By Sue Newman  October 13 2009

When it comes to trekking in New Zealand’s high country, you could have no better companion than a llama says Keith Payne.

He owns 12 of the beasts of burden and is a regular sight around the Mid Canterbury foothills and further afield, with some of his team in tow, laden with packs and gear, doing what they were bred to do in the South American mountains.

 His llama are all trained to harness and saddle and some are capable of carrying heavy loads for many kilometers over rough terrain.

 On Saturday he held a training day for llama owners, to encourage others to use the animals for the purpose for which they were bred.

 “For breeders if the animal has passed level one it makes them more valuable, but it’s unfortunate most people don’t use them as pack animals they use them as paddock ponies because they look so nice,” Mr Payne said.

 He’s been training and using his llama to carry gear in the high country for about two years, took part in three major treks last year and has been working on projects with the Department of Conservation.

 Mr Payne also trains other people’s llama to pack and can take them from paddock pony to working animal in about three months.

 Two of his flock are trained to level three standard, which means they can carry quite heavy loads, over rough terrain for lengthy periods.

 Like any animals they need to work to retain fitness and when no treks are scheduled, he uses his llama as an excuse to head into the hills, exercising the animals and enjoying a spot of fishing.

 While the Department of Conservation is not normally known for its tolerance of introduced animal species, llama have more than passed the test, he said.

 “Over the past winter we did quite a bit of work in the Port Hills transporting trees because the animals are non-threatening to the environment, whereas horses and donkeys can carry more, they’re likely to chew up the terrain.”

 They are grass grazers and because of an exceptionally efficient digestive system, do not spread seeds in their droppings.

 Llama evolved in the harsh Andean highlands of Peru and Bolivia and are among the oldest domestic animals in the world.

 They have provided meat, wool for clothing, hide for shelter and pellets for fuel.

 They have made an easy transition to life outside the Andeas and their easy going nature and robust good health make them great pets, but if Mr Payne had his way, all llama resident in New Zealand would be working llama to some degree.

 “They’re curious, eager to learn and very intelligent and their easy going personality allows them to become excellent trail companions.

 “It’s a simple matter to tether them at night and during lunch breaks.”

 Mr Payne intends to follow up last weekend’s pack trail with a second event later in the year, with one also scheduled for the North Island.

Pictured: Gearing up ahead of New Zealand’s first llama pack trials in Ashburton on Saturday, llama owner and tutor Keith Payne, with Tonia Luxton and Peanuts. - Photo Kirsty Graham 101009-KG-028