A Southland Man Who Died When His Tractor Rolled Into Otapiri Stream On Monday Was A Highly Regarded Farming Pioneer

A Southland man who died when his tractor rolled into Otapiri Stream on Monday was a highly regarded farming pioneer. 78 year old Mervyn Frew an Otapiri Gorge sheep farmer who farmed “Highfield” with his sons Brett and Dan was noted for a fearless attitude to change, including introducing the Kelso, one of several composite breeds developed in New Zealand, to his flock in the early 2000s. The family farm was well known for Farm Jam, a freestyle motocross, mountain-biking and BMX event of international standing. Mervyn Frew died in a single-vehicle incident in which his tractor rolled into the stream about 15km northeast of Winton. He was 78 and described in his death notice as ”a great mate and a genuine legend”.