In a joint partnership with Te Puni Kōkiri, we're investing in the next phase of improvement for Akaroa King Salmon.
This will help us strengthen our operations across our Waiau hatchery, our Wigram processing facility, and our farm in Akaroa Harbour. It’s about improving how we work - investing in systems, technology and capability that allow us to grow our exports.
Importantly, our location in Akaroa Harbour isn’t changing.
“We’re investing in how we farm, not where we farm,” says CEO Stewart Hawthorn.
"But our ability to innovate and operate more efficiently increases - allowing us to scale exports while remaining a small, high-quality producer.”
Over the next three years, this investment is expected to support around 50 new skilled roles, contributing to jobs and economic activity across Canterbury and building on 40 years of sustainable salmon farming.
In 2025, we were recognised by the United Nations as the world’s leading sustainable salmon farmer - the only salmon producer globally to receive that honour.
“This investment doesn’t change our approach - it strengthens it,” says Stewart.
“We’ve always focused on doing things the right way environmentally and for our community. This gives us the tools to keep improving while staying true to that philosophy.”
This project is supported by the Māori Development Fund, alongside significant co-investment from Akaroa King Salmon. Māori Development Minister Tama Potaka says the investment will help grow exports while supporting jobs and regional economies.
“Akaroa King Salmon has built a world-class reputation for premium products and sustainable production. This investment will help unlock further growth and strengthen New Zealand’s export economy,” he says.
Returns from the investment will flow to Ngāti Porou and Ōnuku Rūnanga, alongside benefits for the wider Canterbury region.
Even as we grow, we’ll continue to operate at a small scale by global standards. We will remain one of the smallest commercial ocean salmon farms in the world - and that’s a deliberate choice.
“That’s part of our strength,” says Stewart.
“It means we can focus on quality, sustainability and careful, responsible growth - not just volume.”
