Meet The Tasman & Marlborough Horticulture Team

Farmlands has built a reputable team in the Tasman and Marlborough horticulture advisory and service sector to support our shareholders in these key regions.

The team has been developed and refocused to ensure shareholders, particularly in the viticulture, apple and kiwifruit sectors are well serviced.

The Marlborough viticulture team, based at the Blenheim branch collectively has 90 years of industry experience.

Daniel MacDonald is the Senior Technical Advisor in our Marlborough team, with 15 years’ experience in the viticulture sector, including the last 9 years as a technical advisor based in Blenheim.

Technical Advisor Robert Blathwayt has 20 years’ experience in the viticulture sector including vineyard management and most recently, managing vineyard development in the corporate sector. Rob also works very closely with Organic grape growers.

Simon Bowers heads up our winery supply operations for the region. “With 30 years viticulture experience, Simon has spent 20 years making wine and 10 years as a viticulturist.”

Mart Verstappen, Viticulture Technical Leader, supports our Marlborough team and shareholders with all things technical. With over 35 years’ experience in the viticulture sector, including the last 5 years at Farmlands, Mart has a wealth of knowledge and is always willing to work with shareholders on their crop management and nutrition programmes.

Mart has developed several projects which support Farmlands shareholders’ endeavours to improve their vineyard operations. Examples include the Innovation Vineyard, set up in collaboration with Marlborough Grape Growers Co-Op and the introduction of grapevine plant sap nutrition analysis.

In the Tasman region, Dominic Missen joined the team this year to manage the pip fruit, kiwifruit and viticulture portfolios across the Motueka and Richmond regions. Dominic brings great technical knowledge with 10 years’ experience in horticulture, working in a number of local orcharding and horticulture businesses including corporate apple growing. Dominic also has experience working in the kiwifruit sector in Te Puke.

Along with Dominic we welcome Reilly Allen to our Motueka/Richmond TA team. Reilly has spent the last 10 years working in pip fruit for the Riwaka area and will be using this experience to service our many pip fruit shareholders in the Tasman area.

Daniel MacDonald

Senior Technical Advisor, Tasman 027 836 2542

Simon Bowers

Technical Advisor, Blenheim 021 446 993

Dominic Missen

Technical Advisor, Richmond 027 254 8385

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Robert Blathwayt

Technical Advisor, Blenheim 027 272 9242

Mart Verstappen

Vitculture Technical Leader, Tasman 027 570 8300

Reilly Allen

Technical Advisor, Richmond 027 396 8510