Diversification

A desire for a change in lifestyle before starting a family was behind Wyn and Chris Daniell’s decision to buy an established kiwifruit orchard in 1980.

ey raised their two daughters on the Aongatete property, which has stunning views across Tauranga Harbour to Matakana Island.

Now more than 40 years later, the couple have a thriving macadamia nut business alongside kiwifruit and some avocados - Harbourside Macadamias.

“We were always aware of the potential bio-security risk as a monoculture from our proximity to the Port of Tauranga,” says Wyn. “When the green kiwifruit market was in decline in the early 1990s, we decided to diversify into macadamia nuts.” ey did extensive research before the days of Google and Chris explains that macadamia nuts are one of the world’s wonder foods and have a good market in a variety of forms.

“ ey are cholesterol free, gluten free, rich in vitamins C and B6, antioxidants, monounsaturated fats, oleic fatty acid and have a stable shelf life without requiring cooling.” ey underplanted the kiwifruit with 1000 macadamia trees as the kiwifruit income was still needed. With a 10 year wait ahead for the nut trees to become commercial, Wyn returned to corporate life and Chris returned to teaching.

“It wasn’t ideal, but it was worth it for the long-term gain.”

Goals

In time, Wyn and Chris returned to work full-time on the eight-hectare property and are responsible for the orchard work, harvesting and distribution themselves, and with marketing help from their daughters. eir ethics, sustainability goals and food safety goals are at the heart of their business.

Five di erent varieties provide fresh nuts from late April to December. ey are harvested when they drop naturally and