Our Industries
Agriculture, Horticulture and Viticulture
A diverse range of agricultural and horticultural activities are undertaken in North Canterbury, with sheep and beef farming dominating land use. Of the 1,020,192 hectares of land in North Canterbury 793,919 hectares (77.8 percent) have been identified as being specifically used for agriculture and horticulture. The agriculture and horticulture sector is a key area of employment for North Canterbury.
A number of small emerging crops are planted in North Canterbury, with residents often experimenting with growing conditions. Among these crops are olives, nuts, herbs, lavender, asparagus, flowers and saffron. Other crops include tree crops and small seeds.
The wine industry is one of the fastest growing industries in North Canterbury, and the Waipara Valley in North Canterbury is one of New Zealand’s newest and most rapidly expanding wine areas. More than 1500ha of vines are planted with over 63 vineyards.
The average vineyard area is approximately 10.5ha which enables specialisation within the Waipara Valley. The Valley’s first plantings of Riesling, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir have established a solid reputation. The Pinot noir grown in the Valley enable long term cellaring and the Valley’s Sauvignon Blanc is a very different fruit and wine from that of its northern neighbour, Marlborough. On the boundary of the Waipara Valley, there are smaller plantings in outlying areas and it is here that vineyards such as Bell Hill and Pyramid Valley are located.
The Waipara Valley is a region that has an established reputation as a premium growing region. The most recent edition of US wine writer Robert Parker’s Wine Buyers Guide awarded the Waipara Valley winery of Pegasus Bay Wines with a 5 Star outstanding rating, further cementing the Waipara Valley’s reputation.
Water is an important resource for this industry and therefore requires careful management. For further information regarding the history of water, click here.