About Jock Hewitt
I have had a lifetime of experience in agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and the in farming industry, both in New Zealand and overseas. I was educated at Nelson College, graduating in 1965. Subsequently I spent some years working mainly on pastoral properties in the North Island. I consider it my good fortune to have experienced life as a hill country shepherd in the days before motor bikes very largely replaced the stock horse in the New Zealand hill country farmer’s daily life. Some of my best memories include waiting on horseback on a high country ridge or hilltop for the wonderful morning sunrise and light to cast out our sheep dogs for the morning muster. Eventually I was to study at Canterbury’s Lincoln University, graduating with a University Diploma in Agriculture in 1970.
In February of 1972 I was employed by the Papua New Guinea Department of Agriculture as a Rural Development Advisor. For over five years I worked with local and plantation people in the Western Highlands District, mostly in remote rural areas in a wide range of agricultural and plantation crops. Tribal fighting and violence was a constant presence, mainly involving local land disputes – sadly, often themselves a result of our task to encourage the local tribesmen to involve themselves in agricultural land development on their traditionally owned land. Just as frequent however were fights over pigs (a traditional form of currency), women (just as valuable) and witchcraft. But the overwhelming memory is of the friendliness, energy and enthusiasm of much of the local Highland population to whom tribal fighting and rivalry was just another part of daily life and (at least at that time) to whom the European agriculture officer was a chance to improve their lives. This was especially the case in remote locations; days walk on patrol from the nearest road point. Tragically, much has changed for the worse in this beautiful country. Law and order in the Highlands and major cities in Papua New Guinea has almost completely broken down and public roads and highways are now unsafe for travel. I was to spend another four years with the Department on the Papua New Guinea Island of New Britain, initally developing a small holder oil palm settlement scheme in West New Britain, and subsequently for my last two years at the Kerevat Lowlands Agriculture Experimental Station in East New Britain. Here I was responsible for developing small holder clonal and hybrid cocoa nurseries and researching appropriate cocoa propagation techniques.
In 1976 I was married in New Zealand and subsequently spent my remaining years in PNG as a married man. Our two children were born in the local mission hospital at Vunapope near Rabaul.
In 1978 I was recruited by the Papua New Guinea Agriculture Bank to direct small holder and plantation development programs and associated lending (mostly with World Bank finance) within the New Guinea Islands Region, including PNG’s major growing areas; the Islands of New Britain, New Ireland and Bougainville. I left Papua New Guinea in 1978 with many happy memories however again, sadly, much has subsequently changed for the worse. The beautiful town and harbour of Rabaul where I was based was soon after destroyed in a major volcanic eruption. The social and economic infrastructure of Bougainville – an Island with immense agricultural and mineral wealth, populated by intelligent and relatively well educated people, was almost totally destroyed by civil war, fuelled by the greed and stupidity of a very small minority of its people.
By 1988 law and order was clearly deteriorating within the new Guinea Islands. Up to that time the Island’s had been relatively insulated by the sea and distance from the law and order problems endemic on the mainland, but not for much longer. A neighbour was murdered in front of his family for the plantation pay roll he was carrying. Armed hold ups were becoming common. We heard gun shots in the evening. No place to continue raising a family - so off home to New Zealand.
Back in New Zealand we purchased and farmed near Havelock North in Hawkes Bay, a small intensive horticultural property growing a wide range of orchard and market produce.
Viticulture and wine making has become a special interest and I have studied these subjects through the Eastern Institute of Technology gaining a Certificate in Wine Production.
A lifetime of experience in agriculture, horticulture, viticulture and agricultural development finance has proven to be an ideal qualification for involvement in the rural real estate industry. I operate my business on the assumption that my clients, not necessarily familiar or experienced or having local knowledge relevant to the property they are looking to purchase, would prefer the benefit of advice based on genuine experience and knowledge - not always available in the very crowded and competitive real estate industry. I have spent most of my working life giving farmers, investors and growers sound information and honest advice to the very best of my ability. The same integrity of advice and information on the properties that I offer for sale will always be readily available to my clients.
