An exciting opportunity exists for residents to be associated with the growth of a glamorous and potentially lucrative new industry in New Zealand.

Southern Cross Truffles Limited (SCTL) has planted a truffiere on Te Arai Farm. The truffiere consists of 5 separate areas totaling 17.3 hectares of over 8,000 oak and hazel trees. 4,600 trees were planted in 2002 and another 3,600 were planted in 2004. They are all infected with the perigord truffle mycorrhiza (the black winter truffle). Perigord Black Truffles, known by scientists as tuber melanosporum, are prized for their unique flavour and intoxicating smell. They vary in size, from 2cm to 10cm, and look like a cross between a shriveled avocado fruit and a lump of coal. Their texture is succulent and firm and they have been called the undisputed sovereign of all gourmet foods.

Truffle host trees produce one crop per year between May and August in the Southern Hemisphere. They usually start producing truffles within 6 to 8 years from planting, with good commercial quantities being available from year 12 onwards.  There are now nine truffieres within New Zealand which are producing a crop. On a per hectare basis some yields have exceeded one hundred kilograms per annum. This is reputed to be the highest production of cultivated trees in the world.

Te Arai Estate truffiere is managed by a farm manager on behalf of SCTL, which has a close association with the Crown Research company, Crop and Food Limited. Crop and Food Limited has been instrumental in the successful introduction of truffle growing into New Zealand, with a total of approximately 30,000 trees now having been planted nationwide. Directors of Southern Cross Truffles have twice been to France, home of the Perigord truffle, to see at first hand how the industry operates and to establish future marketing links. The response has been very positive. Indications are that truffles supplied into France out of its growing season would be very highly sought after. At present prime quality truffles are selling for in excess of 1,300 Euro per kilogram in France. In New Zealand truffles are selling for in excess of $3,500 per kilogram.

SCTL has also been in discussions with growers in Tasmania, who have already established truffieres which are in production and are now supplying to the world market. In association with Tim Terry, who owns the biggest truffiere in Australia comprising 40,000 trees, SCTL has set up a nursery operation based at the Crop and Food site at Lincoln, Canterbury, which provides trees to people wanting to grow truffles. The nursery company is utilising the technical experience and skill base of Tim Terry who is successfully growing trees which are producing truffles after only four years from planting. This exciting development ensures that the plantation at Te Arai Estate is under expert management.

Presently Te Arai Estate leases the 17.3 hectares to SCTL at an annual rental of $35,000. This rental will be ultimately paid to the Residents' Association to ensure all communal areas are maintained at the highest quality.

Individual lot owners may choose to grow truffle infected trees on their own block of land. Trees will be sold by the nursery company at a discount and, if desired, can be managed under contract by SCTL.