Grant has a natural affiliation with the land and stainable farming practices, he was born and bred at Bell Road Maungatawhiri, North Waikato, where his parents were farming after his father returned from serving in Africa & the Pacific in the second world war.
You can reach Grant on 021 370 505.
Biology has always been of intense interest to Grant and he has worked in the agricultural -horticultural industry most of his working life starting with part time work in glass houses growing tomatoes and beans, also fruit orchards in his college years.
Grant and his wife Janice leased a 150 acre dry stock farm at “Little Huia” on the northern heads of the Manukau Harbour for seven years from the Auckland Regional Authority prior to moving to Northland in 1986 when they purchased a 42 ha property at Riponui, 34kms north west of Whangarei.
This property is primarily used for beef and some sheep rearing, although they have planted about 50 mixed type fruit trees in an orchard that the grand children love to visit.
About one third of Grant’s family property as covered in mature native bush where Kiwi, kauri snails and gecko also call home, this is adjacent to Department of Conservation controlled kiwi reserves.
“This reinforces my belief in caring for the environment and our native flora and fauna.”
In the last 14 years as a biological/organic fertiliser field consultant Grant has attended many instructional seminars in New Zealand and Australia, achieved a level 5 NZQA certificate in organic growing in 2004 and a certificate in small business management 2004.
For several years Grant has been helping private and polytechnic classes with demonstrations in pruning fruit trees, vegetable growing and conducting lessons on soil biology.
As a firth generation New Zealander, Grant has traced his ancestry back to 1838 in the Hokianga and Kaipara Harbours to some of the earliest pioneers and this has given him an interest in genealogy, in studying and achieving certificates through “Te Wananga o Aotearoa” in Maori (Te Waharoa), Mauri Ora, Tikianga Maori – Graduating in 2013.
Grant’s other interests include “te Mahi Whakario” (Maori Carving), in various mediums e.g timber, bone, shell. Also landscape painting and on the rare occasion (when he has any spare time) enjoys reading a good book.
Bee keeping is a special passion of Grant’s and is an essential part of our horticultural/agricultural industry. Grant is D.E.C.A (Disease Elimination Control Authority) accredited and assists other hobbyist beekeepers in the Northland Region.