Nestled among the rolling hills of the King Country, Piopio is a vibrant rural town full of history, character, and community spirit. A bustling service town for local farming families, Piopio has always been shaped by the land, from sheep and beef farming to dairy farming to horticulture and forestry. Today, it remains a proud, close-knit community where hard work, hospitality, and heart still define everyday life.

Long before European settlement in the early 1900s, the wider Piopio area was home to Māori communities who lived, travelled, and gathered kai throughout these valleys. The land sits within the rohe of Ngāti Maniapoto, and the area’s rivers, bush pockets, and limestone formations hold kōrero tuku iho - stories passed down through generations. This deep connection to the whenua is still felt today in the rhythm of everyday life, the respect for nature, and the strong sense of belonging shared by the community. It is a place where whakapapa, land, and people remain closely intertwined.

Piopio takes its name from the piopio bird - a native thrush once known for its sweet, melodic call. Though the bird is now extinct, its spirit lives on in the people who call this valley home: resilient, resourceful, and full of song. Our logo, featuring a hand-drawn piopio bird with strawberry-like markings, pays tribute to that heritage. You might even spot our team wearing shirts that say: “Piopio… not extinct!” - a little nod to the town’s namesake and a celebration of the lively, enduring community that continues to thrive here in the heart of the King Country.

These days, Piopio hums with life. The town’s main street is lined with welcoming cafés, family-run shops, and small local businesses that buzz with conversation and friendly faces. Around the township, green pastures stretch to the horizon, framed by limestone cliffs and pockets of native bush that make this part of the world so breathtakingly beautiful.

The landscape here is so striking, in fact, that parts of The Hobbit were filmed among the dramatic valleys and rock formations surrounding Piopio - even Hollywood recognises the beauty of this region! Visitors often come for a short stop - a coffee, an ice cream, or a punnet of berries - and end up staying longer, drawn in by the scenery, the hospitality, and the peaceful rhythm of rural life.

For us at Piopio Berry Orchard, the town has always been at the heart of our story. Since arriving here in 1993, our family has been welcomed with open arms by the Piopio community, from local staff who return each season, to neighbours who’ve supported us since the very beginning. Our children grew up here, attending the local schools, and now our grandchildren are doing the same, continuing our family’s connection to this beautiful place.

The orchard has flourished alongside the town, becoming both a gathering place for locals and a favourite stop for travellers discovering the region. Because here in Piopio, it’s not just about where we grow our berries, it’s about the land, the people, and the sense of belonging that make this corner of Aotearoa truly special.