Focus on the Land

Sun rising on Ruatoria hemp industry

Nov 27 2017 Updated March 21, 2023

Gisborne Herald

3 min read

HARVEST TIME: Some of the 5000 hemp plants grown last summer for Hikurangi Enterprises’ hemp trial in Ruatoria. More are being grown this summer, with a view to selecting a plant with favourable medicinal characteristics. Pictures by Manu Caddie

THE BUDS are ripening for a Ruatoria hemp industry as production steps up and the potential for it to be New Zealand’s medicinal cannabis capital moves a step closer.

Hikurangi Enterprises last year planted a trial of 5000 plants as a field crop.

This season the Ruatoria charitable company is working with a group of 15 other growers and landowners in the region.

The group is growing another 5000 in...