The Craigs at Rakautaua

William Craig first came to New Zealand in 1858 from his native Scotland, first farming in North Otago, eventually moving north in 1878. Now with five sons the family acquired farms in the Parapara’s “Te Hue”, Taumaranui “Eaglesham” and in 1891, “Rakautaua” 20 kilometres south of Wanganui near the mouth of the Whangaehu River.

To this day descendants of William Craig still farm all these properties, and in 2003 Rob & Sarah Craig became the 5th generation to own Rakautaua, with their three children – James, Jessica and Toby.

From a banking background Rob loves being back on the farm and all the challenges it brings. Farming is in the blood and there is nothing else we would rather be doing. We are proud to have the opportunity to be part of the Coastal Lamb family supplying quality lambs grazed on our family coastal pastures.

No surprises here that our favourite night is Sunday night – lamb roast!

Rakautaua Farm Trust

Trading as RBO & SJ Craig Partnership

Rakautaua is a coastal property totalling some 360 hectares located around the mouth of the Whangaehu River. The farm is a mixture of fertile river flats to rolling sand country and dunes. We have a number of enterprises including lamb finishing, beef cattle, cereal and maize cropping, forestry and dairy grazing.

Running a 180 head commercial breeding cow herd we finish most of their offspring to sell to the local trade beef market. We also fatten up to 3000 lambs per year sourced from the local area, mostly over the winter period.

In recent years we have grown around 30 hectares of maize grain and silage, as well as summer grazing crops for lambs and cattle.

We have a simple farm policy of growing quality clover dominant pastures which are home to happy and well fed stock, maximising animal health and growth, and taking huge pride in always delivering a quality product to the market.