New Zealand half marathon walk champion and livestock support officer, enjoying a job that is ‘one of the most scenic in the world’

Luana Pentecost is a New Zealand champion. Luana won the half marathon walk in her age group at the Masters Games in Dunedin in February this year, completing the 21.1-kilometre course in two hours and 35 minutes.

In her day job, Luana has been a PGG Wrightson Otago Livestock Support Officer for the past 11 years, based in Alexandra, a role she says can be one of the most scenic in the world.

“To give you an example, we can go to on-farm sales halfway into Mount Aspiring National Park, or down to Owaka in the Catlins. Otago is a very expansive region, and I’m lucky to get to go to some of the places that my job takes me. It’s spectacular,” she says.

Attending sales regularly, Luana has developed an appreciation for the auctioneer’s craft.

“John Duffy is a very talented auctioneer. He has a loud, strong voice that really booms out, and I have been lucky enough to work with a variety of auctioneers, including Mark Yeates, Russell Moloney, Ben McKerchar, John McKone and Neville Clark. They are all equally engaging with their audiences and add their own individual flair. I really notice the difference our PGG Wrightson auctioneers make, putting every effort into their roles, bringing a sale to life and achieving the best results for our clients,” says Luana.

As well as livestock, Luana has administered auctions of many different items.

“Plenty of strange things come up at dispersal sales. The old Allanton Machinery Sale is one that comes to mind. Some of the items on offer absolutely proved that one person’s junk is another person’s treasure. People would just keep turning up with trailers and boot-loads of items to be auctioned. You name it, it could be a box of bolts and screws, half-used paint tins and brushes, they wanted to auction it. You could be there for hours, and sometimes we were,” she says.

Whether the drafted stock are rams, stags, lambs, calves or bulls, and whether the sale is on-farm or in the yards, Luana thoroughly enjoys ensuring each event runs effectively.

“I’m fortunate to have a great team to work with. To do the job well, you need to be able to communicate effectively, stay organised and keep on top of the detail, which certainly helps as well.”

Luana started her career in a non-sworn administration role with Police in her hometown of Invercargill. Looking for a change, she joined Wrightsons in 2004 as a Real Estate Administrator. In 2006, she moved to Central Otago to be closer to family and, after taking a break for motherhood, returned to PGG Wrightson in June 2012, sharing her time between real estate and general administration before moving fully into her current livestock role in November 2015.

“I really enjoy getting out of the office. Whether it’s seeing clients that I deal with regularly or putting faces to names, that is one of the most fulfilling parts of the job. You get to the stage where people come up to register at an auction, and you know who they are without having to ask. That’s one of the joys of being in the job for a wee while.”

As for becoming a national champion, that all started in mid-2024 when Luana began thinking more seriously about her fitness.

“In my mid-teens and early twenties, I was a cheerleader. As a team, we attended a variety of events, including Otago rugby home games and a few All Blacks tests at Carisbrook. Then family, work and life happened. I would still get out for the occasional walk, but not as many as I would have liked. Two years ago, I decided it was time to put myself first and make some healthier choices, so I started walking again and entered my first 10km event at the inaugural Clyde Classic in October 2024.”

Over the past two years, she has completed ten races, including five half marathons and several 10km events, with another three on the horizon, including Auckland and Queenstown in November and Sydney in May.

“I get enjoyment out of challenging myself. When I’m out there walking in an event and see a competitor in front of me, it makes me push a little harder. There’s my target.”

To maintain her fitness between events, Luana is on the treadmill at the gym at least five times a week.

While work is in Alexandra, home is Clyde, where she lives with her partner, Hunter, and, during university holidays, daughter Dannika, who is in her first year of studying commerce at the University of Otago.