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Hannah Speakman

Stock Manager
Wairākei Deer Unit

A Practical Approach

Hannah Speakman works as the Stock Manager on the Pāmu Deer Unit. Growing up on Hawke's Bay farms gave her a strong practical background in the sector and a deep respect for the land. Her daily work involves looking after stock, getting the basics right, and supporting her farm team. This lifelong connection to farming shapes her approach to her job. 

Farming Roots

Hannah has a long history with Pāmu. She grew up on Pāmu farms in Hawke's Bay. Her dad, John Speakman, managed Te Apiti station and Edenham station for 16 years. Hannah initially joined the Deer Unit on a fixed-term contract and later took the opportunity to stay full time. 

Te Ao Māori 

Integrating te ao Māori is a natural fit for Hannah and guides how she operates on farm. A whakataukī that guides her approach is, "Toitū te whenua, whatungarongaro te tangata" (The land remains while people come and go). For Hannah, it is a reminder to look after the whenua for the next generation.

"For me, te ao Māori is about looking after the whenua, valuing the people around you and thinking about the future in regard to what you do day to day."

Life on the Deer Unit

The people and the animals are what get Hannah out of bed in the morning. She likes that no two days on farm are the same and she is enjoying the change from dairy farming to working with deer. 

Prior to this job, Hannah had never worked with deer. Her best moments so far have been in the deer shed. She has focused on building confidence in the shed and understanding how the animals behave. She finds the deer to be beautiful animals and quite different from any stock she has worked with before.

"Farming excellence is doing the basics really well, looking after your people, animals and whenua, and being open to learning and improving."

Working Shoulder-to-Shoulder

Of all the values at Pāmu, Hannah relates most to Shoulder-to-Shoulder. Because she spends some days on the Deer Unit alone, she appreciates being part of a team and working alongside others when she can. 

She credits her workmates, Katy and Chris, for their support while she has been finding her feet in the role. They have given her confidence that she is doing a good job and heading in the right direction. For Hannah, farming excellence also means taking pride in the work you do no matter the task. 

Looking Ahead

In five years, Hannah hopes to still be working on farm. She is also considering further study to see how that could fit into her farm work.

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