The first seedlings are now in the ground along the salt-laden and sunny slopes of Kēkerengū - just north of Kaikōura.
The ocean-side plantation run by research and development and cultivation company Puro will eventually cover the equivalent of 10 rugby fields.
Fresh out of quarantine, US-based cultivation technician Max Jablonski was last Friday focused on planting the prized seedlings into freshly furrowed, chocolate coloured soil.