a number of different roles before leasing an irrigated sheep and beef property with his wife and two daughters. In recent times Paul has worked on a large scale dairy support operation where he was primarily responsible for pasture and crop establishment for the dairy and dry stock units as well as harvesting of supplements.
Campbell Harvie
Agronomist
Originating from Scotland, Campbell grew up on an arable farm and soon developed a strong interest in crop science and how different variables affect crop performance.
Campbell left home after graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) with honours in Agriculture to follow the summers and to farm around the world. After completing a harvest season in Canada, Campbell came to New Zealand in October 2019 and soon became settled working for an agriculture contractor until joining us July 2021.
Judith Yates
Sales
Judith comes to North Otago Pastoral with experience in a large range of rural products having worked with farmers in the North Otago area for the last 21 years.
With her knowledge and experience in the North Otago region, Judith will be an asset to North Otago Pastoral
Andrew Harding
Agronomist
Andrew has been involved in the agricultural industry since leaving school, including mustering on some of the largest stations in both the North and South Island.
Andrew spent 15 years developing farm systems for farming companies that acquired smaller farms, needing them to be developed into larger dryland and irrigated units.
Three years ago Andrew decided to take a job with Farmlands as a TFO out of both Kurow and Oamaru helping farms with their dryland systems.
Andrew has great interest and experience in developing dryland farming systems.
Sandy Jamieson
Administration Manager
Sandy helps take care of all the paperwork and relationship management that comes with an administrative role.
With a long history working in heavy machinery sales and service, Sandy joined us at the start of 2017 and the one thing she was immediately amazed by was the rapport the whole team has with each customer.
Maddie Dearlove
Office Manager
After a stint at Lincoln University and gaining a Diploma in Agriculture, Maddie worked in various roles before joining North Otago Pastoral Services in December 2018.
Maddie has since been learning the ins and outs of the store as well as taking on the roll of Administrator in 2020.
Born and bred on a sheep and beef farm as well as doing various stints on dairy farms Maddie is no new comer to Agriculture.