Author: Chris Robinson

The HGANZ Research Sub-Committee had its inaugural meeting on the 2nd of December.  The aim of the Sub-Committee is to undertake hazelnut research that will improve yields and thus profitablity for the industry. There are multiple avenues for research, but the key will be matching research topics with the aims of the various funding organisations.

The HGANZ members are Alison Bentley, Murray Redpath, Michael Petherick and Pete Barrowclough, and from Lincoln University, Dr Clive Kaiser.  

Clive is an Associate Professor in the Agricultural Sciences Department, specialising in fruit production, with a particular interest in pre- and post-harvest physiology.  For more information, check out his profile at:

https://researchers.lincoln.ac.nz/clive.kaiser

Clive has identified a student interested in doing a PhD on hazelnuts.  Currently, the student is in Oregon, working on an Honors [American spelling] project with Nik Wyman.  We will keep you updated on this possible development.

In the next Newsletter, an update on the citizen-science project of “radical pruning”. This was demonstrated at a Field Day at the Lincoln University hazelnut orchard in 2022.

Summer Field Days will be held in Alexandra, Central Otago, 22-23rd February 2025

21st February, Friday evening

For those that arrive on early on Friday evening, meet at the Monteiths Brewery Bar (26 Centennial Ave) around 7pm.

22nd February, Saturday

Begin the day with a trip to the supermarket or cafe to pick up something for the shared lunch.

Gather at 9.30am, then set out for Russell and June Aitken’s orchard at 765 Roxburgh East Rd, Roxburgh East. This will be a 2hr visit, so that everyone has time to see the whole operation from orchard to shed, and plenty of time for questions and discussion.

Depart at 12pm, travelling to Ross and Lynn Smith’s orchard at 106 Dalmuir Rd, Ettrick. Begin the visit with a shared lunch, before spending another 2hr exploring the Smith’s operation from orchard to shed.

Depart at 4pm, travelling to either a cherry or apple orchard (details to be finalised).

Dinner at 7pm. Multiple options for dining out in Alexandra, although quite expensive. If dining in is ruled out, then perhaps gather with takeaways at the local park.

23rd Frebruary, Sunday

Start the day with a cafe breakfast at 8.30am then … (more details to come)

It is with pride and pleasure that we present the final report “Growing Hazelnuts – A New Zealand Field Trial” written by Alison Bentley, HGANZ Committee member, and farmer who owns a 6.2 Ha block near Rotorua.

Alison has a significant background in horticulture, farming and complex growing systems, as well as business management. She has a Diploma in Horticulture, a graduate Diploma in Resource Management, a post-graduate Certificate in Commerce, is a Kellogg Scholar – and is contemplating a Masters in Horticulture. The farm is run on regenerative and organic principals, starting with soil health, which flows through to plant and animal health. More details of Alison’s farm and farming practices can be found at https://tikiterefarm.co.nz/ .

The background to Alison’s hazelnut journey begins with the Bay of Plenty Regional Council and its plans to divert landowners away from animal farming because of the high rate of nutrient leaching into the Rotorua lake systems. Alison was interested in finding other ways to use her land, reduce nutrient leaching, and produce a commercial crop. She did her research, and decided that hazelnuts were a crop with potential. She submitted a proposal to the Low Nitrogen Land Use Fund Project (LNLUF), and it was accepted. Funding was awarded for a five year field trial (later extended to seven years).

The first objective was to determine if hazelnuts would grow in the Rotorua catchment. The second was to compare Whiteheart with the Tonda Romana and Jefferson cultivars. Collection of pollination data was the third objective, and the fourth was to investigate the effect of irrigation on hazelnut production. Finally, her orchard had to be available for public enquiry, and the results be freely accessible.

Below you will find the link to her report. We hope you will take the time to read it and enjoy the transformation of a field into a micro-orchard. Along the way, Alison has brought her academic and practical background to bear on the many questions facing the hazelnut industry. This is also the story of one person with a question, who set out to find an answer and made something happen.

https://www.rotorualakes.co.nz/vdb/document/1978

Eagle-eyed members have sent in some snippets:

Continue reading Snippets

It is with great sadness that we share the news of a long-time member’s death. Terry Westbury was well-known in the hazelnut industry, especially to those in the Nelson and Marlborough regions. Our condolences to Sandra and family.

Photo: Sandra and Terry Westbury

Rose McDermott and Murray Redpath share some of their memories of Terry.

Murray: It is with sadness that we note the death of Terry Westbury, one of our hazelnut pioneers. Terry and Sandra developed one of the first large hazelnut orchards in Nelson. They didn’t just choose Whiteheart but also tried a wide range of other cultivars. They invested in and tried machinery as the harvest increased and moved into processing part of their crop. They have hosted the HGANZ members a number of times when we have held our field days in Nelson and assisted me with nut samples and data when I was doing the SFF Projects.

Rose: Terry and Sandy have been members of the Hazelnut Growers Assn for many years – the first field day I organised for the Nelson-Tasman region involved a visit to their orchard where Terry gave an invaluable presentation on health and safety in the orchard.  For many of us who work in off-orchard jobs and think about ‘health and safety’ as applied to our workplaces, it was a very timely reminder of the need to consider the hazards on our properties and how to manage them for our own safety as well as for any visitors or visiting contractors/tradespeople. Terry was very generous in sharing his knowledge and patient in answering many questions.

As well as hazelnut trees, Terry and Sandy have fruit trees, including persimmons, which were delicious!

Our more recent visit to the orchard was fascinating: seeing the growth and management of the trees – including Jefferson – as well as a tour of the recently built commercial kitchen and seeing the harvest equipment put to use.  Grace walking down the row operating the harvest, 8+ months pregnant was not a sight to be forgotten!

Terry and Sandy have been great company at our field days being excellent dinner companions as well as knowledgeable about hazelnuts and very good to talk with and ask questions about them. He will be sorely missed at future field days.

The AGM was held on Saturday, 21st June at the Rolleston Community Rooms, Selwyn, Canterbury. Twenty one people attended.

Chair Pete Barrowclough welcomed attendees and introduced Associate Professor Clive Kaiser (Lincoln University) who generously assists the Association with his time and knowledge. Unfortunately, the new Executive, Christine Robinson, was unable to attend because of Covid.

Continue reading 2024 AGM Summary and New Committe