New investment in Māori horticulture is highlighting an important opportunity for New Zealand’s regional economy: bringing underutilised whenua into productive, high-value horticultural use.
In February 2026, the Government announced $6.25 million from the Regional Infrastructure Fund (RIF) to support two horticultural developments on collectively owned Māori land in Northland and Waikato.
The funding will support orchard preparation, irrigation, drainage, access infrastructure, orchard structures, packhouse expansion and initial crop plantings. Together, the projects are expected to strengthen local horticultural supply chains and unlock further investment in regional development.
From Land Opportunity to Productive Horticulture
One of the projects receiving support is the Ngāti Hauā Horticulture Project in Waikato.
The project will bring nine whānau-owned land blocks, covering more than 90 hectares, into commercial horticultural production. The development will focus on asparagus, strawberries and blueberries, with investment going towards infrastructure, packhouse capacity and the establishment of the first crops.
In Northland, the Mid-North Kiwifruit Project is receiving $4.2 million in RIF support to help prepare orchards and develop essential infrastructure. The project has a total value of $20.7 million, demonstrating how public investment can help unlock further investment in regional horticulture.
What stands out is that these projects are not simply about putting more land into production.
They are about creating the conditions for long-term, commercially viable horticultural operations.
Growth Requires More Than Land
For the horticulture industry, productive land and investment are only part of the picture.
As new orchards are established and production expands, businesses also need the right people, skills and workforce systems to keep operations running effectively.
From planting and orchard maintenance through to harvesting, picking and packhouse operations, workforce requirements can change significantly throughout the growing season.
This makes workforce planning an increasingly important part of successful horticultural development.
For us, this is one of the key takeaways from the latest investment in Māori horticulture:
Growing horticulture requires not only productive land and investment, but also a capable and well-supported workforce behind it.
Building a Workforce for the Next Stage of Growth
As horticultural operations expand, having access to the right people at the right time becomes critical.
Seasonal peaks can create significant workforce requirements, while different stages of production require different skills, levels of experience and operational support.
An integrated approach to workforce management can help growers respond to these changing requirements while maintaining productivity and consistency across the operation.
This is particularly relevant for developing horticultural regions, where new investment can create opportunities for both commercial production and local employment.
Supporting Horticulture from Orchard to Packhouse
At J&B, our focus is on providing Integrated Workforce Solutions that support horticultural businesses across different stages of their operations.
Our services include:
- Orchard Operations – supporting day-to-day orchard activities and seasonal requirements.
- Harvesting & Picking – helping businesses meet peak seasonal workforce demands.
- Packhouse Support – providing workforce solutions to keep post-harvest operations running efficiently.
- Workforce Management – helping coordinate people, productivity and changing workforce requirements.
- Workforce Training – supporting workers with the skills and knowledge needed to perform safely and effectively.
By bringing these services together, we help horticultural businesses build a workforce solution that can adapt as their operational needs change.
Looking Ahead
The investment in Māori horticulture is a positive signal for the future of New Zealand’s horticultural sector.
As more land moves into productive use and new horticultural operations develop, workforce capability will become an increasingly important part of the equation.
At J&B, we believe strong horticultural businesses are built not only on productive land and investment, but also on people, capability and effective workforce management.
As the industry continues to grow, we are proud to support growers and horticultural businesses with the people and workforce solutions they need — from the orchard through to the packhouse.
Talk to J&B
Whether you are preparing for a seasonal peak, expanding your horticultural operation or looking for a more integrated approach to workforce management, J&B can help.
Talk to our team about your workforce requirements and discover how our Integrated Workforce Solutions can support your operation.
[Contact Us] contact@jbsunshine.com
Source: Grow Regions, “Regional Infrastructure Fund support for Māori horticulture”, published 13 February 2026.