The first NZCPA annual conference was held over 2 days in Kaikohe and Waipapakauri on 21 and 22 November 2025. Growers, horticulturists, and researchers gathered to share knowledge and explore how a collaborative approach to high quality, specialty coffee production could create an exciting high-value industry for New Zealand.
It was also an opportunity to hear about the upcoming plant trials which have been funded by the MPI Māori Agribusiness Extension Fund. Environmental and climatic conditions in some parts of Northland have already been proven by a small number of growers to be promising for growing coffee, but these formal trials will consist of 5 trial sites in different areas across the the region and will provide more detailed information about where coffee grows successfully, how to manage different growing variables, along with other observations. This is the first step in ongoing data collection for this new industry.
Attendees left the conference and field day with a huge amount of information from seed to cup that will assist future development and support decision making for interested landowners about the potential opportunity.