Owners of Waikawa Glenn Olive Oil, Glenn and Lisa Wigley, have full-time jobs outside their olive oil brand, with Glenn sharing that the pair balance growing olives with their other work commitments.
Glenn was raised on a kiwifruit orchard in Te Puke and therefore learned a lot about horticulture growing up, and Lisa has a horticulture science degree.
A fundamental philosophy for the Wigley coupe revolves around being certified organic growers, and the pair make an effort to find local suppliers as well as replanting native bush on their property and leaving areas fallow to increase biodiversity and carbon capture.
While part of a handful of certified organic olive oil growers in New Zealand, Glenn continued that the pair also have a pick-your-own blueberry operation, creating a portfolio of growers with diverse products.
The flavour profile of Waikawa Glenn Olive Oil reflects the landscape from which they are grown, of warm days and cool nights.
“The grove is north-facing, getting a lot of sun. We are 5 kms inland but still have some salt breeze influences, which we think also positively influences flavours,” said Glenn.
Day-to-day, the couple work full-time, usually one of the two commuting to Wellington. Glenn explained that the olive grocer didn’t take up as much time as other areas of the property, with much of the grove spent mowing, pruning, or looking after irrigation.
The harvest of 2022 was the couple’s best harvest for quality and quantity, with the pair winning New Zealand’s Best Overall Olive Oil being a pleasant surprise. 2019 was the pair’s most challenging harvest, having received low productivity primarily due to the wet and cold spring.
“Climate change is the greatest challenge facing humans currently. It will result in western extremes that growers will need to plan for. It will be important that properties are as resilient as they can be to weather extremes.”
Glenn continued that building up soil carbon and creating flooding resilience will be essential actions growers must take to manage the ongoing climate changes.
As well as the olive grove and pick-your-own blueberries, the Wigley couple are also trialling with figs and cherries.
Organic retailers in New Zealand stock Waikawa Glenn Olive Oil, and the product is also available for purchase at Wigley’s property north of Otaki. Glenn shared that luxury lodges and gift box companies also purchase their oil. However, the volume of oil the pair produces is not large enough for export.
For the future, Glenn hoped that as growers, the Wigley couple would continue demonstrating that it was possible to produce high-quality olive oil organically and with good enough productivity to produce a sustainable return.
Discussing his favourite seed to grow, Glenn’s added that the Waikawa Glenn Olive Oil blended oil comes from the growers Koroneiki, Frantoio, and Leccino varieties of olive. This favourite blend also won Best Olive Oil in 2022.
“However, each of the single varieties has its charm (and customer following).”
New Zealand olive oil is high quality with various natural flavours, said Glenn, which are not yet fully recognised by many Kiwis.
