I am Jaz Mathisen – farmer, mother, station cook and author. I call Awakino Station, a farm set in the heart of the Waitaki Valley, New Zealand home.
I am extremely passionate about utilising what we can grow here on Awakino. Creating nutritious meals to sustain our family and farm staff is extremely important to me. The meals I create can often find their origins on our farm with lamb, beef, pork and venison.
I cook for our shepherds daily and enjoy the challenges of growing, harvesting, foraging and preserving our food. Smoko (morning tea) and lunches are supplied to the five full time workers on Awakino, who help tend to the fine wool sheep, cattle and deer that roam the 18,000 acres.
I have also recently become an author, with A Year at Awakino Station hitting all good book stores April 14th 2026. This book encourages you to slow down, to live alongside the land and to eat with the season's while I share tales and recipes from our life here on Awakino Station.
Featured In
I’m honored to have my journey and passion for homesteading and farm life featured in several publications. These articles highlight the heart of life at Awakino Station, our sustainable practices, delicious farm-to-table recipes, and the joys of raising a family in the beautiful Waitaki Valley. Check them out to learn more about my story and the inspiration behind our homesteading adventures.
The food I make is more than just what is on the plate – it is about where it came from, the work that went into producing it and the livelihoods that circle back to that delicious home cooked meal. At Awakino Station, it is often a sit-down meal at that, served at the kitchen table big enough for many.
Recipes
Explore my collection of seasonal recipes.
