Harakeke Berries site manager Carl Hodson (left) and Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa tāhūhū rangapū/group chief executive Grant Huwyler. Photo / Moana Ellis
Harakeke Berries site manager Carl Hodson (left) and Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa tāhūhū rangapū/group chief executive Grant Huwyler. Photo / Moana Ellis
Inside a cooled packhouse just outside Whanganui, thousands of fragrant strawberries move along a conveyor belt for hand-packing before heading to market.
It’s a slick, high-volume operation that has transformed unproductive iwi whenua (land) into a fast-scaling berry enterprise, with volumes increasing steadily year on year.
Rangitīkei/Manawatū iwi Ngā Wairikiand Ngāti Apa say patience and a willingness to learn are paying off, as its commercial arm lifts yields from 240 grams per plant in its first year to 840g last season.
Now in its fourth year, Harakeke Berries harvested 130 tonnes of strawberries last season.
Te Rūnanga o Ngā Wairiki-Ngāti Apa tāhūhū rangapū/group chief executive Grant Huwyler says the operation near Kaitoke is about more than fruit.
“It is a good example of learning and adaptation, building internal capability, creating employment and regional supply chains and moving toward sustainable cashflow at commercial scale,” Huwyler said.
“But one of the things I love most is that this was unproductive land.”
The strawberry farm was launched with critical funding support from the Government’s Provincial Growth Fund.
It currently spans about 4ha of tunnel houses under hail canopy, with plans to expand to 6ha. Huwyler describes this as the “sweet spot” for a sustainable, efficient berry business.
The model uses fertigation systems and controlled growing environments to maximise fruit quality and yields.
Site manager Carl Hodson, who also oversees the forestry portfolio, said the work never really stops.
“Even out of season we’re still quite busy, prepping for the following season,” Hodson told Local Democracy Reporting.
The season runs from October through to May or June, but preparation for the next season begins pretty much without a break.
Each May and June, new plants are manually planted – 200,000 by hand this season, up from 160,000 last year.
Next season, Hodson’s planning for up to 360,000 plants.
The berries are grown in 40 tunnel houses raised on sandy, wind-raked ground, each containing 800 growing bags.
Most of the crop has traditionally been the Monterrey variety, but the iwi are now trialling the 1160 and Victory varieties as they continue refining their approach.
Four permanent staff manage the site year-round, with numbers swelling to as many as 24 during the peak picking and packing season.
Sustainability is also part of the model. Harakeke Berries works with Māori-owned Rivercity Tree Services to process organic waste from used strawberry growing bags.
The bags, made up of 70% coconut husk and 30% chip, remain nutrient-dense even after a season of fruiting. Instead of being discarded, the material is repurposed, closing the loop and reinforcing the iwi commitment to responsible land use.
Harakeke Berries supplies national distributor Turners & Growers, while also building local relationships – including exclusive supply to New World Marton and product into Pak’nSave.
Excess fruit and “seconds” are occasionally snapped up at the farm gate by eager locals, with a single social media post often enough to see trays of berries sell out within hours.
Four permanent staff manage the site year-round, with numbers lifting to as many as 24 during the peak picking and packing season. Photo / Moana Ellis
While the strawberries are now trending toward profitability, a key decision remains on whether to complete the final 2ha needed to reach full commercial scale.
Beyond revenue, the operation has become a training ground. Skilled operators have been developed internally, with iwi members stepping into management and commercial roles.
Huwyler said that capability-building – alongside cash flow – is part of the long-term return on investment, with the guiding principle being patience and adaptability.
“The philosophy has been to start small and learn. Production figures are an indication of the learning,” Huwyler said.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air.
