Waikato

Rotomate operates across approximately 1,150 hectares, including both owned land and lease blocks, with around 900 hectares of effective grazing area. 

The farm is typical North Island hill country, with around 35–40 percent cultivatable land used to support cropping and finishing systems. 

The system includes around 2,000 Romney-type breeding ewes, with 600–700 replacements retained annually and lambing ranging from approximately 120–140%. Alongside this, approximately 600 Friesian bulls are finished from weaners through to around 550kg liveweight, and the cattle system includes around 150 breeding cows, with additional young stock integrated into the system and all progeny finished on-farm. 

Farm Story: 

Rotomate has a long history of development, beginning as a run-down property purchased during the 1940s and progressively improved over multiple generations. 

Mat and Kim farm with a strong focus on continuing that legacy—building on decades of investment in fencing, planting and land development. Earlier generations were proactive in fencing waterways and retiring native bush, setting the foundation for today’s environmental approach. 

Since taking full ownership in 2019, they have continued to evolve the system to balance productivity with long-term sustainability and resilience. Kim is the fourth generation of her family to live and farm on the property. The farm has been in the Tatham family since 1941. Mat grew up on a sheep and beef farm near Lake Taupō, while Kim was raised on Rotomate. Together, they have been farming the property since 2012. 

They live on-farm with their two children and operate a mixed on- and off-farm business, with Kim also running a local dental practice. In addition, they run a small on farm tourism business, offering team building session with luxury accommodation and food in the farm homestead.