A group of New Zealand farming and agribusiness people are attempting to buy an iconic central North Island station in order to stop it being planted in permanent exotic forest.

Mangaohane Station, nearly 5000ha just off the Napier-Taihape Road in central North Island, is for sale by international tender through real estate firm Bayleys.

Forever Farming NZ (FFNZ), the syndicate behind the bid, expect the station's scale, location and clear, easy contour will attract strong overseas interest, particularly from companies seeking to find a source of carbon credits to offset their own fossil fuel emissions.

Currently running 40,000 stock units, the property is estimated to sell for at least $45 million.

FFNZ said their primary intention was to keep Mangaohane Station in New Zealand hands and farming livestock on the property.

FFNZ spokesperson Mike Barham, said seeing Mangaohane Station sold to an overseas person or company and planted entirely in trees would be a tragedy for New Zealand.

“We’ve seen a sharp rise in the number of grazing properties being sold and planted for carbon credits so it’s time to make a stand against it.”

“Buying Mangaohane Station would mean we keep it farming livestock, and we keep the towns and businesses that surround it strong and vibrant. Farming is the backbone of the country and we need strong livestock farms to earn those export dollars to feed the nation,” Barham said.