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Robin Booth, Wharepuke Subtropical Gardens
Robin Booth’s family businesses are based on a property which his father bought in 1938.
Two hectares of subtropical plantings at Wharepuke Subtropical Garden in Kerikeri in the Bay of Islands form the centrepiece of six business ventures, including garden tours, plant sales, catering, accommodation and a print school.
Robin Booth at his beloved subtropical garden
Robin was born in Kerikeri. His Diploma of Horticulture training at Massey University, and two-and-a-half years working for the Duchy of Cornwall in Bath, Somerset, represent the only time (other than holidays) spent away from Northland in the 60-plus years of his lifetime.
Robin’s father bought the property from a person who had planned to turn it into a park, and Robin has been told by older residents of the area that the land was the first in New Zealand to be ploughed.
He began establishing Wharepuke Subtropical Garden in 1993. “I wanted to have a big garden which the public could have a look around.” The collection originates from many different countries and includes rare specimens such as a teak tree which is believed to be the only one growing in New Zealand. Robin estimates that so far half the plants in the garden have been labelled and these total 600 varieties.
“We are trying to show people plants that are not common, that are different to what they would normally see. For people from further south, there are some real surprises.”
Wharepuke has been awarded a “Garden of Regional Significance” by the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, and Robin is hopeful of national recognition in the future.
Visitors can make their own way through or take an escorted tour, and buses are catered for as well as large and small groups.
Sweet sounds in paradise
A milestone was the relocation into the garden of the former Lynfield Community Hall from Auckland. Now renovated, this building is a venue for performances, displays, meetings, workshops, weddings and other events.
A commercial kitchen in the building is run by Robin’s partner, Honey Andersen, and sister-in-law, Aida Booth allows for a catering business. Six accommodation units, to be managed by daughter Tania Booth, are being built amongst the garden in 2006.
Tania’s partner, British artist Mark Graver, will be running an on-site print school.
“It’s a real family concern,” says Robin. “We have always got on well together and we all bring our different strengths to it.