Hikurangi Enterprises produced its first trial crop of industrial hemp in 2016 and immediately started research on utilising the plant for medicines and pharmaceutical products.

Law changes in New Zealand in 2018 allowed for commercial production of medicinal cannabis in 2020. These changes create many new opportunities for landowners and processing facilities to be established on the East Coast.

• Rua Bioscience is the medicinal cannabis company nurtured by the Hikurangi Group: www.ruabio.com