Our History
The full story, not just the headlines.
Rawhiti’s history includes inherited problems, family loss, lease disruption, abatement notices and 2023 effluent spills. This page states the context plainly while keeping responsibility clear.
Timeline
Context explains pressure. It does not excuse failure.
This timeline stays careful, factual and plain-spoken, with more dated detail to be added only when it has been approved for public release.
- 2016
Taking on a difficult legacy
Rawhiti was purchased through a mortgagee sale. The family inherited legacy issues, including a first-day abatement notice.
- 2017–2019
Early improvement work
Rawhiti began investing effort and capital to improve the farm and move the system forward from the inherited position.
- 2019–2020
Family loss and disruption
Brian Nabbs was diagnosed with terminal cancer and later died, creating a difficult period for the family and business.
- 2020–2022
External lease period
During an external lease, further abatement notices occurred and the farm’s operating systems were not where they needed to be.
- 2022–2024
Control, context and responsibility
Rawhiti took back control amid missing pond-cover issues, liner damage, rainfall pressure, consultant involvement and major effluent-system investment.
- 2023
Spills and apology
Cyclone Gabrielle and record rainfall created pressure, but the site must be clear: context explains pressure; it does not excuse what happened. Rawhiti accepts responsibility.
- 2024 onward
A never-again mindset
Thomas Nabbs joined full-time as CEO on 1 February 2024, with a practical focus on people, systems, accountability and repair.
Responsibility
A practical apology needs practical change.
The public record cannot be rewritten. Rawhiti’s job is to own what happened, explain the work being done, and give neighbours, regulators and partners enough clarity to judge progress over time.