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Story: Agricultural and horticultural research

Hop stringing trial, Riwaka Hop Research Station

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Hop stringing trial, Riwaka Hop Research Station

The Riwaka Hop Research Station, near Motueka, was established in 1949 because of concerns over a black root rot in hops. Flowers of the female hop plant are used to give the bitter taste to beer. Hops are grown in gardens where the vines climb up and along strings to lengths of up to 15 metres, allowing maximum flower development. Funding for hop research is from government, breweries and growers.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Lady Joyce Marsden Collection (PAColl-0091)

Reference: PA1-o-135-43

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Ross Galbreath, Agricultural and horticultural research – Organising agricultural science, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/19630/hop-stringing-trial-riwaka-hop-research-station (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Ross Galbreath, published 1 March 2009.