More than 200ha of orchard and market gardens at Pukepoto adjoins the irrigated Sweetwater dairy farms already owned by Te Rarawa and being managed by Landcorp.
Bell’s employs more than 100 people in peak season and all staff members have been offered continuity by the new Maori owners.
Bell’s will be owned and managed by Te Rarawa’s commercial arm Te Waka Pupuri Putea along with the iwi’s existing commercial investments and asset base, now worth $70 million.
Founded in 1995 by brothers Nick and Allan Bell and cousins Jeff Moore and John Reed, the business specialises in mandarins, kumara, corn, pumpkins, melons, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli and silverbeet.
In-house freight and preparation such as washing, waxing and labelling means produce moves directly from the grower to market with maximum freshness.
Te Rarawa chairman Haami Piripi said the purchase gives the iwi a 10-year head start on its horticultural aspirations since its Treaty of Waitangi settlement in 2015 with assets of about $40m.
The purchase will provide work and training opportunities for iwi members and fits with the iwi’s Four Pou principles governing economic, cultural, social and environmental wellbeing.
Holding company chairwoman June McCabe said the purchase followed a robust due diligence and negotiation.
“We can potentially amalgamate adjoining lands and work with Bell’s to use their intellectual capital and infrastructure to expand production.
“In the Far North we have plenty of sunshine hours and a warm climate – all perfect for growing sweet, juicy fruit and fresh vegetables,” she said.
The families were very pleased to sell to the local iwi and Allan Bell will join the board of directors while Reed will manage the field operations for 12 months.
Iwi members were invited to a handover ceremony last week and have been encouraged to keep buying their fruit and vegetables from the Bell’s roadside premises.
