increase font size
MyFarm chief executive Andrew Watters.
An investment fund launched by MyFarm is aimed at helping ‘serious’ investors tap into the burgeoning horticulture sector.
Kakariki Fund Ltd, which is seeking $100 million, will invest in orchards, vineyards, plantations and farms that will be co-managed by horticulture processors and exporters.
The latter will include apple growers Rockit Global and Freshmax, Sacred Hill wines, craft beer hop grower Hop Revolution, Manuka honey producer Comvita and kiwifruit grower and packer DMS Progrowers.
Kakariki is being promoted by MyFarm Investments, which has raised $165m for investment in 18 individual orchard, vineyard, hop garden and manuka plantation businesses since 2015.
MyFarm chief executive Andrew Watters says the fund offers investors access to all horticulture sectors with a single $100,000 investment.
“There is really no other single investment that gives New Zealanders access to a diverse range of permanent crop businesses, or exposure to the intellectual property our partners have invested in their plant varieties and brand stories.”
The fund is targeting annual returns of 10% from earnings from the sale of crops through the partners and any increases in land values.
MyFarm says investors will benefit from exposure to all ventures in the portfolio, reducing the risks that come with investing in a business in a single geographic location and focused on a single crop.
Watters says forecast returns in each sector are strong, reflecting the success of NZ horticulture in providing consumers in high value export markets with a premium, high quality, great tasting product.
Rockit Global chief executive Austin Mortimer says: “We are delighted MyFarm is bringing this investment opportunity to NZ.
“The demand for Rockit apples is outstripping supply. MyFarm has a long history of agriculture and horticulture management as well as a solid understanding of our customers’ quality requirements.
“MyFarm is therefore an ideal partner to help us grow the NZ supply of Rockit Apples. We are looking forward to working with the Kakariki Fund, Andrew and the team.”
Rockit apples are currently grown in six European countries and in the US. To keep up with demand Rockit plans to expand its Hawkes Bay orchard plantings from 200ha today to 600ha by 2025.
Kakariki’s offer is initially for:
• An 11 canopy ha SunGold kiwifruit orchard in Bay of Plenty
• A 50% share in a large scale 130 canopy ha hop garden
• 35 canopy ha of Rockit apples
• A 2000ha manuka plantation development.
Kakariki will be run by independent directors who will make all investment and divestment decisions, headed by Julian Raine who is a Nelson orchardist, exporter and chair of Boysenberries NZ and NZ Dairy Desserts Ltd, and previous chair of Horticulture NZ.
A brilliant result and great news for growers and regional economies. That's how horticulture sector leaders are describing the news that sector exports for the year ended June 30 will reach $8.4 billion - an increase of 19% on last year and is forecast to hit close to $10 billion in 2029.
There is an appeal to New Zealanders to buy local citrus fruit.
Avocado growers are reporting a successful season, but some are struggling to keep their operations afloat following years of bad weather.
Horticulture and commercial vegetable growers in particular stand to be major beneficiaries of radical proposals by government to make sweeping changes to RMA regulations.
Lydia Goodman has been crowned the Central Otago 2025 Young Grower of the Year regional winner.
Kiwis are wasting less of their food than they were two years ago, and this has been enough to push New Zealand’s total household food waste bill lower, the 2025 Rabobank KiwiHarvest Food Waste survey has found.
OPINION: Sir Lockwood Smith has clearly and succinctly defined what academic freedom is all about, the boundaries around it and the responsibility that goes with this privilege.
DairyNZ says its plantain programme continues to deliver promising results, with new data confirming that modest levels of plantain in pastures reduce nitrogen leaching, offering farmers a practical, science-backed tool to meet environmental goals.
'Common sense' cuts to government red tape will make it easier for New Zealand to deliver safe food to more markets.
Balclutha farmer Renae Martin remembers the moment she fell in love with cows.
Academic freedom is a privilege and it's put at risk when people abuse it.
OPINION: For years, the ironically named Dr Mike Joy has used his position at Victoria University to wage an activist-style…
OPINION: A mate of yours truly has had an absolute gutsful of the activist group SAFE.
