• People & Community

Efficient farming and community spirit - Carl Lutz' legacy

  • People & Community

Co-op farmers searching for inspiration on efficient farming should look at the Lutz farm in Ōtaki.

Since 1935, four generations of the Lutz family have farmed the land. Patriarch and Co-op stalwart Carl Lutz farmed well into his ‘90s and was a staunch advocate within the dairy farming community up until his death in January, aged 98.

Carl moved to Otaki in 1935 at age nine when his parents bought a 150-acre town supply dairy farm with 30 cows in the Rahui Valley – an area notorious for flooding. After his brother went to war, he left school at age 14 to work on the family farm and over time expanded the property to 600 hectares, buying up neighbouring farms. Achieving efficiencies through economies of scale, he was able to increase the farm’s production and town supply.

While the farm did not have electricity until 1948, Carl was an early adopter of what we now know as sustainable and efficient farming practices. From the early 1960s, the farm introduced irrigation and was contracted 365 days of the year to supply town milk. Carl was involved in the early stages of livestock improvement through artificial breeding and herd testing, and the efficient use of nitrogen.

Carl’s approach to farming has continued with sons Erwin and Max, and grandson Clay, who now run the farm.

“We’re farming sustainably, with all pasture farming – either green grass, grass silage, grass hay, irrigation and low uses of nitrogen. There hasn’t been a bobby calf truck on this farm for 55 years with all calves being reared for herd replacement or the beef,” Max says.

The Lutz farm is one of the few to reach Fonterra’s Te Tihi status – the highest recognition for excellence in milk quality.

“Milk quality is something we’re very proud of. We have always been loyal to Fonterra, and the Co-op has been very good at serving us as farmers.”

The Lutz family have been instrumental in the development of the Ōtaki River Flood Plain Management Scheme with Greater Wellington Regional Council, and was a founding member of the Friends of Ōtaki River, the group established to oversee the scheme’s implementation and activities. Max now chairs the 400 member strong group that has seen more than 130,000 native trees planted along the river and created a 12km walkway for the whole community to enjoy the river, complete with bridges, viewing platforms and picnic areas. The Lutzes retreated 25 hectares of their farm to help develop stop banks and riparian planting on the river to mitigate flood risks.

 


An absolute legend

Carl Lutz was considered an “absolute legend” within the Co-op. Carl received a Queen’s Service Medal in 2009 for his services to the community, and in 2013 was inducted into the Business Kapiti Horowhenua Incorporated Electra Business & Innovation Awards Hall of Fame.

Carl was an active member of Young Farmers in his youth, Federated Farmers (he was awarded a Life Membership), Rotary Club of Ōtaki, Horowhenua Boys & Girls Agricultural Clubs, Ōtaki Surf Life Saving Club, Friends of the Ōtaki River, and founder of the Horowhenua Vintage Machinery Club. He was a foundation member of the local dairy farm discussion group in the 1950s, leading the charge in mentoring and sharing best practices. In addition to mentoring young agricultural students, he also served on the Board of Directors of Wellington Dairy Farmers and chaired the Hutt Milk Co-operative.

Tractors were a passion of Carl’s. He bought his first Fordson tractor while still working on his parents’ farm and went on to collect and restore Fordson tractors throughout his career, ultimately opening a Ford tractor museum on the farm. He would rattle off facts and figures and regale visitors with the history of each model, including the 1919 Model F – one of the country’s earliest Fordsons – and a Fordson Natrass tractor that he assembled out of parts. A selection of his tractors were driven in the 2025 Horowhenua AP & I show’s grand parade in his honour.