There is more to Auckland than its reputation as a bustling city hub, with its dairy sector also functioning as a cornerstone of the region’s economy. A range of local businesses are supporting the industry, working to help farmers balance productivity with sustainability. Among them is Regenerative Vegetation Solutions (RVS), founded by Dave Haycock and Chris Clark, who share a passion for restoring land health while backing the region’s farmers.
Dave and Chris established the business in 2021, combining their shared knowledge and expertise in agricultural business, fencing and civil contracting management. Their intention was to provide clients with a wide range of services under one umbrella, a venture which evolved from their decade-long fencing business.
Chris, who was born and raised on a dairy farm, established a background in farm management where he applied both conventional and regenerative practices. Dave, meanwhile, was immersed in horticulture from an early age, with his family running a commercial flower-growing business from greenhouses. His career progressed into animal and land management, which was supported by agricultural study and practical experience in New Zealand and overseas.
That experience included three years of broadacre farming in Australia, working across both cereal and cotton, followed by a year working in dairy and cereal operations in the UK.
Alongside their areas of expertise, they both developed a strong knowledge of equipment and a passion for big machinery, a skillset that complements their business and underpins much of RVS’s practical land restoration work. Bringing their combined skills together, Dave and Chris established RVS to provide farmers with a one-stop service for land restoration and vegetation management.
RVS offers a wide range of services, including land clearing and stump grinding, mulching and composting, returning nutrients to the soil and encouraging long-term fertility.
RVS also provides fencing to protect waterways and restored areas, grassing and plantations to enhance pasture quality and biodiversity, silage and maize contracting to help manage feed efficiently and project management and advice to ensure practical, cost-effective and sustainable results for every farm.
“Basically, we like to start at ground zero, assess soil health, mitigate problematic biological factors in soil and plant nutrition, remove all noxious weeds and pest species that can prevent profitable business, and work the land to be more sustainable and profitable for our clients,” Dave said.
Dave and Chris prioritise mulching, composting and careful plant selection, some of the key aspects that set them apart. One of their standout projects involved a large riparian planting and stock-fencing initiative on a dairy farm in Karaka. By selecting plants suited to the local ecosystems, RVS improved soil stability, enhanced biodiversity and created a healthier waterway.
However, for Dave and Chris, their support of the Auckland dairy industry extends beyond each individual farm. “The dairy industry is vital to Auckland. It certainly helps that in the domestic market, Auckland is one of the bigger users, and being a main port, it’s a gateway to the other users around the world,” Dave said.
Nearby farms offer a great opportunity to educate people, while bridging the gap between urban and rural life, including the fact that “milk comes from a cow, and in fact not the chilled section in the supermarket.”
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