The Association was formed in 1995 to promote production of lavender oil in New Zealand and to provide information to assist its members. Members are spread geographically from Kerikeri in the north to Balfour in the south.
One of the main objectives is to promote the use of New Zealand oil as a high quality product. The Association, in conjunction with Dr. Noel Porter, formerly of Crop and Food, have been working together to establish quality standards for oil produced from various cultivars of lavender and lavandin. An Association above all creates a defined group of people with a common interest. In our particular case, we extended this to ensure there was a sharing of these interests, experiences and the lessons that we learnt.
From the diversity of the background of its members the Association brings together many business skills for the benefit of all members. Above all, the Association creates a base for standards for the oil industry. The Association has been working for some time with Dr. Noel Porter, formerly of Crop and Food Research, Lincoln, to develop a New Zealand standard for lavender oil. The Association holds workshop / conferences every alternate year to educate and up-skill its members knowledge on the various aspects of lavender oil production.
Our Vision for the Future
The basic vision is that there should be a defined standard for New Zealand lavender oil that will be the basis of a sustainable industry.Everyone will benefit from the knowledge that we gain as an Association, and of the skills involved in the successful production of lavender oil.
"Established to research, develop and promote lavender essential oil and associated products of the highest quality"
NZLGA INC. was established in 1995 by fifteen Lavender Growers working in close association with the then DSIR, now Crop & Food to start a national association to promote quality lavender oil. This brought together people with a common passion for lavender, to share their knowledge and experience and diverse business skills for the benefit of all members.
The NZLGA has now set up and put in place a quality mark for Grosso Lavandin oil based on the AFNOR standard and also growing and distillation protocols which all members use. This means that New Zealand Lavender oil has been established as very high quality oil on a world scale.Members are independent of the Association for marketing and finance purposes and work in a variety of ways with lavender.
The Association has now also established a good demand for dried lavender and its products which have proved to be internationally popular. There are both oil and dried flower registration facilities which list any surplus and relay enquires from customers appropriately.Continuing workshops and regional meetings affording networking opportunities make belonging to the Association a useful, informative, friendly and very enjoyable lavender experience.
The vision for the future is that every member will benefit from the knowledge gained and the skills involved in the successful production of lavender and that there should be a defined standard and a working together to achieve the standard for New Zealand. Membership is open to any person who intends to grow or grows lavender commercially.
