The Blom Family: Dave, Sonja, Linike and Charel (CD)
Sam Maritz (General Manager)
Introducing Sam, our esteemed General Manager at Cornerstone Alpacas! Since joining our family in 2022, Sam has brought a wealth of experience from his IT background and extensive management expertise to our team. His passion for welcoming visitors shines through as he conducts educational alpaca farm tours with warmth and enthusiasm. You'll often find him offering assistance in our alpaca shop, sharing his knowledge and love for these majestic animals. For all inquiries regarding group tours, functions, or alpaca sales, Sam is your go-to person. With his dedication and expertise, Sam ensures that every visit to Cornerstone Alpacas is an unforgettable experience. |
About UsCornerstone Alpacas is a family farm and kiwi owned and operated. Founders and owners, Dave and Sonja Blom, have been in alpaca farming since 2006 and are still enjoying every moment of it! They regularly participate in alpaca shows and are excited to have experienced numerous success. They continue to work on improving and upgrading their stud by regularly adding new genetics in quality alpacas. They welcome visitors to their farm for Alpaca Farm Tours and also run an alpaca farm shop where quality alpaca products are sold in the shop and online.
Granero ("barn" in Spanish) is our stunning venue. It is a new barn to accommodate large groups for Farm Tours and is available to hire for functions & weddings! We also use Granero for special events hosted on the farm. Cornerstone Kitchen is our very unique cafe with field garden seating and a view on the paddocks. Dave has a lively interest, knowledge and experience in the field of genetics. Being a fulltime dentist (Hamilton Dental Centre) in the Health Science field, and formerly a cattle stud farmer, gives him the knowledge and experience within the genetics. He is passionate about building a strong genetic bloodline for Cornerstone Alpaca Stud. You'll regularly see him at local alpaca shows. Dave was President of the North Island Alpaca Association Committee from 2016 - 2018. Sonja discovered the textile art of Felting in 2010. Always an artist by heart and having a former career in music teaching and lecturing in Educational Psychology, she now manages the shop & alpaca tours. As an artist experimenting, she started by using their own fabulous alpaca fibre, and has developed in using different felting techniques. She has her own exclusive designer award winning alpaca accessories range, Alpaca Bejeweled, which is also sold exclusively in the farm shop. Many of her designer scarves are now worn by ladies all over the world. She is passionate about the alpacas and their exquisite fibre! Some of her abstract paintings are also on display in the shop and she is responsible for the design of all the spaces. 
Bert Britz (Chef & Café Manager)
We are thrilled to introduce Bert, our Café Manager and Chef, whose extensive expertise spans various industries and leadership roles. With a background in small to medium project management, operations, and team leadership, our chef brings a wealth of experience to our café. With a rich history in hospitality management, our chef has left a mark in luxury lodges and tented camps across Southern Africa. From overseeing the culinary experience at prestigious establishments like White Elephant Safari Lodge to managing entire operations at GwalaGwala Tented Lodge, their journey reflects a commitment to excellence in every aspect of hospitality. Fluent in English and Afrikaans, and equipped with a blend of culinary prowess and operational finesse, our chef ensures an unforgettable dining experience at our cafe. |
We take immense pride in our team, as each member shares a deep love for alpacas and relishes the opportunity to share their passion with our visitors. When you visit us, you can expect to be greeted by a team of alpaca enthusiasts who are dedicated to ensuring your experience is both informative and enjoyable.
Who We Are |
Today we are the proud owners of around 60 alpacas. Our breeding program focuses on fineness, denseness, weight and lustre of the fleeces.
We carefully select our sires and dams for continuous improvement. We've purchased high quality Peruvian and Chilean huacaya stud males, imported champion Australian and U.S.A. bloodlines, and are developing their own pedigree herd sires - Cornerstone Alpacas. Other sires are sourced from outside our stud to ensure we have a diverse genetic pool. |
Our History |
Dave and Sonja Blom owned a farm in South Africa, breeding Nguni African stud cattle for 5 years and immigrated to New Zealand in February 2005. They bought a 10acre farm in the North Island, Otonga Valley, (15 minutes from Raglan) and were looking for the proper "small" animals in keep with their agricultural roots. Alpacas caught their attention on Field Days 2005 and they fell in love with these amazing animals! Within 6 months they purchased their first 4 breeding females and a cria and started their alpaca stud in 2006.
Over the next few years they visited alpaca breeders, attended seminars, and went to alpaca shows, all the while trying to expand their knowledge. The learning never stops! The family moved to Gordonton in 2008 and after noticing the public interest in seeing, feeding and learning about alpacas, they informally introduced farm tours when people asked. They started the Alpaca Shop and Farm Tours in the little existing alpaca shed in 2014. Soon running out of space, they renovated the existing large barn and moved the shop/tours to the larger space in 2016. Granero (Barn in Spanish) was constructed in 2018 to accommodate large groups, but is also available for functions and weddings. The vision for 2021 is now up and running! Cornerstone Kitchen is our new funky onsite licensed cafe! We are excited about the enthusiasm and passion for alpacas from our staff and visitors alike! We love for our visitors to create beautiful memories in our unique setting and leave feeling happier than when they arrived! |
