The biggest avocado orchard in New Zealand to have been completely redeveloped with new higher-yielding, higher-health clonal rootstock, has been placed on the market for sale.
The 29.7 hectare property at Paparore some 22 kilometres north of Kaitaia was originally established by Californian-based owners in the mid 1980s. It was planted with Hass on Zutano seedling and Duke 7 rootstock on some 20 hectares of easy rolling sandy soils.
The freehold property was bought last year by a New Zealand consortium of highly-experienced existing avocado growers, and over the past nine months, has been completely re-developed to ultimately increase production levels and longevity of the orchard.
The intense improvement programme at the Paparore orchard included:
Removal of the all old existing trees whose production and health were in a poor state of decline
Breaking up the compacted sandstone pan substructure
Installing raised planting rows to improve drainage for when orchard receives heavy storm rainfall
Replanting new avocado clonal rootstock at a high density – with these new clonal varieties already showing to be more highly-productive than seedling rootstocks. 
With the major improvement works now complete, the freehold property at 419 Paparore Road is being marketed for sale by tender through Bayleys Whangarei, with tenders closing at 2pm on July 17. Bayleys Whangarei rural sales specialist Vinni Bhula said the orchard was now planted in 5300 clonal trees with a 10 percent pollinizer ratio. The orchard is on track to produce its first harvest in the 2022 season.
“This is by far the largest clonal avocado orchard to have ever come onto the market in New Zealand,” Mr Bhula said.
“There were no short cuts taken during the redevelopment phase, having seen the redevelopment take place from start to finish,” Mr Bhula said.
“Its longevity has been strategically underpinned by the quality of the replanting and infrastructure improvements undertaken on what has historically been a high-performing location.
“For example, the new plant spacing has seen more trees planted into the orchard which, as they mature over time, will be easier to prune, mana Groupge, and harvest from their strong open canopies.”
Production forecasts for the new plantings assess the 2021/2022 season will sustain a conservative yield of 6,913 trays, growing steadily over the ensuing years up to a level of 57,609 trays to be harvested in the 2025/2026 production cycle.
For more information:
Scott Cordes
Bayleys Realty Group
Tel: +64 9 375 6856
Scott.Cordes@bayleys.co.nz
www.bayleys.co.nz