About Us

Mamaku Blue Blueberry Experience & Winery is a family owned and operated business, built from scratch on the good old "Kiwi number 8 wire innovation." We supply fresh and frozen blueberries and gooseberries for local, export and farmers markets, also a variety of specialized products. Wines, liqueur, pure juice, jams, jelly, sauces, chocolates, real fruit ice cream and much more.

Accreditations

Orchard and Facilities are HACCP Accredited
Rotorua Sustainable Charter

A Brief History of Mamaku Blue

Looking instead for a history of the blueberry? Click here to read.

	In the early 1980's Harry & Anne Frost were researching ways of making their 100 acre (40 hectare) run off into a profitable viable business venture.   Blueberries were discovered quite by accident when a friend told them "you could grow blueberries in Mamaku, they grow on the mountains in America."  This was followed by months of research and the purchase of 2,000 Blueberry Plants.  The first hectare of Blueberries were planted. In these early days Fresh Export was the only market.
	Having successfully propagated from their original Blueberry Plants another hectare of orchard was developed.
	Cyclone Bola struck, some inspiration was required - winemaking was conceived and trialed. The first brews were small scale and very experimental.
	Harry chaired both the New Zealand Blueberry Growers Assoc and the Blueberry Export Council. Ultimately bringing them together under the Commodities Levy Act. Creating an industry body Blueberries New Zealand.
	Harry gave up his off farm occupation to be fully committed to the farm, orchard and wine making.
	A further hectare this time a later variety of Blueberries were planted.
	Combined with Hort Research Mamaku Blue did on-site Controlled Atmosphere Container Trials.            The first real commercial size volume of Blueberry Wine.
	"Mamaku Blue" became the brand name and Mamaku Blue Winery Ltd became Rotorua's first and only Winery. Celebrated and supported by the Mayor of Rotorua City.
	Mamaku Blue Winery won its First Medal a Bronze for its Medium Blueberry Wine at the NZ Fruit Winemakers International Competition. This was the first of many Medals won over the years in this competition.
	Earth works for the Winery Building started early May. A team of excellent tradesmen built the entire complex, shop, cafe, conference room, reception centre and museum - and we opend ready for the public October just Five months later.
	Harry & Anne's eldest son Phillip came home to join the Company securing Mamaku Blue to the next generation. Phillip brought with him new harvesting methods and a specially imported mechanical Blueberry Harvesting Machine, a substantial investment. Mamaku Blue continue to expand on their specialty product range now including Jams, Jelly, Chutney, Sauces to complement their Wine, Liqueurs and Juice.
	"THE GRAND OPENING,"  the then Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clarke officially opened the Complex.
	Planted another 2 hectare block of Blueberries with earlier varieties to extend our harvesting season. Built the new factory - 35 ton freezer, small blast freezer, 2 cool rooms, wine making facility and grading room.
	We invite you to come and see for yourself. Exclusive New products added to the range of Gifts, Tastes and Delights for every occasion.
	Interest in Blueberries worldwide was exploding with the health benefits being published internationally. With greater public awareness of the Benefits of this Miracle Berry - "A Little Globe of Health." A name change from "Mamaku Blue Winery to "Mamaku Blue Blueberry Experience." Visitors worldwide arrive at Mamaku Blue the only Blueberry Experience of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and possibly the world.
	With the decline in Fresh Blueberry Export returns a decision to put more of the crop into process had to be made. Spray Free Berries and Bio Logical Soil Management improved.
	With the importing of cheap Frozen Blueberries from China and Chile another market needed to be found. Decision to support Farmers Markets and meet the customers needs personally in Auckland, Mt Maunganui, Tauranga and Rotorua every weekend.
	Begin a Research project with Massey University on the Health Properties of our Blueberries and Blueberry Juice. Mamaku Blue now produce 30 to 40 ton of Spray Free Blueberries annually.

THE FUTURE?

Who knows where this "Miracle Berry," will take us next, 10,000 more bushes ready to plant out.

30 years Achievements acclaimed - 30 years opportunities await.