Every orchardist and vineyard manager who has been involved in the development of a new block knows there are many decisions to make before you even start planting, and the decisions keep coming. Developing 25 or so hectares is one thing. Multiply your development plans by a factor of ten and you’ll see why Tōrea Orchard’s management team say simplicity at scale is a major focus for them.
Tōrea Orchard has been established on a 460 ha dairy farm near Pendarves, east of Ashburton. In time, apples will occupy a total of 250 ha while the remaining land continues being used for dairy. It’s owned by the NZ Super Fund and managed by rural investment management company FarmRight in a partnership agreement with T&G Global. Two varieties of apples – 125 ha of Rockit and 25 ha of Joli – were planted during 2025 at a rate of 10,500 trees per day under the direction of FarmRight’s Tōrea Orchard Manager Matt Bentley and Business Development Manager Damian Febery. The final 100 ha will be planted this winter. In total, there will be 900,000 trees producing 116 million premium export apples per year.
Matt says the establishment of Tōrea Orchard has been tracking well. “The focus to date has been on getting the fundamentals right starting with site preparation, reliable and efficient irrigation, consistent nutrition, and building good tree structure. So far the young trees are responding well, with healthy and even growth across blocks.”
The good progress stems from robust site selection research for such a large-scale apple orchard. Matt says that climate analysis showed that growing degree days are relatively comparable to Tasman’s Waimea plains, giving them confidence that the region could support high quality apple production. “The free-draining soils here have approx. 200-300 mm of topsoil, high in organic matter as ex-dairy pasture with no risk of replant disease. The gravel base promotes excellent drainage, making the site well suited to horticulture.” Access to reliable, high-quality water was another factor for site choice. Matt notes that apples require around 40 percent less water than dairy farming, while also significantly reducing nutrient leaching, particularly nitrates.
“The orchard water supply comes from three bores that service a twin dripline system. From both an environmental and long-term sustainability perspective, this made mid-Canterbury a strong fit. Disease and pest pressure is also lower due to the lack of nearby horticultural operations, and the orchard’s proximity to the coast helps reduce frost risk during high-risk periods of the season.” Pre-development decisions also included growing structures and planting density. “All trees are grown on a V-trellis system designed to intercept light as effectively as possible, with rows running north-south to maximise sunlight exposure. The Rockit blocks have 50,000 linear m/ha and the Joli have 39,000 linear m/ha. “Trellis and netting systems are constructed with high-grade galvanised steel, creating a uniform, purpose-built structure rated to withstand winds of up to 150 km/h, an important consideration given mid-Canterbury’s well-known north-west winds.”
At this stage in the development, Matt and Damian are focused on continued strong tree development, which relies on the numbers and capabilities of their ever-growing staff.“We’ve been clear to train staff with the understanding of why tasks are being done, not just how. Simplifying systems, setting clear rules, and building consistency across teams is critical to maintaining quality as the scale of work increases." With up to 125 workers on site daily, including permanent and RSE staff during the development and establishment phases, up to 450 workers will be needed for harvest when in full production with the first harvest in 2028 expected to be about 35 percent of full production. On-site accommodation for 100 staff is being constructed with more off-site accommodation for up to 200 workers being planned. A packhouse is also being planned.
Damian says, as a dairy property, this site typically supported around six full-time equivalent (FTE) roles. “As a fully developed 250 ha apple orchard, it supports approx. 200 FTE annually, delivering meaningful employment opportunities for the wider mid-Canterbury community.”The next major phase of work is tree training, pruning, and stringing treetops so the young trees fill in fruiting wires efficiently. Pest and disease monitoring, and tree nutrition have been ongoing since the first trees were planted, with the support of Rob Wards and Quintin Swanepoel, Technical Horticulture Representatives with Fruitfed Supplies Canterbury.
Matt says cover sprays have been applied as required, allowing for weather conditions. Fertigation and solid fertiliser applications are adjusted based on tree response and seasonal conditions. “Rob and Quintin have been a big part of this process for us. Their experience and regular input around monitoring, nutrition, and spray programmes has been valuable, particularly as the orchard transitions from early establishment into the next phase. Having that sounding board ensures decisions are well considered, technically sound, and aligned with long-term orchard performance.” Another ethos at FarmRight is being willing to challenge traditional systems. “With just two varieties across the whole orchard, we’re able to gain significant efficiencies in tree husbandry, crop management, labour training, and machinery logistics using tools like elevated work platforms and three-row sprayers. Our systems can be standardised and repeated to a high standard. We’re also well positioned to adopt future technological advances, including automation and robotics, as they become available.
“Having a repeatable, systematic growing platform allows for more precise pruning and yield management, not only to maximise yield potential, but to consistently deliver high fruit quality. Producing a premium product is a core objective for both FarmRight and NZSF Rural Land Ltd – Tōrea Orchard.”
