The existing covered 5ha of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries will be expanded by 4ha in the first stage, using another 20ha of land.
The Malley family spent a considerable time scoping, revising and presenting an application to the Provincial Development Unit of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment.
Onyx Capital, which trades as Maungatapere Berries, consisting of former Young Grower of the Year Patrick Malley and his father Dermott Malley and their wives Rebecca and Linzi, has been growing kiwifruit and avocados since 2011 and four years ago branched out into the labour and technology intensive hydroponics.
The business now employs 45 full-time staff members and provides employment for up to 180 people during the peak picking periods.
Maungatapere Berries has grown to be one of the largest soft fruit suppliers to supermarkets in the north and extended the harvest season with new varieties and pest and environment controls.
Berry vines rooted in bags of coir substrate are grown hydroponically with water from the Maungatapere Water Scheme, stored and filtered, enriched with nutrients and controlled electronically.
Rain is also collected from the tunnel houses and directed back to subterranean aquifers or stored in a giant dam.
The Malleys won the supreme award in the Ballance Farm Environment Awards for Northland this year.
Maungatapere Berries wants improved social outcomes for staff and their families and proposes extra rewards and fringe benefits for well-performing full-time staff, Jones said.
Hydroponic growing offers sustainable horticulture with protection against storms and extreme temperatures, increases yields and reduces inputs of water and fertiliser, Patrick Malley said.
The loan and partnership agreement stipulate open house and sharing of all developments in protected cropping with other intending growers.
“We have a lot of milestones in employment, training and reporting that we have to meet.
“Ongoing research into new fruit crops along with greenhouse innovation has the potential to develop a large, environmentally sustainable horticultural industry that supports real growth in living wage employment and social equality for Northland.”
He believes Maori farming will move from pastoral agriculture to horticulture because the Malley model shares many of the same values as iwi have for their people.
Traditional fruit tree horticulture requires perhaps one labour unit a hectare but hydroponic berries need six to 12.
“We also provide more surety of work, someone protected against bad weather and crop failures.”
