T&G Fresh and Ngāpuhi-owned Kaikohe Berryfruit Limited Partnership have announced a joint venture to expand berry operations in Te Taitokerau Northland to help meet the growing demand from New Zealanders for premium berries, while strengthening the iwi’s horticulture asset.
The joint venture, named T&G Kaikohe Berryfruit Limited Partnership, will lease Kaikohe Berryfruit’s 10-hectare site, including its orchards and packhouse, for nine and a half years, and grow premium blueberries and strawberries for the domestic and export markets.
Rod Gibson, Managing Director of T&G Fresh, says this joint venture will bring significant benefits to both organisations and the local community.
“Here in Aotearoa New Zealand, as well as around the globe, berries are a high-growth category, with strong demand,” says Rod.
“Within our T&G portfolio we have a range of unique high-quality cultivars, including jumbo blueberries, which attract a premium by being available over the winter months. Through this partnership in Northland, we’ll grow these exclusive varieties, increase the supply of premium blueberries available in Aotearoa New Zealand, and share our knowledge and expertise to help further enhance the skills and capabilities of the local Ngāpuhi workforce.
“We’re excited to be partnering with Kaikohe Berryfruit and the role this joint venture will play in strengthening our berry growing and supply operations, and helping build a thriving and resilient horticulture sector in Aotearoa New Zealand.”
Ngāpuhi Asset Holding Company Chair Nick Wells says this is a promising partnership that is the result of last year’s strategic reset of Kaikohe Berryfruit.
“We recognised a need to bring in the horticulture expertise and scale required to lift the financial and social benefits,” says Nick.
“This partnership gives us a runway of nine and a half years to maximise the sector expertise, market access, innovation, skills training and efficiencies, as well as working capital, to strengthen our horticulture asset and our own skills and capability.
“Under the partnership we retain the whenua and have a share in the business, and as the joint venture grows it will open up employment opportunities for our people, creating pathways for skilled, rewarding careers in horticulture and agribusiness.”
T&G Fresh has extensive experience growing premium berry varieties in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.
“Blueberries, in particular, are a significant growth category for T&G Fresh, with established operations in Northland and Queensland, Australia. These operations focus on cultivating a range of premium varieties, including early low-chill blueberries,” Rod said.
Licensed by T&G’s commercialisation business VentureFruit, T&G Fresh is the exclusive sales and marketer of these high-quality proprietary jumbo blueberries.
T&G Fresh will provide T&G Kaikohe Berryfruit Limited Partnership with orchard contracting services and serve as the exclusive sales agent as part of the agreement.
The agreement was effective from 1 July 2025.
