Welcome to Riverside Farms

Our Farm Manager John and his partner Theresa run Riverside Farms on behalf of the owners, and both have strong connections to the rural sector.   Not your typical suit-and-tie kind of guy, John is self-motivated and has spent over 30 years knee-deep in the agricultural world and doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty. Farming isn't just a job for him; it's a passion. He’s the kind of person who is easy to get along with, loves setting goals, challenging the status quo, and is constantly improving.  John has a strong focus on modern farming systems with expertise in pasture management, animal health and staff management. Theresa is originally from the Philippines and has been working in New Zealand for the past 13 years in the dairy industry. She’s great with people management and keeping things on track.  Like John, she’s passionate about farming and a great planner and forward thinker.   Theresa has a strong focus on animal welfare. Qualifications John has a Farm and Business Management Diploma, certificates in Plant Husbandry and Animal Nutrition Level 5, Feed Planning for Animal Production Level 5, and Grow Safe. He also has a certificate in Adult Teaching and experience in Lean Management systems. Theresa has NZQA Level 3 in Milk Quality, Pasture Management, Effluent Management and Animal Health and Welfare and is currently studying for Level 4. John and Theresa are great at Hands-on experience with large herds Advanced pasture skills Expert in identifying animal health issues Vet-trained in hoof care Natural stockpeople Time management Always planning for the future Great at motivating and training the farm crew Experienced with K-line and centre pivot systems Team-building expertise Runs a tight ship with lean management systems John eats, sleeps, and breathes farming John’s Farming Journey Born and raised on a town supply dairy farm, John took a brief detour into furniture polishing and cabinet making after school. But you know what they say—once a farmer, always a farmer. John started as a general shepherd in the '80s, worked his way up to managing Mount Lincoln station, took on a 10,000-acre farm with Landcorp, and spent nine years there. Fast forward through various roles and challenges, from Tapanui to Hokonui Farms in Mossburn, to the Southern Dairy Hub, where he got his hands dirty on a science and research farm. Then, a season in the senior management team overseeing three dairy farms and two support blocks spread over Southland and North Otago. He managed NZSF Broadacres FarmRight's large-scale runoff for a season, and then did two seasons contract milking for the New Zealand Super Fund farm, Longford FarmRight before moving to Riverside Farms in 2023.