OUR NURSERIES
Our places prepare plants to grow with vigour.
Well positioned, windy nurseries and experienced hands prepare plants for greater survivability and growth.
Room to grow.
Our nurseries in Kaiwaka, Waipu and Palmerston North span a total of over 50 hectares, each accredited and audited by MPI and regional councils, and producing over 20,000,000 plants each season. Localised conditions and plant needs define how we utilise each nursery, with Waipu primarily for propagation and forestry. Kaiwaka and Palmerston North provide conditions for optimal growth.
Natural processes, perfected.
From Growsafe certified staff to automated irrigation, Kauri Park processes are an intrinsic part of how we operate. They create a parallel form of interconnected protection for the planet, while augmenting the needs of plants. Each nursery has a fully automated irrigation system with an oxygen saturation and ionisation dosing system to control pathogens. The more natural controls and healthier the plant the less chemicals we, or you, need. It’s just one way we look at everything we do.
The science of success.
We’re dedicated to understanding more about why species thrive, and how they can continue to. As well as developing our own plant-specific growing mixes balancing soil porosity, pH levels and moisture retention for optimum results today, we have a dedicated research and development team researching tomorrow. Among the programs they’re working on, they’re conducting world-leading research into kauri dieback resistant genetics in Kauri trees.
Our plants are grown in recycled pots and trays. As the technology develops, we are using more and more biodegradable pots across different plant grades.
Where innovation and nature
go hand-in-hand.
Take a tour of Kauri Park and see the team in action, combining technology and growing traditions to create another generation of quality plants.
A deep dive into our processes and technologies.
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• Our plants are grown from seed or from cuttings/propagules.
• All seed is collected by our own seed collectors and from industry specialists.
• Plant selections are from multiple plants showing good form and vigour.
• Our manuka genetics programme, where we have our own genetics orchard, compares this seed with the mother plant in the wild.
• The seed is cleaned, dried and processed. Only the highest quality and most viable of each batch is stored where seed can be sorted by weight and density through specialised winnowing and correct screening.
• All seed receive their own barcode which determines the species, collection location GPS and batch number. This barcode remains with this seed through to delivery to site and remains in historical data indefinitely.
• Seed is stored in temperature-controlled and moisture-controlled conditions. Some seeds must be sown fresh e.g. kauri.
• Seed is stratified and given pre-germination treatment to maximise the germination.
• Seed is sown into small cell trays through an Italian-manufactured drum seeder.
• The seedlings are germinated and grown on rolling benches.
• The watering system is highly automated and can be measured and controlled by a PC or mobile device.
• The greenhouses are weather and temperature-controlled to maintain constant temperature and growing conditions.
• The seedlings are finally moved outdoors through a hardening-off process to get them ready for transplanting.
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• Kauri Park mixes all the growing media so that the plants can develop the optimum root structure in their pots.
• Each species has a preferred Air Filled Porosity range that they thrive in.
• The growing media mixes consist of a combination of Bark Fines, Coir Fibre, and pumice.
• Each species has a preferred pH range that it thrives in so the mixes have pH correction additives of Lime and Dolomite added to adjust the pH in the batches.
• Each species and grade will need fertiliser added to the growing media.
• Kauri Park has large mixing hoppers that mix the growing media immediately prior to the transplanting.
• The mixing hoppers then dispense into overhead conveyor systems that are controlled by electronic switches into each of the different transplanting machines within the production warehouse.
• The Transplanting machines consist of the following types and capabilities:
o 2 x 24 head robotic transplanters. Each machine is capable of transplanting 120,000 seedlings per day.
o A tray filling line and conveyor planting machine that involves hand planting on a moving manufacturing line. This machine is capable of transplanting over 30,000 seedlings per day.
o For the larger grade pots, Kauri Park has the traditional planting machine which automatically dispenses and fills pots onto a hand planting rotary platform. This machine is capable of producing 10,000 plants per day.
o The combined daily production output at Kauri Park is over 250,000 plants through the production lines and then taken out onto the growing platforms in the nurseries.
• All plants are barcoded and stored in batches and areas which is important for contract growing records.
• Plants are grown in recycled plastic pots and trays.
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• Each nursery has a fully automated irrigation system that treats the water through an oxygen saturation process and an ionisation dosing system to control leave and root pathogens.
• Our research and development program includes world-leading research into the controls of Kauri Die-back resistant genetics in Kauri trees.
• The plants are nurtured and managed through the growing season by a group of experts and experienced plant people, Ecovitalists.
• Plants are grouped into similar water and environmental controls located within the number of the growing platforms.
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• Kauri Park places a huge amount of resources into the logistics and delivery of plants and projects. This is the best way to transport 20,000,000 plants out the front gate each year.
• We have 8 trucks and 3 trailers that are owned and operated to meet the demands of multiple contracts.
• All trucks have Euro 5 engines reducing the diesel emissions in the exhaust to water vapour. All trucks are GPS tracked and recorded for track and traceability.
• The customer service team is very engaged with each customer and delivery to ensure the projects are running as efficiently as possible for the client.
• All our drivers are trained and certified and are tested regularly for drug and alcohol so we can comply with deliveries to the civil contracting sites.
• All plants are coded when delivered which allows us to trace the plant back to it’s seed source and growing platform in the nursery.
DID YOU KNOW?
We have 2 x 24 head robotic transplanters. These world-class machines are custom made in the Netherlands and are capable of transplanting 240,000 seedlings per day (combined).
Nurturing future leaders of ecological restoration
"I was so impressed with young Oscar, Operation Manager, and Vern Wearmouth’s son. His knowledge and enthusiasm while explaining the whole operation, the day-to-day tasks, the software they use for traceability, make you believe in the importance of Plant Pass and the power of plants."
Senior Auditor, Asure Quality
Let’s grow. Together.
We’re easy to deal with. That’s another promise.