Now is a group of NZ farming and agribusiness people is saying enough is enough.
They are getting together and bidding to buy an iconic central North Island station to stop it being planted in permanent exotic forest.
Mangaohane Station, nearly 5,000ha just off the Napier-Taihape Road in central North Island, is for sale by international tended through real estate Bayleys.
Bids close on December 7 and its scale, location and clear, easy contour is expected to draw strong overseas interest, particularly from companies seeking to find a source of carbon credits to offset their own fossil fuel emissions.
Forever Farming NZ plant to buy the station by raising the estimated $45m. They intend to keep Mangaohane in Kiwi hands and farming livestock.