We are pleased to celebrate one of MyFarm’s operational partners, Hortus Limited, who have been recognised as the 2026 New Zealand RSE Employer of the Year.
Hortus is the long-term lessee and operating partner at Duncannon Village, the Marlborough property owned by Duncannon Horticulture LP. From this purpose-built facility, Hortus supports the seasonal workforce serving Marlborough’s viticulture industry.
Nominated by the Samoan Liaison Officer and local church community, Hortus has been recognised for “a positive and respectful workplace culture, the professionalism and conduct of workers, great pastoral care support, highest remuneration, reintegration initiatives back in Samoa, and the availability of resources such as the Rec room at Hortus Village which is utilised by various community meetings.” Hortus has long been acknowledged for their values and initiatives within the Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) space.
When Aaron Jay established the business in 2008, he wanted to offer growers a professional and dependable labour service, while ensuring workers were treated with respect and proper support.
Hortus has always had a sure goal: to create lasting, measurable impact for the people, families, and communities connected to the workforce, across the Pacific and Indonesia.
The benefits of a well-run RSE programme extends well beyond the work completed in New Zealand; helping workers to create lasting opportunities for their families and communities at home. RSE workers are using their take-home pay to support friends and family in their home nations. From January to December 2025, 129 RSE workers purchased land, 1,546 children were put through schooling, 289 built a house and 102 purchased crops or animals.
View the attached Impact Statement, sharing their many community upliftment projects.
View the full Impact Statement here.
Today, the business provides vineyard management and workforce solutions across the viticulture and horticulture sectors, including RSE labour supply, operational support, pastoral care and accommodation.
“Fundamentally, our purpose hasn’t changed. We continue striving to provide the best possible working and living environment for our teams and the best outcomes for our growers. What has evolved are the systems and processes behind our work, as we continually look for ways to improve and add value beyond simply completing the task in the vineyard or orchard.”
– Aaron Jay
We would like to congratulate Aaron and Mike Jay, the Hortus team, and the wider Monarch Platform whānau on this well-deserved recognition. Our operational partners each have an impressive story to tell, and we are very proud to have Hortus as a long-standing partner of MyFarm Investments and look forward to their continued success.
