Te Puke is the ‘kiwifruit capital of the world’ and this huge horticultural theme park offers an insight into the industry that’s become a worldwide success story. Kiwifruit is a mainstay of the Western Bay’s economy —contributing a whopping $2 billion to the regional economy annually.
A Waikato University study showed that almost 18,500 jobs rely on it. The crop is handled by Zespri International —based at Mount Maunganui —a grower-owned company that markets kiwifruit globally. It is one of New Zealand’s biggest exporters with annual sales of about $860 million, making it one of the Port of Tauranga’s biggest customers. (See ‘Our Top Picks’ for more information
Young Road, Te Puke, beside State Highway 2 (Tauranga). Ph: (07) 573-6340. www.kiwi360.com