38 | Award cherry on the cake The Morrifield Greenhouse team celebrate at the Southland Business Excellence Awards. Southland Business Excellence Awards: Morrifield Greenhouses REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT T T Russell Fredric Winning a business excellence award in September is the cherry on the cake this year for Morrifield Greenhouses which has experienced phenomenal sales, co-owner Leanne Morris says. Family-owned, the blooming business has been producing quality tunnel house kitsets for the New Zealand and overseas markets since 1980 from its base in Invercargill. Established by Gordon Morris who is “theoretically retired” but still works most days, the business is now run by the second generation, husband and wife team Allister and Leanne Morris. “We are thrilled to have won Small Business of the Year in the 2023 Southern Green Hydrogen Southland Business Excellence Awards”, Leanne says. Morrifield’s award recognises the proven overall excellence of a small business. In total, the awards comprised 14 categories with some significant businesses and organisations being recognised. “It is a testament to our hardworking staff, especially in the last couple of years, with the demand being the highest we have experienced.” Leanne estimates Morrifield Greenhouses has manufactured close to 20,000 tunnel houses since 1980. They have been able to withstand some of the harshest conditions in New Zealand, having been sent to customers from Kaitaia to Stewart Island and the Chatham Islands, as well as to Australia and some Pacific Islands. Their construction comprises anodised aluminium framing which does not corrode, is easy to clean and keeps its new appearance for many years. Covering is available in two options: one is commercial grade greenhouse film, Polygrow, which has a four year warranty against ultra-violet breakdown, but the coverings will typically last seven to 10 years. The film is custom made to each size of tunnel house in Morrifield’s factory and each unit is produced as an easy-to-assemble kitset which can be freighted almost anywhere. The second option is 6mm thick polycarbonate twin wall sheeting which has a 15 year warranty. The rigidity of these units means less framing is required, while the twin wall has a degree of double glazing effect. These were New Zealand’s first tunnel house specifically designed for twin-wall sheeting, rather than being a modified glasshouse. Customers have commented on the ease of assembly of Morrifield’s tunnel houses; even the greenhouse film is cut to size. The most popular sizes are the four and five metre long models which are 2350mm wide. Growing in a tunnel house is less work than a garden and has the advantage of not being weather dependent which makes working in them it a more pleasant pastime, while there is a longer shoulder growth season and plants are less frost prone, Leanne says. The covid pandemic and people’s desire to be more self-sustainable was the catalyst for a large growth spurt in the business and more recently the dramatically increased cost of living has further bolstered demand. “The price of vegetables has gone through the roof so people have started to grow their own again. There’s been a real swing back towards growing your own vegetables and there seems to be quite a trend for quite a lot of younger people to do that. “Times have definitely changed.” Morrifield has both survived and thrived through various economic cycles and Leanne and Allister consider themselves fortunate to be able to offer a product that adds many benefits and much enjoyment to people’s lives. “We’re still very busy, we’ve been a very lucky business; we are extremely grateful for that.” “It is a testament to our hardworking staff, especially in the last couple of years, with the demand being the highest we have experienced.” 03 455 5206 South Canterbury | Otago | Central Otago | Southland Pleased to be supporting Morrifield Developments Our Dunedin based company is large enough to provide all your packaging supplies, yet small enough to care. www.otagopackaging.co.nz | 301 Hillside Road, South Dunedin Proudly Supporting Morrifield Developments altus.co.nz/industrial-aluminium sales@altus.co.nz 0800 77 77 44 Your One stop shop nationally offering: Mosgiel Branch (Head O ice) | 03 489 5760 Tauranga Branch | 027 808 2858 Auckland Branch | 09 820 3903 Christchurch Branch | 03 344 0264 • Extrusions, both ex stock & indent • Sheet, plate & tread-plate • Climbing equipment, ladders, trusses & staircases for the sca old industry • Fabrication including CNC router cutting, CNC break press along with Mig & Tig welding • CNC large capacity rollers PAYNES ALUMINIUM LTD SUPPLIES AND SUPPORTS MORRIFIELD DEVELOPMENTS
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