Peach horticulture in Tauranga

Peach groves and orchards appeared in many Māori and Pākeha settlements in Tauranga in the latter part of the 19th Century, until leaf curl and brown rot decimated the tree's numbers.

The 'Reeves Golden Queen' (later known as 'Golden Queen) was a much sought after variety, reportedly originating from Ōpōtiki missionaries (Berridge, 1924).  Mr E. Reeve, of Gate Pā, Tauranga, raised the first commercial Golden Queen seedling in about 1906. He displayed its ideal qualities for bottling at various shows and fairs. Sole propagating rights were bought by Messrs D. Hay & Son of Auckland (Farmer, 1974).  

Golden Queen peach trees were purchased by the Mayfield and Chater families in Bethlehem and grown for canning on their 'Hawkridge' property.  Disease halted the industry in the 1930s.

 

Sources:

Peach growing Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LII, Issue 8616, 13 June 1924, Page 11 (Supplement)

Tauranga 1882-1982 Bellamy, A. C. (1982) Tauranga 1882-1982, Tauranga (N.Z.). Tauranga City Council

Why not two markers for Tauranga's "Golden Queen"? Macmillan, V. (1970). Journal of the Tauranga Historical Society, No. 50, p.10.

Salute to the Golden Queen of Tauranga New Zealand Herald, 20 February 1974, by Albert Farmer.  See staff to view this article.