An Ashburton-based family-owned agri-business is teaming up with environmentalist, actor, and social entrepreneur Suzy Amis Cameron in plans to create a food and fibre business park in Mid Canterbury.
Carrfields managing director Craig Carr confirmed they were in the process of acquiring land in the Ashburton Business Estate to build a food and fibre business.
It was a joint venture between Inside Out LLC – a US-based entity founded and controlled by Suzy Amis Cameron – and the Carrfields Property Group.
Amis Cameron is married to filmmaker James Cameron — the couple relocated to New Zealand in 2012.
The pair lived on a farm in the South Wairarapa where they grew organic fruit, nuts, vegetables, and arable crops.
Inside Out LLC was a company that sought to improve how individuals and businesses interacted with the environment.
Carrfields was a 100% family-owned company that spanned farming, property and agribusiness companies.
Land Information NZ’s Overseas Investment Office granted the application to purchase the land.
“There are standard conditions attached to Overseas Investment Office’s approval of the purchase,” Carr said.
“Parties are not yet in a position to publicly discuss the proposed development. However, more information will be made available in due course.”
The Overseas Investment Office decision stated the joint venture was looking to purchase 21.3 hectares, with an option to purchase a further 8.2ha, off the Ashburton District Council valued at $8.5m.
The decision outlined the main benefits to New Zealand would likely include increased capital expenditure through investment and acquisition of 50% shares in Rubisco Limited, the creation of jobs, introducing new technology and business skills, and increased exports.
Rubisco – formerly known as New Zealand Natural Fibres – was majority owned by Carrfields and was a sustainable material manufacturer and distributor using hemp and wool.
The joint-venture hub was not associated with the proposed construction of an oat milk factory in the business estate.
That venture’s key backers were New Zealand Functional Foods (NZFF), a company which is 51% owned by K1W1, the investment vehicle of Sir Stephen Tindall of The Warehouse fame.
The remaining 49% ownership sat with Great South, the regional tourism development agency for Southland which founded NZFF in 2014.
Great South – funded by the Invercargill City Council, Southland District Council, Gore District Council, and Environment Southland – has poured a decade of work into the concept, hoping Southland would become the main producer of oat milk in New Zealand.
When Tindall’s company came on board at the end of 2020 it was announced the factory would instead be built in Canterbury, with Ashburton getting the inside running after the Fairfield Freight Hub was established next to the business estate.
However, NZFF was not able to agree to terms with an unnamed overseas investor, and the plans have stalled.
The carbon-neutral processing facility was expected to create over 100 jobs.
Ashburton District Council’s Business Estate was a large commercial and industrial development located north-east of the Ashburton town boundary, which aimed to attract new and expanding businesses to the area.
LDR is local body journalism co-funded by RNZ and NZ On Air
