Waikōkopu Grove and Orchard is located just off State Highway 1 in Kuku, Horowhenua. Our grove flourishes behind the former Kuku Dairy Cooperative – a landmark heritage complex that from 1913 was a Māori-owned enterprise. Ngāti Tukorehe of Kuku has a long history of feeding people well. Back in the 1830s around the coastal Ōhau River area, our people raised pigs, grew gardens, fruit orchards and grain crops to support traders, whalers and the burgeoning city of Wellington. Upon this ancestral legacy, our hapū shareholder’s developed our hinterland farm in 1974, which continues today.

Fast forward to 2006 when the 7 hectares surrounding the dairy factory were purchased. As a direct descendant of key Ngāti Tukorehe horticultural leaders, Huhana Smith, partner Richard Anderson, Māori relations and friends planted the main grove Frantoio, Leccino and Pendolino varieties on what was a former Ōhau River bed. Our revitalising Waikōkopu Stream flows alongside the grove, hence the name. From 2016, Syrian New Zealanders have also brought expertise to the grove.

Our label design reflects a holistic ‘mountains to sea’ perspective. We draw upon local Māori knowledge of place to ensure that we create a healthier economic, cultural, social and environmentally sustainable turangawaewae (place to stand) for future generations. Our grove exercises kaitiakitanga (environmental care and protection) of our whenua (lands) and awa (waterways) in order to ensure high quality produce that is distributed locally and regionally – like our ancestors before us.

Due to changes in how we now interact, our olive oil can be delivered safely to your door (around Horowhenua and Wellington). Contactless pick up at the Kuku gate too from Thursday to Sunday only.