Bernie McGahan left school after sitting School Certificate.

“Dad became ill and needed my help on the farm. Although I’d always thought I’d get a farming job, I was a bit anxious because I hadn’t passed my exams. Once my father recovered, I needed to find myself a job. Previously he had farmed sheep and beef, including running an Angus and a Romney stud, alongside a piggery. He decided to pull back and just focus on the piggery, which meant there wasn’t enough for me to do,” explains Bernie.

That was 1977. As Bernie pondered his next move, an opportunity came up at the local Wrightson NMA retail store in Tuakau.

“Keith Ansell was the manager. He knew my father and asked me if I’d like to put my name forward.”

To coin a phrase, the rest is history. Aside from a brief stretch in the early 1990s, Bernie has been with the company ever since, bringing up the 30 year anniversary of his second period of employment in December last year, meaning he has been part of the PGG Wrightson team now for nearly 44 years.

“In that first role in the shop, when the ewe and lamb fairs were on at the Tuakau saleyards I used to help out. I absolutely loved it, counting sheep, I was really enthusiastic. Ian Clotworthy was the big boss. He saw me there and said ‘Would you like to be a junior livestock rep?’ So that was when my career really started, in Wellsford.”

Bernie was still in his teens.

By 1985 he had learnt the basics, was newly married to Shirley, and was ready for the next step in his career: as a livestock agent in Raetihi.

“We spent five years there and it was a wonderful time. A different environment, totally big country, and big farmers. They were incredibly loyal. We met a lot of people who became lifelong friends, and I had the opportunity to work with some of the best colleagues possible within Wrightson NMA,” he says.

Beyond the company though, times in farming were tough.

“In ‘87 on Black Friday, the stock market crashed, just while Roger Douglas was reforming the economy, starting with farming. Mortgagee sales made it a bloody difficult time. Wrightson NMA was assigned as auctioneers to sell mortgagee properties, which was not at all pleasant for anyone. Outcomes were never any good. There were restraining orders and all sorts of things going on.”

Bernie moved within the business from Raetihi to the Bay of Islands in 1989, and after a 12 month stint there, returned to Wellsford to a procurement role with a meat processing company. Although he enjoyed the work, with restructuring in the winds a 1992 offer back with Wrightsons was too good to refuse. He has been there ever since, now on a 61 hectare Tomorata farm just out of Wellsford and handy to the Mangawai beaches. Bernie fattens bullocks in his spare time. In his day job he has worked his way up in the company, first to senior agent and auctioneer, then to assistant livestock manager to Derek Cochrane, becoming livestock manager shortly afterwards; and in 2016 becoming Northland regional manager, his current role.

Within PGG Wrightson Livestock, in 2014/15 Northland was number one in New Zealand for performance and growth, then in 2021/22 the region was top in the North Island for growth.

Achieving good results on sale day is what motivates Bernie to get out of bed in the morning.

“Going to a sale with our team gives me the greatest satisfaction: making sure we have a good day. As an auctioneer, you have to do your best for the client. We compare ourselves to others in the industry: something we talk about a lot. When we are all focused on making sure we do a good job, working hard, getting on with each other, and having a beer afterwards, that leads to a happy work environment,” says Bernie.

He’s taken that philosophy in a new direction recently, with spectacular results.

“In 2019 Trevor Penney and I formed a syndicate within the livestock team to own shares in a racehorse. Having now owned three horses for eight wins and 12 places from 22 starts, this has proved to be very fruitful. We aren’t in it for the money, just the fun, thrills and the banter that occurs each time a horse races. Our wives and partners are involved as well,” he says.

Backing the local community is another way to bring the team together.

“Close to my heart, we supported the Northland Rescue Helicopter appeal last year, holding our machinery sale in Whangarei in October, and donating the proceeds of the sale and the sausage sizzle to them, which came to around $6800. I am very proud of the team for supporting such a good cause,” he says.

Bernie and Shirley have three adult children and one grandson.