Wairarapa Market Gardens

Agriculture is the heart of the Wairarapa, with our climate and land, this region is perfect farming country. While we are now more well known for sheep and wine, the farming of fruit and vegetables is of equal importance.

To compliment Bev Moon’s exhibition Fortune this selection of images primary focuses on the many Chinese market gardens, and their associated grocery stores, that flourished in the Wairarapa. Many who have grown up in the Wairarapa remember visiting Chinese grocers – their gardens and shops were part of the fabric of our region. 

Thanks to Masterton Archive for access to many of these images and we recommend Sons of the Soil: Chinese Market Gardeners in New Zealand for further reading.