Alexander John Sanders, known as John, has dedicated his entire life to this land and everything it has to offer. His eyes are lit with an unmistakeable passion that stems from unconditional love, sacrifice and much dedication. We are in New Zealand, at Matangi Station, near the town of Alexandra in Central Otago. The area is known as the highlands of Central Otago, on New Zealand’s South Island. Summers can be especially hot just like winters can be extremely cold, with an average rainfall of 315 mm. John knows everything about the land where he has spent his entire life, a land he only briefly left behind to attend boarding school in Dunedin.
In 1972, John returned to Matangi Station to help out his father and grandfather. It was his grandfather who bought the property in 1923, and true to family tradition, John’s childhood was spent working on the farm, living in close contact with the animals, taking care of nature, respecting the land’s cycles and learning to deal with its unpredictability. John is still working on the farm with the same level of dedication, with precious support from his sons Brett and Mark, and their wives who also help out when needed.
We asked John how his great passion for Merinos wool was born; his answer is as genuine as they get: “I’ve been working with Merinos for nearly 50 years. The passion has always been there. After coming home from boarding school, I did a wool classing course at Lincoln University, graduating with honours”. John’s passion is one that runs in the family and is passed down from generation to generation. His biggest satisfaction? “The satisfaction of seeing good wool leave the farm gate and make an impact on the outside world.”
Sustainability is a core value at Matangi Station, one that is achieved through a constant search for the perfect balance:“Sustainability is keeping a natural balance on the farm. Not overgrazing or overworking pastures and keeping the balance correct between nutrients and your pastures.” To John, a true Woolmaster is one that has a deep knowledge of wool, years of experience to learn how to face difficult situations and unplanned occurrences, not to forget vast amounts of patience. As a result of its ongoing commitment and immense contribution to sustainability, Matangi Station received the Best Supplier Award in 2019, a special prize through which the Reda Group recognizes and rewards the effort, passion and experience shown by its New Zealand partners to produce the best Merino wool.
