Jim Ward, the former general manager of Molesworth Station, has lost his bid to run New Zealand’s largest high-country station, with the Department of Conservation naming the preferred operator as Ngāi Tahu Farming.

Ward spent 24 years managing the station and put the last 12 months into building the trust bid.

“We knew more about running the property than anybody else,” he says.

Federated Farmers backed the process, citing Ngāi Tahu’s strong balance sheet. Ward dismisses the argument.

“They’re just words on paper.”

He says public access will not lessen under new management, and it does not cost the farming operation a cent.

“You can farm around the public.”

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