Cows to stay home
OPINION: Eleven cows from Auckland's Cornwall Park will no longer be exported to Mongolia to participate in a breeding programme.
Cornwall Park Farm manager Peter Maxwell says there has been a working farm operating at Cornwall Park since 1844.
"The farm is integral to the park and what makes it unique," Maxwell says.
"We're confident that having a working farm in the middle of a city is rare around the world," he says. "We haven't found many examples in our research so far - certainly not one as long standing as Cornwall Park Farm."
Maxwell says Farm Week will be an extension of the annual farm walks.
"We know by the numbers coming to our farm walks that there's a strong interest in the farm and how it works," he says. "Given we're a primary producing country - and rural life is the backbone of New Zealand - it is no surprise people are interested in the farm."
Cornwall Park chief executive Murray Reade says he is keen to contribute to creating greater understanding of the park's agricultural heritage and build opportunities in agricultural education.
"Cornwall Park Farm Week aims to strengthen our connection to agriculture via education and learning. Education has always been one of the core principles set out in the Trust Deed established by Sir John Logan Campbell – Cornwall Park’s founder," Reade says.
"We’re also keen to help people understand the pre-colonial history of agriculture in the park because the land now holds the archaeological remnants of the early farming practises of Māori as well, which shapes its lines and forms."
Cornwall Park Farm Week events include Moo-sic in the Park – where visitors get to enjoy spending time with cows listening to music chosen by them, Farm to Fibre – see how our wool is used, Meet the Machinery –kids can check out the farm hardware, a paddock farm quiz – Do Ewe No? a farm walk and more. At the same time the park is hosting its very own Pup Culture exhibition – an art exhibition with paintings created by the park’s very own farm dogs.
