Horizon Flowers New Zealand, one of the ‘‘big five’’ in Southland’s flourishing tulip bulb export business, has paid $7.8million for a 162 ha dairy farm at Mabel Bush.
The Dutch-owned company gained ministerial approval for the purchase in April, which would allow it to effectively increase its planting to 80 ha and add around one million flowers to its export revenues.
Horizon Flowers NZ manager Roy Smak, said the 162 ha Mabel Bush farm would be divided into six 27 ha plots, with planting on a six-year rotational growing cycle. The majority of the property will be leased back to the vendor.
''In addition to expanding our planting by around 20 ha, this block will create permanent and seasonal planting and harvesting jobs and importantly, it allows us to grow our tulips further afield and to cover risk if leased land is not suitable.''
