Goldpine
Kind Farm South
Second chances flow freely at Cardrona’s Kind Farm South – if you’re an animal, that is. A sanctuary for farm animals in need and a nursery for native plants, Kind Farm South does things a little differently. This farm proves that animal rescue doesn’t have to rely solely on charity. Instead, it operates as a self-sufficient model that benefits both the planet and its inhabitants. We sat down with Dale Courtenay, founder of the farm and Kind Farm Plant Nursery.
Dale moved to the South Island with her family from Leigh after her father’s passing nearly 10 years ago. “All my ties to the North were gone then, and my son lived in Cardrona, so I always came down here. I loved it. Eight years ago, the opportunity arose to move down,” she explained. Established in 2019 in Cardrona Valley, Kind Farm South was built by a dedicated team and proves that environmental and financial sustainability can go hand in hand. Unlike traditional animal sanctuaries that depend on donations and charity, Kind Farm South operates as a business with equal emphasis on financial viability and caring for the environment.
The farm houses a group of rescued animals, including 13 horses, mostly rehabilitated from starvation or abandonment, 27 hand-raised orphaned sheep, mini ponies and donkeys, a few goats, and a pair of pigs. Inspired by the success of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary in Utah, which grew from a small operation into a multi-state institution, Kind Farm South is built on the idea that you can help the animals and environment while also ensuring the farm’s future financial security. “They’re a bit luckier in the States, because they’ve got a population that can support large charities. I guess it’s a bit harder here in New Zealand, with less people and fewer donation streams. I didn’t want to cut off our nose to spite our face by not being a not-for-profit, but then I could see a lot of awesome charities were angling to get the same amounts of money that were available,” she said.
“I didn’t want to be asking for money and potentially not be able to support the animals. So, we’re not a not-for-profit. As much as we love the animals, we’re not unrealistic. This is a practical, business-oriented model,” Dale explained. “When people come here to buy native plants, they know that every dollar spent goes to the farm and the animals.”
One of the farm’s primary revenue streams is Kind Farm Plant Nursery, its native plant nursery. This operation serves three purposes: generating income, restoring the farm’s own land, and supporting wider ecological restoration efforts. Dale said the tough climate and terrain of Cardrona Valley was considered when the team decided what plants to grow and sell. “When we first moved down here, really naive green Northlanders, we planted thinking it was all going to grow like it would up north. We’ve made all our mistakes in those first few years. We now have a core group of plants that we know can survive hard winters. If these plants can grow here, they can grow anywhere. We focus on species that can withstand tough conditions and require minimal maintenance,” she said.
Popular native plant varieties that thrive in Otago’s tough climate include ribbonwoods, hebes, beeches, coprosmas, lancewoods, and griselinias. By selling resilient, climate-adapted plants, Kind Farm Plant Nursery attracts customers looking for sustainable, low-maintenance landscaping solutions. The nursery also aligns with a broader goal of increasing biodiversity and restoring bird populations to the area. “The more we can encourage people to plant native bush, the more we will bring birds back to the area. When I first came down here, it was so quiet. There was no birdsong. There’s starlings and thrushes, and we have one tūī that’s come to the farm, and we have a little family of pīwakawaka that come during the year, but other than that, it’s quiet and a bit sad,” Dale told us.
“We want to create an environment that brings the birds back.”
Dale said she and her team have built a good relationship with local farmers; the farmers know they can send their sick or injured animals to Kind Farm for a second chance. “We’ve positioned ourselves, not purposely, in the middle of some fairly massive production farms. The valley is all sheep and beef mostly, and some deer. I think we are an example of doing things differently. They might have thought we were a bit strange to begin with, but I think they all know and like us now they know we’re not too crazy,” Dale laughed.
“We don’t production farm, and we don’t kill animals for any reason apart from end of life that has to happen. We also don’t judge anybody else or their methods of farming. If we’ve changed perception, that’s good, but it’s not our intent. All we want to do is be an example of doing something a little bit differently.”
Instead of hiring full-time farmhands, Kind Farm South leverages a structured volunteer programme, in addition to having two farm workers who split the role. Volunteers stay for a couple of weeks, working from 9am to 1pm in exchange for meals and hands-on experience in sustainable farming. “It was an unexpected surprise for me, who loves animals and kept myself away from people. I found that it was really great to share this with others. It’s prioritising animal care, creating a place where the animals are safe, but also that people can come to and enjoy,” Dale said. Over time, Kind Farm South has built strong ties with the local community by hosting events – like horsemanship clinics with local and overseas clinicians, and the recent open day at the Kind Farm Plant Nursery. They also run ‘Behind the Scenes’ tours to give visitors the chance to see the work they do. “All the feedback from those people was so positive; they really love what we’re doing here. We’re really thankful for their support.”
Looking ahead, Kind Farm South aims to evolve into a full-fledged agritourism destination. Plans include a welcome centre, a café, and self-guided farm tours. By opening its doors to visitors, the farm can further diversify its revenue streams while educating the public on a different style of farming. The 200-acre sub-alpine farm has room for more, but current financial constraints mean they are limited in how many more animals they can take on. Dale hopes that with the growth of Kind Farm South, they will be able to help more creatures in need.
Kind Farm South is not just a sanctuary or a nursery - it is a proof of concept for a different kind of farming. “The priority here is the animals, but it’s also turned into something that people value. It’s important that we can set an example of what it’s like to care for animals, sentient beings – same as us. They think, feel, love, grieve; they’re happy and sad, just like us. We want to live our philosophy - of being kind to people, kind to animals, and kind to the planet.”
