Peter Laing was born with a natural affinity for the land. Some of his many outstanding qualities were evident from a very early age, and his dedication to agriculture was already being recognised during his early school years.
Educated at Fernridge Primary School, Peter then went on to become a student at Wairarapa College where his passion for farming was unmistakable in his membership of the Young Farmers Club. This was built upon when he transferred to Feilding Agricultural High School in 1946, where he initiated and chaired a new division of the Young Farmers Club.
During his time at school in Feilding, Peter earned a number of awards for his excellence in the field of agriculture and his headmaster described him as “outstanding among students of his year, both for his common sense and executive efficiency”.
Peter spent several years working on a number of large Wairarapa stations. In 1952 he settled at Castlepoint where he was head shepherd and later manager of Castlepoint Station until his retirement. Farming was his life and his love.
Peter’s love of farming, coupled with his great vision, meant that he was always ahead of his time in the farming field. These qualities were the motivating factor behind some of his groundbreaking work with Grasslands, where Peter took a very keen interest in new grasses suited for drought-prone east coast hill country. His contribution to this work gained him further respect.
Peter’s name is synonymous with dedication and accomplishment. He was widely respected for the thousands of hours he put into his work on the farm, and he was always determined to convey his own principles and practices of farming to his staff. When combined with initiative and good work ethics, Peter believed these qualities provided a solid foundation for each of his staff’s respective farming careers.
Although farming was Peter’s life, he also found time to become a stalwart of the Castlepoint community. He spent 24 years as Chairman of the Castlepoint School Committee, was involved with the Castlepoint Racing Club for 50 years, instigated the development of the Castlepoint Golf Club and promoted the formation of the local Fire Brigade.
During his time as Manager of Castlepoint Station, Peter was also responsible for the development of the area’s well-known motor camp. He was the driving force behind the establishment of the Castlepoint Pony Club and became a warranted officer for the Department of Conservation.
Peter’s dedication to Castlepoint also led him to become a Councillor for the Masterton County Council for a number of years during which time he was a strong advocate for better roading and amenities for rural areas. In addition, he was a very active member of the Church Committee when the local church, St Peter’s by the Sea, was being built.
Peter’s enthusiasm, both for farming and his community, was remarkable. In 2000 he received an award from the Castlepoint Progressive Association for ‘outstanding voluntary service to the people and district of Castlepoint”, and in 2003 he received an award from the Masterton District Council in recognition of his services to the Castlepoint community.
Renowned for his excellent approach to every activity he undertook, Peter Laing was a man of pride and determination. He made a significant contribution to his greater community – a contribution that will be recognised for many years to come.
