ABOUT KOHIKA DOWNS LTD
A rich history of people and farming.
Kohika Downs Ltd is a joint venture between Tony & Anna Wakelin and the Camden Group.
Alto Holdings Ltd was set up in 2009 as a joint venture with Tony and Anna Wakelin. 50/50 sharemilking began in West Eyreton, with 1,050 cows on 340ha.
After 10 years of sharemilking, 2019 saw Camden Dairy Farms and Tony and Anna Wakelin co-purchase a 501ha dryland dairy farm in South Canterbury, renaming the company to Kohika Downs Ltd.
Meet the team
Tony & Anna Wakelin
Equity Managers
Anna began her dairy career with the Camden Group at Willsden Farm in 2004 as a junior staff member. The following year Tony and Anna took a 2IC job next door at Prairie Farm, where they spent the next two years gaining experience and skills. They were also able to buy and raise their first 20 heifer calves.
After two years at Prairie, Tony and Anna took on the role of managing Camden Farm. They took to the management role with great enthusiasm, achieving record production in their first season. During their time at Camden Farm they also reared 115 heifer calves in the first season and 117 in the second.
Tony and Anna used the buying and selling of stock to increase their equity which enabled them to take on a 50% sharemilking position, establishing a joint venture with the Camden Group in 2009. Their first sharemilking position was milking 530 cows in Te Pirita, then 1,330 cows in Rangiora from the 2011/12 season.
2019 saw a change for the venture, with Camden Group and the Wakelins jointly purchasing a 501ha dryland farm in South Canterbury, milking 1,100 cows. The farm is Tony and Anna’s “forever farm”.
Directors
David Maw
Director & Board Chair
Tony Wakelin
Director
Anna Wakelin
Director
Leo Donkers
Director