Greg Crombie appointed as new Station Manager at Smedley Station
Media release
26 September 2025
Experienced farm manager Greg Crombie has been appointed as Station Manager at Smedley Station, one of New Zealand’s most respected agricultural training farms.
Greg will move to Smedley from Marlborough, where he has been General Manager of Leefield Station since 2018.
Conrad Wilkshire, Chair of the Howard Estate Advisory Board, said Greg was a “standout candidate” with his experience and track record in farming, and passion for education.
“Greg understands at a very practical level what’s involved in running a successful farm business and he brings proven business management skills. Most of all, he has a huge passion for teaching and helping people understand how it all works in practice,” Conrad says.
“Greg’s well positioned to help Smedley achieve its vision of developing cadets and leading future innovation to stay relevant with future times.”
Public Trust CEO Glenys Talivai says the appointment of Greg introduces leadership that will continue to uphold the values that make Smedley one of New Zealand’s most respected agricultural training farms.
“Greg joins a team dedicated to preparing cadets for the realities of modern farming - combining tradition with innovation. We give Greg and his family a very warm welcome.”
Greg says he’s excited to join Smedley and views the role as an honour and privilege.
Greg says he was drawn to the scale and the significance of the station, alongside its values and work developing young people into farmers of tomorrow. He’s excited to put his nearly 30 years of farm management and leadership experience into action at Smedley.
“Smedley has always been about preparing young people for lifelong careers on the land. My focus is on keeping that tradition strong while making sure our cadets are ready for the challenges of modern farming, whether that’s in the form of a changing climate, changing technology or changes in society,” he says.
Greg says it’s a privilege to help young people through life and be part of their journey. Smedley has 13 cadets enter the station each year for the two-year cadetship.
“I’ve farmed all my life and if I wasn’t going to be a farmer, I wanted to be a teacher. Being at Smedley allows me to combine the two things I’m very passionate about.”
Greg is a proud father of five children, and his partner and teenage son will join him on the farm from 1 December.
Smedley Station operates as both a commercial farm and a self-funded training facility. Situated in Tikokino, Central Hawke’s Bay, the 5,660-hectare property is home to approximately 30,000 stock units and employs a dedicated team committed to cadet development.
ENDS
Contact: Claire Connell, External Communications Specialist at Public Trust. Phone +64 9 304 1831, [email protected]
About Smedley Station
Josiah Howard bequeathed his 4,500-hectare central Hawke's Bay farm to the Crown in 1919 with instructions that it be used for agricultural education. Josiah’s wishes were that Smedley Station “teach young people, so as to give them a wide knowledge and practice of better standards of farming.” Since 1931, more than 750 young farmers have successfully graduated with many going on to hold senior positions in the farming industry. Public Trust oversees the management of the Howard Estate, with the Advisory Board providing guidance.