Meat FAQs

Regenerative farming means using holistic practices that leave the land healthier over time. Our meat is 100% pasture-raised and grass-fed, and we follow regenerative principles to raise and care for our animals — treated with respect, playing an active role in regenerating our soil and surrounding ecosystems. The result is a quality product free of GMOs, hormones, pesticides and granular feed.

Guided by our Farm Conductor Jules Matthews, they include: lifting diversity above and below ground; maximising photosynthesis; optimising disturbance (seeing it as opportunity, not just problem); letting nature lead; treating context as decisive; ensuring year-round ground cover to feed and protect the soil; and addressing limiting factors (air, water, nutrient cycles, diversity, management and mindset).

Mangaroa Farms is a community food hub and resilience education centre in Te Awa Kairangi / the Hutt Valley, Upper Hutt, Wellington — a registered non-profit, part of the Biome Trust. The whenua has operated as a regenerative farm for the last 4+ years, after 10–15 years transitioning from an ex-dairy farm.

Mostly our lush green pastures, informed by an intact soil system of microbes and organisms. We supplement with kelp, salt and mineral mixes to keep the product premium and nutrient-dense.

We do not use any hormones, antibiotics, or genetically modified animal feed — nor do we endorse the use of GMO seeds in Aotearoa.

We vaccinate our sheep against issues like toxoplasmosis and clostridial diseases. Calves are vaccinated for clostridial diseases, but our older beef cattle are not.

Yes — most of our sausages are gluten-free and say so in the product description (look for the GF badge). If you are ever unsure, email shop@mangaroa.org before ordering.

We’ll have this ready once our distribution systems are fully under control. Sign up to our newsletter for updates on when produce delivery goes live.

Browse our online shop, add the cuts you want, and check out in one go. Choose frozen delivery (NZ Post, North Island urban addresses) or free farm-shop pickup at checkout.

Our new-season meat is frozen immediately after processing, which locks in quality. Each pack shows the date it was frozen — kept frozen, it’s at its best within about six months (and safe for 6–12 months). So you can ignore any “fresh” best-before on the label while it stays frozen.

Put it straight in the freezer when it lands. To use it, thaw in the fridge (allow ~24 hours for larger cuts), not on the bench. Once thawed and kept refrigerated, cook whole cuts — steaks, roasts, chops — within 3–5 days, and mince or sausages within 1–2 days.

If it arrives still frozen (ice present), pop it straight back in the freezer. If it thawed in the fridge and stayed cold, it’s safe to refreeze — refreezing is a quality thing, not a safety one, so you may just notice a slight change in texture. If your box arrives and the contents are warm, please don’t consume them and contact us immediately.

Standard delivery is $15 and Express delivery is $25, for North Island urban addresses. Farm-shop pickup is always free. See Pickup & Delivery details.

We dispatch Thursday mornings by NZ Post. Frozen delivery (Greater Wellington) arrives frozen on Thursday afternoon/evening; overnight North Island delivery arrives any time on the Friday.

Not at this stage, unfortunately.

No — with frozen products we can’t guarantee the package reaches rural addresses in time.

Yes. Select “Pickup” at checkout and collect from our Farm Shop / Kete Kai (from 10am Thursdays). Pickup hours: Thu 10am–5pm, Fri 11am–5pm, Sat 9am–5pm, Sun 10am–5pm. Same-week cutoff is 12pm Wednesdays. Address & directions.

Email us immediately at shop@mangaroa.org. We can usually adjust things like additional items and delivery instructions; changing a delivery date is harder. Please give at least 48 hours’ notice before the delivery date — within 48 hours we’re unable to make changes. Our team works Mon–Fri 9am–4pm and replies within 24 hours (we may not operate on weekends).

Many of our cuts are variable-weight, so we group prices into ranges and charge each range at the top of the range up front. When we pack your order we adjust the charge to the actual weight — so it will never be more than you paid, only equal or less.

Yes please — send back your used boxes, chill packs and wool inserts so we can reuse them. We’ll send a free courier sticker. See Returning your packaging.