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Growing Tropical Plants in NZ: 100 Fascinating Facts You Need to Know
Here are 100 unique and interesting facts about growing tropical plants in New Zealand:
New Zealand's Northland region boasts the warmest average temperatures, making it ideal for many tropical species.
The Kermadec Islands, despite being part of NZ, experience a truly tropical climate unlik...
Permaculture Principles for a Thriving Home Garden in Bay of Plenty
Welcome to the wonderful world of permaculture gardening! Here at Troppo.nz, we believe that creating a flourishing and productive home garden in our beautiful Bay of Plenty doesn't have to be complicated. Permaculture offers a simple, yet powerful, set of principles that work with nature, not again...
Creating Your Own Urban Food Forest in Te Puke, NZ: A Step-by-Step Guide
Imagine stepping out your back door and into a lush, edible paradise. A place where fruit trees, berry bushes, and useful herbs grow in harmony, providing fresh, nutritious food right at your fingertips. This isn't a far-off dream – it's the reality of an urban food forest, and you can create one ri...
Designing a Low-Maintenance Food Forest: Tips for Te Puke’s Climate
Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! For those of us lucky enough to call the beautiful Bay of Plenty home, particularly the fertile lands around Te Puke, the idea of a thriving, edible garden is often top of mind. But who has endless hours to dedicate to weeding, watering, and pest control? The good news...
Integrating Native Plants into Your Urban Food Forest for Enhanced Biodiversity
Welcome to the Troppo.nz blog! Today, we're diving into a fantastic way to make your urban food forest even more vibrant and beneficial: by weaving in some of our amazing native New Zealand plants. You might be thinking, "Food forest? Native plants? Do they even go together?" The answer is a resound...
The Benefits of Guild Planting in a Small Urban Space
(Featured on www.troppo.nz)
Living in a town or city often means limited space for gardening. You might have a tiny backyard, a balcony, or just a few pots on a windowsill. But even with these small areas, you can create a thriving and productive mini-ecosystem using a clever technique called guild...
How to Build a Vertical Food Forest for Limited Space in Te Puke
Living in beautiful Te Puke often means enjoying the outdoors, but what if you have limited garden space and still dream of fresh, homegrown produce? The answer might just be a vertical food forest! This innovative gardening technique allows you to grow a surprising amount of food in a small footpri...
Kids Kai Trail: Flavours of Plenty Festival Recap
The Kids Kai Trail at Flavours of Plenty in Te Puke gave youngsters hands-on experiences — bees, community gardens, planting and making pizza sauce from scratch.
Hosted by Te Puke Kai Resilience and Colab. Learn more at Kai Resilience.
This year, the Kids Kai Trail was a big hit at the Flavours of ...
Understanding Soil Health in a Permaculture Garden: Te Puke Edition
Welcome, fellow green thumbs and aspiring permaculturists! Here at Troppo.nz, we’re passionate about creating thriving, resilient gardens that work with nature, not against it. And at the heart of a successful permaculture system lies one crucial element: healthy soil.
Especially here in our beauti...
Te Puke Community Rallies Together for Mum’s Cancer Treatment
In September 2023, 46-year-old Sarena Crane, a devoted mother from Tauranga, started noticing troubling symptoms such as bloating, fatigue, and discomfort. Initially, these symptoms were attributed to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or endometriosis, but further testing soon revealed a far more serio...
Bay of Plenty Orchid Show Blooms Bright in Rainy Te Puke
The Bay of Plenty Orchid Society hosted its annual orchid show over the weekend at the Te Puke Memorial Hall. The event took place on Friday and Saturday, running from 10am to 4pm each day.
Visitors enjoyed a stunning variety of orchid displays presented by both the Bay of Plenty Orchid Society and...
Rainwater Harvesting for Sustainable Food Forests in Bay of Plenty
Welcome to Troppo.nz! Here in the fertile Bay of Plenty, we’re often blessed with ample rainfall. But are we truly capitalizing on this natural gift, especially when it comes to nurturing our thriving food forests? Rainwater harvesting offers a clever and sustainable method to hydrate your edible la...
Composting Secrets for a Nutrient-Rich Food Forest in Your Backyard
Imagine stepping into your backyard and being greeted by a thriving food forest – lush greenery, vibrant flowers, and the promise of delicious, homegrown fruits, vegetables, and herbs. It sounds like a dream, right? Well, one of the biggest secrets to making this dream a reality lies right under you...
Attracting Pollinators to Your Urban Food Forest
Welcome, green thumbs and aspiring urban farmers! Here at Troppo.nz, we believe that even in the heart of our towns and cities, we can cultivate thriving food forests bursting with life. A crucial ingredient for a successful and productive urban food forest is a healthy population of pollinators. Th...
Understanding Te Puke’s Microclimates for Optimal Tropical Fruit Growth
Welcome to Troppo.nz! If you're passionate about growing delicious tropical fruits right here in Te Puke, you've come to the right place. While our region is famous for its kiwifruit, the diverse landscape also creates pockets of unique conditions – what we call microclimates – that can be perfect f...
Protecting Your Tropical Plants from Frost in Bay of Plenty: Practical Tips
Welcome fellow tropical plant lovers! Here in the beautiful Bay of Plenty, we're lucky to enjoy a generally mild climate that allows us to grow a fantastic array of lush, exotic plants. However, even in our little slice of paradise, the threat of frost can rear its icy head, potentially damaging or ...
Kids Kai Trail at Flavours of Plenty (Preview)
Before the festival, Te Puke Kai Resilience and Colab previewed the Kids Kai Trail — a food-resilience activity trail designed for youngsters at Flavours of Plenty.
See the event recap after the festival day.
While most events at the Flavours of Plenty festival are designed with adults in mind, the...
Te Whare o Tīmata
Nestled in the heart of Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, Te Whare o Tīmata is more than just an educational tool—it is a living, breathing expression of Mātauranga Māori, designed to inspire, teach, and connect. It is a place where whānau, tamariki, and communities can come together to explore ancestral heri...
“Hei Tiki” email response
Mauri, my plant family.
This morning, I received an email questioning my branding, expressing concerns that it might diminish the integrity of my mahi through misappropriation. It caught me off guard, but I acknowledge the importance of these kōrero. Conversations around culture, identity, and resp...
“Weeding for Wildlife: Help Restore Kotukutuku Gully!”
Join the Kotukutuku Gully Weeding Bee and Make a Difference
Nature needs a helping hand, and you can be part of the solution! The Maketū Wetland Society (MOWS), in collaboration with the Kotukutuku Gully group, invites you to a hands-on conservation event to tackle pesky pest plants and restore the...
Wetlands restoration in Te Puke with FRUITION’s Hei Whanake
As part of Vector Group Charitable Trust, Troppo is documenting the comprehensive wetlands restoration project in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. Today marked the commencement of planting a significant number of native flora, a crucial step in rejuvenating our region's natural resources. In a few weeks, the...
Fermenting Fun: Kefir, Salted Butternut Ferment & Feijoa Fizz!
Last night, disaster struck—the hot water cylinder blew! So instead of showering, let's embrace the funk another way—with some ferments! Who needs warm water when you have bubbling jars of probiotic goodness to keep things exciting?
The stars of today's fermenting session come straight from Troppo’...
The Easiest Way to Harvest Banana Bunches – Plus an Exciting Ice Cream Project.
Troppo shares key activities and insights while preparing for the 'Flavours of Plenty' event and managing their garden. The focus is on banana harvesting techniques, replacing banana clumps with rarer varieties, and handling an overgrown 'green Abyssinian.'
https://youtu.be/2jdGwuTpcbc
Harvesting ...
A Green Encounter
It's not every day that your passion project catches the attention of someone who shares your vision for a greener, more sustainable world. That's exactly what happened when Bahareh from Green and Wild visited our Troppo urban tropical food forest and nursery in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty. The exci...
Te Puke’s Green Gems: A Day of Community and Cultivation
On Sunday, March 16th, the Bay of Plenty buzzed with excitement as local community gardens opened their gates for a special event. Among these verdant havens, two Te Puke treasures stood out: the Te Puke Community Garden and Giggles Te Puke Early Learning Centre. But that’s not all—Troppo’s very own...
Community Garden Open Day Bay of Plenty and Rotorua
Explore Your Local Community Gardens!
Local Community Gardens are throwing open their gates to share what they do. Whether you're a gardening enthusiast, a curious visitor, or someone looking to get involved, this is the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and discover the i...
Introducing TROPPO’s Kai and Canopy – Growing, Harvesting, and Feasting.
Welcome to TROPPO's Food Forest Kai and Canopy, our YouTube channel where we take you on a journey from plant to plate! Whether you’re a tropical grower, a food forest enthusiast, or just someone who loves the idea of harvesting your own kai, this channel is for you!
What You Can Expect on TROPP...
Giggles Garden Glow-Up: Growing, Learning & Digging in Together!
Exciting things are happening at Giggles Te Puke Early Learning Centre! Their amazing food forest is about to get a fresh burst of life, and guess what? The whole community is invited to join in the fun!
A Garden That Gives Back!
At Giggles, the garden isn’t just about growing plants—it’s about ...
Plumeria Variety Compendium: Names & Grower Notes
At Troppo's subtropical nursery and food forest in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, we grow Plumeria Variety Compendium — part of our exotic, rare and edible plant collection for warm New Zealand climates.
Browse the full plant collection or shop live nursery stock when available.
Browse the full plant coll...
The Inspiring Journey of Meeting Owen Mania Takuira-Ngaropo and Joining His.
Fourteen years ago, in 2011, the Vector Group Charitable Trust was established, driven by a shared passion for community development, sustainable living, and empowerment. This was the same year that my journey took a remarkable turn when I met Owen Mania Takuira-Ngaropo, the founder of "The Rock" Pa...
Youth Getting Into Syntropic Agroforestry: A Visit from Jared
The future of regenerative agriculture and food security is bright when young growers step up! It’s always exciting to see passionate youth diving into the world of syntropic agroforestry. Recently, I had the pleasure of hosting Jared and his father, Steve, for a tour of Troppo’s tropical food fore...
Te Puke 2025 Teams Summit – A Night of Collaboration, Connection & Kiwifruit!
Te Puke, get ready! The Te Puke 2025 Teams Summit is happening soon, and you’re invited to be part of the action! Whether you're a business, a community group, a club, or just someone passionate about shaping the future of our town, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and contribute.
Date...
One Man’s Trash-Busting Mission – But He Needs Your Help!
Te Puke’s got a new hero – and he’s armed with nothing but a passion for keeping our town clean! Meet Craig Wallace, the one-man clean-up crew who’s on a mission to make Te Puke shine. But let’s be real – he can’t do it alone.
Te Puke has officially joined the Keep New Zealand Beautiful family, tha...
Restoring Te Puke’s Wetlands: A Community-Driven Environmental Revival
At the heart of Te Puke, the Western Bay of Plenty District Council is leading an ambitious wetland restoration project, dedicated to revitalizing the natural ecosystem surrounding beloved local landmarks, including Blaymires' Tinkerbell's Garden, the BMX pump track, Te Puke Dog Park, and the Te Ara...
Ensete ventricosum: Green Abyssinian Banana
At Troppo's subtropical nursery and food forest in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, we grow Banana Ensete ventricosum (Ethiopian Banana, Green Abyssinia — Troppo Guide — part of our exotic, rare and edible plant collection for warm New Zealand climates.
Browse the full plant collection or shop live nursery s...
Sorting Shelving & Preparing for Winter in Te Puke ️
As the temperatures start to drop in the Bay of Plenty, it’s time to shift gears and prepare the plants for winter. While we don’t experience extreme frosts like some other regions, cooler nights, damp conditions, and occasional cold snaps can slow down growth and impact some of the more sensitive t...
Our Mission: Cultivating a Thriving, Regenerative Future
Our Mission: Cultivating a Thriving, Regenerative Future
We are committed to creating a thriving, sustainable food forest that not only nourishes our local community but also serves as a model for regenerative agriculture in the Bay of Plenty and beyond. By fostering deep connections between people...
Te Puke Community Food Forest Proposal
This formal proposal seeks support from the Te Puke Community Board and Western Bay of Plenty District Council for a community food forest rooted in kai resilience — local food security, education and Vector Group Charitable Trust's Te Puke vision.
Related: Food forests · Kai Resilience network
Sub...
Goldfinger Banana: Growing Guide (Te Puke, NZ)
At Troppo's subtropical nursery and food forest in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, we grow Banana 'Goldfinger' — part of our exotic, rare and edible plant collection for warm New Zealand climates.
Browse the full plant collection or shop live nursery stock when available.
Browse the full plant co...
Anthurium Coriaceum ‘Paddle Leaf’ — Troppo Nursery Guide
At Troppo's subtropical nursery and food forest in Te Puke, Bay of Plenty, we grow Anthurium Coriaceum 'Paddle Leaf' — part of our exotic, rare and edible plant collection for warm New Zealand climates.
Browse the full plant collection or shop live nursery stock when available.
Browse the...