After a year of setbacks, Kim and Janette Osborne have turned resilience into opportunity – blending sheep farming, premium wool, and conservation at their historic Waitomo property, writes Chris Gardner. See: Hollow HillResilience runs deep, pages 4 and 5.
Janette and Kim Osborne on their Hollow Hill farm.
Photo: Chris Gardner
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Forest, farms and fresh starts
Government regulations are slowing the pine conversion trend in rural New Zealand, while dairy, kiwifruit, and lifestyle properties are seeing renewed interest from local buyers and urban escapees. Jon Rawlinson reports.
The King Country has long been sheep and beef country, but wholesale farm conversions to forestry have taken a toll.
However, recently introduced government regulations appear to be curbing large-scale conversions, according to REINZ rural spokesperson Shane O’Brien.
“We’ve already noticed less demand for forestry land, mainly due to tighter government rules,” he says.
“It’s become a bit of a hot potato, and buyers are being very cautious.”
Concerns have been mounting - especially in sheep and beef regions - that too much productive farmland is being lost
to pine.
While forestry has its benefits, pine plantations don’t contribute to local communities in the same way traditional farms do.
In response, the government introduced new rules earlier this year.
“A lot of farmers have felt forestry was destroying communities and no one really likes forest next door because of animals, such as pigs, wandering out and causing damage, as well as an added fire risk and because weeds aren't being controlled.”
While pine may be losing favour, the outlook for dairy is optimistic.
industry is clearly going well and existing operators are looking to take the opportunity from good milk payouts and lower interest rates to further develop their farms,” O’Brien says.
“As Waikato has a strong dairy infrastructure and base, a lot of the interest in buying dairy farms is predominantly local. So, mostly, it’s coming from farmers who are growing their businesses.”
In the Bay of Plenty, kiwifruit remains the top pick among buyers.
“The REINZ statistics show that the biggest part of the rural real estate market in the Bay of Plenty is still horticulture,” O’Brien says.
“Compared to 12 months ago, there's more positivity in the horticultural sector. It's been tough going for avocado growers, and I don't think that's going to change quickly, but kiwifruit is still strong.”
As for lifestyle properties, Auckland’s tightening land-use policies appear to be fuelling demand further afield.
With the Supercity aiming to
protect prime farmland while increasing housing supply, lifestyle blocks have become harder to find.
This appears to have fed added interest in lifestyle property in Waikato and the Bay of Plenty.
“Yes, there is more demand for lifestyle property in these areas,” O’Brien says.
“Waikato's far more accessible now due to the expressway. Post-Covid, more people are working from home and the idea of living in the country has become more attractive and practical.
“So, we're expecting the lifestyle market to remain pretty positive and active in these regions overall as well.”
DISHER CONTRACTING
Bay of Plenty growers are set to gain if orchard sales pick up.
Shane O’Brien
While dairy dominates in the Waikato, cattle may hold the line against pine in the King Country, real estate stats suggest.
Rural communities with their schools and infrastructure needs rely on people, not trees.
Briefs…
Improvement seen
New Zealand is making progress in the fight against anti-microbial resistance, with sales of veterinary and horticultural antibiotics falling for the seventh consecutive year, says New Zealand Food Safety’s (NZFS) deputy directorgeneral Vincent Arbuckle.
Levels
set
Maximum residue levels for glyphosate in wheat, barley and oats have been set at a limit of 0.1mg/kg and a restricted use of glyphosate for these arable crops. Agricultural chemicals, like glyphosate, are critical for farmers and growers because they help manage outbreaks of pests and diseases, reduce the risks to plant and animal health.
Master plan
The New Zealand National Fieldays Society board will develop a new master plan to guide the future of Mystery Creek Events Centre.
Floods increase
New research led by Earth Sciences New Zealand reveals that more than 750,000 New Zealanders live in locations exposed to flooding from one-in100-year rainfall flooding events and this number could increase to more than 900,000 with a further three degrees of warming due to climate change. The findings come from the culmination of a five-year research programme looking at flood risk across New Zealand.
Money secured
Waikato-based agri-tech start-up Aimer Farming has secured a $NZ750,000 capital investment from Cultivate Ventures to grow its team, speed up development of mobile, drone, and satellite solutions, and launch into international markets. Aimer Farming develops AI-powered tools to help farmers optimise pasture and livestock management.
Funding to prevent erosion
Funding remains available to support King Country farmers in preventing hill country erosion, particularly in priority areas where land is highly susceptible due to steep slopes, high rainfall, and weathered geology.
In these farming regions, erosion risk increases when land lacks protective vegetation or is poorly managed. Climate change is expected to intensify these risks, especially on steep slopes — making it even more important to build resilience now and into the future.
Soil erosion can reduce farm productivity, damage infrastructure, and degrade water quality. High sediment levels affect river clarity, harm aquatic ecosystems, and diminish the cultural and recreational value of waterways.
Since the hill country erosion programme began, significant progress has been made in priority catchments. Landowners have planted poplars and other trees to stabilise vulnerable slopes and reduce sediment runoff.
Some have retired steep, lowproductivity land or preserved bush remnants, allowing them to manage their better land more strategically.
Waikato Regional Council’s Waipā and West Coast Zone Manager, Paul Smith, says there’s much to celebrate - but also more to do.
“We encourage anyone farming hill country within the Waipā and West Coast priority catchments to contact us about what projects might be beneficial, just give us a call to get the ball rolling.”
Finding smarter ways to deliver
By Liz Stolwyk, Waipā-King Country regional councillor
Landowners across the Waikato have once again stepped up to protect and enhance our environment, partnering with Waikato Regional Council to complete 347 voluntary environmental projects in 2024/25.
Together, these efforts have retired 1140 hectares of unproductive land and resulted in nearly 570,000 trees planted across the region.
In Waipā/King Country alone, landowners planted more than 100,000 native trees and shrubs, protected 14,815 metres of streambank, and retired around 90 hectares of erosion-prone land.
These community-driven projects show that real progress can be made when councils and landowners work side by side.
Our focus as a council remains clear: finding smarter and more efficient ways to deliver meaningful environmental outcomes. We know the challenges are complex, but the success of these projects shows that practical, local action works.
Meanwhile Warren Maher has been unanimously elected as the new Waikato Regional Council chair. Warren brings three years of valuable experience from his previous term and a steady, pragmatic approach to decision-making.
We also extend our thanks to retiring councillor Stu Kneebone, who has completed an impressive 15 years of service. Stu’s knowledge and commitment to rural communities and environmental policy have left a lasting mark.
A new committee structure is being established,
there’s already lively debate around the number of committees! I’m optimistic that the experienced voices around the table will help shape a constructive start to this triennium.
Plan Change One continues its progress through the Environment Court and one of the first decisions council made was to request a two to three month extension of this decision to enable an economic impact analysis to take place.
I understand the anxiety among rural communities - it is very much the “hot potato” of the moment. Be assured, extensive discussions are underway to find a balanced path that protects our environment while sustaining a strong rural economy.
The other “hot potato” is our commitment to rates control and efficiency. Ratepayers can expect a strong focus on delivering better outcomes for every dollar spent.
Did you know that nearly 43 per cent of Waikato’s landscape is at high risk of soil erosion?
Our region’s steep slopes, high rainfall, and weathered geology make it especially vulnerableand the challenge is even greater in our hill-country farming areas.
Targeted funding remains available, and we’re encouraging hill-country landowners in the Waipā/ King Country to get in touch with the council. Whether it’s fencing off a stream, planting natives, or restoring a hillside, every project makes a difference.
A final congratulations to all elected members of the Waikato Region – I look forward to meeting and working with you all. To all ratepayers - my phone is always on and I’m always happy to meet.
New Zealand’s growing horticultural sector is set to reap the rewards from the appointment of Horticultural Production and Postharvest Management Professor Andrew East.
During more than 15 years of leadership in postharvest horticulture at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University, East has gained international recognition for his expertise in postharvest horticulture: the science and technology systems that enable the successful global trade of fresh produce.
East is particularly well known for his relationship with the kiwifruit industry, through Zespri, and assisting the sector with processes and technology when new cultivars are commercialised. His appointment has been made possible by a donation of $1.6 million by philanthropist Matthew Abel.
Areas where Hill Country erosion funding is available
Andrew East
Hollow Hill - Resilience runs deep
Kim and Janette Osborne have weathered injury, drought, and political controversy to build a resilient farming and wool enterprise at Hollow Hill Farm near Waitomo, writes Chris Gardner.
Hollow Hill Farm, formerly Te Toko Station, has been home to Kim Osborne since 1984, when he moved there with his parents, Bob and Judy, and sister Tui.
Today, Kim and his wife Janette run the 800-hectare property on Hauturu Road near Waitomo Caves wintering more than 1600 ewes, 300 two-tooth ewes, and 80 Angus breeding cows.
They also nurture a unique flock of Corriedale-cross sheep for Briar Patch, their wool business.
Their journey has been anything but smooth, marked by injury, drought, and tough breeding seasons - yet each challenge has sparked new ideas and opportunities.
The couple officially took over the farm in 2023, but the next 18 months tested the couple’s resolve.
In April last year Kim was seriously injured when a wool bale fell on him, leaving him with a 10-month recovery.
Spring brought further hardship with a breeding disaster - only nine calves from 80 Angus cows - followed by a summer drought that forced them to sell nearly all their lambs as store stock.
“We got through this with the help of casual staff, friends and family,” Janette says.
So, when Country Calendar came calling, the Osbornes saw more than a chance to share their story. They hoped the exposure might boost Briar Patch and help offset lost cattle income.
“Country Calendar always likes to feature a small business alongside a farming operation,” Janette says.
The episode, which
Through careful and selective breeding, the wool is exactly where I wanted it to be.
– Janette Osborne
feature their natural knitting yarns side hustle, will finally air this month.
Both Kim and Janette share their story on screen.
But the episode didn’t air as planned as in the lead-up to local body elections, TVNZ postponed the programme after a complaint that Janette was being given an unfair advantage.
At the time, she was running for Waitomo mayor and the
Continued next page
Hollow Hill Farm on a glorious King Country day.
Waitomo Rural Ward. She missed out on the mayoralty but retained her rural council seat by a narrow margin.
“It’s just fantastic it will finally air,” Janette says. “I’m so sorry that it was stopped.”
For Briar Patch, which began in Canterbury in 2006 and now produces fine, naturally coloured wool for international markets, the timing couldn’t have been better.
When Janette moved north in 2010 – having met Kim the previous year - she brought her llamas, black sheep, and dog - and a vision for creating premium
wool.
Today, her flock of around 200 black sheep produces fibre that is soft enough for next-to-skin wear, averaging 25 microns, and comes in a palette of shades from pale coffee and silver-grey to deep browns and near-black.
“Through careful and selective breeding, the wool is exactly where I wanted it to be,” she says.
That dedication has taken Briar Patch wool to international stages, including Vogue Knitting Live in New York and the World Merino Conference in France.
More recently, her work
as a director of Carrfields
Primary Wool and chair of Primary Wool Co-operative introduced her to hemp fibre, leading to exclusive New Zealand rights for the Hemp for Knitting yarn range from Canada.
It’s a diversification that reflects the same philosophy driving Hollow Hill Farmresilience, innovation, and a commitment to quality.
The main commercial sheep flock is Perendale.
“My flock is my special breed which is predominantly Corriedale but also contains heritage from Arapawa, Oxford, Gotland, Romney and now Wesleydale,” says Kim.
The Country Calendar crew also explored the Department of Conservation owned Hollow Hill Cave accessed from the farm by permit.
Kim’s son George, fiancé Callie, and neighbours Corin and Brydie Walker Bain led
the party.
“It took the six helpers to help the three Country Calendar Film crew in and carry in all the lights and film equipment,” says Kim.
Hollow Hill is believed the largest cavern in the North Island with capacity for a small cruiser liner and is listed by Waikato Regional Council as being of national significance.
More than 280 hectares has been retained in native bush with a further 20 hectares being planted in 35,000 manuka plants.
From the depths of Hollow Hill Cave to the rolling paddocks of Perendale and Corriedale sheep, the Osbornes have built a farming story defined by resilience and reinvention.
What began as a family farm has grown into a diversified enterprise blending tradition with innovation - from premium wool and hemp yarns to
conservation projects that protect native bush.
Looking ahead, Kim’s daughter - former Piopio College pupil and Tokyo Olympics rowing silver medallist Hannah OsborneAllen - will eventually take over the farming operation.
With Hannah poised to take the reins, Hollow Hill Farm is set to continue its legacy of adaptability and excellence for generations to come.
Kim Osborne
Janette Osborne responds to questions from the Country Calendar crew about her boutique wool operation. Sheep and lambs on Hollow Hill.
The Department of Conservation owned Hollow Hill Cave accessed from the farm by permit.
After the deluge: the recovery begins
October’s storms carved through the King Country but farmers stand firm - mending fences, lifting bridges, and holding fast to the land and family. Jon Rawlinson meets some of them.
Flood waters recede, fences get rebuilt and stock replaced - but the scars left by storms run deeper than mud.
While some King Country farmers bore the brunt of the October storms, others are thanking their lucky stars that the worst didn’t hit their particular valley quite so hard, at least not this time.
Rotowai Farms - south of Te Kūiti - wasn’t badly
damaged, but its owners, Natasha and Alan Cave know what it’s like to pick up the pieces.
“We were hit quite badly when we caught the edge of the Auckland Anniversary storm – we had a lot of fence damage then, but we had some specific culvert and fence insurance, which saved our bacon,” Natasha says.
It
really is heart-breaking seeing the whenua you love and work so hard on being battered.
– Natasha Cave
“Thankfully, this time we were lucky compared to some others.”
The selective nature of such storms can actually exacerbate the fallout –those who avoid the worst,
sheltered in one valley, may not realise just how bad the impact has been for farmers in the next.
“The pocketed nature of the damage can be isolating
as some who are unaffected may not be fully aware of the stressful situation others are in,” Natasha says.
“There’s a mental, wellbeing toll. It really is heart-breaking seeing the whenua you love and work so hard on being battered.”
As a Whanganui Region Catchment Collective (WRCC) coordinator, Cave has been working with others, including Mat Sherriff
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(King Country Rivercare) and the Rural Support Trust to help fellow farmers with recovery efforts.
In some cases, farmers with flooded land have needed feed for their stock but the greatest impact has been caused by slips.
“Some have lost access to bridges, and a lot have lost substantial amounts of fencing and tracks,” Natasha says.
“It will cost some tens of thousands replacing fencing alone, that's the biggest issue.”
Farmers also have to prepare for the next storm – and looking even further ahead – while still busy cleaning up from the last.
“A lot of areas in the hill country that haven't given way completely are at risk of doing so when the next significant rainfall hits,” Natasha says.
“Anecdotally, these extreme weather events are happening more often.
Natasha Cave
Flooding on State Highway 30, near Mangaokewa Reserve Road, south of Te Kūiti.
in recent years. We lifted it a bit higher because it has been happening so often. The water level was so high this time that it went underwater anyway, but at least it’s still there.”
Whether the weather is getting worse overall may be open to debate, but preparation must follow recovery just as surely as recovery must follow disaster.
During (approximately) 30 years farming in the King Country, Waitomo Federated Farmers branch chair Chris Irons has seen some of the worst weather.
“It’s all cyclical; we've been here before. We've had floods at this time of year in the past, but I suppose we record a lot more of it now,” he says.
“Also, the damage wasn’t as dramatised back in the day – it wasn't as easy to take photos or share them. People used to get on and deal with it.”
Irons’ farm was especially hard hit during Cyclone Dovi in 2022.
“There was much less damage this time, nothing
like during Dovi. This one was similar but in a different valley and covering a slightly wider area. There was a lot of rain concentrated in one area, that’s what caused so much damage.”
Federated Farmers has also provided relief for farmers short of feed and Fonterra has reimbursed dairy farmers for milk dumped while it couldn’t be collected due to blocked roads.
While there’s no sense crying over spilt milk, ensuring (or insuring) farmers are better able to pocket the cost of adverse weather is imperative.
“It’d be hard to guess how much damage there’s been,” Irons says.
“A lot of damage on farms can't be insured – you can insure your fence lines, but you can't insure against your land moving underneath you.”
With regards to the wider region, plans are regularly reviewed to improve preparations, says Ōtorohanga Civil Defence local controller Tony Quickfall.
“We have operational response plans reviewed every three years. We look at the hazards and how we can mitigate and minimise any risks. But every event is unique in terms of lessons about vulnerability and areas where we could improve resilience.”
However, to a certain degree, the hills and valleys of the King Country farmland will always make its farmers vulnerable, says Waitomo’s Civil Defence emergency manager Alex Bell.
“It's going to be quite hard to prevent those issues. It's very difficult to make the district more resilient given the topography and landscape.”
As the clean-up continues and the scars of October’s storms slowly fade, King Country farmers stay grounded in resilience.
Whether rebuilding tracks, replacing fences, or simply checking in on neighbours, their response is rooted in connection - to the land, to each other, and to a future they refuse to let wash away.
Damage to Kaimango Road, west of Ōtorohanga.
Alex Bell
Chris Irons Tony Quickfall
Storm damage, Waiharakeke Bridge - the boundary between Ōtorohanga and Waitomo district councils.
Legacy farming meets modern day science
Eady Manawaiti is the eighth-generation kaitiaki of his Te Kūiti farm, writes Jesse Wood. His journey blends whakapapa, environmental science and a deep spiritual connection to Papatūānuku in a groundbreaking soil carbon project.
Eady Manawaiti stands proudly on his 18-hectare Te Kūiti farm, nestled on the Ngāti Maniapoto boundary - an iwi directly linked to the Tainui Waka.
The land’s western edge stretches from Kāwhia to Mōkau, bordered by Pureora Forest in the southwest and the Rangitoto Ranges to the east.
The genealogy of the land begins with Paramount Chief Taonui Hikaka of Ngāti Rora, who lived in the early 19th century.
“The whakapapa of my farm is extremely important to me. It has not been in anyone else’s name,” Manawaiti says.
“We’re not farmers in my family - we’re caretakers, kaitiaki of the land. Our relationship as human beings with the land isn’t celebrated enough. We talk about milk production or stock numbers, but we don’t know the story of the farm.”
Manawaiti, 52, a Fonterra employee and now deputy
mayor of Waitomo District Council, began a scientific journey seven years ago to explore methane and carbon emissions - among the highest in the world from New Zealand farms. His goal: reduce his carbon footprint, preserve the land for future generations, and deepen his relationship with Papatūānuku (Earth Mother).
“I got curious about what condition I’ll leave the farm in. If something happened to me, what am I passing on to my kids and grandkids? I want to hand it over in better condition than when I got it.”
Soil health became his focus. How much carbon does the soil hold? How fertile is it?
“I always wondered why some Fonterra farms look lusher than others. It came down to different
Continued next page
Waikato University PhD and master’s students with the team from AgResearch. Manawaiti is in the centre with his thumbs up, Professor Louis Schipper is to his left. Photo: Supplied
Eady Manawaiti
management systems and fertiliser types - more organic fertilisers,” he says.
After a year of deliberation, he enrolled in environmental science at Wintec in 2019, later continuing with a master’s degree at the University of Waikato.
Manawaiti bridged two worlds: Western science and the Māori ambition to nurture the land. At Waikato, world-renowned soil scientist
Professor Louis Schipper encouraged his curiosity.
“The reason I went to get the degree was to bring that knowledge back to my own farm. Some people study without knowing why.
I knew I wanted scientific knowledge on soil health.”
His master’s project compared soil carbon stocktakes under fence lines and adjacent paddocks on Māori-owned land. Working with the Pātaka Institute, he adapted research on topsoil biology to explore sustainable farming.
“My relationship with AgResearch and the university was key to getting the first phase off the ground. That in itself was huge - getting a soil carbon stocktake on Māori land. I was proud to be the first to do that in the master’s programme.”
Samples taken from areas untouched by livestock showed higher carbon levels
than grazed paddocks. “I feel like a kid - that gets me excited. You just don’t know what you’re going to get with science.”
The findings revealed more carbon in paddocks than under fence lines. His next goal was a soil organic farming project.
“I hoped to utilise carbon sequestration through photosynthesis using cover crops like legumes, plantain, chicory and peas,” he says. “I wanted to remediate the soil, bring it back to its original healthy state. That would reduce the need for fertilisers and lower nitrogen runoff into our awa.”
But the project stalled at the carbon testing phase due to lack of funding for tools and resources.
“My farm could’ve been the first Māori-owned property to test and measure how much carbon crops could sequester over several years. That’s still the vision.”
As the only known research project of its kind on Māori land, replication is needed to validate findings.
“Ideally, it would’ve been great to have had the funding to get the tools I needed,” he says. “But even testing soil chemistry and fertility - Waikato University helped analyse that and compare it with data from Owl Farm at St Peter’s Cambridge. We
went a metre deep and got a reasonable stocktake of carbon stored in the soil.”
He’s still seeking costefficient ways to continue the project and use available resources. The knowledge could shape sustainable land management practices and policies, especially within the Māori context.
Although the project didn’t reach its full potential, it led to unexpected collaborations. A master’s student and a PhD student from overseas joined his soil testing efforts, searching for similar answers.
“It was a brilliant experience - scientifically and holistically. I was able to share Te Ao Māori culture,” Manawaiti says.
“For instance, saying a karakia before testing to keep them safe and acknowledge Papatūānuku. That self-awareness around their relationship with the environment - it was wonderful to share.
“In Te Ao Māori, we have a spiritual relationship with the environment. Other cultures do too. Sharing different methods of caring for Papatūānuku really excites me. Underneath it all, we’re just caretakers of Mother Earth. That’s important to me.”
• A longer version of this story appears in King Country Farmer online goodlocal.nz
TIM YOUNG Earthworks
From farm to fame
Zealong Tea Estate is brewing more than just globally acclaimed teas on land that was once a dairy farm. Mary Anne Gill visits Gordonton in Waikato to uncover the innovation and international acclaim stirring beneath the land.
Gigi Crawford has another plan up her sleeve.
The Zealong Tea Estate chief executive is brimming with ideas and has built a team eager to bring her creative visions to life.
The latest is a tea-based cocktail she believes will be a hit with guests. During a team meeting, the Zealong staff brainstormed name ideas and came up with Waikato Sunrise.
“In Singapore, they have the Singapore Sling, so we wanted something that said Waikato,” says Crawford, referencing the general
It’s surreal to think our tea, grown right here in the mighty Waikato, is now enjoyed across the globe.
– Gigi Crawford
scenic beauty of the region at dawn and particularly the view over the Gordonton tea plantation.
The cocktail – created by Annalyn Walen - uses Zealong’s green heart tea, yuzu, elderflower and either vodka or gin.
While the team toasted their new creation, they had
another reason to celebrate.
The estate has been recognised in a book called “150 Tea Houses You Need to Visit Before You Die.”
From traditional Japanese tea houses to modern, trendy hot spots in global cities, each tea house has its own story, ambience, and unique tea experience.
Zealong is the only commercial tea estate in New Zealand and produces organic, award-winning teas (green, black, and oolong).
Newly-elected Waikato mayor Aksel Bech, Hamilton and Waikato Tourism chief executive Nicola Greenwell and NZ Trade and Enterprise customer manager Lisa Marcroft were on hand to celebrate with Crawford, general manager Sen Kong and other Zealong staff.
It marked Waikato Sunrise’s debut along with one of Zealong’s Signature High Teas and tea tasting.
Bech told The News he had sampled just about every experience at the estate and was thrilled to give the cocktail a go.
“Zealong is not just a local success but it’s actually a national icon of quality, innovation and sustainability.
“It’s a world class brand producing premium teas that are now right across the world.
“It is so much more than about tea – it’s the
The three who prepared a high tea to celebrate inclusion in a book were from left Krisca Ramos (Functions & Events Chef), Valentina Avecilla (Executive Chef - Tea Room) and Faith Holman (Kitchen Hand).
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
Zealong Tea Room has been included in a prestigious global book showcasing the tea plantation that was once a Waikato dairy farm.
Photo: Mary Anne Gill
manaakitanga (hospitality, kindness, and support) that every visitor will feel when they come here, whether local or international.”
“It’s a unique experience that really envelopes the visitor with a really authentic connection to these very special Waikato soils.
“Excellence has grown right out of the soil here,” he says praising Zealong’s transformation from dairy farm to global tea icon.
“Yes we know we can put some cows out there and produce some milk, but what we’ve done here is so much more …. and that’s a real testament to Zealong in the spirit of showing what is possible.”
Crawford says inclusion in the book was special.
“We have always believed in our story and are honoured to have it shared in these pages,” says Crawford.
“It’s surreal to think that our tea, grown right here in the mighty Waikato, is now enjoyed and stocked on shelves across the globe.
“To receive this kind of international recognition is a huge honour and a testament to the unwavering passion and commitment of everyone at Zealong,” she says.
“The dedicated team at Zealong consistently strives for and delivers perfection in every interaction with manuhiri (visitors), ensuring that every guest enjoys a fantastic and memorable experience,” says Greenwell.
Waikato has the ideal combination of abundant rainfall, sunshine, freedraining acidic soil and
the right temperature for growing tea. The famous fog also plays its part in ensuring that the plants enjoy the good level of moisture they need to thrive.
Zealong produces an annual harvest of 20 tonnes from 1.2 million tea plants on 48 hectares of land. Tea pickers – some from Taiwan and others from around New Zealand – started work the day after the book celebration.
The estate was founded in 1996 – there’s another set of ideas whizzing around in Crawford’s head, how to celebrate the 30th birthday. It was once a dairy farm – the original farmhouse is still on the estate as are the camellia bushes which thrive in the same conditions as tea plants.
Zealong founder Vincent Chen saw how well camellias did and decided to give tea a go initially importing 1500 tea cuttings from Taiwan. Only 130 survived New Zealand’s quarantine protocols.
Drinking tea is an integral
part of many cultures, particularly in Asia.
New Zealanders rank eighth globally in tea consumption, averaging 1.19kg per person annually - well behind Turkey, where
residents consume 3.16kg each, equivalent to 1300 cups a year.
The most popular varieties in New Zealand are English breakfast, black, green, Earl Grey and fruit infusions.
Later Life Relationship Property and Succession Planning
Later-life planning is essential to making sure our wishes are respected and followed. This also applies to relationship property. It is common for people to end and start new relationships later in life. When you enter a new relationship later in life, you also bring along your life’s work in terms of your property and legacy. Your property becomes available for potential division with your new partner, or their estate. Relationship property can be divided not only on separation, but also on death. A claim can be made either by or against an estate.
There are many good reasons to want to avoid your property being divided in this way. A common reason is a desire to provide for your children from a previous relationship, or to properly balance your legacy to children and step-children. Or it may be to simply avoid costly disputes and have more control over how your own estate is administered. When you are making plans for your future and succession, it is prudent to consider “contracting out” of the default rules for dividing relationship property at the end of a relationship. A “contracting out” agreement can work alongside your will and other estate planning, to help ensure your property is administered according to your wishes. It can help minimise risk of claims against you by your deceased partner’s estate. No matter your circumstances, contact Your Lawyers to help you design a succession plan that works best for you.
Zealong Estate’s Julia Jeanplong, left, with samples of the estate’s tea with the plantation behind her looking north. Waikato Sunrise inventor Annalyn Walen creates her cocktail for guests. Photos: Mary Anne Gill
Zealong chief executive Gigi Crawford, right, watches as Waikato mayor Aksel Bech and Hamilton & Waikato Tourism’s Nicola Greenwell sample the legendary High Tea. Photo: Mary Anne Gill
