TARANAKI ON A PLATE THE STORIES OF FOOD AND FOOD PRODUCTION IN THE REGION LIKE NO OTHER TARANAKI ON A PLATE CONTENTS INTRODUCTION SOMETHING STRONGER Page 2 From New Zealand’s oldest organic beer to its newest gin, it’s made here. THE TARANAKI STORY Page 46 From pioneering pastures to food innovation, Taranaki’s story is THE TARANAKI DIFFERENCE compelling. Page 4 Taranaki’s honey industry is just taking flight. Page 48 THE LINK TO THE LAND Taranaki’s landscape is legendary, and FROM THE OCEAN so is the Māori connection to it. Fringed by the Tasman Sea, Taranaki Page 10 offers rich kai moana. Page 52 DAIRY HEARTLAND HOME-GROWN The growth of Taranaki’s dairy industry The “Garden of New Zealand”. Page 54 is a blueprint for the growth of the DINING DELIGHTS region. Page 14 Producing ingredients is only half the SAY CHEESE value of food – Taranaki delights in the Our dairy sector produces some of the other as well. Page 58 world’s best cheeses. Page 22 LEARNING THE TRADE FROM GRASS TO PLATE The skills to develop your own food Fertile volcanic plains are the start future can be found locally. Page 60 point for top quality meats and more. ENGINEERING AND OTHER Page 28 EXPERTISE SPREADING THEIR WINGS Fostering industry innovation. Page 62 Poultry could be considered the quiet LOOKING FORWARD achiever of Taranaki’s food sector. The local menu looks set to get a lot Page 36 more diverse, as the sector continues FRESH-BAKED to expand. Page 64 Taranaki’s baked goods are well STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE received at home and around the Taranaki’s recipe for success. Page 68 world. Page 40 A HELPING HAND THE LONG AND THE SHORT Venture Taranaki is on hand to support Taranaki takes its coffee pretty the region’s food businesses. Page 69 seriously, though the secret is getting out. Page 44 Published by Venture Taranaki Trust, June 2017. Venture Taranaki greatly acknowledges the support and assistance of Taranaki’s many food producers. Photographs: Rob Tucker, NASA/USGS, Fairfax Media NZ / Taranaki Daily News, Puke Ariki, BTW Company, Taranaki Regional Council and supplied by featured businesses and organisations. Project Manager: Dr Anne Probert, Venture Taranaki. [email protected] Design: C7 Design Writing and editing: Tracey Howarth, Antony Rhodes ISBN: 978-0-473-40214-3 Disclaimer: The report is provided as general content only. Neither Venture Taranaki, nor its employees or stakeholders, nor any of the contributing organisations, accepts any responsibility on any grounds whatsoever, including negligence, to any other person. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information included are accurate and reliable, Venture Taranaki or any contributing organisations or individuals shall not be liable for any adverse consequences of decisions made in reliance of any report provided. FOREWORD “ aranaki on a Plate” celebrates the that prides itself on growing ‘great food’ TTaranaki region as a prime food to a more market-led, value-add culture production hub which makes an important unafraid to challenge and disrupt tradition. contribution to the nation. Food adds over The story underpinning food production in $340 million to annual regional GDP and Taranaki extends far beyond the economics 4,300 jobs. It represents more than half and production: it is inextricably linked of Taranaki’s manufacturing base – one to the story of our region, our history, our of the highest proportions in the country. people and their pioneering spirit, and the Taranaki’s greatest strength is in protein Mountain and the fertile lands beneath it. production. World–class dairy, cheese, red This document forms a starting point to meat and poultry production represent our build greater awareness of what Taranaki is cornerstone contributors comprising some producing and is capable of. It is intended 90% of the region’s total food production. to foster inspiration, collaboration and However niche sectors, producers and conversation. As you will read, those that passionate innovators are increasingly call Taranaki home are privileged to a adding a new dimension to the makeup front row seat to the best food boutique of Taranaki’s food industry. The region is in the world. also transitioning from being an economy Dr Anne Probert, Venture Taranaki Nau mai e ngā hua Welcome the gifts of food o te wao from the sacred forests o te ngakina from the cultivated gardens o te wai tai from the sea o te wai Māori from the fresh waters Nā Tane The food of Tane Nā Rongo of Rongo Nā Tangaroa of Tangaroa Nā Maru of Maru Ko Ranginui e tū iho nei I acknowledge Ranginui who is above Ko Papatūānuku e takoto nei me, Papatuanuku who lies Tuturu whakamaua beneath me Kia tina! TINA! Let this be my commitment to all! Hui e! TĀIKI E! I Draw together! Affirm! 1 TARANAKI ON A PLATE INTRODUCTION TO UNDERSTAND THE STORY OF FOOD PRODUCTION IN TARANAKI, YOU FIRST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE REGION AND ITS PEOPLE. ositioned on the western point of the Taranaki more determined in its approach. PNorth Island, you seldom reach Taranaki At the region’s heart is an iconic volcanic by chance: the region is proudly off the beaten cone, Mount Taranaki, which indelibly shapes track and requires a conscious effort to get the climate, landscape, geology, lifestyles, and to. As such, the region operates modestly and affinities. Rich volcanic soils, ample rain, and largely beneath the radar of the nation. free draining landscapes: the land presents an But the Taranaki region is one to watch. It ideal place for growth. punches well above its weight class, and is From this landscape has evolved long- increasingly deserving of closer inspection. standing agricultural traditions and an The recent Lonely Planet accolade – as the equally prominent oil and gas industry. Both world’s #2 regional destination – suggests that have invested heavily in the region, through Taranaki’s time has come. This extends to food building facilities, attracting residents and and food production, and sets the scene for fostering innovation. The result is a compelling this publication. combination of global sophistication, an Alongside its relative isolation is a sense of outward perspective, and a population open to pragmatic self-determination, of resilience, ideas, arts, engineering, and an international of collaboration, and of necessary innovation. viewpoint. This is the Taranaki way. These factors have, of course, permeated The region is rich in history and culture, into Taranaki’s food production. something that generates both pride and Food is intrinsically linked to Taranaki, and underlies any connection to the region. People as the region’s story continues to unfold, food and products of Taranaki share a complex will remain a central theme. affinity with the place, steeped in legend, tradition and story. Taranaki’s western border – the Tasman Sea – offers a wild, unrelenting interface with the world, while the heartland presents an equally rugged connection to the rest of the nation – Robin Brockie geographic bookends that serve only to make Chair, Venture Taranaki 2 “We have a front row seat to the best food boutique in the world. Our land is beautiful, it is rich, and our people are resilient, resourceful and inventive. Those are our strengths.” 3 TARANAKI ON A PLATE THE TARANAKI STORY Taranaki’s food production, climate and geography are defined by the central figure of Mount Taranaki. Image Credit: NASA/USGS 4 FROM PIONEERING PASTURES TO FOOD INNOVATION, TARANAKI’S STORY IS COMPELLING. aranaki’s food sector contributes more than regional food production in both employment T$340 million annually to the region’s GDP, and GDP terms: the highest in the country, sustains over 4,300 jobs, and comprises more second highest on a per capita basis and the than half of Taranaki’s manufacturing base. These third highest nationally in employment terms figures only tell part of the story though – there’s for this group. a much deeper connection between food and Beyond the Taranaki’s strengths in dairy, Taranaki’s regional identity, history and culture. red meat and poultry, there are some exciting From the communities that sprung up around developments at the edges, at more intimate early dairy factories throughout Taranaki to scales and driven by passionate entrepreneurs the huge dairy production operations of today, making real in roads nationally and from Chew Chong’s edible fungus exports – the internationally. region’s first ‘black gold’ – to New Zealand’s A range of support industries have grown oldest organic brewery, or from finely-crafted within the region to assist the food sector, and coffee to world-leading engineering solutions, have applied technological learnings from our our food producers and production have grown other key energy sector to enhance local growth. up alongside the region. Technology also allows our food producers to At the heart of both the region and the make contact with consumers, to build direct sector is Mount Taranaki. The mythical central linkages anywhere in the world, and to tell the landmark has given the region its identity as story of our products and their origin. well as its temperate climate, plentiful rain, As consumers the world over seek greater and fertile volcanic soils – all contributors to insight into their food production, greater the favourable growing conditions that have benefits from their food in terms of nutrition and facilitated our foundation food industries. convenience, and greater taste – whether that’s Major food production firms as well as flavor or brand fashion – Taranaki’s stock can iconic brands have established their strategic only rise. production facilities in Taranaki, and an The world is catching on to what makes increasing number of small, agile, innovative Taranaki unique and attractive as a visitor companies have chosen the region from which destination, a fact reflected in Lonely Planet’s to carve their mark in this sector, adding coffee, judging of Taranaki as the world’s second best honey, craft alcohol, fresh produce and baked regional destination.