80 years of on farm sales
The McKenzie family, at Maungahina, head into a historic year with their 80th annual on farm bull sale, the oldest in Australasia. Words Sarah Perriam-Lampp
Held in the same location as it was in 1946, the Maungahina Stud will host a special historic event to mark their 80th year of hosting an on-farm bull sale.
The sale moved from private treaty to auction after Bruce McKenzie’s father, Jim, decided the best way to stop the squabbling over the picking order was to make them bid for the bulls.
This was a turning point for the method of selling stud cattle not just for Maungahina but also there was a flow on effect of on-farm bull sales emerging across the country.
The Hereford, and recently Speckle Park stud, was founded in 1907 and this year will mark 119 years of breeding cattle for the family.
Mark, Bruce’s son, is proud that his daughter Molly, being sixth generation, is involved in the team at Maungahina.
“The stud is a massive family affair where we are all merely ‘a cog in the wheel’ of the stud’s history,” says Mark.
Mark recalls Maungahina record price for a Polled Hereford in New Zealand in 1984 when Kingston Santiago sold for $80,000 to the late Keith Hawkins of Australia, noting this was a significant amount of money at the time. Several prominent auctioneers auctioned at Maungahina sales including Pat Cooper, Bruce Orr and Neville Clark.
This year’s bull sale will be very special, especially for Bruce. At 83 years old, he will have attended 78 of the 80 sales. They plan to sell 40 two-year-old Hereford bulls and 16 two-year-old Speckle Park bulls as well as host a band for the after function.
For more information visit maungahina.co.nz. The 80th Maungahina bull sale – 1pm Thursday 4th June 2026.
