The Allan Pye Journey.
Allan Pye's Legacy
CPWL shareholder Allan John Pye passed away peacefully on 16 March 2024. Allan could smell when the rain was coming and knew a thing or two about potatoes. In preparation for the CPWL Annual Report, we met with Allan to prepare this story, and are publishing it with Allan’s family’s blessings.
Sowing Seeds of Change.
Growing up in Temuka, South Canterbury, Allan Pye knows how to grow things — not just carrots and potatoes but successful companies as well. His legacy spans dairying, vegetables, cropping, grazing, contracting and transport.
The early years.
Growing up on his family’s small acreage, from his earliest years Allan remembers working hard, farming, growing and learning about the land. Not long after leaving school, Allan spotted an opportunity to grow potatoes on an acre of land he leased from his father.
The project was so successful that the then-15-year-old doubled his acreage the following year, systematically reinvesting his profits to scale up the business. And there it was: Allan had recognised that the fertile soils of South Canterbury had the potential for mixed-crop farming — and if done well, the land would provide for his family for many generations to come.
The magic ingredient.
Working to his strengths, potatoes seemed a good place to start. Potatoes need plenty of sunlight, free-draining soil and one magic ingredient — water. ‘I knew from an early age that water isn’t a nice-to-have; it is a case of no water, no crops,’ he says, adding, ‘It is simple — water makes things grow, and lack of water has a huge impact on production.’
Water is a vital resource that plays a role in helping New Zealand secure its place as a world-leading food producer. It is essential to sustaining, growing and maintaining production for domestic consumption — including staple vegetables like the potato.
New Zealanders and potatoes.
Potatoes are an important element of New Zealand’s food security, and Kiwis love them too. In the past year alone, approximately 94% of the 525,000 tonnes of potatoes grown here were destined for the domestic market. Potatoes are a low-cost, nutrient-rich delight that have found a permanent place on our plates.
The food journey doesn’t stop at domestic consumption. In 1991 New Zealand entered the global market for processed potatoes, primarily French fries and crisps. A success story for our primary industries, this global demand illustrates the world’s trust in New Zealand-grown food.
A turning point in agriculture.
Allan soon realised the challenges of traditional farming methods. ‘Farming is hard work, and getting precious water onto crops is even harder. Shifting pipes every few hours, day and night, had no future,’ he reflects. This revelation became evident during a research trip to the USA, where he encountered the game- changing innovation of pivot irrigation.
Allan immediately saw the potential of pivot irrigation to enable smart farming, water efficiency and control and sustainability, which all play a part in significantly higher yields. Bringing this innovation back to New Zealand was an obvious decision.
Today, pivot irrigators punctuate the New Zealand farming and agricultural landscape, ensuring that present-day crops thrive without compromising the needs of tomorrow.
Central Plains Water.
Allan championed the cause of CPWL from day one, despite having access to plenty of water himself. ‘It was a given that they had to get the scheme over the line. CPWL ensured that everyone had an opportunity to access water and create a sustainable future.’
He asserts, ‘You do what is right. If you can, you make things happen. It was clear the shareholders were motivated to secure the future of agriculture in the district and were desperate to overcome major challenges.’
An instrumental moment.
A critical turning point for CPWL emerged amidst a long and often controversial journey. The initial prospectus for Stage 1 set a minimum share threshold, and the scheme faced uncertainty as funding dwindled. Motivated CPWL shareholders held firm, but two days before the funding deadline, CPWL still found themselves short.
Despite approaching larger shareholders, including Allan, CPWL still needed a number of shares to be sold. A breakthrough came when Fonterra agreed to acquire some of the shares, prioritising reselling. With a shortfall of shares still to be sold as the clock ticked to the deadline, Allan stepped in, committing to purchase the remaining shares without land to utilise them, incurring annual charges for years.
Reliable water for the region.
When asked why, Allan didn’t hesitate to answer. ‘I had confidence in the project. It was clear the shareholders were desperate to overcome major challenges. There is nothing like a challenge to unite people.’
The reality is that without the support of a few key shareholders, including Allan, to purchase those final shares, CPWL would have been shelved, resulting in a very different landscape and economic reality for Canterbury today.
