Shared vision to grown farm into international event facility

JULIA WADE

30 Jan, 2023

Located on the southern side of the stretch between Waipu’s Cove and township, a stunning musical venue renowned for filling the summer countryside with an eclectic symphony of sound, is looking to expand its musical bar to an international stage.

For over five years, Tahamoana Angora Goat Farm has been a hot destination for artists and music lovers alike, attracted by a superb range of musicians and the sunny outdoor area with its spectacular views of the Waipu coastline.

The farm’s owners, Debi Walters Brown and Dave Brown, have hosted several popular annual events since 2017 such as ‘Classics at the Cove’ featuring opera and classical musicians as well as a number of jazz picnics. Three years ago, after a chance meeting at Waipu’s iconic Art & Tartan show, they were joined in their venture by the then new locals Glenn and Kellie Border, founders of Borderline Events, a company established to bring more live music to Bream Bay.

Working together to ‘empty the Brown’s wine cellar’ Glenn says, as well as on a shared vision to grow the farm into an international facility, the venue has grown from a grass stage facility to one with a permanent covered arena and sophisticated power and lighting system.

“Dave’s done some phenomenal work, he’s put the stage in and done some amazing land-sculpture, trimming trees, landscaping and resowing grass to make the area as ergonomic and organic as possible. It’s an absolute treat when you have a live show on here, the trees all lit up and the sound is amazing, it’s a natural amphitheatre,” he says.

“We’re working towards building the venue into a place, that one day will be able to host much larger events more frequently. Building on infrastructure and improving an already well-established and professionally-run facility so that it remains financially viable for locals to book a wedding or special birthday celebration with on-site marquees, tables, chairs, gazebos for hire which can cater 120 guests, through to a big band concert with 1200 people and a ten-acre paddock full of campers.”

The farm’s next event, Rock ‘n Rods, brought to the community by Borderline Events, is locked in for February 5 after the Waipu Classic Car Show and features a rocking-good line-up with Tim Armstong’s ‘Hot Rods’ classics from the 70s and 80s, Waipu’s legendary first rock band Tempist Fujit, Recliner Rockers, and accomplished singer/songwriter Phil Madsen [See ad below for more details].

Involved in the music industry since he was 17, Glenn’s career as a technical lighting and production technician has taken him all over the globe, first with his brother’s band, ‘travelling around UK in a smelly old truck’ to working on several world tours with famous big acts such as Paul McCartney, ‘great employer and wonderful man’.

Glenn and Kellie moved up from ‘the big city lights of Auckland to our slice of Waipu heaven’ with a desire to get involved with the community, first donating and rigging up a spare lighting and control kit in the townships Coronation Hall, ‘a great little venue which now has a decent little lighting show for anyone to use,’ as well as designing and operating the lighting for Art & Tartan 2022.

“The event was a huge success due to the passion and hard work of so many talented locals, it was so great to be a part of it. Having grown up in a very small rural area in Christchurch, the importance of being involved in your community was instilled in me from an early age.”

The director of event lighting and production company Luminaire Systems, Glenn now oversees the farm’s tech systems, which include a state-of-the-art PA system, giant outdoor cinema screen for movie nights and a stage lighting package with moving lights and smoke and outdoor lighting system ‘which makes the site look fabulous at night’ all set up and operated by a crew of seasoned professionals, ‘all the bells and whistles.’

“The farm venue is so multi-functional, from concerts to birthdays and weddings, however, the focus is not on making money, which is just as well really as it's a tricky business juggling weather, pandemics, artist requirements and acts of God, getting the timing right sometimes is the hardest part,” he says. “We’re just trying to breathe more life into an already wonderful little village, people just embrace outdoor entertainment and we’ve got everything here and coming for everyone, from classic rock to opera, and everything in between.”

n Coming shows to Tahamoana Angora Goat Farm include ‘Bowie Bowie’, a tribute to the late great Thin White Duke, February 11, and Latin influenced music band ‘Sirrah’ on February 18. Visit eventfinda.co.nz/venue/tahamoana-angora-goat-farm for details and tickets.

Sharing a vision to grow their venue into an international facility and bring more music into the local area; Borderline Events director Glenn Border with Tahamoana Angora Goat Farm owners Debi Walters Brown and Dave Brown and their stunning Bream Bay view. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

The venue has grown from a grass stage facility to one with a permanent covered arena and sophisticated power and lighting system. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

“We’re just trying to breathe more life into an already wonderful little village, people just embrace outdoor entertainment and we’ve got everything here…”