Matangi has been owned and run by the Sanders family since 1923.  Presently John and his wife Mary Liz along with two of his sons Brett and Mark and their families live and work on the farm.  Johns son Tony lives locally with his family and also works in the industry for a local stock firm.

John’s grandfather J.C Sanders purchased Matangi in 1923. He had previously run a grocers shop in Alexandra but when he saw the better returns being made by his brother, a rabbiter, he sold the store and went rabbiting himself, which enabled him to buy the property. 

Alec and Stella (John’s Parents) ran the farm from 1971 and during their time farming they purchased two more High Country Stations in the same valley. In 1997 the family’s land was divided between the three brothers,  John took over Matangi, his brother Lindon and his wife Jenni took over Little Valley Station next door and Neil took over Obelisk and brought Doctors Point from an uncle.  

With a history of nearly 100 years of fine wool production on Matangi the family has weathered the peaks and troughs of the wool market trends, we’ve always tried to lead the wool market regardless of these trends.  We live in an amazing environment with clean air and clean water, sheep love this type of country. Merinos are browsing animals that thrive on a varied diet from flowering thyme to tussock grasslands  Central Otago’s climate creates some of the best wool fabrics in the world because we have healthy happy sheep.   

Matangi grows a stylish, spinners quality merino wool and has regularly topped wool sale prices with their fine merino.

The farm runs 8100 sheep, including 1240 stud merino breeding ewes and 120 hereford cattle.

The family’s pride in producing high quality fine merino wool has been internationally recognised by being presented with a Marque of Excellence as a top supplier in New Zealand. 

Moving forward our aim as a team is to continue producing a world class merino clip whilst incorporating our sustainable values for the Environment, People and Animals.