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Kaharau Angus smashes Angus NZ price record

A New Zealand-bred Angus bull has rewritten the record books, selling for an unprecedented NZ$220,000 in June 2026 and reinforcing the growing demand for elite Angus NZ genetics among leading beef breeders on both sides of the Tasman.

Lot 3 – Kaharau Macpherson 24V314 with Nick Carr and Penny Hoogerbrug – Kaharau Angus, Duncan Campbell – Earnscleugh Angus, Sarah Adams and Johnny Harrigton – Rolling Rock Angus, Ross Waller – Central Livestock. Absent: Rob Bulle, Ardrossan Angus, Australia.

The record-breaking sire was sold at the Kaharau Angus Bull Sale in Gisborne to a syndicate comprising New Zealand studs Rolling Rock Angus and Earnscleugh Angus, with Australian breeder Rob Bulle of Ardrossan Angus securing a semen share.

The sale eclipsed the previous auction record of NZ$168,000, set just days earlier, capping an extraordinary sale season for Angus NZ breeders.

The record sale was one of the highlights of the 2026 Angus NZ Gisborne-East Coast Bull Week which attracts leading breeders and commercial producers from throughout New Zealand and overseas.

The involvement of one of Australia’s leading Angus operations highlighted the international reputation of Angus NZ genetics.

The investment reflects the value placed on proven Angus NZ genetics that combine structural soundness, fertility, maternal strength and commercial performance, with breeders continuing to look to Angus NZ bloodlines to complement their breeding programmes.

The record sale was one of the highlights of the 2026 Angus NZ Gisborne-East Coast Bull Week which attracts leading breeders and commercial producers from throughout New Zealand and overseas.

The Kaharau sale itself delivered outstanding results. After Lot 2 sold for $165,000 to Umbrella Range, Lot 3 surpassed expectations by reaching $220,000. All 74 bulls sold, averaging $26,122 with nine bulls purchased for stud transfer.

Kaharau Studmaster Penny Hoogerbrug said they knew Lots 2 and 3 were attracting quite a bit of interest, but “never in our wildest dreams did we think that we would break the record or go on to achieve that high price.”

“We simply can't express enough our gratitude for the unbelievable support shown for our breeding programme on Monday afternoon.”

Having carried forward the breeding legacy established by her father Colin Williams and mentor Prince Rickard over the past 14 years, Hoogerbrug said the result reflected decades of disciplined breeding. Modern Kaharau has been built on an outstanding foundation of nearly 70 years of breeding. We feel incredibly fortunate to be the current guardians of this Stud.

“We’ve always believed cattle must be well-framed, structurally sound, and can last the distance in any environment to ensure they shift well and thrive under varying commercial conditions. We’re very strong on preserving the structure and type that we value while continuing to improve the data. We won’t chase figures to the detriment of an animal’s structural integrity.”

“In our herd we are very strong on culling; the cattle come into the yards often and we are constantly reassessing type, temperament and soundness and whittling the mob of bulls down.”

Hoogerburg described the top priced bull as the whole package. “Macpherson is the sort of bull every breeder hopes to breed one day. He has tremendous presence, exceptional depth and softness, plenty of muscle, outstanding structural correctness and the performance data to match. More importantly, he’s a very well balanced sire. He isn’t extreme in one area at the expense of another – he combines phenotype, structure, temperament and performance.”

He has been named Kaharau Macpherson 24V314 in honour of the late Alastair Macpherson, who worked alongside Penny’s sister Susie and brother-in-law Charlie Dowding under both the Kaharau and Rangitara prefixes for more than two decades.

The name also reflects the close genetic ties between the two breeding programmes. Kaharau Macpherson 24V314 is sired by Rangatira Charles 1034, who himself was by a Kaharau sire.

“It’s a lovely story of family breeding. The Macpherson name acknowledges that shared history and connection between the two studs.”

NZ RECORD BREAKING 2021 SALE

What an incredible night the 2021 Kaharau Bull Sale was. We are incredibly delighted and humbled that we achieved a NZ on-farm, all breeds record price of $106,000 for Lot 6, now named Kaharau Olympic 19Q327, who sold to Elgin Angus and Tapiri Angus. This was a 'massive' highlight with 63/63 bulls sold, 11 bulls going to Studs and a top average for 2021 of $15,603.

We cannot express our gratitude enough to the buyers, underbidders and agents and to our wonderful Auctioneer Neville Clark, your support has been phenomenal. And an enormous thank you to our terrific team here at Kaharau - Manager Nick, Glenn, Greg, Jiba and Kim - none of this could happen without you. Thank you very much to everyone involved.

2020 SALE

We were completely delighted with the strong result at our 2020 Kaharau Bull Sale. It was an overwhelming thrill to sell 13 Stud Bulls, we really cannot express our gratitude enough for your terrific support – an enormous thank you to all of you, our clients – underbidders, Auctioneer, agents, family and friends and thank you to our great team here at Kaharau - Nick, Glenn, Greg, Kim & Jiba.

The top priced bull, a Taimate Lazarus son Kaharau 18-343 sold to Blackridge Angus for $50,000. The Tangihau Bayly, William of Stern and Taimate Lazarus sons all sold very strongly, 59/59 bulls sold and averaged $12,839.

2020/21 has been a busy year for Kaharau. We have invested heavily in our breeding programme to bring you quality genetics. The successful procurement of Turiroa Ragnar 18P224 in partnership with Orere Angus for NZs top price and an onfarm auction record of $104,000 was a highlight.

The purchase of three year old Tangihau Topgun 17N436 from Rangatira Angus was also a wonderful opportunity. Both new sires are magnificent bulls – packed with phenotype, pedigree and performance and we are really looking forward to their new progeny on the ground, from 2023 onwards.

2019

Kaharau semen sold to 5 Studs in Australia from Kaharaus’ 2019 Keeper Bull Kaharau Class Man 444. His Sire breeding is Kaharau Class 790/Zodiac and Dam is Goldwyn Jess H601, a Matauri Reality daughter.

2019 SALE

Another successful Sale and a huge thrill again in 2019 selling Lot 4 Kaharau 306, a Millah Murrah Kingdom son, to Atahua and Merchiston Angus Studs for $78,000.

The Millah Murrah Kingdom sons sold very strongly, averaging close to $20,000.

5 bulls went to Studs and a very healthy average across 56 bulls of $13009. We were delighted with the strong result and wish all the buyers well with your purchases.

2018 RECORD SALE

The 2018 Bull Sale is one that will go down in the Kaharau history books.

We were thrilled and proud to achieve NZ’s top Bull price when Lot 2 Kaharau Outlander 632, a Braveheart of Stern son, sold to Rangatira and Turiroa Angus Studs for $95,000,

Lot 7 Kaharau George 589 sold to Atahua Angus for $50,000 alongside 8 other stud bulls sold.

Kaharau also achieved NZ’s top 2018 Bull Sale average of $14,970 across 51 bulls sold.  

We were overwhelmed with the incredible support we received. A huge thank you to all of you - the clients, agents, family and friends and to our terrific team here at Kaharau .

Kaharau George 589 – semen sold within New Zealand and to Australia

2018

Success and excitement also came for Kaharau in June 2018 when we were awarded a SILVER MEDAL in the STEAK OF ORIGIN competition in the Best of Breed – British - Angus class out of 266 entries, with a 100% pure bred Kaharau heifer who had been afforded no special treatment !

The entries were tested for tenderness, % cooking loss in weight, % marbling, colour, water binding capacity and pH. The cooked steak was then judged by a panel of New Zealand’s top chefs to decide on the best aroma, taste/flavour, tenderness, juiciness and texture.

Competition Head Judge, Graham Hawkes who has been involved in the competition for 15 years said “This competition is the pinnacle for any beef producer, it sets the benchmark for quality produce, helping guide chefs on where their ingredients come from”.

2017

A great result for Kaharau at the November Matawhero Cattle fair in Gisborne. The first time we have steered our 5th mob of bulls. We sold a pen of 25 Kaharau 2016 born yearling Steers, born, raised and run on our Rimunui Station hill country fetched the top per kg price at the Sale – $ 3.70/kg.

2017 SALE

This was a very special sale for Kaharau that saw us celebrate 60 years of Angus Stud cattle breeding – 1957 to 2017. A great crowd attended the Sale with special guests ( original agents and breeding colleagues of Colin & Jackies’ ), friends, family, buyers, underbidders, clients and agents. Photo boards depicting the 60 year history of Kaharau were up on the walls of the shed, bubbly flowed and old friendships were re-acquainted.

2017

Kaharau purchased Tangihau Bayly L57 for $42,000, a Fossil Creek Hero son.

2016

Leading Australian breeder purchased 64 Kaharau embryos from specially selected Kaharau Donor cows.

2016 SALE

Lot 9, Kaharau 250 sold to Quailburn Downs for $23,000

2015

Two long time Kaharau Clients, Taaheke & Ranganui Stations came 1st & 2nd in the Silver Fern Farms 2015 Steak of Station competition at the Gisborne A & P Show. The animals were judged 'On the Hoof' & 'On the Hook' for taste, tenderness, ph and marbling.

2015

In 2015 Kaharau and three other studs from East Coast Angus entered eight heifers into the Hawkes Bay Royal A & P Show, where Angus was the feature breed.

Kaharau was very pleased to win the Angus Yearling Pairs class and be awarded Reserve Champion Angus Yearling Heifer, with Kaharau Amelia 9758 (a Class 790 daughter).

2015

Two Kaharau heifers achieved semi-final placings in the Steak of Origin competition

2013

At the 2013 Kaharau sale a Kaharau Atlas son, Lot 36 bred at Rimunui, sold to Mangapapa Stud for $52,000. It was the highest price paid for a bull that year at an on-farm sale until the following day when Kaharau purchased Cricklewood Crusader for $ 65,000.

2022 SALE

A really strong 2022 Bull Sale with the two highest prices for Lot 9 – Kaharau 20R359 for $65,000 to Ratanui Angus and Lot 15 - Kaharau 20R369 sold for $42,000 to Hingaia Angus, six Stud Bulls sold and a healthy average of $12,500 across 62 bulls. We wish all the buyers well with your purchases.

Again, a huge thank you to the buyers, the underbidders and the agents and to our Auctioneer Neville Clark for your ongoing support and to our Kaharau team - Manager Nick, Glenn, Greg, Jiba and Kim.