Richard Brook, managing director of high end interior textile fabric maker Wooltex UK was recently in New Zealand to meet growers and learn more about our wool.

Sourcing Wool Integrity compliant wool through PGG Wrightson’s international sales and marketing business Bloch & Behrens, Wooltex puts New Zealand crossbred wool into some prestigious design projects.

“We use wool in premium end products such as European concert halls, cruise liners, hotels and even Jaguar Land Rover vehicles. Demand for natural fibre is growing. My visit helped me better understand the availability of New Zealand wool, particularly in our wool type, crossbred lambswool,” says Richard.

One spectacular tour stop was Mt Algidus Station. Situated at the foot of Canterbury’s Southern Alps between the Wilberforce, the Rakaia and the Mathias rivers, the 21,500 hectare property was made famous by Mona Anderson’s best-selling 1963 book ‘A River Rules My Life.’ Access is by river crossing only, meaning the river really does rule station life. Everything from groceries and farm items, stock, wool, and contractors has to cross the Wilberforce, in and out of the station. Residents can be isolated for weeks when the river rises.

PGG Wrightson’s Wool Product and Innovation Manager, Jason Everson, along with Wool rep Peter McCusker, took Richard to Mt Algidus. Jason has seen a shift in the international marketplace.

“Companies are wanting to know more about where their wool comes from and its growing conditions. New Zealand’s traditional model of selling mainly to first stage processors is changing. We are receiving more enquiry directly from global manufacturers and retail brands wanting us to provide certain assurances. Wool Integrity certainly meets many of their expectations.

“One of Wool Integrity’s founding principles is traceability back to the farms that uphold the programme’s high levels of animal welfare, environmental and social compliance.

“When Wooltex requested a visit to a supplying farm, Mt Algidus Station was an outstanding candidate,” he says.

Richard’s tour guides were farm managers Peter and Christine Angland, who began looking after Mt Algidus Station in July 2012. Peter says they aim to finish all stock bred at  Mt Algidus. 

“Last winter we ran 2400 mixed age ewes; 920 hoggets, all put to the ram; 40 mainly Perendale rams; and 2600 cattle, mainly Angus.

“Initially the farm had sold off most of the ewes due to trading restrictions resulting from TB in the cattle, since then we have rebuilt sheep numbers, firstly by buying in ewes, latterly by breeding our own replacements.

“Perendale rams are sourced from Snowdon Station, while our Suftex and Charolais cross rams are from Hemmingford,” he says.