Whitestone Cheese are proud to be a regional supporter of Surfing for Farmers, an initiative that is helping improve mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand rural communities. Mental health issues remain a major concern for NZ farmers from the ongoing pressures on the rural sector. Launched in Gisborne in 2018 by Stephen Thomson who started the initiative as a way to give farmers a break during a busy time of year. The programme has grown and been replicated in 20 other regions including our local Kakanui beach.
The learn-to-surf programme provides an opporunity for farmers to step away from what can an all-consuming business, jump on a surfboard and interact with other farmers on the water. Running for 13 weeks of the year, surfing gear and lessions are provided free of charge and includes a free barbeque at the end.


We’re proud to share that we are now Toitū carbon reduce certified - marking the beginning of a new chapter in our sustainability journey. This certification means our carbon footprint has been independently measured and verified in line with international best practice. More importantly, it reflects our commitment to actively reduce emissions and operate responsibly for future generations.
2025 is shaping up to be a golden year for us. Not only have we celebrated a Champion of Champions title and taken home a string of gold medals at the NZ Champions of Cheese Awards, but we've also reached another significant milestone: achieving Qualmark Gold Sustainable Tourism Award.