About Us

Malcolm Lea

I have been involved with farming much of my life and I come from a long family tradition of farming in New Zealand.  From my experiences and observations I have learnt that animal welfare is a key component of successful farm practice.

Sadly, I have seen cases of neglect and abuse of farm animals, despite the presence of codes of practices and scientific evidence that shows the benefits of good animal husbandry. I hope that our sanctuary can make a positive difference to the lives of many farm animals.

My spare time is spent planning and creating a safe environment for the rescued animals. This includes planting trees and shrubs for shade and shelter, fencing paddocks (to keep the goats in or out!) and building five-star accommodation for all of the animals!  

Robyn Rae

It started with cats and then came the dogs, followed by the donkeys, goats, pigs and alpacas! Some of them were rescues, others weren’t, but my love of animals finally headed me in the right direction and I decided to use my property to provide a home for farm animals in need of love and care. 

I love spending time with the animals because they all have very individual personalities and they give me a lot of pleasure. When not spending time with the animals, I teach Languages part-time at the local high school.

As well as the animals, I share my home with my partner Malcolm and my teenage daughter and stepson and I am very lucky to have their full support for this endeavour, as well as the support of family and friends.

Kate Russell

Robyn writes, "Kate was my oldest friend from school days, and we maintained a close friendship until her death in May 2007 of complications after surgery, at the age of 46. Kate was always a strong advocate of animal welfare and she was an inspiration to me. I think of her often as I spend time with our animals here at the sanctuary." 

Aaron Rae

Robyn writes, "My husband Aaron was killed by a drugged driver in a car crash in March 2007. He was 35 years old. Aaron spent much of his working life in the farming industry and he was well known for his kind treatment of the animals in his care. He treated all animals with respect and especially loved spending time with his dog, Boss."