In October 2025 support from the Ministry of Primary Industries Māori Agribusiness Fund was confirmed. This is a second stage of support and has enabled the first steps towards a structured approach to develop a specialty coffee growing industry in New Zealand.
The first stage enabled Project Co-Leads Sue Dobbie and Justine Stuart to oversee the development of a business feasibility report, a roadmap for the industry's development and a platform for industry collaboration that then led to the establishment of NZ Coffee Producers Association in November 2024.
The confirmation of a second stage of funding in October 2025 from MPI is validation of the potential of this emerging industry. The aim is to continue to build capability among interested growers, to establish some formal crop trials in Northland, and to establish pathways to commercialisation as the industry signals excellent opportunities for high value production on Māori-owned land and other microclimates in Northland.