Rob & Coral Buddo, Marie Taylor
Plant Hawke’s Bay

The team behind this Hawke’s Bay nursery is actively striving to re-cloak the region’s farms and wider landscapes in high-quality, eco-sourced native vegetation.

Plant Hawke’s Bay was started in 2005 by Marie Taylor. Guided by a mission to restore and protect the environment, it has since evolved into a joint venture with Rob and Coral Buddo.

The nursery operates across an 11.3ha (5ha effective) site that produces half a million native plants and poplars annually.

Central to the operation’s success is the rigorous practice of eco-sourcing. By collecting seeds and cuttings exclusively from natural, known local populations, every seedling is suited to the region’s specific climate and soil conditions.

This practice guarantees higher survival rates for large-scale planting projects, is critical for maintaining the genetic integrity of indigenous ecosystems, and is safeguarding critically endangered plant species.

The commitment to quality extends to rigorous biosecurity which recently resulted in the business becoming the region’s first Plant Pass-accredited native plant nursery. The scheme validates their enhanced traceability, robust hygiene measures, and proactive pest risk management systems – ultimately instilling confidence in buyers regarding the health and origin of stock.

Efficiency and sustainability are embedded in the nursery design. For example, the physical strain on staff is reduced by automated pivot loaders, potting machines, conveyors and drone spraying.

There’s a strong focus on environmental stewardship, including extensive rainwater harvesting that reduces groundwater reliance and ensures better germination rates in the greenhouses.

The focus on low-energy, low-emission production, coupled with a concerted effort to reduce, reuse, and recycle nursery plastics, is guiding them toward a goal of carbon neutrality.

Despite challenging market conditions following 2023’s Cyclone Gabrielle, the owners made strategic decisions that strengthened the business’s foundations and enabled them to retain all eight staff.

By investing in operational efficiencies, targeted marketing and staff wellbeing initiatives, Plant Hawke’s Bay is a great example of how ecological commitment and business resilience can go hand-in-hand.