About Us

Tawhai Gotland Sheep Stud is owned and operated by Penni Loffhagen and Rocci Scott and situated among the beautiful Canterbury farmlands.

Rocci Scott

Rocci spent her early years in Takaka, enjoying time spent on her uncle’s farm.  Educated in Picton, Rocci sought a career as a Zoo Keeper and since graduating some years ago, she has worked in numerous zoos around the world with many different animal species.  After many years abroad Rocci returned to New Zealand, where she met Penni.  She now has more than a thousand ovines to care for and her extensive animal knowledge is put to good use.

Penni Loffhagen

Penni was raised in Culverden , North Canterbury where her family (third generation stud sheep breeders) bred Romneys, South Suffolks, English Leicesters, Halfbreds and Suffolks.  Penni started her own flock of Suffolks in 1989 with the encouragement of her parents, Marty and Ann Loffhagen and her grandparents, Tug and Margaret Burrows.


About Tawhai Gotland Sheep Stud

Our Gotlands are run alongside our 400 Suffolk ewes and 200 Romney ewes on our 650 acre dry land Sheep and Beef farm. We developed a passion for Gotlands as a hobby, but our direction changed with the opportunity to purchase the superior newly imported Swedish genetics from Ervalla Gotland sheep Stud.

These genetics have the potential to move the current New Zealand Gotland breed into the competitive commercial carcass industry.  These sheep have high quality wool and pelts, while  meeting the weight range for the meat industry.

Currently we have 300 Gotland breeding ewes which have put us well on the way to achieving our early goals for the business. 

In addition, we now offer for sale ewes, rams and luxurious pelts & wool  that can be purchased through our online shop.  Our popular workshops also offer an opportunity for learning new skills such as felting, spinning and dyeing.  Please contact us for more information.