History of Hazelbrook
New Zealand
's early history is somewhat vague but it is thought that the Moriori's sailed
from Hawaiki to arrive in the
See :- Moriori settlement http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/moriori/1
The Maori's arrived in main land NZ in the 12th century. The Maori's went to the Chatham Isles in the 1835 and slaughtered and cannibalized 97% of the Moriori population reducing their numbers to the point where only 101 persons were surviving by 1863.
See :- Maori settlement http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/history/1
New Zealand
was first sighted by Able Tasman on 13th December 1642. He anchored in what is
now
Captain
Cook's first voyage on the Endeavour to observe the transit of Venus first
sighted
His second voyage (red), was in 1772 to 1775 and his third (Green), was in 1776 to 1779.
During these three voyages he charted the NZ coast line so accurately that many of his charts are still in use to this day.
See :- Cooks discovery http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/european-discovery-of-new-zealand/6/5
Able
Tasman's voyage
Cook's 3 voyages
The first Europeans, who were mostly Whalers, settle in NZ about 1826. The first main settlements were in 1840 lead by Captain Arthur Wakefield.
See :- Captain Wakefield http://www.theprow.org.nz/captain-arthur-wakefield/
Arthur
Wakefield's brother Edward Wakefield bought 15000 settlers to the Tasman area
between 1840 and 1852, one of them being Edward Baigent who
settled in
One
of Edward Baigent's children was a farmer. He bought a large parcel of land in
Aerial view of Hazelbrook showing Baigent's 1860 Some of our product
house (red), and the Wai-iti river.
Baigent's land was sub-divided in 1901 and again in 1991. The land parcel that is now Hazelbrook was grazed by sheep from 1991 to 1993. It was a nursery for native trees and grasses from 1993 until 2004 when we bought the property and established Hazelbrook.
Sir Arthur Rutherford, the father of the atom" was born in Brightwater, just 4 kilometers from Hazelbrook.
See :-
The Tasman district and its three National parks are amongst the most beautiful areas for scenery in NZ and possibly the world. It is renowned for its native bush, beaches, coastline and stunning walking tracks.
These two maps image will take enlargement Tasman National parks.
The Tasman region is ringed. A. Kaharangi B. Able Tasman C. Nelson Lakes
See :- http://www.doc.govt.nz/parks-and-recreation/national-parks/abel-tasman/
Also :- http://www.abeltasmanisite.co.nz/abeltasmanmap.php
Also :- http://www.abeltasman.co.nz/
Once Hazelbrook was established we cleared the ground, marked the rows and laid the irrigation, we announced ourselves to the world and erected a roadside sign.
Hazelbrook having been part of Baigent's original Hop farm still has some of the original strainers solidly embedded in the ground.
Phil at the main entrance to Hazelbrook Irene at the first hazelnut tree planted.
After preparing the ground the first 620 hazelnut trees were planted in June 2005.
A further 210 trees were planted in June 2007.
Following much research we followed "best Practices" every step of the way in establishing the grove. This paid early dividends giving us our first commercial crop in 2008 three years before normal.
We are not Organic certified but no sprays are used on the trees. The trees are not prone to any diseases or pests of any consequences. The few that are around can be controlled easily by hand.
Fertilizer and trace elements are applied in spring if the soil test indicates that some are needed.
We grow six varieties of Hazelnuts. White Heart is the main commercial variety with Tonda De Roma the second. The other four varieties are pollinator trees for the main crop trees. These are still nice and edible but not as popular with the buying public.
Hazelbrook in all it's glory as at August 2009 Circle lower left shows Hazelbrook. Baigent Valley Road runs along the right of Hazelbrook.
We also produce fresh farm eggs, twenty varieties of fruit with more to go in and several varieties of vegetables, all mainly for our own use.
The nut harvester and small tractor were purchased items but most other processing equipment was designed and manufactured by Phil.
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