Buyer’s plan for five Hawke’s Bay apple orchards purchased amid Kiwi Crunch fallout
An overseas investor has bought five apple orchards in Hawke’s Bay linked to the Kiwi Crunch collapse, and plans to continue using them to grow apples rather than change land use.
NZ Rural Land owns orchards in Hawke’s Bay and, until recently, leased those orchards to apple grower and exporter Kiwi Crunch.
However, a long list of Kiwi Crunch’s associated companies went into liquidation, receivership and administration in July.
The collapse of Kiwi Crunch has left a trail of debt and job losses in the region.
NZ Rural Land, an NZX-listed company, itself was owed $300,000 in outstanding rent from Kiwi Crunch Farms as of mid-2026, and the company reported that receivers opted “not to adopt” the existing leases.
NZ Rural Land has now announced it is selling five orchards in Hawke’s Bay for $18.84 million to “a partnership” managed by Craigmore Sustainables.
Craigmore Sustainables acts on behalf of overseas investors, managing assets and purchases in New Zealand.
“The sale is subject to usual conditions, including Overseas Investment Office consent being obtained by 10 November,” the recent NZ Rural Land announcement read.
“Settlement is expected to occur five working days after OIO consent is obtained.
“This agreement follows the external administration of entities associated with Kiwi Crunch and the subsequent decision by the receiver of Kiwi Crunch Farms Limited not to adopt the existing Hawke’s Bay leases.”
Craigmore Sustainables confirmed it planned to continue using the five orchards to grow apples, rather than change land use, and the orchards had been purchased by the same investor.
However, the company declined to comment further, including who the investor was, until after the Overseas Investment Office made its decision.
The exact location of the Hawke’s Bay orchards has yet to be disclosed.
New Zealand Rural Land Company Ltd owns and is selling the orchards through a limited partnership, New Zealand Rural Land Investments Limited Partnership.