Job Details

Category: Sheep and Beef
Location: Gisborne

Rural Directions

Experienced Shepherd | Highland Station Partnership

Your Role
This role offers an opportunity for an experienced shepherd with 2+ years’ experience to work closely with the owners across all aspects of a 1,000ha hill-country farming operation. 

You’ll be involved in mustering by bike and horseback, require 4–6 working dogs, stock movements and rotations, weighing, condition scoring and ensuring stock meet target weights.

The ideal person will be self-motivated, practical and willing to use their initiative, with a positive attitude and take pride in their work. Strong communication and the ability to work well within a small family team are important.

There is genuine opportunity to develop your skills, take on increasing responsibility and become a trusted pair of eyes across the property, with support for both on-farm experience and off-farm training.

What You’ll Bring:

• Strong level of stockmanship and confidence working with sheep on hill country. Can confidently ride a horse.
• Around two years’ farming experience, with the ability to work confidently with 4-6 capable working dogs.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work well within a small family team.
• Ability to complete general farm maintenance tasks, including fencing and water repairs.
• Strong attention to detail, good organisation and pride in completing work to a high standard.
• A positive attitude, strong work ethic and willingness to learn and develop new skills.
• Ability to use initiative, think for yourself and take ownership of tasks.
• Comfortable working autonomously while also taking direction and working alongside the owners.
• Keen to progress their career and take on increasing responsibility.

To read more about the position and farm layout please visit – https://bit.ly/4hc1i7G

What’s on Offer

• Strong support from the owners, with a genuine willingness to share knowledge, provide guidance and help develop your skills.
• Genuine opportunity to progress your career, take on increasing responsibility and grow into a key part of the farming team.
• Good level of mustering, stock work and horse work, providing the opportunity to further develop your practical farming skills.
• Opportunity to be involved across all aspects of the farming operation and gain broad, hands-on experience.
• Support for relevant off-farm training and ongoing professional development.
• Positive, close-knit working environment where initiative, reliability and taking ownership are valued.
• Opportunity to become a trusted extra pair of eyes across the property and step up when the owners are away.
• Accommodation is a recently updated three-bedroom home with garage, deck and four holding paddocks for a horse or additional stock.
• Strong rural communities nearby, with sporting, dog trial and school facilities. Deer hunting is available on-farm, subject to the farm’s hunting policy. Pig dogs are not preferred.

About Highland Station
Highland Station is a family-owned 1,000ha property located around 70km from Gisborne, within the rural communities of Rere, Ngatapa and Matawai, and backing onto Te Urewera National Park.

The station comprises medium to steep hill country and carries approximately 6,500 stock units, operating a closed breeding and finishing system, with only stud stock purchased. Its summer-safe conditions support a seasonal system, allowing the majority of stock to be finished on-farm.

The property has benefited from significant infrastructure investment, including a central laneway, well-established stock handling facilities and covered sheep yards, providing a strong foundation for efficient day-to-day operations.

Head to www.ruraldirections.co.nz/jobs .

Applications close Sunday 11th October 2026.

Nominate a Mate and you could receive a $150 voucher if they’re successfully placed!

https://www.ruraldirections.co.nz/nominate-a-mate

Only job seekers who have NZ working rights will be eligible for this role.

Date Posted: 2026-09-21