About us...

Photo by Sam Seath

Wairere Nursery began in 1990 when owners Harry and Lloyd found their special piece of paradise in the heart of the Waikato at Gordonton.

However, the seeds of their life in Horticulture were sown much earlier. Harry attributes his eldest sister Dora (a passionate gardener and Irisarian) teaching him about all things and green and growing from a very young age. Lloyd’s earliest memories of enjoying plants are from about age 5. At 18 he left school to work in a bank but his weekend job at Heritage Horticulture was where his true interest lay. It was inevitable that Lloyd’s career in banking was a short one and the weekend job became a full time job leading to a horticultural career that encompassed both growing and retailing of plants.

Harry’s role in the nursery is as the ‘ideas’ man – creating innovative displays and sourcing new products. Harry loves a chat and interacting with gardeners to help them find just the right plants for the right place. Lloyd is a passionate plants-man with an eye for detail. He is responsible for building Wairere’s informative data base about all things botanical. This is shared with customers via regular e-mail newsletters and the Wairere web-site.

From a road-side stall that just sold herbs Wairere has grown to be a large and well-respected nursery. The stock range is varied and comprehensive but specializes in roses, fruits and ornamental trees. A beautiful and much admired garden has been developed on the property and this continues to grow and adapt as Harry and Lloyd transition through the various cycles of their gardening life. Currently Harry has a keen interest in food crops – particularly the seemingly infinite variety of fruit trees available to grow and sees home grown food as a continuing trend. Lloyd is currently going through his form and foliage stage but predicts a return to colour in the garden with plenty of perennials and annuals being used to make the garden look more cheerful.

NZ Gardener March 2012 Article
Click here to read

Harry and Lloyd share their home and nursery with 6 beloved dogs ( Holly, Zac, Luca, Galaxy, Lucy and Trinity), 2 cats (Cigani and Magenta) along with a wide range of land and water fowl. Lloyd’s Dad Pete (chief test cook) resides in a colonial cottage near the main homestead and award winning Landscape designer Anthony Skinner also lives and works at the Nursery site.

So whether you are shopping ‘on-line’, here at www.wairere.co.nz, or at the Nursery in Gordonton you know you can be assured of a warm family welcome from Harry and Lloyd and the menagerie. Wairere Nursery – quality plants, knowledge and expertise and where gardening, is most definitely, never a drag.