My Family

My family's connection with Wairepo goes back over a century. The original block of land, which went on to become Wairepo Holdings, was purchased by my grandfather, William Bolt Easton, in the early 1900's.
William's father, Lochart Dobbie Easton, had emigrated to New Zealand from Darvel, Scotland, in the mid-1800's. Lochart was educated at Edinburgh University and acquired a degree in Law and Education. He became the headmaster of Lower Moutere School and later practiced law in Motueka.
Prior to WWI, William married Mabel Hope Dudley. Mabel's family had arrived in Canterbury on the first settler ships in 1840, along with my wife's forebears. 

The Land

Wairepo is the Maori name for the valley in which the homestead and orchard are situated. Wairepo means "water running through a swamp". 'Wai' is the Maori word for water and 'repo' means swamp.

In pre-European times, Maori used parts of the Wairepo valley to grow kumara (sweet potato).  Early European settlers also uncovered some evidence of Maori cooking sites (earth ovens) in this area.

Wairepo Farm - History

After purchasing the original block, William had to break in the land from swampy native bush - a back-breaking task. 
He planted apples and ran a small dairy herd of Jersey cows. He grew Sturmer, Northern Spy, Delicious and Cox's Orange apples. 

During WWI the orchard was abandoned for four years while William fought in Europe - including Gallipoli and France.  Mabel went north to stay with relatives. Upon their return they picked up where they left off, back on the orchard.

My father, Lochart Donald Easton, took over the running of the orchard from William after returning from fighting in the Pacific during WWII. In 1945 he purchased an adjoining Maori lease block of land which was made freehold in 1969.
I began farming with my father in 1970, after returning from the war in South East Asia and completing my University studies. In 1971, I married Joyanne and in 1980 we purchased the land from the family estate.

We have four children - Simon, Vanessa, Matthew and Charlotte.  We have also acquired another 5 orchards in the Wairepo Valley and surrounding Moutere Valley area. Today, our sons Simon and Matthew manage the day-to-day running of the orchard known as Wairepo Holdings.

The Orchard Operation Today we grow many varieties of apples, including Cox's Orange, Royal Gala, Braeburn, Southern Rose, Fuji, Pink Lady, Jazz, Envy and a new variety yet to be named. The apple harvest season runs from mid-February to May.  The apples are picked and packed on-site with up to 80 staff employed during the busy harvest period. Most of the apples are sent to world markets.

We also grow pears and peonies (herbaceous cut flowers). Peonies were first planted at Wairepo in 1991. The harvest season for these popular cut flowers runs from October to November.  Most of the flowers are exported to the United States. 

In 2005 we established a successful sauce business, which today is managed by Vanessa, our eldest daughter. We are hoping to export our popular 'Mum's Tomato and Plum Sauce' soon. Charlotte our youngest daughter is a chartered account in Chrishchurch and we have 4 grandchildren soon to be 6.

Wairepo House The original one bedroom 'whare' (house) built by my grandfather stood on the site of the current homestead. This was removed in 1971 to make way for a larger home. After our children left home, Joyanne and myself established our homestay business and in 1991, we added further suites.

Joyanne and I hope you enjoy your stay,

Richard Easton.