Featuring the oil of Moutere Grove

We acquired the 20 Hectare (50 acre) property in 1996,with the intention to grow olives. We are now fully planted and have about 4500 trees of Tuscan varieties.

In addition, we have planted 100 walnuts (walnut oil in the future is the plan), pinenuts, and we grow globe artichokes for the local market. In 1999, we commenced the process to organic certification. In 2002, we imported a press from Italy, a Pegaso 500 from OMT. It is a continuous process centrifugal press system. We have been delighted with it and the quality of oil it produces.

We look forward to a time when Moutere Grove will become our full way of life. To that end, we strive to reach commercial viability within the next few years.

Export for us as well as other local businesses is vital, as New Zealand is a very small market, with limited space for the high-end, boutique and niche products that we produce. We currently export to Australia, Japan, Singapore, Germany, and the United Kingdom, as well as to the United States, through The Organic Olive Oil Company.

We are fully committed to continuing the organic production of our products, and this is an essential plank of our philosophy!

Today, we are the major 'hands-on' for all the jobs on the property.  We look forward to managing a staff for the day-to-day operations.

Ed remains an enthusiast for olive oil and its wonderful range of flavours. He has been a judge on the panel of the ONZ awards for the last 5 years, and is trained in organoleptic tasting of olive oils.