Meet the Executive:

CHAIRMAN / GROWER

Doug’s association with NZ Kiwifruit spans over 42 years, to way back to 1977 when his family purchased and developed a kiwifruit orchard in Oropi. On land forming part of large farm originally settled by his grandparents in 1921. Manaia orchards has grown to include over 30 canopy hectares of Kiwifruit, and it is Doug’s belief that operating Manaia Orchards under an organic management regime, is the best way forward as guardian of the land, for future generations. Two of his Children Stephanie and Richard are working full time in the family business.

Manaia Orchards is the owner of Oropi Management Services Ltd, which is a certified organic service provider offering a full range of organic contracting and management services.

Over the years Doug has held a number of senior positions within the Kiwifruit industry’s governing bodies from Grower Director of the New Zealand Kiwifruit Authority to Director & Chairman of Zespri international Ltd, and inaugural Chairman of Zespri Group Ltd.  Doug was the inaugural chair of OANZ, and again more recently 2015 - 2019.

Doug is a great fan and follower of our national sports teams he is a keen traveller and student of history. Five grandchildren are currently living on the property and hopefully four more will be joining the team shortly.

VICE CHAIRMAN / SUPPLIER

Jon has been in and around organic Kiwifruit growing for much of his life.

He was an organic Kiwifruit orchard manager for many years, ran a successful corporate team building company, now sits on the  BioGro Board of Directors, Chair of a community group called Families Achieving Balance (FAB) and is the organic category manager for Seeka.

When he hasn’t got his head in organic kiwifruit growing, he’s got his hands on his new planting of organic avocado trees at his own property in Pyes Pa. Or enjoying life with his family (including three grandees) and an unruly Dog called Ruby.

GROWER

Jeff and his wife Shirley farm 16ha of kiwifruit on No 1 Road in Te Puke and have been growing kiwifruit organically since 1989. Currently they have 9ha of Zespri Sungold and 7ha of hayward, but over the years they have trialled a number of other varieties under their organic management systems.

A key component of their operation is their team of experienced staff, a number who have been working for Jeff and Shirley for nearly 20 years. The team aims for continuous improvement, and along with the new varieties, many trials are carried out on the orchard by Plant and Food, Zespri and the on-orchard staff. 

Over the years, both Jeff and Shirley have visited and promoted Organic Kiwifruit in many of our overseas markets, and have a special interest in understanding market dynamics, as well as observing the positive outcomes of good quality, Zespri branded fruit in the marketplace.

GROWER

Dennis and his wife Debbie have been involved in the kiwifruit industry since the 1980s when the family dairy farm in Te Puke was converted to a commercial kiwifruit orchard. They both worked on the orchard until the downturn in the 1990s when Debbie started work off orchard in Post Harvest.

In 1999 with the desire to protect and nurture the environment and to try and leave the property in a better state than when they found it, the Organic journey started.

Dennis has visited the markets on many occasions and really enjoys the opportunity to interact with the consumers.

He has held a number of positions within the industry including NZKGI forum member, Kiwifruit Product to Australia member, Te Puke Fruitgrowers Executive member, COKA Organic Management member and former COKA treasurer.

While not on the orchard he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing squash, going to the gym and walking around Mount Maunganui.

GROWER

My wife Toni and I moved from the Manawatu to Tauranga to continue in my parents’ footsteps as Kiwifruit growers in 2010. We have an organic green orchard and are currently converting a conventional green orchard over to organic G3.  I also manage my parent’s G3 orchard in Te Puke.  I am involved in the kiwifruit harvest season as a picking contractor.

My involvement in both organic and conventional fruit, as well as managing orchards in both Te Puke and Te Puna, means I have an interest in many aspects of the industry, and can see many points of view, as I am required to make decisions frequently to meet the different needs of the two orchards.

The Te Puke orchard was stuck by PSA in the first few months of moving here, and this has been one of many challenges that I’ve been presented with since joining the industry.  But there have been many highlights too - in mid-2019 I travelled to Japan as an organic grower representative to meet with customers. This trip gave me a good understanding of how our fruit are presented in the Japanese market, and gave me a lot of confidence for organics going forward.

As a family, we certainly don’t regret our decision to up sticks to the Bay of Plenty. We enjoy being part of the kiwifruit and organic ‘family’ and look forward with interest as we develop further over the coming years.

GROWER

GROWER

SUPPLIER

Bex completed a Bachelor of Applied Science in Environmental Management, and gained experience in resource management and local government legislation while working as a resource consents planner prior to working for Trevelyan’s.

She is passionate about organic growing practices and believe horticulture, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles will be an important aspect in the future. She enjoys the opportunities and challenges her role offers, and working alongside like-minded growers, the post-harvest sector, and Zespri to improve the outcomes for organic growers.

Bex lives in Tauranga and likes to get outdoors in nature – whether it be camping, tramping or tending to her vege garden.

SUPPLIER

Emily has been involved in the kiwifruit industry since 2015, starting in the office at Agfirst, then moving to Apata in 2018. She has a level 3 in Horticulture and is working towards a diploma in Horticulture from Lincoln through Fruition Hort.

She has a passion for Organic and regenerative Horticulture, and was a finalist in the BOP young grower of the year 2021. Emily is a member of the NZKGI Future Leaders Committee and is the Organic Grower Services Rep for Apata. She feels as a young person coming through the industry that organics is so important to learn about and pass on techniques and practices so growers are thinking about inputs and future generations.

Outside of Kiwifruit, Emily has a small family: her partner, two cats and a boxer dog called Merlot who definitely keeps her busy. She also enjoys getting crafty and attending markets for homemade macrame.

SECRETARY

TREASURER