Like so many successful Lindisfarne Old Boys, Dave Martin pursued a career in farming when he left school. After studying at Lincoln and graduating with a Bachelor of Commerce and Agriculture majoring in Farm Management, Dave went to the USA to work on the grain harvest. When he returned to New Zealand, he managed several farms in Hawke’s Bay before returning to Wairoa to de-convert a dairy farm to beef and lamb finishing and then to irrigated cropping. Dave now runs the family farming business, based in Wairoa, which incorporates extensive hill country breeding and intensive finishing and cropping.

Dave acknowledges that farming has always been an attractive option for him, “I was born and bred on the farm and I enjoy the outdoors and the varied nature of the work that farming brings. As a farm business manager you have to develop a huge range of skills across a broad spectrum. From things like animal/crop husbandry and human resources to compliance and financial reporting - no two days are the same and no season matches the last. This is what I enjoy about the farming industry - the constant challenge”.

Lindisfarne was able to give Dave a solid foundation in the skills needed to run a successful farming business. These included sciences and a strong economic focus but also featured inter-personal skills like independence, leadership and the ability to get along with others. Dave recalls some of the diverse experiences on offer at Lindisfarne; “I had a huge range of cultural and sporting opportunities. Clubs I was involved with were fly fishing, tramping and shooting. I played for the Senior A softball team and the First XV which included a six week tour to the UK and lead me to play for Hawke’s Bay and Canterbury at age grade levels.

I was also a member of the brass band, choir and was in a major drama production.” Research in old Chronicles reveals that Dave played Zeus in the Lindisfarne College/Hastings Girls’ production of “Horseplay” - a rather unlikely musical version of the Trojan War. The Rector, Mr Smith, reported that, “David Martin played the Sicilian, mafioso/godfather role of Zeus with real power and his opening solo was sung with verve and style”. Dave has fond memories of his time at Lindisfarne, in particular, the camaraderie and friendship of boarding.

The gastronomic delight of rissoles smothered in Marmite for breakfast was another highlight! Dave recalls, “The boarding house life was one of the best memories I have. It was full time with only two weekend out per term which made for real independence from home. Some of my best times were on sporting exchanges to other schools. A definite highlight was the '94 rugby tour to the UK and Ireland- it was an absolute blast.” Dave is now married to Sarah with two daughters Harriet (8) and Annabel (5).

He has been involved in the local A&P Society as president and is currently Chair of the Eastern District of the Royal Agricultural Society and a member of the Local Search and Rescue Group. He is also on the Board of the Cranford Hospice Foundation. Fishing and boating are favourite pastimes and he enjoys mountain biking on the new local track with the family. Dave is particularly proud of his daughters and the creation and management of the East Coast Farming Expo. His advice to current students is; “Never think you are the smartest person in the room, develop your listening skills and never be satisfied with the status quo”.

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Article added: Wednesday 06 November 2019