Productive farming land dug up for housing

Monday, 24 June 2019, 11:33 am
Article: RNZ

From First Up, 5:23 am today

More than 200 produce growers in Auckland have closed up shop in the past decade as more rural land has been rezoned to residential to keep up with the demand for housing.

Photo: RNZ

Listen duration 6:04

Now, after 60 years of growing vegetables in South Auckland, celery farmer Stan Clark has decided to close up as well.

Mr Clark's celery farms were re-zoned from rural to residential in 2009 and the rising land rates eventually made business unsustainable.

With the family preparing to sell up, Claire Eastham-Farrelly and Indira Stewart visited their farms in Pukekohe, a suburb that holds some of the country's most fertile land - now being dug up for housing.

Watch their video report here:

© Scoop Media

RNZ

New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.

Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Contact RNZ

• Website - www.radionz.co.nz
• Twitter - @rnz_news
• Facebook
• Link - Contact RNZ